United States Patent 15
`Reiter et al.
`
`[11] Patent Number:
`[45] Date of Patent:
`
`4,751,578
`Jun, 14, 1988
`
`[54] SYSTEM FOR ELECTRONICALLY
`CONTROLLABLY VIEWING ON A
`TELEVISION UPDATEABLE TELEVISION
`PROGRAMMING INFORMATION
`Inventors: Eli Reiter, Dix Hills; Michael H.
`Zemering, Plainview; Frank
`:
`smalcnapeiaanatinadasidi tibial
`[73] Assignee: David P. Gordon, Stamford, Conn.
`
`[75]
`
`
`
`4,288,809 9/1981 Yabe .......s0.
`soe 358/12
`
`4,337,480 6/1982 Bourassin etal.
`vee 358/183
`6/1982 Guillou............
`wee 358/114
`4,337,483
`
`wee 358/183
`4,344,090 8/1982 Belisomi ...
`we 358/147
`4,390,901
`6/1983 Keiser......
`
`4,412,244 10/1983 Shamley ...csssssscsesssecseseeseseseens 358/22
`4,413,281 11/1983 io sai
`sow 358/147
`4,425,581
`1/1984 Schweppe ....
`wee 358/148
`6/1984 Skerloset al. ..
`sews 358/85
`4,456,925
`4,477,830 10/1984 Lindman et al.
`we 358/183
`4,495,654
`1/1985 Deiss .....cssssres
`wee 455/151
`4,496,976
`1/1985
`Swansonetal. .
`vo 358/183
`(21] Appl. No.: 738,283
`
`4,547,804 10/1985 Greenberg.......
`wee 358/142
`eg
`1/1986 Harger et al. csssscrssrsnsnnee 455/151
`4,566,034
`[22] Filed:
`May28, 1985
`Primary Examiner—TommyP. Chin
`[SU]
`Tint, C14 seessssseeessseeeersnserneensssenecosn HOAN 5/265
`
` [52] U.S. Cl...... wee 358/183; 358/22;
`“Tari
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm—David P. Gordon
`358/142; 358/194.1:358/903
`[57]
`ABSTRACT
`[58] Field of Search 00.0... 358/188, 194.1, 189,
`The electronically controllable system of the invention
`358/190, 85, 191.1, 183, 903, 141, 142, 146, 147,
`for viewing on a television, updateable television pro-
`22; 455/151, 131, 603
`gramming information comprises a microcontroller
`References Cited
`whichis partially controllable by remote control system
`and is updateable via telephone link, magnetic cards or
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`floppy disks, or television or radio subcarrier, the mi-
`3,440,427 4/1969 Kammer .
`crocontroller including input/output interfaces, a mi-
`3,493,674
`2/1970 Houghton.
`.
`croprocessor and a RAM; a mixer for mixing a regu-
`3,833,757 9/1974 Kirk .
`Jarly received television signal with the signal generated
`Reon, aioe Thoape wssimmserernsesternneeners 358/22
`:
`.
`oe
`91,
`imura .
`by the microcontroller; an RF converter for receiving
`31996583 12/1976 Hutt cocmmmeeeeuon 340/324 AD
`the radio frequency information from the mixer, mi-
`ae
`ase 358/903
`4,026,555
`5/1977 Kirschner etal.
`
`crocontroller, and television antennae and properly
`"340/324 AD
`4,052,719 10/1977 Hutt.............
`
`veeseetee 358/85|converting the information into information which may
`4,096,524 6/1978 Scott....
`
`.. 358/16
`be sent to the television; and a remote control system
`1/1979 Campioni
`4,134,127
`
`4,139,860 2/1979 Micic.......
`. 358/22
`for permitting the viewer to direct the microcontroller
`
`4,161,728
`7/1979 Insam ...
`340/750
`to perform searches on information contained in the
`4,203,130
`5/1980 Doumit
`
`358/183.
`RAM so as to provide on the television screen in a
`4,205,343
`5/1980 Barrett .
