Patent Abstract:
An internet-television system includes a web appliance that adds graphical lines and identifiers to internet content displayed on a television. Internet content is often difficult to view on a television screen due to factors such as poor resolution, further viewing distance, high definition graphics etc. The invention provides a web appliance with means to add graphical lines and identifiers to displayed internet content. The graphical lines breaks the internet content into a plurality of sections each with a corresponding identifier. A user can then input an identifier using a device such as a remote control. A section corresponding to the identifier can then be enlarged for easier viewing. In another embodiment of the invention a link appearing in a section can be selecting by inputting a corresponding identifier.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]    This application claims the priority benefit of U.S. provisional application serial No. 60/290,469, filed May 11, 2001. 
     
    
     
         [0002]    FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
           [0003]    The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for viewing internet on a television and more specifically a method and apparatus for enlarging and selecting internet content on a television.  
         BACKGROUND OF INVENTION  
         [0004]    Use of the internet is becoming ever more widespread, and increasingly important in our daily lives. The internet allows users unparalleled access to information around the world via its huge network of connected computers. Most internet users use the World Wide Web WWW to access information whether it be text, sound, images or other actions. Currently most internet users use personal computers consisting of high speed microprocessors, accompanying peripherals, high definition computer monitors, and a modem connected to a telephone line or other communications means. However there still exists a large segment of the population (more so in less developed countries) that do not have a personal computer or access to the internet. Many of these households however do have a television and an ability to connect to the internet (e.g. phone line). Even for people who do have a personal computer, exploring the internet in the same way they view television can be very appealing due to factors such as greater comfort. Therefore a need exists for an internet device that can display information on a normal television screen. Many problems exist with this implementation however. In a typical computer environment, computer users choose to explore the internet using a mouse wherein a representative object such as a cursor can have its movement on a graphical interface controlled by hand movement. The representative object can be placed over specialized areas on the screen and though the clicking of a button on the mouse an object can be chosen. A keyboard is also used for typing website addresses, search keywords, tabbing between links and so forth. Television users view their television for entertainment purposes and do not find it convenient to use a computer mouse or keyboard. Therefore a need exists for a simple convenient method for viewing and browsing the internet.  
           [0005]    Another major problem in implementing PC graphics on a television screen are the resolution differences. PC graphics standards such as VGA utilize 640 pixels horizontally across with 480 pixels vertically down, while television standards such as NTSC, PAL, or SECAM use a much lower resolution. Also PC graphics standards adopt a non-interlaced, progressive scan format, while TV standards adopt an interlaced scan format which creates flicker problems in the converted image. While many methods exists such as prior scaling and flicker reduction techniques the resolution and quality of an internet image on a television screen can still be difficult to discern. This problem is compounded by the fact that while computer users usually view the computer screen from a fairly standard close distance, television users usually view the television from farther distances that depend on a user. These factors combined with the fine detail in many web pages can make it very difficult to view internet data on a television screen. Therefore a need exists for a method to conveniently view the internet on a television screen.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    A primary goal of the invention is to provide a method and apparatus for viewing internet content on a television screen.  
           [0007]    It is another object of the invention to provide a method for enlarging an area of internet content as it appears on a television screen for easier viewing.  
           [0008]    It is yet another object of the invention to provide methods for selecting links as displayed in internet content on a television screen.  
           [0009]    The basic system consists of a television connected to a web appliance. The web appliance is connected to the internet and can display internet content on the television. A plurality of graphical lines are added to the internet content as viewed on the television screen dividing the screen into 9 different “sections” each with an identifier. In one embodiment of the invention a user can input an identifier to the web appliance using a remote control. The section of the screen corresponding to the identifier will then be enlarged for easier viewing of the desired area. The user can then choose to further enlarge the current screen using the same method, or can return to the original descaled version of the screen.  
