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 personalized information from a first remote information server via AC power wiring that is part of or connected to a Wide Area Network (WAN), the AC power wiring being connected for carrying an AC power signal at an AC power frequency and a digital data signal in a digital data frequency band that is distinct from, and higher than, the AC power frequency, said device comprising:
 an AC power plug for connecting to the AC power wiring;   a powerline modem coupled to said AC power plug for transmitting digital data to, and receiving digital data from the AC power wiring;   a first memory coupled to said powerline modem for storing digital data received from the AC power wiring;   a display for visually presenting information, said display being coupled for displaying information stored in said first memory; and   a single enclosure housing said powerline modem, said first memory and said display, said single enclosure having dimensions and an appearance of a conventional flat, wall-mountable framed picture;   wherein said device is addressable in a Local Area Network (LAN), and said device is operative for communicating with the first remote information server via the Internet through the AC power wiring for receiving the information therefrom, and for storing and displaying the received information.   
   
   
       2 . 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. 
   
   
       3 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein communication over said AC power wiring is substantially based on HomePlug standard. 
   
   
       4 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said device is further adapted to communicate with the Internet via a gateway. 
   
   
       5 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the AC power wiring is part of a Wide Area Network (WAN) and the connection to said device over the AC power wiring is always on. 
   
   
       6 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the AC power wiring is part of a Local Area Network (LAN). 
   
   
       7 . The device according to  claim 6 , wherein the AC power wiring is part of a LAN in a building. 
   
   
       8 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said device is further operative to periodically retrieve and display information from said first memory. 
   
   
       9 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said display comprises a flat screen that is based on Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) technology. 
   
   
       10 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said display is an analog video display. 
   
   
       11 . The device according to  claim 10 , wherein said display is coupled to said first memory via a composite video interface, and the composite video interface is one of a PAL interface and an NTSC interface. 
   
   
       12 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said display is a digital display. 
   
   
       13 . The device according to  claim 12 , wherein said display is an HDTV display. 
   
   
       14 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said first memory is non-volatile. 
   
   
       15 . 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. 
   
   
       16 . The device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a power supply connected to said AC power plug to be powered by power supplied from an AC power outlet, said power supply comprising an AC to DC converter for DC powering at least part of said device. 
   
   
       17 . 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 battery or a rechargeable battery. 
   
   
       18 . The device according to  claim 1 , further supporting an information pushing from the first remote information server, wherein said device is further operative to respond to, and communicate with, the first remote information server, when the first remote information server initiates a communication session and said device receives information from the first remote server and displays the received information. 
   
   
       19 . 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.   
   
   
       20 . 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 powerline modem and said display. 
   
   
       21 . The device according to  claim 20 , 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. 
   
   
       22 . The device according to  claim 21 , wherein the user control of operation of said device comprises at least one out 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.   
   
   
       23 . The device according to  claim 20 , wherein said firmware include at least part of a web client for communication with, and accessing information stored in, the first remote information server. 
   
   
       24 . The device according to  claim 23  wherein said at least part of a web client includes at least part of a graphical web browser. 
   
   
       25 . The device according to  claim 23  wherein said at least part of a graphical web browser is based on Windows Internet Explorer. 
   
   
       26 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first remote server information is organized as a web site having a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) and including web pages as part of the World Wide Web (WWW), and is further identified by said device using the web site URL. 
   
   
       27 . 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 therefrom, and for storing and displaying the received information from the second remote information server. 
   
   
       28 . The device according to  claim 27 , wherein said device is adapted to communicate with the first and second remote information servers for obtaining respectively different selected information from each remote information server. 
   
   
       29 . The device according to  claim 27 , wherein said device communicates with the first and second remote information servers one at a time. 
   
   
       30 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said device is located in a building and is operative for communicating with only a single remote information server external to the building. 
   
   
       31 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein communication with the first remote information server is based on Internet protocol suite. 
   
   
       32 . The device according to  claim 31 , wherein communication with the first remote information server is based on TCP/IP. 
   
   
       33 . 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. 
   
   
       34 . The device according to  claim 33 , 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. 
   
   
       35 . 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). 
   
   
       36 . The device according to  claim 35 , 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 first remote information server in a previous communication session. 
   
   
       37 . 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. 
   
   
       38 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the information received from the first remote information server is publicly available for free. 
   
   
       39 . The device according to  claim 38 , wherein the information received from the first remote information server is also available in other mediums. 
   
   
       40 . The device according to  claim 39 , wherein the first remote information server is associated with one of: a newspaper; a radio station; and a television station. 
   
