EP1417560A2

EP1417560A2 - Portable remote pc pad

Info

Publication number: EP1417560A2
Application number: EP02762406A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Petra Bauersachs; Guido Ciburski
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-08-17
Filing date: 2002-07-27
Publication date: 2004-05-12
Also published as: WO2003017072A3; WO2003017072A2; US20040189613A1; DE20113132U1

Abstract

The invention relates to a portable remote PC pad for personal computers. It comprises at least two partial devices. One device is connected to the PC and the other can be operated in a mobile manner as a pad within a circumference of 50 metres (in house) or 300 metres outdoors. Wireless radio communication occurs between the devices, including audio/video transmission of the video output card of the PC to the touchscreen video input of the pad. All programs on the PC and screen outputs via the AV channel can be seen on the pad. The software used should be compatible with industrial norms, modularly interchangeable and retrofittable. PC data should be able to be used in a continuously seamless manner without duplication in order to avoid redundancy errors. PC knowledge should remain re-useable and no adaptation should be required in order to work with new systems. .

Description

Portable remote PC pad

description

The invention relates to a portable remote PC pad for personal computers.

Two types of web pads are known. The first class, for example a Siemens T-Sinus Pad, is limited to the remote transfer of Internet signals and requires a complete computer as hardware in the pad. These have mostly loaded non-PC operating systems and software and must be maintained as an independent system. The life cycle is just as short as that of a set-top box, since the respective operating systems are subject to rapid change. Full PC functionality is mostly missing due to the limited hardware. It is practically a mobile set-top box with a touch screen. Mostly, only a browser is offered as software, as well as email client and display software for some Internet formats, such as audio / video.

The second class, such as Scribor, no longer transmits the Internet signals, but works with an intermediate commercial PC. Its screen outputs are compressed and these signals are transmitted to the pad by radio. Conversely, the user input is transferred back. A considerable amount of hardware is required to decode the compressed signals. However, the transmission speed of available frequency bands is too low for real video transmission, so that films from the PC or the Internet, for example, cannot be transmitted. Up to now, additional and very powerful hardware has been required to perform only parts of the tasks outlined above.

It is an object of the invention to provide a portable remote PC pad for personal computers which achieves maximum benefit at a minimal cost per household. The software used should be compatible with the industry standard, modularly interchangeable and retrofittable. Furthermore, PC data should continue to be used seamlessly and should not be duplicated to avoid redundancy errors. PC knowledge should remain usable, the training in new navigation systems will be omitted.

According to the invention the object is achieved by at least two sub-devices, one device being connected to the PC and the other device being operable as a pad within a radius of 50 meters (in-house) or 300 meters outside, one between the devices being wireless via radio Communication takes place, including audio-video transmission from the video output card of the PC to the touchscreen video input of the pad, whereby all programs and screen outputs on the PC are visible on the pad via the AV channel.

A PC system consisting of a wireless audio-video transmission path is thus presented. This invention enables the most cost-effective implementation of portable full-fledged Internet accesses on a display with PC resolution without the use of expensive digital compression and decompression technology. PC control is possible remotely using keyboard and / or mouse simulation. For this purpose, a return channel consisting at least of a data radio link between the pad as the data transmitter and the PC as the data receiver is used. These data are processed by the PC via the PC interface, eg RS 232, like normal keyboard or mouse controls.

The subclaims relate to advantageous developments of the invention.

The portable remote PC pad can additionally have a microphone in the pad and an audio radio link from the pad as an audio transmitter to the PC as an audio receiver.

Furthermore, a signal mixer can also be provided, which mixes the data between the pad and the PC onto the audio channel and thus eliminates the need for a separate radio data link, namely transmitter and receiver.

Furthermore, the remote PC pad according to the invention can additionally comprise a SCART socket, which passes on the video input of the touchscreen and accepts video data from AV devices.

