Television Signal Reception Apparatus and Method, and Broadcast Reception Apparatus and Method

• US 20060225122A1
• Filed: 06/15/2006
• Published: 10/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Aratani, Shuntaro, Mori, Shigeki, Aoyama, Keiichi
• Granted Patent: US 7,287,266 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/139
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00424 using a list of graphical elements, e.g. icons or icon bar
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00442 Simultaneous viewing of a plurality of images, e.g. using a mosaic display arrangement of thumbnails
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00453 arranged in a two dimensional array
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00461 marking or otherwise tagging one or more displayed image, e.g. for selective reproduction
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00474 outputting a plurality of functional options, e.g. scan, copy or print
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2007/1739 the upstream communication being transmitted via a separate link, e.g. telephone line
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2665 Gathering content from different sources, e.g. Internet and satellite
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4184 providing storage capabilities, e.g. memory stick
• 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 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4312 involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4314 for fitting data in a restricted space on the screen, e.g. EPG data in a rectangular grid
• 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 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/472 End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification, for manipulating displayed content end-user interfaces for retrieving video data from a database G06F16/739; network services for supporting unicast streaming H04L65/612
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/478 Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8153 comprising still images, e.g. texture, background image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/84 : Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/76 : Television signal recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 : Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 : between a recording apparatus and a television receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/781 : on disks or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/907 : using static stores, e.g. storage tubes or semiconductor memories H04N5/91 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 : by receiver means only
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8042 : involving data reduction

Abstract

It is the objective of the present invention to easily change between an image display application and the viewing of a program for a digital television, and to improve the usability of the television for operating an image display application. The display change list for a (channel) Up/Down key of a remote controller is dynamically altered so that, during the execution of an image display application, an application screen is displayed by using the Up/Down key. Further, when a memory card is loaded immediately after the television is powered on, a display application can be automatically activated. Furthermore, while a user is watching the television, the contents of a memory card is displayed on a small window in one part of the screen, and execution of the image application controlled by the user. In addition, no icons are displayed while an important program is on displaying. Moreover, since the same color and the same arrangement are used for the four function icons as are used for the four color keys on the remote controller, various processes can be performed for the image application.

Claims

1-34. -34. (canceled)

35. A broadcast reception apparatus comprising:

reception means for receiving broadcast signals associated with a plurality of channels;

application execution means for executing a predetermined application;

operation input means for accepting a predetermined operation input, and instructing selection of any one of the plurality of channels and execution of the predetermined application by said application execution means;

storage means for storing switching information that defines an order of a plurality of channels to be selected by the predetermined operation input and an order of the application to be executed by the predetermined operation input; and

control means for, in response to the acceptance of the predetermined operation input by said operation input means, effecting to display a video image of the channel selected from among the plurality of channels or a screen associated with the predetermined application on a display unit in accordance with the order defined by the switching information.

36. A broadcast reception apparatus according to claim 35, wherein, when the predetermined application is executed by said application execution means, said control means adds information related to the predetermined application to the switching information.

37. A broadcast reception apparatus according to claim 35, wherein, when said application execution means terminates execution of the predetermined application, said control means deletes information related to the predetermined application from the switching information stored in said storage means.

38. A broadcast reception apparatus according to claim 35, wherein, when said application execution means has not operated the predetermined application for a predetermined period of time, said control means deletes information related to the predetermined application from the switching information stored in said storage means.

39. A broadcast reception apparatus according to claim 35, further comprising:

storage medium connection means for connecting an external storage medium for the predetermined application; and

detection means for detecting the connection and disconnection of said external storage medium,

wherein when connection to said external storage medium is detected by said detection means, said application execution means executes the predetermined application, and said control means adds information related to the predetermined application to the switching information stored in said storage means.

40. A broadcast reception apparatus according to claim 35, further comprsing:

storage medium connection means for connecting an external storage medium for said predetermined application; and

detection means for detecting the connection and disconnection of said external storage medium,

wherein when disconnection of said external storage medium is detected by said detection means, said control means deletes information related to the predetermined application from the switching information stored in said storage means.

41. A broadcast reception apparatus comprising:

reception means for receiving a program that is broadcast;

external storage medium connection means for connecting a storage medium on which a plurality of image data are stored;

operation input means for receiving an operation instruction from user input means that includes an image selection button and color buttons of at least two colors;

display control means for displaying, on display means, an image related to a broadcast program received by said reception means and an image related to image data read from said external storage medium; and

control means for controlling said display control means so as to display a list of image data stored in said external storage medium, and display, on a portion of a screen, icons having the same color arrangement as the color buttons on said user input means and delineating different functions, and for executing a function represented by an icon having the same color as the color button that is entered using said user input means,

wherein when an image on the list is selected by the manipulation of the image selection button on said user input means, said display control means enlarges and displays on the screen only the selected image, and changes the functions delineated on the icons.

