INTEGRATED UNITS WITH DIAGNOSTIC CAPABILITIES

摘要

Systems which have an integrated unit that allows both television signals and information retrieved from an onboard information storage device or the Internet to be presented in visual, audio, or visual/audio form via output devices such as television screens and audio speakers. The operating mode-television, Internet, or stored information retrieval and display-is selected by the user. The system also has a diagnostic mode in which information on the status of an appliance associated with the system is made available to a repair or service facility at a site removed from the location of the integrated unit and the application. Status information may also be displayed on a CRT or other visual display component of the integrated unit.