Another advantageous embodiment of the invention consists in an additional infrared transmitter on the pad. These are suitable for controlling televisions, video recorders or cell phones. The control signals are either transmitted in a separate radio link between the PC, ie data or infrared to radio transmitter, and pad, ie data receiver or radio to infrared converter, or mixed onto the audio signal and decoded in the pad. Furthermore, a video return channel from the pad as a video transmitter to the PC as a video receiver can also be provided. The video receiver is connected to the video input of the PC, eg the TV card. The video transmitter is connected to a webcam, which can optionally be integrated on the pad or with the scart socket of the pad.

A further embodiment of the portable remote PC pad is characterized by an additional infrared receiver in the pad or in the PC base box and additionally consisting either of an “infrared to data” converter that uses its own radio data link or with the Data-audio conversion is connected, or a separate infrared on radio signal path between pad as transmitter and PC as receiver.

According to a further embodiment of the solution according to the invention, all decoding and coding tasks within the PC basic box are replaced by software that runs on the PC. Data outputs and / or infrared outputs are already mixed to the audio output within the PC. Likewise, the infrared and / or data signals mixed into the audio input are decoded within the PC by software in order to save hardware in the PC basic box.

This solution creates inexpensive and simple hardware. An existing hardware structure in the household is integrated so that double purchases are avoided. The hardware required also integrates industry standards and thus enables a wide range of devices to be selected. Proprietary hardware components are reduced to a minimum in order to make the rapid development in the respective technology sectors usable for the user. The user can use the usual menu navigation and navigation on the pad and upgrade his system with additional standard software. The possible integration of standard software ensures that a broad and fast new development of improved solutions can also be effective here.

In addition to the basic function of mobile internet access, the goal of modern web pads is to access PC programs. The main goals are to save time by accessing Internet applications and convenience at any time, e.g. reading an incoming fax or an incoming e-mail e.g. in the bathtub .

In detail, the following modern functions can be used by a user within an apartment without having to go to the Internet PC:

1. Internet access

1.1 Secure home banking via TV and remote control

All four types of home banking are to be supported: via Internet access (via HBCI or PIN / TAN); via Internet service provider authentication (T-Online); via KEY diskette (HBCI); by chip card.

1.2 Other authentication methods Digital signatures, the connection of fingerprint recognizers or iris recognizers and the use of the associated software should also be possible on the television.

1.3 Presentation of all internet formats

While web pads can only display a subset of all formats depending on the development status and operating system as well as the software installed, the solution according to the invention should be able to display all formats and carry out all Internet functions, e.g .:

Reading / saving of cookies; Secure HTML; DHTML pages;

JAVA via JVM Java virtual machine e.g. for home banking applications and for participating in audio chats using a microphone; Javascript; ftp, - htp; http; mms; Etc.:

Display of all audio and video formats (real audio; Quiektime AVI; multimedia streams; streaming video; MPEG2; MPEG4 etc.);

To correctly reproduce certain formats, the download and installation of various additional software, e.g. be possible as a plug-in for the Internet browser.

1.4 Access to content such as video-on-demand or software

Access (and payment) of the desired content from the Internet; Transport either from the Internet via Sterling (authenticity) or download (delayed) or by satellite. 1.5 Full email functionality with central contact & file management

The disadvantage of the email functionality of known STBs or web pads are the following restrictions:

Email addresses cannot be saved centrally or used further.

Message attachments are lost due to lack of storage space or can be missing due to a lack of reading software (Word; Acrobat Reader;

Excel; Video player; Audio player) cannot be opened.

Messages (Mails & News) cannot be used on the home PC without further ado.

The disadvantages mentioned are avoided by the presented solution.

2. Connection of the domestic telephone system to the mobile receiver and telephony function on the display

Telephone calls are to be accepted directly on the mobile pad using the remote control (display of the caller number, properties / picture of the caller; last call; reason; entry of keywords for the current call; save in resubmission if callback desired).

3. Video telephony receiver & transmitter

Callers should be able to be displayed together with the picture on the television in the living room. Your own image should also be transferable to the conversation partner using a web cam. Existing Internet chat / netmeeting software packages should be usable for this. 4. Remote control of eg TV and video from the Internet

All devices connected to the system should be controllable via the Internet, either by calling up direct control commands or by changing control files via Internet dial-up into the system or by changing control files stored on the Internet and the control instructions the next time the system is dialed onto the Internet accessed and processed.

