Programmable picture-outside-picture display

• US 5,398,074 A
• Filed: 07/11/1994
• Issued: 03/14/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Thomson Consumer Electronics Incorporated (Vantiva SA)
• Original Assignee: Thomson Consumer Electronics Incorporated (Vantiva SA)
• Inventors: Johnson, Gene H., Duffield, David J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kostak, Victor R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Flynn, Nathan J.
• Application Number:
  US08/272,960
• Time in Patent Office: 246 Days
• Field of Search: 348/913, 348/725, 348/731, 348/732, 348/734, 348/563, 348/564, 348/565, 348/566, 348/569, 348/570
• US Class Current: 348/564
• 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 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4858 for modifying screen layout parameters, e.g. fonts, size of the windows
• 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 5/50 Tuning indicators; Automatic tuning control

Abstract

A wide screen television apparatus comprises a memory for storing a set of video sources, a circuit for tuning to the set of video sources and a video signal processor. The video signal processor is coupled to the memory and to the tuning circuit, and develops a wide screen multiple picture display by selecting any one of the set of video sources for generating a main picture of the display and by selecting all of the set of video sources for generating supplemental pictures of the display, for example as three POP'"'"'s. A remote control can be activated for choosing the set of video sources and for selecting the main picture from among the supplemental pictures. The multiple picture display is modified in a manner which identifies which one of the supplemental pictures corresponds to the main picture. An on-screen display indicator can be generated for the supplemental picture corresponding to the main picture. In an alternative, the supplemental picture corresponding to the main picture can be repositioned on the display. In another alternative, the supplemental picture corresponding to the main picture can be modified in appearance.

Claims

1. A television apparatus, comprising:

means for storing a set of signals corresponding to a set of video sources;

video signal processing means, coupled to said storing means, for developing a multiple picture display by using one of said signals to select one of said video sources from said set of video sources to generate a main picture of said display and by using all of said signals to corresponding to said set of video sources to generate supplemental pictures of said display, smaller in size than said main picture, said multiple picture display having an on-screen indication identifying which one of said supplemental pictures corresponds to said main picture; and

,

control means responsive to viewer activation for choosing said set of video sources and for automatically selecting said main picture from among said supplemental pictures responsive to repositioning of said on-screen indication.

2. The television apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said multiple picture display comprises three of said supplemental pictures, disposed laterally to one side of said main picture.

3. The television apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said multiple picture display is a wide screen display and comprises three of said supplemental pictures.

4. The television apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said multiple picture display has a 16×

9 format display ratio and said main picture and each of said supplemental pictures has a 4×

3 format display ratio.

5. The television apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said on-screen display indication is persistent.

6. The television apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said on-screen display indication is a channel indicator.

7. The television apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said on-screen display indication is a cursor.

8. The television apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said on-screen display indication is picture frame.

9. The television apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said on-screen display indication is the position on said display of said one of said supplemental pictures corresponding to said main picture.

10. The television apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said on-screen display indication is a modification of said supplemental picture corresponding to said main picture, relative to said other supplemental pictures, by at least one of luminance, saturation and hue.

11. The television apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control means requires actuation of only one switch in a remote control device for both repositioning said on-screen display and initiating said automatic selection of said main picture.

12. The television apparatus of claim 1, wherein said main picture and one of said supplemental pictures are generated from the same video source.

13. A television apparatus, comprising:

means for storing a set of signals corresponding to a set of video sources;

video signal processing means, coupled to said storing means, for developing a multiple picture display on a video display means having a wide format display ratio, by using one of said signals to select one of said video sources from said set of video sources to generate a main picture of said display and by using all of said signals to corresponding to said set of video sources to generate supplemental pictures of said display, smaller in size than said main picture, said multiple picture display having an on-screen indication identifying which one of said supplemental pictures corresponds to said main picture; and

,

control means responsive to viewer activation for choosing said set of video sources and for automatically selecting said main picture from among said supplemental pictures responsive to repositioning of said on-screen indication.