Patent US6097441A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6097441A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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System for dual-display interaction with integrated television and internet content
Assignee: Rakuten Group Inc
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Filing: 1997-12-31
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Granted: 2000-08-01
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Expires: 2017-12-31
Abstract
Abstract Systems and methods are disclosed for using two or more cooperating but physically independent displays for enhanced viewing of data streams, where the viewing on one display does not interfere with the viewing on the other displays. The type of data streams may be complex streams such as multiple television (TV) broadcast signals or other video signals, internet data, or other local data such as information related to the state of a consumer's home appliances. The signals may include data embedded in the vertical blanking interval (VBI) for analog signals, or in dedicated slots in a digital signal according to protocols such as MPEG. The system includes a hand-held and portable remote control with a motion picture display, and hardware and/or software enabling interaction between a primary display (such as a TV) and the hand-held display. The hardware may include an integrated TV tuner, or a physically separate base station having a TV tuner, in which case the base station and the remote control would communicate via radio frequency (RF).
Inventors
- 👤 David E. Allport
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 18:37
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N21/00; H04N21/40; H04N21/41; H04N21/4104; H04N21/4126; H04N21/41265; H04N21/422; H04N21/42204; H04N21/42206; H04N21/42208; H04N21/42209; H04N21/42221; H04N21/42222; H04N21/426; H04N21/43; H04N21/435; H04N21/436; H04N21/4363; H04N21/43632; H04N21/45; H04N21/462; H04N21/4622; H04N21/47; H04N7/00; H04N7/08; H04N7/087; H04N7/088; H04N7/14; H04N7/141; H04N7/147; H04N7/16; H04N7/162; H04N7/163; A; A63; A63F; A63F2300/00; A63F2300/40; A63F2300/403; A63F2300/407; G; G08; G08C; G08C2201/00; G08C2201/30; G08C2201/33; H04N21/42224; H04N5/00; H04N5/38
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 43
Claim 1
Independent Claim
127 words
A method of viewing data associated with multiple channels of a TV broadcast signal substantially simultaneously comprising the steps of: receiving the TV broadcast signal into a base station having a tuner; sending the TV broadcast signal from the base station to a first device having a tuner and a display; tuning the first device to a first channel using the tuner of the first device; displaying first data associated with the first channel on the display of the first device; tuning the base station to a second channel using the tuner of the base station; sending second data associated with the second channel from the base station to a second device having a display; and displaying the second data on the display of the second device.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
127 words
A method of viewing data associated with multiple channels of a TV broadcast signal substantially simultaneously comprising the steps of: receiving the TV broadcast signal into a base station having a tuner; sending the TV broadcast signal from the base station to a first device having a tuner and a display; tuning the first device to a first channel using the tuner of the first device; displaying first data associated with the first channel on the display of the first device; tuning the base station to a second channel using the tuner of the base station; sending second data associated with the second channel from the base station to a second device having a display; and displaying the second data on the display of the second device.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the second device is a portable hand-held device.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the second data is sent using radio frequency transmission.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of swapping the first and second data between the first and second displays.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of outputting an audio signal associated with the second data from a speaker associated with the second device.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the second data is sent using radio frequency transmission.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the first device is tuned to the first channel in response to a command from the second device.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
89 words
A system for providing enhanced viewing of multiple data streams comprising: a first device having a display, the first device being capable of displaying full motion video; a second device having a display, the second device being capable of displaying full motion video, and having communications hardware for sending control infrared (IR) commands, and a radio frequency (RF) antenna for receiving RF transmissions; and a base station connected to the first device by a cable, and having communications hardware for receiving control IR commands and for sending RF transmissions.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
89 words
A system for providing enhanced viewing of multiple data streams comprising: a first device having a display, the first device being capable of displaying full motion video; a second device having a display, the second device being capable of displaying full motion video, and having communications hardware for sending control infrared (IR) commands, and a radio frequency (RF) antenna for receiving RF transmissions; and a base station connected to the first device by a cable, and having communications hardware for receiving control IR commands and for sending RF transmissions.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 8 wherein the second device is a hand-held remote control.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 9 wherein the remote control further comprises a USB port.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 8 wherein the first device has communications hardware for receiving control IR commands.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 8 wherein the base station further comprises a tuner.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
12 words
The system of claim 9 wherein the remote control comprises a tuner.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 8 wherein the second device further comprises a speaker.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 9 wherein the base station further comprises a tuner.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 10 wherein the base station further comprises a tuner.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 11 wherein the base station further comprises a tuner.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
12 words
The system of claim 12 wherein the first device comprises a tuner.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
92 words