`-» 358/147
`chosen format, subsets of information desired by the
`4,218,698
`8/1980 Bart .........
`ses 358/22
`viewer. The system preferably also includes a ROM for
`
`4,231,031 10/1980 Crowther
`340/695
`directing the microcontroller to access the information
`
`4,233,628 11/1980 Ciciora ........
` ee/igs
`link should the RAM lose information due to power
`...
`2s
`A,
`4,249,211
`2/1981 Babaet al.
`
`4,261,006 4/1981 Weintraub scccccscssussssssseusseu 358/3
`‘failure.
`
`seu358/86
`4,264,924 4/1981 Freeman ..
`4,270,148
`5/1981 Farina siescsesssusesssseneesnene 398/188
`
`[56]
`
`19 Claims, 3 Drawing Sheets
`
`50 RF YIN
`
`
`GH. 2-82 VHF/UHF
`
`OR CH.2-60 GABLE
`
`RF SECTION
`
`
`RF OUT
`SOUND
`
`
`CONVERTER
`FOR _JINGLES
`
`VIDEO
`DATA
`
`PROGRAM INFO
`
` VIDEO DATA &
`
`110 V. AG
`
`POWER
`SUPPLY
`
`55
` PMC Exhibit 2065
`
`Apple v. PMC
`IPR2016-00753
`Page 1
`
`PMC Exhibit 2065
`Apple v. PMC
`IPR2016-00753
`Page 1
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Jun.14, 1988
`
`Sheet 1 of 3
`
`4,751,578
`
`FIG.
`
`|.
`
`SUBCARRIER
`
` TEL-LINK REMOTE
`
`CONTROL
`
` oOogg0g
`
`oooog
`
`
`Oogo
`
`ooa0qg
`
`40
`
`V
`( SET TO GH.3)
`
`»
`
`PMC Exhibit 2065
`Apple v. PMC
`IPR2016-00753
`Page 2
`
`PMC Exhibit 2065
`Apple v. PMC
`IPR2016-00753
`Page 2
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Jun. 14, 1988
`
`Sheet 2 of 3
`
`4,751,578
`
`
`
`318V909-2HOYO
`
`
`
`AHN/SHA28-2"HO
`
`NI'34
`
`‘6Old
`
`OS
`
`HOLIMS
`
`Yy3MOd
`
`OSNIWVe9OudBVLIV0
`
`OACIA
`
`Y3SLYSANOO
`
`SSIONIFOd
`
`QNNOS
`
`Lnd4u
`NOILOSS34
`
`
`
`TANNVHDfy3T0NLNOO1
`
`Y3AI3034
`
`ud
`
`Of
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`VOS
`
`yslwuvo
`
`-ans
`
`MNIW-131
`
`ee
`
`YS3MOd
`
`AlddNs
`
`PMC Exhibit 2065
`Apple v. PMC
`IPR2016-00753
`Page 3
`
`PMC Exhibit 2065
`Apple v. PMC
`IPR2016-00753
`Page 3
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`

`

`
`
`US. Patent—Jun.14, 1988 Sheet 3 of 3 4,751,578
`
`
`
`FIG.3
`
`CODE
`
`cone
`100
`
`Gon)
`
`SIGNAL TO
`RF SECTION
`
`PROMPT TO
`
`
`MIXER
`
`
`
`
`WINDOW
`
`FORMAT.
`
`
`
`NO
`
`
`
`OVERLAY
`FORMAT
`
`55
`
`INFO
`DUMP
`
`
`.
`
`CODE
`SCROLL)
`
`170
`
`YES
`
`NEW
`INFORMATION
`
`NO
`
`(20) PMC Exhibit 2065
`
`Apple v. PMC
`IPR2016-00753
`Page 4
`
`PMC Exhibit 2065
`Apple v. PMC
`IPR2016-00753
`Page 4
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`

`

`1
`
`4,751,578
`
`SYSTEM FOR ELECTRONICALLY
`CONTROLLABLY VIEWING ON A TELEVISION
`UPDATEABLE TELEVISION PROGRAMMING
`INFORMATION
`
`BACKGROUND
`
`The present invention broadly relates to a system
`which may be attached to, or manufactured within a
`television set which permits the television owner who
`subscribes to a particular information service, upon
`demand, to view onthetelevision screen desired televi-
`sion programming information and subsets thereof.
`Moreparticularly, the present invention permits the
`subscriber to controllably view at his leisure the pro-
`vided updated information such that the information or
`desired subsets thereof may be viewed on thetelevision
`either to the exclusion of the received TV signal, or as
`an overlay to the viewed TV program,or as a window
`on the screen.
`Numerous television accessories, special purpose TV
`systems, and methodsoftransmitting auxiliary informa-
`tion to a TV receiver are knownin the art. For example,
`U.S. Pat. No. 4,344,090 to Pietro Belisomi et al., dis-
`closes a picture display device which uses a ROM to
`keep coded data corresponding toa television picture in
`memory. The coded data is perceived as containing
`advertising or television operating instructions which
`may be viewed upon demand and which may be super-
`imposed upon or viewed as an alternative to the re-
`ceived video signal. U.S. Pat. No. 4,288,809 to Yabe
`describes transmitting alphanumeric information during
`the blank field intervals of video signals. The added
`information is identified by an identification codeandis
`stored in temporary memory meansfor display on the
`television. The patent further describes an index switch
`which permits the viewer to determine by an overlay on
`the screen, which alphanumeric programsare available.
`The indexlisting is contained on a RAM which may be
`updated by the blank field interval transmitted data.
`The Insam U.S. Pat. No. 4,161,728 discloses means
`for displaying “Teletext” and/or “Wiewdata” informa-
`tion;
`the former being information sent during field
`blanking of video information, and the latter being in-
`formation sent from telephone. The patent describes
`means with a memory unit for storing information to be
`displayed, a display unit for synchronizing and produc-
`ing addresses to memory containing the information to
`be displayed, a decoder unit, a control unit which is
`accessible through remote control, and a microproces-
`sor which is responsive to programmed instruction. The
`Keiser U.S. Pat. No. 4,390,901 suggests the coding of
`the type oftelevision programming which is available.
`The code information would be provided during the
`vertical blanking gap of the video signal and would be
`compared to the code containedin the receiver so that
`a video recorder could be turned on oroffdepending on
`how the viewer has programmed the same.
`U.S. Pat. No. 4,052,719 to Hutt et al. describes the
`transmission of auxiliary information during the field
`blanking intervals of video signal transmission. On the
`receiving end, a television receiver system has a RAM
`for collecting and storing information, a selector, and a
`reading device. The stored information is fed to a char-
`acter generator repeatedly after the memoryis filled.
`The viewer has the choice of viewing the video signal
`or the auxiliary information separately or together on
`the screen. U.S. Pat. No. 4,270,145 to Farina discusses
`
`2
`the use of an alphanumeric character generating circuit
`with memory and processor for controllably superim-
`posing the time, channel, and othersimilar information
`on the video screen. The Doumit et al. U.S. Pat. No.
`4,203,130 describes the display of program schedule
`information and other data to cable subscribers. The
`information is mixed into the transmission signal on the
`transmission end andis displayed on the entire televi-
`sion screen.
`Whileall of the above-summarized patents are useful
`in providing additional information to the viewer, none
`of the patents permits the viewer to controllably view at
`his leisure periodically updated information regarding
`television programming and subsets thereofas either an
`overlay or window on the display of the receivedtelevi-
`sion signals, or as a full screen display.
`
`SUMMARYOF THE INVENTION
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a
`system for electronically controllably viewing on a
`television, updateable television programming informa-
`tion and subsets thereof.
`It is a further object of the invention to provide a
`system which permits a television viewer to obtain,at
`leisure and upon command, updated television pro-
`gramming information and subsets thereofas an overlay
`or window onthe display of other television signals, or
`as a full screen display.
