US 2004/0103439 A1 · Access to internet data through a television system

Abstract

A television system provides access to Internet data simultaneously with a displayed television program. Data units including data address sites available through a networked computer system such as the Internet are embedded in a television signal along with a television program. Information representing the data address site, such as an icon or descriptive text, is displayed simultaneously with the television program on the television. If the user selects the data address site, a data retrieval terminal in two-way communication with the network and associated with the television establishes a connection with the network and requests the data corresponding to the selected data address site. The retrieved information is then formatted for display.

Claims36

Dependent claims

A television system comprising:

a receiver for receiving a television signal including a television program and an address for a data site;
a decoder for extracting the address of the data site from the television signal;
a memory for storing the extracted address and information about the television program;
a communication device in two-way communication with the data service provider;
a user input device for receiving user input;
and
a microprocessor coupled to the memory and the communication device and configured to store data for an icon representative of the data site address and superimposing the icon over the television program on a display device, to retrieve the data site address and the information about the television program from the memory in response to a user selection, and to control the communication device to retrieve data corresponding to the data site address from the data service provider in response to the user, wherein the television program, the data from service provider, and the information about the television program are displayed in three non-overlapping regions on the display screen.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Access to internet data through a television system

Life of this patent

Access to internet data through a television system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims36