MXPA00008709A - Appliances with multiple modes of operation - Google Patents

Abstract

The combination of an appliance (20) with an INTERNET mode of operation which is capable of being connected to the Internet and of displaying a web page with at least one link identified by a number. Access to the corresponding links is accomplished through an input device (24) having a user-actuatable control with a number corresponding to each link on the web page.

Description

APPLIANCES WITH MULTIPLE MODES OF OPERATION FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to novel devices with multiple modes of operation.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This request is related to the application? Copending provisional No. 60 / 115,197. The benefit of the filing date of that request is hereby claimed. To date, certain new and novel devices 15 have been invented with multiple operating modes that can be selected by the user. The devices are capable of carrying out different among multiple functions. A function is invoked by selecting the appropriate mode that can be selected by the user. Examples of modes of operation other than those of the subject apparatuses of the present, and the function of the apparatus in each of these modes, appear below.

Apparatus of the character described above, with possibilities of access to interconnected networks (Internet) are described in copending US patent application No. 09 / 046,947. In the INTERNET operating mode, a user can initiate a session, and make a quick review, on the Internet, and send and receive email messages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Described herein are certain new and novel devices that have all five modes of operation identified above. One of the modes can be disabled to satisfy, in the best way, the requirements of a particular market or for other purposes. In the INTERNET operation mode, instructions can be entered to a unit, integrated component of the module, from a keyboard, as well as from a remote control or on-board controls, of the apparatuses described herein. This has a number of advantages. For example, you can write an email message by typing characters on the keyboard instead of selecting the characters with an arrow and then clicking on the character, where that approach uses a remote control like the one described in the application 09 / 046,947 mentioned above. Another feature of the novel devices described herein is that links appearing on a page of a network (Web) site, such as those described in application 09 / 046,947, can be selected by activating a button of the remote control or a number key located on a keyboard. This simplifies the quick review on the Internet that, in the apparatuses described in the application 09 / 046,947, the user is required to move a cursor to the related link and click on the link. Still another significant advantage of the apparatuses described herein is that the transition from one mode of operation to another can be performed almost snapshot. This eliminates the distraction and frustration that a slower transition could cause. Yet another advantage of the apparatus described herein is that the user is returned to the point where the operation is in a mode, when the user leaves a mode and returns to it. This is particularly advantageous when the user would have to execute, otherwise, a certain number of steps to return to the first mode. The objects, advantages and important features of the present invention will become apparent to the reader from the foregoing and the appended claims and as the following description proceeds.

• Detailed and analysis, in conjunction with the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a pictorial view showing the components of an apparatus (or system) that has the ability to work in an operating mode, among plural modes, selected (s) by the user, and which encompasses, and is constructed in accordance with, the principles of the present invention; Figure 2 shows, schematically, the inputs to which a video monitor and speakers of the apparatus of Figure 1 are switched when different available operating modes are selected; Figure 3 shows the relationship between Figures 3A and 3B which, taken together and with Figure 2, schematically represent the operating components of an integrated unit, which is an element of the apparatus of Figure 1; this figure also shows other elements of the • apparatus, as well as certain inputs to elements controlled by the operating components of the integrated unit; Figure 4 is a plan view of the remote control 15 shown in Figure 1; this remote control is a component of the exemplary apparatus of Figure 1; Figure 4A is a plan view of a keyboard; this keyboard is a component of the apparatus of Figure 1; Figure 5 shows, schematically, what happens when the apparatus of Figure 1 is switched from one of • its operating modes to a different mode; Figure 6 shows, schematically, a representative navigation chart, which includes a video of introduction and a hierarchy of menus by which a user of the system of Figure 1 can navigate, quickly and easily, to obtain the information of interest stored in a laser-readable disk component of that system; Figures 7-10 represent a set 30 representative of menus and information display screens that would be presented to a user followed by the navigation chart of Figure 8, to obtain information of interest; in this example, dry and bottled goods are presented that could be stored in a pantry cupboard; Figure 11 shows how a user of the system of Figure 1 can quickly review the pages of a site of the network of networks, using only the remote control (or keyboard on controls on board) of that system; and Figures 12-14 show in perspective a representative set of screens that could appear if the apparatus of Figure 1 were being used, to make a quick review on the Internet using the protocol shown in Figure 11.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION A commonly representative and important application of the present invention is the provision of appliances that are designed for use in a kitchen. A suitable system or apparatus for this (and other) application (s) of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 1 and is identified by the reference character 20.

