Patent ID: 6151077
Filing Date: 2000-11-21
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
An interface system for a television receiver, said television receiver comprising a tuner for receiving and selectively tuning to a television signal, a deflection circuit coupled to said tuner for generating deflection signals from synchronization signals contained in said television signal, an audio signal processing circuit coupled to said tuner for processing an audio signal contained in said television signal, a video signal processing circuit coupled to said tuner for processing a video signal contained in said television signal, a display coupled to said deflection circuit and said video signal processing circuit for displaying said video signal in dependence on said deflection signals, and a power supply circuit for supplying operating power to each of the above components, wherein said interface system comprises:standard bus means having M leads separately connected to said audio signal processing circuit, said deflection circuit, said video signal processing circuit and said power supply circuit, where M is an integer greater than one;connector means having M contacts connected, respectively, to said M leads in said standard bus means; andcircuit board means accessible by a user of said television receiver, said circuit board means having plug means connectable to said connector means, said plug means having N contacts corresponding, respectively, to at least some of the M contacts in said connector means, where N is an integer less than or equal to M, and circuit means connected to said N contacts in said plug means, said circuit means, when connected through said plug means, said connector means and said standard bus means to at least one of the audio signal processing circuit, the video signal processing circuit, the deflection circuit and the power supply circuit in the television receiver, modifies the operation of said television receiver thereby providing additional features for the user, wherein said television receiver further comprises a microcomputer for controlling said television receiver, and wherein said standard bus means includes leads connected to said microcomputer, characterized in that said circuit means on said circuit board means comprises:an interface connector for connecting the circuit board means to an interconnecting network;an interface circuit coupled to said interface connector for applying outgoing message signals to and for receiving incoming message signals from said interconnecting network;coding means, coupled to said interface circuit, for encoding the outgoing message signals and for detecting and decoding incoming message signals;a keyboard having a plurality of alpha-numeric keys for generating messages;a microprocessor coupled to said keyboard and said coding means for generating said outgoing message signals from the messages from said keyboard, and for processing said incoming message signals, said microprocessor having a first memory coupled thereto for storing an operating program, and a second memory coupled thereto for temporarily storing data signals, wherein said microprocessor is coupled to said microcomputer via said plug means and said connector means, whereby depending on the messages from said keyboard, said microprocessor sends the message signals through said coding means and said interface circuit to said interconnecting network, and whereby said coding means detects and decodes message signals from the interconnecting network, and said microprocessor causes the message signals to be displayed.