The system of claim 18, wherein the tuner of the base station is tuned to a first channel and the tuner of the first device is tuned to a second channel, and wherein the second device contains a button programmed to: 1) send a first control IR command to the base station to cause the tuner of the base station to tune to the second channel; and 2) send a second control IR command to the first device to cause the tuner of the first device to tune to the first channel.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 13, wherein the base station further comprises a tuner.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 9 wherein the remote control further comprises a Firewire 1394 port.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
159 words
A method of swapping first data displayed on a first device, with second data displayed on a second device, wherein the first and second data are associated with first and second channels respectively and are both at least initially contained within a single data stream, and wherein the first device has communications hardware for transmitting infrared (IR) commands and the first device receives the first data via RF communications from a base station, and the second device has communications hardware for receiving IR commands, comprising the steps: actuating a button on the first device, said actuation causing an infrared (IR) command sequence to be sent from the first device to the second device commanding the second device to adjust a tuner therein to a predetermined channel, said actuation also causing another IR command sequence to be sent from the first device to the base station commanding the base station to adjust a tuner contained therein to a predetermined channel.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
159 words
A method of swapping first data displayed on a first device, with second data displayed on a second device, wherein the first and second data are associated with first and second channels respectively and are both at least initially contained within a single data stream, and wherein the first device has communications hardware for transmitting infrared (IR) commands and the first device receives the first data via RF communications from a base station, and the second device has communications hardware for receiving IR commands, comprising the steps: actuating a button on the first device, said actuation causing an infrared (IR) command sequence to be sent from the first device to the second device commanding the second device to adjust a tuner therein to a predetermined channel, said actuation also causing another IR command sequence to be sent from the first device to the base station commanding the base station to adjust a tuner contained therein to a predetermined channel.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 22 wherein the first device is a hand-held remote control, and the second device is a TV.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 23 wherein the remote control has a memory and wherein the remote control stores in the memory information related to the IR commands sent such that the remote control is capable of subsequently accessing the information to determine the channels tuned to by the tuners.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 23 wherein the remote control sends information to the base station via RF communications.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 22, wherein the remote control has a memory and wherein the remote control stores in the memory information related to the IR commands sent such that the remote control is capable of subsequently accessing the information to determine channels tuned to by the tuners.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 22, wherein the data stream is a TV signal.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 27 wherein the TV signal is received by the base station and by the second device.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 28 wherein the TV signal contains embedded data.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 29 wherein the embedded data is HTML data.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
173 words
A method of viewing multiple data streams substantially simultaneously comprising the steps of: receiving a first data stream into a base station; receiving a second data stream into the base station; transmitting the first data stream from the base station to a first device, the first device having a display capable of displaying full motion video; displaying the first data stream on the display of the first device; transmitting the second data stream from the base station to a second device, the second device having a display capable of displaying full motion video; displaying the second data stream on the display of the second device; and discontinuing to display the first data stream on the display of the first device, discontinuing to display the second data stream on the display of the second device, displaying the second data stream on the display of the first device, and displaying the first data stream on the display of the second device, all substantially simultaneously in response to activation of a button on the second device.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
173 words
A method of viewing multiple data streams substantially simultaneously comprising the steps of: receiving a first data stream into a base station; receiving a second data stream into the base station; transmitting the first data stream from the base station to a first device, the first device having a display capable of displaying full motion video; displaying the first data stream on the display of the first device; transmitting the second data stream from the base station to a second device, the second device having a display capable of displaying full motion video; displaying the second data stream on the display of the second device; and discontinuing to display the first data stream on the display of the first device, discontinuing to display the second data stream on the display of the second device, displaying the second data stream on the display of the first device, and displaying the first data stream on the display of the second device, all substantially simultaneously in response to activation of a button on the second device.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 31, wherein the second device is a hand-held remote control.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
148 words
A method of viewing different portions of data from a data stream on two physically separate displays substantially simultaneously comprising the steps of: receiving the data stream into a base station; processing the data stream within the base station to separate the data stream into a first portion and a second portion; transmitting the first portion from the base station to a first display; displaying the first portion on the first display; transmitting the second portion from the base station to a second display; displaying the second portion on the second display; and discontinuing to display the first portion on the first display, discontinuing to display the second portion on the second display, displaying the second portion on the first display, and displaying the first portion on the second display, all substantially simultaneously in response to activation of a button on a second device comprising the second display.
