US20070124792A1 - Phone based television remote control - Google Patents

Abstract

A phone that interacts with a television system. At least one module may be adapted to receive a user input identifying a video selection. At least one module may also be adapted to display video information corresponding to the video selection. At least one module may further be adapted to transmit a control signal adapted to cause the display of video information corresponding to the video selection on the television system. The phone may, for example, be adapted to receive television system setting information and provide for user control of various television system settings. Also for example, the phone may be adapted to receive media guide information, present such information to a user, provide for user selection of a media element, and transmit a control signal adapted to cause delivery of the selected media element from a multimedia source to the television system.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS/INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
• The present application is related to U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. _______, filed concurrently herewith, titled “PARALLEL TELEVISION REMOTE CONTROL,” with attorney docket number 16868US01, U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. ______, filed concurrently herewith, titled “CONTROL DEVICE WITH LANGUAGE SELECTIVITY,” with attorney docket number 16869US01, U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. ______, filed concurrently herewith, titled “PARALLEL TELEVISION DOCKING ADAPTER,” with attorney docket number 16874US01 and U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. ______, filed concurrently herewith, titled “UNIVERSAL PARALLEL TELEVISION REMOTE CONTROL,” with attorney docket number 16875US01, each of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
• [Not Applicable]
SEQUENCE LISTING
• [Not Applicable]
MICROFICHE/COPYRIGHT REFERENCE
• [Not Applicable]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
• 1. Field of the Invention
• Various aspects of the present invention, relate to controlling delivery of multimedia information to a multimedia display system.
• 2. Description of the Related Art
• A typical remote control (or “Remote” as used herein) has multiple predefined buttons. A Remote is used to change TV (“Television”) channels, change audio and video settings of the TV and control power supply to the TV by selecting one or more of the buttons. A Remote interacts with a TV in one direction. A remote generally sends a control signal to a TV using infrared or RF transmission. The control signal triggers the TV to implement the changes. An unobstructed view between the Remote and the TV is needed when infrared transmission is used. The Remote can however interact with the TV through obstructions, like furniture and walls, when RF transmission is used. The type of transmission used to send the control signal determines maximum allowable distance between the Remote and the TV. The maximum allowable distance in both the cases is typically only few meters.
• A user generally uses multiple buttons of a Remote to control settings and display of media on a TV screen. The user receives visual information from the screen of the TV, makes a TV control choice and presses the buttons to realize the choice. Operating a Remote may be inconvenient, for example, because a user generally looks back and forth between the Remote buttons and the TV screen to complete a task.
• A TV may, for example, receive channels either directly or indirectly via a set top box from a broadcaster. Many types of media systems are used to provide supplemental or alternate video to the TV. Many of these media systems directly source locally accessed media, and others alternatively or in addition provide television broadcast tuners for managing television channel selection and video and audio settings. Exemplary media systems include cable and satellite set top boxes and DVD (Digital Video Disk) players. Each of these media systems is controlled through direct interaction or via a Remote. To interact with a user via a Remote, media systems deliver information via a TV's screen and speakers and receive information directly from the Remote. Again, as previously mentioned, such interaction usually requires a user to look back and forth between the Remote and TV Screen in attempts to locate buttons and understand the Remote's operation.
• Further limitations and disadvantages of conventional and traditional approaches will become apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art through comparison of such systems with the present invention.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
• A phone that interacts with a television system and/or media source, substantially as shown in and/or described in connection with at least one of the figures, as set forth more completely in the claims. These and other advantages, aspects and novel features of the present invention, as well as details of illustrative aspects thereof, will be more fully understood from the following description and drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• For various aspects of the present invention to be easily understood and readily practiced, various aspects will now be described, for purposes of illustration and not limitation, in conjunction with the following figures:
• FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram illustrating interaction between a phone that remotely controls display on a screen of a television, the television and a media source that delivers media to the television in accordance with various aspects of the present invention;
• FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram illustrating an embodiment of the phone ofFIG. 1 where the phone interacts with the television via a set top box that is housed with the television in an entertainment system;
• FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram illustrating an embodiment of the phone ofFIG. 2 further providing dual channel control support in the phone and in the set top box;
• FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram illustrating interaction between a phone, an entertainment system, a multimedia source and a storage system and communication paths between these elements in accordance with various aspects of the present invention;
• FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a phone that indirectly controls display of media sourced by a remote media source on a television screen in addition to managing phone calls over a wireless link;
• FIG. 6 is a schematic block diagram illustrating an embodiment of the phone ofFIG. 5 further controlling storage of media sourced by a remote media broadcaster to a storage system;
• FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a method of controlling selection and delivery of processed media to a television screen and to a screen of a phone-based remote control for display by the phone;
• FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating functions of media selection and swapping of the phone-based television remote control ofFIG. 7, in accordance with various aspects of the present invention;
• FIG. 9 is a diagram of a phone-based remote control having two screens disposed on a housing; and
• FIG. 10 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a phone with modified functionality that is capable of controlling selection and delivery of media to an entertainment system for display.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
• FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram illustrating interaction between aphone103 that remotely controls display on a screen of atelevision105, thetelevision105 andvarious media sources107 that deliver media to thetelevision105. Thephone103 has a phone screen111 (e.g., a video display), processing circuitry113 (e.g., which may comprise various hardware and/or software modules), a user input interface117 and acommunication interface121. Thetelevision105 has atelevision screen125 associated with it.
• The user input interface117 of thephone103 receives a selection from a user (e.g., a user input identifying a video selection), theprocessing circuitry113 retrieves via the communication interface121 a first video stream (or, for example, any of a variety of types of video information) from themedia sources107, and thephone screen111 displays the first video stream. Theprocessing circuitry113 of thephone103 also delivers (e.g., transmits) a control signal via thecommunication interface121 to thetelevision105, where the control signal is adapted to direct the display of a second video stream on thetelevision screen125. The first video stream is identified for thephone screen111 and the second video stream is identified for thetelevision screen125 by the selection from the user. The second video stream is delivered to thetelevision105 from themedia sources107.
• The selection by the user may, for example, identify two (or any number of) media elements where each media element has an audio portion and a video portion. The selection may be performed using a media guide. A media guide may, for example, comprise a list that identifies a plurality of media elements available with themedia sources107. A media element may generally comprise characteristics of any of a variety of selectable units of media information (e.g., multimedia information). For example and without limitation, a media element may comprise characteristics of a movie, music video, television program, television channel, sporting or other entertainment event, news report, computer game or any of a variety of units of recorded or live multimedia information.
• Thecommunication interface121 receives the media guide (e.g., any of a variety of types of media guide information) from the media sources107 (or any of a variety of sources), aphone memory115 stores the media guide, and thephone screen111 displays the media guide. The user may, for example, select two media elements, one media element for thetelevision105 and another media element for thephone103 using the media guide. The selection is entered through the user input interface117. Subsequently, theprocessing circuitry113 of thephone103 triggers delivery of a first of the two selected media elements from themedia sources107 to thetelevision105 for display on thetelevision screen125. Theprocessing circuitry113 also delivers a video portion of a second of the two selected media elements to thephone screen111 for display.
• The first media element may be processed for (e.g., specifically adapted for) thetelevision screen125, and the second media element may be processed for (e.g., specifically adapted for) thephone screen111. Such processing may, for example and without limitation, comprise transcoding, encoding and decoding, and/or various fitting functionalities. Any or all of such functionalities can be employed or disabled in thephone103, in thetelevision105 and in themedia sources107. Thephone103 employs transcoding inblock119, thetelevision105 employs transcoding inblock127, and themedia source133 employs transcoding inblock143 and encoding/decoding inblock145.
• Thephone103 may, for example, control various television system settings (e.g., settings related to media displayed on the television screen125). If the user input interface117 receives a setting perusal selection (e.g., a user input indicating that the user desires to view television system settings) from the user, thecommunication interface121 receives a setting of the media displayed on thetelevision screen125, and thephone screen111 displays the setting. The user may select another setting for the media displayed on thetelevision screen125 and enter the selection via the user input interface117 of thephone103. Theprocessing circuitry113 of thephone103 then delivers a control signal via thecommunication interface121 that directs application of the user-selected setting to the media displayed on thetelevision screen125.
• Thephone103 is communicatively coupled to thetelevision105 and themedia sources107 over respective wireless links. Themedia sources107 and thetelevision105 are communicatively coupled to each other via another wireless link. The wireless links may comprise characteristics of any of a variety of communication link types (e.g., Bluetooth, IEEE 802.11, IEEE 802.15, cellular telephony (e.g., GSM/GPRS/EDGE, CDMA, CDMA2000, UMTS, WCDMA, etc.), UltraWideBand, standard/proprietary, etc.).
• Thefirst media source133 of themedia sources107 supports media in afirst format141. Thefirst media source133 employs transcoding inblock143. Transcoding is performed on the media in the first format to save bandwidth. Asecond media source135 of themedia sources107 supports media in television format151 (i.e., a format that is prescribed for thetelevision screen125, for example, HDTV (High Definition Television) format). Athird media source137 of themedia sources107 supports media intelevision format161 and media in phone format163 (e.g., QVGA (Quarter Video Graphics Array) format). Themedia sources133,135,137 employ encoding/decoding functionality inblocks145,153 and165, respectively. The encoding/decoding functionality may, for example, be advantageous, when the media source handles differently encoded media.
• FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram illustrating an embodiment of thephone103 ofFIG. 1 where thephone203 interacts with thetelevision205 via aset top box207 that is housed with thetelevision205 in an entertainment system201 (or, e.g., any of a variety of television system configurations). The user input interface217 of thephone203 receives a selection from the user. The selection may, for example, identify (e.g., directly or indirectly) a first video stream (or, e.g., any of a variety of types of video information) for thephone203 and a second video stream for the television screen231. Theprocessing circuitry213 of thephone203 requests via thecommunication interface223 the first video stream from the settop box207. The settop box207 retrieves the first video stream from themedia source209 and sends the retrieved first video stream to theprocessing circuitry213. Thephone screen211 displays the retrieved first video stream. Theprocessing circuitry213 delivers a control signal via thecommunication interface223 to the settop box207. The control signal directs display of the second video stream on the television screen231. The settop box207 subsequently receives the second video stream from themedia source209 and delivers the received second video stream to the television screen231 for display.
• The settop box207 is communicatively coupled to thetelevision205, thephone203 and themedia source209 via communication interfaces241. The communication link between the settop box207 and thetelevision205 is shown to be a wireless link. The communication link (e.g, and any communication link discussed herein) may alternatively, for example, comprise characteristics of a wired link, tethered optical link, non-tethered optical link, etc. Communication links between the settop box207 and thetelevision205 and thephone203 are, in this embodiment, wireless links. Wireless links may comprise characteristics of any of a variety of wireless link types (e.g., Bluetooth, IEEE 802.11, IEEE 802.15, UltraWideBand, any of a variety of cellular link types, any of a variety of infrared or other optical link types, standard or propriety link types, etc.).
• The selection from the user may, for example, identify two media elements where each media element has an audio portion and a video portion. The selection may be performed using a media guide. A media guide may, for example, comprise a list that identifies a plurality of media elements available with themedia source209. The two selected media elements may then, for example, correspond to any of the plurality of media elements.
• Thecommunication interface223 of thephone203 receives a media guide (e.g., media guide information) from themedia source209 via the settop box207. Thephone memory215 stores the media guide, and thephone screen211 displays the media guide. The user scans the media guide and enters a selection through the user input interface217 of thephone203. The selection from the user identifies (e.g., directly or indirectly) two media elements, one for thetelevision205 and another for thephone203.
• Theprocessing circuitry213 of thephone203 triggers delivery a first of the two selected media elements from themedia source209 to the settop box207. The settop box207 receives the first of the two selected media elements from themedia source209 and forwards the received media element to display driver circuitry of thetelevision205 for display on the television screen231. Theprocessing circuitry213 of thephone203 also sends a request to the settop box207 for the second of the two selected media elements. The settop box207 receives the second of the two selected media elements from themedia source209 and forwards the received media element to thephone203. Thephone screen211 then displays a video portion of the second of the two selected media elements.
• Theprocessing circuitry213 of thephone203 manages phone calls. Thephone203 has holdingcircuitry219 that pauses communication of thephone203 with the settop box207 and themedia source209 during call handling by thephone203.
• FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram illustrating an embodiment of thephone203 ofFIG. 2 further providing dual channel control support in thephone303 and in the settop box307. Thephone303 controls display of a first television channel in theentertainment system301 and display of a second television channel in thephone303. Each television channel has an audio portion and a video portion. Theprocessing circuitry313 of thephone303 sends a control signal to the settop box307 directing delivery of the first television channel to thetelevision screen325 from themedia source309. After receiving the control signal, the settop box307 receives the first television channel from themedia source309 and forwards the video portion of the first television channel to thetelevision screen325. In this non-limiting example, themedia source309 is a television channel broadcaster.
• Theprocessing circuitry313 of thephone303 also receives the second television channel from themedia source309 via the settop box307 and forwards the video portion of the received television channel to thephone screen311 for display. Theprocessing circuitry313 services thephone screen311 and thetelevision screen325 via the settop box307 and hence supports dual channel control functionality315. Similarly, the settop box307 services thephone screen311 and thetelevision screen325, and hence theprocessing circuitry333 of the settop box307 also supports dual channel control functionality as shown inblock335. Thefirst channel output337 and thesecond channel output339 are shown in theprocessing circuitry333 of the settop box307. A first of the channel outputs337,339 is forwarded by theprocessing circuitry333 of the settop box307 to thetelevision screen325, and a second of the channel outputs337,339 is sent to theprocessing circuitry313 of thephone303.
• Thephone303 may direct a third television channel to a STB storage system331 of the settop box307 on receiving a media storage command from the user through the user input interface319 of thephone303. The media storage command from the user identifies the third television channel. Thephone303 sends a control signal to the settop box307, which subsequently receives the third television channel from themedia source309 and stores information corresponding to the received third television channel in the STB storage system331.
• The third television channel is processed in the settop box307 for the STB storage system331. Such processing may, for example, comprise one or more of transcoding, encoding and decoding. Transcoding may, for example, be performed to save bandwidth occupied by the audio portion, the video portion or both of the third television channel. Encoding and decoding may, for example, be performed to make the audio and the video portion of the television channel compatible with an encoding standard used in thephone303, in thetelevision305 and in the settop box307.
• FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram illustrating interaction between aphone403, anentertainment system405, amultimedia source409, astorage system407 andcommunication pathways411 between these elements. Thephone403 has aphone screen414, aspeaker415, aphone memory419, acommunication interface420 and a user input interface428 that are communicatively coupled to each other viaprocessing circuitry417 of thephone403. Thephone403 also comprises arechargeable power source427.
• Thecommunication interface420 may be either of, or a combination of, awireless interface421 and awired interface422. The user input interface428 may comprise one or more of:buttons429, atouchpad430, apen431, athumbwheel432, a mouse433 and avoice interface434.
• Theentertainment system405 has ascreen440, aspeaker441, amemory450, acommunication interface445 and aninput interface451 that are communicatively coupled to each other viaprocessing circuitry444 of theentertainment system405. Thecommunication interface445 may be either of, or a combination of, a wireless interface and a wired interface. Theentertainment system405 may comprise a television and a set top box. In that case, some of the elements of the entertainment system will be housed in the television and the rest of the elements will be housed in the set top box.
• Themultimedia source409 comprisestelevision broadcasting461, alocal source462 and anInternet server463. Themultimedia source409 is a repository of a plurality of multimedia elements and a plurality of video streams. Each of the plurality of multimedia elements has an audio portion and a video portion. The plurality of multimedia elements may, for example, include one of, or a combination of, a television channel, a computer game, a movie and recorded multimedia. The plurality of video streams may, for example, include one or more of a recorded video, a picture, a photo, a video portion of a television channel, a video game and a live snippet.
• A user uses thephone403 to control selection and display of a multimedia element on thescreen440 of theentertainment system405. Thephone403 receives a selection from the user via the user input interface428. The selection may, for example, be a selection of two multimedia elements, two video streams, a multimedia element and a video stream for the phone and the entertainment system, a multimedia element for either the phone or the entertainment system, a setting selection for the entertainment system, a media storage selection for a storage system, and a media swapping selection.
• Suppose the selection from the user identifies two multimedia elements, a first multimedia element for thephone403 and a second multimedia element for theentertainment system405. Thephone403 receives via thecommunication interface420 the first multimedia element from themultimedia source409. The audio portion of the first multimedia element is forwarded to thespeaker415 for listening, and the video portion is forwarded to thephone screen414 for display. Thephone403 sends a control signal to theentertainment system405 to trigger delivery of the second multimedia element from themultimedia source409 to theentertainment system405. Theentertainment system405 receives via thecommunication interface445 the second multimedia element from themultimedia source409. The audio portion of the second multimedia element is forwarded to thespeaker441 for listening, and the video portion is forwarded to thescreen440 for display.
• The first multimedia element is processed in thephone403. Such processing may, for example, comprise transcoding424, encoding anddecoding425, andfitting functionalities426. One or more of these functionalities may be disabled depending on processing capability of theprocessing circuitry417, consumption of therechargeable power source427 and support of similar functionalities in theentertainment system405, themultimedia source409 and thestorage system407. The second multimedia element is processed in theentertainment system405. Such processing may, for example, comprise transcoding447, encoding anddecoding448, andfitting functionalities449. One or more these functionalities may be disabled.
• Either or both of thephone403 and theentertainment system405 may receive only the video or audio portion of a multimedia element. Either or both of thephone403 and theentertainment system405 can alternately, or in addition, receive a video stream, depending on the selection.
• Suppose the selection corresponds to perusal of settings of theentertainment system405. Thephone403, for example, receives speaker and screen settings of theentertainment system405 from theentertainment system405 via thecommunication interface420 and displays the settings on thephone screen414. If the selection corresponds to application of a different setting for either the screen or the speaker or both of theentertainment system405, theprocessing circuitry417 of thephone403 then delivers a control signal via thecommunication interface420 that directs application of the different setting to theentertainment system405.
• Suppose the selection corresponds to a media swapping request. Thephone403 sends a request to themultimedia source409 for a first multimedia element that is currently being presented by the entertainment system. Thephone403 sends a control signal to themultimedia source409 that directs themultimedia source409 to deliver a second multimedia element that is currently being presented by thephone403 to theentertainment system405. Themultimedia source409 delivers the second multimedia element to theentertainment system405. Theentertainment system405 then presents the second multimedia element. Thephone403 receives the first multimedia element from themultimedia source409 via thecommunication interface420. Thephone403 then presents the first multimedia element.
• Suppose the selection identifies astorage system407 and a multimedia element. Thephone403 triggers delivery of the multimedia element from themultimedia source409 to thestorage system407. Thecommunication pathway411 connecting thephone403, theentertainment system405, thestorage system405 and themultimedia source409 may, for example, comprise one of, or a combination of, a copper wire, a fiber and a wireless medium. Wireless technologies used for communication may, for example and without limitation, be one or more of a cellular transmission, 802.11, Bluetooth, and an infrared transmission. Thestorage system407 may, for example, comprise one or more of a portable storage, a non-portable storage, a removable storage, a rewritable storage, a read only storage, a worm storage, a volatile storage and a nonvolatile storage.
• Thephone403, theentertainment system405, thestorage system407 and themultimedia source409 are located in one or in two separate or in three separate or in four separate premises. Thestorage system407 may be an integral part of thephone403, or theentertainment system405 or themultimedia source409. Thephone403 can trigger delivery of the multimedia element from themultimedia source409 to more than one storage system.
• FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a phone that indirectly controls display of media sourced by aremote media source509 on atelevision screen531 in addition to managing phone calls over a wireless link. Thephone503 is part of awireless phone network511. Thephone503 controls delivery of media from theremote media source509 via aset top box507. The settop box507 is communicatively coupled to atelevision505 over a wired link and to theremote media source509 over another wired link. The wired links are one or more of a copper link and a fiber link. The settop box507 is communicatively connected to thephone503 through thewireless phone network511. The settop box507 has a wireless communication interface and a wired communication interface.
• Thephone503 receives a request from a user through buttons of thephone503 and accordingly sends a control signal to the settop box507. The control signal from thephone503 to the settop box507 identifies a media element and also identifies if the media element is meant for thetelevision505 or thephone503. If the media element is meant for thephone503, then the settop box507 receives the media element from theremote media source509 and forwards the received media element to thephone503. Thephone503 then displays the media element onphone screen521. If the media element is meant for thetelevision505, then the settop box507 receives the media element from theremote media source509 and forwards the received media element to thetelevision505. The media element is subsequently displayed on thetelevision screen531. Theremote media source509 is located at a remote premises from thephone503, thetelevision505 and the settop box507. Thephone503, thetelevision505 and the settop box507 may be located at the same or different premises. Theremote media source509 is one or more of a television broadcasting source, an Internet server and an Intranet server.
• FIG. 6 is a schematic block diagram illustrating an embodiment of thephone503 ofFIG. 5, further controlling storage of media sourced by aremote media broadcaster609 to a storage system. Thephone603 manages phone calls over thephone network615. Thephone603 is communicatively coupled to a settop box607 that is communicatively coupled to theremote media broadcaster609. Theremote media broadcaster609 is connected to the settop box607 via one of, or a combination of, a wired and a wireless link. Thephone603 has two communication interfaces, one to communicate over thephone network615 and another to communicate over theInternet613. The settop box607 has three communication interfaces, one to communicate to thetelevision605, another to communicate with theremote media broadcaster609 and one to communicate over theInternet613. Theremote media broadcaster609 has one communication interface to communicate with the settop box607.
• The storage system may beremote media storage611 that is located at a remote premises and that is accessible through theInternet613, may bestorage643 housed with the settop box607 or may beremovable media storage651 that is attached to thephone603. Thephone603 receives a media storage request from a user. The media storage request identifies the storage system and a media element that is available from theremote media broadcaster609.
• If the media storage request identifies theremote media storage611, then thephone603 sends a control signal to the settop box607. Thephone603 may send the control signal to the settop box607 through theInternet613. Thephone603 may also send the control signal to the settop box607 through thephone network615. In that case, the settop box607 has a fourth communication interface to communicate with thephone603 over thephone network615. Subsequently the settop box607 receives the media element from theremote media broadcaster609 and delivers the received media element to theremote media storage611 over theInternet613.
• If the media storage request identifies thestorage643 housed with the settop box607, then thephone603 sends a control signal to the settop box607 that triggers delivery of the media element from theremote media broadcaster609 to the settop box607. The settop box607 receives the media element from theremote media broadcaster609 and forwards the received media element to thestorage643 for storage. If the media storage request identifies theremovable media storage651 that is attached to thephone603, then thephone603 receives the media element from theremote media broadcaster609 via the settop box607 and forwards the received media element to theremovable media storage651 for storage.
• The media storage request may identify more than one media storage, in which case, the media element is delivered to all the selected media storages. Communication links between different elements may, for example, comprise one of, or a combination of, a copper wire, a fiber, a cellular link, a Bluetooth link, an 802.11 link, an infrared link, an Internet link and an Intranet link.
• FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a method of controlling selection and delivery of processed media to a television screen and to a screen of a phone-based remote control for display by the phone. The method may begin at astart block703. In anext block705, the phone-based remote control responds to a media guide viewing request from a user. The user may enter the media guide viewing request through an input interface of the phone. In such case, the phone receives the media guide viewing request via the input interface of the phone at theblock705 and responds to the request by receiving the media guide from the media source and displaying the media guide on the screen of the phone instep705. A media source may, for example, comprise one of an Internet media server, an Intranet media server, a broadcast television provider and a local media storage such as a hard drive, a DVD, a CD and a tape. The media guide identifies a plurality of media elements available with the media source. The media guide helps the user to make a media selection of one or more than one media element from the plurality of media elements. A media element may, for example, comprise a movie, a television channel, an audio-visual game, a photo, a live snippet, a video, video portion of a television channel, and a video game.
• In anext step707, the phone receives the media selection from the user. The media selection may be based on the media guide. The media selection may identify a media element for either the phone or the television screen or for both. The media selection may alternately identify two media elements, one for the phone and another for the television screen. For example and without limitation, the media selection identifies a media element to be displayed on a screen of the phone. The phone sends a request to the media source seeking delivery of the media element selected from the media source. The selected media element may be a free-to-use media element. If the selected media element is not free, then the phone purchases the selected media element innext block709. Purchasing may, for example, include one of, or a combination of, key based and plastic card based purchasing. Purchasing may include one or more user interactive steps, where the user is guided through displays on the screen of the phone followed by the phone receiving entries from the user via the input interface of the phone. If the selected media element is free-to-use then the phone may not purchase the selected media element. Even then the phone may perform credential verification functionalities at theblock709.
• The phone receives the selected media element from the media source in ablock711. The selected media element may be received in a format that may or may not be supported by the screen of the phone. If the selected media element is received in a format that is not supported by the screen of the phone, then transcoding is applied to the received media element by the phone as shown in anext step713, and transcoded media is generated. The phone may not be able to perform the transcoding because of limited processing capability, limited power and limited memory. In that case the phone may direct a transcoding server to perform the transcoding functionality atstep711. The phone may send the received media element to the transcoding server or may direct the selected media element from the media source to the transcoding server and then receive the transcoded media from the transcoding server. If the transcoding is performed by the transcoding server then the phone does not apply the transcoding to the received media element in thestep713. The phone displays the transcoded media on the screen of the phone in next andfinal step715.
• The media selection may in addition identify a second media element to be displayed on the television screen. The phone sends a request to the media source seeking delivery of the second media element from the media source to the television screen. The media source sends a second media element to the television for display.
• FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating functions of media selection and swapping of the phone-based television remote control ofFIG. 7, in accordance with various aspects of the present invention. The method may begin atblock803. The phone waits for a user input as shown at ablock805. The phone receives the user input from the user in theblock805. The user input may identify a media selection comprising a first media element for the television and/or a second media element for the phone. The user input may comprise in addition or only a media swapping request. Innext step807, the phone checks whether the first element has been selected. If the first element has been selected then the phone triggers delivery of the first media element to the television at anext step809. Next the operation flow of the phone-based television remote control goes to theblock805.
