U.S. patent number RE43,139 [Application Number 12/784,281] was granted by the patent office on 2012-01-24 for apparatus and method of interacting with a mobile phone using a tv system.
This patent grant is currently assigned to LG Electronics Inc.. Invention is credited to Jae Kyung Lee.
United States Patent |
RE43,139 |
Lee |
January 24, 2012 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
Apparatus and method of interacting with a mobile phone using a TV
system
Abstract
An apparatus and a method for interacting with a mobile
telephone are provided. A remote control unit receives a user
command and transmits it to a TV system which recognizes the user
command as a telephone function command and transmits the function
command to the mobile telephone if the TV system is set to
Telephone Mode. The TV system may also output data received from
the mobile telephone in response to the transmitted function
command. Thus, a user may interact with a mobile telephone using an
interactive TV system by displaying text/image data received from
the telephone and by inputting various telephone function commands
using a remote control unit. Upon receiving a function command from
the TV system, the mobile telephone generates output data in
response to the function command and transmits itto the TV system.
A display unit of the TV system displays the text/image data, and a
speaker outputs the sound data. As a result, a user may
conveniently interact with a mobile telephone using a display unit
and a speaker of an interactive TV system with a remote control
unit.
Inventors: |
Lee; Jae Kyung (Daegu,
KR) |
Assignee: |
LG Electronics Inc. (Seoul,
KR)
|
Family
ID: |
19713517 |
Appl.
No.: |
12/784,281 |
Filed: |
May 20, 2010 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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Reissue of: |
10225352 |
Aug 22, 2002 |
7376441 |
May 20, 2008 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
455/556.1;
455/550.1; 455/66.1; 455/334; 341/176; 455/557; 455/556.2;
348/552 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04M
1/72415 (20210101); H04N 21/6131 (20130101); H04M
1/72409 (20210101); H04N 21/47 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
H04M
1/00 (20060101); H04B 1/38 (20060101); H04B
7/00 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;455/557,556,66,556.1,556.2,66.1,334,550.1 ;348/552 ;341/176 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Other References
Office Action dated Feb. 9, 2005. cited by other .
Office Action dated Oct. 6, 2005. cited by other .
Office Action dated Jun. 16, 2006. cited by other .
Office Action dated Jun. 13, 2007. cited by other .
U.S. Office Action for U.S. Appl. No. 12/882,954 dated Feb. 28,
2011. cited by other .
U.S. Office Action for U.S. Appl. No. 12/882,908 dated Feb. 28,
2011. cited by other .
U.S. Office Action for U.S. Appl. No. 12/882,821 dated Feb. 28,
2011. cited by other.
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Primary Examiner: Huang; Wen
Attorney, Agent or Firm: KED & Associates LLP
Claims
What is claimed is:
.[.1. An apparatus for interacting with a mobile telephone, the
apparatus comprising: a TV remote control unit configured to
receive a command and to transmit said command, the TV remote
control unit including one or more channel-changing keys and one or
more volume-changing keys; and a TV system coupled to a mobile
telephone, wherein said TV system is configured to receive said
command from said TV remote control unit, to recognize said command
as a telephone function command, and to transmit said telephone
function command to said mobile telephone if said TV system is set
to a telephone mode, wherein said telephone function command
includes information related to a voice call processing capability
or at least one of an electronic mail capability or a text message
capability of said mobile telephone, wherein said TV system is
further configured to output an output data set transmitted to said
TV system from said mobile telephone in response to said
transmitted telephone function command, and wherein the TV system
displays a first on-screen display (OSD) guide containing an image
of keys of the TV remote control unit, said first OSD guide mapping
one or more keys of the TV remote control unit to one or more
telephone functions when the TV system is set in said telephone
mode, the telephone function command being generated based on the
mapping in said first OSD of the one or more keys of the TV remote
control unit to said one or more telephone functions, and wherein
the TV system further displays a second OSD guide mapping one or
more keys of the TV remote control unit to one or more television
functions when the TV system is set in a television mode, said TV
remote control further including one or more keys for allowing a
user to switch the TV system between said television mode and said
telephone mode..].
.[.2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said TV system includes a
display unit configured to display text or image data included in
said output data set..].
.[.3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said TV system further
comprises a speaker configured to output sound data included in
said output data set..].
.[.4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said mobile telephone
comprises: a TV interface unit configured to interface with said TV
system so as to receive said function command from said TV system
and to transmit said output data set to said TV system; and a
controller configured to generate a control signal including said
output data set in response to said function command and to
transmit said output data set to said TV system..].
.[.5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said TV system comprises: a
remote-control interface circuit configured to receive said command
from said remote control unit; a telephone interface circuit
configured to interface with said mobile telephone so as to
transmit said function command to said mobile telephone and to
receive said output data set from said mobile telephone; a
microcomputer configured to generate a control signal including
said output data set received from said mobile telephone; a
video/audio signal processor configured to combine text and image
data included in said output data set with original image data
according to said control signal; and a display unit configured to
display said combined data..].
.[.6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the output data set
comprises data related to a web browsing capability of the mobile
telephone..].
.[.7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the output data set
comprises data related to a text messaging capability of the mobile
telephone..].
.[.8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the output data set
comprises data related to an electronic mail capability of the
mobile telephone..].
.[.9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the output data set
comprises data related to photographs provided by the mobile
telephone..].