`It is yet a further object of the invention to provide a
`system for electronically controllably viewing on a
`television, updateable television programming informa-
`tion and subsets thereof, and other information and
`subsets thereof,
`the information being provided via
`telephone link downloading, magnetic cards or floppy
`disks, or through the use oftelevision or radio subcarri-
`ers.
`
`In accord with the objects of the invention, the elec-
`tronically controllable system of the invention com-
`prises: an eight bit microcontroller which is partially
`controllable by remote control system andis updateable
`via telephone link, magnetic cards or floppy disks, or
`television or radio subcarrier, the microcontroller in-
`cluding input/output interfaces, a microprocessor and
`an updateable memory; a mixer for mixing a regularly
`received television signal with the signal generated by
`the microcontroller; an RF converter for receiving the
`radio frequency information from the mixer, microcon-
`troller, and television antennae and properly converting
`the information into information which maybe sent to
`the television; and a remote control system for permit-
`ting the viewerto direct the microcontroller to perform
`searches on information contained in the updateable
`memory so as to provide on the television screen in a
`chosen format, subsets of information desired by the
`viewer. The system preferably also includes a ROM for
`directing the microcontroller to access the information
`link should the RAM lose information due to power
`failure.
`In operation, one embodiment of the system of the
`invention would perform as follows. At a given time on
`a given date, a subscriber’s electronically controllable
`system of the invention would dial the telephone num-
`ber of a central computer whose system would be
`hooked up to the system invention. A week’s informa-
`tion, includingtelevision listings by code such that sub-
`set searches could be accomplished, would be down-
`loaded from the central computer into the updateable
`
`45
`
`350
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`PMC Exhibit 2065
`Apple v. PMC
`IPR2016-00753
`Page 5
`
`PMC Exhibit 2065
`Apple v. PMC
`IPR2016-00753
`Page 5
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`

`

`4,751,578
`
`3
`memoryof the microcontroller which would overwrite
`the old information with the new information which
`would be stored therein. Additional information such as
`local railroad schedules, movie theater listings, etc.
`could also be included in the downloaded information.
`When the subscriber wished to watch television, he
`could watch undisturbed, as the RFsignal, including
`any signal received via cable, would be pluggedinto the
`RF section of the invention system which would di-
`rectly output the signal onto the television, When the
`subscriber wished to see program listings, he would use
`a remote control device to access the microcontroller.
`By making commands by code, the viewer could de-
`mandto see a television schedule for certain dates and
`times. By making additional commands,
`the viewer
`could demandto see subsets of information such as the
`movies to be shown during the week orall the sports
`programs available on the Sunday of that week. The
`viewer could command that the information appear as
`an overlay on or as a windowin thetelevision picture
`being seen, or as a full screen display. The viewer could
`also command that the information be scrolled. All of
`the viewer’s commands would be carried out by the
`microcontroller which would output the desired infor-
`mation to the mixer which in turn would feed the sig-
`nals to the RF section for output to the television.
`A better understanding of the invention, and addi-
`tional advantages and objects of the invention will be-
`come apparentto those skilled in the art upon reference
`to the detailed description and the accompanying draw-
`ings.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`;
`
`.
`
`FIG.1 is a schematic diagram of the external connec-
`tions of the system invention which permits the system
`to be updated and accessed;
`FIG.2 is an electronic block diagram of the system
`invention; and
`FIG. 3 is a flow diagram of the inner functionings of
`the microcontroller of the system invention.
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
`
`The external connections of the system invention are
`seen in FIG. 1. The system, generally denoted by 10, is
`self-contained in a box 15 which receives television
`signals at input 20 via antenna 22 and/or cable 24. Box
`15 also has an input port 25 which comprises either
`means for receiving and reading magnetic cards or
`floppy disks or means for receiving a telephonelink,
`such as a modem. Antenna 22also functions as an input
`port for receiving television or radio subcarrier infor-
`mation,althoughif desired, port 25 can be configured to
`receive such information. Additionally, on the input
`end, box 15 includes receiver 30 for receiving com-
`mands of the viewer either by remote control via re-
`mote control box 32, or by wire connection. The com-
`mands of the viewer direct box 15 to tune the receiver
`to a particular rf channel coming via antenna 22 or cable
`24 for output, and/or to process information received
`via input port 25 or antenna 22 (subcarrier information)
`for output. Upon receiving information from one or
`moreof the three input sources, box 15 outputs informa-
`tion from output port 35to the television 40. It should
`be appreciated that box 15 can be included within a
`television upon manufacture if desired.
`Turning to FIG.2, a flow diagram of the preferred
`embodiment ofthe electronics of the system invention is
`
`4
`seen. Power switch 50 is used for turning the system on
`or off and maybe driven by a standard electrical outlet.
`Whenthe system is turned on, power supply 55 is used
`to provide the low voltages necessary to power the
`microcontroller 60. When the system is off, television
`signals received, such as VHF/UHFchannels 2-82, or
`cable channels 2-62, are sent directly through RF sec-
`tion 64 to the television 40 for viewing.
`Microcontroller 60 comprises an eight-bit micro-
`processor, input/output interfaces, and an updateable
`memory which is preferably a 32K random access mem-
`ory (RAM). Those skilled in the art will of course ap-
`preciate that each element of microcontroller 60 may be
`separately provided, and that the microprocessor could
`be other than eight-bit, while the updateable memory
`could comprise a RAM, a hard disk, a floppy disk,
`bubble memory,tape, etc. and could be other than 32K
`in dimension. The microcontroller is designed to re-
`ceive instructions from infrared remote control unit 32
`via infrared receiver 30, control unit 32 being controlla-
`ble by the viewer. The system 10 may therefore func-
`tion simply as a remote control device which permits
`the viewer to change channels. In this mode, according
`to the commandof control unit 32, the microcontroller
`60 instructs RF section 64 as to which channelis to be
`received from antenna 22 or cable 24 and sent to the
`television 40 for viewing on locally non-used channel 3
`or 4.
`As indicated in FIG.2, the random access memoryor
`updateable memory of microcontroller 60 is subject to
`updating via electronic media. The particular medium
`chosen could be radio ortelevision subcarrier 67a (via
`antenna 22 and RF section 64 if desired), telephone link
`675, magnetic cards or floppy disks 67c, or equivalents
`to any orall of the above. Regardless of the method of
`updating the RAM ofmicrocontroller 60, the system 10
`must additionally include suitable hardware and/or
`software for the updating task, such as a modemiftele-
`phonelink 676 is utilized.
`Using telephone linkage as an example, information
`regarding television scheduling,
`local movie listings,
`railroad schedules,
`local sporting events, theater lis-
`tings, etc., can all be provided on a central computer
`which may haveself-dial capabilities. At a given time
`on a given day, the computer can sequentially dial the
`telephone numbers ofall subscribers having the system
`invention herein described, or the electronically con-
`trollable system can dial the central computer. When
`contact is made between the central computer and box
`15 via the modem at input port 25, the computer can
`download all of the relevant information into the RAM
`of microcontroller 60,
`thereby providing “updated”
`information by overwriting any information contained
`in the RAM.This information may then be processed
`and accessed in accord with the remote controlinstruc-
`tions of the television viewer.