• If the phone determines in thestep807 that the first media element has not been selected, then the phone checks instep811 if the second media element has been selected. If the phone determines that the second media element has been selected, then the phone, innext step813, requests for the second media element. The phone may request the media source that stores the second media element for the second media element. The phone receives the second media element in thestep813. Innext step815, the phone displays the second media element on the phone screen. The operation flow of the phone jumps to theblock805 and the phone awaits another user input.
• If the phone determines in thestep811 that the second media element has not been selected, then the phone checks inblock817 whether the user input comprises the media swapping request. If the user input does not comprise the media swapping request then process flow jumps to theblock805. If yes, then the phone requests for a media element that is being displayed on the television screen in anext step819 and subsequently receives the media element that is being displayed on the television screen in thestep819. The phone also triggers delivery of another media element displayed on the screen of the phone to the television screen instep821. The phone displays the received media element on the screen of the phone in anext step815. Thus, the media element that was being displayed on the television screen is displayed on the screen of the phone and vice versa. The operation flow goes to theblock805 and phone awaits the another user input.
• FIG. 9 is a diagram of a phone-based remote control ofFIG. 1 having two screens disposed on a housing. Thephone903 has two screens, afirst screen905 and asecond screen907. The phone'suser input interface909 allows media guide perusal. The phone receives a media guide from a media source, stores it temporarily in the phone's memory and displays it on one of the two screens of thephone903. The phone'suser input interface909 comprises one or more buttons in this figure. The phone'suser input interface909 may also, for example, comprise one or more of a touchpad, a thumbwheel, a mouse, a voice interface and a pen.
• The phone'suser input interface909 permits selection of one video stream for display on one of the two screens of thephone903 or on a television screen associated with thephone903 or on both. A user makes the selection. The phone'suser input interface909 also permits selection of two different video streams, a first for display on the first screen of thephone905 and a second for display on the television screen associated with the phone. Thephone903 may display the media guide on the second screen of thephone907 along with the one video stream displayed on the first screen of thephone905 if the selection requires so.
• The second video stream that is displayed on the television screen associated with the phone may be displayed on the second screen of thephone907 as well.
• The phone'suser input interface909 also permits selection of two different video streams, one for display on the first screen of thephone905 and another for display on the second screen of thephone907.
• FIG. 10 is a schematic block diagram illustrating aphone1003 with modified functionality that is capable of controlling selection and delivery of media to an entertainment system for display. Thephone1003 is one of awired phone1021, awired Internet phone1028, acellular phone1035, awireless Internet phone1042 and awireless phone1049. Each of the above phones has a phone screen, a user input interface, and one or more communication interfaces. Each of the above phones implements a transcoding functionality, an encoding and decoding functionality and a formatting functionality. Any one or more of these functionalities can be disabled as and when required. Theentertainment system1005 has atelevision1057 and aset top box1060. Thetelevision1057 and theset top box1060 are communicatively coupled to each other. Theentertainment system1005 is communicatively coupled to thephone1003. Theentertainment system1005 implements a transcoding functionality, an encoding and decoding functionality and a formatting functionality, one or more of which may be disabled.
• Thephone1003 and theentertainment system1005 are communicatively coupled to amultimedia source1007. Themultimedia source1007 is one or more of atelevision broadcasting source1065, alocal source1066 and anInternet server1067. Themultimedia source1007 supplies a media guide and a plurality of media elements to thephone1003 and theentertainment system1005. Thephone1003 manages phone calls over a phone network. In addition, thephone1003 is capable of controlling selection and delivery of the plurality of media elements from themultimedia source1007 to thephone1003 and theentertainment system1005. Thephone1003 may, in addition, control settings for media presented on theentertainment system1005. The plurality of media elements may, for example, include one or more of a television channel, video or audio portion of the television channel, a live snippet, a recorded video, a recorded audio, a video game, an audio-visual game, a picture, a movie and a photo. Themultimedia source1007 performs a transcoding and a formatting functionality, any or both of which may be disabled.
• Thephone1003 can control selection and delivery of one or more media elements themultimedia source1007 to astorage system1009. Thestorage system1009 performs atranscoding functionality1071. Thestorage system1009 may be located with either of or some of thephone1003, theentertainment system1005 and themultimedia source1007.
• Communication pathways1011 between thephone1003, theentertainment system1005, themultimedia source1007 and thestorage system1009 and the communication pathway between thetelevision1057 and theset top box1060 of theentertainment system1005 may, for example and without limitation, comprise one of, or a combination of, a copper wire, a fiber, a Bluetooth link, a 802.11 link, a cellular link, an infrared link, an Internet link and an Intranet link.