.[.10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said TV system is directly
connected to said mobile telephone so as to allow a user to receive
incoming telephone calls and to place outgoing telephone
calls..].
.[.11. A method for interacting with a mobile telephone using a TV
system with a TV remote control unit, the method comprising: (a)
displaying a first on-screen display (OSD) guide on a screen of
said TV system if said TV system is set to a telephone mode, the
first OSD guide mapping one or more keys of a TV remote control
unit to one or more telephone functions when the TV system is set
in said telephone mode; (b) receiving a first command from said TV
remote control unit by said TV system, said first command generated
based on the mapping in said first OSD of the one or more keys of
the TV remote control unit to said one or more telephone functions;
(c) recognizing said first user command as a telephone function
command and transmitting said function command to said mobile
telephone, wherein said telephone function command includes
information related to a voice call processing capability or at
least one of an electronic mail capability or a text message
capability of said mobile telephone; and (d) receiving an output
data set generated by said mobile telephone in response to said
transmitted function command and displaying image or text data
included in said output data set on said TV display unit, said
method further comprising: (e) receiving signals from the TV remote
control unit, resulting from activation of one or more keys of the
TV remote control unit, to switch the TV system between a
television mode and said telephone mode; and (f) displaying a
second OSD guide mapping one or more keys of the TV remote control
unit to one or more television functions when the TV system is set
in said television mode..].
.[.12. The method of claim 11, further comprising outputting sound
data included in said output data set through a speaker of said TV
system..].
.[.13. The method of claim 12, wherein outputting sound data
comprises outputting messages provided by a voice mail capability
of the mobile telephone..].
.[.14. The method of claim 11, further comprising repeating steps
(b) through (d) until no further commands are received..].
.[.15. The method of claim 11, further comprising: receiving a
second command from said TV remote control unit; and recognizing
said second user command as a TV function command and performing a
corresponding TV function..].
.[.16. The method of claim 11, wherein displaying images or text
data comprise displaying data related to a web browsing capability
of the mobile telephone..].
.[.17. The method of claim 11, wherein displaying image or text
data comprises displaying data related to a text messaging
capability of the mobile telephone..].
.[.18. The method of claim 11, wherein displaying image or text
data comprises displaying data related to an electronic mail
capability of the mobile telephone..].
.[.19. The method of claim 11, wherein displaying image or text
data comprises displaying data related to photographs provided by
the mobile telephone..].
.[.20. The method of claim 11, further comprising using said TV
system and said mobile telephone connected directly thereto to
connect incoming and outgoing telephone calls..].
21. A method which allows a mobile telephone to interact with a TV
system including a TV remote control unit, the method comprising:
checking whether said mobile telephone is connected to a TV system;
receiving signals from the TV remote control unit designating an
operating mode of the television, wherein a first signal results
from activation of a telephone mode key on the TV remote control
unit to place the TV system is a telephone mode and a second signal
results from activation of a television mode key on the TV remote
control unit to place the TV system in a television mode, wherein
the phone mode key and the television key are different keys on the
TV remote control unit; receiving a telephone function command
generated by said TV system in response to a command received from
said TV remote control unit while in said telephone mode, wherein
said telephone function command includes information related to a
voice call processing capability or at least one of an electronic
mail capability or a text message capability of said mobile
telephone; and generating an output data set in response to said
received function command and transmitting said output data set to
said TV system, wherein said method further comprises: displaying a
first on-screen display (OSD) guide on a screen of said TV system
if said TV system is set to a telephone mode, the first OSD guide
mapping one or more keys of a TV remote control unit to one or more
telephone functions when the TV system is set in said telephone
mode, the telephone function command being generated based on the
mapping in said first OSD of the one or more keys of the TV remote
control unit to said one or more telephone functions; and
displaying a second OSD guide mapping one or more keys of the TV
remote control unit to one or more television functions when the TV
system is set in said television mode.
22. The method of claim 21, wherein said output data set includes
at least one of text, image, or sound data generated by said mobile
telephone in response to said function command received from said
TV system.
23. The method of claim 21, further comprising: checking whether
any one of text, voice, or image messages is newly received; and
transmitting said newly received message to said TV system.
24. A digital television system for interacting with a mobile
telephone connected to the digital television system, the digital
television system comprising: a microcomputer for receiving a first
key code, for generating a television key index according to a
setting of a television mode and a telephone key index according to
a setting of a telephone mode, and for determining whether the
digital television system is set to the telephone mode, and a TV
remote control unit including one or more channel-changing keys and
one or more volume-changing keys, at least one of the keys on the
TV remote control unit causing the microcomputer to generate the
television key index which includes an on-screen display (OSD)
guide mapping keys on the remote control unit to corresponding
television functions in a television mode, said microcomputer
displaying another OSD guide mapping keys on the remote control
unit to one or more corresponding telephone functions in a
telephone mode in response to another key on the TV remote control
unit; wherein said microcomputer is configured to recognize the
input first key code as a telephone function command according to
the set mode, to transmit the recognized telephone function command
from the digital television system to the mobile telephone if the
digital television system is set to the telephone mode, the
telephone function command including information related to at
least one of an electronic mail capability or a text message
capability of said mobile telephone, to receive from the mobile
telephone a set of output data generated according to the telephone
function command, and to output the generated output data, and
wherein the telephone function command is generated based on the
mapping in said another OSD of at least one key of the TV remote
control unit to said one or more corresponding telephone
functions.
