Graphical menu for a television receiver

• US 5,543,857 A
• Filed: 11/30/1994
• Issued: 08/06/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Thomson Consumer Electronics Incorporated (Vantiva SA)
• Original Assignee: Thomson Consumer Electronics Incorporated (Vantiva SA)
• Inventors: Miller, Robert H., Wehmeyer, Keith R., Logan, Robert J., Dinwiddie, Aaron H., Augaitis, Sheila R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kostak, Victor R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HSIA, SHERRIE Y
• Application Number:
  US08/347,786
• Time in Patent Office: 615 Days
• Field of Search: 348/564, 348/565, 348/569, 348/584, 348/589, 348/600, 358/183, 358/22, 358/22 PIP
• US Class Current: 348/589
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4131 home appliance, e.g. lighting, air conditioning system, metering devices home automation data switching networks exchanging configuration information on appliance services H04L12/2807
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42216 for quick navigation, e.g. through an EPG
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42653 for processing graphics
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4312 involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/485 End-user interface for client configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/44504 Circuit details of the additional information generator, e.g. details of the character or graphics signal generator, overlay mixing circuits

Abstract

A television receiver, includes a graphics generator for generating for display a stylized image of the environment in which the user'"'"'s physical television receiver is situated. The image includes graphical representations of functions which are available for selection and control by a user, and at least one of which functions affect the display of the video image. In one embodiment of the invention, a video inset-image from a PIP unit is completely surrounded by a graphics image. The PIP image is aligned with the screen of a graphically displayed television receiver to portray an image of a television displaying an received television program. Alternatively, an animated graphics presentation is displayed in the screen area of the graphically-displayed television receiver to simulate live video. In another embodiment, a stylized display of the user'"'"'s room is altered in response to user input regarding the user'"'"'s consumer electronics equipment, and submenu operational choices are enabled or disabled accordingly.

Claims

1. Menu generation apparatus for use in a television receiver, comprising:

graphics generation means for generating a graphics signal for display, said graphics signal representing a graphics image;

video processing means for producing a processed video signal at an output; and

picture-in-picture processing means for receiving first and second video signals and for producing a combined video signal comprising a main image portion and a secondary image portion at an output and coupling said combined video signal to said video processing means;

said picture-in-picture processing means deriving a secondary image signal from one of said first and second video signals for use as said secondary image portion;

said video processing means being coupled to said picture-in-picture processing means for receiving said secondary image signal and to said graphics generation means for receiving said graphics signal and producing a combined signal which when displayed comprises a video image completely surrounded by said graphics image;

wherein said graphics image includes graphical representations of functions to be controlled, said functions being selected for control by a user; and

at least one of said functions affects the display of said processed video signal.

2. Menu generation apparatus for use in a television receiver, comprising:

graphics generation means for generating a graphics signal for display, said graphics signal representing a graphics image;

video processing means for producing a processed video signal at an output;

said video processing means including switch means having a first input coupled to receive a video signal and a second input coupled to receive said graphics signal, said switch means coupling one of said signals at said inputs to an output;

picture-in-picture processing means for receiving first and second video signals, said picture-in-picture processing means producing a combined video signal comprising a main image portion and a secondary image portion, said picture in picture processing means having an output coupled to said video processing means for applying said combined video signal thereto; and

a controller for controlling said switch means and said picture-in-picture processing means;

said controller operating in a first mode for causing said picture-in-picture processing means to select said first video signal for use as said main image portion and said secondary image portion is derived from said second video signal; and

said controller operating in a second mode for causing said switch means of said video processing means to select said graphics signal for use as said main image portion and said secondary image portion is derived from one of said first and second video signals;

said graphics image including graphical representations of functions to be controlled, said functions being selected for control by a user, at least one of said functions affecting the display of said processed video signal; and

said controller operating in a third mode for causing said switch means of said video processor to select said graphics image only, said graphics image including a depiction of a screen of a television receiver, and said graphics generation means generates animated graphics for display on said screen of said depiction of said television receiver.

3. Menu generation apparatus for use in a television receiver, comprising:

graphics generation means for generating a graphics signal for display, said graphics signal representing a graphics image;

picture-in-picture processing means having inputs coupled to receive first and second video signals for producing a combined video signal comprising a main image portion and a secondary image portion;

video processing means for producing a processed video signal at an output; and

said video processing means including fast switch means having a first input coupled to receive said combined video signal and a second input coupled to receive said graphics signal, said fast switch means coupling one of said signals at said inputs to an output; and

a controller for controlling said switch means and said picture-in-picture processing means;

said controller operating in a first mode for causing said switch means of said video processing means to select said first video signal for use as said main image portion and said secondary image portion is derived from said second video signal; and

said controller operating in a second mode for causing said switch means of said video processing means to select said graphics signal for use as said main image portion and said secondary image portion is derived from one of said first and second video signals;

said picture-in-picture processing means generating said combined video signal for displaying said secondary image portion in a first screen position in said first mode, and in a second different screen position in said second mode;

said graphics image displayed in accordance with said graphics signal including graphical representations of functions to be controlled, said functions being selectable for control by a user; and

at least one of said functions affecting the display of said processed video signal.

4. Menu generation apparatus for use in a television receiver, comprising:

graphics generation means for generating a graphics signal for display, said graphics signal representing a graphics image;

video processing means for producing a processed video signal at an output; and

;

said video processing means including switch means having a first input coupled to receive a video input signal and a second input coupled to receive said graphics signal for coupling one of said signals at said inputs to said output;

said graphics signal representing said graphics image comprising a main image portion and a secondary image portion, said main image portion being substantially static and said secondary image portion being dynamic; and

a controller for controlling said graphics generation means and said switch means;

said graphics image including graphical representations of functions to be controlled, said functions being selected for control by a user; and

at least one of said functions affecting the display of said processed video signal.