Data transfer from a television receiver having picture-in-picture capability to an external computer

• US 5,111,296 A
• Filed: 04/19/1990
• Issued: 05/05/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Thomson Consumer Electronics Incorporated (Vantiva SA)
• Original Assignee: Thomson Consumer Electronics Incorporated (Vantiva SA)
• Inventors: Deiss, Michael S., Bridgewater, Kevin E., Duffield, David J., Beyers, Billy W. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Groody, James J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Murrell, Jeffrey S.
• Application Number:
  US07/510,711
• Time in Patent Office: 747 Days
• Field of Search: 358/183, 358/182, 358/181, 358/180, 358/903, 358/72
• US Class Current: 348/565
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/002 Specific input/output arrangements not covered by G06F3/01 - G06F3/16 other optical apparatus G02B27/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/45 Picture in picture , e.g. displaying simultaneously another television channel in a region of the screen

Abstract

The stored digitized video image data stored in a video RAM is transferred from the video RAM in a pix-in-pix television receiver to an external computer via a computer interface circuit under control of the pix-in-pix controller. The computer interface circuit is coupled to the internal controller of the television receiver via an external terminal. The external terminal receives digital control data from the external computer and conveys the stored digitized video image data signals from the video RAM to the external computer.

Claims

1. A picture-in-picture system for a television receiver, comprising:

data entry means for generating data signals in response to activation by a user;

a terminal for receiving digital control signals from an external unit;

memory means for storing data;

picture-in-picture processing means for receiving a video signal, for storing a predetermined amount of said video signal in said memory means in response to a first control signal, for reading video-representative data from said memory means in response to a second control signal, and for producing a display signal for display on a display screen;

control means for controlling said picture-in-picture processing means, said control means having a first input coupled to said data entry means for receiving said data signals, having a second input coupled to said terminal for receiving said digital control signals, and having an output for developing said first and second control signals in response to one of said data signals and said digital control signals, said control means applying said video-representative data read from said memory means to said terminal for transfer to said external unit.

2. A picture-in-picture system for a television receiver, comprising:

a terminal for receiving control digital signals from an external computer;

a source of video signals;

memory means for storing data related to said video signals;

picture-in-picture processing means coupled to said source of video signals for receiving said video signals, and coupled to said memory means for storing a predetermined amount of said video signals in response to a first control signal, for reading said video-related data from said memory means in response to a second control signal, and for producing a display signal for display on a display screen;

control means for controlling said picture-in-picture processing means, said control means having a first input coupled to said terminal for receiving said digital control signals, and having an output for developing said first and second control signals;

said control means in response to said digital control signals generates said first control signal causing said picture-in-picture processing means to store said predetermined amount of said video signals, and generates said second control signal causing said picture-in-picture processing means to read said video-related data, said control means transmitting said video-related data to said external computer via said terminal.