Patent Publication Number: US-7721305-B2

Title: Remote TV control system

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/362,003 filed Jul. 27, 1999 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,889,382. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to a system and method for controlling the operation of a television using a cable television network. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Cable television networks for broadcasting television programs are wide spread. More and more homes are being connected to these cable broadcasting networks to receive higher quality program reception and a multitude of additional channels. In addition to standard cable programming, a selection of programs are broadcasted on a pay-per-view basis in which the program is only broadcasted and received by the viewer if an additional fee has been paid to the cable television broadcaster. 
   Current cable broadcasting networks only output television programming signals to the television, and they do not have the capability of receiving input signals from the television or the television viewer. One disadvantage of watching movies broadcast by a cable television network is that if the viewer has to temporarily leave the room in which he is watching the movie there is no way to pause the broadcasting of the movie. For example, if the viewer gets a telephone call, wants to get something to eat, or has to visit the bathroom, he will do so at the sacrifice of missing the movie he is currently watching. 
   In contrast, videos and DVD disks played on a video cassette recorders and DVD players respectively, of course, may be paused or stopped momentarily by the movie viewer, allowing the viewer to break from watching the movie and get a snack or go to the bathroom without missing any of the movie. Current cable broadcasting companies do not provide the viewer with the option to suspend the current program and then restart the program at the point where it was paused. 
   Accordingly, there is a need to provide an remote television control system and method which has the capability of changing the broadcasted signal in response to the viewers input. Furthermore, the remote television control system and method should have the additional capability to change the operation of the television. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method and system for using a cable broadcasting network to control the operation of television at a cable subscriber&#39;s residence. 
   It is another object of the present invention to provide method and system for using a cable broadcasting network to control the operation of television based on the presence of a viewer at a cable subscriber&#39;s residence. 
   In accordance with these and other objects, the present invention provides a method and system for controlling the operation of a television using a cable broadcasting network. The presence of a viewer in front of the television is sensed, presence information is then transmitted to a cable broadcasting service center via the cable broadcasting network, a control signal is sent to the television adapted to receive same, and regular cable programming is suspended. The present invention allows the cable broadcasting company to provided additional services to the cable subscriber to retain and attract more customers. These additional services may be tailored to the specific needs of the cable subscriber, thus a higher quality cable service is provided. 
   Thus, in accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a method is provided for controlling the operation of a television using a cable broadcasting network, wherein the cable broadcasting network comprises at least one cable broadcasting service center in communication with a plurality of subscriber residences via a coaxial cable transmission system. The method includes sensing a presence of a person in a room, transmitting the presence information to a cable broadcaster service center, sending a control signal to a television adapted to receive same, and suspending regular cable programming in response to the control signal. 
   In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a system is provided for controlling the operation of a television using a cable broadcasting network, wherein the cable broadcasting network comprises at least one cable broadcasting service center in communication with a plurality of subscriber residences via a coaxial cable transmission system. The system includes a transducer for sensing the presence of a person in a room, a cable network for transmitting a control signal between a cable network service center and a cable subscriber residence, a control circuit for receiving the control signal sent by the cable network service center and for suspending regular programming. 
   The advantages accruing to the present invention are numerous. For example, the present invention allows a television to be operated by a cable broadcasting service center located remotely from a subscribers residence. The present invention provides customer feedback to the cable broadcasting center regarding the cable subscriber&#39;s needs. The cable broadcasting center fulfills the cable subscriber&#39;s needs by providing services which are tailorable to predetermined choices made by the cable subscriber. 
   The above objects and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention are readily apparent from the following detailed description of the best mode for carrying out the invention when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating a cable broadcasting service center, a cable television broadcasting network comprised of coaxial cable and a typical subscriber residence having at least one television for receiving cable programs, according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram illustrating a cable television subscriber residence having a system for controlling the operation of a television according to the present invention; and 
       FIG. 3  is a flow diagram illustrating a method of controlling the operation of a television, using a cable broadcasting network, at a typical subscriber residence according to the present invention. 
   

   BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
   Turning now to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a preferred embodiment of a remote television control system, according to the present invention. The remote television control system of  FIG. 1  is comprised of a head-end cable programming source facility (or CATV service center)  10 , a cable network  12  and a plurality of subscriber residences  14  which include televisions  16 . The CATV service center  10  receives a broadcasting wave, containing cable television programming, from a satellite or a ground station and then distributes the broadcasting wave through the cable network  12  to the multitude of subscriber residences  14 . Typically, more than 50 channels are available and are received by the subscribers. 
   Satellite dishes  17  receive and can retransmit cable television programs to be viewed by cable subscribers in their residences  14 . The CATV service center  10  processes the broadcasting waves received by the satellite dishes  17  and combines them with local programming  11  through a signal processing and combining circuitry as represented by block  15 . The combined local and national cable programming is retransmitted to the subscriber residences  14  via a network of high speed cables  12 . The cables may be a fiber optic ring or a coaxial cable or a combination there of. Additionally, an antenna  17   a  may be employed to transmit the combined cable broadcasting signal to a distant neighborhood  16   a . The distant neighborhood  16   a  has a receiving antenna  17   b  for receiving the cable programming signal and rebroadcast the signal to the subscriber residences  14 . Signal amplifiers  13   a  are located along the cable network to ensure that an appropriate signal strength is maintained. Remote power stations  13   b  are provided in the remote neighborhoods  16   a ,  16   b , and  16   c  to power the signal amplifiers  13   a . Of course, depending on the size of the neighborhood and distance from the CATV service center  10  more or less remote power stations  13   b  and signal amplifiers  13   a  will be required. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 2 , a subscriber television system is shown according to the present invention. The subscriber television system includes a television  16  having a remote controller  18  and a set-top box  20 . The remote controller  18  typically contains an infrared transmitter which communicates with an infrared receiver  19  located in the television  16 . Generally, remote controller device  18  includes commands to change channels, increase and decrease volume, turn off and on the television  16  and a variety of other television operation commands. 
   Television  16  is connected to set-top box  20  via a communication cable  26  which is typically a coaxial cable or the like. Further, television  16  has a power cable  28  which is also connected to the set-top box  20 . Communication cable  26  transfers communication information such as cable programming from the set-top box  20  to the television  16 . The communication information may be transmitted in the form of digital or analog waves depending on the television receiver used. 
   Television power cable  28  is connected to the set-top box  20  so that television power may be regulated remotely through the cable network  12 . More specifically, a power down circuit  22  containing appropriate switches, interrupts the AC power transferred by power cord  30  to the television  16 . The power down circuit  22  is configured to receive a signal through the cable network  12  when it is desired to power down the television  16 . A power interrupt switch contained in the power down circuit  22  is remotely activated to disconnect electrical power from the television  16 . Power cable  30  is connected to an AC power source  31  in the subscriber&#39;s home such as a conventional wall outlet. A detailed description of how the power down circuit is operated to carry out the present invention will be described below. 
   With continuing reference to  FIG. 2 , the set-top box  20  having a presence detection circuit or sensor  24  is illustrated. Sensor  24  can be an infrared, ultrasonic, or optical sensor. Sensor  24  is in electrical communication with the cable network  12  and is configured to send an output signal through the cable network  12  to the CATV service center  10  when a person occupying the room, in which the television  16  is located, leaves the room. An output signal indicative of an unoccupied room may then be used by the CATV service center  10  to remotely operate the television  16 . For example, CATV service center  10  could send a signal to the power down circuit  22  to interrupt AC power to the television  16  for the purpose of conserving power consumption at the subscriber&#39;s residence. Other remote television control operations may include interrupting regular programming and displaying an alternate program such as scenery, or messages regarding the subscriber&#39;s cable television account may also be displayed. Further, the CATV service center  10  adapted to record and re-broadcast cable television programs could use the aforementioned system to record a cable program when sensor  24  indicates a viewer has left the room and then re-broadcast the cable program once the user has re-entered the room. A more detailed description of the operation of the television system just described will now be disclosed. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 3 , a method for operating the television system just described is presented in accordance with the present invention. It is contemplated that the following method shown in  FIG. 3  may be implemented through a computer program executed locally on the set-top box  20  or remotely at the CATV service center  10 . When television  16  is energized, the program for remote control of the television system is started at block  40 . At block  42 , the presence of a television user is sensed. At block  44 , a determination is made as to whether television users are present in the television room. If television users are present, the programming selected by the television users will continue without interruption as illustrated by block  46 . If at block  44  it is determined that the television users are not present, the current regular programming will be suspended as illustrated by block  48 . 
   The present method includes three modes of operation which may be selected by the viewer. Mode one allows the user to display alternate programming. Selecting mode two will cause the CATV service center  10  to record the current cable programming when the viewer has left the room. Finally, mode three will indicate to the CATV service center  10  that the viewer would like the television powered down at the point at which the viewer left the room. At block  50  the present invention determines whether mode one has been selected by the cable subscriber. If mode one has been selected by the cable subscriber, alternate programming data is sent to the television  16  as illustrated by block  52 . The alternate programming may be a nature scene such as a waterfall or a campfire, or it may take the form of advertisements. The advertisements could be tailored to the particular cable subscriber&#39;s interests profile, etc. Additionally, messages could be sent by the CATV service center  10  regarding the cable subscriber&#39;s account status such as payment information or information regarding their Internet service, such as the cable subscriber&#39;s e-mail account. If the cable subscriber has an e-mail account with the company, the subscriber could be alerted of unread e-mail messages. 
   If mode one has not been selected, the present invention determines whether mode two has been selected as indicated by block  54 . If mode two has been selected, the current channel and program the television is currently set to will be recorded as indicated by block  56 . The recording may take place at the subscriber&#39;s site, if the subscriber&#39;s television system is so configured, or at the CATV service center  10 . 
   If mode two has not been selected, the present invention determines whether mode three has been selected as shown by block  58 . If mode three has been selected a signal is sent by the CATV service center  10  to activate the power down circuit  22  (shown in  FIG. 2 ) located in the set-top box  20  to power down the television  16  as indicated by block  60 . The power down circuit  22  temporarily disconnects the television set  16  from the electrical power source  31  thereby reducing power consumption at the subscriber residence  14 . If mode three has not been selected, the present invention continues to monitor the presence of television users in the room. Furthermore, as indicated by the process arrows after each of blocks  52 ,  56  and  60  the presence of a user in the room will be monitored after each of the processes described in block  52 ,  56  and  60  are started as indicated by block  44 . Once a user has returned to the room, regular programming, as shown in block  46 , will be re-established. 
   While embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it is not intended that these embodiments illustrate and describe all possible forms of the invention. Rather, the words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.