MXPA01006621A - Method for operating a video processing apparatus via an electronic mail message - Google Patents

Abstract

A video processing apparatus receives an electronic message comprising control information, via the Internet from a device interconnected thereto. The message includes control information, which is used by the video processing apparatus to control an operating mode thereof. The control information may include both time and channel data as well as a recording command for programming a timer. The message may contain a password, which is used to verify the authenticity of the message. Alternately, the control information may only include program data, which is passed to the electronic program guide to determine the time and channel information associated with the program data.

Description

METHOD FOR OPERATING A PROCESSING DEVICE OF VIDEO THROUGH AN EMAIL MESSAGE FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention in general relates to a method for operating a video processing apparatus using an electronic mail message to provide control information.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Electronic program guides (EPGs) allow viewers to select any channel at any time during a certain period in the future, for example, up to seven days in advance. Once a particular program is selected, for example, through lighting, the viewer can perform functions belonging to that selected program. For example, the viewer can instantly switch to that program if it is currently on the air. Visualizers can also program a video cassette recorder (VCR) or similar, if the television is properly configured and connected to a recording device. Although electronic program guides provide a convenient control interface, the use of EPGs is limited to situations where a user is present to view and interact with the EPG guide. Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a convenient way to allow the operation of a video processing apparatus remotely using an e-mail message to provide the control information that is necessary to operate the apparatus. In a PCT application, WO 98/10589, an architecture for remote programming of a device to record is described. In one embodiment, the architecture allows the user to register in a central processing system to request programming of a device. The system does not allow, however, that the user directly send a command in an ordinary email format to program the remote device to record without first having to interact with the central site. In addition, EP-A-0793387 describes a television system having an electronic mail capability. However, this email system does not allow a user to remotely program television for the selection of a channel or television program.

COMPENDIUM OF THE INVENTION The present invention is based, in part, on the recognition of the problem described, and in part, to provide a solution to the problem. The present invention provides a convenient way to incorporate in an electronic message, control information that can be used to operate a video processing apparatus, such as a television receiver, a video recording device (e.g., VCR), a satellite receiver, a digital video disc (DVD), a TV box by cable, or similar. The present invention links the traditional functions of a video processing apparatus with those of a personal computer, particularly, electronic communication through the Internet to achieve the solution. The use of this invention with an intranet, local network, or the like is within the scope of the present invention. In general, the present invention defines a method for operating a video processing apparatus. The method comprises receiving an email message through the Internet from a device interconnected thereto, said message comprising control information; processing, in said video processing apparatus, and message to determine the control information; and operating the video processing apparatus in response to the control information. According to one aspect of the present invention, in response to verification of a password contained in the message, the video processing apparatus is turned on at the desired time and a program is selected in response to said time and channel data. According to another aspect of the present invention, the corrtrol information comprises a registration command that controls a video recording device, interconnected thereto, to record a program associated with the time and channel data. Particularly, the step of controlling comprises programming an event timer, associated with the video recording device, using time and channel data. According to yet another aspect of the present invention, the control information comprises a recording or recording command and program data. The program data is passed to the electronic program guide to terminate the time and channel information associated with the program data.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.

Figure 1 shows an example of a television system according to the present invention; Figure 2 shows an example of a digital video processing apparatus according to the present invention, Figure 3 is a software flow diagram according to the present invention; Figure 4 shows an EPG menu according to an embodiment of the present invention; and Figure 5 shows an electronic message according to an implementation of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION.