Claim 38
Independent Claim
148 words
A method of viewing different portions of data from a data stream on two physically separate displays substantially simultaneously comprising the steps of: receiving the data stream into a base station; processing the data stream within the base station to separate the data stream into a first portion and a second portion; transmitting the first portion from the base station to a first display; displaying the first portion on the first display; transmitting the second portion from the base station to a second display; displaying the second portion on the second display; and discontinuing to display the first portion on the first display, discontinuing to display the second portion on the second display, displaying the second portion on the first display, and displaying the first portion on the second display, all substantially simultaneously in response to activation of a button on a second device comprising the second display.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 33, wherein the second device is a hand-held remote control.
Claim 40
Independent Claim
108 words
A method of viewing different portions of data from a data stream, on two physically separate displays substantially simultaneously, comprising the steps of: receiving the data stream into a base station; processing the data stream within the base station to separate the data stream into a first portion and a second portion; transmitting the first portion from the base station to the first display; displaying the first portion on the first display; transmitting the second portion from the base station to the second display via Firewire 1394 protocol wired communication; and displaying the second portion on the second display, the second display being on a hand-held remote control.
Claim 41
Independent Claim
108 words
A method of viewing different portions of data from a data stream, on two physically separate displays substantially simultaneously, comprising the steps of: receiving the data stream into a base station; processing the data stream within the base station to separate the data stream into a first portion and a second portion; transmitting the first portion from the base station to the first display; displaying the first portion on the first display; transmitting the second portion from the base station to the second display via Firewire 1394 protocol wired communication; and displaying the second portion on the second display, the second display being on a hand-held remote control.
Claim 42
Independent Claim
122 words
A method of viewing data associated with multiple data streams substantially simultaneously comprising the steps of: receiving a first data stream into a base station; receiving a second data stream into the base station; transmitting the first data stream from the base station to a television having a display capable of displaying full motion video; displaying first data associated with the first data stream on the display of the television; transmitting the second data stream from the base station to a hand-held remote control using Firewire 1394 protocol wired communication, wherein the hand-held remote control has a display capable of displaying full motion video; and displaying second data associated with the second data stream on the display of the hand-held remote control.
Claim 43
Independent Claim
122 words
A method of viewing data associated with multiple data streams substantially simultaneously comprising the steps of: receiving a first data stream into a base station; receiving a second data stream into the base station; transmitting the first data stream from the base station to a television having a display capable of displaying full motion video; displaying first data associated with the first data stream on the display of the television; transmitting the second data stream from the base station to a hand-held remote control using Firewire 1394 protocol wired communication, wherein the hand-held remote control has a display capable of displaying full motion video; and displaying second data associated with the second data stream on the display of the hand-held remote control.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-08-01 | 2004-01-31 | 2004-08-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-08-01 | 2008-01-31 | 2008-08-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-08-01 | 2012-01-31 | 2012-08-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |