Video and audio functions in a web television

• US 6,097,383 A
• Filed: 01/23/1997
• Issued: 08/01/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Zenith Electronics Corporation (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Gaughan, Kevin J., Zato, Thomas J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kostak, Victor R.
• Application Number:
  US08/787,831
• Time in Patent Office: 1,286 Days
• Field of Search: 348/565, 348/552, 348/553, 348/739, 348/578, 348/10, 348/12, 348/13, 348/6, 348/7, 345/327, 345/328, 455/6.2, 455/6.3, 455/5.1
• US Class Current: 715/717
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• 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 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/45 Picture in picture , e.g. displaying simultaneously another television channel in a region of the screen

Abstract

A web television includes a display, a tuner, an internet module, and a PIP module. The tuner is arranged to select television video for display on the display and to select television audio for display by a speaker of the web television. The internet module is arranged to supply internet video for display on the display and to supply internet audio for display by the speaker of the web television, and the internet video and audio are derived from internet communications between the web television and internet content providers. The PIP module is arranged to provide a PIP area within a main area of the display. The internet video and the television video may be swapped between the PIP area and the main area of the display, and the speaker of the web television may be swapped between the internet audio and the television audio.

Claims

1. A web television comprising:

a display;

a tuner, wherein the tuner is arranged to select television video for display on the display;

an internet module, wherein the internet module is arranged to supply internet video for display on the display, wherein the internet video is derived from internet communications between the web television and internet content providers;

a PIP module, wherein the PIP module is arranged to provide a PIP area of the display; and

,

a television controller that switches the PIP area between the internet video and the television video, wherein the television controller controls the main area so that, when the television video is in the PIP area and the internet video is in the main area of the display, the internet video wraps around the PIP area.

2. The web television of claim 1 further comprising a switch having a first input connected to receive the internet video, a second input connected to receive the television video, a first output arranged to supply either the television video or the internet video to the PIP module for display in the PIP area, and a second output arranged to supply either the television video or the internet video for display in a main area of the display, wherein the television controller controls the switch.

3. The web television of claim 1 wherein the television controller receives information from the internet module requesting a switch of the television video and the internet video between the PIP area and the main area of the display.

4. The web television of claim 1 wherein the television controller transmits a message to the internet module indicating whether the internet video or the television video is in the main area of the display.

5. The web television of claim 1 wherein the television controller transmits a message to the internet module indicating whether the PIP area is on or off.

6. The web television of claim 1 wherein the television controller receives information from the internet module requesting that the internet video or the television video be provided in the main area of the display.

7. The web television of claim 1 wherein the television controller receives information from the internet module requesting that the PIP area be on or off.

8. The web television of claim 1 wherein the television controller and the internet module are integrated in the same processing block.

9. A web television comprising:

a display;

a tuner, wherein the tuner is arranged to select television video for display on the display;

an internet module, wherein the internet module is arranged to supply internet video for display on the display, wherein the internet video is derived from internet communications between the web television and internet content providers;

a PIP module, wherein the PIP module is arranged to provide a PIP area of the display; and

,

a television controller that controls the main area and the PIP area so that, when the television video is in the PIP area and the internet video is in the main area of the display, the internet video wraps around the PIP area.

10. The web television of claim 9 wherein the television controller switches the PIP area between the internet video and the television video.

11. The web television of claim 9 further comprising a switch having a first input connected to receive the internet video, a second input connected to receive the television video, a first output arranged to supply either the television video or the internet video to the PIP module for display in the PIP area, and a second output arranged to supply either the television video or the internet video for display in a main area of the display, wherein the television controller controls the switch.

12. The web television of claim 9 wherein the television controller receives information from the internet module requesting a switch of the television video and the internet video between the PIP area and the main area of the display.

13. The web television of claim 9 wherein the television controller transmits a message to the internet module indicating whether the internet video or the television video is in the main area of the display.

14. The web television of claim 9 wherein the television controller transmits a message to the internet module indicating whether the PIP area is on or off.

15. The web television of claim 9 wherein the television controller receives information from the internet module requesting that the internet video or the television video be provided in the main area of the display.

16. The web television of claim 9 wherein the television controller receives information from the internet module requesting that the PIP area be on or off.

17. The web television of claim 9 wherein the television controller and the internet module are integrated in the same processing block.