Method and apparatus for implementing a user interface for a videophone in a cable television network
US5999207A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 16, 1997 |
| Grant date | Dec 7, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 16, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04N7/147
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A graphical user interface for a videophone in a cable television system allows the user to access the videophone functionalities with an input control device and a television monitor. The user can place a call, receive a call and store/access/call addresses using a remote in conjunction with the graphical user interface display screens. The videophone has several elements including a user interface, a graphics engine, a network interface, a remote control interface, and an output audio/video line connected to a television monitor. The user interface receives and processes control inputs using a microprocessor and the graphics engine generates the display screens using a DSP. Depending on processing requirements, the DSP may implement the user interface rather than the microprocessor. Also, anti-aliasing fonts are used to generate a high quality display. To save processing cycles, the anti-aliasing fonts may be retrieved from a look-up table rather than being generated in real time. The videophone may be implemented as a plug-in device to a set-top box, a standalone unit, or a standalone unit with a set-top box between the monitor and the videophone unit. When implemented with a se…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.