ITRM20070309A1 - INTEGRATED CONNECTION, MANAGEMENT AND CONTROL SYSTEM FOR AUDIO, VIDEO AND INTERNET CONTENT. - Google Patents

Description

DESCRIPTION

accompanying an application for an Invention Patent entitled:

"Integrated system for connection, management and control of audio, video and internet content"

The present invention relates to an integrated system for connection, management and control of audio, video and internet content.

More specifically, the system according to the invention allows a single access to telephony, television and the Internet, as well as centralized control of the same channels which allows them to be combined according to requirements.

There is now a growing demand for 'triple play' 3G / UMTS functionality, ie for functions that allow access to audio, video and internet services.

For these functionalities, users demand ready accessibility, ease of use and continuity of service. As a result, network operators tend to increase their investments in utilization and service equipment.

The rapid evolution of technology and user expectations has dramatically increased the difficulty of profitable provision of wireless communications services. Voice market revenues no longer support wireless operators' business models and, at the same time, the recent history of these operators has shown that integrated wireless services for voice, video and data (tri-ple play) can contribute. significantly to the sustainable growth of average revenue per user or "Average Revenue Per Unit" (ARPU).

The object of the present invention is to provide a system for managing video, audio and internet content which solves the problems and avoids the drawbacks of the prior art.

The object of the present invention is an integrated system for the connection, management and control of information from and / or towards a plurality of communication channels, comprising one or more means of video and audio interface towards the user, characterized by made to further understand:

a central connection and management unit, able to connect to said plurality of communication channels as well as to said interface means and to control them

a remote control device capable of remotely exchanging information with said central connection and management unit,

said central connection and management unit by selectively sending, on said interface means, one or more information received from said plurality of communication channels, on the basis of commands and settings received from said remote control device, said central unit being able to send to said remote control device one or more warning signals about said one or more received information,

Preferably according to the invention, said interface means comprise a television, and said plurality of communication channels comprise the television channel.

Preferably according to the invention, said plurality of communication channels comprises the Internet channel.

preferably according to the invention, said plurality of communication channels comprises the telephone channel,

Preferably according to the invention, said remote control device comprises a loudspeaker and a microphone adapted to allow telephone communication through said central connection and management unit and said telephone channel.

Preferably according to the invention, the acoustic information from the telephone channel is transmitted through the television.

Preferably according to the invention, a microphone for hands-free telephone communication is installed on said central connection and management unit.

Preferably according to the invention, the tele-vision and the telephone channel are used for video calls.

Preferably according to the invention, a browser is installed on said central connection and management unit.

Preferably according to the invention, advertising messages received from a channel (also different from the television channel, eg internet) of said plurality of communication channels are sent to the television.

The invention will now be described for illustrative but not limitative purposes with reference to the drawings of the attached figures, in which figure 1 shows a general diagram of the system according to the invention.

The system according to the invention is an integrated telephone, video and Internet communications system. Referring to the attached figure 1, the system 100 uses a multifunctional device or "remote control device" 10 which encloses within it the functions of a TV remote control, a telephone and a PC keyboard, and which in the appearance may look a lot like a traditional remote control.

The system 100 according to the invention allows to receive integrated voice, video and data contents on a "Consumer" or "Business" user, including the television program 30 from a transmission source, or the reception of data 50 from a network data and telephone communications 40 from a telephone network.

With the system according to the invention there is a TV remote control which incorporates the functions of telephone and keyboard / mouse PC, as well as a central connection and management unit 20 which, unlike the systems and devices of the art front, is completely remotely controlled by the remote control device 10 according to the invention.

The system according to the invention allows the achievement of the following objectives:

ease of use of Internet / Video / Telephony resources;

convenience of use;

multi-use of the same connection resource (central connection and management unit);

methods of control and supervision of the resources used.

The system according to the invention is an innovative product due to the fact that the contents requested by the customer can be managed directly by the remote control, or by the remote control device 10, from which he requests them, moreover with the possibility of exploiting the resources by centralizing the management. on a single device (central connection and management unit 20).

The functionalities available with the system according to the invention include:

receive / make telephone calls directly;

use the TV screen 30 as a display of the telephone 40, on which therefore, for example, the data present in the phone book can be viewed, the sms received can be read;

possibility of diverting the voice call to the central connection and management unit 20 and to the TV 30: this is to be able to comfortably speak in hands-free mode using a microphone incorporated in the central unit 20 and the speakers of the TV 30;

with suitable configurations of the system according to the invention it is possible to make the TV 30 "ring" and / or switch on when a telephone call arrives;

possibility of receiving advertisements with or without audio on the TV screen 30 during telephone calls;

allowing to surf the Internet 50 using the keyboard of the remote control device 10 and the browser of the central connection and management unit 20, which in fact becomes a small personal computer; possibility to receive advertising strips or news during the normal use of free broadcast TV programs; receive / make video calls with dedicated frame or "Picture in Picture" (PIP) on the TV 30.

The system according to the invention can also function as a control and signaling device for events of particular importance, it can therefore have a double functionality:

1) control tool for Internet / telephone / TV equipment;

2) tool for better usability of Triple Play services.

The system according to the invention does not prevent other PCs inside the house from accessing the network in the same way.

The connection to the Internet takes place by means of a key on the remote control device 10, the Internet contents 50 can be viewed directly on the TV 30: the remote control device 10, by means of suitable and simple keys, commands and manages the navigation behaving like a real computer keyboard.

The system according to the invention can also comprise other advanced functions, such as for example those specified below.