           [0010]    In another embodiment of the invention a link appearing in section of the screen can be chosen by inputting the identifier to the web appliance that corresponds to the section in which the link appears.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
       [0011]    [0011]FIG. 1 shows an example of an internet-television system  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of the divisions of a display of internet content on a television screen.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 3 shows an example of the area enlarged for section  1 .  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 4 shows an example of the area enlarged for section  2 .  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 5 shows an example of the area enlarged for section  3 .  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 6 shows an example of the area enlarged for section  4 .  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 7 shows an example of the area enlarged for section  5 .  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 8 shows an example of the area enlarged for section  6 .  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 9 shows an example of the area enlarged for section  7 .  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 10 shows an example of the area enlarged for section  8 .  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 11 shows an example of the area enlarged for section  9 .  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 12 shows an example web page showing the divided sections.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 13 shows an example web page showing the divided sections and identified links.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0024]    In the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, 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. The preferred embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable these skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that logical, changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined only be the appended claims.  
         [0025]    Today the World Wide Web is the dominant multimedia information retrieval system on the internet. The internet includes a massive collective of documents that are linked together. Most information (e.g. text, graphics, images, sound, video etc.) are transferred using the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP). HTTP further uses a standard page description language known as Hypertext Markup Language (HTML). HTML is used for marking documents to indicate how a document should be displayed, and how different documents should be linked together. Links usually appear as highlighted text known as the anchor of the link. Links can also be pictures, icons, or graphics that can be selected. The present invention deals with a method of displaying this information on a standard television screen commonly known as “Web television” or “Internet television”. FIG. 1 shows one configuration for the system. A television  20  is connected to a web appliance  30  typically through an audio-video cable. Someone skilled in the art will recognize that the web appliance signal can also be provided to the television through a television signal input. The web appliance  30  is connected to an internet connection. The internet connection can be though phone lines, coaxial cable, RF signals and so forth. With the web appliance  30  a viewer can watch television as normal, or can activate the web appliance  30  and view the internet through the television. In addition, a viewer can also have the capability to combine television viewing with the internet through interactive programming guides, and the linking of hyperlink web content to television content. The web appliance  30  has an accompanying remote control  40 . Typically remote controls are small battery powered devices with a plurality of buttons having different functions. The remote control of the invention can transmit signals using infrared, or alternatively RF signals. Their use is desirable for a variety of reasons. Most television users are extremely comfortable and familiar with remote control technology and usage. Remote controls are extremely portable and can be used in a variety of body positions.  
         [0026]    A method and apparatus will now be described for enhanced viewing and usage of internet information on a television screen using a remote control. A viewing screen is divided into a plurality of sections by graphical lines, each section denoted with an identifier such as a number for selection with a remote control. FIG. 2 shows the divisions used in a preferred embodiment of the invention. The screen is initially divided into 9 different sections each labeled with an identifier. The sections are defined by 2 horizontal lines, and 2 vertical lines dividing the viewing screen. In one embodiment the lines are added to the television display signal by the web appliance  30 . In another embodiment of the invention the lines are a result of an external overlay on the screen surface placed there by the user. Each of the 9 sections is further divided into 16 additional blocks.  
