Apparatus and method for controlling video display device, video display device and multivision system

• US 20070057914A1
• Filed: 02/09/2006
• Published: 03/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Park, Su
• Granted Patent: US 7,821,495 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1446 display composed of modules, e.g. video walls
• 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 21/42204 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 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/12 Picture reproducers H04N9/11 takes precedence

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for selectively controlling one or more display devices among a plurality of video display devices constituting a multivision by using a remote controller; a video display device; and a multivision system. The method for controlling the video display device in accordance with a present invention includes the steps of: displaying a predetermined access code when control data for canceling an OSD locking function is received from the outside; receiving control data including an access code from the outside; and entering a control mode using an OSD menu if the access code contained in the received control data is equal to the predetermined access code.

Claims

1. A video display device comprising:

a storage unit for storing an access code;

a reception unit for receiving control data from the outside;

a code recognition unit for checking, when control data including an access code are received by the reception unit, whether the access code contained in the control data is equal to the access code stored in the storage unit; and

a control unit for controlling the video display device to enter a control mode using an OSD menu if the two access codes are the same.

2. The video display device of claim 1, further comprising:

an image processing unit for receiving image signals or OSD data and outputting the processed image signals or OSD data to a display unit; and

an OSD processing unit for generating the OSD data,

wherein the control unit controls the OSD processing unit to generate the OSD data for displaying the stored access code when control data for canceling an OSD locking function is received through the reception unit.

3. The video display device of claim 1, wherein the control unit cancels an OSD locking function when control data for canceling the OSD locking function is received through the reception unit and, in case that the OSD locking function is cancelled, takes an action according to subsequent control data.

4. The video display device of claim 1, wherein the control unit receives a new access code from an operator server or a remote controller during the control mode using the OSD menu and then changes the stored access code into the new access code.

5. The video display device of claim 2, wherein the image processing unit changes a size of the image signals into a full screen size or a predetermined size according to a control of the control unit when the image signals are inputted through a communication port by an operator server or an external device.

6. The video display device according to anyone of claims 1 to 5, wherein a screen state of the video display device is adjusted during the control mode using the OSD menu.

7. The video display device according to anyone of claims 1 to 5, wherein the control data including the access code are one of second control data, fourth control data and fifth control data.

8. A multivision system comprising a plurality of video display devices according to anyone of claims 1 to 5, wherein the storage unit of each video display device stores one'"'"'s own access code.

9. A remote controller for controlling a video display device among a plurality of video display devices constituting a multivision, comprising:

a keypad where a multiplicity of keys are arranged;

a memory for storing an access code of the video display device;

a code generator for generating control data including the access code according to a user'"'"'s input through the keypad and a code transmitter for transmitting the control data to the video display device; and

a controller for controlling the code generator and the code transmitter to generate and transmit the control data which instructs the video display device to enter a control mode using an OSD menu according to a user'"'"'s input through the keypad.

10. The remote controller of claim 9, wherein the keypad includes an OSD lock key for canceling or setting an OSD locking function and the controller controls the code generator and the code transmitter to generate and transmit control data for instructing the plurality of video display devices to cancel or set the OSD locking function when the OSD lock key of the keypad is pressed.

11. The remote controller of claim 9, wherein the controller changes the access code stored in the memory into a new access code when the new access code is inputted by the keypad.

12. The remote controller of claim 9, wherein the controller changes an access code of the video display device into a new access code during the control mode using the OSD menu while changing the access code stored in the memory into the new access code at the same time.

13. The remote controller of claim 9, wherein the code transmitter transmits the control data to the video display device by using an infrared communication or a bluetooth communication.

14. The remote controller according to anyone of claims 9 to 13, wherein the control data including the access code are one of second control data, fourth control data and fifth control data.

15. A method for controlling a video display device, comprising the steps of:

displaying a predetermined access code when control data for canceling an OSD locking function is received from the outside;

receiving control data including an access code from the outside; and

entering a control mode using an OSD menu if the access code contained in the received control data is equal to the predetermined access code.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising the steps of:

checking whether new access code is inputted by an operator server or a remote controller during the control mode using the OSD menu; and

changing the predetermined access code to the new access code if the new access code is inputted.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein a screen state of the video display device is adjusted during the control mode using the OSD menu.

18. The method according to anyone of claims 15 to 17, wherein the control data including the access code are one of second control data, fourth control data and fifth control data.

19. A method for setting an access code of a remote controller, comprising the steps of:

receiving access code(s) of one or all among a plurality of video display devices forming a multivision; and

storing or changing the access code(s) in relation to corresponding video display device(s).

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the storing or changing step is performed while storing or changing access code(s) of corresponding video display device(s) during a control mode using an OSD menu at the same time.