US6543052B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Internet shopping system utilizing set top box and voice recognition
Assignee: Google LLC
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Filing: 1999-07-09
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Granted: 2003-04-01
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Expires: 2019-07-09
Abstract
Abstract An Internet-based electronic shopping system hosted on a television-set-top-box combination controlled by a remote control unit. The set-top box (STB) includes a tuner, an internal or external modem and/or cable modem, configured to communicate with an Internet service provider over the appropriate transmission media. The STB also includes purpose-type application software such as voice recognition software and bar code recognition software to support an electronic shopping system. The STB further includes an external interface for connection to a multiplicity of external peripheral devices, such as an interphone, VCR, video camera, printer, and the like. The remote control unit includes a keypad, a microphone, an optional speaker, an optional digital camera, and an optional speaker. Data input to an Internet shopping Web program accessed through the STB's Web browser may thus be made through the microphone, keypad, and optionally through the digital camera. If the remote control unit includes the digital camera, bar code information may be scanned by the remote control unit and transmitted to the STB for identifying an item to be purchased. The remote control unit is also capable of being used as a cordless telephone or videophone, and might also function as a handset for an interphone when the appropriate communication links are connected to the STB through its external interface. When the system is used as a videophone, videographic images of a party on the other end of the line is displayed on the TV screen via a pop-up window.
Inventors
- 👤 Nobuo Ogasawara
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 12:06
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N21/00; H04N21/40; H04N21/43; H04N21/435; G; G06; G06Q; G06Q30/00; G06Q30/06; H04N21/20; H04N21/23; H04N21/235; H04N21/25; H04N21/254; H04N21/2542; H04N21/41; H04N21/422; H04N21/42203; H04N21/4223; H04N21/426; H04N21/45; H04N21/462; H04N21/4622; H04N21/47; H04N21/478; H04N21/47815; H04N21/4782; H04N21/4788; H04N7/00; H04N7/16; H04N7/173; H04N7/17309; H04N7/17318
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 38
Claim 1
Independent Claim
126 words
In an electronic shopping system including a television set coupled to a set-top box, the set-top box being configured to access the Internet through a Web browser resident in the set-top box, the set-top box further being configured to communicate with a remote control unit, the remote control unit comprising: a first input medium including a keypad for providing keypad data to a shopping application program accessed through the Web browser; a second input medium including a microphone for providing voice data to the shopping application program accessed through the Web browser; and a transmitter coupled to the first input medium and the second input medium for transmitting the keypad data and the voice data to the shopping application program as input for effectuating a purchase.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
126 words
In an electronic shopping system including a television set coupled to a set-top box, the set-top box being configured to access the Internet through a Web browser resident in the set-top box, the set-top box further being configured to communicate with a remote control unit, the remote control unit comprising: a first input medium including a keypad for providing keypad data to a shopping application program accessed through the Web browser; a second input medium including a microphone for providing voice data to the shopping application program accessed through the Web browser; and a transmitter coupled to the first input medium and the second input medium for transmitting the keypad data and the voice data to the shopping application program as input for effectuating a purchase.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
The remote control unit of claim 1 further comprising a third input medium including a digital visual image recording means for providing videographic data, the third input medium being coupled to the transmitter for transmitting the videographic data to the set-top box.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
The remote control unit of claim 1 further comprising: a receiver for receiving output voice data from the set-top box; and a speaker coupled to the receiver for generating sound waves corresponding to the received output voice data.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The remote control unit of claim 1 further comprising a voice recognizer for converting voice data to character data, the character data being transmitted by the transmitter to the set-top-box.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
116 words
In an electronic shopping system including a television set and a remote control unit configured with a microphone, the remote control unit providing input data to a set-top box coupled to the television set, the set-top box comprising: a receiver for receiving the input data from the remote control unit, the input data including voice data from the microphone; a voice recognizer for converting voice data to character data; means for accessing a shopping application program; means for providing the input data to a shopping application program for effectuating a purchase; and an audio-visual output unit coupled to a Web browser for generating an audio-visual display on a display unit in response to the input data.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
116 words
In an electronic shopping system including a television set and a remote control unit configured with a microphone, the remote control unit providing input data to a set-top box coupled to the television set, the set-top box comprising: a receiver for receiving the input data from the remote control unit, the input data including voice data from the microphone; a voice recognizer for converting voice data to character data; means for accessing a shopping application program; means for providing the input data to a shopping application program for effectuating a purchase; and an audio-visual output unit coupled to a Web browser for generating an audio-visual display on a display unit in response to the input data.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
The set-top box of claim 5 further comprising: a voice generator coupled to the Web browser for converting character data to output voice data; and a transmitter for transmitting the output voice data.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The set-top box of claim 5 further comprising an external interface with a household peripheral device.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
The set-top box claim 5 further comprising an interface with a customer ID card.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The set-top box of claim 5 further comprising a local storage unit for storing and retrieving application software programs.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
The electronic shopping system of claim 5 , wherein the display unit is a television monitor.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
131 words
An electronic shopping system comprising: a remote control unit comprising: at least two input media for providing input data, the first input medium including a keypad for providing keypad data, and the second input medium including a microphone for providing voice data; and a transmitter coupled to the input media for transmitting the input data; a set-top box in communication with the remote control unit, the set-top box comprising: a receiver for receiving the input data from the transmitter in the remote control unit; means for accessing a shopping application program; means for providing the input data to the shopping application program for effectuating a purchase; and an audio-visual output unit coupled to the Web browser for generating an audio-visual display on a display unit in response to the input data.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
131 words
An electronic shopping system comprising: a remote control unit comprising: at least two input media for providing input data, the first input medium including a keypad for providing keypad data, and the second input medium including a microphone for providing voice data; and a transmitter coupled to the input media for transmitting the input data; a set-top box in communication with the remote control unit, the set-top box comprising: a receiver for receiving the input data from the transmitter in the remote control unit; means for accessing a shopping application program; means for providing the input data to the shopping application program for effectuating a purchase; and an audio-visual output unit coupled to the Web browser for generating an audio-visual display on a display unit in response to the input data.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
34 words
The electronic shopping system of claim 11 , wherein the remote control unit further comprises a third input medium including a digital visual image recording means for providing videographic data to the set-top box.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
The electronic shopping system of claim 12 , wherein the remote control unit comprises means for bar code recognition.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
The electronic shopping system of claim 12 , wherein the set-top box comprises means for bar code recognition.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
72 words
The electronic shopping system of claim 11 , wherein the set-top box further comprises: a voice generator coupled to the Web browser for converting character data to output voice data; and a transmitter for transmitting the output voice data; and the remote control unit further comprises: a receiver for receiving the output voice data; and a speaker coupled to the receiver for generating sound waves corresponding to the received output voice data.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
The electronic shopping system of claim 11 , wherein the set-top box further comprises an external interface with a household peripheral device.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
The electronic shopping system of claim 11 , wherein the set-top box further comprises an interface with a customer ID card.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
26 words
The electronic shopping system of claim 11 , wherein the set-top box is coupled to a local storage unit for storing and retrieving application software programs.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
16 words
The electronic shopping system of claim 11 , wherein the display unit is a television monitor.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
19 words
The electronic shopping system of claim 11 further including a wireless keyboard system for communicating with the set-top box.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
28 words
The electronic shopping system of claim 11 , wherein the remote control unit is further configured with a speaker and is capable of functioning as a wireless phone.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
30 words
The electronic shopping system of claim 11 , wherein the remote control unit is further configured with a speaker and is capable of functioning as a handset for an interphone.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
30 words
The electronic shopping system of claim 11 , wherein the remote control unit is further configured with a speaker and is capable of functioning as a handset for a videophone.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
99 words
An electronic shopping method comprising the steps of: accessing a data communications network through a set-top box; accessing a shopping application program from the data communications network; entering input data through a remote control unit having at least a keypad for entering keypad data and a microphone for entering voice data; converting the voice data to character data; transmitting the input data from the remote control unit to the shopping application program for effectuating a purchase; receiving audio-visual data from the shopping application program in response to the input data; and displaying the audio-visual data on a display unit.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
99 words
An electronic shopping method comprising the steps of: accessing a data communications network through a set-top box; accessing a shopping application program from the data communications network; entering input data through a remote control unit having at least a keypad for entering keypad data and a microphone for entering voice data; converting the voice data to character data; transmitting the input data from the remote control unit to the shopping application program for effectuating a purchase; receiving audio-visual data from the shopping application program in response to the input data; and displaying the audio-visual data on a display unit.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 24 , wherein the step of entering input data comprises the step of entering videographic data through the remote control unit further including a digital visual image recording means.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 25 , wherein the videographic data comprises bar code data.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of claim 24 further comprising the steps of: receiving character data from the shopping application program; converting the character data to output voice data; transmitting the output voice data to a remote control unit having a speaker; and generating sound waves corresponding to the received output voice data.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 24 further comprising the step of interfacing with a household peripheral device through the set-top box.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 24 further comprising the step of interfacing with a customer ID card through the set-top box.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 24 further comprising the step of interfacing with a local storage unit for storing and retrieving application software programs.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 24 further comprising the step of entering input data through a wireless keyboard system.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
41 words
The remote control unit of claim 1 , wherein the second input medium further provides voice data to a plurality of devices coupled to the set-top box for interacting with the plurality of devices via voice from the remote control unit.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
148 words
In an electronic shopping system including a television set and a remote control unit configured with a plurality of input media types, the remote control unit providing input data to a set-top box coupled to the television set, the set-top box comprising: a receiver for receiving the input data from the remote control unit, the input data being generated by the plurality of input media types; a decoder for decoding the input data into a plurality of individual data sets, each individual data set being associated with a particular input media type, the decoder determining whether further processing is needed for a particular individual data set based on its associated input media type; means for accessing a software application program; means for providing the input data to the software application program; and means for receiving an output from the software application program in response to the input data.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
148 words
In an electronic shopping system including a television set and a remote control unit configured with a plurality of input media types, the remote control unit providing input data to a set-top box coupled to the television set, the set-top box comprising: a receiver for receiving the input data from the remote control unit, the input data being generated by the plurality of input media types; a decoder for decoding the input data into a plurality of individual data sets, each individual data set being associated with a particular input media type, the decoder determining whether further processing is needed for a particular individual data set based on its associated input media type; means for accessing a software application program; means for providing the input data to the software application program; and means for receiving an output from the software application program in response to the input data.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-03-31 | 2006-09-30 | 2007-04-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-03-31 | 2010-09-30 | 2011-04-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-03-31 | 2014-09-30 | 2015-04-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |