Information device

Abstract

A device for obtaining, storing and displaying information from a remote server, the device has a modem for establishing communication sessions with the remote server. A memory coupled to the modem stores the obtained information, and a display is coupled to the memory for displaying the stored information. The device automatically and periodically communicates with the remote server for obtaining the information.

1 . A device for obtaining, storing and displaying information from a first remote information server via the Internet using a wireless handheld unit, the device comprising:
 a cradle for docking the wireless handheld unit, said cradle including a connector for connecting to the wireless handheld unit when mounted thereon;   a transceiver coupled to said connector for digital data communication with the wireless handheld unit;   a first memory coupled to said transceiver for storing digital data received by said transceiver;   a display for visually presenting information, said display being coupled to said first memory for displaying information stored in said first memory; and   a single enclosure housing said cradle, said transceiver, said first memory and said display,   wherein said device is addressable in a digital data network, and said device is operative when the wireless handheld unit in mounted on said cradle for wirelessly communicating with the first remote information server via the Internet for receiving information therefrom, and for storing and displaying the received information.   
   
   
       2 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said single enclosure has dimensions and an appearance of a conventional flat, wall-mountable framed picture. 
   
   
       3 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said device is operative for automatically and periodically communicating with the first remote information server at all times when said device is in operation. 
   
   
       4 . The device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a second memory for storing a digital address uniquely identifying said device in a Local Area Network (LAN). 
   
   
       5 . The device according to  claim 4 , wherein said
 device is operative to send the digital address and a request for information, and to obtain and display the received information from the first remote information server in response to the sent request for information.   
   
   
       6 . The device according to  claim 4 , wherein the digital address is either a MAC address or an IP address. 
   
   
       7 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said device is configured for wall mounting in a residential building, and the first remote information server is located outside the residential building. 
   
   
       8 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said handheld unit is a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), or a cellular telephone handset. 
   
   
       9 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said display is based on Field Emission Display (FED) or Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) technology. 
   
   
       10 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said display comprises a flat screen that is based on Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) technology. 
   
   
       11 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said display is an analog video display. 
   
   
       12 . The device according to  claim 11 , wherein said display is coupled to said first memory via a composite video interface, and the composite video interface is one of a PAL and an NTSC interface. 
   
   
       13 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said display is a digital display. 
   
   
       14 . The device according to  claim 13 , wherein said display is an HDTV display. 
   
   
       15 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said first memory is non-volatile. 
   
   
       16 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said first memory is based on one of: a Flash memory; a DRAM memory; and a RAM memory. 
   
   
       17 . The device according to  claim 1 , further comprising: an AC power plug for connecting to an AC power outlet; and a power supply connected to said AC power plug to be powered by power supplied from the AC power outlet, said power supply comprising an AC to DC converter for DC powering at least part of said device. 
   
   
       18 . The device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a battery, wherein said device is operative to be at least in part powered from said battery, and wherein said battery is a primary or rechargeable battery. 
   
   
       19 . The device according to  claim 1 , for use with wiring connected for concurrently carrying a power signal and an information signal over the same wires, said device further comprising a connector for connecting to the wiring, and said device being further operative to be at least in part powered from the power signal. 
   
   
       20 . The device according to  claim 19 , wherein the wiring is a telephone wire pair and the information signal is an analog telephone signal. 
   
   
       21 . The device according to  claim 1 , further comprising firmware and a processor for executing said firmware, said processor being coupled to control at least said transceiver and said display. 
   
   
       22 . The device according to  claim 21 , wherein said processor is one of: a microprocessor; and a microcomputer, and said device further comprises at least one user operated button or switch coupled to said processor, for user control of operation of said device. 
   
   
       23 . The device according to  claim 22 , wherein the user control of operation of said device comprises at least one of:
 turning said device on and off;   resetting said device to default values;   changing the contrast of said display;   changing the brightness of said display;   changing the zoom of images presented on said display;   selecting a language; and   selecting the information to be presented on said display.   
   
   
       24 . The device according to  claim 21 , wherein said firmware includes at least part of a web client for communication with, and accessing information stored in, the remote information server. 
   
   
       25 . The device according to  claim 24 , wherein said at least part of a web client includes at least part of a graphical web browser. 
   
   
       26 . The device according to  claim 25 , wherein said at least part of a graphical web browser is based on Windows Internet Explorer. 
   
   
       27 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first remote server information is organized as a web-site including web pages as part of the World Wide Web (WWW), and is further identified by said device using a designated web site Uniform Resource Locator (URL). 
   
   
       28 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said device is operative for communicating with a second remote information server via the Internet for receiving information from the second remote information server, and for storing and displaying information received from the second remote information server. 
   
   
       29 . The device according to  claim 28 , wherein said device is adapted to communicate with the first and second remote information servers for obtaining selected and distinct information from each remote information server. 
   
   
       30 . The device according to  claim 28 , wherein said device communicates with the first and second remote information servers one at a time. 
   
   
       31 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said device is operative for communicating with only a single remote information server external to the building. 
   
   
       32 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein communication with the first remote information server is based on Internet protocol suite. 
   
   
       33 . The device according to  claim 32 , wherein communication with the first remote information server is based on TCP/IP. 
   
   
       34 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said device is operative to initiate a communication with the first remote information server after a set period following a prior communication session. 
   
   
       35 . The device according to  claim 34 , wherein the set period is at least one of: set by the user; set previously in said device; and set by the first remote information server in a previous communication session. 
   
   
       36 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said device is operative to initiate a communication with the first remote information server on a daily basis at a pre-set time of day (TOD). 
   
   
       37 . The device according to  claim 36 , wherein the pre-set time of day is at least one of: set by the user; set previously in the device; and set by the remote information server in a previous communication session. 
   
   
       38 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first remote information server is a dedicated remote information server, and said device is further operative to initiate a communication with the dedicated remote information server based on a user request. 
   
   
       39 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the information received from said first remote information server is publicly available for free. 
   
   
       40 . The device according to  claim 39 , wherein the information received from the first remote information server is also available in other mediums. 
   
   
       41 . The device according to  claim 40 , wherein the first remote information server is also associated with one of: a newspaper; a radio station; and a television station. 
   
   
       42 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the information received from the first remote information server and displayed relates to a future event, a planned activity or a forecast of a situation. 
   
   
       43 . The device according to  claim 42 , wherein the information received from the first remote information server includes at least one of: a weather forecast; a future sports event; a future culture event; a future entertainment event; a TV station guide; and a radio station guide. 
   
   
       44 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the information received from the first remote information server and displayed relates to a past event, a past activity, or a former situation. 
   
   
       45 . The device according to  claim 44 , wherein the information from the first remote information server includes at least one of: sports event results; a stock quote; lottery results; and a currency exchange rate. 
   
   
       46 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the information received from the first remote information server and displayed relates to an ongoing or recent event, a current or recent activity, or an existing situation. 
   
   
       47 . The device according to  claim 46 , wherein the information received from the first remote information server includes at least one of: public news; and traffic related information. 
   
   
       48 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said device is operative to delay a communication with the first remote information server for a set period, in the case that such communication cannot be properly executed in due time. 
   
   
       49 . The device according to  claim 48 , wherein the set period is at least one of: set by the user; set previously in said device; and set by the first remote information server in a previous communication session. 
   
   
       50 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said device is operative to communicate with an alternative second distinct remote information server via the Internet, in the case the communication with the first remote information server cannot be properly executed in due time or after a set delay. 
   
   
       51 . The device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a second memory for storing a digital address uniquely identifying said device in a LAN, and wherein said second memory is operative for storing personalized information. 
   
   
       52 . The device according to  claim 51 , wherein the personalized information is a user name or a password. 
   
   
       53 . The device according to  claim 51  wherein the personalized information is set by the user. 
   
   
       54 . The device according to  claim 51 , wherein the personalized information is set by the remote information server. 
   
   
       55 . The device according to  claim 51 , wherein the personalized information is associated with the physical geographical location of said device. 
   
   
       56 . The device according to  claim 51 , wherein the personalized information comprises a code identifying specific information requested by the user, and wherein said device is operative for sending the code to the first remote information server and for obtaining and displaying specific information received from first remote information server in response to the request sent. 
   
   
       57 . The device according to  claim 56 , wherein the personalized information is set by the user or by the first remote information server. 
   
   
       58 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said device is further operative to store and play digital audio data. 
   
   
       59 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the communication with the handheld wireless unit via said connector is based on a standard serial digital data bus. 
   
   
       60 . The device according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an AC power plug connectable to an AC power source;   a power supply connected to said AC power plug to be powered by power supplied by the AC power source and to provide DC power for DC powering said first memory and said display, and wherein said connector is further coupled to said power supply for DC powering the wireless handheld unit via said connector.   
   
   
       61 . The device according to  claim 60 , wherein the wireless handheld unit is a battery operated unit, and said power supply further comprises a charger for charging the battery of the wireless handheld unit via said connector. 
   
   
       62 . The device according to  claim 61 , wherein: said device is further adapted so that the wireless handheld unit is removably mechanically attached to said device; and said power supply is operative to supply DC power to the wireless handheld unit when mechanically attached via said connector. 
   
   
       63 . The device according to  claim 1 , further operative as a clock for maintaining and displaying the time, and wherein said device is further operative to display the current hour, minute and second. 
   
   
       64 . The device according to  claim 63 , further operative to display the current year, the current month and the current day of the month. 
   
   
       65 . The device according to  claim 63 , further operative to display the time of a last information update or a last communication session. 
   
   
       66 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said single enclose in constructed to have at least one of the following:
 a form substantially similar to that of a standard picture frame;   wall mounting elements substantially similar to those of a standard picture frame for hanging on a wall; and   a shape to at least in part substitute for a standard picture frame.   
   
   
       67 . The device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a digital to analog converter coupled to said first memory for converting digital data stored in said first memory to an analog signal. 
   
   
       68 . The device according to  claim 67 , wherein the analog signal in an analog video signal for connecting to an analog video display. 
   
   
       69 . The device according to  claim 68 , wherein the analog video signal is an S-Video signal or a composite video signal in a PAL or NTSC format. 
   
   
       70 . The device according to  claim 1 , further supporting an information pushing from the remote server, wherein said device is further operative to respond to, and communicate with, the remote information server, when the remote information server initiates a communication session and said device receives information from the remote server and displays the received information. 
   
   
       71 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said device is further operative to periodically retrieve and display information from said first memory.