5. Use of DVDs and Video CD ^x s and Audio CD's on the pad

A DVD player, CD player, CD burner that is already in the household should be usable on the PC or on the pad, regardless of where the user has installed it and without the need for a new purchase.

6. Remote use of existing hardware via pad, even if installed on the PC

A text viewed on the pad should be able to be stored on the hard disk or diskette by remote control, or be printed out without the need to purchase or install an additional printer.

7. Use of PC games or internet games on the pad

On the one hand, games should be played directly on the pad without having to install a PC in the living room. On the other hand, a player should be on the pad against or with another Players can play together on the PC. In connection with the pad

8. Central support for personal installation and update of additional software

The user should receive software updates automatically via Internet dial-up.

9. Use the PC in the pad

The user should be able to operate the programs used in the PC environment and access the data of his PC or the data of his Internet storage area from any point in the home. This PC work should be carried out in parallel e.g. can run into TV consumption. Long PC processing jobs should remain observable parallel to the TV program. The switch between TV entertainment or the parallel process on a screen should be supported by window technology. If possible, the TV screen should not only display one program, but several in parallel. The use of familiar 10 instruments (keyboard, mouse) should also be achieved on the go.

10. Full PC functionality

The use and operation of external PC devices such as CD burners; DVD drive, CD player, TV card; Scanner; fax card; Modem and printer should be possible from any point in the apartment without the purchase of additional hardware.

11. Voice control parallel to the menu navigation The user should be able to use the possibilities of voice control by voice recognition software known on the PC also for pad navigation or for navigation on the pad. Commercial language software is to be used for this, ie without adaptation to the hardware of a set-top box.

12. Read out incoming messages or existing texts

Texts, emails or menu prompts should be outputable on the audio output of the pad. Commercial language software is to be used for this purpose, i.e. without adaptation to the hardware of a set-top box.

13. Interactive television

In addition to the TV program that the user has just received, additional information should either be displayed without being requested or additional menus should be called up by the user using the remote control. Animations are to be shown within the TV picture, which are either linked to Internet pages or call additional programs. The control data of these services should be in advance or live e.g. be transferred to the system via an Internet connection.

14. Personal Information Center

Personalized information should be displayed on the pad screen every morning. The user should be able to print out and archive their personal morning newspaper at the push of a button. The information is retrieved from the Internet, for example, before getting up. When finishing The pad should address the particularly relevant information (e.g. reaching stock exchange limits) immediately. Additional state-of-the-art data streams such as teletext or intercast services from the TV stations are to be integrated as data sources, which are also searched for key words.

15. Internet TV broadcast source bouquets

The user should be able to select the program sources regardless of the technical storage locations or delivery routes. He should receive films alternatively from the cable or via satellite via conventional broadcast channels, or he should also be able to play them from the Internet video sequences. The same applies to the integration of DVDs; VCR or video CDs.

The following components are required for the presented system in the household area as state of the art:

A PC or the possibility to install a PC in the study. The usual programs are installed on this PC (email, internet, text editing, multimedia player). In addition, the usual hardware such as printer, monitor and input devices such as keyboard and mouse are installed.

Even if a PC is not yet available, the solution according to the invention offers a monetary advantage over proprietary web pads. In most cases, the web pads offered are more expensive than a commercially available standard PC, since the hardware components are comparable, but are manufactured in smaller numbers. In addition, the web pad cannot be used for anything else, in contrast to the purchase of a PC. In the following, the existence of a PC is assumed.

A so-called basic box 200 is installed on this PC. This box, the size of a cigarette box, contains only a few standard hardware, namely an AV transmitter and optionally an AV receiver.

The remote pad itself consists of a touchscreen, i.e. Keyboard and mouse simulation via touch, an AV receiver, a microphone and an audio transmitter, and optionally an infrared transmitter and receiver. Optionally, a video transmitter can be integrated together with a web cam.

Both the basic box and the remote pad can send data by mixing it onto the audio channel or separate transmitter depending on the cost situation, and receive it by filtering out the audio channel or separate data receiver depending on the cost situation. Data can be control data or infrared commands.

