Method and apparatus for controlling a display monitor in a PC/TV convergence system

• US 6,209,044 B1
• Filed: 12/01/1998
• Issued: 03/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Compaq Computer Corporation (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Vaughan, Mark P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Thomas C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PEYTON, TAMMARA R
• Application Number:
  US09/204,618
• Time in Patent Office: 847 Days
• Field of Search: 710/8, 710/10, 710/14, 710/5, 395/674, 395/675, 709/105, 709/106
• US Class Current: 710/14
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 1/167 Details of the interface to the display terminal specific for a CRT details suitable for both CRT and flat panel G09G5/006, specific for a flat panel G09G3/2096
• 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 21/443 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

Abstract

A computer system comprising a display monitor including an audio function and a computer coupled to the display monitor including a computer controller for controlling the audio function in the monitor. The computer is operable in a computer mode, a television mode, and a combination computer/television mode for displaying computer and television information on the monitor. The system determines whether the monitor includes a controller for controlling its audio function. Based upon this determination, the system controls the audio function with the audio controller in the monitor if the monitor includes such a controller or, alternatively, with the computer controller if the monitor does not have such a controller.

Claims

1. An article of manufacture for controlling a function of a peripheral device, the article of manufacture comprising:

at least one computer readable medium; and

instructions contained on the at least one computer readable medium, the instructions configured to be readable from the at least one computer readable medium by at least one processor and thereby cause the at least one processor to operate so as to;

determine whether the peripheral device includes a peripheral controller for controlling the function of the peripheral device; and

responsive to the determination that the peripheral device does not include a peripheral controller, control the function of the peripheral device with a computer controller.

2. The article of manufacture of claim 1, wherein the instructions are configured to cause the at least one processor to further operate so as to:

responsive to the determination that the peripheral device includes a peripheral controller, control the function of the peripheral device with the peripheral controller.

3. The article of manufacture of claim 1, wherein the function of the peripheral device is a display-quality function.

4. The article of manufacture of claim 1, wherein the function of the peripheral device is a display-geometry function.

5. The article of manufacture of claim 1, wherein the function of the peripheral device is an audio function.

6. A computer system for at least adjusting a function of a peripheral device, the computer system comprising:

an instruction receiver for receiving an instruction transmitted by an instruction transmitter, the received instruction for selectively adjusting a functional parameter associated with operation of the peripheral device by signals supplied from the computer system;

a communication link connected to the peripheral device; and

a processor connected to the instruction receiver and the communication link, the processor for;

determining whether the peripheral device is configured to be directly responsive to the instruction transmitted by the instruction transmitter for adjustment of said functional parameter; and

responding to the determination that the peripheral device is not configured to be directly responsive to the instruction transmitted by the instruction transmitter, to selectively adjust said functional parameter of the peripheral device in accordance with the received instruction.

7. The computer system of claim 6, further comprising:

a peripheral device controller for selectively adjusting said functional parameter of the peripheral device, the peripheral device controller responsive to the instruction transmitted by the instruction transmitter.

8. The computer system of claim 7, wherein the peripheral device controller is directly responsive to the instruction transmitted by the instruction transmitter.

9. The computer system of claim 6, further comprising:

a convergence functionality module connected to the processor, the convergence functionality module for at least one of generating and transmitting a plurality of types of signals under control of said processor.

10. The computer system of claim 9, wherein the convergence functionality module comprises at least one of:

a television receiver, a gaming unit and a direct audio/video source.

11. The computer system of claim 6, wherein the instruction receiver is configured to receive one of infared and radio frequency instructions from said instruction transmitter.

12. The computer system of claim 6, further comprising:

an instruction transmitter for transmitting instructions receivable by the instruction receiver.

13. A method for selectively adjusting a plurality of functional parameters associated with operation of a peripheral device by a computer, the method comprising the steps of determining whether the peripheral device is configured to adjust each of the functional parameters;

transmitting instructions to adjust the functional parameters; and

responsive to a transmitted instruction to adjust at least one of said functional parameters and to the determination that the peripheral device is not configured to adjust said at least one functional parameter, using said transmitted instruction to operate a controller in said computer to adjust said at least one functional parameter of the peripheral device; and

responsive to a transmitted instruction to adjust another functional parameter and determination that the peripheral device is configured to adjust said another functional parameter, using said transmitted instruction to operate a controller internal to the peripheral device to adjust said another functional parameter.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said another functional parameter of the peripheral device is a display-quality functional parameter.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein said another functional parameter of the peripheral device is a display-geometry functional parameter.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein said one functional parameter of the peripheral device is an audio functional parameter.

17. A computer system for at least adjusting respective functions associated with operation of a peripheral device, the computer system comprising:

a processor operable to control supply of operating signals for communication to a peripheral device;

said processor including a plurality of controllers each associated with an individual function affecting operation of the peripheral device by one of said operating signals said controllers operable in response to respective instructions transmitted by an instruction transmitter to selectively adjust said individual functions; and

said processor connected to said peripheral device to;

determine whether the peripheral device, when connected to said computer system, is configured to be directly responsive to the respective instructions transmitted by the instruction transmitter for selective adjustment of said individual functions; and

respond to the determination that the peripheral device is not configured to be directly responsive to an instructions transmitted by the instruction transmitter for selective adjustment of at least one of said individual functions, to operate the controller associated with said at least one function to selectively adjust said at least one function in accordance with that transmitted instruction.

18. The computer system of claim 17, wherein said operating signals include video signals for generating a display on a display monitor peripheral device, and said individual adjustable functions include a display quality function and a display-geometry function.

19. A computer system comprising:

a peripheral device display monitor and a peripheral device loudspeaker;

a processor operable to control supply of video signals to said peripheral device display monitor and of audio signals to said peripheral device loudspeaker;

said processor including a plurality of controllers operable in response to instructions transmitted by an instruction transmitter to selectively adjust individual functions including picture-quality, picture-geometry and audio-volume modifying operation of the peripheral device display monitor by said video signals and of the peripheral device loudspeaker by said audio signals; and

said processor connected to said peripheral device display monitor and said peripheral device loudspeaker to;

to determine whether the peripheral device display monitor and the peripheral device loudspeaker are configured to be directly responsive to the instructions transmitted by the instruction transmitter for selective adjustment of said functions; and

operate a said controller to selectively adjust one of said functions in accordance with the transmitted instructions in response to determination by the processor that the peripheral device operation associated with said one function is not directly responsive to instructions transmitted by the instruction transmitter.

20. A computer system comprising:

a peripheral device display monitor and a peripheral device loudspeaker;

a processor operable to control supply of video signals to said peripheral device display monitor and of audio signals to said peripheral device loudspeaker;

controllers operable in response to instructions transmitted by an instruction transmitter to selectively adjust functions including picture-quality, picture-geometry and audio-volume modifying operation of the peripheral device display monitor by said video signals and of the peripheral device loudspeaker by said audio signals; and

said processor connected to the controller to;

determine whether the peripheral device display monitor and the peripheral device loudspeaker are configured to be directly responsive to the instructions transmitted by the instruction transmitter for selective adjustment of said functions; and

operate said controller to selectively adjust at least one of said functions in accordance with the transmitted instructions in response to determination by the processor that the peripheral device operation associated with said at least one function is not directly responsive to instructions transmitted by the instruction transmitter.

21. The computer system of claim 20, wherein said one function is audio-volume.

22. The computer system of claim 21, wherein said peripheral device loudspeaker is separate from said display monitor peripheral device.