Method and apparatus for displaying video in a data processing system

• US 6,456,334 B1
• Filed: 06/29/1999
• Issued: 09/24/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ATI Technologies ULC (Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ATI International SRL (Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.)
• Inventors: Duhault, James P.
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US09/343,064
• Time in Patent Office: 1,183 Days
• Field of Search: H04/M.5445, H04/M.544, H04/M.545, 348/565-568, 348/564, 348/563, 348/569, 348/581, 348/731, 348/732
• US Class Current: 348/565
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4263 involving specific tuning arrangements, e.g. two tuners
• 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 21/4438 Window management, e.g. event handling following interaction with the user interface
• 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 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/50 Tuning indicators; Automatic tuning control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/60 for the sound signals

Abstract

In one embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of video images are displayed on a scalable window associated with a computer device. One of the first portion of the plurality of images is updated by a first tuner, a second portion of the plurality of images is updated by a second tuner. By selecting one of the plurality of images using a first method, the selected image can be viewed in full-motion-video. By selecting an image using a second selection method, the image can be viewed in full-motion-video for only a predetermined amount of time. By selecting the image in yet another selection method, a second window can be created whereby a larger image of the thumbnail image can be viewed in full-motion-video. Yet another video image can be selected in order for the audio associated with that video to be played. Images being monitored in slow motion video may be relegated to the status of a thumbnail through various selection methods. Likewise, thumbnail images may periodically be viewed in full-motion-video mode.

Claims

1. A method for displaying video, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a first window displaying a plurality of video images simultaneously within the first window, wherein the window size is scalable;

periodically refreshing a first portion of the plurality of video images using a first tuner;

periodically refreshing a second portion of the plurality of video images using a second tuner;

selecting a first video image of the plurality of video images to be a selected image, wherein each other video image of the plurality of video images is an unselected image; and

providing full motion video to the selected video using the second tuner.

2. A method of claim 1, wherein the second portion of the plurality of video images is a single window.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

selecting a second video image of the plurality of video images, wherein the second video is image is different than the first video image;

providing audio associated with the second video image.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of providing audio includes providing audio associated with the second video image and the first video image substantially simultaneously.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of providing audio includes providing audio associated with the second video image for a predetermined amount of time.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

selecting a first video image of the plurality of video images to be a selected image, wherein each other video image of the plurality of video images is an unselected image; and

providing full motion video to the selected video for a predetermined amount of time using the second tuner and periodically refreshing the unselected images using the first tuner.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the predetermined amount of time is a fixed amount of time between approximately 3 seconds and approximately 10 seconds.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the predetermined amount of time is user programmable.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the step of periodically refreshing a first portion of the plurality of video images includes periodically refreshing the first portion at a first rate; and

the step of periodically refreshing a second portion of the plurality of video images includes periodically refreshing the second portion at a second rate.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the first rate and the second rate are user configurable.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

selecting a first video image of the plurality of video images using one of a first select method and a second select method, wherein each other video image of the plurality of video images is an unselected image; and

providing full motion video to the selected video using the second tuner and periodically refreshing the unselected images using the first tuner when the selected video was selected using the first select method; and

providing full motion video to the selected video for a predetermined amount of time using the second tuner and periodically refreshing the unselected images using the first tuner when the selected video was selected using the second select method.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein

the steps of periodically refreshing a first and second portion of the plurality of video images further include the first and second tuner being on a common computer board.

13. A method for displaying video, comprising the step of:

providing a first window displaying a plurality of video images simultaneously within the first window;

periodically refreshing a first portion of the plurality of video images using a first tuner;

periodically refreshing a second portion of the plurality of video images using a second tuner; and

providing a second window displaying a first video image, wherein the first video image is provided by the second tuner, and the second portion of the plurality of video images includes no images.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the second window is scaleable.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the first video image is substantially the same image as one of the plurality of video images.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the first video image is different from each of the plurality of video images.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising the steps of:

selecting the first video image; and

adding the first video image to the plurality of video images being simultaneously displayed.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of selecting includes selecting the first video image by dragging a representation of the first video image to the plurality of video images.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of selecting includes selecting the first video image by right clicking on the first video image.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of selecting includes selecting the first video image by clicking on a video button.

21. The method of claim 13, further comprising the steps of:

selecting one image of the plurality of images; and

displaying the one image as the first video image.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the step of selecting includes selecting the one image by dragging a representation of the one image to the second window.

23. The method of claim 13, further comprising the steps of:

selecting a group of images of the plurality of images, wherein the group includes more than one image; and

displaying the group of images on a portion of the second window using the first tuner.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the step of selecting includes selecting the single image by dragging a representation of the single image to the plurality of video images.

25. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

selecting a specific image of the group images;

displaying the specific image as the first video image using the second tuner.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the step of selecting a specific image further includes periodically selecting a different specific image.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein the step of displaying the specific image includes displaying the specific image for a predetermined amount of time.

28. A method of displaying video comprising:

selecting between a first mode of operation and a second mode of operation;

during a first mode of operation;

providing a first window displaying a plurality of video images simultaneously within the first window, wherein the window size is scalable;

periodically refreshing a first portion of the plurality of video images using a first tuner; and

periodically refreshing a second portion of the plurality of video images using a second tuner; and

during a second mode of operation;

providing a first window to display a plurality of video images simultaneously, wherein the first window size is scalable;

providing a second window displaying a single video image;

periodically refreshing the plurality of video images using a first tuner; and

refreshing the single video image substantially in real time.

29. A system for rendering a plurality of images, the system comprising:

a processing module; and

memory operably coupled to the processing module, wherein the memory stores operational instructions that cause the processing module to;

provide a first window displaying a plurality of video images simultaneously within the first window, wherein the window size is scalable;

periodically refresh a first portion of the plurality of video images using a first tuner;

periodically refresh a second portion of the plurality of video images using a second tuner; and

providing a second window displaying a first video image, wherein the first video image is provided by the second tuner, and the second portion of the plurality of video images includes no images.

30. A system for rendering a plurality of images, comprising:

a processing module; and

a memory operably coupled to the processing module, wherein the memory stores instructions that cause the processing module to;

provide a first window displaying a plurality of video images simultaneously within the first window,

selecting a first video image of the plurality of video images, wherein each other video image of the plurality of video images is an unselected image, and

providing full motion video to the selected video for a predetermined period of time using a second tuner and periodically refreshing the unselected images using a first tuner.