The fourth component of the system is a driver / software package that contains software for various operating systems of the household PC.

These five basic components are sufficient for a large number of household configurations to meet the above requirements.

All other components are commercially available PC add-ons, which - if not yet available - could be obtained separately: A TV card with the usual inputs and outputs (input: antenna cable; satellite cable; S-VHS; output: S-VHS or composite video) and the usual features: AVI recording; MPEG2 recording.

A graphics card with a TV-out output (usually S-VHS or composite video) or, if the user wants to continue using his graphics card without a TV output, a VGA2PAL or VGA2NTSC converter, which is between the PC and the PC base box is connected.

Due to the modular dismantling, the user only has to purchase the components that he does not yet own. This ensures the cost-minimal solution to the requirements outlined above for every household. There is no need to purchase hardware twice within a household. The entire system consists mainly of standard components, which guarantees technical further development and permanently inexpensive performance.

The idea on which the invention is based is described in more detail in the following description with reference to an exemplary embodiment which is illustrated in the drawings. Show it:

Fig. 1: a schematic representation of the audio-video signal routing of a PC base box and

Fig. 2: a schematic representation of the portable remote pad.

As can be seen in FIG. 1, the base box 200 enables the transmission of audio and video signals from the PC 100, or possibly other sources such as satellite receivers, digital TV cards, DVD player etc., to the pad, or if necessary via seat plug to other AV sinks such as video recorders, digital recorders etc., and back. Optionally, a VGA-> TV / FBAS converter can be inserted.

The connection of an IR learn diode in FIG. 2 should also be mentioned in particular. With the aid of this diode, optionally IR transmit signals can be stored with which the UE devices in the living room can be controlled, such as TV, video, etc.

Of course, the solution can also be implemented as a PC plug-in card instead of an external basic box.

Overall, the PC basic box component list consists of the following

components:

Board & housing &assembly; 4 video plugs (2 * S-VHS; 2 * Composit);

2 audio cables (stereo, cable, jack plug and doubles ^;

AV (audio / video) transmitter, optionally an AV receiver;

Encoder for data on audio and optionally a decoder audio in audio and data; external power supply;

Data connection: USB adapter cable, or Com2 cable or printer port cable

The following components are required in the TV center box:

One to a maximum of three turnouts controllable via I2C;

Possibly a remote control (with the same IR code as

Standard TV card);

IR power transmission diodes; 1 pic controller for data communication; external power supply;

2 SCART sockets, 1 Scart plug; IR receiver and amplifier; Built-in microphone;

Microphone switch with switch on / off possibly LED; the switch is necessary in order to be able to switch the microphone output to the TV audio output after (if no mixing mode is desired, for example in the case of video dubbing) the TV is muted; 12.5 volt switching voltage generator.

The webpad itself has no CPU, no memory, no hard drive and no PC-like hardware. It consists of cheap AV components:

An AV receiver and optionally an AV transmitter (e.g. for webcams or connecting a video recorder to the AV interface);

An AV socket (AV on and AV off);

A touchscreen with CVBS input (optional VGA input with converter or transmission of VGA in the AV line); Optional IR transmitter and receiver;

A data transmitter and optionally a receiver or an encoder / decoder to extract data from the audio stream or to mix it in there.

The basic disadvantages of PC-based pads mentioned at the outset are avoided by the arrangement and sub-components of the solution presented.

The portable remote PC pad is connected to the usual IO ports on a commercially available PC, preferably to the RS232 interface, but also USB or bidirectional LPT Ports would be possible. The video and audio inputs and outputs are connected to the PC base box, as shown in FIG. 1. If the graphics card does not have a TV-Out output, a VGA2PAL converter module is plugged into the PC base box and the VGA output is connected to the VGA cable of the PC base box. The monitor is connected to the VGA-Out output of the converter.

The signal path of the built-in microphone of the web pad goes directly into the microphone input of the PC.

In principle, it would also be possible to connect a camera that is also connected to the video output signal of the optional AV transmitter. This would enable bidirectional video telephony. Monodirectional video telephony is already possible without your own camera. The pad owner sees callers who have a webcam.

A joystick would preferably be connected to the WebPad. The control commands would be implemented as well as the mouse commands, the integrated mouse simulation of a touch screen.

By installing a TV card in the PC, the pad user has all the advantages of a TV card. Mix mode with PC / Internet; Fading in of texts, picture in picure mode; Multichannel preview (eg view 16 channels simultaneously on one screen); Recording of the program on hard disk; Save images. In particular, EPGs are now being used, which are updated via the Internet and can actively support the user in selecting the program: Independent change of the TV program using the PC software, hiding unwanted program content (advertising or child protection); Recording on VCR or hard disk; Fade in incoming mail or phone calls; Interactive television by overlaying menu surfaces with the TV picture; Switching to the PC desktop at any time and familiar control via mouse and keyboard etc. That means computer-supported television without having to sit at the computer.

The solution presented not only enables the import of this "personal TV" virtual channel, but can also control end devices located in the living room via infrared. The corresponding IR sequences were taught to the PC once using the learn diode on the pad and saved on the hard disk. In addition, the order in which these signals have to be sent to the end device was configured, so that e.g. the TV switches to two-channel mode. The PC can then control all devices via the pad by sending the IR commands.

Child protection requirements can also be implemented in this way, since the PC can prevent unwanted channels from being watched and even EPG-related using the EPG.

Reference symbol list:

100 personal computers (PC (

200 PC base box

1 sound card (audio-out stereo audio jack)

2 graphics card (S-VHS-TV-OUT or composite-out)

3 sound card (stereo - line-in)

4 TV card (S-VHS-In or Composite-In)

5 Data input / output

(RS232 or USB or parallel port etc.)

6 stereo audio jack plugs

7 S-VHS Hosiden plugs

8 composite video connectors

9 stereo audio jack plugs

10 S-VHS Hosiden plugs

11 composite video connector

12 infrared signals

13 tax data

14 Mouse / touch commands / data

15 infrared signals

16 audio encoders

17 audio decoder

18 VGA connector

19 VGA TV

20 VGA socket

21 AV channels

22 AV receivers

23 Audio - data encoder

24 AV channels (AUDIO VIDEO)

25 infrared (audio, data)

26 infrared receiver

27 webcam

28 microphone

29 speakers and headphone jack

30 data output (mouse / touch)

31 AV receiver (audio (mix) video)

32 data - audio decoder

33 infrared

34 Data input (brightness, etc.) 35 Pure audio

36 dates

37 infrared transmitter

38 Can be connected to TV / video / satellite receiver

39 Video-In

40 scart plugs

41 touch screen

Claims

Expectations

1. Portable remote PC pad for PC, characterized by at least two sub-devices, one device being connected to the PC and the other device being operable as a pad within a radius of 50 meters (in-house) or 300 meters outside, whereby Communication takes place wirelessly by radio between the devices, including audio-video transmission from the video output card of the PC to the touchscreen video input of the pad, whereby all programs and screen outputs on the PC are visible on the pad via the AV channel.

2. Portable remote PC pad according to claim 1, characterized by additionally a microphone (28) in the pad and an audio radio link from the pad as an audio transmitter to the PC as an audio receiver.

3. Portable remote PC pad according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by an additional signal mixer (23).

4. Portable remote PC pad according to one of claims 1 to

3, characterized by an additional SCART socket.

5. Portable remote PC pad according to one of claims 1 to

4, characterized by additional infrared transmitters (37) on the pad.

6. Portable remote PC pad according to one of claims 1 to

5, characterized by an additional video return channel from the pad as a video transmitter to the PC as a video receiver.

7. Portable remote PC pad according to one of claims 1 to

6, characterized by additionally an infrared receiver (26) in the pad or in the PC base box and additionally consisting either of an “infrared to data” converter, which uses its own data radio link or is connected to the data audio conversion, or a separate infrared on radio signal path between pad as transmitter and PC as receiver.

8. Portable remote PC pad according to one of claims 1 to

7, characterized by the replacement of all decoding and coding tasks within the PC basic box by software that runs on the PC.