Multi-function TV receiver

A multi-function TV receiver capable of performing the processing related to an object transmitted through the broadcasting and an object which is derived from accessible means other than the broadcasting and improving utility value for users and (broadcasting station) providers and achieving convenience. A first object data multiplexed in the vertical blanking interval is captured by communication means of a tuner 112 and a VBI decoder 120. A second object data which is used in a network including servers is captured by communication means of a CPU 133 and a modem 131. An linking operation associated the first and the second object data is executed by linking means using an I/O interface 137, a graphic controller 135, memories 134 and 136, a received optical data processor 138, a specification table 142, etc.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
 The present invention generally relates to a multi-function TV receiver,
 and more particularly, to a multi-function TV receiver capable of
 analyzing and processing received scripts.
 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
 In recent years, many devices that have the ability of accessing the
 Internet, which is an external network, have been developed as electrical
 home appliances, with the recent progress of semiconductor technology. For
 example, contain types of TV receivers incorporate a high-performance
 central processing unit (CPU). Hereinafter, this kind of TV receiver will
 be referred to as Internet TV receiver. The Internet TV receiver
 accommodates therein a CPU and a modulator-demodulator (hereinafter
 referred to as modem). Thus the Internet TV receiver is not only able to
 receive TV programs in common with conventional TV receivers, but also
 able to access Internet servers. The Internet TV receiver is thus capable
 of utilizing information services for browsing a package of one or more
 files including downloadable software programs, and others of documents,
 voices, pictures, etc. which are provided through WWW (World Wide Web)
 servers, electronic mail services through Internet, etc. In this
 specification, the package and the electronic mail data will be simply
 referred to as Internet information.
 FIG. 14 shows a configuration of conventionally contemplated Internet TVs.
 In FIG. 14, TV signals carried by broadcast waves are received through a
 receiving antenna 10. The input signal is applied into a tuner 12 for a
 channel selection and a demodulation of signals of the selected channel.
 Baseband signals obtained by the demodulation comply with, for instance,
 the NTSC format in Japan. The baseband signal is applied to an NTSC
 decoder 13 for decoding therefrom a luminance signal and a chrominance
 signal.
 A conventional TV receiver is in the structure as described above. In case
 of Internet TV receivers, there is provided a display mode changer 14 for
 selectively displaying a conventional TV program or an image which
 corresponds to Internet information. When a TV receiver is set in the mode
 to display conventional TV programs, the display mode changer 14
 selectively introduces the luminance signal or the chrominance signal from
 the NTSC decoder 13 to an output terminal 15 for displaying it on a
 display (not shown) connected to the output terminal 15.
 On the other hand, Internet information is received to a TV receiver
 through public lines such as telephone lines etc. ISDN (Integrated Service
 Digital Network) lines, CATV lines, etc. The Internet information received
 through an input terminal 21 is applied to a modem 22. The modem 22 is
 capable of receiving or transmitting data. The modem 22 is connected to a
 system bus 23 for receiving or transmitting data under the control of a
 CPU 24. The CPU 24 performs a data processing and a control of associated
 circuits blocks based on a stored program, i.e., software stored in a
 memory 25. If decoded data is for display control, the CPU 24 supplies the
 data to a graphic controller 26. The graphic controller 26 supplies video
 signals to the display mode changer 14 through a video memory 27. When a
 TV receiver is set in a mode to display Internet information, the display
 mode changer 14 selects video signals from the video memory 27 and leads
 out to a display unit (not shown) via the output terminal 15. Thus, the
 Internet information is displayed on the display unit.
 An input/output interface (I/O interface) 28 is connected to the system bus
 23. The I/O interface 28 is possible to perform the channel selection, a
 picture quality adjustment, a display mode switching, etc.
 Further, the system bus 23 is connected with a received optical data
 processor 29. The received optical data processor 29 receives and
 processes transmitted from a remote controller 30. Subsequently the
 received optical data processor 29 is able to change over the system
 operating functions to modes suitable for the user's operation. The
 control signal in response to user's operation is supplied to the control
 ends of the tuner 12, the NTSC decoder 13, the display mode change 14,
 etc.
 In addition, there is such an Internet TV receiver which is provided with a
 screen combining unit instead of the display mode changer 14 for
 simultaneous displaying both of TV broadcasting and Internet information
 on two screens.
 Next, the operation of software associated with processing of Internet
 information by CPU will be described in reference to FIG. 15.
 FIG. 15 is a block diagram representing operations implemented by a
 software for explaining one example of the software operation related to
 the process of Internet information by a CPU. Operational examples of
 software are shown, for example, in "INTERFACE", pp. 131-135, issued on
 June, 1996. FIG. 15 is a flowchart depicting the software as a flow of
 operations associated with the contents of the publication.
 When the circuit is connected to the Internet, the communication protocol
 process of the modem is executed for Internet information by a modem
 controller 41 which is equivalent to the modem 22. The output data of the
 modem controller 41 is transferred to a network processor 42. Normally,
 the Internet information is transmitted as per a protocol so-called as
 TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol). Therefor, the
 network processor 42 executes processes based on the TCP/IP to extract the
 Internet information from packets. The extracted Internet information is
 the applied to an HTTP processor 43.
 There are several hundred protocols on the Internet and data of the WWW
 contents (files existing in servers on the WWW) described in a language
 called HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language) are exchanged as per an HTTP
 (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol). The HTTP is a stateless protocol designed
 for high speed transmission of documents.
 Therefore, an HTTP processor 43 extracts HTML from HTTP and then transfer
 it to an HTML analyzer 44. In the HTML analyzer 44, a grammatical analysis
 of HTML is executed, prescribed data are decoded and developed data are
 supplied to a browser 45. The browser 45 arranges and displays the
 developed data. The actual layout display is achieved by the software
 process by the CPU 24 and the graphic controller 26.
 According to the Internet TV described above, a signal processing system in
 a mode to display conventional TV program and a signal processing system
 in a mode to display Internet information are completely independent of
 each other. Further, there are cases that a user wishes to receive
 Internet information by connecting to the Internet, for instance, such
 cases that a user wishes to know detailed information on the cast of a TV
 program received by the user or a person or when a place wherein Internet
 information exists is introduced on a TV program by a URL (Universal
 Resource Locator) type notation ("http://www.Toshiba. . . . ", etc.) or
 when the user wishes to know detailed information as to an area where the
 program is filmed.
 In these cases, the user needs to access a file on a server linked to the
 Internet after entering names of the casts, a name of program recording
 location, URL, etc. on a memo pad, a memory, etc. and entering them into
 an Internet TV receiver by an entry interface such as a keyboard, etc.
 There are problems that such an accessing operation is inconvenient for
 users and Internet information is not instantly received.
 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
 So, it is an object of the present invention to provide a multi-function TV
 receiver which is capable of executing processes related to objects which
 are transmitted in accompany with TV signals and objects which are
 utilized in the network including servers for improving utility value and
 achieving convenience.
 In order to achieve the above object, a multi-function TV receiver
 according to one aspect of the present invention include a communication
 means for receiving a first object data which is transmitted in accompany
 with TV signals, object receiving means which is assigned to a channel
 separated from the first communication means and is capable of receiving a
 second object data, and linking means for linking the first object data of
 the first communication means with the second object data.
 As it is possible to link the access to the second object by the linking
 means using the control information included in the first object data, a
 user is able to easily view displays of the information of the first
 object and the information of the second object.
 Additional objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent
 to persons skilled in the art from a study of the following description
 and the accompanying drawings, which are hereby incorporated in and
 constitute a part of this specification.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
 The present invention will be described in detail with reference to the
 FIGS. 1 through 13.
 FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention.
 In FIG. 1, TV signals transmitted with broadcast wave are received to a
 receiving antenna 111. The channel of the received signal is selected by a
 tuner 112, and then the selected channel signal is demodulated. Baseband
 signals obtained by the demodulation comply with, for instance, the NTSC
 format in Japan. The baseband signals are applied to an NTSC decoder 113
 where the signals are decoded and converted to luminance and chrominance
 signals.
 The output of the NTSC decoder 113 is sent to a compandor
 (compression/expansion processor) 114. The compandor 114 compresses or
 expands pictures in the horizontal and/or vertical directions using a
 memory 115 so that they are possible to be displayed at desired display
 positions. A control signal for the picture compression and expansion is
 given from a graphic controller 135 which is described later.
 A picture signal output from the compandor 114 is supplied to a data
 combiner 116, wherein the picture signal is combined with another picture
 signal output from a video memory 136 (described later). Thus the combined
 picture signal is output through an output terminal 117. The output
 picture signal of the output terminal 117 is displayed on a display unit
 which uses a CRT or liquid crystal, etc.
 Further, the output signal of the tuner 112 is also applied to a VBI data
 decoder 120.
 VBI data decoder 120 decodes data broadcasting signals which are
 multiplexed on the vertical blanking interval (VBI). In the data broadcast
 signals, teletext signals, such supplemental data which are transmitted
 for supplementing a current broadcast program are included. As the
 supplemental data, there are available various data intended by
 broadcasting stations. They are, for instance, the cast of a drama,
 supplemental sentences explaining displayed landscapes, supplemental
 picture data (still picture, moving picture), audio data, text data
 explaining commodities, etc., an order receiver of commodity, phone number
 data of the order receiver, layout control data for controlling picture
 layout positions on the screen, a script to interactively process
 transmitted data, etc. and these supplemental data become the first object
 data.
 In this specification, data composed of a script (program) to be executed
 by a processor such as CPU, etc. and such resources as a data required for
 executing the script are defined as "Object Data".
 All the first object data are once stored in a RAM. Data explained
 hereinafter are the first object data which are especially related to the
 linking with the Internet. This first object data are able to contribute
 to connection with Internet service providers through public lines such as
 telephone lines etc. in response to the remote control operation, which
 includes such data processing as packet data preparation, transferring,
 etc.
 The construction of conventional TV receiver is as described above. In the
 case of a the multi-function TV receiver, the viewing of conventional TV
 programs and Internet information are correlated to each other. That is,
 the first object data transmitted using VBI has an automatic access
 command to automatically access addresses including URL, etc. wherein the
 Internet contents exist.
 In case of a multi-function TV receiver of this embodiment, when the first
 object data having the automatic access command are received, a modem 131
 is connected to the Internet through auto-dialing to pre-registered
 Internet service provider by the linking operation of a CPU 133. Then the
 TV receiver accesses the server on the Internet so as to capture the
 Internet information.
 Thus, the user is able to receive the Internet information automatically.
 The Internet information received through an input terminal 130 is applied
 to the modem 131. The modem 131 is able to receive or transmit data
 through such public lines as telephone lines, ISDN (Integrated Services
 Digital Network), CATV cable, etc. The modem 131 is connected to a system
 bus 132 and receives and transmits data under the control of the CPU 133.
 The CPU 133 carries out data processings and controllings of circuit
 blocks based on a stored program, i.e., software in a memory (including
 ROMs and RAMs) 134. If the decoded data is for a display control, the CPU
 133 supplies the data to a graphic controller 135. The graphic controller
 135 outputs video signals as pictures through the video memory 136 and
 supplies to the data combiner 116.
 The system bus 132 is connected with an input/output interface (I/O
 interface) 137. The selection of broadcasting channel, adjustment of
 picture quality, etc. is possible to be made through the I/O interface
 137.
 In addition, the system bus 132 is also connected with a received optical
 data processor 138. The received optical data processor 138 receives and
 processes signals transmitted in response to the operation of a remote
 controller 139 and supplies the received control signal to the control
 terminals of the tuner 112, the NTSC decoder 113, etc. Thus, the user is
 able to select the system operating functions through operations on his
 remote controller. Further, it is also possible to control the entire
 system through the remote controller 139, the CPU 133 and the graphic
 controller 135. For instance, it is possible to control the execution or
 cancellation of the picture compression/expansion process.
 FIG. 2 is a block diagram shown for explaining one operation of an Internet
 TV receiver in the construction as described above. The diagram
 illustrates operations implemented in software.
 The data broadcasting signals multiplexed on the vertical blanking interval
 (VBI) are supplied to a VBI data processor 211 from the VBI data decoder
 120. In the VBI data processor 211, the first object (added with an error
 correction code so that no error is generated if the distortion is
 generated in the transmission channel) is extracted and applied with the
 error correcting process, etc. This is possible by using, for instance, a
 teletext protocol and an error correction program. The first object
 applied with the error correction is supplied to an object processor 212.
 In the object processor 212, the object protocol process is executed and an
 object is output to an object interpreter 213. In the object interpreter
 213, such Internet information included in the object as still picture
 data, text data, audio data, layout control data for controlling picture
 layout positions on the screen, etc., a script for interactively
 processing received data, etc. are developed and supplied to a browser
 214.
 On the other hand, when the circuit is connected to the Internet by an
 automatic access command included in the first object, the modem
 communication protocol process is executed for the Internet information by
 a modem controller 221 which is equivalent to the modem 131. The output
 data of the modem controller 221 is transmitted to a network processor
 222.
 As the communication is carried out by a protocol which is called TCP/IP
 (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol), the Internet
 information is processed as per the TCP/IP in the network processor 222
 and the Internet information included in the packets is extracted. The
 extracted Internet information is then supplied to an HTTP processor 223.
 The WWW contents are described in a language HTML (Hyper Text Markup
 Language) and a protocol for receiving the WWW contents is HTTP (Hyper
 Text Transfer Protocol). Therefore, in the HTTP processor 223, HTML type
 Internet information is extracted by executing the process as per the HTTP
 and the supplied to an HTML analyzer 224.
 The HTML analyzer 224 performs the HTML grammatical analysis on the
 supplied Internet information described in the original Internet HTML
 language, decodes prescribed data and supplies developed data to the
 browser 214. Further, in the HTTP processor 223, the second object which
 is described later is separated and extracted from packet communicated as
 per the HTTP and supplied to the object processor 212.
 The browser 214 generates a video signal with layout information from the
 Internet information carried out the HTML grammatical analysis from the
 HTML analyzer 224 and data from the object interpreter 213 and supplies
 the video signal with the layout to a video signal processor 225.
 The video signal processor 225 combines the broadcasting video signal
 transmitted as the conventional broadcasting signal and the video signal
 with layout from the browser 214 in response to the layout information and
 outputs as a combined video signal. The video signal processor 225 is
 equivalent to the compandor 114, the memory 115 and the data combiner 116
 shown in FIG. 1.
 FIG. 3 is a diagram showing conventional Internet contents 301 written in
 the HTML language and a part of the second object having an object name:
 "Team" linked to the contents. The second object shown in FIG. 3 described
 directly data contents and if described in the data structure, it becomes
 what is shown in FIG. 7 (A) excluding server addresses (1) and (2).
 However, the second object may include server addresses.
 As shown in FIG. 3, the contents 301 transmitted from Internet servers is
 written in the HTML language and information referring to the second
 object which is used specially in the multi-function TV receiver is
 embedded in a part of the contents. The portion presented by the form of
 &lt;OBJECT data= . . . (interior parts omitted) . . . cap&gt;+Line Feed
 Mark+&lt;/OBJECT&gt; in FIG. 3 corresponds to the information referring to the
 second object. The portion &lt;OBJECT data=Team type="application/icap"&gt; of
 the information referring to the second object indicates that the OBJECT
 data is assigned with the object name "Team", while the OBJECT type is,
 for instance, "application/icap".
 The Internet information written in the HTML language is orderly analyzed
 while detecting &lt;HTML&gt;, &lt;BODY&gt;, etc. enclosed by pre-determined tags
 (i.e., unequal marks "&lt; &gt;" shown in the drawing). Even when an object
 using tags which are expressly used in this invention had been freely
 embedded in the Internet contents, they are disregarded at the browser
 section of a conventional general purpose computer, etc. which is not able
 to recognize these tags. Thus a compatibility is preserved without
 occurring of any interference on the screen.
 In the second object; "Team" referred in the contents 301, a definite
 script (program) and data are written and, for instance, they are possible
 to be recorded on the same directory of the same WWW server as a separate
 file from the contents 301. Further, the contents of description of the
 second object may be written between &lt;OBJECT data= . . . &gt; and &lt;/OBJECT&gt;
 of the contents 301. In this embodiment, the contents of description of
 the second object will be explained continuously assuming that the
 contents are recorded in the same directory of the same WWW server in a
 separate file from the file of the contents 301.
 Next, the operation of a multi-function TV receiver when the Internet
 contents 301 and the object; "Team" referred by the contents 301 are
 captured by an automatic access command included in the first object data
 will be explained.
 When the Internet contents 301 and the object: "Team" referred in the
 contents 301 are captured, the HTTP processor 223 extracts the second
 object to provide it for the object processor 212. The object "Team" which
 is the second object shown in FIG. 3 is processed by the object processor
 212 and the object interpreter 213.
 In this embodiment, the object "Team" which is the second object data is
 explained to be supplied from the Internet through public lines such as
 telephone lines etc., but it may be transmitted through the broadcasting
 using VBI or may be provided in advance to a ROM of the memory 25 in a
 multi-function TV receiver. When provided in advance in the ROM, it is
 sufficient if an object name stored in a ROM of a multi-function TV
 receiver is referred in the Internet contents 301. For instance, regarding
 the general purpose second object which has a high frequency of use, if it
 is provided in advance in a ROM, it becomes possible to make a time
 required for receiving the second object short.
 FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 are diagrams for explaining the operations when Internet
 contents are simultaneously displayed with programs for informing users
 the interim score of another game in response to the request of a
 broadcasting station.
 FIG. 4(A) shows a picture (moving picture) when receiving a sport program,
 for instance, a soccer game program, and shows the situation wherein the
 first object having the automatic access command for gaining access to the
 Internet server was not broadcasted in the VBI and the correlation with
 the Internet was canceled. In this case, the compression/expansion process
 of pictures are not executed, while a display is carried out like the
 normal receiving state as conventional TV broadcasting.
 When a signal in which the VBI is superimposed by the first object
 including the automatic access command for accessing Internet server is
 received in the display state of FIG. 4(A), a multi-function TV receiver
 according to the present invention first displays a query to a user
 inquiring if he wishes to connect to the Internet as shown in FIG. 4(B) by
 the first object. The inquiring display to the user, as shown in FIG.
 4(B), is accomplished by, for instance, the Inter-text broadcast started
 on October, 1996. A user is possible to transfer "YES" or "NO" message to
 a script (program) of the first object by operations of selectively
 pushing the "DECISION" button after putting the cursor on the "YES" or
 "NO" position by operating the "+" button on the remote controller 139.
 Details of these techniques will be omitted herein, as they have been
 obvious to those who have ordinary knowledge.
 When a user selects "YES" button on the display as shown in FIG. 4(B) in
 wishing to connect to the Internet, the Internet server is automatically
 accessed in accordance with the automatic access command included in the
 first object data. As a result, a desired Internet content (i.e., a Web
 page showing the interim score of a soccer game) shown in FIG. 5(B) is
 displayed. Further, when a user does not wish to connect to the Internet
 and selects "NO", the video displayed by the first object disappears and
 the display returns to the display as shown in FIG. 4(A).
 When the Internet contents shown in FIG. 5(B) are displayed, it is required
 to make the layout of the picture zone on the screen. Data for controlling
 the layout on the screen may be either the first object data transmitted
 on VBI or the second object data supplied from the Internet or the memory
 134 as described in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3. These examples of display show a
 double-window screen of the currently watched sport program at the left
 half of the screen and the interim score of another game browsed on the
 Web page captured through the Internet at the right half.
 When individuals in ordinary homes normally use the Internet, it is
 necessary to connect a TV receiver to the Internet via an Internet service
 provider through public lines such as telephone lines etc. However, if
 extremely many users call the circuit connection to the Internet service
 provider at the same time by the first object carried by the broadcast
 wave, the number of circuits compatible at the provider section and the
 restriction by circuit networks are limited and the connection to the
 Internet may not be possible in some cases.
 So, even when the picture layout information is transmitted for the first
 object which is transmitted in the VBI, for instance, until when the
 Internet service provider is connected by e.g., public lines, the layout
 remains unchanged and video of a soccer game is continuously displayed on
 the full screen and further, for instance, a character message "Now, the
 telephone line is being connected." is superimposed in small size at the
 bottom on the screen and is displayed as shown in FIG. 4(C). Then, after
 the public line is connected to an Internet service provider, the layout
 on the screen is changed and displayed as shown in FIG. 5(B).
 Thus, until connected to an Internet service provider, a user is able to
 view an ordinary program by displaying it fully on the screen and is also
 able to recognize that an Internet service provider is being called for
 the circuit connection. In other words, there is no such a problem that a
 broadcasting video is displayed in small size although the Internet cannot
 be connected.
 Further, a picture layout may be changed immediately after receiving a
 picture layout information and in this case, until such a time when a
 public line such as a telephone etc. is connected to an Internet service
 provided, a message indicating that the public line is in process of
 connection may be displayed in a frame wherein the Internet contents are
 displayed as shown in FIG. 5(A). Thus, a user is able to view a program in
 a picture layout intended by a broadcasting station side until the public
 line has been connected to an Internet service provider and also, able to
 recognize that the Internet service provider is being called for the
 circuit connection.
 Further, the timing described above may be changed to the circuit
 connecting timing instead of a timing when an Internet service provider is
 connected. This is because some amount of time periods are normally
 required until a connection to an Internet server has completed still
 after the completion of the public line connection. Thus, a user is able
 to view a program on a large screen for a longer time.
