Apparatus and method for automatic and user configurable information appliance

Claim 2

In a data communication system having a host computer coupled to a telephone network and an electronic device coupled to said telephone network, a method for providing access at said electronic device to a plurality of facilities coupled to said host computer, said method comprising the steps of: calling upon application of power to said electronic device said host computer from said electronic device through a modem coupled to said telephone network and to said electronic device, to establish a first data communication link between said electronic device and said host computer via said telephone network and said modem; transferring configuration data from said host computer to said electronic device via said first data communication link; thereafter breaking said first data communication link; assembling from said configuration data a menu listing a plurality of titles identifying said plurality of facilities; thereafter displaying said menu on a television coupled to said electronic device; thereafter accepting, at a remote keypad, an operator input specifying a selected one of said plurality of facilities; transmitting, from said remote keypad to an IR detector coupled to said electronic device, an infrared signal responsive to said operator input; detecting said infrared signal at said IR detector; thereafter calling said host computer from said electronic device via said modem and said telephone network, thereby establishing a second data communication link between said host computer and said electronic device via said modem and said telephone network; and thereafter connecting said electronic device to said selected facility via said second data communication link and said host computer.

Claim 3

The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of transferring configuration data particularized to said selected facility from said host computer to said electronic device via said second data communication link.

Claim 4

The method of claim 1 wherein said selected facility is an online computer service.

Claim 5

The method of claim 1 wherein said selected facility is a facsimile service.

Claim 6

The method of claim 1 wherein said selected facility is a voicemail service.

Claim 7

The method of claim 1 wherein said selected facility is an electronic mail service.

Claim 8

The method of claim 1 wherein said selected facility is a stock quote service.

Claim 9

The method of claim 1 wherein said selected facility is a pay-per-view service.

Claim 10

In a data communication system having a host computer and an electronic device wherein said host computer and said electronic device are coupled to a telephone network, a method for providing interactive access at said electronic device to data stored at a plurality of facilities coupled to said host computer, said method comprising the steps of: calling, upon application of power to said electronic device, said host computer from said electronic device through a modem coupled to said telephone network and to said electronic device, to establish a first data communication link between said electronic device and said host computer via said telephone network and said modem; transferring configuration data from said host computer to said electronic device via said first data communication link; breaking said first data communication link; assembling from said configuration data a menu listing a plurality of titles identifying said plurality of facilities; thereafter displaying said menu on a television coupled to said electronic device; thereafter accepting, at a remote keypad, a first operator input specifying a first selected one of said plurality of facilities; transmitting, from said remote keypad to an IR detector coupled to said electronic device, a first infrared signal responsive to said first operator input; detecting said first infrared signal at said IR detector; thereafter calling said host computer from said electronic device via said modem and said telephone network to establish a second data communication link between said host computer and said electronic device via said modem and said telephone network; thereafter accessing said first selected facility from said electronic device via said second data communication link; and thereafter transferring data associated with said first selected facility from said host computer to said electronic device via said second data communication link.

Claim 11

In a data communication system having a host computer and an electronic device wherein said host computer and said electronic device are coupled to a telephone network, a method for providing interactive access at said electronic device to data stored at a plurality of facilities coupled to said host computer, said method comprising the steps of: calling, upon application of power to said electronic device, said host computer from said electronic device through a modem coupled to said telephone network and to said electronic device, to establish a first data communication link between said electronic device and said host computer via said telephone network and said modem; transferring configuration data from said host computer to said electronic device via said first data communication link; breaking said first data communication link; assembling from said configuration data a menu listing a plurality of titles identifying said plurality of facilities; thereafter displaying said menu on a television coupled to said electronic device; thereafter accepting, at a remote keypad, a first operator input specifying a first selected one of said plurality of facilities; transmitting, from said remote keypad to an IR detector coupled to said electronic device, a first infrared signal responsive to said first operator input; detecting said first infrared signal at said IR detector; thereafter calling said host computer from said electronic device via said modem and said telephone network to establish a second data communication link between said host computer and said electronic device via said modem and said telephone network; thereafter accessing said first selected facility from said electronic device via said second data communication link; and thereafter transferring data associated with said first selected facility from said host computer to said electronic device via said second data communication link.

Claim 12

The method of claim 9 further comprising the steps of: generating an image from said data associated with said first selected facility; and thereafter displaying said image on said television.

Claim 13

The method of claim 10 further comprising the step of storing said image on a video recorder coupled to said electronic device.

Claim 14

The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of storing said data associated with said first selected facility on a video recorder coupled to said electronic device.

Claim 15

The method of claim 9 further comprising the steps of: breaking said second data communication link; thereafter accepting, at a remote keypad, a second operator input specifying a second selected one of said plurality of facilities; transmitting, from said remote keypad to an IR detector coupled to said electronic device, a second infrared signal responsive to said second operator input; detecting said second infrared signal at said IR detector; thereafter calling said host computer from said electronic device via said modem and said telephone network to establish a third data communication link between said host computer and said electronic device via said modem and said telephone network; thereafter accessing said second selected facility from said electronic device via said third data communication link; and thereafter transferring data associated with said second selected facility from said host computer to said electronic device via said third data communication link.

Claim 16

The method of claim 13 wherein said data transferred via said third data communication link includes configuration data associated with said second selected facility.

Claim 17

In a data communication system having a host computer and an electronic device wherein said host computer and said electronic device are coupled to a telephone network, a method for transferring textual data from the electronic device to the host computer, said method comprising the steps of: calling said host computer from said electronic device through a modem coupled to said telephone network and to said electronic device, to establish a first data communication link between said electronic device and said host computer via said telephone network and said modem; transferring configuration data from said host computer to said electronic device via said first data communication link; thereafter assembling a menu from said configuration data, said menu including a plurality of titles identifying a plurality of available terminal functions wherein transmission of textual data is one of said plurality of available terminal functions; thereafter breaking said first data communication link; displaying said menu on a television coupled to said electronic device; accepting at a remote keypad an operator input specifying transmission of textual data as a selected one of said plurality of available terminal functions; transmitting, from said remote keypad to an IR detector coupled to said electronic device, an infrared signal responsive to said operator input; thereafter displaying a keyboard image on a television coupled to said electronic device, wherein a plurality of discrete regions of said keyboard image are labeled with distinct characters; displaying a cursor image within said keyboard image on said television, said cursor image positioned within one of said discrete regions selected by user adjustment of a pointing device; recording a sequence of said distinct characters labelling said discrete regions within which said cursor image is positioned during successive user depressions of a key coupled to said pointing device, thereby generating said textual data; thereafter calling said host computer from said electronic device via said modem and said telephone network, to establish a second data communication link between said host computer and said electronic device via said modem and said telephone network; and thereafter transferring said textual data from said electronic device to said host computer via said second data communication link.

Claim 18

In a data communication system having a host computer and an electronic device wherein said host computer and said electronic device are coupled to a telephone network, a method for transferring textual data from the electronic device to the host computer, said method comprising the steps of: calling said host computer from said electronic device through a modem coupled to said telephone network and to said electronic device, to establish a first data communication link between said electronic device and said host computer via said telephone network and said modem; transferring configuration data from said host computer to said electronic device via said first data communication link; thereafter assembling a menu from said configuration data, said menu including a plurality of titles identifying a plurality of available terminal functions wherein transmission of textual data is one of said plurality of available terminal functions; thereafter breaking said first data communication link; displaying said menu on a television coupled to said electronic device; accepting at a remote keypad an operator input specifying transmission of textual data as a selected one of said plurality of available terminal functions; transmitting, from said remote keypad to an IR detector coupled to said electronic device, an infrared signal responsive to said operator input; thereafter displaying a keyboard image on a television coupled to said electronic device, wherein a plurality of discrete regions of said keyboard image are labeled with distinct characters; displaying a cursor image within said keyboard image on said television, said cursor image positioned within one of said discrete regions selected by user adjustment of a pointing device; recording a sequence of said distinct characters labelling said discrete regions within which said cursor image is positioned during successive user depressions of a key coupled to said pointing device, thereby generating said textual data; thereafter calling said host computer from said electronic device via said modem and said telephone network, to establish a second data communication link between said host computer and said electronic device via said modem and said telephone network; and thereafter transferring said textual data from said electronic device to said host computer via said second data communication link.