25. A method for using a digital television system to interact with
a mobile telephone connected to the digital television system, the
method comprising: (a) assigning a television key index
corresponding to a television mode and a telephone key index
corresponding to a telephone mode, the television key index
including a first on-screen display (OSD) guide mapping one or more
keys of a TV remote control unit to one or more television
functions when the digital television system is in said television
mode, and the telephone key index including a second OSD guide
mapping one or more keys of the TV remote control unit to one or
more telephone functions when the digital television system is in
said telephone mode; (b) setting the digital television system to
one of the television mode and the telephone mode, the digital
television system set to said television mode when a first key of
the TV remote control unit is activated and to a telephone mode
when a second key of the TV remote control unit is activated; (c)
determining whether the digital television system is set to the
telephone mode; (d) displaying the telephone key index using the
first OSD displayed on the digital televisions system, if the
digital television system is set to the telephone mode; (e)
selecting a first key code using the first OSD displayed telephone
key index, the selected first key code being recognized as a
telephone function command according to the set mode, the telephone
function command including data related to at least one of an
electronic mail capability or a text message capability of said
mobile telephone; (f) transmitting the recognized telephone
function command from the digital television system to the mobile
telephone; (g) generating, using the mobile telephone, a set of
output data according to the telephone function command; (h)
transmitting the generated set of output data to the digital
television system; and (i) outputting the output data using the
digital television system.
26. The method as claimed in claim 25, wherein selecting a first
key code comprises inputting to the digital television system a
plurality of key codes in a sequence, each key code corresponding
to a telephone function command.
27. The method as claimed in claim 26, further comprising:
repeating steps (e) through (i) for each of the plurality of key
codes.
28. The method as claimed in claim 26, further comprising:
determining whether the key code sequence is completed; and
discontinuing said telephone key index displaying if the key code
sequence is completed.
29. The method as claimed in claim 25, wherein the displayed
telephone key index includes at least one icon for selecting the
mode of the digital television system.
30. The method as claimed in claim 25, wherein the displayed
telephone key index includes at least one icon indicative of the
set mode of the digital television system.
31. The method as claimed in claim 30, wherein one of the at least
one icon indicates the set mode of the digital television system to
be the television mode.
32. The method as claimed in claim 30, wherein one of the at least
one icon indicates the set mode of the digital television system to
be the telephone mode.
33. The method as claimed in claim 25, further comprising: (j)
determining whether the digital television system is set to the
television mode; (k) displaying the television key index using the
digital television system, if the digital television system is set
to the television mode; (l) selecting a second key code using the
displayed television key index, the selected second key code being
recognized as a television function command according to the set
mode; and (m) performing a television function corresponding to the
television function command.
34. The method as claimed in claim 33, wherein selecting a second
key code comprises inputting to the digital television system a
plurality of key codes in a sequence, each key code corresponding
to a television function command.
35. The method as claimed in claim 34, further comprising:
repeating steps (1) and (in) for each of the plurality of key
codes.
36. The method as claimed in claim 34, further comprising:
determining whether the key code sequence is completed; and
discontinuing said television key index displaying, if the key code
sequence is completed.
.Iadd.37. A method for controlling display of information on a
display device based on a mobile phone, comprising: receiving, by
the display device, broadcasting data; displaying a first on-screen
display (OSD) guide on a screen of the display device, the first
OSD guide showing one or more items to switch the display device
between a first mode and a second mode, wherein the one or more
items are to be selected in response to activation of one or more
keys of a remote controller; receiving a first command from the
remote controller to set the display device to the first mode where
a key code is to be generated and transmitted to the mobile phone,
wherein the first command is generated based on mapping the one or
more items in the first OSD guide to activation of said one or more
keys of the remote controller; recognizing the first command as a
phone function command, wherein the phone function command relates
to a voice call processing capability or at least one of an
electronic mail capability or a text message capability of the
mobile phone; after a message is received at the mobile phone,
receiving message information from the mobile phone corresponding
to the message and displaying the message information on the screen
of the display device; receiving a second command from the remote
controller to set the display device to the second mode, wherein
the second command is generated based on mapping the one or more
items in the first OSD guide to activation of said one or more keys
of the remote controller; and displaying a second OSD guide mapping
one or more keys of the remote controller to one or more display
device functions when the display device is set in the second mode,
wherein the first OSD guide is displayed to select either the first
mode for displaying the received message information with the
broadcasting data on the screen of the display device or the second
mode for displaying the broadcasting data without displaying the
message information on the screen of the display
device..Iaddend.
.Iadd.38. The method of claim 37, further comprising: establishing
communication with the mobile phone..Iaddend.
.Iadd.39. The method of claim 37, wherein the message includes at
least one of a text message, an image message, or a voice
message..Iaddend.
.Iadd.40. The method of claim 37, wherein the display device
automatically receives the information corresponding to the message
from the mobile phone after the message is received by the mobile
phone and without transmitting any key code to the mobile phone to
initiate reception of the message..Iaddend.
.Iadd.41. The method of claim 37, further comprising: receiving a
third command from the remote controller when the display device is
set to the second mode; and recognizing the third command as a
display device function command and performing a corresponding
display device function..Iaddend.
.Iadd.42. The method of claim 41, wherein the display device
function is a TV function..Iaddend.
