Worldgate Communications, Inc.

General Instrument Corporation

Worldgate Service, Inc.

Harold M Krisbergh

Joseph Ellis Augenbraun

David E Wachob

Aaron Grosky

Jae Hea Lee

Gerard K Kunkel

Jae Hea Edward Lee

Gerard Kunkel

A system and method for accessing Internet-based and other information through a user television in a television distribution network enables a user to access and view information which is related to the programming content of a currently viewed television broadcast. This concept, known as channel hyperlinking, enables a television viewer to download Internet Web pages, and the like, which are related to a currently viewed advertisement, program, newscast, etc. To facilitate channel hyperlinking, each user of the system sends channel hyperlink requests through an upstream channel to a network headend by actuating a hyperlink button on a television remote control, for example. The network headend is interfaced to the Internet by means of an Internet Service Provider (ISP), and downloads HTML Web page data from the Internet to the requesting user. Each television broadcast to be linked to the Internet-based or other information is transmitted by the original broadcaster with an identification tag which identifies the Universal Resource Locator (URL) or address where the program content related information is located. The headend uses the ID tag with channel and time of request information to identify the location of the information to be downloaded to the user. Preferably, the information is pre-cached from the ISP to a headend cache in advance of the broadcast to facilitate quicker downloading of the information to the user.

Access system and method for providing interactive access to an information source through a networked distribution system

An access system and method for providing interactive access to an information source through a television distribution system is disclosed. The distribution system includes a television distribution network, headend distribution equipment at the headend of the distribution network, and a plurality of terminals at terminal ends of the distribution network. An input device and an upstream transmitter are associated with one of the terminals to input a command for the information source and to transmit the inputted command on an upstream channel of the distribution network, respectively. A headend server, upstream receiver, and blank interval inserter are associated with the headend distribution equipment. The headend server is interfaced to the information source. The upstream receiver is interfaced to the headend server to receive and forward the command to the headend server. The headend server transmits the forwarded command to the information source, and the information source transmits responsive information to the headend server. The blank interval inserter receives the information from the headend server and inserts sequential portions into blank intervals of sequential picture fields of a television transmission on a downstream channel of the distribution network. The blank interval extractor is interfaced to the terminal to extract the inserted sequential portions. The extracted information is then displayed on a display device associated with the terminal.

Access system and method for providing interactive access to an

A remote control for one or more appliances and a telephone handset are combined into a single unit. A common keypad is used for both remote control and telephone functions. An appliance control signal is generated in response to the actuation of at least one of the keypad keys. The appliance control signal is transmitted via an infrared communication link. A telephone control signal is generated in response to the actuation of at least one of the keypad keys, and transmitted via an infrared or radio frequency communication link. Telephone audio signals from a microphone and to an earphone are communicated via a radio frequency communication link. The remote control/telephone handset is particularly advantageous for use in combination with a cable television converter/descrambler or satellite television receiver.

Portable telephone handset with remote control

Growing community of inventors

Rydal, PA, United States of America

Harold M Krisbergh