Peripheral unit for upstream cable television system communication
A device and method for an interactive cable television system is described. A hardware peripheral device is associated with a modem in communication with a computer network. The peripheral device receives data from a user for communication via the computer network to a cable television network head end to control a television information signal delivered from the cable television network directly to a user television.
1 . A device for use in an interactive cable television system, the device comprising:
a hardware peripheral device coupled to a computer modem at a user premises and in communication with a computer network, for communicating data from a user via the computer network to a cable television network head end to control a television information signal provided over a cable television network cable connected directly to a digital cable ready television at the user premises.
2 . A device according to claim 1 , wherein the peripheral device is integrated into a single unit with the computer modem.
3 . A device according to claim 1 , wherein the peripheral device is a separate unit from the computer modem and connected to an input port on the computer modem.
4 . A device according to claim 1 , wherein the peripheral device uses an infrared (IF) link for at least one of receiving the data from the user and controlling the television information signal.
5 . A device according to claim 1 , wherein the peripheral device uses a radio frequency (RF) link for at least one of receiving the data from the user and controlling the television information signal.
6 . A device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a status indicator section showing a current status of the peripheral device.
7 . A method for cable television system communication, the method comprising:
controlling a television information signal provided by a cable television network cable connected directly to a digital cable ready television at a user premises based on data communicated by a user to a peripheral device coupled to a computer modem at the user premises and in communication with a computer network, via the computer network to a cable television network head end.
8 . A method according to claim 7 , wherein the peripheral device is integrated into a single unit with the computer modem.
9 . A method according to claim 7 , wherein the peripheral device is a separate unit from the computer modem and connected to an input port on the computer modem.
10 . A method according to claim 7 , further comprising:
controlling the television information signal using an infrared (IF) link from the peripheral device.
11 . A method according to claim 7 , further comprising:
controlling the television information signal using a radio frequency (RF) link from the peripheral device.
12 . A method according to claim 7 , further comprising:
showing a current status of the peripheral device on a status indicator.
13 . An interactive cable television system comprising:
a computer network;
a computer modem at a user premises in communication with the computer network;
a cable television network including a head end for providing a television information signal over a cable television network cable directly to a digital cable ready television at the user premises, the television having a display responsive to the television information signal;
a hardware peripheral device coupled to the modem for communicating data from a user via the computer network to the head end to control the television information signal.
14 . A system according to claim 13 , wherein the peripheral device is integrated into a single unit with the computer modem.
15 . A system according to claim 13 , wherein the peripheral device is a separate unit from the computer modem and connected to an input port on the computer modem.
16 . A system according to claim 13 , wherein the peripheral device uses an infrared (IF) link for at least one of receiving the data from the user and controlling the television information signal.
17 . A system according to claim 13 , wherein the peripheral device uses a radio frequency (RF) link for at least one of receiving the data from the user and controlling the television information signal.
18 . A system according to claim 13 , further comprising:
a status indicator section showing a current status of the peripheral device.
19 . A device for use in an interactive cable television system, the device comprising:
a hardware peripheral device having:
i. a receiver for receiving data from a user input device,
ii. a processor responsive to the data for sending communications through a computer modem at a user premises over a computer network to a cable television network head end, and
iii. an output for controlling a television information signal:
(a) provided by a cable television network cable connected directly to a digital cable ready television at the user premises,
(b) from the head end responsive to the communications from the hardware peripheral device.
20 . A device according to claim 19 , wherein the peripheral device is integrated into a single unit with the computer modem.
21 . A device according to claim 19 , wherein the peripheral device is a separate unit from the computer modem and connected to an input port on the computer modem.
22 . A device according to claim 19 , wherein the peripheral device uses an infrared (IF) link for at least one of receiving the data from the user and controlling the television.
23 . A device according to claim 19 , wherein the peripheral device uses a radio frequency (RF) link for at least one of receiving the data from the user and controlling the television.
24 . A device according to claim 19 , further comprising:
a status indicator section showing a current status of the peripheral device.
25 . An interactive cable television system comprising:
a computer modem at a user premises and in communication with a computer network;
a user input device;
a hardware peripheral device having:
i. a receiver for receiving data from the user input device, and
ii. a processor responsive to the data for sending communications through the computer modem to a cable head end; and
a digital cable ready television at the user premises and directly connected to a cable television network cable for displaying a television information signal provided over the cable from the head end controlled by the communications from the hardware peripheral device.
26 . A system according to claim 25 , wherein the peripheral device is integrated into a single unit with the computer modem.
27 . A system according to claim 25 , wherein the peripheral device is a separate unit from the computer modem and connected to an input port on the computer modem.
28 . A system according to claim 25 , wherein the peripheral device uses an infrared (IF) link for at least one of receiving the data from the user and controlling the television information signal.
29 . A system according to claim 25 , wherein the peripheral device uses a radio frequency (RF) link for at least one of receiving the data from the user and controlling the television information signal.
30 . A system according to claim 25 , further comprising:
a status indicator section showing a current status of the peripheral device.