Method and apparatus for internet TV
View Patent ↗A telephone interface and voice recognition driven Internet browser system and method for accessing/browsing the Internet on a cable or satellite television includes a phone for receiving a voice signal from a user. The voice signal controls a telephone interface which displays Internet contents on the television via a cable or satellite television channel. The system also includes a voice recognizer, preferably operated on a supercomputer, for recognizing/interpreting/analyzing the voice signal and generating command signals to access/browse the Internet. The voice recognizer is capable of recognizing/interpreting/analyzing voice signals transmitted from a plurality of users in real time. The system further includes a stack of computers and an Internet browser. Each of the stack of computers is capable of accessing/browsing the Internet and retrieving/organizing requested Internet contents via the Internet browser. The requested Internet contents are sent to the user via a cable or satellite television channel.
1. A method for viewing data retrieved over the Internet on a television system, the method comprising:
receiving a voice signal transmitted from a user over a phone network, the voice signal including an instruction for browsing the Web;
identifying, at a location remote to the user, a Web browsing instruction corresponding to the instruction included in the received voice signal;
retrieving data corresponding to the Web browsing instruction; and
transmitting the retrieved data to the user over a television network;
whereby at least portions of the retrieved data can be displayed on the television system associated with the user.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving the voice signal transmitted from the user over the phone network comprises:
receiving, at a cable hub, the voice signal transmitted from the user over the phone network.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving the voice signal transmitted from the user over the phone network comprises:
receiving, at a phone hub, the voice signal transmitted from the user over the phone network.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the voice signal transmitted from the user over the phone network is transmitted over a digital phone network.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein identifying the Web browsing instruction corresponding to the received voice signal comprises:
analyzing the voice signal with a natural language representation system.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein retrieving data corresponding to the Web browsing instruction comprises:
sending a request to a Web server for data corresponding to the Web browsing instruction.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein retrieving data corresponding to the Web browsing instruction comprises:
sending a request to a remote Web server for data corresponding to the Web browsing instruction.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein transmitting the retrieved data to the user over the television network comprises:
including a unique identifier with the transmitted data;
wherein the unique identifier is associated with the user and unable to direct the transmitted data to the user.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein transmitting the retrieved data to the user over the television network comprises:
including a unique identifier with the transmitted data;
wherein the unique identifier is associated with a particular set top box.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein identifying the Web browsing instruction corresponding to the received voice signal comprises:
identifying, at a cable hub, the Web browsing instruction corresponding to the received voice signal.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein identifying the Web browsing instruction corresponding to the received voice signal comprises:
identifying, at a phone hub, the Web browsing instruction corresponding to the received voice signal.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein transmitting the retrieved data to the user over the television network comprises:
transmitting the retrieved data to the user over a satellite television network.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein transmitting the retrieved data to the user over the television network comprises:
transmitting the retrieved data to the user using a digital television network.
14. The method of claim 1 , wherein transmitting the retrieved data to the user over the television network comprises:
transmitting the retrieved data to the user over a particular television channel.
15. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
identifying a phone number associated with the origination of the voice signal;
identifying an address associated with the phone number; and
including the address in the transmitted data;
whereby the included address can be used to direct the transmitted data to the user.
16. The method of claim 15 ; wherein the included address phone number comprises:
is unable to prevent other users from receiving the transmitted data.
17. The method of claim 15 , wherein identifying an address associated with the phone number comprises:
identifying an identifier for equipment associated with the user.
18. The method of claim 15 , wherein identifying an address associated with the phone number comprises:
identifying a unique identifier for the user.
19. The method of claim 1 , wherein the phone network comprises a PSTN.
20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the television system comprises a cable box.
21. The method of claim 1 , wherein the television system comprises a television.
22. A method for viewing data retrieved over the Internet on a television, the method comprising:
receiving a voice signal delivered over a telephone network at a location remote from a user;
identifying a Web browsing instruction corresponding to the received voice signal;
retrieving data corresponding to the Web browsing instruction; and
transmitting the retrieved data to the user over a television network;
whereby the retrieved data can be displayed on the television.
23. A method for viewing data retrieved over the Internet on a television, the method comprising:
receiving a voice signal transmitted from a user over a data transmission network;
identifying, at a location remote to the user, a Web browsing instruction corresponding to the received voice signal;
retrieving data corresponding to the Web browsing instruction; and
transmitting the retrieved data to the user over a television network;
whereby at least portions of the retrieved data can be displayed on the television.
24. The method of claim 23 , wherein receiving the voice signal transmitted from the user over the data transmission network comprises:
receiving the voice signal transmitted from a user over a phone network.
25. The method of claim 23 , wherein receiving the voice signal transmitted from the user over the transmission network comprises:
receiving the voice signal transmitted from the user over a cable network.