Claims (29)

1. A phone that interacts with a television system, the television system having a first screen, the phone comprising:

a communication interface;

a user input interface adapted to receive a user input identifying a video selection;

at least one module adapted to:

manage telephone calls; and

transmit a control signal via the communication interface, where the control signal is adapted to direct the display of first video information that corresponds to the video selection on the first screen of the television system.

2. The phone according toclaim 1, further comprising a video display, and wherein the at least one module is adapted to:

retrieve via the communication interface second video information that corresponds to the video selection; and

display the second video information on the video display.

3. The phone according toclaim 1, wherein the at least one module is adapted to receive media guide information via the communication interface, and the user input identifying a video selection is based on the media guide information.

4. The phone according toclaim 1, wherein the phone is located at a first premises, and the television system is located at a second premises.

5. The phone according toclaim 1, wherein the phone and the television system are located at a first premises.

6. The phone according toclaim 2, wherein the second video information is adapted for the video display.

7. The phone according toclaim 6, wherein the first video information is adapted for the first screen of the television system.

8. The phone according toclaim 7, wherein the second video stream is adapted for the video display via transcoding.

9. The phone according toclaim 1, wherein the phone is a cellular telephone.

10. The phone according toclaim 1, wherein the control signal is adapted to be received by set top box circuitry.

11. The phone according toclaim 10, wherein the at least one module is adapted to retrieve video information via the set top box circuitry.

12. The phone according toclaim 1, wherein the user input interface is adapted to receive a user input identifying a video storage selection.

13. The phone according toclaim 12, wherein the at least one module is adapted to retrieve a second video stream that corresponds to the video storage selection via the communication interface.

14. The phone according toclaim 12, wherein the video storage selection identifies a second video stream and a storage system, and the at least one module is adapted to direct the second video stream to the storage system.

15. The phone according toclaim 14, wherein the storage system is located at a premises different from the phone and the television system.

16. A phone that interacts with a multimedia sourcing system, the multimedia sourcing system adapted to provide multimedia information to a television system, the phone comprising:

a communication interface adapted to receive media guide information, the media guide information identifying a plurality of media elements;

a user interface adapted to:

present the received media guide information to a user; and

receive a user input identifying a selected media element of the plurality of media elements; and at least one module adapted to:

manage phone calls; and

transmit a control signal via the communication interface, where the control signal is adapted to trigger delivery of the selected media element from the multimedia sourcing system to the television system.

17. The phone according toclaim 16, wherein the at least one module is further adapted to utilize the user interface to display a video portion of a second media element of the plurality of media elements different from the selected media element.

18. The phone according toclaim 17, wherein:

the user interface is adapted to receive a media swapping command; and

the at least one module is adapted to, in response to a received media swapping command, actuate swapping presentation of the selected media element and the second media element between the television system and the phone.

19. The phone according toclaim 16, wherein the phone is a cellular telephone.

20. The phone according toclaim 16, wherein the at least one module is adapted to pause communication of the phone with the television system and the multimedia sourcing system during call handling by the phone.

21. The phone according toclaim 16, wherein the phone, the multimedia sourcing system and the television system are located at three separate premises.

22. The phone according toclaim 16, wherein:

the user interface is adapted to receive a media storage command that identifies a media element available with the multimedia sourcing system and identifies a storage system; and

the at least one module is adapted to, in response to a received media storage command, trigger delivery of the identified media element to the identified storage system.

23. The phone according toclaim 22, wherein the media element is adapted for the storage system.

24. A phone that interacts with a television system, the phone comprising:

a video display;

a user input interface adapted to receive a user input indicative of a desire to view television system setting information;

a communication interface adapted to receive television system setting information; and

at least one module adapted to display received television system setting information on the video display.

25. The phone according toclaim 24, wherein the at least one module is adapted to transmit a control signal via the communication interface, where the control signal is adapted to cause modification of a television system setting.

26. The phone according toclaim 24, wherein the phone is a cellular telephone.

27. The phone according toclaim 25, wherein:

the user input interface is further adapted to receive a user input identifying a video selection; and

the at least one module is adapted to transmit a second control signal via the communication interface, where the second control signal is adapted to trigger display of first video information corresponding to the video selection on a screen of the television system.

28. The phone according toclaim 27, wherein the at least one module is adapted to:

receive, via the communication interface, second video information corresponding to the video selection; and

display the received second video information on the video display.

29. The phone according toclaim 28, wherein the first video information is delivered to the television via a set top box, and the second video information is delivered to the phone via the set top box.

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