Apparatus for providing multiple screens and method of dynamically configuring multiple screens

• US 20070030393A1
• Filed: 08/01/2006
• Published: 02/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Jung, Un-gyo, Lee, Jong-ho, Lee, Kwang-kee, Adams, Glenn
• Granted Patent: US 7,898,600 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/565
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/0407 Resolution change, inclusive of the use of different resolutions for different screen areas
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/0464 Positioning
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/10 Mixing of images, i.e. displayed pixel being the result of an operation, e.g. adding, on the corresponding input pixels
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/12 Overlay of images, i.e. displayed pixel being the result of switching between the corresponding input pixels
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/125 wherein one of the images is motion video
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/14 Display of multiple viewports
• 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 21/443 OS processes, e.g. booting an STB, implementing a Java virtual machine in an STB or power management in an STB
• 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 5/445 for displaying additional information H04N5/50 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/45 Picture in picture , e.g. displaying simultaneously another television channel in a region of the screen

Abstract

An apparatus and method for providing multiple screens is disclosed. The apparatus includes a user/application interface module receiving a PiP service providing mode, and an output module displaying a video component of a service on a main screen if the PiP service providing mode is a first mode and displaying a background video or the video component of the service on a PiP screen if the PiP service providing mode in a second mode.

Claims

1. An apparatus for providing multiple screens, the apparatus comprising:

an interface module through which a picture-in-picture (PiP) service providing mode is selected; and

an output module which displays a video component of a service on a main screen if the PiP service providing mode is a first mode, and displays a background video or the video component of the service on a PiP screen if the PiP service providing mode is a second mode.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a digital signal processing module which restores only the video component of the service if the PiP service providing mode is the first mode, and restores the background video or the video component of the service.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein, if the PiP service providing mode is the first mode, an application associated to the service cannot be executed.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein, if the PiP service providing mode is the second mode, the application associated to the service can be executed.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein whether the application can be executed is determined on the basis of signal information.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first mode and the second mode cannot be executed at the same time.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the PiP service providing mode is selected through the interface module by a user or an application.

8. A method of providing multiple screens, the method comprising:

inputting a picture-in-picture (PiP) service providing mode;

displaying a video component of a service on a main screen if the PiP service providing mode is a first mode; and

displaying a background video or the video component of the service on a PiP screen if the PiP service providing mode is a second mode.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein, in the displaying of a video component of a service, an application associated to the service is not executed.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein, in the displaying of the background video or the video component, a application associated to the service is executed.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein whether the application can be executed is determined on the basis of signal information.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the first mode and the second mode cannot be executed at the same time.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the PiP service providing mode is selected through an interface module by a user or an application.