Interface system for a television receiver

An interface system for a television receiver, said television receiver comprising a tuner for receiving and selectively tuning to a television signal, a deflection circuit coupled to said tuner for generating deflection signals from synchronization signals contained in said television signal, an audio signal processing circuit coupled to said tuner for processing an audio signal contained in said television signal, a video signal processing circuit coupled to said tuner for processing a video signal contained in said television signal, a display coupled to said deflection circuit and said video signal processing circuit for displaying said video signal in dependence on said deflection signals, and a power supply circuit for supplying operating power to each of the above components, wherein said interface system comprises:

• standard bus means having M leads separately connected to said audio signal processing circuit, said deflection circuit, said video signal processing circuit and said power supply circuit, where M is an integer greater than one;
• connector means having M contacts connected, respectively, to said M leads in said standard bus means;
• and
• circuit board means accessible by a user of said television receiver, said circuit board means having plug means connectable to said connector means, said plug means having N contacts corresponding, respectively, to at least some of the M contacts in said connector means, where N is an integer less than or equal to M, and circuit means connected to said N contacts in said plug means, said circuit means, when connected through said plug means, said connector means and said standard bus means to at least one of the audio signal processing circuit, the video signal processing circuit, the deflection circuit and the power supply circuit in the television receiver, modifies the operation of said television receiver thereby providing additional features for the user, wherein said television receiver further comprises a remote control receiver for receiving remote control signals from a remote control transmitter, and a microcomputer for controlling said television receiver at least partly in response to signals from said remote control receiver, and wherein said standard bus means includes leads connected to said remote control receiver and to said microcomputer, characterized in that said circuit means on said circuit board means comprises:
• an interface connector for connecting the circuit board means to an interconnecting network;
• an interface circuit coupled to said interface connector for applying outgoing message signals to and for receiving incoming message signals from said interconnecting network;
• coding means, coupled to said interface circuit, for encoding the outgoing message signals and for detecting and decoding incoming message signals;
• and
• a microprocessor coupled to said coding means for supplying said outgoing message signals and for processing said incoming message signals, said microprocessor having a first memory coupled thereto for storing an operating program, and a second memory coupled thereto for temporarily storing data signals, wherein said microprocessor is coupled to said microcomputer and said remote control receiver via said plug means and said connector means, and wherein said remote control transmitter is arranged to transmit an ID code associated with the particular remote control transmitter, and to transmit a message coupled to an ID code of an intended recipient, whereby depending on remote control signals received by said remote control receiver, said microprocessor sends message signals with said recipient ID code through said coding means and said interface circuit to said interconnecting network, and whereby said coding means detects and decodes message signals having recipient ID codes coupled thereto from the interconnecting network, said microprocessor storing said message signals coupled with said recipient ID codes in said second memory, and, depending on the ID code sent by said remote control transmitter, said microprocessor causes the message signal coupled to said ID code to be displayed.

Circuit board means for use in a television interface system including a television receiver comprising a tuner for receiving and selectively tuning to a television signal, a deflection circuit coupled to said tuner for generating deflection signals from synchronization signals contained in said television signal, an audio signal processing circuit coupled to said tuner for processing an audio signal contained in said television signal, a video signal processing circuit coupled to said tuner for processing a video signal contained in said television signal, a display coupled to said deflection circuit and said video signal processing circuit for displaying said video signal in dependence on said deflection signals, and a power supply circuit for supplying operating power to each of the above components, said interface system comprising:

• standard bus means having M leads separately connected to said audio signal processing circuit, said deflection circuit, said video signal processing circuit and said power supply circuit, where M is an integer greater than one;
• and
• connector means having M contacts connected, respectively, to said M leads in said standard bus means,
• wherein said circuit board means includes:
• plug means connectable to said connector means, said plug means having N contacts corresponding, respectively, to at least some of the M contacts in said connector means, where N is an integer less than or equal to M;
• and
• circuit means connected to said N contacts in said plug means, said circuit means, when connected through said plug means, said connector means and said standard bus means to at least one of the audio signal processing circuit, the video signal processing circuit, the deflection circuit and the power supply circuit in the television receiver, modifies the operation of said television receiver thereby providing additional features for the user, wherein said television receiver further comprises a remote control receiver for receiving remote control signals from a remote control transmitter, and a microcomputer for controlling said television receiver at least partly in response to signals from said remote control receiver, and wherein said standard bus means includes leads connected to said remote control receiver and to said microcomputer,
• characterized in that said circuit means on said circuit board means comprises:
• an interface connector for connecting the circuit board means to an interconnecting network;
• an interface circuit coupled to said interface connector for applying outgoing message signals to said interconnecting network, and for receiving incoming message signals from said interconnecting network;
• coding means, coupled to said interface circuit, for encoding said outgoing message signals and for detecting and decoding said incoming message signals;
• and
• a microprocessor coupled to said coding means for supplying said outgoing message signals and for processing said incoming message signals, said microprocessor having a first memory coupled thereto for storing an operating program, and a second memory coupled thereto for temporarily storing data signals, wherein said microprocessor is coupleable to said microcomputer and said remote control receiver via said plug means and said connector means, and wherein said remote control transmitter is arranged to transmit a unique ID code associated with said remote control transmitter, and to transmit a message coupled to an ID code of an intended recipient, whereby depending on remote control signals received by said remote control receiver, said microprocessor sends message signals coupled with said recipient ID code through said coding means and said interface circuit to said interconnecting network, and whereby said coding means detects and decodes message signals having recipient ID codes coupled thereto from the interconnecting network, said microprocessor storing said message signals coupled with said recipient ID codes in said second memory, and, depending on the ID code sent by said remote control transmitter, said microprocessor causes the message signal coupled to said ID code to be displayed.