← Back to Patent Explorer
US6169541B1 Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Method, apparatus and system for integrating television signals with internet access

Assignee: Adeia Media Solutions Inc
•
Filing: 1998-05-28
•
Granted: 2001-01-02
•
Expires: 2018-05-28
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract A method, computer program product and system are provided for integrating television signals with internet access. A television signal is received and divided into images and universal resource locators (URLs). Checking is performed to identify a filtered image user selection. Responsive to a filtered image user selection not being identified, the image is altered to visually emphasize URLs. Then the visually altered image is rendered for display. Responsive to a filtered image user selection being identified, the filtered image without URLs is rendered for display. The user enters user selected preferences and used selected filtering for display.

Inventors

  • 👤 Richard Michael Smith

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-24 08:54
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N21/00; H04N21/80; H04N21/85; H04N21/858; H04N21/8586; H04N21/40; H04N21/41; H04N21/426; H04N21/43; H04N21/431; H04N21/4312; H04N21/45; H04N21/462; H04N21/4622; H04N21/47; H04N21/478; H04N21/4782

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim 67 words
A method for integrating television signals with internet access comprising the steps of: receiving a television signal; dividing the received television signal into television signal images and universal resource locators (URLs); checking for a filtered image user selection, responsive to a filtered image user selection not being identified, altering the television signal image to visually emphasize URLs and rendering said visually altered television signal image for display.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 67 words
A method for integrating television signals with internet access comprising the steps of: receiving a television signal; dividing the received television signal into television signal images and universal resource locators (URLs); checking for a filtered image user selection, responsive to a filtered image user selection not being identified, altering the television signal image to visually emphasize URLs and rendering said visually altered television signal image for display.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 38 words
A method for integrating television signals with internet access as recited in claim 1 further includes the steps of responsive to a filtered image user selection being identified, rendering said filtered television signal image without URL's for display.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 24 words
A method for integrating television signals with internet access as recited in claim 1 further includes the steps of interpreting remote control user entries.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 49 words
A method for integrating television signals with internet access as recited in claim 3 wherein the steps of interpreting remote control user entries includes the steps of checking for a valid image selected, and responsive to a valid image being selected, checking for a user selection to hide URLs.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 38 words
A method for integrating television signals with internet access as recited in claim 4 further includes the steps of responsive to an identified user selection to hide URLs, marking said filtered television signal image user selection to yes.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 53 words
A method for integrating television signals with internet access as recited in claim 3 wherein the steps of interpreting remote control user entries includes the steps of checking for a user selection for preferences, and responsive to an identified new preference user selection, setting said new preference user selection in a remote receiver/decoder.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 32 words
A method for integrating television signals with internet access as recited in claim 6 further includes the steps of setting multiple new preference user selections in said remote receiver/decoder for multiple users.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 87 words
A method for integrating television signals with internet access as recited in claim 3 wherein the steps of interpreting remote control user entries includes the steps of checking for a valid image selected; responsive to a valid image being selected, checking for a URL in the selected image having matching user specified preferences; responsive to no matching user specified preferences in the selected image, setting the URL to a default; and responsive to matching user specified preferences in the selected image, setting the URL to matched URL.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 47 words
A method for integrating television signals with internet access as recited in claim 3 wherein the steps of interpreting remote control user entries includes the steps of identifying a selected URL, accessing an internet service provider, retrieving the selected URL and rendering a web page for display.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 25 words
A method for integrating television signals with internet access as recited in claim 9 further includes the step of returning control to a web browser.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 31 words
A method for integrating television signals with internet access as recited in claim 10 further includes the step of returning control to the television signal when the web browser is canceled.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 94 words
A computer program product for integrating television signals with internet access comprising: a recording medium; means, recorded on the recording medium, for operative controlling a television signal decoder for dividing a received television signal into television signal image and universal resource locators (URLs); means, recorded on the recording medium, for checking for a filtered image user selection, means, recorded on the recording medium, responsive to a filtered image user selection not being identified, for altering the television signal image to visually emphasize URLs and for rendering said visually altered television signal image for display.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 94 words
A computer program product for integrating television signals with internet access comprising: a recording medium; means, recorded on the recording medium, for operative controlling a television signal decoder for dividing a received television signal into television signal image and universal resource locators (URLs); means, recorded on the recording medium, for checking for a filtered image user selection, means, recorded on the recording medium, responsive to a filtered image user selection not being identified, for altering the television signal image to visually emphasize URLs and for rendering said visually altered television signal image for display.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 44 words
A computer program product for integrating television signals with internet access as recited in claim 12 further includes means, recorded on the recording medium, responsive to a filtered image user selection being identified, for rendering said filtered television signal image without URLs for display.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 33 words
A computer program product for integrating television signals with internet access as recited in claim 12 further includes means, recorded on the recording medium, for identifying a user selection for a new language.
Claim 17
Independent Claim 99 words
A system for integrating television signals with internet access comprising: a decoder for receiving a television signal; said decoder including means for dividing the received television signal into television signal images and universal resource locators (URLs); a remote control for entering user selection preferences and user selection image filtering; a remote receiver/decoder for receiving the user entered selections and for checking for a filtered image user selection, said remote receiver/decoder being responsive to a filtered image user selection not identified, for altering the television signal image to visually emphasize URLs and for rendering said visually altered image for display.
Claim 18
Independent Claim 99 words
A system for integrating television signals with internet access comprising: a decoder for receiving a television signal; said decoder including means for dividing the received television signal into television signal images and universal resource locators (URLs); a remote control for entering user selection preferences and user selection image filtering; a remote receiver/decoder for receiving the user entered selections and for checking for a filtered image user selection, said remote receiver/decoder being responsive to a filtered image user selection not identified, for altering the television signal image to visually emphasize URLs and for rendering said visually altered image for display.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 38 words
A system for integrating television signals with internet access as recited in claim 15 wherein said remote receiver/decoder being responsive to an identified filtered image user selection, for rendering the filtered television signal image without URLs for display.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 30 words
A system for integrating television signals with internet access as recited in claim 15 wherein said user selection preferences entered by said remote control include a user selected language preference.

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2004-01-02 2004-07-03 2005-01-02 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2008-01-02 2008-07-03 2009-01-02 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2012-01-02 2012-07-03 2013-01-02 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag