Patent Application
20050160451
The invention relates generally to messaging systems and more particularly to systems and methods that enhance the utility of a television (TV) and remote control to facilitate communications between members of the same household.
Typical household messaging systems include scraps of loose paper and miscellaneous pens and pencils, dry erase and/or cork boards, telephone answering machines, and the like. Whether it's a lack of paper, a dry pen, a broken pencil point, a full answering machine or a full dry erase board, the taking, leaving and receiving of messages is often fraught with frustration in most households.
Thus, it would be desirable to provide a system and method that facilitates communication between members of the household through an improved messaging system.
The present invention is directed to systems and methods that enhance the utility of a household's TV to facilitate communication between members of the household through a central messaging system. In a preferred embodiment, a messaging system in accordance with the present invention comprises a TV and a remote control with a touch sensitive panel area on which a user can stroke characters or sketches using a stylus, finger and the like. The remote control is capable of performing character recognition if necessary, and transmitting the characters and/or simple sketches over an IR beam to the TV. The TV then uses its OSD graphical control system to display the characters and sketches.
The remote control is capable of operating in “type”, “character” or “sketch” modes to enter messages. In “type” mode, letters, numbers and symbols can be entered using the keypad on the remote control, while in “character” mode the remote control recognizes characters sketched or stroked on the touch sensitive panel. In “sketch” mode, the remote control enables the entry of simple sketches as part of the transmitted message.
In operation, an operator using the remote control brings up a message board onto the screen of the TV and preferably logs on as a guest or specific system user. Once logged on, the operator is able to retrieve and/or draft messages. Once retrieved, the messages can be replied to, stored in non-volatile memory or erased.
Other systems, methods, features and advantages of the invention will be or will become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed description.
The details of the invention, including fabrication, structure and operation, may be gleaned in part by study of the accompanying figures, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts. The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. Moreover, all illustrations are intended to convey concepts, where relative sizes, shapes and other detailed attributes may be illustrated schematically rather than literally or precisely.
The systems and methods described herein enhance the utility of a household's TV to facilitate communication between members of the household through a centralized messaging system. More particularly, the system of the present invention preferably includes a remote with a touch sensitive pad upon which characters and simple sketches are stroked or sketched. The TV then uses its OSD graphical control system to display the characters and/or sketches in the form of a message on the screen of the TV. The messages can be sent to individual user mailboxes or a public message mailbox. Once retrieved, the messages can be replied to and stored or deleted.
Referring in detail to the figures, a messaging system 10 in accordance with the present invention is depicted in
Turning to
As shown in
With the messaging system activated by depressing the messaging key 102, the navigation button 118 of the remote control 100 can be used to tab through and select icons appearing on the screen of the TV (see
Once at a stage in the messaging process in which a message can be drafted, the remote control 100 can transmit characters and/or sketches over an IR beam to the TV 20 while operating in one of the messaging input modes. In type mode, which is activated by depressing type key 126, the remote control 100 transmits characters entered on the keypad 120. As shown, the alphabet is distributed over number keys 2 through 9 in groups of 3 and 4 letters. The messaging S/W 134 interprets the key strokes on the keypad 120 to determine which character has been inputted. For example, depressing the number 2 key once will be interpreted by the S/W 134 to be the letter “a”, depressing the key twice in close succession will be interpreted by the S/W 134 to be the letter “b”, depressing the key three times in close succession will be interpreted by the S/W 134 to be the letter “c”, and depressing the key four times in close succession will be interpreted by the S/W 134 to be the number “2”. Once the S/W 134 interprets the character entered on the keypad 120, the remote control transmits it to the TV 20 where the OSD control 40 displays it on the screen 20.
In character recognition mode 124, the S/W 134 interprets the characters stroked on the touch sensitive panel area 110. After interactive acceptance of the character, the remote control 100 transmits the character to the TV 20 and the OSD control 40 displays it on the screen 20. A new character can then be generated and transmitted to the TV 20.
In sketch mode 128, the S/W 134 accepts, and the remote control 100 then transmits to the TV 20, a sketch stroked or sketched on the touch sensitive panel area 110 once the stylus 116, finger, or other device used to input the sketch is lifted from the panel 110. Once accepted and transmitted, a new sketch can be generated and transmitted to the TV.
Turning to
If, at step 208 as a user or at step 210 as a guest, the operator chooses to draft a message, the operator drafts a message at step 212 using one or more input modes to generate characters and sketches which the operator wishes to use to create a message. Preferably, the remote control 100 defaults to one of the input modes, such as “sketch”. The operator, however, can change modes, at step 213, by selecting one of the input mode keys, i.e., character recognition 124, type 128 or sketch 128, prior to or during the message drafting process. As the S/W 134 of the remote control 100 recognizes and accepts individual characters and/or sketches, the characters and sketches are transmitted to the TV 20 and displayed at step 214.
After the completion of step 218 or if at step 216 the operator chooses to discard the message, the operator is prompted at step 220 as to whether the operator wishes to draft a new message or exit, or if the operator is a system user, retrieve a new message or setup a new account, or modify password. If the operator chooses to draft a new message, steps 212 through 216 are repeated. If the operator chooses to exit at step 220, the operator is prompted at step 222 as to whether the operator wishes to exit the messaging process 200 or return to step 220.
If at step 208 or at step 220 the operator as a system user chooses to retrieve a message, the User X is prompted at step 224 as to whether the operator wishes to retrieve public or private messages. If at step 224 the User X chooses to retrieve public messages, the OSD control 40 causes a first message stored in a public mailbox to displayed on the screen 30 for the operator to view at step 226. The operator is then prompted whether to reply to the message at step 228. If yes, steps 212 through 216 are repeated. If at step 228 the operator choose not to reply, the operator is then prompted at step 220 as to whether the operator wishes to retrieve or draft a new message, or setup a new account, if logged on as User X, or exit. If the operator chooses to draft a new message, steps 212 through 216 are repeated and if the operator chooses to retrieve a new message, the operator is queried at step 223 as to whether the operator is logged on as a user or guest. If logged on as a User X, the operator is returned to step 224. A guest is limited to “Public messages”. If logged on as a guest, and the operator chooses to retrieve a message at steps 220 or 210, the operator is prompted at step 219 whether to retrieve a public message. If yes, a first public message is viewed at step 226. If no, an error message is received at step 222 and then the operator is prompted again at step 220 as to whether to retrieve or draft a message, etc. If at step 220 the operator chooses to exit, the operator is prompted at step 222 whether to exit the messaging system or return to step 220.
If at step 224 the operator chooses to view private messages, the OSD control 40 causes a first message stored in the operator's user mailbox to displayed on the screen 30 for the operator to view at step 230. Alternatively, the operator can tab through the stored messages and select a message desired for viewing using the navigation button 118 on the remote 100. As shown in
If the at step 222 the operator chooses to exit the messaging system 10, the OSD control 40 causes the message board to be withdrawn from the screen 30 of the TV 20 and a video image to be displayed on the screen 30.
In the foregoing specification, the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments thereof. It will, however, be evident that various modifications and changes may be made thereto without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention. For example, the reader is to understand that the specific ordering and combination of process actions shown in the process flow diagrams described herein is merely illustrative, unless otherwise stated, and the invention can be performed using different or additional process actions, or a different combination or ordering of process actions. As another example, each feature of one embodiment can be mixed and matched with other features shown in other embodiments. Features and processes known to those of ordinary skill may similarly be incorporated as desired. Additionally and obviously, features may be added or subtracted as desired. Accordingly, the invention is not to be restricted except in light of the attached claims and their equivalents.