         [0027]    area  1  contains blocks  10 ,  11 ,  12 ,  13 ,  14 ,  15 ,  16 ,  17 ,  18 ,  19 ,  1 A,  1 B,  1 C,  1 D,  1 E,  1 F;  
         [0028]    area  2  contains blocks  20 ,  21 ,  22 ,  23 ,  24 ,  25 ,  26 ,  27 ,  28 ,  29 ,  2 A,  2 B,  2 C,  2 D,  2 E,  2 F;  
         [0029]    area  3  contains blocks  30 ,  31 ,  32 ,  33 ,  34 ,  35 ,  36 ,  37 ,  38 ,  39 ,  3 A,  3 B,  3 C,  3 D,  3 E,  3 F;  
         [0030]    area  4  contains blocks  40 ,  41 ,  42 ,  43 ,  44 ,  45 ,  46 ,  47 ,  48 ,  49 ,  4 A,  4 B,  4 C,  4 D,  4 E,  4 F;  
         [0031]    area  5  contains blocks  50 ,  51 ,  52 ,  53 ,  54 ,  55 ,  56 ,  57 ,  58 ,  59 ,  5 A,  5 B, SC, SD,  5 E,  5 F;  
         [0032]    area  6  contains blocks  60 ,  61 ,  62 ,  63 ,  64 ,  65 ,  66 ,  67 ,  68 ,  69 ,  6 A,  6 B,  6 C,  6 D,  6 E,  6 F;  
         [0033]    area  7  contains blocks  70 ,  71 ,  72 ,  73 ,  74 ,  75 ,  76 ,  77 ,  78 ,  79 ,  7 A,  7 B,  7 C,  7 D,  7 E,  7 F;  
         [0034]    area  8  contains blocks  80 ,  81 ,  82 ,  83 ,  84 ,  85 ,  86 ,  87 ,  88 ,  89 ,  8 A,  8 B,  8 C,  8 D,  8 E,  8 F;  
         [0035]    area  9  contains blocks  90 ,  91 ,  92 ,  93 ,  94 ,  95 ,  96 ,  97 ,  98 ,  99 ,  9 A,  9 B,  9 C,  9 D,  9 E,  9 F;  
         [0036]    If a user wishes to enlarge a section for easier viewing the appropriate identifier can be inputted to the web appliance  30 . The web appliance will then enlarge and display the selected section, along with parts of accompanying sections. For example is a user wants to focus on section  1 , section  1  will be enlarged along with parts of adjoining areas  2 ,  4 , and  5 .  
         [0037]    To focus in on section  1  as shown in FIG. 3:  
         [0038]    A) section  1  will be enlarged:  
         [0039]    block  10  will be upscaled to blocks  10 ,  11 ,  14 ,  15 ;  
         [0040]    block  11  will be upscaled to blocks  12 ,  13 ,  16 ,  17 ;  
         [0041]    block  12  will be upscaled to blocks  20 ,  21 ,  24 ,  25 ;  
         [0042]    block  13  will be upscaled to blocks  22 ,  23 ,  26 ,  27 ;  
         [0043]    block  14  will be upscaled to blocks  18 ,  19 ,  1 C,  1 D;  
         [0044]    block  15  will be upscaled to blocks  1 A,  1 B,  1 E,  1 F;  
         [0045]    block  16  will be upscaled to blocks  28 ,  29 ,  2 C,  2 D;  
         [0046]    block  17  will be upscaled to blocks  2 A,  2 B,  2 E,  2 F;  
         [0047]    block  18  will be upscaled to blocks  40 ,  41 ,  44 ,  45 ;  
         [0048]    block  19  will be upscaled to blocks  42 ,  43 ,  46 ,  47 ;  
         [0049]    block  1 A will be upscaled to blocks  50 ,  51 ,  54 ,  55 ;  
         [0050]    block  1 B will be upscaled to blocks  52 ,  53 ,  56 ,  57 ;  
         [0051]    block  1 C will be upscaled to blocks  48 ,  49 ,  4 C, SD;  
         [0052]    block  1 D will be upscaled to blocks  4 A,  4 B,  4 C,  4 D;  
         [0053]    block  1 E will be upscaled to blocks  58 ,  59 ,  5 C,  5 D;  
         [0054]    block  1 F will be upscaled to blocks  5 A,  5 B, SE, SF;  
         [0055]    B) Part of area  2  will also be enlarged  
         [0056]    block  20  will be upscaled to blocks  30 ,  31 ,  34 ,  35 ;  
         [0057]    block  21  will be upscaled to blocks  32 ,  33 ,  36 ,  37 ;  
         [0058]    block  24  will be upscaled to blocks  38 ,  39 ,  3 C,  3 D;  
         [0059]    block  25  will be upscaled to blocks  3 A,  3 B,  3 E,  3 F;  
         [0060]    block  28  will be upscaled to blocks  60 ,  61 ,  64 ,  65 ;  