TV DC INTERNET APPARATUS SECURITY In the section of this specification entitled "SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION" described how the apparatus 20 works in each of these modes. • The main components of the system 20 are: an integrated unit (or module) 22, a remote control 24 and a laser-readable disk 26. As mentioned above the disk 26 can be a conventional compact disk (DC) or other disk optically readable, from which a user of the device can retrieve information of a task or subject available.

Only as examples are the discs of Video 1.1, video 2.0, DVD and CDl. The illustrated system 20 also has an optional keyboard 28. This keyboard is used by a user of the system, with the system 20 in its operating mode.

INTERNET to send e-mail messages, to access network network sites that can not be accessed by clicking on a link in a starting point page 30 (see figure 14) of controlled context, and carry out other functions such as those described in copending application No. (attorney's file No. 518120-0035) filed on December 17, 1999. The integrated unit 22 includes a television unit 32 having a cathode ray tube (CRT) with a screen 33 (FIG. or an electroluminescent diode (LED) or other display screen) and a video compact disc player 34 (or other player for laser-readable discs) both housed in the same cabinet 36. The conventional on-board controls 38 for television 32 are located on the front panel 40 and the right side panel 42 of cabinet 36, and the on-board controls 44 for the disc player 34 are also located on the front cabinet panel 40. A conventional tray-type magazine 46 (see Figure 3A) is used to load the disc 26 to the player 34. The operating components of the integrated unit 22 and the auxiliary items activated in different modes of operation of the system 20 are schematically represented in FIGS.3A and 3B and collectively identified by the reference character 56. These components include a mode selection register 58 and a video / audio switch 59, both of which are activated when one of the particular modes of operation is selected. of system 20, to channel the input, available in the selected mode, to screen 33 of system 20 and to speakers 60 of that system. As a singular example, when the TELEVISION mode is selected, a connection to a source for a television signal such as an antenna, a cable and / or a video cassette player (RVC) is made through the switch 59. Other components controlled by the operating system 56, in this case, in the SECURITY mode of operation, are incorporated in an input module identified by the reference character 62 in Figure 3A. These components include a microphone 64, a horn 66 and a door lock 68, which operates electrically. Optionally located in the same entrance (not shown) as the module 62, there is a camera 70 that is designed to display, on a cathode ray tube screen 33, an image of a person in the entrance. The operation of a system of the same character as that described herein is found in the co-pending application No. 09 / 116,285 filed July 16, 1998. Other major components of the complement 56 of the operating components, located on the interface board 72, are listed below along with the function of each 5 component. • fifteen • • Also included, or operatively associated with the interface board 72, are the following additional components: It was previously noted that the apparatus 20 can transmit and receive data through a telephone line and cell phone links. The telephone line is shown in Figure 3A and is identified by the reference character 99. As shown in Figure 3A, the system 20 also has a USB port 100 as well as "the links (or connections) (102, 104 and 106) to properly transmit formatted data to a printer, and to video and audio devices that are not components of the apparatus The apparatus 20 preferably has an Ethernet port 108. This: (1) allows the device 20 to be networked to compatible devices and (2) allows the device to be connected to the Internet through DSL or another link with extensive bandwidth, TELEVISION, DC operating modes, APPARATUS, SECURITY / MONITOR and INTERNET can be selected by the user of the system 20 with the push button controls 110, 112, 114, 116 and 118 of the remote control 24 (see figure).

Referring now, especially to Figure 2, the electronic video / audio switch 59 is shown for reasons of clarity. This switch has five positions marked with 1-5. The oppression of one of the five mode switches 64, 66, 68, 70, and 72 causes the corresponding number - shown in the following table - to be placed in the selection register 58.

The video switch 59 adjusts almost instantaneously to the number that is in the selection register 58 causing the apparatus 20 to operate in the selected mode. This use of a mode selection register and a video / audio switch so that visual and audio information is available on the display 32 and on the speakers 98 from the appropriate source in each of the five operating modes of the section 20 as shown in Figure 2 is an important feature. This arrangement allows the switching, almost instantaneous, from one mode of operation to another, which is important for the user of the device, who typically would be frustrated if it required a considerable time to switch from one mode of operation to another.