 As described above, a multi-function TV receiver of this invention has a
 function of automatically accessing Internet servers using an automatic
 access command included in the first object data multiplexed on the VBI
 and transmitted. Also, the TV receiver has functions of controlling the
 picture layout (size and display position) on the screen by the first and
 the second object data and inserting text data, still picture information
 included in the first or the second object data complying with the layout.
 Although the multi-function TV receiver described above has accessed to
 Internet servers in the interaction manner with a user, as shown in FIG.
 4(B), it is possible to automatically access Internet server by force
 without making inquiry as shown in FIG. 4(B). Thus, a user is able to save
 a time to select and decide by making an inquiry. The selection of
 connection to a public line for making the inquiry to a user as shown in
 FIG. 4(B) can be preset by the user. This is achieved in such a manner
 that a user first stores data indicating the authorization of circuit
 connection in the memory 134 in advance, and then detects whether the data
 authorizing the public line connection is stored in the memory 134 by the
 first object script and when stored, the circuit connecting operation is
 determined accordingly.
 FIG. 5(C) shows an example of the display which the user is able to
 activate thereto at the state of display shown in FIG. 5(B). That is, this
 example is planned to be able to vote as to whether Team S or O wins in a
 soccer game presently being broadcasted. In this case, Internet server is
 accessible to by the first object data multiplexed on the VBI and
 transmitted. Thus, Internet contents are displayed at the right half of
 the screen.
 The contents of the display is, for instance, "Vote as to which team S or O
 will win".
 And the explanation for the operation to vote, for instance, a message
 "Operate either the Capital Letter of Team S or O shown at the lower
 section of the screen, which seems to win". Here, the votes on teams S, O
 by the operation following the previous Inter-text are transmitted to a
 server via the public line.
 FIG. 6 indicates the multiplexed position of the first object. For
 transmission of the first object, the tenth line through the thirteenth
 line of the VBI and the 273rd line through the 276th line are used. It is
 possible to capture data of these lines by a VBI data decoder 120 and
 construct an object in the VBI data processor 211.
 In this explanation, it was explained that the first object data is
 multiplexed on the VBI and transmitted. The present invention is also
 applicable to the digital broadcasting. In this case, it is only necessary
 that a broadcasting station side transmits the first object in a packet
 form as supplemental information for the currently received program; while
 a receiver section receives the first object transmitted in the packet
 form as supplemental information for the program. Further, when the first
 object is transmitted in independent from a program data and the first
 data includes information associated with the pocket of the first object
 for a supplemental data to the program, a receiving party is able to
 determine that the information is supplemental information of the program.
 FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the data format (data
 construction) of the first or the second object data. Normally, however,
 the second object has no information about server addresses.
 A script which operates as a specific program software, text data, picture
 data (possible to be independently displayed by multiplexing on broadcast
 video images), layout control data for controlling picture layout as
 explained previously, server addresses (1), (2) including file names like
 URL, etc. are included in the object data. Handling of these data is
 determined by the contents written in a script form which is transmitted
 in accompany with the data. The actual data processing procedure on the
 basis of a script is determined in the object interpreter 213. Using the
 server addresses described above, it is possible to access Internet
 contents easily and correctly, which are related to a broadcasting program
 currently being received. Further, as an object in the same format as the
 object (i.e., the second object) is embedded in the Internet contents, it
 is possible to control or process the Internet contents by any script.
 FIG. 8 shows a multi-function TV receiver which is further capable of using
 a memory card 140. The memory card 140 is connected to the bus 132 via a
 memory card interface 141. A specification table 142 will be explained
 later in detail and all other portions are the same as the construction
 shown in FIG. 1 and therefore, the explanation thereof will be omitted.
 The memory card 140 is desirable to be an electrically writable and
 erasable non-volatile memory.
 FIG. 7(B) is a diagram showing one example of the object data written on
 the memory card 140. In the preceding example, a server address is
 transmitted in accompany with the object data. So that a server is
 possible to be accessed based on the server address. After gaining access
 to a server, it may be desirable to access a linking destination
 hierarchically.
 Depending to the manner that the WWW information is provided, in a case
 that information of the general outline or index of selling item is
 provided in the first layer (the first access of a server address), and
 then it is wished to know detailed contents of each item, the information
 is captured by accessing the address of a linking destination on the
 Internet, i.e., accessing the second layer.
 Further, some Internet service provider may wish to give a security on an
 object carried in the VBI. In such a case, if a server address of an
 object carried on the VBI could be directly used, the security cannot be
 preserved.
 So, in the system, the memory card 140 recording an object as shown in FIG.
 7(B) is previously provided to users wishing to have the card, so that the
 card is possible to supplement the object as necessary.
 The memory card 140 stores addresses of destinations linked to the
 corresponding button data. A user is able to access Internet server of the
 linking destination by selectively operating a corresponding button by a
 remote controller while looking the button indication displayed based on
 the button data.
 Further, when data desirable to be stored in the memory card 140 are
 receive, they are possible to be stored in the data storage area in the
 memory card. The operation of the CPU at this time will be described in
 reference to FIG. 9. FIG. 9 shows a flowchart devised to prevent an
 oversight of commercials as a program sponsor displays Internet
 information by force on the TV receiver.
 First, a broadcasting program including the first object is received and
 judged whether the object is related to Internet or not. When the object
 is not related to the Internet, another broadcasting program is received.
 When the program is related to Internet (YES), the first object (data
 supplementing a program, data unrelated to a program, server address,
 etc.) are stored in the data storage area in the memory card 140. When
 completing this reservation, the access to Internet is started using the
 server address by the modem 131. When all Internet information including
 the second object are acquired by the Internet access, they are displayed
 on the screen. When the designated commercial information is displayed,
 the Internet connection is turned OFF by force in order to save charges on
 usages of public lines such as a telephone line, etc.
 When a preset period for running commercials has been over, the screen is
 automatically shifted to display a program on the full screen.
 In this example, the server address is stored by force in the data storage
 area in the memory card 140. A script for displaying a button on the
 screen to inquire whether data are to be stored in the memory or not,
 prior to the storing operation or after commercial information has been
 displayed, may be included in the first object. Thus, server addresses are
 possible to be stored when so wished by a user. This inquiry is made by,
 for instance, Inter-text.
 Thus, when a sponsor of a broadcasting program transmits own Internet
 server address (URL, etc.) in consonance with the commercials, a user is
 able to access the Internet any time using the server address stored in
 the data storage area in the memory card 140.
 Further, in this example it is explained that server addresses are stored
 in the data storage area in the memory card 140 but they may be stored in
 a RAM in the memory 134.
 Further, when information associated with Internet server addresses is
 included in the first object, it is possible to store server addresses in
 the memory without accessing the Internet. In this case, it is sufficient
 if the first object including a script to terminate a program when the
 first object shown in FIG. 9 is stored can be received. Thus server
 addresses are stored in the memory by force to the extent possible as the
 memory capacity is allowed without inquiring a user whether the addresses
 are stored after receiving the first object associated with Internet
 server addresses. Therefore the user is not required to answer frequently
 to the inquiry for preservation.
 Further, when preserving addresses without making this inquiry, it may be
 so designed to automatically erase old server addresses stored in the
 memory if addresses are stored up to the full capacity of the memory. As a
 result, it becomes possible to always store the currently receiving server
 addresses in a memory. By comparing time stamps stored in accompany with
 the first object, it is possible to judge as to whether addresses are old
 or new. As to a method of erasing data when a memory is filled to
 capacity, server addresses which a user has voluntarily accessed by
 reading the memory after the memory has been stored with data, can be
 preferentially treated so as not to be erased. While addresses accessed by
 the user can be erased from the oldest to the newest when the memory has
 been filled to capacity.
 In the above description, it is explained that the object data recorded in
 the memory card 140 will supplement or complement the first or the second
 object data transmitted by the VBI or the Internet. In this case, it is
 needless to say that the first and the second object data are in the
 relationship to complement each other. For instance, when picture data
 carried on the VBI is stored and used by the object data transmitted via
 the Internet, information brought from the Internet can be reduced and
 therefore, the accessing speed can be made fast. Further, when displaying
 a picture, the control is made under the script at the receiver section
 and it is therefore possible to control animations, etc. and provide the
 highly entertaining display.
 Further, the first and the second objects can be replaced each other
 partially or entirely. That is, the access of the Internet server is first
 executed in response to the object multiplexed on the VBI. Then, when the
 contact with a server is completed, the object from the server will assume
 the leadership. This is effectual, for instance, when a sponsor of a
 broadcast program wishes to provide his own commercials exclusively to a
 user.
 Next, a specification table 142 shown in FIG. 8 will be described in
 detail.
 The Internet TV receiver is provided with the specification table 142 and
 the CPU 133 is able to judge its contents. The specification table 142 is
 a memory for storing data concerning various functions retained by the TV
 receiver itself.
 The information retained by this specification table 142 is used as
 follows. For instance, the type of display may be specified by the
 Internet or VBI object. For instance, there may exist servers who transmit
 information by assuming that the screen is divided into many areas and
 information of the contents is displayed in each area. That is, there
 exist contents which are provided to utilize all of the functions of the
 latest model of TV receivers and control data for layout. In these cases,
 a TV receiver which has an ability of dividing screen into only two areas
 is not able to respond to the display requests from such servers. So, the
 TV receiver is provided with the specification table 142 to assign
 priorities on pictures to be displayed in the order of descending priority
 as per the specification and display pictures.
 That is, the CPU 133 judges the layout control data for controlling the
 picture layout on the screen, compares with the contents of the
 specification table 142 and if the picture process corresponding to the
 layout control data (for instance, the multi-picture display for more than
 3 pictures) is possible, executes the control data. However, if the
 picture process (the multi-picture display for more than 3 pictures)
 cannot be achieved and only two pictures are displayed, the CPU 133
 operates to display two picture data by preferentially selecting them.
 Further, in case of a TV receiver having only the ability of dividing
 screen into two areas, it is possible to superimpose text data, etc. on a
 program video image.
 In addition, such TV receivers having many tuners are developed and a
 script which commands use of videos received by a plurality of tuners may
 be transmitted. In such a case, a TV receiver having not many tuners will
 make the most of the best function that the TV receiver can be expressed
 by it self in reference to the specification table 142.
 A script to operate the CPU 133 can be originally stored in a program ROM
 in the TV receiver but may be transmitted with the first or the second
 object.
 FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing another embodiment of the present
 invention. The same component elements as those of the preceding
 embodiment will be assigned with the same reference numerals. The TV
 receiver is connected to a public line such as a telephone line etc. and
 the automatic dialing is possible likewise the preceding embodiment. So,
 the remote controller itself is designed to operate as a portable
 telephone 150 in such a form as a wireless extension set of a master
 telephone set. The telephone mode and TV operating mode can be selected by
 the key operation of the remote controller or the portable telephone 150.
 Further, the microphone and the speaker on the remote controller are
 separated in the longitudinal direction of the controller.
 When a calling telephone number is entered on the remote controller in the
 telephone mode, it is possible to make a telephone call. The buttons for
 entering the telephone number are also shared with channel selector
 buttons for a TV receiver. Thus, it is not required to increase the number
 of buttons and numerical figures may not be erroneously pushed. "1"-"12"
 buttons are provided for the channel selection and phone number "0" is
 solved by commonly using the broadcasting channel 10.
 When the telephone line is connected, the telephone line is transferred to
 a voice processing unit (VPU) 151 from the modem 131. The VPU 151 has the
 function of conventional extension telephones. Further, the VPU 151 is
 connected wirelessly to a VPU (voice processing unit) 152 at the remote
 controller or the portable telephone 150 section and it becomes possible
 to talk with a called person.
 Further, when a certain time passes after the remote controller or the
 portable telephone 150 is set in the telephone mode, it is changed to the
 TV operating mode. This is because the telephone is normally used
 immediately but the channel selection of a TV receiver is operated only
 when changing a channel occasionally, and thus, when pushing the channel
 selecting button of the remote controller to change a channel, it is not
 judged to have the telephone number button pushed and a channel can be
 changed correctly. This is because the telephone is normally used
 immediately but the channel selection of a TV receiver is operated only
 when changing a channel occasionally, and thus, when pushing the channel
 selecting button of the remote controller to change a channel, it is not
 judged to have the telephone number button pushed and a channel can be
 changed correctly.
 On the other hand, at the TV receiver section, the CPU 133 has an ability
 of detecting a telephone call. When there is a telephone call, the modem
 131 is automatically connected to the VPU 151 section and a telephone
 incoming sound is transferred to the voice processor of a TV receiver (not
 shown) via the I/O interface 137. This TV receiver is so designed that a
 call alerting tone is given from its speaker by actuating a sound circuit
 when there is a telephone call even when a program is not viewed. Further,
 on the contrary, it is also possible to give a telephone incoming sound
 from the remote controller or the portable telephone 150 by transmitting a
 signal to notify the telephone incoming to the remote controller or the
 portable telephone 150 from the VPU 151. According to this, even when the
 remote controller is lost in a room, the position of the remote controller
 can be detected by calling own home telephone.
 Further, if a TV receiver is used to view a program at this time, the audio
 output from a tuner of a TV receiver is automatically controlled to reduce
 its volume or make zero. Thus, a user is able to easily recognize a bell
 tone (i.e., a call alerting tone) of the telephone. Then, a user is able
 to reliably recognize that a telephone call has arrived. Further, to sound
 the telephone incoming sound from a TV receiver section, it is desirable
 to always keep the size of incoming sound at a constant level irrespective
 of the set volume of the TV receiver. This can be achieved by providing a
 circuit for multiplexing the telephone incoming sound after an audio
 amplifier of a TV receiver.
 In the embodiment described above, the VPUs 151, 152 are provided to the TV
 receiver and the remote controller for the wired or wireless voice
 receiving and transmission. According to the above construction, it is
 necessary to provide only a microphone and voice transmission means for
 the voice processor 152 at the remote controller section. It is also
 necessary to provide only a voice receiving means for the VPU 151
 connected to the modem 131 of the TV receiver section. In this case, it is
 sufficient that the volume level of voice output of a TV receiver can be
 automatically set at a prescribed level. Thus, a telephone voice is always
 output at a constant level. When a further adjustment is desired, it is
 sufficient to adjust the sound of a TV receiver through the remote
 controller.
 FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing another embodiment of the present
 invention. The same component elements as those in the preceding
 embodiment are assigned with the same reference numerals.
 This TV receiver is further provided with a telephone directory memory 160
 for preserving distant access information. Telephone numbers (shop names
 or personal names, etc.) transmitted while multiplexed on VBI are recorded
 in the prescribed format in the telephone directory memory 160. To record
 telephone numbers, etc. in the telephone directory memory 160, when, for
 instance, a superposed text message such as "the telephone number is
 available to memory" is received during the program broadcasting by a
 script or text data and therefore, a user can store the telephone number
 in the memory by operating the prescribed keys. The above function is
 useful for on-line sales service, etc. and the erroneous pushing of
 telephone numbers can be prevented. The function of recording telephone
 numbers, etc. is updated to the latest one in response to a user's
 operation. For instance, if a telephone number is changed in spite of the
 same called person, the new telephone number is stored by updating the old
 number. Thus, latest telephone numbers are always registered in the
 telephone directory memory.
 When data recorded in the telephone directory memory 160 become closer to
 the full capacity of the memory, a user is automatically inquired and data
 not required and having a low using frequency can be deleted. After
 registration, it is possible to sort registered telephone numbers for easy
 retrieval by an automatic sorting program using capital letters of names
 (e.g., store names) as a sorting key. Further, it may be so set that after
 registered, data are automatically sorted, thus saving a time of operation
 by a user to sort telephone numbers every time.
 Further, telephone numbers and other information recorded in the telephone
 directory memory 160 can be read out and displayed on a display of a TV
 receiver when necessary for selection by a user to correctly call an
 objective person. As one example, when the telephone function is operated
 by setting the remote controller in the telephone mode for a user to make
 a telephone call, a registered telephone number list is first displayed on
 the display of a TV receiver. Here, by operating the up and down keys
 provided on the remote controller, a desired telephone number can be
 selected by the selection key from the list. Further, if any numerical key
 which is also used for TV channel selection when a telephone number list
 is being displayed, the telephone mode is changed to the unlisted
 telephone number entry mode and it becomes possible to make a telephone
 call to an unregistered person. Further, telephone numbers can be
 registered in accompany with data of calling persons originally in
 addition to telephone numbers derived from VBI.