`in es-
`In order to receive information, the viewer,
`sence, must direct the microcontroller 60 through a
`series of steps. First, the viewer might access the system
`microcontroller by pressing the # button on his remote
`control box 32. The viewer might then request that the
`information that he is about to demand be output on the
`television screen in a particular format. Thus, different
`codes could be used for output formats such as a win-
`dow or overlay format, or a full screen display. Finally,
`the viewer would then request to see information con-
`tained in the RAM. For example,
`through a set of
`codes, the viewer might direct the microcontroller to
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`PMC Exhibit 2065
`Apple v. PMC
`IPR2016-00753
`Page 6
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`4,751,578
`
`15
`
`25
`
`6
`5
`mation contained in the RAM,e.g. a complete dump of
`output the television programming schedule for the
`the RAM,or whethera subset of that information was
`week. The microcontroller, as a result of the com-
`desired. If a complete dump was requested,
`the mi-
`mands, would direct RF section 64 to send received
`crocontroller would direct the viewer to choose a for-
`video signals to mixer 70. The microcontroller would
`also then access the RAM,and send the information to
`mat of display, as is discussed hereinafter. If a subset
`search is requested, the viewer might be asked whether
`mixer 70 which is then receiving video data from an-
`tenna 22 or cable 24 via RF section 64. The mixer 70,
`the subset is by subject matter only, or both date and
`subject matter. If the subset search is by both date and
`whichis also powered by power supply 55, would take
`subject matter, the viewer mustkey in the dateordates
`the information from microcontroller 60, convert it into
`a format which can be viewed in the same wayis the
`requested at 115. At 120, the viewer indicates whether
`the subset of information desired to be seen relates to
`video data received via RF section 64, and mix the two
`in accord with the output format directed by the mi-
`television scheduling or to other scheduling information
`contained in the RAM of microcontroller 60. If televi-
`crocontroller. The mixed signal would then be sent via
`sion scheduling is desired, the vieweris asked at 125 and
`RF section 64 to the television 40 for viewing by the
`viewer.
`130 to key in the time frame whichis desired, e.g. #6 11,
`If the viewer wished to view a subset of the informa-
`which would be 6-11 P.M., and the topic code desired.
`In this manner, the microcontroller would perform the
`tion, ¢.g., the television program schedule for the day,
`the viewer, througha differentset of code signals which
`function of a microprocessor in performing a search on
`mightinclude the direct keying of the date on the hand-
`the information contained in the RAM and determining,
`20
`held remote control unit 32, could then direct the mi-
`for example,a listing ofall the television movies that are
`crocontroller to output only a part of the information
`to start between 6 and 11 P.M. onaparticular date. Of
`stored in the microcontroller RAM. Likewise, if the
`course, if other scheduling is requested,a similar topical
`search can be accomplished at 135. If desired, according
`viewer wished to seealisting of the sports events being
`shown on television on a particular day, the viewer
`to the topic requested, advertising information mayalso
`could direct the microcontroller to search through the
`be sent by the microcontroller to jingle generator 140
`information in the RAM andretrieve only the requested
`which might generate the jingle signals concurrently
`information. In order to accomplish such a task, the
`with the showing of the information, or directly there-
`after.
`television programming information in the RAM must
`After the viewer has directed the microcontroller to
`be coded, not only by time of day and date, but by
`perform its subset search, the viewer is directed to de-
`subject matter, such as sports, movies, documentaries,
`sit-coms, news, game shows, soap operas, etc. This
`termine the format output of the information found.
`Thus, at 145, the viewer is asked whether an entire
`coding is accomplished, as those skilled in the art will
`screen format is desired. If not, at 150, the viewer is
`readily appreciate, prior to the coded information being
`asked whether a window formatis desired. If not, the
`sent to microcontroller 60. If desired, a “scrolling” or
`vieweris supplied at 155 with a television overlay for-
`“next full screen” feature may be added to facilitate
`mat. In the latter two situations, the viewer may con-
`easier viewing.
`The invention envisions that additional information
`tinue to view the television program he is currently
`watching.
`other than television scheduling information may be
`Whenall of the subset criteria have been chosen,
`contained within the RAM ofmicrocontroller 60. Thus,
`including dates,
`times,
`topics, formats, etc.
`the mi-
`for example, local theater and movie theater showings
`crocontroller performs a search of the information in
`and time schedules, as well as community events, rail-
`the RAM. The determined information located by the
`road time schedules, local sports events, etc. may be
`microcontroller is then controllably sent to the mixer
`included and accessed. Likewise, specific critical re-
`which, in accord with instructions from the microcon-
`views of movies or shows maybe included for reading
`troller, properly mixes the requested information with
`by the viewer. Indeed, if desired, mass media advertis-
`the rf video data being received from the antenna or
`ing could be accomplished according to the invention.
