Image display system, image display method and display unit

• US 20050262535A1
• Filed: 06/26/2003
• Published: 11/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Saturn Licensing LLC (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Uchida, Mami, Yokoyama, Tatsuya, Sato, Jin, Mizobuchi, Ayumi, Sayama, Yushi, Ohashi, Yuka
• Granted Patent: US 8,352,986 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/80
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4122 additional display device, e.g. video projector digital output for controlling a plurality of local displays G06F3/1423
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41265 having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• 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 21/42209 for displaying non-command information, e.g. electronic program guide [EPG], e-mail, messages or a second television channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42214 using alphanumerical characters
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42224 Touch pad or touch panel provided on the remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42228 the reprogrammable keys being displayed on a display screen in order to reduce the number of keys on the remote control device itself
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4316 for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43637 involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/478 Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/485 End-user interface for client configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/38 Transmitter circuitry for the transmission of television signals according to analogue transmission standards H04N5/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only

Abstract

A picture display system having two display devices and a base device for supplying picture signals to one of the display devices and capable of having bidirectional communication with the other display device is disclosed. The picture display system (1) is made up by a mobile display device (100), a base device (200) and a large format display device (300). The base device (200) sends picture signals to the display device (100) and to the large format display device (300). On a display image surface of the mobile display device (100), there is provided a touch panel for detecting the contact position contacted by a user for displaying a remote-control panel RP accepting an operating input from the user on the display image surface. An operating signal conforming to a display item of the remote-control panel RP, displayed at a contact position, detected by the touch panel, is generated and transmitted by wireless communication to the base device (200). This base device (200) selects the picture signals, supplied from the external inputting devices (400), as a supply source of picture signals, responsive to an operating signal, to transmit the so selected picture signals to the large format display device (300).

Claims

1. A picture display system including first and second display devices and a base device for supplying picture signals to at least said first display device, wherein

said first display device includes a picture display unit for displaying said picture signals supplied from said base device;

said second display device includes a display unit for displaying the display information for operation, for accepting an operating input from a user, operating input accepting means for accepting an operating input from a user, operating signal generating means for generating operating signals conforming to display items of said display information for operation, as specified by said operating input accepting means, and communication means for transmitting said operating signals to said base device;

said base device including picture signal outputting means for outputting said picture signals at least to said first display device, communication means for receiving said operating signals at least from said second display device, external input device connecting means for connecting the base device to an external input device as a source of supply of said picture signals, and control signal transmitting means for transmitting an external input device control signal, controlling said external input device, based on said operating signal, to said external input device.

2. The picture display system according to claim 1, wherein said operating input accepting means of said second display device includes contact position detection means for detecting a contact position on a display surface of said display unit adapted to be contacted by a user;

said operating signal generating means generating an operating signal conforming to a display item of said display information for operation displayed at a contact position on said display image surface detected by said contact position detection means.

3. The picture display system according to claim 1, wherein said communication means of said base device transmits at least a response signal to said operating signal to said display device;

said communication means of said second display device receiving said response signal.

4. The picture display system according to claim 1, wherein said base device further includes tuner means and sends picture signals selected by said tuner means based on said operating signal via said picture signal outputting means to said first display device.

5. The picture display system according to claim 1, wherein said first display device further includes tuner means and displays picture signals selected by said tuner means based on an operating signal from said base device on said picture display unit.

6. The picture display system according to claim 1, wherein said control signal transmitting means of said base device transmits said external input device control signal for said external input device over a wireless route.

7. The picture display system according to claim 6, wherein said control signal transmitting means of said base device converts the external input device control signal, transmitted over the wireless path, into infrared signals, which are output.

8. The picture display system according to claim 1, wherein said base device further includes receiving means connected to a communication network and adapted for receiving information signals transmitted through said communication network, and transmission control means for performing control for transmitting said information signals to a specified display device in case said operating signal is a transmission command for transmitting said information signals to said first display device and/or said second display device.

9. The picture display system according to claim 1, wherein said base device further includes transmission information transmitting means which, in case said operating signal is the transmission information to be sent to a counterpart connected to said base device over said communication network, sends said transmission information over said communication network to the target counterpart.

10. The picture display system according to claim 1, wherein said display information for operation is transparently displayed on said display image surface.

11. The picture display system according to claim 1, wherein said external input device connecting means is connected via an amplifier to said external input device as a source of supply of said image signals.

12. The picture display system according to claim 1, wherein said second display device has an interlock/non-interlock function of selecting whether or not picture signals supplied to said first display device are to be switched in association operatively with display contents of said display information for operation.

13. A picture displaying method of a picture display system including first and second display devices and a base device for supplying picture signals to at least said first display device, said method comprising

an accepting step of accepting an operating input from a user based on the display information for operation on a display image surface of said second display device;

an operating signal generating step of generating an operating signal conforming to a display item of said display information for operation, specified by said accepting step;

an operating signal transmitting step of transmitting said operating signal to said base device via bidirectional communication means exchanging signals between said second display device and said base device; and

an external input device controlling step of controlling an external input device as a supply source of said picture signals based on said operating signal.

14. The picture displaying method according to claim 13, further comprising

a step of controlling tuner means of said base device by said operating signal;

and

a step of displaying picture signals, selected by said operating signal, to said first display device.

15. The picture displaying method according to claim 13, further comprising

a step of controlling tuner means of said base device by said operating signal;

and

a step of displaying picture signals, selected by said operating signal, by said picture display unit.

16. The picture displaying method according to claim 13, further comprising

a receiving step of said base device receiving information signals coupled to a communication network and transmitted over said communication network;

and

a transmission control step of managing control so that, in case said operating signal is a transmission command of transmitting said information signals to said first display device and/or said second display device, said information signals are transmitted to said specified display device.

17. The picture displaying method according to claim 13, further comprising

a transmission information transmitting step of said base device transmitting said transmission information to the target counterpart, over said communication network, in case said operating signal is the transmission information transmitted to said counterpart connected to said base device over said communication network.

18. A display apparatus comprising

communication means for exchanging signals with a base device connected to an external input device as a supply source of a plurality of picture signals and adapted for supplying preset picture signals to at least one picture display device;

display means for displaying the display information for operation for accepting an operating input from a user;

operating input accepting means for accepting an operating input from a user; and

operating signal generating means for generating an operating signal conforming to a display item of said display information for operation specified by said operating input accepting means;

said operating signal being sent over said communication means to said base device;

said base device sending a preset image signal from said external input device to said picture display device for display thereon.

19. The display apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said operating input accepting means includes contact position detection means provided on a display image surface of said display unit for detecting a contact position on said display image surface contacted by a user;

said operating signal generating means generating an operating signal conforming to a display item of said display information for operation displayed at a contact position on said display image surface detected by said contact position detection means.