 The above example describes the function of recording telephone numbers,
 etc. directly in the telephone directory memory 160 but not restricted to
 the WWW addresses which are carried by multiplexing on the VBI may be
 registered like a telephone directory. In this case, after registered, it
 is also possible to sort them using capital letters of names (shop names)
 as a sorting factor according to an automatic sorting program for
 facilitating the easy retrieval. It is also possible to sort them
 automatically after registration.
 The telephone function provided to the remote controller 150 and the
 telephone directory memory 100 may be optionally increased. Further, the
 telephone directory memory 160 may be shared with the memory card 140 as
 described above.
 Further, in another embodiment of the present invention, it is able to have
 a function of automatic answering telephones. Such an automatic answering
 telephone has an ability of automatically record messages given by a
 calling party when there is an incoming telephone call. When set in this
 mode, the CPU 133 is put in the telephone waiting state. When there is a
 telephone incoming, the CPU is able to store a prescribed time of a
 message from a calling person in a memory 134. In this case, the data
 processor (the portion enclosed by the broken line) is always ON and kept
 in the waiting state.
 When there is an automatic answering telephone after set in the automatic
 answering telephone mode and thereafter a user turns on the power for
 enabling the TV function of a TV receiver, the CPU 133 judges whether
 there is automatically answered and recorded data and if there exists the
 automatically answered and recorded data in the memory 134, the graphic
 controller 135 is controlled to display an icon or a message on the
 screen. Thus, a user is able to recognize that there was an automatic
 answering and recording.
 Further, when the power of the TV receiver is turned ON and the telephone
 is set in the automatic answering telephone mode, the display is provided
 functions of displaying an icon or a message indicating the receipt of
 calls on the automatic answering telephone.
 Further, when the TV receiver has a video telephone function, the bus 132
 is coupled to receive a signal from a camera unit, and another party has
 also the same video telephone function, a picture image registered in the
 memory 134 is transmitted to the calling party during the operation of the
 automatic answering telephone, while a message from the calling party may
 be stored in the storage area of the memory 134. At this time, it is
 desirable to change pictures for transmitting to the calling party in
 response with a date, a day of the week, a time zone, etc. associated with
 reception of the telephone call.
 Further, the system has an increased capacity of memory for previously
 storing information necessary for receiving following TV programs at the
 first object through the Internet. That is, in the first object the next
 program and its associated servers have been found, unless the channel has
 been changed. Therefore, during the reception of current TV program a
 server address for the next program is transmitted and data acquired from
 the server are stored to be kept in waiting for reception of the next
 program. Thus, when progressed to the next program, required Internet
 information has been already acquired, so that commercials, questions,
 etc. can be displayed without awaiting time and it is able to success the
 connection with broadcast programs.
 FIG. 12 shows a flowchart of an operation devised for eliminating oversight
 of commercials on the TV receiver as described above, wherein a program
 sponsor forces to display pictures of Internet information. When the
 designated commercial information is displayed, the Internet is
 disconnected by force in order to save charges to public lines such as
 telephone lines.
 When the predetermined period for running commercials has been over, the
 display automatically returns to the former full-screen image display.
 FIG. 13 shows a flowchart of an operation wherein a display mode selection
 is left to the user, without displaying the Internet information by force.
 For instance, such an operation is performed in some cases where the
 contents of video conversation are provided to handicapped persons or
 those who study languages through superimposed dialogues offered by
 various languages. In these cases, it is more advantageous to allow a user
 to select the superimposed dialogue transmitted through the Internet
 rather than through the broadcasting. In such a case, it will be better
 that a user is able to select to display data or not at his pleasure. In
 this case, it will be also better that a user is able to turn off the
 Internet circuit at his intention.
 In the above explanation, the first object is transmitted in association
 with programs. However, the first object is not necessarily related to
 programs. That is, any object is acceptable if it is connected to the
 Internet according to the first object so as that the object can be
 simultaneously displayed with a broadcast assigned by the Internet
 information.
 As described above, the present invention can provide an extremely
 preferable multi-function TV receiver, which is possible to link an object
 transmitted through a broadcast with another object obtained through any
 accessible means other than broadcast. Thus the present invention can
 increase the usefulness and the convenience of the multi-function TV
 receiver for both users and broadcast service providers.
 While there have been illustrated and described what are at present
 considered to be preferred embodiments of the present invention, it will
 be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes and
 modifications may be made, and equivalents may be substituted for elements
 thereof without departing from the true scope of the present invention. In
 addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation
 or material to the teaching of the present invention without departing
 from the central scope thereof. Therefor, it is intended that the present
 invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the
 best mode contemplated for carrying out the present invention, but that
 the present invention includes all embodiments falling within the scope of
 the appended claims.
 The foregoing description and the drawings are regarded by the applicant as
 including a variety of individually inventive concepts, some of which may
 lie partially or wholly outside the scope of some or all of the following
 claims. The fact that the applicant has chosen at the time of filing of
 the present application to restrict the claimed scope of protection in
 accordance with the following claims is not to be taken as a disclaimer or
 alternative inventive concepts that are included in the contents of the
 application and could be defined by claims different in scope from the
 following claims, which different claims may be adopted subsequently
 during prosecution, for example, for the purposes of a divisional
 application.