         [0061]    block  29  will be upscaled to blocks  62 ,  63 ,  66 ,  67 ;  
         [0062]    block  2 C will be upscaled to blocks  68 ,  69 ,  6 C,  6 D;  
         [0063]    bock  2 D will be upscaled to blocks  6 A,  6 B,  6 E,  6 F;  
         [0064]    C) Part of area  4  will be enlarged:  
         [0065]    block  40  will be upscaled to blocks  70 ,  71 ,  74 ,  75 ;  
         [0066]    block  41  will be upscaled to blocks  72 ,  73 ,  76 ,  77 ;  
         [0067]    block  42  will be upscaled to blocks  80 ,  81 ,  84 ,  85 ;  
         [0068]    block  43  will be upscaled to blocks  82 ,  83 ,  86 ,  87 ;  
         [0069]    block  44  will be upscaled to blocks  78 ,  79 ,  7 C,  7 D;  
         [0070]    block  45  will be upscaled to blocks  7 A,  7 B,  7 E,  7 F;  
         [0071]    block  46  will be upscaled to blocks  88 ,  89 ,  8 C,  8 D;  
         [0072]    block  47  will be upscaled to blocks  8 A,  8 B,  8 E,  8 F;  
         [0073]    D) Part of area  5  will be enlarged:  
         [0074]    block  50  will be upscaled to blocks  90 ,  91 ,  94 ,  95 ;  
         [0075]    block  51  will be upscaled to blocks  92 ,  93 ,  96 ,  97 ;  
         [0076]    block  54  will be upscaled to blocks  98 ,  99 ,  9 C,  9 D;  
         [0077]    block  55  will be upscaled to blocks  9 A,  9 B,  9 E,  9 F;  
         [0078]    Area  3  (shown in FIG. 5), Area  7  (shown in FIG. 9), and Area  9  (shown in FIG. 11) are enlarged in a similar manner.  
         [0079]    If we want to focus on area  2 , we enlarge all of area  2  and parts of areas  1 ,  3 ,  4 ,  5 , and  6  as shown in FIG. 4.  
         [0080]    A) all of area  2  will be enlarged:  
         [0081]    block  20  will be upscaled to blocks  12 ,  13 ,  16 ,  17 ;  
         [0082]    block  21  will be upscaled to blocks  20 ,  21 ,  24 ,  25 ;  
         [0083]    block  22  will be upscaled to blocks  22 ,  23 ,  26 ,  27 ;  
         [0084]    block  23  will be upscaled to blocks  30 ,  31 ,  34 ,  35 ;  
         [0085]    block  24  will be upscaled to blocks  1 A,  1 B,  1 E,  1 F;  
         [0086]    block  25  will be upscaled to blocks  28 ,  29 ,  2 C,  2 D;  
         [0087]    block  26  will be upscaled to blocks  2 A,  2 B,  2 E,  2 F;  
         [0088]    block  27  will be upscaled to blocks  38 ,  39 ,  3 C,  3 D;  
         [0089]    block  28  will be upscaled to blocks  42 ,  43 ,  46 ,  47 ;  
         [0090]    block  29  will be upscaled to blocks  50 ,  51 ,  54 ,  55 ;  
         [0091]    block  2 A will be upscaled to blocks  52 ,  53 ,  56 ,  57 ;  
         [0092]    block  2 B will be upscaled to blocks  60 ,  61 ,  64 ,  65 ;  
         [0093]    block  2 C will be upscaled to blocks  4 A,  4 B,  4 E,  4 F;  
         [0094]    block  2 D will be upscaled to blocks  58 ,  59 ,  5 C,  5 D;  
         [0095]    block  2 E will be upscaled to blocks  5 A,  5 B,  5 E,  5 F;  
         [0096]    block  2 F will be upscaled to blocks  68 ,  69 ,  6 C,  6 D;  
         [0097]    B) Part of area  1  will be upscaled:  
         [0098]    block  13  will be upscaled to blocks  10 ,  11 ,  14 ,  15 ;  
         [0099]    block  17  will be upscaled to blocks  18 ,  19 ,  1 C,  1 D;  
         [0100]    block  1 B will be upscaled to blocks  40 ,  41 ,  44 ,  45 ;  
         [0101]    block  1 F will be upscaled to blocks  48 ,  49 ,  4 C,  4 D;  
         [0102]    C) Part of area  3  will be upscaled:  
         [0103]    block  30  will be upscaled to blocks  32 ,  33 ,  36 ,  37 ;  