The remote control 24 also has a numeric keypad 120 with push buttons from (9) to (0) and two groups of push buttons identified respectively by the reference characters 122 and 124. The group 122 push buttons are used in the TELEVISION operation. These work in the same way as the controls, designated in a similar way, of a conventional television set. The PAUSE, BACK and BACK buttons 126, 128 and 130 of group 124 are used in the DC operating mode, in the same way as the counterparts of the conventional DC player. Considering then the buttons that are in group 124, the START POINT button 132 returns to the user of the system at the beginning of a disk and therefore at the beginning of its content in the DC operating mode for system 20. In the INTERNET operation mode this button returns the user to a departure page such as that identified by the reference character 30 in Figure 14. The STOP button 134 is used in the same manner as its conventional counterpart in the mode of operation. DC operation. In INTERNET operation mode, this button is used to stop an operation in progress-for example, downloading a file from the INTERNET. The PREVIOUS and NEXT buttons 136 and 138 are used in the DC operating mode for the purposes described in the application 09 / 046,947; and the remaining buttons that are in group 124 are used in INTERNET operation mode, again for the purposes described in application 09 / 046,947.

The UP, DOWN, LEFT and RIGHT buttons 139a ... d are used with the apparatus 20 in its INTERNET operating mode to move a cursor 139e (see FIG. 1) in FIG.

• Around the screen 33. The IR button 139f is pressed to 5"click" and select an option reached by the cursor 139e. Also available in the apparatus 20 in its INTERNET operating mode are the DISPLAY SCROLL UP and SCROLL DOWN SCROLL buttons 139g and 139h and the 139i options button.

The DISPLAY SCROLL UP and SCROLL DISPLACEMENT DOWN buttons are used if a page • The information is too large to fit the screen 33. These buttons allow the user of the device to move the page up (or down) to make it visible in the screen 33 the desired part of the page. The keyboard 28 (see Figures 1 and 4A) has both character and function keys. The character keys -identified collectively by reference character 140-may be those that constitute a conventional QWERTY keyboard. The function keys include the conventional Tab, Caps Lock, Shift, Control, Alt, Escape, Delete, Space, Entry and Backspace 141 ... 15,8 keys as well as an On / Off 160 key. Additional function keys, exemplary keyboard, illustrated, 28, includes the switches (or buttons) of mode, DEVICE, TELEVISION (TV), INTERNET (NETWORK), and buttons 162 ... 168 and a key block 170 that includes the buttons of security / monitor, talk and remove safe 172, 174 and 176. The mode keys 162 ... 168 are used to make to operate the apparatus 20 in one of its selected modes, DEVICE, TV, INTERNET AND DC. The speak and clear buttons 172 ... 176 in group 170, are used with the device 20 in its SECURITY / MONITOR operation mode to talk to • a person who is in the entrance and remove the insurance to 5 a door in the entrance. Specifically, the push button located on the numeric keypad 120 of the remote control or the button numbered in the same way on the keyboard 28 (in a board control numbered in the same way) allows the user of the device to speak to a person (or people) that find in the entrance. The push button removes the safety 68 (figure 2) and allows entering the person or persons who are in the entrance. This mode of operation of the apparatus 20, just described, is activated when the door bell rings.

