Intelligent television receivers combinations including video displays, and methods for diversion of television viewers by visual image modification

Claim 2

A combination comprising: a television receiver having: a video display device for displaying visual images to a human observer; an audio transducer for emitting sound associated with displayed visual images; and video/audio reception circuitry coupled to said video display device and to said audio transducer for receiving signals transmitted at frequencies which are outside direct sensing by the human observer and for delivering to said video display device video signals which drive said video display device to display said visual images and to said audio transducer audio signals which drive said audio transducer to emit said sound; a remote control device usable at some distance of separation from said television receiver and having: a housing sized to be held in the hand of the human observer; a manually engagable input device mounted in said housing for manipulation by the human observer; and control transmitter circuitry mounted in said housing and coupled to said input device for transmitting at a frequency which is outside direct sensing by the human observer command signals coordinated in a predetermined manner to manipulation of said input device by the human observer; and a display controller having: command receiver circuitry for receiving said command signals from said command transmitter circuitry and for deriving from said received command signals image directing signals directing modification of said visual images; a microprocessor coupled to said command receiver circuitry and to said video reception circuitry (a) for receiving said image directing signals, (b) for executing control sequences in response to said image directing signals, and (c) for modifying said visual images as directed by manipulation of said remote control device by the human observer; memory devices coupled to said microprocessor for receiving and storing and delivering digitally encoded data used by said microprocessor in executing control programs; and digitally encoded control program data stored in said memory devices and effective on execution by said microprocessor for modifying said video signals in predetermined manners in response to predetermined image directing signals; said control program data comprising game program data for selectively manipulating said visual images to display intentional distortions of visual images otherwise displayed for purposes of diversion and further comprising menuing program data effective on execution by said microprocessor for controlling modification of said video signals.

Claim 3

A combination comprising: a television receiver having: a video display device for displaying visual images to a human observer; an audio transducer for emitting sound associated with displayed visual images; and video/audio reception circuitry coupled to said video display device and to said audio transducer for receiving signals transmitted at frequencies which are outside direct sensing by the human observer and for delivering to said video display device video signals which drive said video display device to display said visual images and to said audio transducer audio signals which drive said audio transducer to emit said sound; a remote control device usable at some distance of separation from said television receiver and having: a housing sized to be held in the hand of the human observer; a manually engagable input device mounted in said housing for manipulation by the human observer; and control transmitter circuitry mounted in said housing and coupled to said input device for transmitting at a frequency which is outside direct sensing by the human observer command signals coordinated in a predetermined manner to manipulation of said input device by the human observer; and a display controller having: command receiver circuitry for receiving said command signals from said command transmitter circuitry and for deriving from said received command signals image directing signals directing modification of said visual images; a microprocessor coupled to said command receiver circuitry and to said video reception circuitry (a) for receiving said image directing signals, (b) for executing control sequences in response to said image directing signals, and (c) for modifying said visual images as directed by manipulation of said remote control device by the human observer; memory devices coupled to said microprocessor for receiving and storing and delivering digitally encoded data used by said microprocessor in executing control programs; and digitally encoded control program data stored in said memory devices and effective on execution by said microprocessor for modifying said video signals in predetermined manners in response to predetermined image directing signals; said control program data comprising game program data for selectively manipulating said visual images to display intentional distortions of visual images otherwise displayed for purposes of diversion; said microprocessor and said game program data cooperating, as directed by manipulation of said remote control by the human observer, for: freezing a frame of said visual images while delivery of said audio signals continues; executing control sequences in response to said image directing signals for modifying said frame of said visual images as directed by manipulation of said remote control device by the human observer to display intentional distortions of said frame of said visual images for purposes of diversion while delivery of audio signals continues; and thereafter resuming delivery of video signals.

