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

• US 20070035470A1
• Filed: 08/01/2006
• Published: 02/15/2007
• 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 8,046,706 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/1.100
• 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 for providing multiple screens and a method of dynamically configuring multiple screens are provided. The apparatus for providing multiple screens includes a service processing module producing at least one of logical screens and display screens for displaying a service, and an output module mapping the logical screens to arbitrary locations on the display screens and providing the display screens to a plurality of physical display devices.

Claims

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

a service processing module which generates at least one of a plurality of logical screens and a plurality of display screens for displaying a service; and

an output module which maps the logical screens to arbitrary locations on the display screens and provides the display screens to a plurality of physical display devices.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the output module changes a connection relationship between the display screens and the physical display devices in response to a request of a user or an application.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the output module provides information regarding a connection relationship between the display screens and the physical display devices in response to a request of a user or an application.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the output module provides different display screens to the physical display devices.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein output module provides the same display screen to the physical display devices.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

an interface module through which a request for connecting the display screens and the physical display devices is received from a user or an application.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the service comprises at least one of video information, audio information, and data information.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the video information, the audio information, and the data information are provided by a broadcast signal, a storage medium or a network.

9. A method of dynamically configuring multiple screens, the method comprising:

generating at least one of a plurality of logical screens and a plurality of display screens displaying a service;

mapping the logical screens to arbitrary locations on the display screens; and

providing the display screens to a plurality of physical display devices.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

changing a connection relationship between the display screens and the physical display devices in response to a request of a user or an application.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

providing information regarding a connection relationship between the display screens and the physical display devices in response to a request of a user or an application.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the providing the display screens comprises providing different display screens to the physical display devices respectively.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the providing the display screens comprises providing the same display screen to different physical display devices.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the service comprises at least one of video information, audio information, and data information.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the video information, the audio information, and the data information are provided by a broadcast signal, a storage medium or a network.