Method and apparatus for interactive television through use of menu windows

A method for interfacing a television to a selected one of a plurality of electronic facilities, said method comprising the steps of:

• calling, upon application of power to an electronic device coupled to the television, a host computer from said electronic device through a modem coupled to a telephone network and coupled to said electronic device, to establish a first data communication link between said electronic device and said host computer via said telephone network and said modem;
• transferring configuration data from said host computer to said electronic device via said first data communication link;
• thereafter
• breaking said first data communication link;
• assembling from said configuration data a menu listing a plurality of titles identifying said plurality of electronic facilities;
• thereafter
• overlaying said menu over a background image on a screen of the television;
• accepting, at a remote keyboard, an operator input specifying said selected one of said plurality of facilities;
• transmitting, from said remote keyboard to an IR detector coupled to said electronic device, an infrared signal responsive to said operator input;
• detecting said infrared signal at said IR detector;
• thereafter
• calling said host computer from said electronic device via said modem and said telephone network, thereby establishing a second data communication link between said host computer and said electronic device via said modem and said telephone network;
• and thereafter
• connecting said electronic device to said selected one facility via said second data communication link and said host computer.