Claim 4

A combination comprising: a television receiver having: a video display device for displaying visual images to a human observer; an audio transducer for emitting sound associated with displayed visual images; and video/audio reception circuitry coupled to said video display device and to said audio transducer for receiving signals transmitted at frequencies which are outside direct sensing by the human observer and for delivering to said video display device video signals which drive said video display device to display said visual images and to said audio transducer audio signals which drive said audio transducer to emit said sound; a remote control device usable at some distance of separation from said television receiver and having: a housing sized to be held in the hand of the human observer; a manually engagable input device mounted in said housing for manipulation by the human observer; and control transmitter circuitry mounted in said housing and coupled to said input device for transmitting at a frequency which is outside direct sensing by the human observer command signals coordinated in a predetermined manner to manipulation of said input device by the human observer; and a display controller having: command receiver circuitry for receiving said command signals from said command transmitter circuitry and for deriving from said received command signals image directing signals directing modification of said visual images; a microprocessor coupled to said command receiver circuitry and to said video reception circuitry (a) for receiving said image directing signals, (b) for executing control sequences in response to said image directing signals, and (c) for modifying said visual images as directed by manipulation of said remote control device by the human observer; memory devices coupled to said microprocessor for receiving and storing and delivering digitally encoded data used by said microprocessor in executing control programs; and digitally encoded control program data stored in said memory devices and effective on execution by said microprocessor for modifying said video signals in predetermined manners in response to predetermined image directing signals; said control program data comprising game program data for selectively manipulating said visual images to display intentional distortions of visual images otherwise displayed for purposes of diversion; said microprocessor and said game program data cooperating, as directed by manipulation of said remote control by the human observer, for: freezing a frame of said visual images while delivery of said audio signals continues; executing control sequences in response to said image directing signals for modifying said frame of said visual images as directed by manipulation of said remote control device by the human observer to display intentional distortions of said frame of said visual images for purposes of diversion while delivery of audio signals continues; and thereafter resuming delivery of video signals.

Claim 5

A combination according to claim 2 wherein said microprocessor and said game program cooperate for modifying said frame of said visual images by enabling imposition of graphic elements over the displayed frozen frame.

Claim 6

A combination according to claim 3 wherein said microprocessor and said game programs cooperate for enabling the human observer to select from among a plurality of displayed graphic elements and drag a selected graphic element into position overlying a portion of said frame of said visual images.

Claim 7

A combination according to claim 2 wherein said microprocessor and said game programs cooperate for modifying said frame of said visual images by causing graphic elements of varying sizes to appear to be descending before said frame of said visual images and for enabling the human observer to direct the movement of the descending graphic elements to assemble a view blocking array of such graphic elements.

Claim 8

A combination according to claim 2 wherein said microprocessor and said game programs cooperate for modifying said frame of said visual images by causing cartoon character graphic elements to be superimposed on said frame of said visual images while modifying the tonal characteristics of said audio signals to a tonal envelope characteristic of a selected one of said cartoon character graphic elements.

Claim 9

A combination according to claim 2 wherein said microprocessor and said game programs cooperate for modifying said frame of said visual images by overlaying onto said frame of said visual images a grid dividing said frame into a plurality of portions, blanking one of said portions, scrambling the locations of the remainder of said portions, and enabling the human observer to direct movement of said remainder of said portions to reposition said remainder of said portions into said frame of said visual images.

Claim 10

A combination comprising: a television receiver having: a video display device for displaying visual images to a human observer; an audio transducer for emitting sound associated with displayed visual images; and video/audio reception circuitry coupled to said video display device and to said audio transducer for receiving signals transmitted at frequencies which are outside direct sensing by the human observer and for delivering to said video display device video signals which drive said video display device to display said visual images and to said audio transducer audio signals which drive said audio transducer to emit said sound; a remote control device usable at some distance of separation from said television receiver and having: a housing sized to be held in the hand of the human observer; a manually engagable input device mounted in said housing for manipulation by the human observer; and control transmitter circuitry mounted in said housing and coupled to said input device for transmitting at a frequency which is outside direct sensing by the human observer command signals coordinated in a predetermined manner to manipulation of said input device by the human observer; and a display controller having: command receiver circuitry for receiving said command signals from said command transmitter circuitry and for deriving from said received command signals image directing signals directing modification of said visual images; a microprocessor coupled to said command receiver circuitry and to said video reception circuitry (a) for receiving said image directing signals, (b) for executing control sequences in response to said image directing signals, and (c) for modifying said visual images as directed by manipulation of said remote control device by the human observer; memory devices coupled to said microprocessor for receiving and storing and delivering digitally encoded data used by said microprocessor in executing control programs; and digitally encoded control program data stored in said memory devices and effective on execution by said microprocessor for modifying said video signals in predetermined manners in response to predetermined image directing signals; said control program data comprising game program data for selectively manipulating said visual images to display intentional distortions of visual images otherwise displayed for purposes of diversion; wherein said microprocessor and said game program data cooperate for modifying said frame of said visual images by causing cartoon character graphic elements to be superimposed on said frame of said visual images while modifying the tonal characteristics of said audio signals to a tonal envelope characteristic of a selected one of said cartoon character graphic elements.

