Importance

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Abstract

An Internet-based electronic shopping system hosted on a television-set-top-box combination controlled by a remote control unit. The set-top box (STB) includes a tuner, an internal or external modem and/or cable modem, configured to communicate with an Internet service provider over the appropriate transmission media. The STB also includes purpose-type application software such as voice recognition software and bar code recognition software to support an electronic shopping system. The STB further includes an external interface for connection to a multiplicity of external peripheral devices, such as an interphone, VCR, video camera, printer, and the like. The remote control unit includes a keypad, a microphone, an optional speaker, an optional digital camera, and an optional speaker. Data input to an Internet shopping Web program accessed through the STB's Web browser may thus be made through the microphone, keypad, and optionally through the digital camera. If the remote control unit includes the digital camera, bar code information may be scanned by the remote control unit and transmitted to the STB for identifying an item to be purchased. The remote control unit is also capable of being used as a cordless telephone or videophone, and might also function as a handset for an interphone when the appropriate communication links are connected to the STB through its external interface. When the system is used as a videophone, videographic images of a party on the other end of the line is displayed on the TV screen via a pop-up window.

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First Claim