Picture-in-picture television receiver with menu displayed in second sub-screen

• US 5,438,372 A
• Filed: 10/24/1994
• Issued: 08/01/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Ogawa, Kiyoshi, Tsumori, Koki
• Primary Examiner(s): Kostak, Victor R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Flynn, Nathan J.
• Application Number:
  US08/329,133
• Time in Patent Office: 281 Days
• Field of Search: 348/565, 348/567, 348/568, 348/569
• US Class Current: 348/565
• 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 21/4334 Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47214 for content reservation or setting reminders; for requesting event notification, e.g. of sport results or stock market stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; notification of incoming messages in packet switching networks H04L51/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4852 for modifying audio parameters, e.g. switching between mono and stereo
• 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 5/782 on tape

Abstract

In response to data supplied from a system controller, a display microcomputer of a television receiver produces a display in a sub-screen of the cathode-ray tube of a main menu corresponding to the numerous operating functions of which the television receiver is capable. Some of these functions include a picture-in-picture function, a satellite broadcast receiving function, and a picture-recording reservation function. When a user of the television receiver selects an item on the main menu corresponding to the picture-in-picture function by using a remote controller, the system controller controls an audio video switch, the picture-in-picture circuit, and a display microcomputer to provide two picture-in-picture sub-screens displayed simultaneously. One sub-screen contains a sub-screen menu to enable the user to set parameters relative to the picture displayed in the other sub-screen.

Claims

1. A television receiver including a picture-in-picture circuit for displaying a picture different than a picture being displayed on a main portion of a picture screen of the television receiver on a first sub-screen formed as a portion of the picture screen, the television receiver comprising:

display means for displaying a menu on a second sub-screen of the main screen separate from the first sub-screen, the menu relating to selectable parameters of a picture displayed on the first sub-screen of the main screen;

selecting means for selecting one of the selectable parameters in the menu displayed by the display means on the second sub-screen;

control means for performing controls corresponding to the parameter selected by the selecting means; and

display control means for controlling the picture-in-picture circuit to cause the first sub-screen to display a picture while the menu is simultaneously displayed on the second sub-screen by the display means.

2. The television receiver according to claim 1, wherein the display means displays a movable cursor along with the menu, and the selecting means includes a remote control unit for moving the movable cursor to a location of one of the selectable parameters of the menu.

3. The television receiver according to claim 2, wherein one of the selectable parameters corresponds to parameters of the picture-in-picture function for the first sub-screen and upon selection by the selecting means produces a sub-menu relating to parameters of the picture-in-picture display of the first sub-screen.

4. The television receiver according to claim 3, wherein said display control means includes means for transposing the sub-menu displayed on the second sub-screen and the picture constituting the picture-in-picture being displayed in the first sub-screen.