The television receiver shown in Figure 1 is capable of processing both analog NTSC television signals and Internet information. Descriptions of the remaining well-known functions of the television receiver shown in Figure 1 are not provided, except when necessary to understand the present invention. The tuner 1105 and the IF 1130 processor operate in a conventional manner to tune and demodulate a particular television signal that is included in the RF_IN signal. The system shown in Figure 1 also includes a main microprocessor 1110 for controlling television receiver components such as the tuner 1105, the image-in-picture unit 1140, the video signal processor 1155 and the data processing module. Gemstar® 1160. The main microprocessor 1110 also controls the operation of a communications interface unit 1113 to provide the ability to upload and download information to and from the Internet. The communication interface unit 1113 includes, for example, a modem for connecting to an Internet service provider, for example, through a telephone line or through a cable television line. The communication capability allows the system shown in Figure 1 to provide electronic message capability and Internet-related features such as the web browser in addition to receiving television programming. The CPU 1112 controls functions included within the microprocessor 1110, for example, auxiliary data processor 1115 and on-screen display processor (OSD) 1117. The auxiliary data processor 1115 extracts auxiliary data such as signal PIPV Gemstar® data. Of video. The Gemstar® data, which provides program guide data information (eg EPG) in a known format, is typically received only on a particular television channel and the television receiver must tune that channel to extract the data from Gemstar® usually during a period of time when typically the television receiver is not in use (for example, 2:00 AM). At that time, the CPU 1112 configures the decoder 1115 so that the auxiliary data is extracted from horizontal line intervals such as line 16, which are used for the Gemstar® data. For an EPG guidance presentation, the presentation data included in the EGP presentation is produced through the OSD processor 1117 and included in the output signal through VSP 1155 in response to the fast switching signal FSW. An illustrative embodiment of the aspects of the system shown in Figure 1 which have been described in this manner further comprises an ST9296 microprocessor produced by SGS-Thomson Microelectronics; an image-in-picture processor M65616 produced by Mitsubishi; and a LA7612 video signal processor produced by Sanyo.

Fig. 2 is a compatible MPEG system for receiving transport streams encoded by MPEG representing broadcast programs and is also capable of processing Internet information, including electronic messages. User interface systems are also applicable to other types of digital signal processing devices including compatible systems that are not MPEG., involving other coded data streams (for example, digital video disc (DVD) systems). The illustrative system described below is described as processing broadcasting programs. The term "program" is used to represent any form of data in packets such as telephone messages, computer programs, computer data, Internet data, audio presentations (for example, from a distant source or from a source). local), visual presentations, audiovisual presentations (for example from a remote source or a local source), or other communications. Descriptions of the remaining well-known functions of the television receiver shown in Fig. 2 are not provided, except when necessary to understand the present invention. A modulated carrier with video data received by the antenna 1 0 and processed through the input processor unit 1 5. The resulting digital output signal is demodulated by the demodulator 20 and decoded by the decoder 30. The output of the decoder 30 is processed through the transport system 25, which provides compressed data outputs for storage, additional decoding, or communication with other devices. The video and audio decoders 85 and 80 respectively decode the compressed data of the system 25 to provide outputs for presentation. The data provided to the multiplexer 37 of the selector 35 is in the form of an MPEG condescending packet transport data stream as defined in standard section 2.4 of the MPEG system and includes program guide information and the data content of one or more program channels. The packet identifiers (PIDs) identify the individual packets that comprise channels of particular programs. The transport stream contains Program Specific Information (PSI) for use in identifying PIDs and assembling individual data packets to retrieve the contents of all program channels that comprise the packet data stream. The transport system 25, under the control of the system controller 115, acquires and combines program guide information of the input transport stream, storage device 90 or an Internet service provider through the communication interface unit. 116. Individual packets comprising both a particular program channel content and program guide information are identified by the Packet Identifiers (PIDs) contained within the initiator information.