Claim 11

A combination comprising: a television receiver having: a video display device for displaying visual images to a human observer; an audio transducer for emitting sound associated with displayed visual images; and video/audio reception circuitry coupled to said video display device and to said audio transducer for receiving signals transmitted at frequencies which are outside direct sensing by the human observer and for delivering to said video display device video signals which drive said video display device to display said visual images and to said audio transducer audio signals which drive said audio transducer to emit said sound; a remote control device usable at some distance of separation from said television receiver and having: a housing sized to be held in the hand of the human observer; a manually engagable input device mounted in said housing for manipulation by the human observer; and control transmitter circuitry mounted in said housing and coupled to said input device for transmitting at a frequency which is outside direct sensing by the human observer command signals coordinated in a predetermined manner to manipulation of said input device by the human observer; and a display controller having: command receiver circuitry for receiving said command signals from said command transmitter circuitry and for deriving from said received command signals image directing signals directing modification of said visual images; a microprocessor coupled to said command receiver circuitry and to said video reception circuitry (a) for receiving said image directing signals, (b) for executing control sequences in response to said image directing signals, and (c) for modifying said visual images as directed by manipulation of said remote control device by the human observer; memory devices coupled to said microprocessor for receiving and storing and delivering digitally encoded data used by said microprocessor in executing control programs; and digitally encoded control program data stored in said memory devices and effective on execution by said microprocessor for modifying said video signals in predetermined manners in response to predetermined image directing signals; said control program data comprising game program data for selectively manipulating said visual images to display intentional distortions of visual images otherwise displayed for purposes of diversion; wherein said microprocessor and said game program data cooperate for modifying said frame of said visual images by causing cartoon character graphic elements to be superimposed on said frame of said visual images while modifying the tonal characteristics of said audio signals to a tonal envelope characteristic of a selected one of said cartoon character graphic elements.

Claim 12

A combination comprising: a remote control device usable at some distance of separation from a television receiver and having: a housing sized to be held in the hand of a human observer; a manually engagable input device mounted in said housing for manipulation by the human observer; and control transmitter circuitry mounted in said housing and coupled to said input device for transmitting at a frequency which is outside direct sensing by the human observer command signals coordinated in a predetermined manner to manipulation of said input device by the human observer; and a display controller for coupling to a television receiver video display device and for delivering to a coupled television receiver video display device image directing signals, said display controller having: command receiver circuitry for receiving said command signals from said command transmitter circuitry and for deriving from said received command signals image directing signals directing modification of visual images displayed to a human observer by the television receiver video display device, and; a microprocessor coupled to said command receiver circuitry and to said video reception circuitry (a) for receiving said image directing signals, (b) for executing control sequences in response to said image directing signals, and (c) for modifying said visual images as directed by manipulation of said remote control device by the human observer; memory devices coupled to said microprocessor for receiving and storing and delivering digitally encoded data used by said microprocessor in executing control programs; and digitally encoded control program data stored in said memory devices and effective on execution by said microprocessor for modifying said video signals in predetermined manners in response to predetermined image directing signals; said control program data comprising game program data for selectively manipulating said visual images to display intentional distortions of visual images otherwise displayed for purposes of diversion menuing program data effective on execution by said microprocessor for controlling modification of said video signals.

Claim 13

A combination comprising: a remote control device usable at some distance of separation from a television receiver and having: a housing sized to be held in the hand of a human observer; a manually engagable input device mounted in said housing for manipulation by the human observer; and control transmitter circuitry mounted in said housing and coupled to said input device for transmitting at a frequency which is outside direct sensing by the human observer command signals coordinated in a predetermined manner to manipulation of said input device by the human observer; and a display controller for coupling to a television receiver video display device and for delivering to a coupled television receiver video display device image directing signals, said display controller having: command receiver circuitry for receiving said command signals from said command transmitter circuitry and for deriving from said received command signals image directing signals directing modification of visual images displayed to a human observer by the television receiver video display device, and; a microprocessor coupled to said command receiver circuitry and to said video reception circuitry (a) for receiving said image directing signals, (b) for executing control sequences in response to said image directing signals, and (c) for modifying said visual images as directed by manipulation of said remote control device by the human observer; memory devices coupled to said microprocessor for receiving and storing and delivering digitally encoded data used by said microprocessor in executing control programs; and digitally encoded control program data stored in said memory devices and effective on execution by said microprocessor for modifying said video signals in predetermined manners in response to predetermined image directing signals; said control program data comprising game program data for selectively manipulating said visual images to display intentional distortions of visual images otherwise displayed for purposes of diversion menuing program data effective on execution by said microprocessor for controlling modification of said video signals.

Claim 14

A combination comprising: a remote control device usable at some distance of separation from a television receiver and having: a housing sized to be held in the hand of a human observer; a manually engagable input device mounted in said housing for manipulation by the human observer; and control transmitter circuitry mounted in said housing and coupled to said input device for transmitting at a frequency which is outside direct sensing by the human observer command signals coordinated in a predetermined manner to manipulation of said input device by the human observer; and a display controller for coupling to a television receiver video display device and for delivering to a coupled television receiver video display device image directing signals, said display controller having: command receiver circuitry for receiving said command signals from said command transmitter circuitry and for deriving from said received command signals image directing signals directing modification of visual images displayed to a human observer by the television receiver video display device, and; a microprocessor coupled to said command receiver circuitry and to said video reception circuitry (a) for receiving said image directing signals, (b) for executing control sequences in response to said image directing signals, and (c) for modifying said visual images as directed by manipulation of said remote control device by the human observer; memory devices coupled to said microprocessor for receiving and storing and delivering digitally encoded data used by said microprocessor in executing control programs; and digitally encoded control program data stored in said memory devices and effective on execution by said microprocessor for modifying said video signals in predetermined manners in response to predetermined image directing signals; said control program data comprising game program data for selectively manipulating said visual images to display intentional distortions of visual images otherwise displayed for purposes of diversion; said microprocessor and said game program data cooperating, as directed by manipulation of said remote control by the human observer, for: freezing a frame of said visual images while delivery of said audio signals continues; executing control sequences in response to said image directing signals for modifying said frame of said visual images as directed by manipulation of said remote control device by the human observer to display intentional distortions of said frame of said visual images for purposes of diversion while delivery of audio signals continues; and thereafter resuming delivery of video signals.

Claim 15

A combination comprising: a remote control device usable at some distance of separation from a television receiver and having: a housing sized to be held in the hand of a human observer; a manually engagable input device mounted in said housing for manipulation by the human observer; and control transmitter circuitry mounted in said housing and coupled to said input device for transmitting at a frequency which is outside direct sensing by the human observer command signals coordinated in a predetermined manner to manipulation of said input device by the human observer; and a display controller for coupling to a television receiver video display device and for delivering to a coupled television receiver video display device image directing signals, said display controller having: command receiver circuitry for receiving said command signals from said command transmitter circuitry and for deriving from said received command signals image directing signals directing modification of visual images displayed to a human observer by the television receiver video display device, and; a microprocessor coupled to said command receiver circuitry and to said video reception circuitry (a) for receiving said image directing signals, (b) for executing control sequences in response to said image directing signals, and (c) for modifying said visual images as directed by manipulation of said remote control device by the human observer; memory devices coupled to said microprocessor for receiving and storing and delivering digitally encoded data used by said microprocessor in executing control programs; and digitally encoded control program data stored in said memory devices and effective on execution by said microprocessor for modifying said video signals in predetermined manners in response to predetermined image directing signals; said control program data comprising game program data for selectively manipulating said visual images to display intentional distortions of visual images otherwise displayed for purposes of diversion; said microprocessor and said game program data cooperating, as directed by manipulation of said remote control by the human observer, for: freezing a frame of said visual images while delivery of said audio signals continues; executing control sequences in response to said image directing signals for modifying said frame of said visual images as directed by manipulation of said remote control device by the human observer to display intentional distortions of said frame of said visual images for purposes of diversion while delivery of audio signals continues; and thereafter resuming delivery of video signals.