         [0104]    block  34  will be upscaled to blocks  3 A,  3 B,  3 E,  3 F;  
         [0105]    block  38  will be upscaled to blocks  62 ,  63 ,  66 ,  67 ;  
         [0106]    block  3 C will be upscaled to blocks  6 A,  6 B,  6 E,  6 F;  
         [0107]    D) Part of area  4  will be upscaled:  
         [0108]    block  43  will be upscaled to blocks  70 ,  71 ,  74 ,  75 ;  
         [0109]    block  47  will be upscaled to blocks  78 ,  79 ,  7 C,  7 D;  
         [0110]    E) Part of area  5  will be upscaled:  
         [0111]    block  50  will be upscaled to blocks  72 ,  73 ,  76 ,  77   
         [0112]    block  51  will be upscaled to blocks  80 ,  81 ,  84 ,  85 ;  
         [0113]    block  52  will be upscaled to blocks  82 ,  83 ,  86 ,  87 ;  
         [0114]    block  53  will be upscaled to blocks  90 ,  91 ,  94 ,  95 ;  
         [0115]    block  54  will be upscaled to blocks  7 A,  7 B,  7 E,  7 F;  
         [0116]    block  55  will be upscaled to blocks  88 ,  89 ,  8 C,  8 D;  
         [0117]    block  56  will be upscaled to blocks  8 A,  8 B,  8 E,  8 F;  
         [0118]    block  57  will be upscaled to blocks  98 ,  99 ,  9 C,  9 D;  
         [0119]    F) Part of area  6  will be upscaled:  
         [0120]    block  60  will be upscaled to blocks  92 ,  93 ,  96 ,  97 ;  
         [0121]    block  64  will be upscaled to blocks  9 A,  9 B,  9 E,  9 F;  
         [0122]    Area  4  (shown in FIG. 6), Area  6  (shown in FIG. 8), and Area  8  (shown in FIG. 10) will be enlarged in a similar manner.  
         [0123]    If we want to focus on area  5 , we will enlarge all of area  5 , and parts of areas  1 ,  2 ,  3 ,  4 ,  6 ,  7 ,  8 , and  9  as shown in FIG. 7.  
         [0124]    A) All of area  5  will be enlarged:  
         [0125]    block  50  will be upscaled to blocks  1 A,  1 B,  1 E,  1 F;  
         [0126]    block  51  will be upscaled to blocks  28 ,  29 ,  2 C,  2 D;  
         [0127]    block  52  will be upscaled to blocks  2 A,  2 B,  2 E,  2 F;  
         [0128]    block  53  will be upscaled to blocks  38 ,  39 ,  3 C,  3 D;  
         [0129]    block  54  will be upscaled to blocks  42 ,  43 ,  46 ,  47 ;  
         [0130]    block  55  will be upscaled to blocks  50 ,  51 ,  54 ,  55 ;  
         [0131]    block  56  will be upscaled to blocks  52 ,  53 ,  56 ,  57 ;  
         [0132]    block  57  will be upscaled to blocks  60 ,  61 ,  64 ,  65 ;  
         [0133]    block  58  will be upscaled to blocks  4 A,  4 B,  4 E,  4 F;  
         [0134]    block  59  will be upscaled to blocks  58 ,  59 ,  5 C,  5 D;  
         [0135]    block  5 A will be upscaled to blocks  5 A,  5 B,  5 E,  5 F;  
         [0136]    block  5 B will be upscaled to blocks  68 ,  69 ,  6 C,  6 D;  
         [0137]    block  5 C will be upscaled to blocks  72 ,  73 ,  76 ,  77 ;  
         [0138]    block  5 D will be upscaled to blocks  80 ,  81 ,  84 ,  85 ;  
         [0139]    block  5 E will be upscaled to blocks  82 ,  83 ,  86 ,  87 ;  
         [0140]    block  5 F will be upscaled to blocks  90 ,  91 ,  94 ,  95 ;  
         [0141]    B) Part of area  1  will be upscaled:  
         [0142]    block  1 F will be upscaled to blocks  10 ,  11 ,  14 ,  15 ;  
         [0143]    C) Part of area  2  will be upscaled:  
         [0144]    block  2 C will be upscaled to blocks  12 ,  13 ,  16 ,  17 ;  
         [0145]    block  2 D will be upscaled to blocks  20 ,  21 ,  24 ,  25 ;  
         [0146]    block  2 E will be upscaled to blocks  22 ,  23 ,  26 ,  27 ;  
         [0147]    block  2 F will be upscaled to blocks  30 ,  31 ,  34 ,  35 ;  
         [0148]    D) Part of area  3  will be upscaled:  
         [0149]    block  3 C will be upscaled to blocks  32 ,  33 ,  36 ,  37 ;  
         [0150]    E) Part of area  4  will be upscaled:  
         [0151]    block  43  will be upscaled to blocks  18 ,  19 ,  1 C,  1 D;  
         [0152]    block  47  will be upscaled to blocks  40 ,  41 ,  44 ,  45 ;  
         [0153]    block  4 B will be upscaled to blocks  48 ,  49 ,  4 C,  4 D;  
         [0154]    block  4 F will be upscaled to blocks  70 ,  71 ,  74 ,  75 ;  
         [0155]    F) Part of area  6  will be enlarged:  
         [0156]    block  60  will be upscaled to blocks  3 A,  3 B,  3 E,  3 F;  
         [0157]    block  64  will be upscaled to blocks  62 ,  63 ,  66 ,  67 ;  
         [0158]    block  68  will be upscaled to blocks  6 A,  6 B,  6 E,  6 F;  
         [0159]    block  6 C will be upscaled to blocks  92 ,  93 ,  96 ,  97 ;  
         [0160]    G) Part of area  7  will be enlarged:  
         [0161]    block  73  will be upscaled to blocks  78 ,  79 ,  7 C,  7 D;  
         [0162]    H) Part of area  8  will be enlarged:  
         [0163]    block  80  will be upscaled to blocks  7 A,  7 B,  7 E,  7 F;  
         [0164]    block  81  will be upscaled to blocks  88 ,  89 ,  8 C,  8 D;  
         [0165]    block  82  will be upscaled to blocks  8 A,  8 B,  8 E,  8 F;  
         [0166]    block  83  will be upscaled to blocks  98 ,  99 ,  9 C,  9 D;  
         [0167]    I) Part of area  9  will be enlarged:  
         [0168]    block  90  will be upscaled to blocks  9 A,  9 B,  9 E,  9 F;  
         [0169]    [0169]FIG. 12 shows a fictitious example of a web page. The screen is divided into  9  sections, each section identified by a number. If a user wishes to enlarge an area of the web page, the user will input an appropriate identifier (e.g. 2) to the system box  30 , which will enlarge the corresponding section according to the method described hereinabove. When the screen is enlarged the lines and sections can appear on the enlarged version of the internet content which can then be further enlarged according to the method described hereinabove. The user will also have the option of descaling the current view to return to a previous version of the internet content.  
         [0170]    In another embodiment of the invention the user will be able to select a link that appears in a section of the web page. For example in section  5  of the web page shown in FIG. 12 the link “United States Headquarters” appears. A user can select the link by inputting the identifier  5  to the system box  30 .  
         [0171]    In another embodiment of the invention and as described in co-pending application an identifier such as a number as shown in FIG. 13 can appear beside each of the links. This will allow a user to both enlarge an area of a web page viewed on a television and to select a link using a remote control. For example if a user is having trouble reading the link “CONTACT US”, the user can input identifier  7  to the system box enlarging section  7  according to the method described hereinabove. The user can then select the link “CONTACT US” by inputting identifier  12  to the system box  30 .  
         [0172]    Various additional modifications may be made to the illustrated embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, the invention lies in the claims hereinafter appended.

Technology Classification (CPC): 6