42. A broadcast apparatus comprising:

reception means for receiving a broadcast signal;

storage means for storing a plurality of images;

application execution means for executing a predetermined application that displays, on a display unit, a list of reduced images of the plurality of images stored in said storage means or an image selected from among the plurality of images;

operation input means provided with an image selection button and color buttons of at least two colors, for receiving an operation instruction from a user;

display control means for displaying, on display means, an image related to the broadcast signal received by said reception means, and a screen associated with the predetermined application executed by said application execution means; and

control means for, when the screen associated with the predetermined application is displaying, on a portion of the screen, icons having the same color arrangement as the color buttons on said operation input means and executing functions different from each other, executing a function represented by the icon having the same color as the color button that is entered using said operation input means,

wherein said control means changes the functions of the icons between the screen which displays the list of reduced images of the plurality of images and the screen which displays the image selected from among the plurality of images.

43. A broadcast reception method comprising:

a reception step of receiving broadcast signals associated with a plurality of channels;

an application execution step of executing a predetermined application;

an operation input step of accepting a predetermined operation input, and instructing selection of any ones of the plurality of channels and execution of the predetermined application in said application execution step;

a storage step of storing switching information that defines an order of a plurality of channels to be selected by the predetermined operation input and an order of the application to be executed by the predetermined operation input; and

a control step of, in response to the acceptance of the predetermined operation input in said operation input step, effecting to display a video image of the channel selected from among the plurality of channels or a screen associated with the predetermined application on a display unit in accordance with the order defined by the switching information.

44. A broadcast reception method according to claim 43, wherein, when the predetermined application is executed in said application execution step, said control step adds information related to the predetermined application to the switching information.

45. A broadcast reception method according to claim 43, wherein, when said application execution step terminates execution of the predetermined application, said control step deletes information related to the predetermined application from the switching information stored in said storage step.

46. A broadcast reception method according to claim 43, wherein, when said application execution step has not operated the predetermined application for a predetermined period of time, said control step deletes information related to the predetermined application from the switching information stored in said storage step.

47. A broadcast reception method according to claim 43, further comprising:

a storage medium connection step of connecting an external storage medium for the predetermined application; and

a detection step of detecting the connection and disconnection of said external storage medium,

wherein when connection to said external storage medium is detected in said detection step, said application execution step executes the predetermined application, and said control step adds information related to the predetermined application to the switching information stored in said storage step.

48. A broadcast reception method according to claim 43, further comprising:

a storage medium connection step of connecting an external storage medium for the predetermined application; and

a detection step of detecting the connection and disconnection of said external storage medium,

wherein when disconnection of said external storage medium is detected in said detection step, said control step deletes information related to the predetermined application from the switching information stored in said storage step.

49. A broadcast reception method comprising:

a reception step of receiving a program that is broadcast;

an external storage medium connection step of connecting a storage medium on which a plurality of image data are stored;

an operation input step of receiving an operation instruction from user input means that includes an image selection button and color buttons of at least two colors;

a display control step of displaying, on display means, an image related to a broadcast program received in said reception step and an image related to image data read from said external storage medium; and

a control step of controlling said display control step so as to display a list of image data stored in said external storage medium, and display, on a portion of a screen, icons having the same color arrangement as the color buttons on said user input means and delineating different functions, and of executing a function represented by an icon having the same color as the color button that is entered using said user input means,

wherein when an image on the list is selected by the manipulation of the image selection button on said user input means, said display control step enlarges and displays on the screen only the selected image, and changes the functions delineated on said icons.

50. A broadcast method comprising:

a reception step of receiving a broadcast signal;

a storage step of storing a plurality of images;

an application execution step of executing a predetermined application that displays, on a display unit, a list of reduced images of the plurality of images stored in said storage step or an image selected from among the plurality of images;

an operation input step of receiving an operation instruction from a user with an image selection button and color buttons of at least two colors;

a display control step of displaying, on display means, an image related to the broadcast signal received in said reception step, and a screen associated with the predetermined application executed in said application execution step; and

a control step of, when the screen associated with the predetermined application is displaying, on a portion of the screen, icons having the same color arrangement as the color buttons on said operation input means and executing functions different from each other, executing a function represented by the icon having the same color as the color button that is entered in said operation input step,

wherein said control step changes the functions of the icons between the screen which displays the list of reduced images of the plurality of images and the screen which displays the image selected from among the plurality of images.