Pressing the SECURITY / MONITOR mode the switch 172 turns on a camera in an inspected area, for example, an entrance or a nursery. The operation of an apparatus of the character described herein, in a SECURITY / MONITOR mode, is described with detail in copending application No. 09 / 116,285. F The keyboard 28 also has a number of other function keys, collectively identified by the reference character 178. These keys are marked and have the same functions as the buttons with equal numbers found on the remote control 24. When a character or function key is pressed, on the keyboard 28, a unique coded electrical signal is generated for the selected character or function, and converted into a correspondingly coded IR signal , the which is transmitted to the module 22 of the apparatus. The IR signals are generated by the LEDs mounted on the two end walls 184 and 186 and on the back wall 188 of the keyboard. These LEDs are represented in FIG. 1 by arrows 190, 192 and 194. Consequently, and because the signals are in the IR range, a useful signal will be transmitted to the device 20, essentially without taking into account the angle through from which the keyboard 28 can be rotated relative to the receiver 84 of infrared radiation, of the apparatus 20. The keyboards of the character described above are described in the provisional patent application, co-pending, No.60 / 115, 006 filed on January 6, 1999 and in co-pending patent application No. (attorney's file No 518120-0035) filed on December 17, 1999. It was previously noted that apparatus 20 can be used in its DC mode to retrieve information from a laser-readable disk. Specifically, the remote control 24 (on the keyboard 28) is used to navigate through a hierarchical array of menus written on the disk, to retrieve information from a selected theme or task, from the compact disc 26 and to display that information in the screen 33 of the integrated unit 22. The apparatus 20 may be configured to display any input video 203 in a top-level menu 204 when the DC operation mode of the apparatus 20 is selected. The information is retrieved by selections. The apparatus 20 can be programmed to display any input video 203 in a top-level menu 204 when the DC mode of the apparatus 20 is selected. In any case, the user of the device selects a numbered option from the top-level menu, showing a second-level menu, 206, also with numbered options. This process is continued until the information of interest • Typically in the form of a video clip - 5 is obtained and displayed on the screen 33. In the representative scenario, shown in Figure 6, the user of the apparatus can navigate from a second level menu 206, down and through a second level menu 206 and a third level menu 208 to get the information of interest (screens 210 and 212). A specific example involves recovery • Information to supply a pantry, from a laser-readable disk 26. The top-level menu 204 is shown in figure 7. The user makes his selection from this menu, showing the second level menu 206 (figure 8). From this menu the user makes his selection. This shows the desired information - screen 210, figure 9 and screen 212, figure 10. In this particular example you only have access to a second level menu to retrieve the information desired. In other cases, the desired information may be obtained directly from the upper level menu 204 or from a third level or lower level menu. You can use the remote control 24, the keyboard 28 or the on-board controls 38 to navigate in the chart of navigation 202. The screen scroll buttons 139h (remote control 24, figure 4) or 209 (keyboard 28, figure 4A) or a button of that character (not shown specifically) in the complement 38 of the on-board controls, can be used to move from this first information screen 210 until the second screen 212.

You can use the RESET, BACK and NEXT (or ADVANCE) buttons described above, to navigate up and down the navigation chart and to return (in this typical case) to the menu of 5 upper level 204. Additional information method just described, to retrieve information from a laser-readable disk, of the character described herein, can be found in U.S. Patent No. 5,599,234 issued March 3, 1998. This unique feature is another that makes f) system 20 easy and convenient to use and therefore acceptable to a person who has no training or technical inclination and who has only the instruction supplied by an introduction video 212 (see figure 6). The remote control 28 also has the following buttons 130 and 128 employed in the DC operating mode to retrieve selected items of information, starting from a properly coded disk, as follows: ADVANCE-advances to the next lower level menu PREVIOUS-returns to the previous higher level menu 25 In the APPLIANCE operation mode, the GSM module 88 establishes the telephone communication between the device 20 and the remote repair / service installation. In this way, the messages concerning the problems in an apparatus inspected by the device 20, are conducted up to 30 the remote installation.

In the INTERNET operating mode of the system 20, the user can browse through pages of linked network sites to obtain the information of interest. A representative set of link pages is shown in Figures HA, 11B and 12 and can be identified by the reference character 214. The details of the illustrated hierarchy -which among other things allows for ordering of groceries online- and the stages used to achieve this goal by navigating through the levels of the hierarchy, with remote control 24, are described in the 047 application, except that the options on the pages of the network sites are numbered in such a way that can be selected with correspondingly numbered buttons, on the numeric keypad 120 of the remote control 24. As suggested above, the remote control 24 can be used to go from the starting point page, of a network network site, appropriate , to any other page of sites in the network of networks. Figure 13 shows how this is achieved in a representative application of the present invention. The remote control 24, the keyboard 28, the controls on board 38, can be used to initiate a session on the Internet and navigate (or quickly revise) in it. First, the user of the system initiates a session on the Internet, by pressing the INTERNET button 118 which is on the remote control 24. This opens or shows the starting point page 30 of the network network site (see figure 14). ). Subsequently, the user presses the numbered button found on the numeric keypad 120 of the remote control 24.

