Apparatus and method for controlling video display device, video display device and multivision system

• US 7,821,495 B2
• Filed: 02/09/2006
• Issued: 10/26/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Park, Su Won
• Primary Examiner(s): Shalwala; Bipin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chowdhury; Afroza Y
• Application Number:
  US11/350,042
• Publication Number:
  US 20070057914A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,720 Days
• Field of Search: 345/1.1, 345/158, 340/825.69
• US Class Current: 345/158
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1446 display composed of modules, e.g. video walls
• 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 21/42204 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 21/4221 Dedicated function buttons, e.g. for the control of an EPG, subtitles, aspect ratio, picture-in-picture or teletext
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/12 Picture reproducers H04N9/11 takes precedence

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for selectively controlling one or more display devices among a plurality of video display devices constituting a multivision by using a remote controller; a video display device; and a multivision system. The method for controlling the video display device in accordance with a present invention includes the steps of: displaying a predetermined access code when control data for canceling an OSD locking function is received from the outside; receiving control data including an access code from the outside; and entering a control mode using an OSD menu if the access code contained in the received control data is equal to the predetermined access code.

Claims

1. A multivision system, comprising:

a plurality of video display devices; and

a remote controller configured to transmit plural types of control data to the plurality of video display devices,

wherein each of the plurality of video display devices includes

a storage unit configured to store a video display device specific access code;

a reception unit configured to receive the plural types of control data from the remote controller;

a display unit configured to display data;

a code recognition unit configured to compare received access codes to the access code stored in the storage unit; and

a control unit operatively connected to the code recognition unit and the display unit, the control unit configured to cause the corresponding display unit to display the access code stored in the storage unit when the one of plural types of control data includes control data for canceling an on screen display (OSD) locking function such that each of the plurality of video display devices simultaneously display a corresponding stored access code, and to control the video display device to enter a control mode using an OSD menu if the code recognition unit determines that a subsequently received control data includes an access code that is the same as the access code stored in the storage unit.

2. The multivision system of claim 1, each of the plurality of video devices further comprising:

an OSD processing unit operatively connected to the control unit and configured to generate OSD data for displaying the stored access code when the subsequently received control data includes the access code that is the same as the access code stored in the storage unit; and

an image processing unit operatively connected to the OSD processing unit and configured to receive image signals from another device or receive the OSD data from the OSD processing unit, and output processed image signals or output the stored access code to the display unit, respectively.

3. The multivision system of claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to cancel the OSD locking function when control data for canceling the OSD locking function is received through the reception unit and, after the OSD locking function is cancelled, take an action according to subsequent control data.

4. The multivision system of claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to receive a new access code during the control mode via the OSD menu and then change the stored access code into the new access code.

5. The multivision system of claim 2, wherein the image processing unit is configured to change a size of the image signals into a full screen size or a predetermined size according to a control of the control unit.

6. The multivision system according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein a screen state of the video display device is adjusted during the control mode using the OSD menu.

7. The multivision system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to control the corresponding video display device to not enter the control mode if the subsequently received control data does not include an access code that is the same as the stored access code.

8. The multivision system of claim 1, the remote controller further comprising:

a keypad where a multiplicity of keys are arranged;

a memory configured to store access codes of the plurality of video display devices;

a code generator configured to generate the plural types of control data through the keypad;

a code transmitter configured to transmit the plural types of control data to the plurality of video display devices; and

receiving, by the plurality of video display devices and from the remote controller, one of plural types of control data; and

performing the following steps in each of the plurality of video display devices;

displaying a stored video display device specific access code when the one of plural types of control data includes control data for canceling an on screen display (OSD) locking function such that each of the plurality of video display devices simultaneously display a corresponding stored video display device specific access code; and

entering a control mode using an OSD menu if a subsequently received control data includes an access code that is the same as the stored access code.

9. The multivision system of claim 8, wherein the keypad includes an OSD lock key configured to cancel or set the OSD locking function.

10. The multivision system of claim 8, wherein the controller is configured to change the access code stored in the memory into a new access code when the new access code is inputted by the keypad.

11. The multivision system of claim 8, wherein the controller is configured to change the access code stored in the storage unit into a new access code during the control mode using the OSD menu while changing the access code stored in the memory into the new access code at the same time.

12. The multivision system of claim 8, wherein the code transmitter comprises an infrared transmitter or a bluetooth transmitter.

13. A method for controlling a multivision system including a remote controller and a plurality of video display devices, comprising the steps of:

displaying data on the plurality of video display devices;

include an access code that is the same as the stored access code.

14. The method of claim 13, the step of performing further comprising the step of:

changing the stored access code to a new access code during the control mode using the OSD menu.

15. The method of claim 13, the step of performing further comprising:

adjusting a screen state during the control mode using the OSD menu.

16. The method of claim 13, the step of performing further comprising:

not entering the control mode if the subsequently received control data does not

a controller operatively connected to the keypad and configured to control the code generator and the code transmitter based on a signal from the keypad.

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

changing the stored access code to a new access code during the control mode using the OSD menu and while changing an access code of the remote controller.