.Iadd.43. The method of claim 37, wherein the information provides
notification of the message..Iaddend.
.Iadd.44. The method of claim 43, wherein the information provides
notification of a type or content of the message..Iaddend.
.Iadd.45. The method of claim 44, wherein the notification of the
type or content of the message is based on display of the received
message..Iaddend.
.Iadd.46. The method of claim 44, wherein the content of the
message includes an attachment to the message or information
included within the message..Iaddend.
.Iadd.47. The method of claim 46, wherein the attachment to the
message includes image data..Iaddend.
.Iadd.48. The method of 46, wherein the information included within
the message includes text..Iaddend.
.Iadd.49. The method of claim 37, wherein the information provides
notification of a voice call or voice message received by the
mobile phone..Iaddend.
.Iadd.50. The method of claim 37, wherein during the first mode, a
television program is displayed on the screen of the display
device..Iaddend.
.Iadd.51. The method of claim 37, wherein the display device is a
television..Iaddend.
.Iadd.52. A display device comprising: a tuner configured to
receive broadcasting data; a remote control interface configured to
receive a command from a remote controller; a mobile phone
interface configured to transmit the command to the mobile phone
and receive corresponding data from the mobile phone; a display
configured to display a graphic; and a microcomputer configured to:
display an first on-screen display (OSD) guide on the display, the
first OSD guide showing one or more items to switch the display
device between a first mode and a second mode, wherein the one or
more items are to be selected in response to activation of one or
more keys of the remote controller; receive a first command from
the remote controller to set the display device to the first mode
where a key code is to be generated and transmitted to the mobile
phone, wherein the first command is generated based on mapping the
one or more items in the first OSD guide to activation of one or
more keys of the remote controller; recognize the first command as
a phone function command, wherein the phone function command
relates to a voice call processing capability or at least one of an
electronic mail capability or a text message capability of the
mobile phone; after a message is received at the mobile phone,
receive message information corresponding to the message from the
mobile phone and display the message information on the display;
receive a second command from the remote controller to set the
display device to the second mode, wherein the second command is
generated based on mapping the one or more items in the first OSD
guide to activation of one or more keys of the remote controller;
and display a second OSD guide mapping one or more keys of the
remote controller to one or more display device functions when the
display device is set in the second mode; wherein the first OSD
guide is displayed to select either the first mode for displaying
the received message information with the broadcasting data on the
display device or the second mode for displaying the broadcasting
data without displaying the message information on the display
device..Iaddend.
.Iadd.53. The display device of claim 52, wherein the microcomputer
is further configured to establish communication with the mobile
phone via the mobile phone interface unit..Iaddend.
.Iadd.54. The display device of claim 52, wherein the message
includes at least one of a text message, an image message, or a
voice message..Iaddend.
.Iadd.55. The display device of claim 52, wherein the microcomputer
is further configured to automatically receive the information
corresponding to the message from the mobile phone after the
message is received by the mobile phone, the message received
without transmitting any key code to the mobile phone to confirm
reception of the message..Iaddend.
.Iadd.56. The display device of claim 52, wherein the microcomputer
is further configured to receive a third command from the remote
controller when the display device is set to the second mode,
recognize the third command as a display device function command,
and perform a corresponding display device function..Iaddend.
.Iadd.57. The display device of claim 56, wherein the display
device function is a TV function..Iaddend.
.Iadd.58. The display device of claim 52, wherein the information
provides notification of the message..Iaddend.
.Iadd.59. The display device of claim 58, wherein the information
provides notification of a type or content of the
message..Iaddend.
.Iadd.60. The display device of claim 59, wherein the notification
of the type or content of the message is based on display of the
received message..Iaddend.
.Iadd.61. The display device of claim 56, wherein the content of
the message includes an attachment to the message or information
included within the message..Iaddend.
.Iadd.62. The display device of claim 61, wherein the attachment to
the message includes image data..Iaddend.
.Iadd.63. The display device of 61, wherein the information
included within the message includes text..Iaddend.
.Iadd.64. The display device of claim 52, wherein the information
provides notification of a voice call or voice message received by
the mobile phone..Iaddend.
.Iadd.65. The display device of claim 52, wherein during the first
mode, a television program is displayed on the screen of the
display device..Iaddend.
.Iadd.66. The display device of claim 52, wherein the display
device is a television..Iaddend.
.Iadd.67. The display device of claim 52, wherein the mobile phone
interface is adapted to receive signals from a wire line coupled to
the mobile phone..Iaddend.
.Iadd.68. A method for controlling display of information on a
display device, comprising: receiving, by the display device,
broadcasting data; displaying a first on-screen display (OSD) guide
on a screen of the display device, the first OSD guide showing one
or more items to switch the display device between a first mode and
a second mode, wherein the one or more items are to be selected in
response to activation of one or more keys of the remote
controller; receiving a first command from the remote controller
when the display device is set to the first mode where a key code
is to be generated and transmitted to the mobile phone, wherein the
first command is generated based on mapping the one or more items
in the first OSD guide to activation of one or more keys of the
remote controller; recognizing the first command as a phone
function command and transmitting the phone function command to the
mobile phone, wherein the phone function command relates to a voice
call processing capability or at least one of an electronic mail
capability or a text message capability of the mobile phone; and
receiving an output data set generated by the mobile phone in
response to the transmitted function command and displaying image
or text data included in the output data set on the screen of the
display device; and displaying a second OSD guide mapping one or
more keys of the remote controller to one or more display device
functions when the display device is set in the second mode,
wherein the first OSD guide is displayed to select either the first
mode for displaying the received output data set with the
broadcasting data on the screen of the display device or the second
mode for displaying the broadcasting data without displaying the
output data set on the screen of the display device..Iaddend.