   
       41 . 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. 
   
   
       42 . The device according to  claim 41 , wherein the information received from the first remote information server includes at least one of: a weather forecast; a future sports event; a future cultural event; a future entertainment event; a TV station guide; and a radio station guide. 
   
   
       43 . 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. 
   
   
       44 . The device according to  claim 43 , wherein the information received from the first remote information server includes at least one of: sports event results; a stock quote; lottery results; and a currency exchange rate. 
   
   
       45 . 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. 
   
   
       46 . The device according to  claim 45 , wherein the information received from the first remote information server includes at least one of: public news; and traffic related information. 
   
   
       47 . 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 within a selected time period. 
   
   
       48 . The device according to  claim 47 , 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. 
   
   
       49 . 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 a selected time period or after a set delay. 
   
   
       50 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said device is addressable by a digital address, and further is operative to send the digital address and a request for information to, and to obtain and display the received information from, the first remote information server in response to the sent request for information. 
   
   
       51 . 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. 
   
   
       52 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said display is alphanumeric. 
   
   
       53 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said display is based on Field Emission Display (FED) technology or Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) technology. 
   
   
       54 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said display comprises a flat screen that is based on Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) technology. 
   
   
       54 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said device is dedicated only for obtaining, storing and displaying information from the first remote information server. 
   
   
       55 . The device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a second memory for storing a digital address uniquely identifying said device in the WAN, and in the Local Area Network (LAN), or on the Internet. 
   
   
       56 . The device according to  claim 55 , wherein the digital address is either a MAC address or an IP address. 
   
   
       57 . The device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a second memory for storing a digital address uniquely identifying said device in the WAN, and wherein said second memory is operative for storing the personalized information. 
   
   
       58 . The device according to  claim 57 , wherein the personalized information is a user name or a password. 
   
   
       59 . The device according to  claim 57 , wherein the personalized information is set by the user. 
   
   
       60 . The device according to  claim 57 , wherein the personalized information is set by the remote information server. 
   
   
       61 . The device according to  claim 57 , wherein the personalized information is associated with the physical geographical location of said device. 
   
   
       62 . The device according to  claim 57 , wherein the personalized information comprises a code identifying specific information requested by the user, and wherein said device is operative to send the code to the first remote information server for obtaining and displaying specific information received from the first remote information server in response to the request sent. 
   
   
       63 . The device according to  claim 62 , wherein the personalized information is set by the user or by the first remote information server. 
   
   
       64 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said device is further operative to store and play digital audio data. 
   
   
       65 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein: said device is further operative to receive and display information from a connected unit; said device further comprises a connector coupled to said first memory for connecting to the unit; and said device is operative to receive digital data comprising information from the unit and displaying the information on said display. 
   
   
       66 . The device according to  claim 65 , wherein said device is further operative to transmit digital data to the unit. 
   
   
       67 . The device according to  claim 66 , wherein communication with the unit via said connector takes place over a standard serial digital data bus. 
   
   
       68 . The device according to  claim 65 , further comprising a power supply connected to said AC power plug to be powered by power carried by the AC power wiring 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 unit via said connector. 
   
   
       69 . The device according to  claim 68 , wherein the unit is a battery operated unit having a battery, and said power supply further comprises a charger for charging the battery of the battery operated unit. 
   
   
       70 . The device according to  claim 68 , wherein the unit is a handheld unit and said device is further adapted to mechanically dock, supply power to, and communicate with, the handheld unit. 
   
   
       71 . The device according to  claim 70 , in combination with a cradle for detachable mounting of the handheld unit, the handheld unit having a mating connector, wherein the mating connector is part of said cradle, and said connector connects with the handheld unit mating connector when the handheld unit is mounted in said cradle. 
   
   
       72 . The device according to  claim 71 , wherein the handheld unit is a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), or a cellular telephone. 
   
   
       73 . The device according to  claim 68 , wherein: said device is further adapted so that the unit is removably mechanically attached to said device; and said power supply is operative to supply DC power to the unit when the unit is mechanically attached via said connector. 
   
   
       74 . 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. 
   
   
       75 . The device according to  claim 74 , further operative to display the current year, the current month and the current day of the month. 
   
   
       76 . The device according to  claim 74 , further operative to display the time of a last information update or a last communication session. 
   
   
       77 . 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. 
   
   
       78 . The device according to  claim 77 , wherein the analog signal is an analog video signal for connecting to an analog video display. 
   
   
       79 . The device according to  claim 78 , wherein the analog video signal is an S-Video signal or a composite video signal in a PAL or NTSC format.