METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DISPLAYING A WIRELESS CHANNEL SPACE ON A DISPLAY DEVICE

• US 20100194985A1
• Filed: 01/30/2009
• Published: 08/05/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Milne, James R., Unger, Robert
• Application Number:
  US12/363,606
• Publication Number:
  US 20100194985A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/570
• 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 21/43637 involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/50 Tuning indicators; Automatic tuning control

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to provide a method and system for the generation and display of a channel space state for a band of frequencies in a wireless display device. One novel method enables the display of a channel space state by continuously or repeatedly scanning, in a remote wireless transceiver, a channel space to determine a channel space state. The channel space state is communicated to the wireless display device. When interference for the channel used to transmit content to the wireless display device is detected during a scan, a graphical representation of the channel space state is displayed in the wireless display.

Claims

1. A method for detecting signals in a channel space and display thereof, the method comprising:

scanning a plurality of channels comprising a channel space to determine a channel space state, said channel space state comprising signal occupancy of said plurality of channels;

communicating said channel space state to a wireless display device, said wireless display device receiving input over a first channel of said channel space;

determining interference in said first channel of said channel space; and

displaying, in said wireless display device, a graphical representation of said channel space state in response to interference determined in said first channel, wherein said scanning is performed in a transmitter.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of channels comprises a band of radio frequencies.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said transmitter is remotely positioned from said wireless display device.

4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising:

selecting a second channel comprising an unoccupied channel from said plurality of channels in said channel space; and

automatically receiving, in said wireless display device, input over a second channel of said channel space.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein said selecting said second channel is performed automatically wherein said second channel comprises a level of interference less than a level of interference comprised in said first channel.

6. The method according to claim 4, wherein said selecting said second channel comprises:

receiving a user-generated input, said input comprising a selection of an unoccupied channel in said channel space.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein said user-generated input is transmitted to said transmitter via a remote control.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein scanning a channel in said plurality of channels comprises

designating a channel as a starting channel, said starting channel comprising a channel in said channel space;

scanning a starting channel for interference in said starting channel;

annotating a channel table to record said interference in said starting channel;

updating a channel table comprised in said wireless display device; and

incrementing said starting channel to a next channel in a pre-determined scanning order.

9. The method according to claim 9, wherein said scanning said plurality of channels is performed at pre-determined intervals.

10. A method for displaying a channel space state in a wireless display device, the method comprising:

receiving, in a wireless display device, an input over a first radio frequency in a band of radio frequencies of a channel space;

displaying said input received over said first radio frequency in said wireless display device;

scanning said band of radio frequencies comprising said channel space to determine a channel space state, said channel space state comprising signal occupancy of said band of radio frequencies;

communicating said channel space state to said wireless display device;

determining interference in said first raid frequency of said channel space; and

displaying, in said wireless display device, a graphical representation of said channel space state in response to interference determined in said first radio frequency, wherein said scanning is performed in a receiver.

11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising:

terminating said displaying said input from said first frequency in said wireless display device;

selecting a second radio frequency comprising an unoccupied radio frequency in said channel space; and

displaying said input received from a transmitter over said second radio frequency in said wireless display device.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein said selecting said second radio frequency is performed automatically when interference is detected in said first radio frequency.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein said selecting said second radio frequency comprises receiving a user-generated input, said input comprising a selection of an unoccupied radio frequency in said channel space.

14. The method according to claim 10, wherein said generating a channel space state comprises scanning said channel space for channel space data, said channel space data corresponding to a plurality of radio frequencies in said band of radio frequencies.

16. The system according to claim 14, wherein said graphical representation of said usage of said channel space comprises a plurality of occupied radio frequencies, a plurality of unoccupied radio frequencies and said first radio frequency of said channel space.

19. The system according to claim 14, wherein said graphical representation of said channel space comprises a level of interference detected for said band of radio frequencies.

20. The system according to claim 14, wherein said wireless display device comprises a flat-panel television.

15. A system for displaying channel usage of a space state in a wireless display device, the system comprising:

a receiver operable to be communicatively coupled to a transmitter, for receiving content transmitted over a first radio frequency, said first radio frequency in a band of radio frequencies of said channel space; and

a wireless display device communicatively coupled to said receiver and for displaying said content received by said receiver;

wherein a graphical representation of said usage of said channel space is displayed in said wireless display device.

17. The system according to claim 15, wherein said graphical representation further comprises visible indicia identifying said plurality of occupied radio frequencies, said plurality of unoccupied radio frequencies and said first radio frequency.

18. The system according to claim 15, wherein said visible indicia comprises a plurality of distinguishing colors.