Claim 19

In a data communication system having a host computer and an electronic device wherein said host computer and said electronic device are coupled to a telephone network, a method for transferring graphical data from the electronic device to the host computer, said method comprising the steps of: calling said host computer from said electronic device through a modem coupled to said telephone network and to said electronic device, to establish a first data communication link between said electronic device and said host computer via said telephone network and said modem; transferring configuration data from said host computer to said electronic device via said first data communication link; thereafter assembling a menu from said configuration data, said menu including a plurality of titles identifying a plurality of available terminal functions wherein transmission of textual data is one of said plurality of available terminal functions; thereafter displaying a menu on a television connected to said electronic device; accepting at a remote keypad an operator input specifying transmission of graphical data as a selected one of said plurality of available terminal functions; transmitting, from said remote keypad to an IR detector coupled to said electronic device, an infrared signal responsive to said operator input; thereafter recording, at said electronic device, movements of a pointing device, thereby generating said graphical data; displaying said graphical data on said television; calling said host computer from said electronic device via said modem and said telephone network, to establish a second data communication link between said host computer and said electronic device via said modem and said telephone network; and thereafter transferring said graphical data from said electronic device to said host computer via said second data communication link.

Claim 20

In a data communication system having a host computer and an electronic device wherein said host computer and said electronic device are coupled to a telephone network, a method for transferring graphical data from the electronic device to the host computer, said method comprising the steps of: calling said host computer from said electronic device through a modem coupled to said telephone network and to said electronic device, to establish a first data communication link between said electronic device and said host computer via said telephone network and said modem; transferring configuration data from said host computer to said electronic device via said first data communication link; thereafter assembling a menu from said configuration data, said menu including a plurality of titles identifying a plurality of available terminal functions wherein transmission of textual data is one of said plurality of available terminal functions; thereafter displaying a menu on a television connected to said electronic device; accepting at a remote keypad an operator input specifying transmission of graphical data as a selected one of said plurality of available terminal functions; transmitting, from said remote keypad to an IR detector coupled to said electronic device, an infrared signal responsive to said operator input; thereafter recording, at said electronic device, movements of a pointing device, thereby generating said graphical data; displaying said graphical data on said television; calling said host computer from said electronic device via said modem and said telephone network, to establish a second data communication link between said host computer and said electronic device via said modem and said telephone network; and thereafter transferring said graphical data from said electronic device to said host computer via said second data communication link.

Claim 21

An electronic device for providing access to a plurality of facilities coupled to a host computer, said electronic device comprising: means for interfacing to a television; a remote keypad for transmitting menu selection signals; a modem coupled to a telephone network to which said host computer is coupled; and a controller coupled to said television interfacing means and said modem and in wireless communication with said remote keypad, for: initiating, upon application of power to said electronic device, a first data call to said host computer through said modem and said telephone network to obtain configuration data from said host computer; assembling a menu listing a plurality of titles of said plurality of facilities from said configuration data; displaying said menu on said television; accepting, via said remote keypad, a user selection of a selected one of said plurality of facilities; and initiating a second data call to said host computer through said modem and said telephone network to establish a connection between said electronic device and said selected facility.

Claim 22

An electronic device for providing access to a plurality of facilities coupled to a host computer, said electronic device comprising: means for interfacing to a television; a remote keypad for transmitting menu selection signals; a modem coupled to a telephone network to which said host computer is coupled; and a controller coupled to said television interfacing means and said modem and in wireless communication with said remote keypad, for: initiating, upon application of power to said electronic device, a first data call to said host computer through said modem and said telephone network to obtain configuration data from said host computer; assembling a menu listing a plurality of titles of said plurality of facilities from said configuration data; displaying said menu on said television; accepting, via said remote keypad, a user selection of a selected one of said plurality of facilities; and initiating a second data call to said host computer through said modem and said telephone network to establish a connection between said electronic device and said selected facility.

Claim 23

The electronic device of claim 17 further comprising an access limiting device coupled to said controller.

Claim 24

The electronic device of claim 18 wherein said access limiting device controls access to restricted programming.

Claim 25

The electronic device of claim 18 wherein said access limiting device verifies user purchases.

Claim 26

The electronic device of claim 18 wherein said access limiting device is a credit card reader.

Claim 27

The electronic device of claim 17 further comprising a pointing device coupled to said controller for generating cursor movements on said television, wherein said cursor movements are recorded at said controller, thereby generating image data.