`cable. In addition, at 160 and 165, the mixer is told by
`An advertiser could arrange to have a message included
`in information down-loaded into the RAM of mi-
`the viewer, via instructions of the microcontroller,
`whetherto scroll the desired information, or whether
`crocontroller 60. The message might be accompanied
`and when to display new full windowsor screens of
`by digital sound information which could be converted
`information. After the search has been accomplished
`into analog signals in the RF section 64 and which
`and displayed,
`the viewer may then choose at 170
`would be perceived as electronic music. In this manner,
`whetherto perform an additional search, or whether to
`a jingle or theme song might accompanythe advertising
`message.
`exit the system.
`Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the con-
`In order to accomplish the quick display of the re-
`tent and order of the program contained in microcon-
`quested information, microcontroller 60 must be logi-
`cally arranged. Thus, as seen in FIG. 3,
`in order to
`troller 60 which is shown in flow diagram format by
`FIG. 3 may be changed without deviating from the
`activate the system of the invention, the proper code
`must be sent at 100 via remote control by the viewer. In
`scope of the invention, provided that subset searches
`response to activation, the microcontroller directs RF
`may be controllably accomplished. Thus, for example,
`section 64 to send the received video information to
`if information notrelating to television is stored in the
`microcontroller RAM,that information may be broken
`mixer 70. The microcontroller 60 might also output a
`down not only by topic, but by time. Moreover, the
`prompt message to mixer 70, so that the viewer is made
`awareofthe status of the system, including,if desired,
`microcontroller could be arranged such that searches
`the contents of the RAM. The microcontroller would
`could be accomplished in both the television and non-
`then await further instructions of the viewer.
`television subsets, and that the output could be inte-
`The next commandofthe viewer at 105 might indi-
`grated such that,
`for example,
`television and local
`cate whether the viewer wishedto seeall of the infor-
`movie theater movies could be listed together by time
`
`30
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`35
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`45
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`55
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`65
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`PMC Exhibit 2065
`Apple v. PMC
`IPR2016-00753
`Page 7
`
`PMC Exhibit 2065
`Apple v. PMC
`IPR2016-00753
`Page 7
`
`

`

`4,751,578
`
`-_ 5
`
`25
`
`30
`
`20
`
`8
`a
`tions of all the elements could be made to suit vaious
`for particular days. A plethora of other minor changes
`will be readily appreciated by thoseskilled in the art.
`needs. Therefore,it will be apparent to those skilled in
`Because the system invention relies on a RAM for the
`the art that other changes and modifications may be
`storage of information, the system must always be pow-
`madeto the invention as described in the specification
`ered. If a power outage occurs, the RAM will lose its
`without departing from the spirit and scope of the in-
`vention as so claimed.
`information. To overcomethis problem, in one embodi-
`Weclaim:
`ment of the invention, a ROM is included which is
`programmed to automatically dial a central computer
`1. A system for electronically controllably viewing
`and output a particular code upon being initially pow-
`updateable information on a television having a screen
`ered. Thus, if the system invention were to lose power
`comprising:
`with the RAM of microcontroller 60 losing informa-
`(a) a microcontroller including input/output inter-
`tion, the ROM would call the central computer which
`faces, a microprocessor, and an updateable mem-
`would then update the RAM with all of the program-
`ory comprising at least a RAM,said RAM ofsaid
`ming and scheduling information after receiving the
`microcontroller being updateable via an electronic
`code. The ROM could also take the form of a PROM or
`medium and storing updated information including
`EPROMandbe used to permit the ownerofthetelevi-
`at least television programming information;
`sion and system invention to control access to the tele-
`(b) a mixer for mixing a regularly received television
`vision, or access to particular television channels. In
`signal with the signal generated by the microcon-
`order to control access, the RAM could instruct the
`troller in accord with instructions of said mi-
`viewer to input a personal code number which would
`crocontroller;
`be stored in the ROM and which would act as a pass-
`(c) an RF section for receiving instructions from said
`wordforall future uses of the system and/ortelevision.
