Method and apparatus to prevent top-most windows from interfering with TV mode in a PC/TV

• US 6,104,390 A
• Filed: 02/16/1999
• Issued: 08/15/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Compaq Computer Corporation (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Sturgeon, Derrill L., Vaughan, Mark P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Faile, Andrew I.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Brown, Reuben M.
• Application Number:
  US09/250,738
• Time in Patent Office: 546 Days
• Field of Search: 348/6, 348/12, 348/552, 348/553, 348/563, 345/327, 345/326, 345/342, 345/340, 345/341, 345/343, 345/344
• US Class Current: 715/718
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/125 wherein one of the images is motion video
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/14 Display of multiple viewports
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4113 PC
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42692 for reading from or writing on a volatile storage medium, e.g. Random Access Memory [RAM]
• 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 21/443 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 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/485 End-user interface for client configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/45 Picture in picture , e.g. displaying simultaneously another television channel in a region of the screen

Abstract

An electronic convergence device system, such as a PC/TV adapted to operate in a computer mode and a TV mode. When switching and/or operating in TV mode the top-most windows from the computer mode applications are inhibited from interfering with the TV mode experience.

Claims

1. A electronic convergence device having a TV mode and a computer mode, said electronic convergence device comprising:

a computer subsystem;

a convergence module adapted to receive signals intended for a television, said convergence device connected to said computer subsystem;

a monitor, connected to said computer subsystem, for displaying said computer mode and said TV mode to said user,

an input device for allowing a user to input commands to said electronic convergence device, wherein a first command changes a mode of said electronic convergence device from a computer mode to a TV mode and wherein said computer subsystem alters a top-most characteristic of a top-most window to an altered top-most window that has a characteristic of a non-top most window after said first command is received by said electronic convergence device such that said top-most window cannot be displayed when said electronic convergence device is in TV mode unless further input is provided by said user.

2. The electronic convergence device of claim 1, wherein a listing of said altered top-most window is stored while said electronic convergence device is in TV mode.

3. The electronic convergence device of claim 1, wherein said computer subsystem alters a child-window of said top-most window after said first command is received by said electronic convergence device.

4. The electronic convergence device of claim 1, wherein said TV picture on said monitor is not designated as a top-most screen.

5. In a PC/TV system capable of switching from a PC mode to TV mode, a method of preventing top-most windows from being overlaid on a TV picture when said PC/TV is switched from said PC mode to said TV mode, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving a request to switch from PC mode to TV mode;

determining which windows are top-most windows;

disabling a top-most programming characteristic from all top-most windows such that said top-most programming characteristic is changed to a normal window programming characteristic;

creating a list of all windows having altered characteristics in said disabling step;

switching to said TV mode wherein a TV mode picture is not contained within a window.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of determining which windows are children of said top-most windows.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said step of creating a list includes all windows that are children of said top-most windows.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein said list is stored in a RAM.