The user interface incorporated in the video receiver shown in Figure 2 allows a user to activate various aspects by selecting a desired aspect of an on-screen display (OSD) menu, for example as an electronic program guide (EPG). The packets received by the decoder 55 of the units 45 and 50 containing a program content including audio, video, feedback and other information information are directed by the unit 65 from the decoder 55 to the designated device buffers. in the buffer of the packet 60. The application control unit 70 sequentially retrieves the audio, video and pickup data, and other data from the buffers designated in the buffer 60 and provides the data to the audio and video decoders 80 and 85 and the data port 75 of high speed. In addition, the controller 115 is coupled to a communication interface unit 116 that operates in a manner similar to the interface unit 1113 of FIG. 1. That is, the unit 116 provides the ability to upload and download information to and from the Internet. . The communication interface unit 116 includes, for example, a modem for connecting to a provider for Internet service, for example, through a telephone line or through a cable television line. The communication capability allows the system shown in Figure 2 to provide electronic message capability and Internet-related features such as web browser in addition to receiving television programming. Figure 3 is a software flow diagram of an illustrative program which, according to the present invention, can be executed by the controller 1110 of Figure 1, the controller 115 of Figure 2 or any other conveniently programmed control arrangement of an electronic guest device. The term "electronic guest device" as used herein is not limited to television receivers, video recording devices, digital video discs, or T.V. boxes. cable, but rather covers its hybrids, (eg, PCTVs), satellite television and / or data signal converters, program guide receiver units, and the like, regardless of whether they are embedded in a receiver. television or on a personal computer or connected externally to them. Illustrative program 300, when executed, facilitates the processing of received electronic messages, as well as the electronic linking of electronic messages to program information. The illustrative program has been written below only with respect to the implementation of illustrative hardware of an electronic guest device shown in Figure 1. In accordance with the illustrative program, the microprocessor 1110 initially executes the program 300 in response to receiving a electronic message 3012. Optional steps 304 and 306 verify an appropriate password contained in or associated with the message and if not appropriate, then microprocessor 1110 initiates the generation of an appropriate response message. A determination that if the electronic message allows to set a future recording event or initiate an automatic start of the device at a defined time, they are performed in step 308. An appropriate timer in the "record" or "turn on" programmers is initialized during steps 310 and 312. In step 314, the electronic message is checked to determine if the channel and time information is provided. If provided, the appropriate programmer is programmed and a reply message is sent to the sender in steps 316 and 318. If the electronic message does not include channel and time information, then the message is searched, in step 320, for determine yes any program information, such as the name of the program, is provided. If such information has not been provided, then the microprocessor 1110 initiates the generation of an appropriate response message in step 322. If program information is provided, the microprocessor 110 initiates a search of the electronic program guide in step 324 to determine that all programs meet the criteria (program information). If a program that meets the search criteria is not found, then an appropriate message is sent to the user in step 322. If a program is located during step 324, then- "the corresponding channel and time information is programmed in the appropriate programmer in step 312 and similarly, the user is notified in step 318. In accordance with the present invention, a user sends an electronic message to his video processing apparatus (e.g., a television receiver). This includes electronic mail messages (e-mail), electronic instant messages (such as those available to AOL® users.) In addition, this invention may encompass the use of telephony together with an identification function of the caller as the vehicle for the message The electronic message comprises control information for operating the video processing apparatus. can be, for example, TV@RCA.com. The user assigns a unique password to the television, which can be used to verify the origin of the message. That is, to avoid accidental control of another television. Now, by sending an electronic message to television, a user can remotely control television. For example, through an electronic message sent perhaps from the office, the user can "program" the television to turn on and select a certain program at a certain time. In this way, a user can program their television to turn on and select the news in the evening at 6 o'clock in the afternoon, so that after entering their house the news will open. Another example may be to allow a user to set a recording event from a distant location. For example, if the user forgets to program his VCR before leaving home, then by sending an electronic message the user can set the desired recording. Said recording can be achieved either by directly programming a timer on a recording device or by setting a "one touch" recording on a television receiver. If the message is sent directly to a recording device, the message must include the necessary time and channel information that is required to program a stopwatch. If the message is sent to the television receiver, or any other video processing apparatus that is capable of receiving and processing an electronic program guide, then the message can only contain program information, for example, the name of the program. In such a situation, the electronic program guide can be searched for a program to meet the criteria (ie, program information). The necessary time and channel information can be determined through the electronic program guide. The request for a recording may create a conflict with a pre-existing scheduled event on a video recording device. In such a situation, the last event may take precedence or a return message may be sent to the user telling the conflict and providing the user with the opportunity to resolve the conflict. The conflict can be resolved, perhaps, by running in the pre-existing scheduled event or by canceling the requested recording.

