Multiviewer display system for television monitors
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for simultaneously viewing a plurality of video channels, on one display screen, with a plurality of viewers, comprising the steps of:
- providing each of the plurality of viewers with visual apparatus that operates in two modes, wherein in a first mode the viewer is enabled to view an image on the display screen through the visual apparatus, while in the second mode the viewer is disabled by the visual apparatus from viewing an image on the display screen;
operating a display monitor that includes the display screen so as to time multiplex the display of a plurality of video channels selected by the plurality of viewers;
synchronizing the operation of each of the plurality of visual apparatus with the display screen such that each viewer is enabled to view the image on the display screen only during a time when a viewer-selected video channel is being displayed on the display screen, and automatically varying timing of the display of the plurality of channels to accommodate a change in a total number of viewers, or two or more viewers selecting the same video channel.
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Abstract
A display monitor (12) operates in a time-multiplexed fashion to display a plurality of viewer-selected video channels on a single display screen. A visual apparatus (22) worn by the viewers is synchronized to the operation of the display monitor for enabling each of the viewers to observe the display screen only at times when the viewer-selected video channel is being displayed.
249 Citations
42 Claims
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1. A method for simultaneously viewing a plurality of video channels, on one display screen, with a plurality of viewers, comprising the steps of:
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providing each of the plurality of viewers with visual apparatus that operates in two modes, wherein in a first mode the viewer is enabled to view an image on the display screen through the visual apparatus, while in the second mode the viewer is disabled by the visual apparatus from viewing an image on the display screen;
operating a display monitor that includes the display screen so as to time multiplex the display of a plurality of video channels selected by the plurality of viewers;
synchronizing the operation of each of the plurality of visual apparatus with the display screen such that each viewer is enabled to view the image on the display screen only during a time when a viewer-selected video channel is being displayed on the display screen, and automatically varying timing of the display of the plurality of channels to accommodate a change in a total number of viewers, or two or more viewers selecting the same video channel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
receiving, at each of the visual apparatus, an audio channel associated with the same or a different viewer-selected video channel; and
converting the received audio channel into an audio signal for the viewer.
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6. A method as in claim 1, wherein at least one of the video channels provides access to a data communications network.
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7. A method as in claim 1, wherein at least one of the video channels provides access to the internet.
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23. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of varying timing of the display further comprises:
transmitting a plurality of command packets from the display monitor to the visual apparatus, said command packets including data on the number of viewers and an order in which the channels are displayed.
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24. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of varying timing is accomplished in response to a viewer using one of said plurality of viewers.
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25. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of varying timing is accomplished in response to a viewer actuating a remote control device.
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26. The method of claim 1, wherein each video channel is associated with a different program.
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27. The method of claim 26, wherein there are more than two programs.
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28. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of synchronizing is accomplished only periodically.
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8. A system for simultaneously viewing a plurality of video channels, on one display screen, with a plurality of viewers, comprising:
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a display monitor that comprises said display screen, said display monitor being coupled to at least one programming source and operating so as to time multiplex the display of a plurality of video channels selected by the plurality of viewers;
for each of the plurality of viewers, a visual apparatus that operates in two modes, wherein in a first mode the viewer is enabled to view an image on the display screen through the visual apparatus, while in the second mode the viewer is disabled by the visual apparatus from viewing an image on the display screen;
said system further comprising a synchronization subsystem for synchronizing the operation of each of said plurality of visual apparatus with the operation of said display monitor such that each viewer is enabled to view the image on said display screen only during a time when a viewer-selected video channel is being displayed on said display screen; and
a subsystem for automatically varying timing of the display of the plurality of channels to accommodate a change in total number of viewers, or two or more viewers selecting the same video channel. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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- 15. Visual apparatus worn by a viewer, said visual apparatus comprising a controller coupled to at least one electrically actuated shutter for enabling the viewer to observe a selected one of a plurality of time-multiplexed video channels on a display screen, said visual apparatus operating in two modes, wherein in a first mode the viewer is enabled to observe, with both eyes, an image on the display screen through the at least one shutter, while in the second mode the viewer is disabled by the at least one shutter from observing an image on the display screen, said visual apparatus further comprising a receiver for receiving a synchronization signal for synchronizing the operation of said at least one shutter to the time-multiplexed video channels such that the viewer is enabled to view the viewer-selected video channel on said display screen, wherein said first and second modes occur during a repeating viewing cycle, and wherein a timing of said first and second modes within said viewing cycle can be varied by the synchronization signal to accommodate at least one of a change in a total number of viewers, or two or more viewers selecting the same video channel.
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19. A display monitor, comprising:
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a display screen;
an first interface coupled to at least one programming source for receiving video and audio signals from the at least programming source;
a second interface for receiving signals from a plurality of separately identifiable viewer input devices;
a controller for operating said display screen in a time-multiplexed manner so as to sequentially display a plurality of video channels selected by a plurality of viewers using said viewer input devices, said plurality of video channels being sequentially displayed at a rate such that an individual viewer, when viewing said display screen only during a time that the viewer selected video channel is displayed, sees a continuous image of only the viewer'"'"'s selected video channel; and
a subsystem for automatically varying timing of the display of the plurality of channels to accommodate a change in total number of viewers or two or more viewers selecting the same video channel. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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Specification