Abstract:
An entertainment system has a personal computer as the heart of the system with a large screen VGA quality monitor as the display of choice. The system has digital satellite broadcast reception, decompression and display capability with multiple radio frequency remote control devices which transmit self identifying signals and have power adjustment capabilities. These capabilities are used to provide context sensitive groups of keys which may be defined to affect only selected applications running in a windowing environment. In addition, the remote control devices combine television and VCR controls with standard personal computer keyboard controls. A keyboard remote also integrates a touchpad which is food contamination resistant and may also be used for user verification. Included in the system is the ability to recognize verbal communications in video signals and maintain a database of such text which is searchable to help identify desired programming in real time.

Description:
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/503,119, filed on Jul. 17, 1995, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,359,636 entitled “GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE FOR CONTROL OF A HOME ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM”. This application is related to U.S. Pat. No. 5,675,390, issued on Oct. 7, 1997, entitled “HOME ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM COMBINING COMPLEX PROCESSOR CAPABILITY WITH A HIGH QUALITY DISPLAY” and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/129,207, filed on even date herewith, entitled “SYSTEM WITH ENHANCED DISPLAY OF DIGITAL VIDEO”. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an interface for a multiple user home entertainment system, and in particular to the user interface for controlling operation of the system. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The consumer electronics industry has created many stand alone products for specific functions, such as television viewing, video recording and playback, broadband video receivers, playing recorded music and broadcast music. Some devices combine functions, such as the combination TV/VCR, and the audio cassette/AM/FM receiver to name a couple. One direction that consumers are moving is toward larger televisions located within a family room or living room with accompanying high quality stereo. Multiple components are required, each providing separate functions. A large screen television based on a 19 inch to 40 inch picture tube, or 46 inch to 60 inch projection system is used and viewed from a distance of two to five meters. The television includes a tuner for receiving and decoding National Television Systems Conmmittee (NTSC) signals, infrared receiver circuitry for a remote control, and in many cases stereo and surround sound integrated into it, making it a very expensive device. Further, the consumer likely has a video recorder/player, and perhaps a cable box/set top box to receive cable or satellite transmission which may also include a video tuner and other electronics to handle modulated, compressed and encrypted video signals. In addition, a consumer is also likely to have a separate stereo system complete with CD player, tuner and other audio attachments, such as speakers. This duplicates much of the functionality of the television system and adds to the cost of a home entertainment center. 
     Most consumer electronic devices come with remote control devices, which as in the case of the television above, require sensing circuitry to receive and process the signals from the remotes. Such controls are typically based on IR signals which can be interrupted by someone walking in front of it, and are not able to be used in a different room from the receiver. While a few have on-screen programming functions, and there are special remote control devices which can be programmed to control multiple consumer electronic devices found in a home entertainment center, there is little consistency between such controls. In addition, there is no good way to use different remote control units to control different programs generating the information displayed in various windows on the screen. This leads to confusion of the consumer, and the classic case of the blinking “12:00” as consumers become frustrated trying to master all the protocols required to appropriately control their electronic devices. Trying to program a VCR to record a program in the future can also be quite difficult. The expense of the additional circuitry in all the devices to accomplish these functions is borne by the consumer. 
     Multimedia based personal computers today are configured with CD Rom drives, and speakers as well as graphics drivers for displaying graphics on a monitor attached to the computer. CD Rom drives are capable of both reading data, such as computer programs, and reading audio information such as music which is output from the attached speakers. Multimedia titles for running on a PC usually are distributed on CD Rom, and involve such things as animated encyclopedias and other books, as well as games that may incorporate video clips which can be shown on a PC display. More and more of the video information on such CDs is compressed in accordance with Motion Picture Experts Group (MPEG) standards and requires commercially available software or circuitry to decompress it and process it for display. The display signal is typically of VGA quality. Some add on products for PCs even provide a connection to video feeds from multiple sources for playing in a window on the monitor screen. Typically, the computer has a video graphics adapter (VGA or SVGA) card which processes all the information to be displayed on a monitor and the monitor itself is basically a picture tube that shows only what it is sent with very little processing. However, most PC displays are small, and not suitable for viewing by multiple people at the same time. It often happens that when a family gets a new program such as a game, animated book or educational game, everyone wants to see it being used for the first time, and they huddle around a small display and vie for positions. In addition, there is no good way for multiple users to interact on a single computer. For viewing video feeds from cable or satellite, large screen consumer television sets are most commonly used in the home entertainment center. 
     As can be seen, there is great duplication of function between the consumer electronics and personal computers, both of which are more and more likely to be found in a family room or great room of a home. This duplication of function leads to much more money being spent to fully outfit the home entertainment center and provide additional functions. When one component fails, since it has duplicate function, it is expensive to replace. One system that tried to solve some of the above problems is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,192,999 to Graczyk et al. That system has a television circuit and an audio circuit within a personal computer, both of which are controlled by a remote control device. The television circuit is used to receive common cable or broadcast video signals in NTSC format, which inherently have a lower quality than video signals currently broadcast by digital broadcasting satellite. NTSC format signals are interlaced, which means that every other line is refreshed during each scan of the picture tube. For example, odd lines would be refreshed during a first scan, and even lines during a second scan. Since there are 60 scans per second, odd lines are refreshed 30 times per second, and even lines are refreshed 30 times per second. VGA monitors refresh at least 60 times per second, providing a more coherent spacial and temporal image. The NTSC signal is a lower bandwidth signal than digital MPEG, which has a much higher bandwidth and allows productive use of even higher resolution monitors. While Graczyk et al. does convert the NTSC signals to VGA format for display by a data quality analog monitor, the signal quality is limited because of the lower bandwidth transmission. NTSC signals have a great effect on the type of text that can be displayed. With an interlaced display, the text displayed in normal fonts appears to jump as alternate lines are refreshed. There have been several attempts to design fonts that minimize this jump effect, but none have worked well. A VGA display, refreshing each line with every scan of the tube, does not have this problem, and provides a much sharper and readable image for text. 
     The monitor described by Graczyk is shown as a standard PC analog VGA monitor, and reference is commonly made to a single user. Such monitors are fairly small, having a maximum viewing area of 17.5 inches (44.5 cm) at the high end of the PC market. They are not nearly suitable for viewing in a home entertainment environment. They are designed for close viewing, having pixels very close together. Current home entertainment systems are much larger and expensive due to all the other circuitry they have as described above. 
     One satellite broadcast system is that provided by DirecTV, a unit of GM Hughes Electronics. Direct Broadcast Satellites, “DBS” provide more than 150 channels of high-quality MPEG based video, sound and data to 18 inch (45.7 cm) receiving antennas. Rights to make subscriber terminals are licensed by DirectTV, and several other companies contributing technology. News Datacom Corporation provides encryption and security for the DBS system, providing decryption keys, software and an access card for each subscriber terminal. Thomson Consumer Electronics provides consumer subscriber terminals in the form of set top boxes called integrated receiver/decoders “IRDs” which convert the high-quality television signals into NTSC for showing on a standard television. Each IRD demodulates, decodes, decrypts and outputs video and data, which is displayed on a subscriber television. Error correction, decompression and demultiplexing to separate out video data from other data is also provided in the IRD. While S Video output is provided, there is no provision for monitor/VGA quality output capability. Other sources of MPEG based video include optical fiber based cable systems, compact disk, video clips available on the Internet network, both old and proposed HDCD (high-definition compact disk) formats, and other existing and proposed satellite, digital cable, and asynchronous-transfer mode (“ATM”)-based systems as well as wireless digital broadcasts. 