.Iadd.69. The method of claim 68, further comprising receiving a
mode setting command from the remote controller to set the display
device to either the first mode or the second mode, wherein the
mode setting command is generated by selecting the one or more
items..Iaddend.
.Iadd.70. The method of claim 68, wherein the message includes at
least one of a text message, an image message, or a voice
message..Iaddend.
.Iadd.71. The method of claim 70, further comprising: checking
whether any one of the text, voice or image messages is newly
received at the mobile phone; and receiving the newly received
message from the mobile phone..Iaddend.
.Iadd.72. The method of claim 68, further comprising: receiving a
second command from the remote controller when the display device
is set to the second mode; and recognizing the second command as a
display device function command and performing a corresponding
display device function..Iaddend.
.Iadd.73. The method of claim 72, wherein the display device
function is a TV function..Iaddend.
.Iadd.74. The method of claim 68, further comprising: receiving
information providing notification of the output data; and
displaying said information on the screen of the display
device..Iaddend.
.Iadd.75. The method of claim 74, wherein the information providing
notification of the output data includes the output
data..Iaddend.
.Iadd.76. The method of claim 74, wherein the notification
information provides notification of a type or content of the
output data..Iaddend.
.Iadd.77. The method of claim 76, wherein the notification of the
type or content of the message is based on display of the output
data..Iaddend.
.Iadd.78. The method of claim 76, wherein the content of the output
data includes an attachment to a message corresponding to the
output data or information included within a message corresponding
to the output data..Iaddend.
.Iadd.79. The method of claim 78, wherein the attachment to the
message includes image data..Iaddend.
.Iadd.80. The method of 78, wherein the information included within
the message includes text..Iaddend.
.Iadd.81. The method of claim 68, wherein during the first mode, a
television program is displayed on the screen of the display
device..Iaddend.
.Iadd.82. The method of claim 68, wherein the display device is a
television..Iaddend.
.Iadd.83. A display device comprising: a tuner configured to
receive broadcasting data; a remote control interface configured to
receive the command from a remote controller; a mobile phone
interface configured to transmit the command to the mobile phone
and receive corresponding data from the mobile phone; a display
configured to display a graphic; and a microcomputer configured to:
display a first on-screen display (OSD) guide, the first OSD guide
showing one or more items to switch the display device between a
first mode and a second mode, wherein the one or more items are to
be selected in response to activation of one or more keys of the
remote controller; receive a first command from the remote
controller when the display device is set to the first mode where a
key code is to be generated and transmitted to the mobile phone,
wherein the first command is generated based on mapping the one or
more items in the first OSD guide to activation of one or more keys
of the remote controller; recognize the first command as a phone
function command and transmit the phone function command to the
mobile phone, wherein the phone function command relates to a voice
call processing capability or at least one of an electronic mail
capability or a text message capability of the mobile phone;
receive an output data set generated by the mobile phone in
response to the transmitted function command and display image or
text data included in the output data set on the display; and
display a second OSD guide mapping one or more keys of the remote
controller to one or more display device functions when the display
device is set in the second mode, wherein the first OSD guide is
displayed to select either the first mode for displaying the
received output data set with the broadcasting data on the display
device or the second mode for displaying the broadcasting data
without displaying the output data set on the display
device..Iaddend.
.Iadd.84. The display device of claim 83, wherein the microcomputer
is further configured to receive a mode setting command from the
remote controller to set the display device to either the first
mode or the second mode, wherein the mode setting command is
generated by selecting the one or more items..Iaddend.
.Iadd.85. The display device of claim 83, wherein the message
includes at least one of a text message, an image message, or a
voice message..Iaddend.
.Iadd.86. The display device of claim 85, wherein the microcomputer
is further configured to: check whether any one of the text, voice
or image messages is newly received at the mobile phone; and
receive the newly received message from the mobile
phone..Iaddend.
.Iadd.87. The display device of claim 83, wherein the microcomputer
is further configured to: receive a second command from the remote
controller when the display device is set to the second mode; and
recognize the second command as a display device function command
and performing a corresponding display device
function..Iaddend.
.Iadd.88. The display device of claim 87, wherein the display
device function is a TV function..Iaddend.
.Iadd.89. The display device of claim 83, wherein the
microcomputer: receives information providing notification of the
output data; and displays said information on the screen of the
display device..Iaddend.
.Iadd.90. The display device of claim 89, wherein the information
providing notification of the output data includes the output
data..Iaddend.
.Iadd.91. The display device of claim 89, wherein the notification
information provides notification of a type or content of the
output data..Iaddend.
.Iadd.92. The display device of claim 91, wherein the notification
of the type or content of the message is based on display of the
output data..Iaddend.
.Iadd.93. The display device of claim 91, wherein the content of
the output data includes an attachment to a message corresponding
to the output data or information included within a message
corresponding to the output data..Iaddend.
.Iadd.94. The display device of claim 93, wherein the attachment to
the message includes image data..Iaddend.
