Method of performing time-shift function and television receiver using the same

• US 20070110393A1
• Filed: 08/10/2006
• Published: 05/17/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Jang, Won
• Granted Patent: US 8,014,649 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 386/292
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4147 PVR [Personal Video Recorder] H04N5/76 takes precedence ; arrangements for broadcast with accumulation-type receivers H04H20/40
• 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 5/76 Television signal recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 between a recording apparatus and a television receiver

Abstract

A method of performing a time-shift function and a television receiver using the same provide the time-shift function for at least one channel that is preferred by a user among a plurality of channels that are not currently viewed as well as for a currently viewed channel. The method includes receiving, in real time via at least one tuner, a first composite video signal of a currently viewed channel and a second composite video signal of at least one different channel preferred by a user; respectively processing the first and second composite video signals; storing the first and second composite video signals in a storage medium enabling the time-shift function; and displaying in a real-time display mode at least one of the first and second composite video signals and displaying in a time-shifted display mode at least one of the stored signals reproduced from the storage medium, the at least one real-time-displayed composite video signal and the at least one time-shifted-displayed composite video signal being simultaneously displayed on different screen areas according to according to a user selection of a display mode

Claims

1. A television receiver, comprising:

at least one tuner for respectively receiving in real time a first composite video signal of a currently viewed channel and a second composite video signal of at least one different channel preferred by a user;

a signal processor for respectively processing the first and second composite video signals;

a personal video recorder for enabling a time-shift function by storing the first and second composite video signals and for reproducing the stored signals according to a user selection of the time-shift function; and

a controller for generating display control signals according to a user selection of a display mode, to display in a real-time display mode at least one of the first and second received composite video signals and to display in a time-shifted display mode at least one of the stored signals reproduced by said personal video recorder, the at least one real-time-displayed composite video signal and the at least one time-shifted-displayed composite video signal being simultaneously displayed on different screen areas.

2. The television receiver of claim 1, wherein the at least one different channel selected by the user is a channel discriminated according to program and service information protocol data of the currently viewed channel.

3. The television receiver of claim 1, wherein the at least one different channel selected by the user is a channel adjacent to the currently viewed channel according to channel number.

4. The television receiver of claim 1, wherein the at least one different channel selected by the user is a channel of a same genre as the currently viewed channel.

5. The television receiver of claim 1, wherein the at least one different channel selected by the user is a subchannel of the currently viewed channel.

6. The television receiver of claim 1, wherein the at least one different channel selected by the user is a channel having a program rating preferred by the user.

7. The television receiver of claim 1, wherein the at least one tuner comprises a digital signal receiving tuner.

8. The television receiver of claim 1, wherein the at least one tuner comprises at least two analog signal receiving tuners.

9. The television receiver of claim 1, wherein the at least one tuner comprises a digital signal receiving tuner and at least one analog signal receiving tuner.

10. The television receiver of claim 1, further comprising:

a display for displaying the composite video signals selected by the user according to the generated display control signals and according to screen area.

11. The television receiver of claim 1, further comprising:

an on-screen display (OSD) generator for generating at least one progress bar representing progress statuses of the composite video signals displayed on the different screen areas, said OSD generator outputting the generated at least one progress bar to said signal processor.

12. A method of performing a time-shift function in a television receiver, the method comprising:

receiving, in real time via at least one tuner, a first composite video signal of a currently viewed channel and a second composite video signal of at least one different channel preferred by a user;

respectively processing the first and second composite video signals;

storing the first and second composite video signals in a storage medium enabling the time-shift function; and

displaying in a real-time display mode at least one of the first and second composite video signals and displaying in a time-shifted display mode at least one of the stored signals reproduced from the storage medium, the at least one real-time-displayed composite video signal and the at least one time-shifted-displayed composite video signal being simultaneously displayed on different screen areas according to according to a user selection of a display mode.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the at least one different channel selected by the user is a channel discriminated according to program and service information protocol data of the currently viewed channel.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the at least one different channel selected by the user is a channel adjacent to the currently viewed channel according to channel number.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the at least one different channel selected by the user is a channel of a same genre as the currently viewed channel.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the at least one different channel selected by the user is a subchannel of the currently viewed channel.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the at least one different channel selected by the user is a channel having a program rating preferred by the user.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the at least one tuner comprises a digital signal receiving tuner.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein the at least one tuner comprises at least two analog signal receiving tuners.

20. The method of claim 12, wherein the at least one tuner comprises a digital signal receiving tuner and at least one analog signal receiving tuner.

21. The method of claim 12, wherein the different screen areas are variable in size.

22. The method of claim 12, wherein the different screen areas include a main area and at least one auxiliary area.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the at least one auxiliary area is at least one picture-in-picture area.

24. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

displaying at least one progress bar for representing progress statuses of the composite video signals displayed on the different screen areas.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the at least one progress bar comprises a plurality of progress bars independently showing a progress status of the composite video signal of one channel displayed on each of the different areas, each progress bar having a position indicator for indicating a current progress position of the displayed composite video signal according to a user selection.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the at least one progress bar comprises one progress bar displayed on one of the different areas only, the progress bar having plural position indicators for indicating current progress positions of the composite video signals displayed on the different areas according to a user selection.