Control of video level by region and content of information displayed

• US 6,809,776 B1
• Filed: 03/06/2000
• Issued: 10/26/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Thomson Licensing Dtv
• Original Assignee: Thomson Licensing SA (Vantiva SA)
• Inventors: Simpson, Theodore Frederick
• Primary Examiner(s): Harvey, David E.
• Application Number:
  US09/403,536
• Time in Patent Office: 1,695 Days
• Field of Search: 348/588, 348/564, 348/673, 348/678, 348/686, 348/687, 348/565, 348/671, 345/690, 345/803, 345/781
• US Class Current: 348/565
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/0686 with two or more screen areas displaying information with different brightness or colours
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4143 embedded in a Personal Computer [PC]
• 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 21/4318 by altering the content in the rendering process, e.g. blanking, blurring or masking an image region image enhancement or restoration in general G06T5/00
• 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 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4854 for modifying image parameters, e.g. image brightness, contrast
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/445 for displaying additional information H04N5/50 takes precedence
• 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 5/46 for receiving on more than one standard at will deflecting circuits of multi-standard receivers H04N3/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/57 Control of contrast or brightness

Abstract

A video processing system is described for providing an image having more than one region on a display (DISPLAY). The system has a control means which can determine, for each region, the type (e.g., graphics, text, computer programs, broadcast TV video, etc.) of the image material being displayed in the region. The system also has a video driver coupled to the display for providing image signals having contrast and brightness characteristics. The control means generates a control signal for causing said video driver means to adjust said contrast and brightness characteristics of said image signals according to the type of material being displayed in said region.

Claims

1. A video processing system for providing an image having more than one region, comprising:

means for obtaining for each region of the image, data indicating a type of information to be displayed in each region before processing the information in each region;

means for deriving a display level for each region of the image according to the data obtained indicating the type of information being displayed in each region; and

means for adjusting the display level for each region as the image is displayed, wherein the display level is derived by obtaining a normal drive level for each pixel and an attenuation number for each region of the image being displayed.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the data indicate that the information corresponds to a television program.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the data indicate that the information corresponds to computer generated text and/or graphics.

4. The system of claim 1, 2, or 3, wherein the display level corresponds to a contrast level.

5. The system of claim 1, 2, or 3, wherein the display level corresponds to a brightness level.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the display level for each pixel of the image is derived by multiplication of the normal drive level and the attenuation number for the pixel.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the data obtained is provided by a program associated with a particular region.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the data obtained is specified by a user.

9. A method for providing a displayed image having more than one display region comprising the steps of:

obtaining for each region of the displayed image, data indicating a type of information to be displayed in each region before processing the information in each region;

deriving a display level for each region of the image according to the data previously obtained indicating the type of information being displayed in each region by obtaining a normal drive level for each pixel and an attenuation number for each region of the image being displayed; and

adjusting the display level for each region as the image is displayed.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the data indicate that the information corresponds to a television program.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the data indicate that the information corresponds to computer generated text and/or graphics.

12. The method of claim 9, 10, or 11, wherein the display level corresponds to a contrast level.

13. The method of claim 9, 10, or 11, wherein the display level corresponds to a brightness level.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the display level for each pixel of the displayed image is derived by multiplication of the normal drive level and the attenuation number for the pixel.

15. The method of claim 10 wherein the data obtained is provided by a program associated with a particular region.

16. The method of claim 10 wherein the data obtained is specified by a user.