.Iadd.95. The display device of 93, wherein the information
included within the message includes text..Iaddend.
.Iadd.96. The display device of claim 83, wherein during the first
mode, a television program is displayed on the screen of the
display device..Iaddend.
.Iadd.97. The display device of claim 83, wherein the display
device is a television..Iaddend.
.Iadd.98. The display device of claim 83, wherein the mobile phone
interface is adapted to receive signals from a wire line coupled to
the mobile phone..Iaddend.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
.[.This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application
No. P2001-51342, filed on Aug. 24, 2001, which is hereby
incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein..].
.Iadd.This application is a Reissue of U.S. Pat. No. 7,376,441,
filed on Aug. 22, 2002, and issued on May 20, 2008. Also, the
following continuations of the present reissue application have
been filed: U.S. Continuation Reissue application Ser. No.
12/882,954, U.S. Continuation Reissue application Ser. No.
12/882,908, and U.S. Continuation Reissue application Ser. No.
12/882,821. .Iaddend.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a system for a mobile telephone,
and more particularly, to apparatus and method of interacting with
a mobile telephone using an interactive television system with a
remote control unit.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
As there have been high demands from many mobile telephone users,
many mobile communication service providers have recently started
to provide not only a simple telephonic communication service, but
also various supplemental communication services such as an
Internet service, text/voice/image message service, and electronic
mailing service. In order for a user to use any one of the various
supplement services mentioned above, the user must be able to view
images that are displayed on a display unit of a mobile telephone
and to input one or more desired commands into the mobile telephone
by pressing one or more buttons provided on the mobile
telephone.
However, the sizes of the key buttons and display units of many
existing mobile telephones are significantly limited due to the
current trend toward smaller dimensions of the mobile telephones,
and this create great inconveniences to many users for properly
viewing the image and/or text data and inputting the desired
commands by pressing the key buttons provided on the mobile
telephones.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, the present invention is directed to apparatus and
method of interacting with a mobile telephone using an interactive
television system that substantially obviates one or more problems
due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.
An object of the present invention is to provide a method of
interacting with a mobile telephone using an interactive television
system that provides a significantly improved way of interacting
with the mobile telephone.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus
of interacting with a mobile telephone using an interactive
television system that provides a significantly improved way of
interacting with the mobile telephone.
Additional advantages, objects, and features of the invention will
be set forth in part in the description which follows and in part
will become apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art upon
examination of the following or may be learned from practice of the
invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention may
be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out
in the written description and claims hereof as well as the
appended drawings.
To achieve these objects and other advantages and in accordance
with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly
described herein, an apparatus of interacting with a mobile
telephone according to the present invention includes a remote
control unit receiving a user command from a user and remotely
transmitting the user command, and a TV system connected to the
mobile telephone. The TV system recognizes the user command
remotely received from the remote control unit as a telephone
function command and transmits the function command to the mobile
telephone if the TV system is set to a telephone mode by the user.
The TV system further outputs an output data set received from the
mobile telephone in response to the transmitted function
command.
The mobile telephone of the apparatus includes a TV interface unit
interfacing with the television system for receiving the function
command from the TV system and transmitting the output data set to
the TV system, and a controller generating a control signal for
generating the output data set in response to the function command
and transmitting the generated output data set to the TV
system.
On the other hand, the TV system of the apparatus includes a
remote-control interface unit receiving the user command from the
remote control unit, a telephone interface unit interfacing with
the mobile telephone for transmitting the function command to the
mobile telephone and receiving the output data set from the mobile
telephone, a microcomputer generating a control signal for
outputting the output data set received from the mobile telephone,
a video/audio signal processor combining text or image data
included in the output data set with an original image data
according to the control signal, and a display unit displaying the
combined data.
In another aspect of the present invention, a method of interacting
with a mobile telephone using a TV system with a remote control
unit includes the steps of (a) displaying a telephone key index on
a TV display unit of the TV system if the TV system is set to a
telephone mode by a user, (b) receiving a first user command from
the user through the remote control unit, (c) recognizing the first
user command as a telephone function command and transmitting the
function command to the mobile telephone, and (d) receiving an
output data set that the mobile telephone generates in response to
the transmitted function command and displaying image or text data
included in the output data set on the TV display unit.
In another aspect of the present invention, a method of interacting
with a TV system with a remote control unit for a mobile telephone
includes the steps of (a) checking whether the mobile telephone is
connected to the TV system, (b) receiving a telephone function
command that the TV system generates in response to a user command
received from a user through the remote control unit, and (c)
generating an output data set in response to the received function
command and transmitting the output data set to the TV system.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description
and the following detailed description of the present invention are
exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further
explanation of the invention as claimed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further
understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and
constitute a part of this application, illustrate embodiment(s) of
the invention and together with the description serve to explain
the principle of the invention. In the drawings;
FIG. 1 illustrates an apparatus of interacting with a mobile
telephone using an interactive TV system in accordance with the
present invention;
FIG. 2 illustrates is a flow chart illustrating a method of
interacting with a mobile telephone using an interactive television
system according to the present invention;
FIG. 3A illustrates a telephone key index that gets displayed on a
display unit of the TV system according to the present
invention;
FIG. 3B illustrates a TV key index that gets displayed on a display
unit of the TV system according to the present invention; and
FIG. 4 illustrates a flow chart illustrating a method of
interacting with a TV system for a mobile telephone in accordance
with the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments
of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the
accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference
numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same
or like parts.