Claim 16

A combination according to claim 10 wherein said microprocessor and said game program data cooperate for modifying said frame of said visual images by enabling imposition of graphic elements over the displayed frozen frame.

Claim 17

A combination according to claim 11 wherein said microprocessor and said game program data cooperate for enabling the human observer to select from among a plurality of displayed graphic elements and drag a selected graphic element into position overlying a portion of said frame of said visual images.

Claim 18

A combination according to claim 10 wherein said microprocessor and said game program data cooperate for modifying said frame of said visual images by causing graphic elements of varying sizes to appear to be descending before said frame of said visual images and for enabling the human observer to direct the movement of the descending graphic elements to assemble a view blocking array of such graphic elements.

Claim 19

A combination according to claim 10 wherein said microprocessor and said game program data cooperate for modifying said frame of said visual images by causing cartoon character graphic elements to be superimposed on said frame of said visual images while modifying the tonal characteristics of said audio signals to a tonal envelope characteristic of a selected one of said cartoon character graphic elements.

Claim 20

A combination according to claim 10 wherein said microprocessor and said game program data cooperate for modifying said frame of said visual images by overlaying onto said frame of said visual images a grid dividing said frame into a plurality of portions, blanking one of said portions, scrambling the locations of the remainder of said portions, and enabling the human observer to direct movement of said remainder of said portions to reposition said remainder of said portions into said frame of said visual images.

Claim 21

A combination comprising: a remote control device usable at some distance of separation from a television receiver and having: a housing sized to be held in the hand of a human observer; a manually engagable input device mounted in said housing for manipulation by the human observer; and control transmitter circuitry mounted in said housing and coupled to said input device for transmitting at a frequency which is outside direct sensing by the human observer command signals coordinated in a predetermined manner to manipulation of said input device by the human observer; and a display controller for coupling to a television receiver video display device and for delivering to a coupled television receiver video display device image directing signals, said display controller having: command receiver circuitry for receiving said command signals from said command transmitter circuitry and for deriving from said received command signals image directing signals directing modification of visual images displayed to a human observer by the television receiver video display device, and; a microprocessor coupled to said command receiver circuitry and to said video reception circuitry (a) for receiving said image directing signals, (b) for executing control sequences in response to said image directing signals, and (c) for modifying said visual images as directed by manipulation of said remote control device by the human observer; memory devices coupled to said microprocessor for receiving and storing and delivering digitally encoded data used by said microprocessor in executing control programs; and digitally encoded control program data stored in said memory devices and effective on execution by said microprocessor for modifying said video signals in predetermined manners in response to predetermined image directing signals; said control program data comprising game program data for selectively manipulating said visual images to display intentional distortions of visual images otherwise displayed for purposes of diversion; wherein said microprocessor and said game program data cooperate for modifying said frame of said visual images by causing cartoon character graphic elements to be superimposed on said frame of said visual images while modifying the tonal characteristics of said audio signals to a tonal envelope characteristic of a selected one of said cartoon character graphic elements.