The context of the message may include a password, channel number, start and end time, date and tape speed. By using a consistent initiator, for example "RECORD", the video processing apparatus can determine whether a particular input electronic message contained control information. In addition, the use of any consistent structure for the message, for example, a specific field that includes the word "RECORD", can be used. In addition, a dedicated website can be used to help the user to construct an appropriate message. An advantage of a dedicated website can be the ability to send a secure electronic message (ie, critically encoded). This may remove the possibility of accidental programming from some other video processing device. In addition, a password can be used to verify that the message belongs to the user. That is, to avoid the possibility of responding to a message from someone who is not authorized. In Figure 4, a typical EPG 400 guidance menu is shown. Menu 400 includes a "grid guide" 400A which displays a program schedule in a time and channel format, similar to a television schedule listed in a newspaper. In menu 400, each of the program identifiers (eg, channel number 410-416, channel station names 420-426, website identifier 470, Internet identifier 450, electronic message identifier 460, and similar) can be selected by a user to implement the respective programs. When the selected program identifier is associated with an audio program, video program or audiovisual program, the controller 1110 responds by tuning the electronic guest device or an associated receiver in the appropriate channel and presenting and / or radio broadcasting that program audibly. . In Figure 5 an electronic message display 500 is shown. The electronic message display 500 includes at least the following information: SENDER 502, TOPIC 506 (to identify the type of message, i.e., RECORDING), and a portion of messages 508. As described above, the message portion 508 it may contain time and channel information of a specific program or may contain program information. Program information may merely be the name of the program or may include more detailed information, for example, the start time of a program, the end time of a program, the duration of the program; the channel through which the program is transmitted, and characteristic information and its combinations. Examples of characteristic information include, title of the program, theme of the program, program category, program keys, a description of the program, type of program (for example, audio, video, audiovisual, computer, Internet and the like), and frequency of repetition of the program (for example, once a week, daily, etc.). The controller 1110 in the illustrative embodiment of Figure 1 receives the electronic message through the communication interface 1113 of the Internet. Preferably, this message includes sufficient information regarding the program of interest that the intended action can perform. The electronic message receiver and / or program implementation device (e.g., a device of the type shown in Figures 1 and 2) responds to the received message by automatically tuning to that program if it is currently on the air, automatically tuning to the program in the future if it is going to be on the air and is programmed to broadcast at a later time (for example, setting a similar appropriate timer), or automatically recording the program. As demonstrated above, the interface of the present invention is particularly well suited for use in conjunction with an electronic program guide (EPG), in this respect it may constitute all or a portion of the menu 400. Preferably, the version covering the television of the host device shown in Figure 1 is associated with a recording device (not shown) and the selector can be operated to effect the recording of a television program when the electronic message indicates that the user requests a recording. Although the present invention finds great utility in the realm of electronic guest devices, which are connected to or defined by a television set, the present invention is not limited to such electronic guest devices.

The present invention can be implemented, for example, with a computer as the electronic device. It should be understood that the embodiments and variations shown and described herein are for illustrative purposes only and that those skilled in the art can implement various modifications without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

Claims (8)

1. - A method for operating a video processing apparatus, comprising the steps of: receiving (302) an electronic message far away, the electronic message comprising information regarding time and channel data of a selected event; processing (314) said electronic message in the video processing apparatus to determine the time and channel of the selected event; and sending (318) another electronic message if there is a conflict between the time and channel data and an existing stopwatch event.

2. A method for operating a video processing apparatus, comprising the steps of: receiving (302) a message directly from a user in an electronic mail format including information of the sender, subject and control; processing (304; 308; 310), in the video processing apparatus, the message for determining the control information; and operating (316) the video processing apparatus in response to the control information.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the control information comprises at least one password, channel data and time data.

4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising the step of evaluating the password for user verification wherein the step of operating comprises tuning the video processing apparatus at the desired time and selecting a program in response to the time and channel data.

5. The method according to claim 2, wherein the control information further comprises a recording command and the step of operating comprises controlling a video recording device, interconnected thereto, to record a program associated with the data. of time and channel.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the step of controlling comprises programming an event timer, associated with the video recording device, using the time and channel data.

7. The method according to claim 2, wherein the control information comprises program data.

8. The method according to claim 7, further comprising passing the program data to the electronic program guide to determine the time and channel information associated with the program data, the program data corresponding to a program listed in the electronic program guide.