FIG. 1 illustrates an apparatus of interacting with a mobile
telephone using an interactive television system (TV system) with a
remote control unit in accordance with the present invention. As it
can be seen from FIG. 1, the apparatus includes a mobile telephone
100 being able to receive or transmit various communication data
including text, image, and/or voice data from a sender or to a
receiver; an interactive television system 300 that is connected to
the mobile telephone 100 and is able to display various data
received from the mobile telephone 100; and a remote control unit
200 for enabling a user to set the interactive television system
300 to TV Mode or Telephone Mode. The television system 300
receives the output data from the mobile telephone 100 and displays
the image/text data if the user has set the television system 300
to Telephone Mode.
The mobile telephone 100 includes a TV interface unit 110 for
interfacing with the interactive television system 300 and further
includes a controller (not illustrated) that gives a command for
transmitting the output data corresponding to a telephone function
command received from the television system 300. A user sets the
television system 300 to Telephone Mode for interacting with the
mobile telephone 100 or to TV Mode for performing various
TV-related functions such as channel up/down and volume up/down
functions.
The interactive television system 300 shown in FIG. 1 includes a
remote-control interface unit 313 for receiving one or more user
commands from the remote control unit 200; a telephone interface
unit 319 connected to the mobile telephone 100 through a connection
unit 320 for transmitting the user commands to the mobile telephone
100 and receiving the corresponding output data from the mobile
telephone 100; a microcomputer 314 generating a control signal for
displaying a key index corresponding to Telephone Mode or TV Mode
and for outputting the output data received from the mobile
telephone 100; a video/audio data processor 315 combining an
original image signal with the key index and/or image/text data
included in the output data received from the telephone 100; and a
display unit 317 displaying the combined data.
In addition, the interactive television system 300 further includes
a tuner 310 receiving a broadcasting signal; an A/D converter 311
converting the analog broadcasting signal to a digital broadcasting
signal; a link 312 checking and correcting any error included in
the converted digital signal; a speaker 318 outputting a sound
signal processed in the video/audio data processor 315 according to
the control signal of the microcomputer 314; and a memory 316
storing the program information of the microcomputer 314 or other
information. The interactive television system 300 may provide not
only the video/audio data of the digital broadcasting signal, but
also various supplemental program information.
The general functions of the components of the television system
300 will now be described in detail. First, the tuner 310 receives
various broadcasting signals including satellite, terrestrial, and
cable broadcasting signals. Then the A/D converter 311 converts the
broadcasting signals to digital signals and outputs the converted
digital signals to the link 312. The link 312 performs error
checking and correcting functions and outputs compressed
video/audio data streams. In accordance with a control signal
generated by the microcomputer 314, the video/audio data processor
315 performs a compensation function on the compressed data streams
and converts the compensated data streams to analog image/voice
signals. Then the video and audio signals are outputted through the
display unit 317 and the speaker 318, respectively.
In addition, when a user inputs a user command by pressing one or
more key buttons provided on the remote control unit 200, the
remote-control interface unit 313 transmits the user command to the
microcomputer 314. Then the microcomputer 314 outputs a control
signal for performing a desired function in response to the user
command. Any graphic information generated by the microcomputer 314
upon receiving the user command from the remote control unit 200 or
other graphic information related to the supplemental program
information are transmitted to the video/audio data processing unit
315 via a data bus and are added to the original image signals in
accordance with the control signal of the microcomputer 314.
The apparatus according to the present invention enables a user to
interact with a mobile telephone 100 by displaying the output data
received from the telephone 100 on the display unit 317 of the
television system 300 and inputting any telephone function command
into the mobile telephone 100 using the remote control unit
200.
The steps showing how the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 actually
operates will now be described in detail. First of all, a user
connects the mobile telephone 100 with the interactive television
system 300 and sets the television system 300 to Telephone Mode or
TV Mode by pressing a corresponding mode key button provided on the
remote control unit 200 or on a key panel of the television system
300.
When the microcomputer 314 receives a command setting the mode of
the television system 300, it generates a corresponding control
signal in order for the video/audio data processor 315 to display a
corresponding key index on the display unit 317 using an OSD
function.
When the television system 300 is set to Telephone Mode, the
microcomputer 314 checks whether the mobile telephone 100 is
connected to the television system 300. Thereafter, when a user
inputs a user command through the remote control unit 200 for
controlling the mobile telephone 100, the microcomputer 314
transmits a corresponding telephone function command to the mobile
telephone 100. Upon receiving the function command from the
television system 300, a controller of the telephone 100 generates
a control signal in order to perform a corresponding telephone
function such as viewing the phone numbers stored in the telephone
100 or viewing one of the text messages previously received.
Then the mobile telephone 100 transmits any data generated upon
performing the function or any text/voice/image data received from
an external source to the television system 300 via the TV
interface unit 110. Next, the television system 300 outputs the
output data or text/voice/image data through the speaker 318 and/or
the display unit 317.
The display unit 317 may display the text/image data received from
the mobile telephone 100 in a predetermined portion of the display
unit 317 with or without the regular images of the broadcasting
signal. On the other hand, when the television system 300 being
initially set to TV Mode receives a user command from the remote
control unit 200 for performing a general TV function such as a
power on/off, channel switching, and volume adjusting function, the
microcomputer 314 generates a corresponding control signal so that
the television system performs the desired TV function.