`microcontroller and for receiving radio frequency
`Another embodiment of the system invention pro-
`information from the mixer and a television station
`vides for the availability of closed captioning for those
`and properly converting the information into video
`who havedifficulty hearing. As is well known in the
`signals which may be sent to said television for
`art, captioning information may be sent via subcarrier,
`viewing; and
`as by during the blanking interval of the video signal of
`(d) a remote control system, said microcontroller
`the television station. This information may then be sent
`being controllable by said remote control system,
`through RF section 64 to mixer 70. The mixer would
`for permitting a viewer of said television to direct
`place the captioning in a corner box of the screen for-
`said microcontroller to perform a search onatleast
`mat, and the so-mixed signal would be sentto thetelevi-
`said updated television programming information
`sion via the RF section 64.
`contained in said RAM of said microcontroller, a
`There has been described and illustrated herein, sys-
`subset of at least said updated television program-
`tems in accordance with the present invention for elec-
`35
`ming information being output to said mixer so as
`tronically controllably viewing onatelevision, updatea-
`to provide on the television screen television pro-
`ble programming information. While particular embodi-
`gramming information desired by the viewerin a
`ments of the invention have been described, it is not
`desired format.
`intended that the invention be limited exactly thereto, as
`2. A system according to claim 1, wherein:
`it is intended that the invention be as broad in scope as
`said electronic medium for updating said RAM com-
`the art will permit. Thus, those skilled in the art will
`prises telecommunications means including a cen-
`recognize that while the invention was described as
`tral station computer and a modem.
`including an infrared remote control system with a
`3. A system according to claim 2, further comprising:
`standard remote control box, other remote control sys-
`(e) a ROM for communicating with said central sta-
`tems could be used. Indeed, instead of the standard
`tion computer after a power outage to said system
`remote control box which typically has numbers and a
`for electronically controllably viewing updateable
`few control symbols, an alphanumeric remote control
`information.
`box could be supplied. In this manner, the viewer could
`4. A system according to claim 1, wherein:
`communicate with the microcontroller in English (or
`said electronic medium for updating said RAM com-
`other spoken language), rather than by code words
`prises an electromagnetic record.
`containing control symbols and numbers. Moreover,
`5. A system according to claim 1, wherein:
`various prompt messages, including instructions, can be
`said electronic medium for updating said RAM com-
`included in the ROM or RAM provided for by the
`prises a radio frequency subcarrier.
`invention, thereby permitting the system to be “user
`6. A system according to claim 1, wherein:
`friendly”. Likewise, while the invention was described
`said information contained in said updateable mem-
`mostly with regard to the use of a telephone linkage as
`ory includes further advertising information.
`the electronic updating medium, magnetic cards or
`7. A system accordingto claim 6, further comprising:
`floppy disks could be used in lieu thereof by sending
`(e) sound converting means, wherein said updateable
`them via the mails to subscribers, or selling them at
`memory stores digital sound information.
`grocery stores or news shops for insertion into a disk
`8. A system according to claim 1, wherein:
`drive or port which would be part of the system.
`said desired formatof said information desired by said
`Additional changes to the system may be made by
`vieweris as a windowin the picture resulting from
`including one or more of the elementsin a single piece
`said regularly received television signal.
`of hardware,or by dividing a single element into many
`individual pieces. Thus, for example,
`the microcon-
`9. A system according to claim 1, wherein:
`troller, mixer and RF section could be combined into a
`said desired formatof said information desired bysaid
`single hardware chip. Conversely, the microcontroller
`viewer is as an overlay on the picture resulting
`from said regularly received television signal.
`could be divided into a microprocessor, a RAM, and
`the various I/O interfaces. Indeed, various combina-
`10. A system according to claim 1, wherein:
`
`.
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`45
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`PMC Exhibit 2065
`Apple v. PMC
`IPR201