Gateway 2000, Inc.

Gateway, Inc.

Jeffrey Schindler

Robert Moore

Sidney David Autry

Loriann M Tague

David S Zyzda

Ronald Lee Hancock

Rix S Chan

Brian A Bennett

Keith Alan Kozak

Randall S Farwell

Bradley A Forrest

David W Zyzda

Theodore W Waitt

Timothy G Gilbert

William J Pytlovany

Sidney D Autry

Istvan Fekete

An entertainment system has a personal computer as the heart of the system with a large screen VGA quality monitor as the display of choice. The system has digital satellite broadcast reception, decompression and display capability with multiple radio frequency remote control devices which transmit self identifying signals and have power adjustment capabilities. These capabilities are used to provide context sensitive groups of keys which may be defined to affect only selected applications running in a windowing environment. In addition, the remote control devices combine television and VCR controls with standard personal computer keyboard controls. A keyboard remote also integrates a touchpad which is food contamination resistant and may also be used for user verification. Included in the system is the ability to recognize verbal communications in video signals and maintain a database of such text which is searchable to help identify desired programming in real time.

Computer user interface for product selection

System with enhanced display of digital video

System providing data quality display of digital video

A ring-ordered dynamically reconfigurable computer network utilizing an existing communications system. The network comprises a plurality of nodes. Each node is coupled to the existing communications system by two data channels and a control channel. The network is established by each data channel of each node connecting operably to a data channel of another node. All the nodes are ordered in a ring. The control channel of each node is operably connected to the switch of the existing communications system. The network also comprises a network manager to establish the network, facilitate communication among the nodes, and dynamically reconfigure the network without disturbing communication among the nodes. Optionally, each node connects to the network only when it actually needs to communicate with another node.

Ring-ordered dynamically reconfigurable network using an existing communications system

A computer executable program manager is provided which simplifies activating programs from multiple programming sources. Each program identified as a favorite program, regardless of its source, is included in a hierarchy which is organized by program subject matter. The program manager displays a single presentation of the hierarchy of the diverse programs selected from the variety of programming sources. A user is able to easily activate a program included in the hierarchy either manually or automatically. Programs are added to and removed from the hierarchy either manually or automatically based on activation patterns.

Method and apparatus for managing program activation through use of a favorite program button menu

Context sensitive remote control groups

Database navigation system for a home entertainment system

Graphical user interface for control of a home entertainment system

An entertainment system has a personal computer as the heart of the system with a large screen VGA quality monitor as the display of choice. The system has digital satellite broadcast reception, decompression and display capability with multiple radio frequency remote control devices which transmit self identifying signals and have power adjustment capabilities. These capabilities are used to provide context sensitive groups of keys which may be defined to affect only selected applications running in a windowing environment. In addition, the remote control devices combine television and VCR controls with standard personal computer keyboard controls. An applet running on the personal computer receives power commands from the remote control devices and issues power mode commands to video and audio cards to emulate on/off functions of standard televisions. A keyboard remote also integrates a touchpad which is food contamination resistant and may also be used for user verification. Included in the system is the ability to recognize verbal communications in video signals and maintain a database of such text which is searchable to help identify desired programming in real time.

Power management controller for computer system

The automatic linking to program-specific computer chat rooms is disclosed. A computer detects the channel selected on a corresponding tuner. By referencing the channel and the time and date in which the computer is operating against an electronic program guide, the computer is able to determine the specific program currently on the channel. A unique identification code for the program is sent to a central server. The server links the computer to a computer chat room specific to the program for the unique identification code. This enables computer users viewing the same program to automatically enter the same chat room and chat to one another.

Automatic linking to program-specific computer chat rooms

Self identifying remote control device having a television receiver for

A home entertainment and information system is provided which assigns and transmits audio programming to audio output devices. Digital and analog signals from a variety of program sources are received by the home entertainment and information system. The system assigns and transmits to an audio output device a program that is distinct from programs assigned and transmitted to other audio output devices within the same system, and thus where two users are viewing different programs visually displayed on the same or different monitors, they hear the audio portion of the respective program they are viewing through individual audio output devices. An audio output device is also assignable to a remote control device such that when a program is selected using the remote control device, the audio portion of the program is transmitted to the assigned audio output device.

System for assigning multichannel audio signals to independent wireless

Wireless remote with trackball

Growing community of inventors

Sioux City, IA, United States of America

Jeffrey Schindler