The system can include parental control, a function which allows to identify the access made to a series of contents considered "risky".

With an appropriate configuration, the internal control system of the connection and management unit is set up to check the types of content that are being dealt with on the Internet. For example, upon the occurrence of particular conditions which highlight "risky" contents, the system according to the invention can send an alarm message to the remote control device, which immediately emits an acoustic alarm signal.

This feature is particularly interesting for controlling the Internet access of children, the parent (perhaps distant at that moment from the child's Internet station) being notified by his remote control device in real time when a certain event.

The system may also include access control. With this feature it is possible to configure "when and for how long" Internet browsing is possible.

The remote control device, when the access rules have been violated, by means of an appropriate control light, signals that someone is navigating at that moment and is outside the permitted time band. This would make it possible to check that at certain times of the day no one can have distractions with respect to the set goals. For example, during study hours, a child cannot access the Internet, or perhaps after a certain evening / night time slot. The parent, via the remote control device, also has the ability to disable Internet access.

The system according to the invention can also manage the firewall. The firewall installed in the connection and management unit signals any virus or cyber attack in a timely manner. The signaling is immediate both on a PC and on the remote control device in audio / light mode (sound signal with attached light).

Directly with the remote control device it is possible to make voice calls using it as a normal mobile phone.

Particularly relevant is the interaction that can be had with the TV 30 and consequently the possibility of exploiting the graphic potential of the TV screen 30; from the remote control device 10 it is possible, by means of an appropriate key, to display the telephone book on the TV screen 30, to select the contact to call and to use the system for hands-free calling (using the TV speakers 30 and a microphone integrated in the central connection and management unit).

The TV screen can also be used to read SMS, view MMS or mail.

The system according to the invention, by means of the remote control device, allows to select video contents to be watched on one's own TV 30. In fact, the present and future evolution of the "video on demand" offer will always present a schedule richer and more varied, and moreover, for Internet access, an instrument for managing and controlling the displayed contents is increasingly required.

The remote control device signals in real time, by means of appropriate acoustic / luminous signals, the purchase of video on demand content upon the occurrence of specific conditions clearly chosen by the customer.

For example, you may need to be notified promptly if someone purchases videos with "pornographic" or "violent" content, rather than receiving an alarm when particularly expensive video-on-demand content is purchased.

The remote control device is also able, by communicating with the connection and management unit connected to the TV, to control all the TV functions, in short, it has the possibility of behaving like a classic remote control.

The system according to the invention allows making and receiving video calls to fixed and mobile network telephones.

The telephone call is made directly from the remote control device via the connection and management unit; the call can be made using the telephone operator with which the customer has a contract or by using a separate ISP / Carrier.

Using a Web Cam installed in the central connection and management unit 20, which can be activated from the remote control device 10, it is possible to make video calls to fixed and GSM / UMTS mobile phone destinations. The central connection and management unit 20, using its interface, is also able to establish calls by transmitting voice and video over the IP protocol.

The system according to the invention is capable of receiving advertising in the form of banners, animated strips or video screens.

During the telephone call over IP protocol, advertising from content providers or "content pro-viders" can be received directly on the TV screen 30. Upon receipt of the information content, the remote control device 10 will notify the user, with a suitable acoustic or light sensor, of the arrival of advertising for him.

This function can in fact be enabled or disabled directly by the remote control device 10, this to prevent excessive conditioning towards children, teenagers or particular users.

The system according to the invention thus simplifies the use of audio, video and internet services through a single connection, which allows them to be combined according to requirements, thus providing a powerful connection tool to existing networks with all the advantages that this entails in terms of efficiency, speed, reliability and control.

In the foregoing, the preferred embodiments have been described and variants of the present invention have been suggested, but it is to be understood that those skilled in the art will be able to make modifications and / or additions without thereby departing from the relative scope of protection, as defined by the appended claims.

Claims (10)

CLAIMS 1. Integrated system for the connection, management and control of information from and / or towards a plurality of communication channels, comprising one or more interface means (30,40,50) video and audio towards the user, characterized by the fact of further understand: a central connection and management unit (20), able to connect to said plurality of communication channels as well as to said interface means (30,40,50) and to control them, a control device (10) remote capable of exchanging information remotely with said central connection and management unit (20), said central connection and management unit (20) by selectively sending, on said interface means (30,40,50), one or more information received from said plurality of communication channels, on the basis of commands and settings received from said remote control device (10), said central unit being adapted to send to said remote control device (10), one or more warning signals about said one or more information received. 2. System according to claim 1, characterized in that said interface means comprise a television (30), and said plurality of communication channels comprises the television channel. 3. System according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said plurality of communication channels comprises the Internet channel. 4. System according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said plurality of communication channels comprises the telephone channel. 5. System according to claim 4, characterized in that said remote control device (10) comprises a loudspeaker and a microphone adapted to allow telephone communication through said central connection unit (20) and management and said telephone channel. 6. System according to claim 4, when dependent on claim 2, characterized in that the acoustic information coming from the telephone channel is transmitted through the television. 7. System according to claim 6, characterized in that a microphone for hands-free telephone communication is installed on said central connection and management unit (20). 8. System according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the television and the telephone channel are used for video calls. System according to any one of claims 4 to 8, when dependent on claim 3, characterized in that a browser is installed on said central connection and management unit (20). 10. System according to any one of claims 3 to 9, when dependent on claim 2, characterized in that advertising messages received by a channel of said plurality of communication channels are sent to the television, also different from the television one.