Abstract:
An application for a digital television platform includes a display, a television receiver operatively coupled to the display and a processor operatively coupled to both the display and to the television receiver. A memory and a non volatile storage medium is communicably coupled to the processor. A communication link is also communicably coupled to the processor and a communication event is detected signaling reception of a communication on the communication link. Responsive to the communication event, a set of instructions is executed by the processor, the set of instructions is configured to receive the communication and to process the communication with respect to a set of user preferences.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    This disclosure relates to the field of televisions and more particularly to a system for integrating messaging into a television system. 
         [0002]    Digital television systems are becoming more powerful as they handle more types of media and implement more user features such as digital video recording and high definition playback. Communication is becoming more ubiquitous in modern life. Email, text messages, instant messages, video conferencing, cellular telephones, voice over IP phones, and POTS (Plain Old Telephone Service) are commonplace. 
         [0003]    With all the mediums for communication, many disparate devices are used. Each communication medium typically has a unique device associated with that medium. This causes the user of such communication medium to have multiple devices that perform the same or similar communication tasks. 
         [0004]    Digital televisions typically have a display that allows the user to experience multimedia content. Digital televisions typically also have a television receiver for receiving signals that can be converted into multimedia content. Current standards for television signals include NTSC, ATSC, and QAM. Other television standards may also be used in these embodiments. 
         [0005]    A processor is communicably coupled to the display to execute instructions that decode multimedia content from the receiver and present the multimedia content to the user on the display. These instructions are typically stored in a non volatile memory such as a ROM, EEPROM, flash memory, optical storage device, or magnetic storage devices. In a modern digital television system, there may be several sets of instructions; each with a different purpose. These instructions may be referred to as applications. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    The inventor recognizes a need for a system that provides to a user a single location for viewing digital television content and responding to communications allowing the modern digital television to become the center of communications for a home or office. 
         [0007]    An embodiment provides a system for the user to experience multimedia content as well as controlling communication to and from the user from a television. In an example embodiment, the system monitors one or more communication medium for communication. When a communication is detected, the system launches an application to interact with the communication and the user. In one example, the application includes instructions that convert spoken language to text and/or text to spoken language. 
         [0008]    In this embodiment, the text is either overlaid on the multimedia content or the text is displayed on a portion of the display separate from the portion of the screen occupied by multimedia content. In embodiments where text is converted into spoken language, the voice for the spoken language is customizable; encompassing different genders, regional dialects, or other unique attributes of speech. 
         [0009]    Another embodiment includes an application that translates the communication from a first language into a second language, thereby allowing users to communicate in their native language with others having a different native language. 
         [0010]    A further embodiment includes an application that generates a response communication to the detected communication. For example the response communication informs or notifies the initiator of the communication that the intended recipient of the communication is occupied and may not immediately answer the communication. In addition to notifying the initiator that the intended recipient is occupied, the application records the communication letting the intended recipient respond to the communication at a later time. A further example embodiment may include notifications customized based on the initiator of the communication. 
         [0011]    For example, communications initiated by contacts that are in a user&#39;s address book may be presented to the user, while communications initiated by contacts that are not in the user&#39;s address book may receive an automatic reply that the user is occupied and may not immediately answer the communication. 
         [0012]    Yet another embodiment includes customized notifications based on the date and/or time of day. 
         [0013]    A further embodiment includes redirecting the communication to an alternate receiving device such as a standard land-line telephone (e.g., Plain Old Telephone Service or POTS), a cellular telephone, a wireless handset or another receiving device connected to the digital television via a network. 
         [0014]    In an embodiment, a digital television platform includes a display, a television receiver operatively coupled to the display and a processor operatively coupled to both the display and to the television receiver. A memory and a non volatile storage medium are communicably coupled to the processor. A communication link is also communicably coupled to the processor and a communication event is detected signaling reception of a communication on the communication link. Responsive to the communication event, a set of instructions is executed by the processor, the set of instructions is configured to receive the communication and to process the communication with respect to a set of user preferences. 
         [0015]    In another embodiment, a method of a digital television interacting with communication includes receiving a digital television signal and displaying the digital television signal on a display device. The method includes detecting a communication event on a communication link, signaling the reception of a communication and processing the communication event based upon a set of parameters. 
         [0016]    In another embodiment, computer readable medium encoded with a computer program includes instructions to cause a machine to receive a digital television signal and display the digital television signal on a display device. Instructions also detect a communication event on a communication link, signal the reception of a communication; and process the communication event based upon a set of parameters. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0017]    The embodiments can be understood by those having ordinary skill in the art by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0018]      FIG. 1  illustrates a schematic view of a system of an embodiment; 
           [0019]      FIG. 2  illustrates a first example of a user interface of an embodiment. 
           [0020]      FIG. 3  illustrates a second example of a user interface of an embodiment. 
           [0021]      FIG. 4  illustrates a third example of a user interface of an embodiment. 
           [0022]      FIG. 5  illustrates a schematic diagram of an embodiment. 
           [0023]      FIG. 6  illustrates a block diagram of an embodiment. 
           [0024]      FIG. 7  illustrates a block diagram of a computer system of an embodiment. 
           [0025]      FIG. 8  illustrates a fourth example of a user interface of an embodiment. 
           [0026]      FIG. 9  illustrates a fifth example of a user interface of an embodiment. 
           [0027]      FIG. 10  illustrates a flow chart of an embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0028]    Reference will now be made in detail to the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Throughout the following detailed description, the same reference numerals refer to the same elements in all figures. 
         [0029]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a schematic view of a system  100  of an embodiment is shown. Television content emanates at a content source  124  such as a cable television head end, fiber optic head end or other transmission source. The television content disseminates over a broadcast network  120  and into a user&#39;s  116  home  132  where it is received by a receiver/modem such as a cable TV receiver, satellite receiver, broadcast receiver, etc. The receiver/modem  126  converts the broadcast television signal into a signal that is compatible with the television  128  such as High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI), S-Video, NTSC, PAL, RGB, etc. 
         [0030]    A communications network  106  is connected to a modem within the user&#39;s home  132  such as a Data over Cable Service Interface Specification (DOCSIS) modem for cable internet access. The communications network  106  provides connectivity to other users  102 . In this example, the other user  102  is using a handheld device  104  such as a cellular phone, personal digital assistant (PDA) or blackberry device to communicate with the first user  116 . In this example, the first user  116  is also communicating using a handheld device connected (wired or wireless) to the modem  112 . 
         [0031]    A telephone network  107  is operatively coupled to the communications network  106  and interfaced to a telephone  108  within the user&#39;s home  132 . The telephone network  107  is any known telephone network such as the digital cellular network or the POTS network. 
         [0032]    The television  128  is also connected to the modem  112  to provide messaging services as will be described. Through such, messages from the communications network  106  (e.g., Internet) are directed to the television  128  for notification, display, response, etc. Additionally, through the same connection, the user&#39;s personal computer(s) connects with the television  128  for various functions including, but not limited to, changing preferences, entering/updating fixed responses, reviewing call lists, etc. As known in the industry, a remote control  130  is wirelessly interfaced to the television  128 . In addition to controlling the television display and operation (as previously known), the remote control  130  is used by the user to navigate and dispose of incoming messages. 
         [0033]    Being that the communications network  106  in operatively coupled to the telephone network  107 , voice calls destine for the user&#39;s telephone  108  are, in some embodiments, routed through the communications network  106 , through the modem  112  and to the television  128  for notification, display, response, etc. 
         [0034]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , a first example of a user interface  503  of the present invention is shown. In this, the television program is shown occupying the full screen  500  as known in the industry. In this example, a voicemail message has been received and a notification  502  indicating a voicemail  508 , the originator  501  (Chris Green) and the originator&#39;s phone number  506  (512-555-4444) is overlaid on top of the television program. 
         [0035]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , a second example of a user interface is shown. In this, the television program is shown occupying the full screen  500  as known in the industry. In this example, a facsimile transmission (FAX) has been received and a notification  602  indicating a FAX  608 , the originator  604  (Chris Green) and the originator&#39;s phone number  606  (512-555-1111) is overlaid on top of the television program. 
         [0036]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , a third example of a user interface is shown. In this, the television program is shown occupying less than a full screen  500  as known in the industry. The television program is reduced to fit in a subset or window  540  of the screen  500 . As in  FIG. 2 , in this example, a voicemail message has been received and a notification  502  is displayed in a second window  542  indicating a voicemail  508 , the originator  501  (Chris Green) and the originator&#39;s phone number  506  (512-555-4444). In some embodiments, some or the entire message is displayed within the second window  542 . In embodiments in which the message is a voice message, the voice message is converted into a text message for display in the second window  542 . In embodiments in which the message is a text message and in a different language than that understood by the user  116 , the text message is translated from that language into a language that is understood by the user  116  and displayed in the second window  542 . 
         [0037]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , a schematic diagram of a television  128  of the present invention is shown. The television  128  has a display  180  (e.g., tube, plasma, LCD, etc.) that is operatively coupled to a processor  182 . The processor is coupled to a television receiver  184  which receives television content from any of various sources. Typically, one such source is air-wave broadcasts, satellite broadcasts, cable television, fiber optic television, etc. that are received by an external set top box  126  and transferred to the receiver  184  through protocols known in the industry such as HDMI,NTSC,S-VIDEO, etc. Alternately, the television content is a broadcast content such as digital television and the receiver  184  receives and decodes the television content as known in the industry for presentation on the display  180 . The processor  182  accepts the content from the receiver  184  and displays the content on the display  180 . The processor has persistent storage  192  for storing programs (e.g., FRAM, flash memory, etc.), data, preferences, security settings, etc., and memory  190  for temporary storage and program execution. 
         [0038]    A communications link is connected to the processor  182  for, as an example, reception of messages, transmission or responses and television setup from a remote computer  110 . As known in the industry, a remote control  130  is wirelessly interfaced to the processor  182 . In addition to controlling the television display and operation (as previously known), the remote control  130  is used by the user to navigate and dispose of incoming messages. In some embodiments, a microphone  188  is operatively coupled to the processor  182  for accepting voice commands and/or responding to calls and messages. Speaker(s)  194  is/are provided for presenting audio television content and for reproducing audio messages. 
         [0039]      FIG. 6  illustrates a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention is shown. The television  128  is connected to a home local area network (e.g., wireless such as or wired such as Ethernet over CAT5). The local area network connects to a modem  112  for receipt and transmission of messages as well as other uses such as receipt of Internet Television Broadcasts. In some embodiments, one or more user computers  110  are connected to the local network, providing connectivity between the user computers  110  and the wide area network (e.g., Internet) as well as connectivity to the television  128  to, for example, provide user interfaces to manage the television, manage the messaging operation of the television, etc. Also connected to the television are a remote control  130  and a source of broadcast television content. 
         [0040]    Referring to  FIG. 7 , a block diagram of a computer system  110  of an embodiment of the present invention is shown. Although shown in its simplest form, having a single processor, many different computer architectures are known that accomplish similar results in a similar fashion and the embodiments are not limited in any way to any particular computer system. The embodiments work well utilizing a single processor system as shown in  FIG. 7 , a multiple processor system where multiple processors share resources such as memory and storage, a multiple server system where several independent servers operate in parallel, e.g. having shared access to the data or any combination. In this, a processor  210  is provided to execute stored programs that are generally stored for execution within a memory  215 . The processor  210  can be any processor or a group of processors, for example an Intel Pentium-4® CPU or the like. The memory  215  is connected to the processor and can be any memory suitable for connection with the selected processor  210 , such as SRAM, DRAM, SDRAM, RDRAM, DDR, DDR-2, etc. 
         [0041]    Also connected to the processor  210  is a system bus  220  for connecting to peripheral subsystems such as a network interface  270  with an IP Address  270 , a hard disk  240 , a CDROM  250 , a graphics adapter  260  and a keyboard/mouse  230 . The graphics adapter  260  receives commands and display information from the system bus  230  and generates a display image that is displayed on the display  265 . 
         [0042]    In general, the hard disk  240  may be used to store programs, executable code and data persistently, while the CDROM  250  may be used to load said programs, executable code and data from removable media onto the hard disk  240 . These peripherals are meant to be examples of input/output devices, persistent storage and removable media storage. Other examples of persistent storage include core memory, FRAM, flash memory, etc. Other examples of removable media storage include CDRW, DVD, DVD writeable, compact flash, other removable flash media, floppy disk, etc. In some embodiments, other devices are connected to the system through the system bus  230  or with other input-output connections. Examples of these devices include printers; graphics tablets; joysticks; and communications adapters such as modems. 
         [0043]    The network interface  270  connects the computer-based system to the communications network  106  through a local network and through a modem  112  such as a cable modem, fiber optic modem or telephone system modem. 
         [0044]    Referring to  FIG. 8 , a fourth example of a user interface is shown. In this, a message  900  has been received in Spanish. The user is able to view the message, scrolling with the use of their remote control  130 . In some embodiments, the message is automatically translated based upon user preferences and detection of the language within the message while in other embodiments, the user initiates the translation by operating the translate function  902 . Selecting the translate function with the remote control  130  results in the translation of the message and the user interface of  FIG. 9 . 
         [0045]    Referring to  FIG. 9 , a fifth example of a user interface is shown. In this, the message originally received in Spanish  900  has been translated into an English message  910 . 
         [0046]      FIG. 10  shows a flow chart of an embodiment. Such a program is executed by the television processor  182  to receive the television content  700  and check for new messages  702  (e.g., message events). 
         [0047]    Messages are, for example, telephone calls, text messages, incoming video conference calls, and incoming voice over IP calls. If no new messages are detected  702 , the television content is displayed  704  on the display  180 . If new messages are detected  702 , the message(s) are categorized  706  to determine, for example, the sender  708 , the urgency  710 , the message type  712  and the content  714 . Then, using user settings  716  such as the current activity of the user (e.g., stored preferences, status of the user—busy watching a movie) or the date or the time of day, the message is processed. If it is determined that a response should be sent  718  (e.g., no notification to the user), a fixed response is sent to the originator  720  and flow continues with displaying the television content  704 . 
         [0048]    If it is determined (based upon the user settings  716 ) that the message should be ignored  722  (e.g., no notification to the user), flow continues with displaying the television content  704 . If it is determined (based upon the user settings  716 ) that the message needs to be displayed  724 , the incoming television content is paused (if possible otherwise it is lost) and the message is displayed  732  on the display  180 . The user interacts with the message  732  scrolling or paging up/down and alternately responding to the message  732  until they are done with the message  734  at which time the television content is resumed and flow continues with displaying the television content  704 . 
         [0049]    If it is determined (based upon the user settings  716 ) that a notification of the message is to be displayed  754 , it is further determined  750  whether the notification is to be displayed as an overlay or in a separate window on the display  180 . If it is determined that the notification is to be displayed as an overlay, the television content is displayed with the notification overlaid  752  on the display  180 . Until the user acknowledges the notification indicating they are done  754 , further television content is received  756  and displayed with the notification overlay  752 . Once the user acknowledges the notification, indicating they are done  754 , flow continues with displaying the television content  704 . If it is determined that the notification is to be displayed in a separate window on the display  180 , the television content is reduced and displayed in one section of the display  180  and the notification is displayed in a second window  762  of the display  180 . Until the user acknowledges the notification indicating they are done  764 , further television content is received  766  and displayed with the notification window  762 . Once the user acknowledges the notification  764 , indicating they are done, flow continues with displaying the television content  704 . 
         [0050]    In embodiments in which the message is a voice message, the voice message is selectively converted into a text message for display. In embodiments in which the message is a text message and received in a different language than that understood by the user  116 , the text message is selectively translated from that language into a language that is understood by the user  116 . 
         [0051]    Equivalent elements can be substituted for the ones set forth above such that they perform in substantially the same manner in substantially the same way for achieving substantially the same result. 
         [0052]    It is believed that the system and method of the present invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood by the foregoing description. It is also believed that it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the components thereof without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention or without sacrificing all of its material advantages. The form herein before described being merely exemplary and explanatory embodiment thereof. It is the intention of the following claims to encompass and include such changes. 
         [0053]    Also, the inventors intend that only those claims which use the words “means for” are intended to be interpreted under 35 USC 112, sixth paragraph. Moreover, no limitations from the specification are intended to be read into any claims, unless those limitations are expressly included in the claims. The computers described herein may be any kind of computer, either general purpose, or some specific purpose computer such as a workstation. The computer may be a Pentium class computer, running Windows XP or Linux, or may be a Macintosh computer. The computer may also be a handheld computer, such as a PDA, cellphone, or laptop. 
         [0054]    The programs may be written in C, or Java, Brew or any other programming language. The programs may be resident on a storage medium, e.g., magnetic or optical, e.g. the computer hard drive, a removable disk or media such as a memory stick or SD media, or other removable medium. The programs may also be run over a network, for example, with a server or other machine sending signals to the local machine, which allows the local machine to carry out the operations described herein.