FIG. 2 is a flow chart illustrating a method of interacting with a
mobile telephone 100 using an interactive television system 300
according to the present invention. As shown in the figure, the
microcomputer 314 included in the television system 300 initially
checks whether the mobile telephone 100 is connected to the
television system 300 through a connecting unit 320 (S100). If it
is confirmed in the step S100 that the mobile telephone 100 is
connected to the television system 300, the microcomputer 314
further checks whether a user has inputted a first command for
Telephone Mode by pressing a Telephone Mode button provided on a
remote control unit 200 or a key panel of the television system 300
(S110).
If it is confirmed that the first command for Telephone Mode is
received, the microcomputer 314 sets the television system 300 to
Telephone Mode. Subsequently, a first key index corresponding to
Telephone Mode is displayed on a predetermined portion of the
display unit 317 of the television system 300 (S120). An example of
the first key index that gets displayed on the display unit 317 as
the television system 300 is set to Telephone Mode is illustrated
in FIG. 3A. The first key index is an On Screen Display (OSD) type
index indicating what each key button of the remote control unit
200 represents in Telephone Mode. For example, it includes a mode
indicator indicating that the TV system is currently set to
Telephone Mode.
On the other hand, if it is found in the step S110 that the first
command for Telephone Mode is not inputted by the user, the
microcomputer 314 checks whether the user has inputted a second
command for TV Mode by pressing a TV Mode key button provided on
the remote control unit 200 or the key panel of the television
system 300 (S130). If it is confirmed in the step S130 that the
second command for TV Mode is received, the microcomputer 314 sets
the television system 300 to TV Mode. Subsequently, a second key
index corresponding to TV Mode gets displayed on a predetermined
portion of a display unit 317 (S140). An example of the second key
index that gets displayed on the display unit 317 as the television
system 300 is set to TV Mode is illustrated in FIG. 3B. The second
key index is also an On Screen Display (OSD) type index indicating
what each key button of the remote control unit 200 represents in
TV Mode. For example, it includes a mode indicator indicating that
the TV system is currently set to TV mode.
After the television system 300 is set to either one of Telephone
Mode or TV Mode, the microcomputer 314 further checks whether the
user has inputted a user command by pressing any key button of the
remote control unit other than the Telephone or TV Mode key button
(S150). If it is found in the step S150 that such user command is
received from the remotely control unit 200, the microcomputer 314
further checks whether the television system 300 is currently set
to Telephone Mode or TV Mode (S160). If the present mode is
Telephone Mode, the user command is recognized as a telephone
function command, and a corresponding key code gets transmitted to
the mobile telephone 100 through a telephone interface unit 319
(S170). On the other hand, if the present mode is found to be TV
Mode, the user command is recognized as an ordinary TV function
command, and the television system 300 performs a TV function
corresponding to the TV function command (S180).
Finally, the microcomputer 314 further checks whether any output
data has been received from the mobile telephone 100 (S190). If it
is confirmed that the output data has been received, the television
system 300 performs a corresponding function according to the data
received (S200). For example, it will display the text/image data
included in the output data received from the mobile telephone 100
on the display unit 317 and output the sound data through the
speaker 318. The steps of S150 to S200 may be repeated until the
user inputs no further user command. In addition, the first or
second key index displayed in the step S120 or S140 may be
undisplayed if it is determined that the user inputs no further
user command
FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating the steps carrying out a method
of interacting with a mobile telephone 100 using an interactive
television system 300 according to the present invention. As shown
in FIG. 4, first of all, the controller (not illustrated) of the
mobile telephone 100 checks whether the interactive television
system 300 is connected to the mobile telephone 100 (S300). Next,
if it is confirmed in the step S300 that the television system 300
is connected to the mobile telephone 100, it further checks whether
any one of text, image, and voice messages is received from a
message sender (S310). If the mobile telephone 100 has received
such message, it transmits the message to the television system 300
(S320). Then the television system 300 displays the image or text
message on the display unit 317 and outputs the voice message
through the speaker 318.
On the other hand, if it is found in the step S310 that there is no
data received, the controller of the mobile telephone 100 further
checks whether any key code is received from the television system
300 (S330). If it is found in the step S330 that the mobile
telephone 100 received a key code from the television system 300,
then the mobile telephone performs a corresponding function and
transmits output data that it generates upon performing the
function to the television system (S340). Subsequently, the display
unit 317 of the television system 300 displays the text/image data
and outputs the sound data included in the output data through the
speaker 318.
According to the method of the present invention described above, a
user is able to interact with a mobile telephone using an
interactive television system by displaying the text/image data
received from the telephone and by inputting various telephone
function commands using a remote control unit. Upon receiving a
function command from the television system that the user has
inputted through the remote control unit, the output data that the
mobile telephone generates in response to the function command is
transmitted to television system. Finally the text/image data of
the output data is displayed on a display unit of the television
system and the sound data is outputted through a speaker. As a
result, a user may conveniently interact with the mobile telephone
using the display unit and speaker of the television system and a
remote control unit.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various
modifications and variations can be made in the present invention
without departing from the spirit or scope of the inventions. Thus,
it is intended that the present invention covers the modifications
and variations of this invention provided they come within the
scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
* * * * *