Video output apparatus and video output method

• US 10,567,693 B2
• Filed: 11/20/2017
• Issued: 02/18/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd. (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd. (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Suzuki, Taro, Kusaba, Daisuke, Takagi, Toshihiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Harold, Jefferey F
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rahman, Mustafizur
• Application Number:
  US16/461,867
• Publication Number:
  US 20190373203A1
• Time in Patent Office: 820 Days
• Field of Search: 348734, 348719, 348714, 345172, 345169
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/93 Remote control using other portable devices, e.g. mobile phone, PDA, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 23/04 using light waves, e.g. infrared
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/422 Input-only peripherals , i.e. input devices connected to specially adapted client devices, e.g. global positioning system [GPS] input devices also receiving signals from specially adapted client devices H04N21/4104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4221 Dedicated function buttons, e.g. for the control of an EPG, subtitles, aspect ratio, picture-in-picture or teletext
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42224 Touch pad or touch panel provided on the remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42227 the keys being reprogrammable, e.g. soft keys

Abstract

A video output apparatus includes an operation device that outputs an operation signal according to an operation, an operation signal processor that receives the operation signal and executes a process, and a storage that stores a plurality of programs and an association between the operation signal and any of the plurality of programs. The operation device includes a definition operation part to which a function achieved by any of the plurality of programs can be allocated, and the plurality of programs includes a function allocation setting program for outputting an operation image for allocating the function to the definition operation part. The storage stores, as an initial association, an association between an operation signal due to an operation on the definition operation part and the function allocation setting program. Upon receipt of the operation signal output from the operation device due to the operation on the definition operation part, the operation signal processor executes the function allocation setting program based on the initial association and outputs the operation image.

Claims

1. A video output apparatus comprising:

an operation device that outputs an operation signal according to an operation;

an operation signal processor that executes a process according to the operation signal upon receipt of the operation signal; and

a storage that stores a plurality of programs for achieving a plurality of functions, and an association between the operation signal and any of the plurality of programs,

wherein the operation device includes a definition operation part to which a function achieved by any of the plurality of programs is allocatable,

the plurality of programs includes a function allocation setting program for outputting an operation image, the operation image being for allocating the function to the definition operation part,

the storage stores, as an initial association, an association between an operation signal due to an operation on the definition operation part and the function allocation setting program, and

the operation signal processor executes the function allocation setting program based on the initial association and outputs the operation image, upon receipt of the operation signal output from the operation device due to the operation on the definition operation part.

2. The video output apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the operation signal processor determines whether a program associated with the operation signal is stored in the storage or not upon receipt of the operation signal due to the operation on the definition operation part, and

executes the function allocation setting program when determining that the program is not stored in the storage.

3. The video output apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the operation signal processor associates the function allocation setting program with the operation signal that is due to the operation on the definition operation part, when determining that the program is not stored in the storage.

4. The video output apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a display device that displays a video,

wherein the operation image is displayed in the display device.

5. The video output apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the operation signal due to the operation on the definition operation part is associated with a program other than the function allocation setting program, the operation signal processor visually shows in the operation image that a function achieved by the program associated with the definition operation part is allocated to the definition operation part.

6. A video output method for outputting an operation image, the method being executed by a video output apparatus including:

an operation device that outputs an operation signal according to an operation and includes a definition operation part to which a function achieved by any of a plurality of programs is allocatable;

an operation signal processor that executes a process according to the operation signal upon receipt of the operation signal; and

a storage that stores a plurality of programs including a function allocation setting program for outputting an operation image, and an association between the operation signal and any of the plurality of programs, the operation image being for allocating the function to the definition operation part,

wherein the storage stores, as an initial association, an association between an operation signal due to an operation on the definition operation part and the function allocation setting program, and

the operation signal processor executes the function allocation setting program based on the initial association and outputs the operation image, upon receipt of the operation signal output from the operation device due to the operation on the definition operation part.