Remote control system including an on-screen display (OSD)

• US 7,109,974 B2
• Filed: 03/05/2002
• Issued: 09/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Kempisty, Mark S.
• Primary Examiner(s): CHANG, KENT WU
• Application Number:
  US10/090,877
• Publication Number:
  US 20030169234A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,659 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/168, 345/169, 345/173, 345/1.1, 345/1.2, 345/21, 345/2.2, 345/2.3, 345/2.1, 348/734, 348/569, 725/141, 725/151, 725/131, 725/133
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41265 having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42208 Display device provided on the remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42209 for displaying non-command information, e.g. electronic program guide [EPG], e-mail, messages or a second television channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications

Abstract

A remote control system is provided for producing a secondary on screen display (OSD). The secondary OSD is produced by a display device of a remote control unit. The remote control unit includes a remote receiver responsive to the OSD function parameters of an operably linked electronic device. A data processor generates a secondary on-screen display in response to the received OSD function parameters. A display operably linked to the data processor for displaying a menu corresponding to the received OSD parameters. A transmitter for providing a control parameter corresponding to a menu selection from the remote control unit to the electronic device.

Claims

1. A remote control system for an electronic device, comprising:

a processor in the electronic device that, in response to a signal from a remote control unit, generates image pattern information to be displayed as an on-screen display (OSD);

a transmitter in the electronic device that transmits the image pattern information as an OSD information signal that includes menu information including a plurality of options; and

the remote control unit, comprising;

a receiver which receives the OSD information signal;

a data processor which processes the OSD information signal to generate the OSD; and

a display device operably linked to the data processor which displays the generated OSD;

an input device for selecting one option from among the plurality of options when the menu information is displayed; and

a transmitter for transmitting information concerning the selected option to the electronic device.

2. A remote control system according to claim 1, wherein the remote control unit further comprises a memory for storing generic OSD data, wherein the data processor generates the OSD responsive to the OSD information signal and the generic OSD data.

3. A remote control system according to claim 1, wherein the processor in the electronic device generates an OSD bitmap as the OSD Information and the remote control unit further comprises a memory for storing the OSD bitmap.

4. A remote control system according to claim 3, wherein the processor of the remote control unit down samples the OSD bitmap stored in the memory to produce a down sampled OSD for display on the display device.

5. A remote control system according to claim 1, wherein the electronic device further comprises a further display device, operably coupled to the electronic device and the processor of the electronic device is responsive to a command provided by the remote control unit to selectively suppress display of the OSD on the further display device.

6. A remote control system according to claim 1, wherein the remote control unit is a personal digital assistant.

7. A remote control system according to claim 1, wherein the OSD information also includes one or more of closed caption information and electronic program guide information.

8. A remote control method for use with an electronic device, comprising the steps of:

generating, in the electronic device, in response to a signal from a remote control unit, image pattern on-screen display (OSD) menu information including a plurality of options to be displayed as an OSD;

transmitting the generated image pattern OSD information from the electronic device;

receiving the image pattern OSD information at the remote control unit;

processing the received image pattern OSD information to generate the OSD; and

displaying the generated OSD on a display device operably linked to the remote control device;

selecting one option from among the plurality of options when the menu information is displayed; and

transmitting information concerning the selected option to the electronic device.

9. A remote control method according to claim 8, further comprising the steps of:

storing generic OSD data in the remote control unit; and

generating the OSD responsive to the received image pattern OSD information signal and the generic OSD data.

10. A remote control method according to claim 8, wherein:

the step of generating the image pattern OSD information includes the step of generating an OSD bitmap; and

the process further includes the step of storing the OSD bitmap in the remote control unit.

11. A remote control method according to claim 10, further including the step of down sampling the OSD bitmap stored in the memory to produce a down sampled OSD for display on the display device linked to the remote control unit.

12. A remote control method according to claim 8, wherein the image pattern OSD information also includes one or more of closed caption information and electronic program guide information.

13. A remote control method according to claim 8, wherein the electronic device is operably coupled to a further display device, and the method further includes the step of selectively suppressing display of the OSD on the further display device, responsive to a command from the remote control unit.

14. A computer readable carrier including computer program instructions for a remote control unit for use with an electronic device, the electronic device generating image pattern on-screen display (OSD) menu information including a plurality of options to be displayed as an OSD and transmitting the OSD information as an OSD information signal, the computer program instructions causing the remote control unit to perform a method comprising the steps of:

receiving the image pattern OSD information signal generated by the electronic device in response to a signal from the remote control unit;

processing the received image pattern OSD information signal to generate the OSD; and

displaying the generated OSD on a display device operably linked to the remote control unit;

receiving a selection of one option from among the plurality of options when the menu information is displayed; and

transmitting information concerning the selected option to the electronic device.

15. A computer readable carrier according to claim 14, wherein the computer program instructions further cause the remote control unit to perform the steps of:

storing generic OSD data in the remote control unit; and

generating the OSD responsive to the received image pattern OSD information signal and the generic OSD data.

16. A computer readable carrier according to claim 14, wherein the electronic device generates the image pattern OSD information as an OSD bitmap and the computer program instructions further cause the remote control unit to perform the step of storing the OSD bitmap.

17. A computer readable carrier according to claim 16, wherein the computer program instructions further cause the remote control unit to perform the step of down sampling the OSD bitmap stored in the memory to produce a down sampled OSD for display on the display device.