Display with one or more display windows and placement dependent cursor and function control

• US 6,313,880 B1
• Filed: 04/03/1997
• Issued: 11/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Shima, Hisato, Smyers, Scott, Chilamakuri, Chenchu
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): DESIR, JEAN WICEL
• Application Number:
  US08/832,490
• Time in Patent Office: 1,678 Days
• Field of Search: H04/N.714, H04/N.5445, 348/552, 348/553, 348/564, 348/565, 348/563, 348/569, 348/734, 348/12, 348/10, 348/13, 395/200.3, 395/200.48, 345/157, 345/158, 345/145, 345/115
• US Class Current: 348/552
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/40117 Interconnection of audio or video/imaging devices home automation networks H04L12/2803; bitstream network arrangements specially adapted for distribution of digital video signals H04N7/24
• 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 21/4223 Cameras H04N23/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43632 involving a wired protocol, e.g. IEEE 1394 high-speed IEEE 1394 serial bus H04L12/40052
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4438 Window management, e.g. event handling following interaction with the user interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/45 Picture in picture , e.g. displaying simultaneously another television channel in a region of the screen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/77 between a recording apparatus and a television camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 between a recording apparatus and a television receiver

Abstract

A television with multiple display windows and placement dependent cursor and function control is configured to receive and simultaneously display video and graphics input from multiple devices, including but not limited to personal computers, video cassette recorders, settop boxes, video cameras and video disk players, as well as display video input signals from cable, antenna and satellite sources. The size of each display window is adjustable to encompass a predetermined amount of the display screen of the television. Multiple input windows driven by multiple devices can be viewed simultaneously. One or more cursor control and input devices are used to control the operation of the television and of the devices driving the display windows. The cursor control and input devices control the position of the cursor on the television screen. When the cursor is positioned within one of the input display windows, the cursor control and input devices are used to control the operation of the device driving that input window, through signals sent from the television to the appropriate device. Preferably, the devices are coupled to the television through an IEEE 1394 serial bus network.

Claims

1. A method of displaying input signals on a display device having a first driving device comprising the steps of:

a. establishing a connection between the display device and a second driving device;

b. opening a display window on the display device driven by the second driving device;

c. determining a current cursor position on the display device; and

d. receiving input signals through the display device, transmitting the input signals to the second driving device when the current cursor position is within the display window and transmitting the input signals to the first driving device when the current cursor position is outside the display window yet within the display device.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first driving device is a local driving device resident within the display device and the second driving device is a remote device not resident within the display device.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2 wherein the remote driving device is a personal computer.

4. The method as claimed in claim 3 wherein the connection between the display device and a second driving device is established through an IEEE 1394 serial bus.

5. The method as claimed in claim 2 wherein the remote driving device is a consumer electronics device.

6. The method as claimed in claim 5 wherein the connection between the display device and a second driving device is established through an IEEE 1394 serial bus.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising the step of controlling the cursor position on the display device based on input signals.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7 wherein the input signals are received from a wireless mouse device.

9. The method as claimed in claim 7 wherein the input signals are received from a keyboard device.

10. The method as claimed in claim 8 wherein the connection between the display device and the second driving device is established through an IEEE 1394 serial bus.

11. The method as claimed in claim 10 wherein the display device is a television.

12. A method of displaying input signals on a display device having a local driving device comprising the steps of:

a. establishing a connection between the display device and one or more remote driving devices;

b. opening one or more display windows on the display device driven by a corresponding one of the one or more remote driving devices;

c. determining a current cursor position on the display device; and

d. receiving input signals through the display device and transmitting the input signals to the corresponding one of the one or more remote driving devices when the current cursor position is within the corresponding display window.

13. The method as claimed in claim 12 further comprising the step of controlling the cursor position on the display device based on input signals.

14. The method as claimed in claim 12 wherein the connection between the display device and the one or more remote driving devices is established through an IEEE 1394 serial bus.

15. The method as claimed in claim 13 wherein the input signals are received from a wireless mouse device.

16. The method as claimed in claim 14 wherein the input signals are received from a keyboard device.

17. The method as claimed in claim 14 wherein the remote driving device is a personal computer.

18. The method as claimed in claim 17 wherein the display device is a television.

19. A display system having a local driving device for displaying signals comprising:

a. a display device including an input detection device for determining a current cursor position on the display device;

b. one or more remote driving devices coupled to the display device for establishing a connection between the display device and the remote driving devices, wherein a display window is opened on the display device for each successful connection; and

c. an input device for providing control signals and input to the display device, wherein the control signals and input are transmitted from the display device to an appropriate one of the remote driving devices when the current cursor position is within the display window of the remote driving device.

20. The display system as claimed in claim 19 wherein the input device is a wireless mouse device.

21. The display system as claimed in claim 20 wherein the input device is used to control the current cursor position.

22. The display system as claimed in claim 21 wherein the one or more remote driving devices are coupled to the display device by an IEEE 1394 serial bus.

23. The display system as claimed in claim 22 wherein the display device is a television.

24. The display system as claimed in claim 23 wherein the local driving device is resident within the display system and the remote driving device is not resident within the display device.

25. A display device for displaying signals from one or more driving devices comprising:

a. an interface circuit configured for coupling to one or more driving devices, thereby establishing a connection between the display device and the driving devices, wherein a display window is opened on the display device for each successful connection;

b. an input detection circuit for determining a current cursor position on the display device; and

c. an input device for providing control signals and input to the display device, wherein the control signals and input are transmitted from the display device to an appropriate one of the driving devices when the current cursor position is within the display window of the driving device.

26. The display device as claimed in claim 25 wherein the input device is used to control the current cursor position.

27. The display device as claimed in claim 26 wherein the input device is a wireless mouse device.

28. The display device as claimed in claim 26 wherein the input device is a keyboard device.

29. The display device as claimed in claim 27 wherein the interface circuit is an IEEE 1394 serial bus interface circuit and includes an IEEE 1394 physical connection.

30. A display system for displaying video and graphics signals comprising:

a. a television including an input detection device for determining a current cursor position on the television;

b. a personal computer driving device coupled to the television by an IEEE 1394 serial bus for establishing a connection between the television and the personal computer, wherein a display window is opened on the television for the personal computer; and

c. an input device for providing control signals and input to the television, wherein the control signals and input are transmitted from the television to the personal computer when the current cursor position is within the display window controlled by the personal computer and the control signals and input are transmitted directly to the television when the current cursor position is outside the display window yet within the television.

31. The display system as claimed in claim 30 wherein the input device is a wireless mouse device.

32. The display system as claimed in claim 30 wherein the input device is a keyboard device.

33. The display system as claimed in claim 31 wherein the input device is used to control the current cursor position.