Peter J Miller

US Patent:

55835600, Dec 10, 1996

Filed:

Jun 22, 1993

Appl. No.:

8/082081

Inventors:

Fabrice Florin - Mill Valley CA
Michael Buettner - Burlingame CA
Glenn Corey - San Rafael CA
Janey Fritsche - Mill Valley CA
Peter Maresca - Palo Alto CA
Peter Miller - Los Altos Hills CA
Bill Purdy - San Anselmo CA
Stuart Sharpe - San Francisco CA
Nick West - San Francisco CA

Assignee:

Apple Computer, Inc. - Cupertino CA

International Classification:

H04N 7173

US Classification:

348 7

Abstract:

An interactive audio-visual (A/V) transceiver is advantageously coupled to a television and/or telephone (T/T) cable, a TV, a video recorder (VCR), and other A/V devices. The A/V transceiver switches data between a program/service provider and the connected A/V devices. In one embodiment, the transceiver includes three primary modules, a main module including a CPU, a system bus, system memory, an infra-red (IR) control unit, an audio-visual bus, an A/V decoder, an A/V processor, and an A/V encoder, an A/V connect module including a number of tuner/demodulators and a switch, and an optional CD ROM module. The A/V transceiver hardware is complemented with an operating system and software program which supports the functions provided in the A/V user interface. Additionally, a remote control device is provided to communicate with the A/V transceiver to interactively manage selection of program and service sources, selection program and service offerings from any selected source, viewing of selected program offerings, and interaction with selected service offerings. The remote control device is advantageously provided with a basic A/V control button group, an interactive control button group, an auxiliary control button group and a numeric key pad to facilitate control of the transceiver.

US Patent:

56214561, Apr 15, 1997

Filed:

Jun 22, 1993

Appl. No.:

8/082056

Inventors:

Fabrice Florin - Mill Valley CA
Michael Buettner - Burlingame CA
Glenn Corey - San Rafael CA
Janey Fritsche - Mill Valley CA
Peter Maresca - Palo Alto CA
Peter Miller - Los Altos Hills CA
Bill Purdy - San Anselmo CA
Stuart Sharpe - San Francisco CA
Nick West - San Francisco CA

Assignee:

Apple Computer, Inc. - Cupertino CA

International Classification:

H04N 7173

US Classification:

348 7

Abstract:

An interactive audio-visual (A/V) transceiver is advantageously coupled to a television and/or telephone (T/T) cable, a TV, a video recorder (VCR), and other A/V devices. The A/V transceiver switches data between a program/service provider and the connected A/V devices. In one embodiment, the transceiver includes three primary modules, a main module including a CPU, a system bus, system memory, an infra-red (IR) control unit, an audio-visual bus, an A/V decoder, an A/V processor, and an A/V encoder, an A/V connect module including a number of tuner/demodulators and a switch, and an optional CD ROM module. The A/V transceiver hardware is complemented with an operating system and software program which supports the functions provided in the A/V user interface. Additionally, a remote control device is provided to communicate with the A/V transceiver to interactively manage selection of program and service sources, selection program and service offerings from any selected source, viewing of selected program offerings, and interaction with selected service offerings. The remote control device is advantageously provided with a basic A/V control button group, an interactive control button group, an auxiliary control button group and a numeric key pad to facilitate control of the transceiver.

US Patent:

55945090, Jan 14, 1997

Filed:

Jun 22, 1993

Appl. No.:

8/081931

Inventors:

Fabrice Florin - Mill Valley CA
Michael Buettner - Burlingame CA
Glenn Corey - San Rafael CA
Janey Fritsche - Mill Valley CA
Peter Maresca - Palo Alto CA
Peter Miller - Los Altos Hills CA
Bill Purdy - San Anselmo CA
Stuart Sharpe - San Francisco CA
Nick West - San Francisco CA

Assignee:

Apple Computer, Inc. - Cupertino CA

International Classification:

H04N 545

US Classification:

348731

Abstract:

An interactive audio-visual (A/V) transceiver is advantageously coupled to a television and/or telephone (T/T) cable, a TV, a video recorder (VCR), and other A/V devices. The A/V transceiver switches data between a program/service provider and the connected A/V devices. In one embodiment, the transceiver includes three primary modules, a main module including a CPU, a system bus, system memory, an infra-red (IR) control unit, an audio-visual bus, an A/V decoder, an A/V processor, and an A/V encoder, an A/V connect module including a number of tuner/demodulators and a switch, and an optional CD ROM module. The A/V transceiver hardware is complemented with an operating system and software program which supports the functions provided in the A/V user interface. Additionally, a remote control device is provided to communicate with the A/V transceiver to interactively manage selection of program and service sources, selection program and service offerings from any selected source, viewing of selected program offerings, and interaction with selected service offerings. The remote control device is advantageously provided with a basic A/V control button group, an interactive control button group, an auxiliary control button group and a numeric key pad to facilitate control of the transceiver.