Multiple-screen video adapter with television tuner

• US 6,028,643 A
• Filed: 09/03/1997
• Issued: 02/22/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Contemporary Display LLC (IPValuation Partners, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Colorgraphic Communications Corporation
• Inventors: Young, Thomas D., Mintz, Ezra, Biskey, Bruce L., Jordan, Douglas A.
• Primary Examiner(s): HSIA, SHERRIE Y
• Application Number:
  US08/922,614
• Time in Patent Office: 902 Days
• Field of Search: 348/552, 348/553, 348/555, 348/563, 348/569
• US Class Current: 348/552
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1431 using a single graphics controller
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/363 Graphics controllers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4122 additional display device, e.g. video projector digital output for controlling a plurality of local displays G06F3/1423
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4135 external recorder interface circuits between an apparatus for recording television signals and a television receiver H04N5/775
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4143 embedded in a Personal Computer [PC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4263 involving specific tuning arrangements, e.g. two tuners
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42653 for processing graphics
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/431 Generation of visual interfaces for content selection or interaction; Content or additional data rendering
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/443 OS processes, e.g. booting an STB, implementing a Java virtual machine in an STB or power management in an STB
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/485 End-user interface for client configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6118 involving cable transmission, e.g. using a cable modem
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/641 Multi-purpose receivers, e.g. for auxiliary information H04N9/642 takes precedence

Abstract

Video adapter hardware and software permitting the display of computer information and television signals across several display devices. The video adapter hardware includes two graphics user interface accelerators, two television tuners, one or more video decoders, and one or more video multiplexers. Each accelerator is coupled to a memory unit for access to graphics data. One television tuner accepts input from an outside television source, such as a cable television company or a video cassette recorder. In addition, the video multiplexers accept input from other external video sources. Video data is output from the graphics accelerators to multiple screens. Video adapter software displays a tool window allowing the user to select first input for the first display device and a second input for the second display device. The software displays the results of the two inputs on the respective display devices. If the inputs are identical, however, the information may be displayed across both display devices.

Claims

1. A video adapter for use in a computer having an internal bus, the video adapter comprising:

a first graphic accelerator;

a second graphic accelerator;

at least one video decoder coupled to at least one of the first and second graphic accelerators;

a first television tuner receiving a first television signal

a second television tuner receiving a second television signal;

circuitry for coupling the first and second television tuners to the at least one video decoder; and

a plurality of video monitor outputs.

2. The video adapter, as recited in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of CVBS outputs.

3. The video adapter, as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a bus interface communicating with the internal bus;

a bus bridge coupled to the first and second graphic accelerators and coupled to the bus interface.

4. The video adapter, as recited in claim 1, wherein the coupling circuitry further comprises a video multiplexer.

5. The video adapter, as recited in claim 4, further comprising a second video multiplexer having an external input and coupled to the at least one video decoder.

6. The video adapter, as recited in claim 5, wherein the external video multiplexer input is an S-Video input.

7. The video adapter, as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a first memory unit coupled to the first accelerator; and

a second memory unit coupled to the second accelerator.

8. The video adapter, as recited in claim 7, further comprising a main memory unit coupled to the first and second accelerators.

9. The video adapter, as recited in claim 1, further comprising a sound processor coupled to at least one of the first and second television tuners.

10. The video adapter, as recited in claim 1, wherein the first television signal is an external signal.

11. The video adapter, as recited in claim 10, wherein the external signal is provided by video-producing equipment.

12. A computer system, comprising:

a central processing unit;

a video adapter communicating with the central processing unit;

a first video source providing a first video signal to the video adapter;

a second video source providing a second video signal to the video adapter;

a first graphic accelerator;

a second graphic accelerator;

a bus interface communicating with an internal bus of said computer system;

a bus bridge coupled to the first and second graphic accelerators and coupled to the bus interface;

a first display device coupled to the video adapter, the first display device displaying results of the first graphic accelerator; and

a second display device coupled to the video adapter, the second display device displaying results of the second graphic accelerator.

13. The computer system, as recited in claim 12, wherein the first video signal is a television signal.

14. The computer system, as recited in claim 12, wherein if the first video signal is identical to the second video signal, the results of the first video signal are displayed on the first and second display devices.

15. The computer system, as recited in claim 14, wherein the results of the first video signal are displayed as a single window across the first and second display devices.

16. A method for displaying information on multiple display devices, comprising the steps, performed by a computer, of:

providing a computer containing an adapter which supplies signals to a plurality of monitors, the adapter containing a plurality of video tuners;

displaying a tool window interface coupled to control the adapter, wherein a first display device output window having a group of selectable inputs including at least one video input, and a second display device output window having a group of selectable inputs having at least one video input, are displayed;

inputting an indication that a user wishes to select a first input for the first display device output window;

inputting an indication that a user wishes to select a second input for the second display device output window;

causing the adapter to display, on the first display device, signals according to the first display device input indication; and

causing the adapter to display, on the second display device, signals according to the second display device input indication.

17. The method for displaying information on multiple display devices, as recited in claim 16, wherein if the first input is identical to the second input, the adapter displays, on the first display device and the second display device, signals according to the first display device input indication.

18. The method for displaying information on multiple display devices, as recited in claim 17, wherein the first group of selectable inputs includes an external television input.

19. The method for displaying information on multiple display devices, as recited in claim 17, wherein the second group of selectable inputs includes an external television input.

20. The method for displaying information on multiple display devices, as recited in claim 16, further comprising the steps of:

displaying a video window within the tool window, the video window including a plurality of selectable video characteristics;

inputting an indication that the user wishes to select a particular video characteristic for an active window; and

adjusting the selected video characteristic for the active window.

21. The method for displaying information on multiple display devices, as recited in claim 20, wherein the plurality of selectable video characteristics includes a color characteristic, a tint characteristic, a brightness characteristic, and a contrast characteristic.

22. The method for displaying information on multiple display devices, as recited in claim 16, further comprising the steps of:

displaying an audio window within the tool window, the audio window including a plurality of selectable audio characteristics;

inputting an indication that the user wishes to select a particular audio characteristic for an active window; and

adjusting the selected audio characteristic for the active window.

23. The method for displaying information on multiple display devices, as recited in claim 16, wherein the plurality of selectable audio characteristics includes a bass characteristic and a treble characteristic.

24. The method for displaying information on multiple display devices, as recited in claim 16, further comprising the steps of:

displaying an input window within the tool window, the input window including a plurality of selectable internal video inputs and a plurality of selectable external video inputs;

inputting an indication that the user wishes to select a particular internal video input; and

inputting an indication that the user wishes to select a particular external video input.

25. The method for displaying information on multiple display devices, as recited in claim 24, wherein the plurality of selectable external video inputs includes a plurality of S-Video inputs.