     An electronic card for a system has a receiver that receives an encoded digital video signal from a source external to the system. A decoder is coupled to the receiver and receives the encoded digital video signal from the receiver. The decoder decodes the signal into a decoded digital video signal. A video driver is coupled to the decoder and converts the decoded video signal into an analog signal suitable for display on a data quality monitor. 
     In one embodiment, the electronic card is a video card for a PCI bus of a personal computer or home entertainment system having a monitor with a resolution of at least 640 by 480 pixels. The encoded or compressed digital video signals are broadcast signals, such as by sattelite, and are encoded in accordance with MPEG standards. The decoder comprises an MPEG decoding circuit. 
     An audio processing circuit is coupled to the converter for receiving decompressed audio data encoded in the digital video signal and provides an output suitable for driving speakers. The audio may also be received from a microphone or audio CD player, and the audio processing circuit may comprise an FM synthesis circuit that synthesizes sound. 
     A data quality monitor that receives the data quality analog signal and displays video images therein may also be included with the system having a resolution of at least 640 by 480 pixels. 
     In one embodiment, all the elements except the monitor are contained within a personal computer chassis, and the monitor does not contain a tuner. In a further embodiment, a all the above elements are contained within a monitor chassis. The digital video signal is then displayed on the monitor without cropping. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Also a multipurpose computer system is provided with circuitry to control consumer electronics, such as a large monitor or television for group interaction and of text, graphics and video in a home entertainment environment. The circuitry provides audio and video tuning capability for display of received high quality video signals on the monitor without an intermediate conversion to a lower quality NTSC format. The circuitry decodes the received video signals and converts them to VGA format which provides images of higher quality than NTSC. The monitor is capable of directly displaying VGA signals, and is not required to have a television tuner circuit, remote control, or audio circuitry. This significantly reduces the cost of the monitor and improves the quality of display as opposed to typical large screen televisions which contain complex tuning circuitry. 
     In one embodiment, the high quality video signals are received from satellites broadcasting digital video signals, digital cable signals and other wireless digital broadcasts. One example is direct broadcasting satellite “DBS” signals having a quality of video signal higher than that provided by NTSC broadcasts. The DBS signals are MPEG-compressed video, audio and data. The DBS signals are received by a video receiver circuit board which is compatible with a standard. personal computer peripheral component interconnect (PCI) bus and fits within the chassis of a personal computer. The video receiver cards have panel connectors for receiving coax cable from an antenna which directly receives the DBS signals. The card has functional blocks comprising a satellite tuner, digital demodulator, forward error correction, conditional access and decryption/demultiplexing. The demultiplexor provides the capability of receiving data packets which range from information on television programs being broadcast, to computer programs for downloading into computer memory. 
     The video receiver card outputs digital video, audio and data streams onto the peripheral component interconnect “PCI” bus where it can be accessed by the computer main processor for manipulation and storage. When stored in a personal computer memory, the program information may be organized in a commercially available database format. This permits the use of database functions to be applied to the data. Rather than being stuck viewing the program information as provided by the broadcaster, the data immediately becomes manipulable by database commands, allowing queries of program information. Searches are used to show programs having certain actors or subject matter, and even have programs meeting the query automatically recorded. One use entails a user designating a series to be recorded, and the database keeps track of what has been recorded or already viewed, avoiding duplicate recording, as well as providing easy access to the recorded programs. In general, by capturing data along with video and audio in a form which a personal computer can process, the possibilities for computer applications are endless. Interaction with movies, classrooms, other players of games such as golf and a host of other possibilities becomes clear. 
     Further embodiments of the system include a settop box version, where all the circuitry is integrated into one or two cards in a box designed to sit on top of a television set having VGA input. In another version, all the circuitry is included inside of the television chassis. 
     In one embodiment of the invention, closed caption information provided in video signals is captured, and stored in the database for searching. This provides the ability to instantly find current programming discussing events that a user is interested in. In a further embodiment, speech recognition circuitry is used to convert speech to text or commands for similar searching capability. Given current speech recognition capabilities, not all words may be recognized. Only those that are recognized are stored in the database or used as a command. Much of the information so captured is not relevant in a certain amount of time, so a data retention mechanism is used to identify old data and delete it from the database once the database has exceeded its allocated resource level. A standard FIFO algorithm based on the time expired since the programs described have been shown is employed. Further algorithms are user selectable to relevancy rank data in accordance with user preference. 
     A video graphics adapter (VGA) card also coupled to the PCI bus converts the digital data stream into VGA and video signals for display on the monitor. In addition to being a home entertainment system, a fully functional computer system forms the heart of the entertainment system. Instead of buying all the individual consumer electronics parts, such as a large screen television, settop box for receiving broadband video, audio amplifier/receiver, CD player, universal remote control, video game machine, answering machine and fax, and a personal computer as some consumers do today, they need only buy the home entertainment system of the present invention. The cost is about the same as that for the individual traditional consumer electronics parts, making the personal computer essentially free. 
     Support for remote control of both the personal computer and the monitor functions is also provided in the personal computer as well as standard PC VGA graphic display functions normally associated with personal computers. Additional functions also become available based on the integration of devices and digitized data, video and audio. In this manner, no audio, remote control or channel tuning electronics is required in the display, which results in a much lower price for a large monitor suitable for home entertainment. Both a handheld remote control having standard television and in one embodiment, video cassette recorder controls, and a full function remote keyboard having similar standard television and video cassette recorder controls are provided. Both transmit key signals identifying the key pressed, as well as a signal identifying the source of the key signal. The key signals are preferably RF signals typically in the megahertz range, but can also be IR or other suitable form of radiation. RF signals have the advantage over infrared “IR” signals in that they are not interrupted by someone walking between the remote and the receiver. Light source interference and jamming of other IR receivers is minimized by using RF signals. It may also be used in a different room from the receiver. 
     The personal computer contains suitable receiving circuitry, which provides indications of the keys being pressed, with the identity of the remote control device sending the signal. In one embodiment, an industry standard architecture (ISA) board or module is plugged into both the keyboard and mouse ports. Another bus, such as a serial, RS232 or microchannel bus may also be used. The board contains RF receiver circuitry which receives the RF signals, decodes them and routes them to the appropriate port for processing. A receiving module is programmed to distinguish between the sources of the remote control transmitted signals, and directs keystrokes to the keyboard port, and mouse movements to the mouse port. The signals at the two ports then control which program the remote key signals affect. If the handheld remote is activated, the key signals usually would control what channel is being displayed, or cause a recorded program to fast forward, play or reverse. It could however be selected to move to the next image or otherwise control a program designed to display pictures taken on a digital camera. Keyboard keys are more likely to control a computer program application such as a word processor, spread sheet or electronic mail program. In one embodiment, the television like controls are used to override the remote hand held television controls in channel selection. Just as easily, the hand held remote controls paging through electronic mail. Additionally, the hand held remote has a pointing device, such as a trackball, or miniature joystick with normally associated keys for selecting functions identified by the cursor on the display being moved by the pointing device. The keyboard contains an integrated touchpad for performing similar function, and additionally for transmitting signatures, providing the ability to ensure that an authorized user is requesting a transaction. Given the entertainment room environment, a touchpad provides the further benefit of being able to withstand greasy popcorn and chicken fingers which might foul other pointing devices. In a further embodiment, each remote control device has its own unique cursor associated with it. In this manner, it is easier for the user of a particular device to know which program will be affected when the remote is used. 
     The remote controls are also used to control the data supplied to more than one display. In one embodiment, a display is located in a den, where it is displaying a financial application, such as a checkbook balancing program. The personal computer is set up to drive multiple monitors, and the remote control keyboard is assigned to the monitor in the den to control the running and display of information from the financial application. 
     The remote control devices are used to control one or more cursors displayed on the monitor as part of a graphical user interface into the home entertainment system. Cells displayed as boxes containing descriptive text are associated with video programs and with video programs and with computer programs, may be selected to view and/or run the programs. Several icons, such as pictures, video clips or list boxes indicating functions, like record are used to provide functions by dragging and dropping cells onto the icons. Other icons include remind, buy, picture in picture and view full screen to name a few. In one embodiment, each remote control controls its own cursor to allow multiple users to control different portions of the system. 
     In a further preferred embodiment, the remote control devices are equipped with a user mechanism to reduce the power of the transmitted radio frequency signals depending on their distance from the computer. Circuitry is provided to detect the power level of the signal received and provide an indication on the computer screen, or transmit power level signals back to the remote control device indicative of the power level of the signal received. The remote control device has means to adjust the power, either by the user varying the resistance of the power amplifier, or by digital adjustment of the power amplifier based on the power level signals transmitted from the computer. The ability to control the power level of the signals helps lengthen the time required between replacing batteries which power the remotes. 
     In yet a further embodiment, remote earphones are provided. The personal computer has the capability to generate separate sound tracks for each window being displayed on the monitor. It assigns each to one or more sets of earphones and transmits a local FM signal or broadcast IR or RF which is received and played by the earphones set to the right channel. The earphones have tuning circuitry that allows them to be set to a desired channel, or they may be fixed to different frequencies, and software is used to set the frequency or frequencies on which the audio associated with a window is broadcast. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a home entertainment system for processing and displaying high quality video in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a top view representation of the end of a shell connector for coupling to a monitor in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing major components of a personal computer in the home entertainment system of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a tuning circuit in the personal computer of FIG.  3 . 
     FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a video graphics adapter in the personal computer of FIG.  3 . 
     FIG. 6 is a block diagram of an audio card in the personal computer of FIG.  3 . 
     FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing input and output connectors which are provided in the personal computer of FIG.  3 . 
     FIG. 8 is a block functional diagram showing the functional elements of a database storing programming information which can be displayed on the system of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 9 a  is a top view of a hand held remote control device in one embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 9 b  is a cut away side view of a hand held remote control device in one embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 9 c  is a cut away side view of an alternative hand held remote control device in one embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 10 is a top view of a keyboard remote control device in one embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 11 a  is a high level flow diagram showing how commands from the remote controls of FIGS. 9 a-c  and  10  are processed. 
     FIG. 11 b  is a high level block diagram showing the association of remote control devices to applications. 
     FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing power adjustment controls for the remote control devices of FIGS. 9 a-c  and  10 . 
     FIG. 13 is a block diagram representation of a user interface displayed on the screen of the present invention. 
     FIGS. 14 a-f  are block diagram representations of a user interface for interacting with the home entertainment system of the present invention. 
     FIG. 15 is a block diagram representation of a video-conferencing system based on the home entertainment system of the present invention. 
     FIG. 16 is a block diagram representation of an alternative video conferencing system based on the home entertainment system of the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     In the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific preferred embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural, logical and electrical changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present inventions. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present inventions is defined only by the appended claims. 
     Numbering in the Figures is usually done with the hundreds and thousands digits corresponding to the figure number, with the exception that the same components may appear in multiple figures. Signals and connections may be referred to by the same number or label, and the actual meaning should be clear from the context of use. 
     In FIG. 1, a home entertainment system is shown generally at  110 . External to the home entertainment system, a satellite  112 , which in one preferred embodiment is a HS601 model, operated by Hughes at a 101 degree west longitude geosynchronous orbital location, transmits signals comprising 150 channels of modulated digital video, audio and data signals at a frequency of about 12 GHz. The satellite signals are received by the home entertainment system  110  by an antenna  114  containing a low noise block converter amplifier. The antenna is preferably about 18 inches in diameter and receives left and right hand circularly polarized signals between 12.2 and 12.7 Ghz. The antenna provides a “downconverted-spectrum” signal between 950 and 1450 MHz via a coaxial cable or other suitable communication medium  116  to a system device  118 , such as a personal computer or other system or circuitry capable of processing data. Suitable antennas are already being manufactured and sold by RCA Corporation by direct sales and through numerous major retail chains such as Radio Shack. The system  118  contains circuitry and software to further processes the signals from the antenna, generally demodulating and decoding the signal to produce a VGA signal. The VGA signal is provided via a standard VGA compatible monitor cable  120  to drive a large screen data quality monitor  122  suitable for viewing in a family room or entertainment type room environment. The system  118  provides for user input by means of remote controls  124  and  126 . Remote control  124  comprises a handheld size device with standard television controls and numeric keypad, and in one embodiment, VCR controls and a pointing device. It provides RF (radio-frequency) or IR (infrared) control signals received by the system  118 . Remote control  126  is a full function personal computer keyboard, with additional standard television and VCR controls, pointing device which is preferably in the form of a touchpad, and it also provides RF control signals to the system  118 . RF control signals were selected over IR or hardwired in one embodiment due to the home entertainment environment. It allows the system to be in a different room from the monitor  122 , or if in the same room, a clear line of sight is not required. In another embodiment, IR control signals were selected because of the availability of many standard circuitry at low cost. Further detail of the remote control devices is provided below. 
     The monitor cable  120  is a standard type cable typically used on VGA display devices, and comprises up to fifteen electrical conductors, interfacing with the monitor  122  in a D series shell connector indicated at  210  in FIG.  2 . The fifteen leads, some of which are blank, end in pins in the connector which is a molded over, shielded, triple row,  15  position, subminiature D, straight male plug. The leads are labelled and identified in a table indicated generally at  212  next to the representation of shell connector  210 . The monitor contains a suitable female connector for receiving the male shell connector  210 . 
     The monitor  122  in FIG. 1 is preferably capable of displaying at least VGA quality data and video. At least 640 by 480 pixels of resolution are displayable on the monitor. Alternative monitors of higher quality, such as SVGA providing an even greater number of pixels are also used in a further embodiment. Many common graphics cards support multiple such formats, providing great flexibility. The tube size is 33 inches with a diagonal viewing size of 31 inches. An alternative tube size of 29 inches with 27 inch viewing area is lower cost and more suitable for an entry model entertainment system. Monitor  122  preferably contains an analog tube with an aspect ratio of 4 by 3, supports VGA input, has a dot pitch of approximately 0.8 to 0.95 millimeters for the 33 inch tube and 0.65 to 0.8 millimeters for the 29 inch tube with a misconvergence of 1 to 1.5 millimeters, a bandwidth of 15 Mhz, a brightness of about 33 FL. One CRT which may be used is manufactured by Mitsubishi, having a model and type number of M79KKZ111X. The above specifications may easily be modified for larger tube sizes, but are designed to provide optimal viewability from a distance of less than two to about four meters for a combination of data and high quality video. If the viewing distance is desired to be less, the tube size and dot pitch should be decreased. If the tube size is not decreased, more pixels would need to be displayed for adequate viewing of data. SVGA monitors providing more lines would be more appropriate. Standard digital monitor controls to control brightness, contrast, vertical and horizontal sizing and positioning, on/off (rest/resume) are also provided, with both a user accessible manual control panel, and circuitry for receiving control information from personal computer  18  in via monitor cable  120 . Further embodiments of monitor  22  include larger displays of 35 and 40 inches viewable and LCD large projection screen type displays. Both aspect ratios of 4:3 and 16:9, commonly referred to as wide screen are supported. 
     Further detail of the functional blocks of system  118  are shown in FIG. 3. A processor  310  resides on a system board containing an industry standard PCI bus  312 . A random access memory  314  is coupled to both the processor  310  for direct access, and to the PCI bus  312  for direct access by other components also coupled to the PCI bus  312 . 
     The other components comprise a receiver  316 , video graphics adapter, VGA converter card  318 , sound card  320  and modem  322 . An RF receiver  324  is coupled to standard keyboard and mouse ports, which in turn are coupled through a standard keyboard/mouse adapter to an ISA bus  326  to processor  310 . Both keyboard  126  and handheld remote  124  transmit RF signals identifying the key pressed, as well as a signal identifying the source of the key signal. The RF signals are typically in the megahertz range, but can also be IR or other suitable form of radiation. RF signals have the advantage over infrared “IR” signals in that they are not interrupted by someone walking between the remote and the receiver. This is especially important during a drag and drop type of activity. If the signal is interrupted for example, a needed document might be dropped on a trash can icon, causing the document to be unintentionally deleted. Light source interference and jamming of other IR receivers is minimized by using RF signals. It may also be used in a different room from the receiver. 
     RF receiver  324  receives the RF signals, which provide indications of the keys being pressed along with the identity of the remote control device sending the signal. RF receiver  324  comprises an ISA board or module plugged into both standard keyboard and mouse ports. The board contains RF receiver circuitry which receives the RF signals, decodes them and routes them to the appropriate port for processing. A system controller program running on processor  310  supervises software drivers which are programmed to distinguish between the sources, and control which program the remote key signals affect. If the handheld remote is activated, the key signals usually would control what channel is being displayed, or cause a recorded program to fast forward, play or reverse. It could however be selected to move to the next image in a program designed to display pictures taken on a digital camera. Keyboard keys are more likely to control a computer program application such as a word processor, spread sheet or electronic mail program. However, the television like controls might be used to override the remote hand held television controls in channel selection. 
     Further elements of the preferred embodiment of the present invention include a tape drive  330  for backup of data and storage of video information, such as a movie or other program, a fixed disk drive  332  for storing programs and data, a CD ROM drive  334 , and a diskette drive  336 , all as commonly known in the personal computer art. A pair of speakers  338  and  340  are also provided. A power supply and associated control circuitry is indicated at  342 , and is coupled to the RF receiver  324  to receive signals representative of power on and power off commands from the remote control devices. Power circuitry  342  maintains power to the RF receiver  324  even when the rest of the system is shut down to ensure that the power on signal is received and executed. To avoid accidental powering off of the system, two consecutive power off signals must be received before the system is powered down. 
     In one preferred embodiment, processor  310  is a 100 mhz Pentium processor, RAM  314  comprises a minimum of 16 megabytes, disk drive  332  is a 1.5 gigabyte IDE hard drive, the CD ROM drive  334  is a quad speed, 3 disc changer, and the fax/modem is a standard 28.8 k bits-per-second (or “KBAUD”) modem. It should be noted that components in personal computers are getting faster, smaller and cheaper with higher capacity. It is easily anticipated that larger memories and faster modems and processors will be preferable over the next 20 plus years. In an alternative preferred embodiment, a very high speed processor  310  is used, and receiver  316  simply comprises circuitry to transform received signals into a digital format. The remainder of the functions of the receiver  316  and VGA card  318  are performed by software routines to receive, tune multiple simultaneous channels, decompress, perform error checking and correction and convert the digital signals into digital VGA format. The VGA card  318  in this embodiment simply comprises a digital to analog converter. 
     Receiver  316  is shown in further detail in FIG. 4. A tuner  410  receives the direct broadcast signal from antenna  114  via standard coaxial cable  116 . The broadcast signal is  150  channels of high-quality television, including data, compressed in accordance with motion picture expert group, MPEG-1 standards with MPEG-2 expected to be available in the near future. The information is carried on an approximately 12 gigahertz carrier, and the receiver  316  selects channels from the carrier and performs analog to digital conversion of the signal. A demodulator  412  is coupled to tuner  410  for demodulation of the digital signals. Forward error correction is provided via standard Viterbi and Reed-Solomon algorithms at block  414 . The output of block  414  comprises an encrypted digital signal, in one embodiment encrypted in accordance with data encryption standards “DES.” While it is not important to precisely reproduce the video signal, it is much more important to get the data such as computer programs and financial information accurately. The above error correction algorithms are designed to reduce the error rate for data to 10 −12  errors per byte of data. For video and audio, an error rate of 10 −8  is acceptable. The error corrected encrypted digital signal is supplied to a decryption and demultiplexing block  416 . Block  416  is coupled to a conditional access card  418  which provides the key for decrypting the digital signal. Upon separating the multiplexed digital decrypted signal, it is provided as digital MPEG conforming signals via a connector  420  to PCI bus  312 . 
     In operation, when processor  310  executes a command, such as changing a channel, it sends the command over the PCI bus  312  to receiver  316 , where tuner  410  tunes in a different channel, and the video signals are processed and sent on to VGA card  318  and sound card  320 . Once on PCI bus  312 , the digital MPEG signal may follow several different courses. In one embodiment, a buffer is allocated from RAM  314  to hold a user selected amount of compressed video data or information comprising computer programs. The same buffer concept may be applied to disk drive  332 , which is useful for holding an even larger amount of information. Tape drive  330  is preferably an 8 millimeter tape device, and is useful for storing entire programs of data or MPEG compressed video/audio information. The tradeoffs for each storage device are clear, with the cost of storage per megabyte increasing with the speed with which it may be retrieved. Hence, while RAM provides very fast access, it is a limited resource, and does not make sense to use for much more then a few seconds of video related data. Also, it is a transitory memory in that it does not persist if power is removed. It is most useful for buffering about 10 seconds worth of video information. While it is not possible to predict how long a block of data will play when converting to video, 10 seconds is about 15 megabytes of data. The tape drive  330  is the cheapest form of data storage, but is not randomly accessible. In other words, it can take some time for the tape to move to the right place before desired data can be retrieved for playing. However, it does provide the most cost effective storage for linear playback of movies and television shows. A disk drive  332  is has an average access time of about 10 milliseconds, making it a nice tradeoff between tape and RAM for buffering portions of video information and allowing the user to select and quickly play back desired buffered video. It, like tape is also persistent. 
     When the MPEG data is buffered, a FIFO type of buffer is used, with new information written over the oldest information when the buffer is full. Through use of the television and VCR remote controls on handheld remote  124  and keyboard  126 , VCR-like instant replay functions are provided from the buffered MPEG data. The buffered data is sent back under processor  310  control via the PCI bus  312  to the VGA card  318  for display on monitor  122 . 
     The VGA card  318  is now described with reference to FIG.  5 . In FIG. 5, a controller  510  is coupled to the PCI bus to receive MPEG encoded video, and other normal personal computer display information such as graphics and text. If controller  510  detects MPEG data on PCI bus  312 , it routes it to a decoder  512  with associated dynamic random access memory of 2 megabytes, DRAM  514 . Decoder  512  decodes the MPEG data in accordance with MPEG standards. A commercially available chip from SGS-Thompson Microelectronics, part number STi3520 is one such decompressor chip which performs the decompression. DRAM  514  is used as a buffer to assist in the decoding, since large amounts of data are required at one time to decode MPEG data. Audio information from the decoded MPEG data is provided to a header  516  for transmission to the sound card  320 . The decoded video signal in YUV color encoding is provided back to controller  510  which then places the video information into a dynamic random access memory or video random access memory, VRAM  518 . A converter  520  retrieves the information from VRAM  518  and generates standard analog VGA display signals on a cable adapter  522  which mates with shell  210  in FIG. 2 for display. 
     Other audio video inputs are provided on VGA card  318 , including a standard cable connector at  524  coupled to a video tuner circuit  526 . Tuner  526  provides both an audio output on line  528  to header  516 , and an audio video signal to a video decoder  530  via line  532 . Line  532  is also coupled to a video multiplexer  540 , which selects one of at least two NTSC compatible audio video signals it receives to an audio video out panel connector  542 . Video decoder  530  also receives audio video inputs from further panel connectors, comprising RCA jack  544 , S-video pin  546  and a second RCA jack  548 . The video signals provided on these lines are decoded by decoder  530  into YUV video output on line  550 , which also receives decoded MPEG signals from decoder  512 . Both these signals are available for display by VGA display via controller  510  without conversion to NTSC. An alternative is to route the signals on line  550  to a YUV to NTSC converter  552 , which feeds video multiplexer  540  for display on a standard television of NTSC signals. However, conversion to NTSC results in an inferior picture being generated from what is received in either S-video or from the antenna  114  as represented by the MPEG signals on PCI bus  312 . By not converting to NTSC, the entire transmitted image may be displayed. Prior art NTSC conversion lead to a cropping of the image to ensure that the image presented was not degraded at the edges. The present invention provides the ability to scale for provision of the entire transmitted image without quality loss at the edges, since it provides a digital video signal. No overscan is required as is needed to ensure smooth display borders for NTSC analog transmissions. 
     Sound card  320  is shown in further detail in the functional block diagram of FIG.  6 . Both FM synthesis and wavetable synthesis are provided at  610  and  612  respectively. Their outputs are mixed or multiplexed at  614  and provided to a mixer and coder/decoder  616  which provides a line out  618  containing SoundBlaster compatible output for connection to standard speakers if desired. In a further embodiment, surround sound compatible output is provided. Mixer  616  also has a microphone input line  620 , a CD audio digital line in  622  one embodiment, and a CD audio analog line in  624 . A multiplexer  626  also multiplexes multiple input lines into mixer  616 . A line in  628  and two audio/video lines  630  and  632  are multiplexed by multiplexer  626 , as are signals received from header  516  via lines  634  and  636 . Line  634  is coupled through header  516  to tuner  526 , providing an audio signal from channels on cable connector  524 . Header  516  is also coupled to MPEG decoder  512  to provide MPEG PCM (pulse-code modulation) audio through digital to analog converter  640  to line  636 . Lines  636  and  634  are also coupled through a further multiplexer  642  to provide a line out of VCR compatible audio on a line  644 . 
     FIG. 7 shows multiple ports available on the back panel of the personal computer  118 , and on the cards shown in FIGS. 4,  5  and  6 . The back panel connections are shown generally at  710 . The audio video inputs comprise RCA jack  544  and audio left and right speaker connectors  630  for receiving audio video input from a VCR or game machine, S-video pin  546  and auxiliary RCA jack  548  for receiving audio video input from a VCR, camcorder or laserdisc and left and right audio connectors  712 . Audio video out connectors  542  and  644  are available on the back panel  710  for coupling to a VCR for recording. Sound card  320  contains connectors  618 ,  620  and  628  on the mounting bracket, plus a game port  720 . VGA card  318  contains the coaxial cable connection  524  and the VGA output port  522 . Digital receiver card  316  contains the coaxial cable connector to coaxial cable  116 , and a slot for the conditional access card  418  indicated at  720 . Slot  720  may be a standard PCM/CIA slot (also referred to as CardBus or PC Card), or any other type of connector desired, such as one specified by News Datacom, who is providing such digital satellite system (DSS) cards for settop boxes. By providing the above connectors and ports on the back side of the personal computer, they are accessible for easy wiring, but also out of view in the home entertainment center. 
     The DSS signal on coax cable  116  also contains data relating to television programming scheduling and closed caption information. In some video broadcast services, the closed caption information is contained in the vertical blanking interval of video signals. This information is captured by the receiver  316  and separated out from the video and audio signals, and provided on the PCI bus to RAM  324  where it is accessible to processor  310 . It can also be stored on any other storage device capable of storing text or other digital data. As shown in FIG. 8, the text is stored directly into a database  812  on RAM  324  or disk drive  332 . In one preferred embodiment, database  812  comprises flat files of the entire text provided by receiver  316 . No organization is applied to it other than sequential as received. A search engine  814  running on processor  310  accepts user queries indicated at  816  in the form of key words. All standard commercial database query functionality, such as proximity searching, query by example, wildcard letters, etc are applicable. Search engine  814  then applies the query to the database  812  and supplies the results back through the VGA card  318  for display. The data is preferably formatted as specified by the user, most likely in terms of the title of the program, the time that it will be on, and the channel that it will be on. Further information, such as descriptions of the program, and at least partial credits including director and actors may also be specified to be provided by the user. Closed caption information is stored separately from the programming information and may be queried separately. Where a separate data channel contains all the closed caption information for the channels containing video information, it is easy to store the closed caption information for all the channels. However, if it is required to decode each video MPEG channel, then only the closed caption information from one channel at a time is stored. An auto surf function cycles through desired channels, picking up portions of closed caption information, which can then also be searched. This is very useful when looking for current event type programming. Perhaps a user is interested in a particular place, or when a particular feature on a desirable topic starts. A query to review all the current and past mentions of the place or feature during live programming can quickly alert the user to broadcasts satisfying the query. Where closed caption is not supported, the sound track from video is fed into a speech recognition program  820  running on processor  310  which recognizes at least a few words from current television programming, and will improve with time and advancement in linguistic parsing. For now, only the words that are recognized are fed into yet another partition of the database which can be independently searched. 
     Various views of the hand held remote control  124  are shown in FIGS. 9 a ,  9   b , and  9   c . A 19 millimeter optical trackball  910  is integrated into the remote, and functions just as any other pointing device for personal computers, generating cursor control signals that are transmitted to the personal computer  118 . In a further preferred embodiment, the cursor control device is a miniature joystick shown at  911  in FIG. 9C, that is operated by a finger being placed on top of the stick and pushing in the direction of desired cursor movement. Selection buttons, or mouse clickers are provided at  912  for the user to press to select functions on the personal computer that the cursor is touching. An additional trigger like selection button is provided at  913 , which is convenient for use by an index finger if holding and pointing the remote in a natural position. It is also useful as a pseudo trigger for many games, and for one handed dragging and dropping of icons. 
     In one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9C, a microphone  1244 , an earphone  1242 , and an RF transceiver are included in remote control devices  124 , providing a cordless-telephone functionality, with PC  118  being the base unit and remote control  124  being the remote unit. In another such embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10, a microphone  1244 , a speaker  1242 , and an RF transceiver are included in remote control device  126 , providing a cordless-telephone functionality, with PC  118  being the base unit and remote control  126  being the remote unit. Phone calls can be received or initiated by activating a “phone” function by pressing one or more of the control buttons on the phone, such as simultaneously pressing buttons  922  and  928 , which, in one embodiment, toggles function between TV and phone, thereby automatically muting the audio of the TV when phone function is desired. 
     A power switch is provided at  914  to provide power-on/off functions for the monitor  122  and resume/rest for personal computer  118 . Channel control buttons  916  provide the familiar television/VCR up and down channel control functions. Volume controls  918  are also provided, as is the standard number keypad in television remote controls indicated generally at  920 . Further provided are mute button  922 , channel recall  924 , FAV (favorite channel or menu) button  926  and TV button  928 , which serves to cycle the display through full screen display of a television program, to putting it in a window, to hiding it completely. An additional function set control button  930  is used to select functions provided by an operating system beyond those normally provided today. Much as the “Ctrl” and “Alt” keys are used to select different functions, the function set button  930  is similarly used on the hand held remote  124  to select the functions defined by the operating system. FAV button  926  may be unique to each family member, and comprise a listing of the users favorite television programs, games, computer application programs, home pages on internet, or other interfaces into the electronic world. 
     Hand held remote  124  also contains RF generating circuitry coupled to all the keys and pointing devices for generating RF signals corresponding to the buttons pressed for reception by RF circuitry  324 . The power of the RF signal is adjustable via a thumbwheel indicated at  934 , which is coupled to further power adjusting circuitry shown in FIG.  12 . Power is provided by a standard 9 volt cell  936 , or multiple double “A” batteries, accessible via a removable panel  940 . 
     Remote keyboard  126 , shown in further detail in FIG. 10, is very similar to a MF 11 keyboard, except that the numeric key pad has been replaced with television/CR like remote control buttons, and a touchpad indicated at  1010 . In addition, it contains a pair of function set keys  1012  and  1014  for invoking the same functions as button  930  on handheld remote  124 . The television/VCR buttons include a power button  1016 , volume controls  1018 , channel controls  1020 , TV/VCR button  1022 , mute button  1024 , a favorite channel/function button  1026  and a channel recall button  1028 . In addition, selection keys  1030  and  1032  are provided to select function indicated by the cursor as controlled by touchpad  1010 . Touchpad  1010  is integrated into the remote keyboard, and permits easy manipulation of the cursor by simply moving an object, such as a pen, stick or finger/finger nail across the pad in the desired direction. It can be useful for performing signatures to validate transactions, or restrict access to files. By integrating touchpad  1010  directly in the remote keyboard  126 , there are no external connections, or sliding drawers to contend with, which could easily become clogged with grease, butter, sugar or any of the other messy things people eat while being entertained in a family entertainment center. The portion of the keyboard containing the television/VCR remote controls is preferably sealed, and impervious to being affected by such foods and drinks as are commonly found in a family room. Since the keyboard is more likely to be heavily used, a higher number of double “A” batteries are used. Four to eight provide a suitable length of operation. They may be rechargeable, and an external power jack  1042  is provided to allow the keyboard to be plugged into standard electrical utility power supplies. 
     As with the handheld remote  124 , the keyboard remote  126  comprises RF generating circuitry  1040  to provide RF signals for reception by RF circuitry  324  in personal computer  118 . RF circuitry  1040  also adds on a keyboard identifier with the signals it transmits, which identifies each keystroke as originating from the keyboard. In one embodiment, it is a set of bits that is unique to the remote device. This helps prevent inadvertent interference from other owners of similar home entertainment systems from inadvertently controlling the users system. In another embodiment, the frequency is shifted slightly from that emitted by the handheld remote, and RF circuitry  324  detects the bits, or the frequency shift and identifies the keystrokes as originating from either the handheld remote, or the remote keyboard which is associated with the system. In yet a further preferred embodiment, multiple remotes are provided, each with its own identifying frequency or code, including joysticks for controlling games. In this manner, each individual in the room can be controlling their application or program in a window, or be playing different parts in a game. Since all remotes would be sending the same signals to represent the same functions, the drivers for such remotes running on processor  310  need not differ. They need only be designed to handle multiple different sources of the keystrokes, button strokes, mouse, stick or touchpad signals. 
     A high level flowchart showing how commands issued from different remote control devices are interpreted by processor  310  to control different applications is shown in FIG. 11 a . When an application is started in a Windows 3.11 or 95 environment, it is initialized as shown at  1110  to be associated with a particular remote. The keys or buttons from such remote are identified in groups of either “keyboard” or “TV” or “game” type keys. Game type keys would be those associated with the stick, trackball or mouse type of pointing devices. Thus, an application could be associated with game keys from the handheld remote for one player of a game, and game keys from the keyboard remote for a second player. Further remotes, or different groups from a remote could be used for further players. When RF circuitry  324  receives signals from a remote, it identifies the command, such as what key was pressed, and which remote device it came from to processor  310  at step  1112 . Processor  310  then identifies the application in a window to which is should be applied. If it is a presentation type of command, such as enlarging a window or opening a window as determined at  1116 , the command is routed to the window manager for execution at  1118 . If not, it is executed on the application that the group it is associated with was initialized to at step  1110 . In further preferred embodiments, individual keys are associated with applications, however, at least one group or key is always associated with the underlying operating system to prevent a user from being locked out of other applications. One further use of the above system is to assign TV/VCR controls to television programming associated with a window. In this manner, no cursor need be present in the window, blocking the television programming in order to perform channel selection. In addition, if someone else is watching a program in a different window, their channel selection controls will only affect their window. 
     A block diagram in FIG. 11 b  represents tables formed by a program manager to associate remote control devices and the input devices on the remote control devices to programs. Programs, as used herein refer to computer application programs and television programs, both of which are controllable by remote control devices. A first program  1122  is associated with a first remote controller, R 1 , whose input devices D 1  and D 2  control the first program. D 1  and D 2  correspond to the alphanumeric keys, such as a computer keyboard keyset, or subset thereof, or a cursor control device, or even the television control pad previously discussed. Second, third and fourth programs  1124 ,  1126 , and  1128  are also associated with remote control devices, and in some instances multiple remote control devices. Fourth program  1128  is controlled by input device sets D 1  and D 2  of remote R 1 , and D 1  and D 2  of the second remote R 2 . The low level granularity of associating sets of keys to applications provides great flexibility for a multi-user home entertainment system. 
     In a further embodiment, FM earphone headsets are provided to enable each person to hear only the sound that is associated with their own window of programming. The sound associated with each program is either assigned to one of several standard FM frequencies and broadcast in low power, much like that in a drive-in movie theater, and each headset is tunable to the frequencies broadcast. In another embodiment, each headset is tuned to a different single frequency, and the user selects the windows whose sound will be broadcast on which frequencies. The top most window in such a set of windows will have its audio so broadcast. 
     Further detail of RF circuitry in the remote control devices is shown in FIG.  12 . An input device, comprising the keyboard or hand held remote is indicated at  1210 . When a key, touchpad command, trackball etc command is activated, it is provided to a decoder  1212 , which decodes the command into a signal representative of the command to be transmitted. It also adds a header and check bits to the signal to be transmitted, indicating a unique identification of the remote. The identification in one embodiment is a digital signal which is unique for each remote control for one system and stored on an EE-PROM, while in a further embodiment, the code is an eight bit, or a 16 bit code which results in over 64,000 different combinations, making it unlikely that neighbors within range will have remotes with codes that will control a user&#39;s system. The unique identifier may also be represented by selecting a different frequency for each remote control device. The system uses this unique identification as described above to determine which program should be affected by the particular command issued from the particular remote that issued it. 
     The Decoder  1212  provides a decoded signal to an FM signal source and modulator  1214 , which in one embodiment generates a desired RF signal in the 900 megahertz region of the electromagnetic spectrum. This signal is provided to a power amplifier  1216 , which amplifies the RF signal and provides it to an antenna  1218  for transmission to the system. The power amplifier  1216  consumes most of the power in the remote control device. A potentiometer  1222  is provided to reduce the gain of the amplifier so that it is not always amplifying the signals at the highest power level. Since users will vary the distance they are from the system, there is no need to always transmit at the maximum power level. If a user is close to the system, the user may adjust the power level downward by turning the thumb wheel on the remote in the appropriate direction until the system no longer receives the transmissions. In one embodiment, the receiver in the system detects the signal strength received, and provides visual feedback on the display to assist the user in setting the power level to a level where no errors in transmission due to low power signals are likely to result. Such signal power level detectors are well known in the art, and one example is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,193,210. In a further embodiment, the RF receiver  324  also comprises an RF transmitter, and provides an RF signal representative of the power level back to the remote, which is received by a receiver antenna  1224 . Antenna  1224  is coupled to a receiver/demodulator/decoder  1226  which decodes the signal and provides a digital signal representative of transmitted signal strength back to a power control circuit  1228 . Power control circuit  1228  is coupled to the potentiometer  1222  for adjustment of the gain of power amplifier  1216  based on the signal strength feedback from the system. Power control circuitry  1228  is also coupled to the input device, to sense when commands are entered. It is also coupled to the other components to control when they are supplied power. During touchpad and trackball operation, power is supplied continuously to all the electronics. However, after a predetermined period of time, approximately 1 second, with no further commands being sensed, the power control circuitry  1228  cuts off power to most of the other circuitry, and only turns it back on within milliseconds when activity on the input device  1210  is detected. When other circuitry is powered off, the power control circuit remains active, along with the receiver  1226 . The power control circuit  1228  buffers commands until the other circuitry is ready to process the commands. Since it turns back on quickly, there is no perceptible delay by the user. 
     In a further embodiment, each input device command transmitted is acknowledged by the system with an echo of the command. When no acknowledgement is received, the power control circuitry  1228  instructs the decoder to send the signal again, while increasing the power level until the system properly acknowledges the command. All other commands are buffered in the power control circuitry until successful transmission of the command, whereupon they are transmitted at the new adjusted power level. In one embodiment, the times for rebroadcast are randomly chosen, and prevented if the receiver  1226  detects transmissions from another remote control device or the system to prevent interference. This is not done if each remote has its own transmission frequency, which is set, in one embodiment, by a DIP switch  1240 . 
     In yet another embodiment, the remote control devices are used as a “speakerphone,” a hands-free intercom-like connection to the telephone system. In conjunction with the modem telephone functions, the RF circuitry  324  transmits and receives in a manner equivalent to the base unit of a cordless phone. A speaker  1242  on the remote control device is coupled to the receiver  1226 , which receives RF voice from the RF circuitry  324 , and provides the received sound. A microphone  1244  is coupled to the decoder  1212  for transmitting sound created by the user. Receiver  1226  and decoder  1212  operate in conjunction as the handset of a standard cordless phone. In a further embodiment, the earphone headsets are used in place of the speakers for privacy. In one embodiment, a headset jack is provided in the remote control device as part of the block indicating speaker  1242  and standard headsets may be used. 
     When the user receives a telephone call, a message appears on the display with the identity of the calling source if caller ID is provided by the telephone service selected. This allows easy interface into available databases to “pull” up further information about the caller stored on the system. A key  931  on the remote is used to answer the call. The keypad is used to enter numbers, with the modem providing standard DTMF (dual-tone, multiple-frequency) tones. 
     The remotes  124  and  126  also contain jacks  942  and  1044  for game controller input. A standard personal computer analog game port is provided, or in conjunction with the RF transceiver capability of the remote control devices, a bi-directional digital port is provided from jacks  942  and  1044 . 
     One example of the advantages of having a full function computer operating in conjunction with broadband video is that it opens up the power of a personal computer to control the video streams and advanced user functions. The interface to the broadband video is much more user friendly. In FIG. 13, one example is shown, with a standard television like schedule indicated generally at  1310 . It comprises a timeline across the top, starting at 8 PM and progressing to midnight. Four channels, A, B, C and D are shown, but many more may be available. Other programs, such as games and word processors which may be selected in standard double mouse click fashion are also shown. Both the time frames and the number of channels shown may be modified by the user enlarging the window using standard Windows based navigation techniques. Multiple cells, or programs are shown on each channel, and are represented as a suffix of the channel letter for discussion herein. In actuality, program titles and. descriptions appear be inserted in each cell. By clicking on a cell with the right mouse button, further details appear in an expanded version of the cell. 
     Several icons are tied to functions controlled by the system. A record icon  1320  is tied to either a separate video cassette recorder, the tape drive, or the disk drive to record selected channels. A program cell may be indicated for recording by dragging the cell with a mouse control and dropping it onto the record icon. Similarly, a reminder may be set by dropping a program cell onto a remind icon  1322 . If a pay per view program is desired, one simply drags the program cell, which is perhaps outlined in green, over on top of a buy icon  1324 . The buy icon is also used when viewing a home shopping channel, or a catalog in a similar manner. To view a primary program, a user either double clicks on a cell, or drags a cell to a view icon  1326  and drops it there. To place a program into a picture in picture format, a user drags a cell onto a PIP icon  1328 . The picture in picture window may then be resized like any other window, or moved to another area of the display. All the icons may also be arranged in an L-shape surrounding a primary channel being viewed so that the icons do not interfere with the video images being displayed from the primary channel. 
     In one embodiment, each remote control device controls a different cursor, shown as R 1  and R 2  on the screen in FIG.  13 . When the cursor is used to select a program, it becomes the primary controller for that program. The keys on the remote are automatically mapped into the program selected. The keyboard however, retains control of the task list, and is capable of selecting a program and becoming the primary control device for that program to the exclusion of the hand held remote control device. 
     In FIG. 13, icons E 1  and E 2  represent remote earphones. The personal computer sound card  320  also contains a multi frequency FM transmitter  646  with antenna  648 , and has the capability to generate separate sound tracks for each window being displayed on the monitor. It assigns each to one or more sets of earphones and transmits a local FM signal or broadcast IR or RF which is received and played by the earphones set to the right channel. The earphones have tuning circuitry that allows them to be set to a desired channel, or they may be fixed to different frequencies. The user drags the appropriate icon over to the program having the desired sound track, or to the remote that the user is controlling and drops it. If dropped on a program, the sound card transmits the sound for that application on the frequency associated with the earphones which are tuned to that frequency. If it is dropped on a remote control device, the top window associated with that remote has the sound associated with it transmitted. 
     A first screen display provided on monitor  122  to users is shown in block diagram form in FIG. 14 a . The display comprises a set of icons which are tied to underlying functions in a Microsoft Windows95 or down level version operating environment. This front end is specifically designed to be a replacement shell for the normal Windows operating environment to make it user friendly to a family. It acts as an application manager, allowing the user to launch other applications and utilities from within it. The front end is organized into the following areas, each of which leads to further menus: Entertainment, Information Services, Productivity, and Logon/Help/Configuration controls. The front end utilizes Win32 c  application program interfaces, and operates both as a shell and as a stand-alone application. It supports drag and drop and is Win95 logo compliant. 
     Further icons on the first screen comprise a logon icon for bringing up a dialog box asking for the user name and password and a help icon for bringing up a context sensitive help engine with a data file which is related to the screen where the help icon was selected. The dialog box for the logon contains an option for a default, or family logon which may not require a password. 
     The front end splits the integrated video processing, audio processing and data processing functionality of the entertainment system into different areas of similar functionality as show in the block diagram of FIG. 14 b , comprising an entertainment icon  1410 , an information services icon  1412  and a personal productivity icon  1414 . Each of these icons, when activated by clicking, or from a task list invoke further menus. An entertainment menu in a window on the monitor is shown in FIG. 14 c , comprising selections such as Microsoft Home Theater, CD audio, Digital Video, IR Blaster and Games, all of which may be launched from this window. The Games icon provides a user configurable games menu, which has the capability of being user aware, provided the user identified himself or herself at login. The person logged on is also noted at the bottom of the window. Each user is then above to have their favorite games listed when they are logged in. A home icon or control button is active, and takes the user back to the main menu. Help controls are also active, and take the user to context sensitive system and help information. 
     The Information Services icon  1412  leads to a further Information Services Menu as shown in FIG. 14 d . Many commercially available information services are launchable, as well as telephony related functions tied to the modem, such as voice messages, fax viewing and mail readers. 
     The Personal Productivity icon  1414  leads to a Personal Productivity menu in FIG. 14 e , where personal productivity software is launchable. While shown as a text based list, the applications may also be represented by icons. 
     A configuration menu is shown in FIG. 14 f  and is found through the first screen display. Cancel is the active button in this menu due to the potential to adversely affect the look and operation of the entertainment system. A user can change the front end to essentially a computer program based interface, change the clock of the system, browse the secondary storage for other applications which can be dragged and dropped onto different menus, and remove applications from different menus. 
     One embodiment, implemented on a circuit card or cards for providing video conferencing via a public switched telephone network is shown generally at  1510  in FIG.  15 . Broken line block  1511  implements an industry standard, such as the proposed ITU-T (International Telecommunications Union-Telecommunications) standard, and each element described hereinafter within block  1511  implements the standards that are identified in the element block. Input/output devices comprising a microphone  1512  and speaker  1514  are coupled to a signal converter  1516 . Converter  1516  converts signals from the microphone to digital signals, and digital signals to analog speakers for driving the speaker  1514 . Converter  1516  is coupled to an echo cancelling device  1518  for reducing feedback between the speaker and microphone. An audio coder/decoder  1520  is coupled to both the cancelling device  1518  and converter  1516 , and to a delay circuit  1522 , which in turn is coupled to a multiplexor/demultiplexor  1524  for processing the audio signals. Multiplexor  1524  is in turn coupled to a modem  1526 , which has capability for both sending and receiving data on a public switched telephone network (“PSTN”) indicated at  1528  in either analog (such as a modem connected to an analog “POTS” or plain old telephone system) or digital (such as a digital ISDN connection) form. 
     A video camera  1532  (which can be a stand-alone video camera, a commercially available camcorder, or other imaging device) is coupled to suitable video inputs on back panel  710 , and is used to provide a video feed to a color space convertor/graphics display module  1535 , which provides a further video signal to a video coder/decoder  1536 , which is coupled to the multiplexor  1524 . Video signals received from the camera are compressed by the codec (coder/decoder)  1536 , and then transmitted over the telephone network by modem  1526 . Video signals received from the network by modem  1526  are demultiplexed, decompressed and turned into signals (in one embodiment, into VGA signals) for display on a monitor. In addition to providing the ability to perform video conferencing with other compatible systems over a telephone network, several data-exchange protocols are supported at a data converter  1540 , which is coupled between the multiplexor  1524  and a data storage device  1542  containing data generated by a user application. A system control icon  1544  represents the ability of the operating system of a computer, such as the computer comprising the home entertainment system, to control the elements of the video conferencing circuitry. System control  1544  is coupled to a system control block  1546 , which implements standard H. 246  and in turn is coupled to both the multiplexor  1524  and modem  1526  to provide operator control thereof. 
     A further embodiment of a video conferencing aspect of the home entertainment system is shown in FIG. 16 generally at  1610 . Common components of the home entertainment system are numbered the same as in previous figures. In this implementation, a plain old telephone system (“POTS”) connection  1612  (which is alternatively a digital connection such as ISDN into the PSTN) can also is used for the video, sound and data signal transmission. Other users to be connected by video conference are represented at  1614 . A camcorder  1616  (which can be a stand-alone video camera, a commercially available camcorder, or other imaging device) is used to provide the audio/video feed via the back panel inputs  710 , where the video and audio are then provided to the sound  320  and converter  318  cards for digitization. The digitized signals are then sent through the system bus to the modem  322  for transmission. Received signals via the modem are sent to the CPU, sound card, and video card for decompression and/or playing on monitor  122  and/or a stereo/speaker combination  1620 . Elements indicated with broken lines, are advanced features which are easily implementable. They include a voice capability coupled to the sound card  320  and modem  322  for providing a separate voice channel when video conferencing is not desired. A set of amplified speakers are indicated at  1624  which are driven directly by the sound card  320  with no need for independent amplification. A digital camera with microphone indicated at  1628  is coupled directly to a digital signal processor (DSP) with mixing and decoding functions indicated at  1630 . The DSP  1630  is coupled directly to the system bus  312 . Finally, a video cassette recorder  1632  is coupled to the converter card  318  for recording. 
     While the system has been described in terms of a personal computer, it is easily modified to encompass a settop box version, where all the circuitry is integrated into one or two cards in a box designed to sit on top of a television having VGA input. In another version, all the circuitry is included inside of the television chassis. 
     In one embodiment, full multi-media signal sourcing and destinationing of audio/video/digital-data (AIV/D) broadcasts is provided for. Referring to FIG. 1, one embodiment of signal  116  from satellite dish  114  provides digital AIV/D signals from such sources as DirectTV or Primestar. In another such embodiment, signal  116  provides analog A/V such as NTSC antenna signals. In another such embodiment, signal  157  from camera  156  provides analog A/V such as NTSC audio/video signals. In further embodiments, signal  175  from cable source  174  provides analog and/or digital A/V/D. I further such embodiments, signal  163  from PSTN  162  provides data or phone signals such as ISDN or POTS signals. In one set of such embodiments, computer  118  is programmed to automatically record analog signals, such as television programming, onto recordable media, such as video tape, in VCR  172  coupled to cable  173 . In another such set of such embodiments, computer  118  is programmed to automatically record digital signals, such as digital television programming or CD-ROM-type audio, onto recordable media, such as recordable compact disks, in CD jukebox  168  coupled to cable  169 . CD jukebox  168  also plays CDs or CDROMS for use elsewhere. In another such embodiment, signals are sent to stereo-surround sound system  158  for audio output to one or more speakers  160 , and on cable  151  to TV  150 . In one such embodiment, earphones  154  on cable  155  and gamepad  152  on cable  153  provide additional input/output through remote control  126 . Home network  164  is “smart wiring” used to transmit data and control within the home, coupled by cable  165  to computer  118 . VideoBlaster  170  provides video-signal processing on cable/connector  171 . Cables  175 ,  116 ,  163 ,  157 ,  151 ,  173 ,  171 ,  169 ,  155 , and  153  can be wired coupling or wireless (such as RF or IR signals without wires). 
     It is to be understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. Many other embodiments will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. The scope of the invention should, therefore, be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.