This forms a new URL, showing a new page 219 of the network of networks (see Figure 15). If a number is not pressed, the operation will simply end and return the user to the page of 5 starting point 30. On page 216 of the network of networks, the user of the system can still go to another page -for example, the page identified in figure 16 by reference character 218- by pressing a button different from the ten numbered buttons found on the numeric keypad 120, in this the push button. This shows a third • page 220 of the network of networks. In this case, if a second numbered button is not pressed, the operation will end again and return to the user of the system to page 216 of the network of networks. This sequence of steps can be repeated (if available) to show up to ten pages linked sequentially. This limit is imposed by the number of buttons found on the numeric keypad 120 of the remote control and by the desire to avoid the need to press more than one numbered button to initiate an action in # particular. Continuing, it may be that a link selected by the user of the system leads to a page or a site of the network of networks which is not linked to one of the pages 30, 216 or 218 of sites of the network of networks. If this happens, the operation ends; and the Internet connection is closed. If the link is available, the user of the system is returned to the last page of sites in the network of networks, and the user can press a numbered button to display another page of the network of networks. Alternatively, if the user of the apparatus 20 wishes to visit a network network site not directly or indirectly linked to the starting point page 30, the user simply uses the keyboard 20 to write the URL of the desired site on the network of networks and press the IR button 220 (figure 4A) to go to the network network site. You can reach other linked sites using the UP, DOWN, LEFT, and RIGHT buttons 222 ... 228 by placing the cursor 139e (figure 1) on a selected link and then pressing the IR 230 button to display the selected link. Another important characteristic of the present invention is that in the apparatuses that incorporate the principles of the present invention, the user of the system is returned to a particular mode of operation, in which he was, if he thus changes to another mode (or series of modes) and then return to the first mode. This second feature of operation, novel and important, is represented in graphic form in Figure 5 and is made based on the following table: The foregoing should not be construed as meaning that the novel and important advantage of the apparatus 20 (and other apparatus involving the principles of the present invention) can be obtained only if the operation is changed from a first mode to a second mode and then returned to the first mode. The apparatus will operate as described, no matter how many mode changes have been made before it re-enters the mode from which it was exited. It should also be understood that to meet the needs of a particular market, one or more of the five modes of operation of the system may be disabled. 20. Disabled modes may be enabled as described in co-pending provisional application number 60 / 115,008 filed on 6 January 1999. The following patent documents referred to above, are incorporated herein by reference thereto: U.S. Patent No. 5,724,102 issued March 3, 1998. U.S. Patent No. 5,801,784 issued 1 September 1998. Co-pending patent application No. 09 / 046,947 filed on March 23, 1998. Co-pending patent application No. (attorney's file No. 518129-0035). Co-pending application No. 09/116, 785 filed on July 16, 1998. Copending application No. 09 / 116,825 filed on July 16, 1998. Copending application No. 60 / 115,008 filed on January 6, 1999. As will be evident to the reader, the invention can be encompassed in specific forms in addition to those analyzed above, without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The embodiments herein are to be considered, therefore, in all respects, illustrative and not restrictive, and the scope of the invention is indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description.; and all the changes that are within the meaning and scope of equivalence of the claims, should then be considered covered in it. • fifteen twenty

Claims (9)

1. The combination characterized in that it consists of: an apparatus with an operating mode of INTERCONNECTED NETWORKS (INTERNET); and an input device for controlling the operation of this apparatus; the device has the ability to be connected to the Internet and thereby present a page of the network of networks, with at least one link identified by a number; and the input device has a control that can be activated by the user, such as a number corresponding to each link found on the network network page.

2. A combination according to the definition of claim 1, characterized in that the input device has a numeric keypad and alphabetic characters.

3. A combination according to the definition of claim 2, characterized in that the input device has selection controls so that they can be operated by a user.

4. A combination according to the definition of claim 1, characterized in that the input device is a remote control that has controls so that they can be selected by the user and a numeric keypad.

5. A combination according to the definition of claim 1, characterized in that the input device has an infrared signal transmitter and the apparatus has a receiver for those signals.

6. A combination according to the definition of claim 1, characterized in that the • network network page (Web) is a point page of 5 game.

7. A combination according to the definition of claim 1, characterized in that the page is directly or indirectly linked to a starting point page.

8. A combination according to the definition of claim 1, characterized in that: the numeric keypad of the input device has controls from (0) to (9); and the network network page has a maximum of 15 links in such a way that each link can be re-selected by pressing a single numeric keypad control.

9. An apparatus characterized in that it has an INTERNET operating mode: the apparatus has an operating system for connecting the device to the Internet and concomitantly displaying a starting point page of the global network of networks; the operating system also has the ability to display and display pages that are directly or indirectly linked to the starting point page; and the operating system also has the capacity, when the device changes from its INTERNET mode, and then returns to that mode, to return to a page of the network of networks, displayed before the device changed from the INTERNET mode. . 30