Multi-window pip television with the ability to watch two sources of video while scanning an electronic program guide

• US 6,493,038 B1
• Filed: 06/21/2000
• Issued: 12/10/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TP Vision Holding BV (TPV Technology Co., Ltd. (f/k/a Nanjing Huadong Electronics Information & Technology))
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Akiwumi-Assani, Samuel O., Singh, Kenneth S., Cavallerano, Alan P., Shen, Richard C., Ng, Sheau B.
• Primary Examiner(s): HSIA, SHERRIE Y
• Application Number:
  US09/598,539
• Time in Patent Office: 902 Days
• Field of Search: H04/N.545, H04/N.5445, H04/N.550, 348/563, 348/564, 348/565, 348/569, 348/584, 348/588, 348/586, 348/589, 348/598, 348/600, 348/567, 725/39, 725/40, 725/41, 725/43, 725/48, 725/49
• 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 21/4622 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 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/45 Picture in picture , e.g. displaying simultaneously another television channel in a region of the screen

Abstract

The invention relates in general to a television receiver that is capable of displaying two video programs and an electronic program guide (“EPG”) simultaneously. The EPG is displayed in a first portion of a split screen containing a picture-in-picture (PIP) display. Scanning of the electronic program guide causes different video programs to be displayed in the PIP display while the user is still able to watch the original video program on a second split screen.

Claims

1. A video system, comprising:

a first video source receiver which receives a first video source including program information;

a second video source receiver which receives a second video source including program information;

an electronic program guide receiver which receives electronic program guide information;

a processor which provides simultaneously to a display,

     1) in a first half of the display, program information from the first video source;

     2) in a second half of the display the electronic program guide; and

     3) in a PIP portion of the second half of the display, program information from the second video source; and

an on-screen selector which selects from the electronic program guide program information from the second video source which is to be displayed in the PIP.

2. The video system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the second video source provides information associated with the programs being browsed in the electronic program guide by the selector.

3. The video system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and second video sources are tuners.

4. The video system as claimed in claim 1 or 3, further including a memory for storing the electronic program guide.

5. A video system, comprising:

a display;

a first video source receiver which receives a first video source including program information;

a second video source receiver which receives a second video source including program information;

an electronic program guide receiver which receives electronic program guide information;

a processor which provides simultaneously to a display,

     1) in a first half of the display, program information from the first video source;

     2) in a second half of the display the electronic program guide; and

     3) in a PIP portion of the second half of the display, program information from the second video source; and

an on-screen selector which selects from the electronic program guide program information from the second video source which is to be displayed in the PIP.

6. The video system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the first and second video sources are tuners.

7. The video system as claimed in claim 5 wherein the first video source is a tuner.

8. The video system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the second video source is a tuner.

9. A video system, comprising:

a television module which processes video signals and provides a main picture signal;

a PIP module which provides a composite picture which is a smaller subpicture within the main picture signal;

a double window module which provides on a first half of a display a video signal and on a second half of the display the composite picture;

wherein the television module includes an electronic program guide video source which provides an electronic program guide of program information as the main picture, and further includes a selector for scrolling through the electronic program guide and selecting the program information which is to be provided in the smaller subpicture.

10. The video system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the television module is a digital television module.