Web television having a two-way communication bus interconnecting a television controller and an internet module

#The present invention relates to video and audio functions in a web television.

#The internet has become an integral part in the way in which content is delivered to end users. For example, newspapers, magazines, and television and cable networks have web sites that are increasingly being used to deliver content. Content is delivered by on-line content providers which include, for example, web sites and on-line service providers such as AOL™.

#Content is accessed by end users via on-line access devices. The on-line access device most often used currently is the personal computer. However, non-personal-computer on-line access devices are being, and have been, developed that enable end users to connect to the internet. For example, one type of non-personal-computer on-line access device is a web television.

#These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from a detailed consideration of the invention when taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:

#FIG. 1 illustrates a web television arranged in accordance with the present invention;

#FIG. 2 illustrates a communication system having an internet module and a television controller for controlling the web television of FIG. 1;

#A web television 10 is illustrated in FIG. 1 and includes a display 12 (such as a CRT) housed in a cabinet 14. The cabinet 14 also houses various switches 16 as well as an infrared sensor 18 that responds to an infrared remote control device 20. Alternatively, the remote control device 20 may be hardwired to the web television 10, or the remote control device 20 may transmit wireless signals of a kind other than infrared. The remote control device 20 may be a trakball type remote control, a conventional remote control, a keyboard type remote control, or the like.

#A communication medium 22 is connected to the web television 10 permitting the web television 10 to communicate with on-line content providers such as by way of the internet. The communication medium 22 may be a phone line, a cable, an integrated services digital network, a digital subscriber line (which may include an asymmetrical digital subscriber line, a rate adapted digital subscriber line, or the like), a satellite link, or any other type of medium which supports communication between the web television 10 and on-line content providers.

#A television control system 30 for controlling the operations of the web television 10 is illustrated in FIG. 2. The television control system 30 includes a television controller 32, an internet module 34, an audio/video switch 36, a PIP module 38, a video processor 40, an audio processor 42, a raster control 44, a communication bus 46, and a tuner 48. The internet module 34 may be any of the suitable commercially available devices that permit communication between a television and on-line content providers. The internet module 34 has an Ethernet port EN and a phone line port PL for connecting the internet module 34 to the communication medium 22 so that the internet module 34 may transmit and receive information to and from remote on-line devices. The internet module 34 also has a port PRT for connecting the internet module 34 to a printer so that internet communications may be printed.