Methods and systems for providing information to a television using a personal computer

A method of interfacing a personal computer with a television, comprising the steps of:

• obtaining at the personal computer, external information from an external network;
• storing the external information in personal computer memory;
• wirelessly receiving radio frequency television remote control signals at the personal computer;
• wirelessly transmitting radio frequency signals representing information from the personal computer and television remote control signals which were received at the personal computer;
• receiving at a remote unit, the transmitted radio frequency signals representing information from the personal computer and the television remote control signals which were received at the personal computer;
• applying the received information from the personal computer to the television;
• and
• converting the television remote control signals to infrared television remote control signals.

A wireless remote control comprising:

• a housing;
• a user interface in the housing, which accepts user input commands;
• a radio frequency transmitter in the housing, which transmits radio frequency remote control signals in response to user input commands at the user interface;
• and
• an infrared transmitter in the housing, which transmits infrared remote control signals in response to user input commands at the user interface;
• wherein the user interface includes a plurality of keys, the radio frequency transmitter being responsive to activation of at least one of the keys, and the infrared transmitter being responsive to activation of at least one of the keys;
• wherein the radio frequency transmitter and the infrared transmitter are both responsive to activation of at least one of the keys;
• and
• wherein the user interface includes a trackball, and wherein the radio frequency transmitter is responsive to activation of the trackball.

A system for remotely controlling a television comprising:

• a personal computer interface, adapted for use with a personal computer, and including a radio frequency transceiver which receives television remote control signals and transmits television remote control signals, and which transmits signals which are generated in a personal computer;
• a television interface, adapted for use with a television, and including a radio frequency receiver which receives television remote control signals and signals from the personal computer interface, which applies the received signals to a television for display, and which converts the received television remote control signals into infrared television remote control signals;
• and
• a wireless remote control, including a user interface which accepts user input commands to remotely control a television, and a radio frequency transmitter which transmits radio frequency remote control signals to a personal computer to remotely control a television in response to user input commands at the user interface.

A method for remotely controlling a television comprising the steps of:

• accepting user input commands to remotely control a television, from a wireless remote control;
• transmitting radio frequency remote control signals from the wireless remote control to a personal computer;
• receiving the radio frequency remote control signals at the personal computer;
• transmitting television remote control signals and television video signals from the personal computer to a television;
• applying the received television video signals to the television for display;
• and
• converting the received television remote control signals into infrared television remote control signals to control the television.

A personal computer interface for remotely controlling a television comprising:

• a radio frequency transceiver which receives television remote control signals and transmits television remote control signals, and which transmits signals which are generated in a personal computer;
• and
• an external network interface which obtains external information from an external network, and stores the external information in the personal computer;
• wherein the radio frequency transceiver and the external network interface are contained on a card which connects to a personal computer motherboard in a personal computer housing.

A method for remotely controlling a television comprising the steps of:

• accepting user input commands to remotely control a television, from a wireless remote control;
• transmitting radio frequency remote control signals from the wireless remote control to a personal computer;
• receiving the radio frequency remote control signals at the personal computer;
• transmitting television remote control signals and other signals from the personal computer to a television;
• applying the received other signals to the television for display;
• and
• converting the received television remote control signals into infrared television remote control signals to control the television.

A personal computer interface for remotely controlling a television comprising:

• a radio frequency transceiver which receives television remote control signals and transmits television remote control signals, and which transmits television video signals which are generated in a personal computer;
• and
• an external network interface which obtains external information from an external network, and stores the external information in the personal computer;
• wherein the radio frequency transceiver and the external network interface are contained on a card which connects to a personal computer motherboard in a personal computer housing.