Claim 22

A combination comprising: a remote control device usable at some distance of separation from a television receiver and having: a housing sized to be held in the hand of a human observer; a manually engagable input device mounted in said housing for manipulation by the human observer; and control transmitter circuitry mounted in said housing and coupled to said input device for transmitting at a frequency which is outside direct sensing by the human observer command signals coordinated in a predetermined manner to manipulation of said input device by the human observer; and a display controller for coupling to a television receiver video display device and for delivering to a coupled television receiver video display device image directing signals, said display controller having: command receiver circuitry for receiving said command signals from said command transmitter circuitry and for deriving from said received command signals image directing signals directing modification of visual images displayed to a human observer by the television receiver video display device, and; a microprocessor coupled to said command receiver circuitry and to said video reception circuitry (a) for receiving said image directing signals, (b) for executing control sequences in response to said image directing signals, and (c) for modifying said visual images as directed by manipulation of said remote control device by the human observer; memory devices coupled to said microprocessor for receiving and storing and delivering digitally encoded data used by said microprocessor in executing control programs; and digitally encoded control program data stored in said memory devices and effective on execution by said microprocessor for modifying said video signals in predetermined manners in response to predetermined image directing signals; said control program data comprising game program data for selectively manipulating said visual images to display intentional distortions of visual images otherwise displayed for purposes of diversion; wherein said microprocessor and said game program data cooperate for modifying said frame of said visual images by causing cartoon character graphic elements to be superimposed on said frame of said visual images while modifying the tonal characteristics of said audio signals to a tonal envelope characteristic of a selected one of said cartoon character graphic elements.

Claim 23

An intelligent television receiver comprising: a remote control device usable at some distance of separation from a television receiver and having: a housing sized to be held in the hand of a human observer; a manually engagable input device mounted in said housing for manipulation by the human observer; and control transmitter circuitry mounted in said housing and coupled to said input device for transmitting at a frequency which is outside direct sensing by the human observer command signals coordinated in a predetermined manner to manipulation of said input device by the human observer; a video display device for displaying visual images to a human observer; video reception circuitry coupled to said video display device for receiving signals transmitted at frequencies which are outside direct sensing by the human observer and for delivering to said video display device video signals which drive said video display device to display visual images; command receiver circuitry for receiving said command signals from said command transmitter circuitry and for deriving from said received command signals image directing signals directing modification of visual images displayed to a human observer by the television receiver video display device; a microprocessor coupled to said command receiver circuitry and to said video reception circuitry (a) for receiving said image directing signals, (b) for executing control sequences in response to said image directing signals, and (c) for modifying said visual images as directed by manipulation of said remote control device by the human observer; memory devices coupled to said microprocessor for receiving and storing and delivering digitally encoded data used by said microprocessor in executing control programs; and digitally encoded control program data stored in said memory devices and effective on execution by said microprocessor for modifying said video signals in predetermined manners in response to predetermined image directing signals; said control program data comprising game program data for selectively manipulating said visual images to display intentional distortions of visual images otherwise displayed for purposes of diversion and menuing program data effective on execution by said microprocessor for controlling modification of said video signals.

Claim 24

An intelligent television receiver comprising: a remote control device usable at some distance of separation from a television receiver and having: a housing sized to be held in the hand of a human observer; a manually engagable input device mounted in said housing for manipulation by the human observer; and control transmitter circuitry mounted in said housing and coupled to said input device for transmitting at a frequency which is outside direct sensing by the human observer command signals coordinated in a predetermined manner to manipulation of said input device by the human observer; a video display device for displaying visual images to a human observer; video reception circuitry coupled to said video display device for receiving signals transmitted at frequencies which are outside direct sensing by the human observer and for delivering to said video display device video signals which drive said video display device to display visual images; command receiver circuitry for receiving said command signals from said command transmitter circuitry and for deriving from said received command signals image directing signals directing modification of visual images displayed to a human observer by the television receiver video display device; a microprocessor coupled to said command receiver circuitry and to said video reception circuitry (a) for receiving said image directing signals, (b) for executing control sequences in response to said image directing signals, and (c) for modifying said visual images as directed by manipulation of said remote control device by the human observer; memory devices coupled to said microprocessor for receiving and storing and delivering digitally encoded data used by said microprocessor in executing control programs; and digitally encoded control program data stored in said memory devices and effective on execution by said microprocessor for modifying said video signals in predetermined manners in response to predetermined image directing signals; said control program data comprising game program data for selectively manipulating said visual images to display intentional distortions of visual images otherwise displayed for purposes of diversion and menuing program data effective on execution by said microprocessor for controlling modification of said video signals.

Claim 25

An intelligent television receiver comprising: a remote control device usable at some distance of separation from a television receiver and having: a housing sized to be held in the hand of a human observer; a manually engagable input device mounted in said housing for manipulation by the human observer; and control transmitter circuitry mounted in said housing and coupled to said input device for transmitting at a frequency which is outside direct sensing by the human observer command signals coordinated in a predetermined manner to manipulation of said input device by the human observer; a video display device for displaying visual images to a human observer; video reception circuitry coupled to said video display device for receiving signals transmitted at frequencies which are outside direct sensing by the human observer and for delivering to said video display device video signals which drive said video display device to display visual images; command receiver circuitry for receiving said command signals from said command transmitter circuitry and for deriving from said received command signals image directing signals directing modification of visual images displayed to a human observer by the television receiver video display device; a microprocessor coupled to said command receiver circuitry and to said video reception circuitry (a) for receiving said image directing signals, (b) for executing control sequences in response to said image directing signals, and (c) for modifying said visual images as directed by manipulation of said remote control device by the human observer; memory devices coupled to said microprocessor for receiving and storing and delivering digitally encoded data used by said microprocessor in executing control programs; and digitally encoded control program data stored in said memory devices and effective on execution by said microprocessor for modifying said video signals in predetermined manners in response to predetermined image directing signals; said control program data comprising game program data for selectively manipulating said visual images to display intentional distortions of visual images otherwise displayed for purposes of diversion; said microprocessor and said game program data cooperating, as directed by manipulation of said remote control device by the human observer, for: freezing a frame of said visual images while delivery of said audio signals continues; executing control sequences in response to said image directing signals for modifying said frame of said visual images as directed by manipulation of said remote control device by the human observer to display intentional distortions of said frame of said visual images for purposes of diversion while delivery of audio signals continues; and thereafter resuming delivery of video signals.

Claim 26

An intelligent television receiver comprising: a remote control device usable at some distance of separation from a television receiver and having: a housing sized to be held in the hand of a human observer; a manually engagable input device mounted in said housing for manipulation by the human observer; and control transmitter circuitry mounted in said housing and coupled to said input device for transmitting at a frequency which is outside direct sensing by the human observer command signals coordinated in a predetermined manner to manipulation of said input device by the human observer; a video display device for displaying visual images to a human observer; video reception circuitry coupled to said video display device for receiving signals transmitted at frequencies which are outside direct sensing by the human observer and for delivering to said video display device video signals which drive said video display device to display visual images; command receiver circuitry for receiving said command signals from said command transmitter circuitry and for deriving from said received command signals image directing signals directing modification of visual images displayed to a human observer by the television receiver video display device; a microprocessor coupled to said command receiver circuitry and to said video reception circuitry (a) for receiving said image directing signals, (b) for executing control sequences in response to said image directing signals, and (c) for modifying said visual images as directed by manipulation of said remote control device by the human observer; memory devices coupled to said microprocessor for receiving and storing and delivering digitally encoded data used by said microprocessor in executing control programs; and digitally encoded control program data stored in said memory devices and effective on execution by said microprocessor for modifying said video signals in predetermined manners in response to predetermined image directing signals; said control program data comprising game program data for selectively manipulating said visual images to display intentional distortions of visual images otherwise displayed for purposes of diversion; said microprocessor and said game program data cooperating, as directed by manipulation of said remote control device by the human observer, for: freezing a frame of said visual images while delivery of said audio signals continues; executing control sequences in response to said image directing signals for modifying said frame of said visual images as directed by manipulation of said remote control device by the human observer to display intentional distortions of said frame of said visual images for purposes of diversion while delivery of audio signals continues; and thereafter resuming delivery of video signals.

Claim 27

An intelligent television receiver according to claim 18 wherein said microprocessor and said game program data cooperate for modifying said frame of said visual images by enabling imposition of graphic elements over the displayed frozen frame.

Claim 28

An intelligent television receiver according to claim 19 wherein said microprocessor and said game program data cooperate for enabling the human observer to select from among a plurality of displayed graphic elements and drag a selected graphic element into position overlying a portion of said frame of said visual images.

Claim 29

An intelligent television receiver according to claim 18 wherein said microprocessor and said game program data cooperate for modifying said frame of said visual images by causing graphic elements of varying sizes to appear to be descending before said frame of said visual images and for enabling the human observer to direct the movement of the descending graphic elements to assemble a view blocking array of such graphic elements.

Claim 30

An intelligent television receiver according to claim 18 wherein said microprocessor and said game program data cooperate for modifying said frame of said visual images by causing cartoon character graphic elements to be superimposed on said frame of said visual images while modifying the tonal characteristics of said audio signals to a tonal envelope characteristic of a selected one of said cartoon character graphic elements.

Claim 31

An intelligent television receiver according to claim 18 wherein said microprocessor and said game program data cooperate for modifying said frame of said visual images by overlaying onto said frame of said visual images a grid dividing said frame into a plurality of portions, blanking one of said portions, scrambling the locations of the remainder of said portions, and enabling the human observer to direct movement of said remainder of said portions to reposition said remainder of said portions into said frame of said visual images.

Claim 32

An intelligent television receiver comprising: a remote control device usable at some distance of separation from a television receiver and having: a housing sized to be held in the hand of a human observer; a manually engagable input device mounted in said housing for manipulation by the human observer; and control transmitter circuitry mounted in said housing and coupled to said input device for transmitting at a frequency which is outside direct sensing by the human observer command signals coordinated in a predetermined manner to manipulation of said input device by the human observer; a video display device for displaying visual images to a human observer; video reception circuitry coupled to said video display device for receiving signals transmitted at frequencies which are outside direct sensing by the human observer and for delivering to said video display device video signals which drive said video display device to display visual images; command receiver circuitry for receiving said command signals from said command transmitter circuitry and for deriving from said received command signals image directing signals directing modification of visual images displayed to a human observer by the television receiver video display device; a microprocessor coupled to said command receiver circuitry and to said video reception circuitry (a) for receiving said image directing signals, (b) for executing control sequences in response to said image directing signals, and (c) for modifying said visual images as directed by manipulation of said remote control device by the human observer; memory devices coupled to said microprocessor for receiving and storing and delivering digitally encoded data used by said microprocessor in executing control programs; and digitally encoded control program data stored in said memory devices and effective on execution by said microprocessor for modifying said video signals in predetermined manners in response to predetermined image directing signals; said control program data comprising game program data for selectively manipulating said visual images to display intentional distortions of visual images otherwise displayed for purposes of diversion; wherein said microprocessor and said game program data cooperate for modifying said frame of said visual images by causing cartoon character graphic elements to be superimposed on said frame of said visual images while modifying the tonal characteristics of said audio signals to a tonal envelope characteristic of a selected one of said cartoon character graphic elements.

Claim 33

An intelligent television receiver comprising: a remote control device usable at some distance of separation from a television receiver and having: a housing sized to be held in the hand of a human observer; a manually engagable input device mounted in said housing for manipulation by the human observer; and control transmitter circuitry mounted in said housing and coupled to said input device for transmitting at a frequency which is outside direct sensing by the human observer command signals coordinated in a predetermined manner to manipulation of said input device by the human observer; a video display device for displaying visual images to a human observer; video reception circuitry coupled to said video display device for receiving signals transmitted at frequencies which are outside direct sensing by the human observer and for delivering to said video display device video signals which drive said video display device to display visual images; command receiver circuitry for receiving said command signals from said command transmitter circuitry and for deriving from said received command signals image directing signals directing modification of visual images displayed to a human observer by the television receiver video display device; a microprocessor coupled to said command receiver circuitry and to said video reception circuitry (a) for receiving said image directing signals, (b) for executing control sequences in response to said image directing signals, and (c) for modifying said visual images as directed by manipulation of said remote control device by the human observer; memory devices coupled to said microprocessor for receiving and storing and delivering digitally encoded data used by said microprocessor in executing control programs; and digitally encoded control program data stored in said memory devices and effective on execution by said microprocessor for modifying said video signals in predetermined manners in response to predetermined image directing signals; said control program data comprising game program data for selectively manipulating said visual images to display intentional distortions of visual images otherwise displayed for purposes of diversion; wherein said microprocessor and said game program data cooperate for modifying said frame of said visual images by causing cartoon character graphic elements to be superimposed on said frame of said visual images while modifying the tonal characteristics of said audio signals to a tonal envelope characteristic of a selected one of said cartoon character graphic elements.