Method and Apparatus For Listening to audio Corresponding to a PIP Display

• US 20120033135A1
• Filed: 10/19/2011
• Published: 02/09/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Omnitek Partners LLC
• Original Assignee: Omnitek Partners LLC
• Inventors: Spinelli, Thomas
• Application Number:
  US13/277,183
• Publication Number:
  US 20120033135A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/565
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41265 having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• 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 21/42221 Transmission circuitry, e.g. infrared [IR] or radio frequency [RF]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4263 involving specific tuning arrangements, e.g. two tuners
• 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 21/8106 involving special audio data, e.g. different tracks for different languages
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/45 Picture in picture , e.g. displaying simultaneously another television channel in a region of the screen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/60 for the sound signals

Abstract

A method for enabling two or more viewers to simultaneously view and listen to different video content, the method including: displaying simultaneously video content from each of two or more tuners on a television monitor; producing with a speaker hardwired to the television monitor audio corresponding to the displayed video content from any of the two or more tuners; generating wireless audio signals corresponding to the displayed video content from any other of the two or more tuners simultaneously with the at least one speaker producing the audio; transmitting the wireless audio signals to a single remote control; receiving the wireless audio signals at the single remote control; directing the audio signals to headphones detachably connected to the remote control; and entering commands on the single remote control for controlling at least a changing of video content displayed and changing of an audio volume corresponding to the displayed video content.

Claims

1. A television system for allowing two or more viewers to simultaneously view and listen to video content, the television system comprising:

a television monitor comprising;

a first tuner and a second tuner for receiving the video content;

a display for simultaneously displaying the video content from the first and second tuners, respectively;

at least one speaker hardwired to the television monitor for producing audio corresponding to the displayed video content from any of the first and second tuners; and

a wireless signal generator for generating wireless audio signals corresponding to the displayed video content from any other of the first and second tuners and for transmitting the wireless audio signals; and

a single remote control for controlling the television monitor, the remote control comprising;

a wireless signal receiver for receiving the wireless audio signals from the wireless signal generator;

a headphone connector operatively connected to the wireless signal receiver for directing the audio signals to headphones detachably connected to the headphone connector; and

a plurality of buttons for entering commands for controlling at least a changing of video content displayed on the display and changing of an audio volume corresponding to the displayed video content.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the headphone connector is a female headphone jack disposed in the single remote control.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wireless signal generator generates the wireless audio signals in response to selection of a picture-in-picture function to display the video content from each of two or more tuners.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the wireless audio signals are generated in response to an act of selecting the simultaneous display of the video content.

4. A method for enabling two or more viewers to simultaneously view and listen to different video content, the method comprising:

displaying simultaneously video content from each of two or more tuners on a television monitor;

producing with a speaker hardwired to the television monitor audio corresponding to the displayed video content from any of the two or more tuners;

generating wireless audio signals corresponding to the displayed video content from any other of the two or more tuners simultaneously with the at least one speaker producing the audio;

transmitting the wireless audio signals to a single remote control;

receiving the wireless audio signals at the single remote control;

directing the audio signals to headphones detachably connected to the remote control; and

entering commands on the single remote control for controlling at least a changing of video content displayed and changing of an audio volume corresponding to the displayed video content.

6. The method of claim 4, comprising enabling the wireless signal generator to generate the wireless audio signals in response to the television monitor being enabled to display the video content from each of two or more tuners.

7. A method for enabling two or more viewers to simultaneously view and listen to different video content, the method comprising acts of:

displaying video content simultaneous with picture-in-picture (PIP) video content on a television monitor;

producing with a speaker hardwired to the television monitor audio corresponding to any of the displayed video content;

controlling at least one of the primary and secondary video content with a wireless remote control; and

producing with headphones removably connected to the wireless remote control audio corresponding to any other of the displayed video content.

8. The method of claim 7, comprising acts of:

selecting the simultaneous display of the video content; and

transmitting the audio to the headphones in response to the selecting act.