Apparatus for providing multiple screens and method of dynamically configuring multiple screens

• US 8,243,198 B2
• Filed: 08/01/2006
• Issued: 08/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Lee, Jong-ho, Lee, Kwang-kee, Jung, Un-gyo, Adams, Glenn A.
• Primary Examiner(s): NATNAEL, PAULOS M
• Application Number:
  US11/496,403
• Publication Number:
  US 20070030389A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,205 Days
• Field of Search: 348/588, 348563-567, 348/569, 348/570, 348/561, 715/796, 715/806, 715/781, 345/641, 345/1.1, 345/1.3
• US Class Current: 348/588
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/0407 Resolution change, inclusive of the use of different resolutions for different screen areas
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/0464 Positioning
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/10 Mixing of images, i.e. displayed pixel being the result of an operation, e.g. adding, on the corresponding input pixels
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/12 Overlay of images, i.e. displayed pixel being the result of switching between the corresponding input pixels
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/125 wherein one of the images is motion video
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/14 Display of multiple viewports
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4312 involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4314 for fitting data in a restricted space on the screen, e.g. EPG data in a rectangular grid
• 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 21/443 OS processes, e.g. booting an STB, implementing a Java virtual machine in an STB or power management in an STB
• 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 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

Abstract

An apparatus for providing multiple screens and a method of dynamically configuring the multiple screens are provided. The apparatus for providing multiple screens uses flags included transferred packets in order to dynamically configure multiple screens that provide a plurality of contents on a physical display device and a method of dynamically configuring multiple screens. The apparatus for providing multiple screens includes a digital signal processing module which determines whether an application included in data information can be executed on a screen on the basis of received data information, and an operational module which operates the application on the screen on the basis of the determination result.

Claims

1. A method of supporting a plurality of screen configurations on a multi-screen providing device, the method comprising:

receiving via a broadcast transmission an application and a signal indicating whether the application supports a plurality of logical screens on the multi-screen providing device;

allocating the plurality of logical screens on a display screen of the multi-screen providing device; and

renewing an application database of the multi-screen providing device using information included in the signal for the application associated with a service selected by a user,

wherein it is determined whether the application included in the broadcast transmission can be executed on a screen by checking the signal included in the received broadcast transmission which indicates whether multiple screens are supported while providing an application to the screen.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the application comprises one of an application by a host device manufacturer, an application that is signaled through an extended application information table, and an application registered through a monitor application.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the allocating the plurality of logical screens comprises providing a plurality of functions for the logical screens, and the plurality of functions comprise a size and a position of each logical screen on the display screen.

4. A method of supporting a plurality of screen configurations on a multi-screen providing device, the method comprising:

receiving an application and a signal indicating whether the application supports a plurality of logical screens on the multi-screen providing device;

allocating the plurality of logical screens on a display screen of the multi-screen providing device; and

renewing an application database of the multi-screen providing device using information included in the signal for the application associated with a service selected by a user

wherein the renewing the application database comprises, depending on the associated service, at least one of;

if the application database of the multi-screen providing device does not have information for the received application, the multi-screen providing device creating application information including information signaled by an extended application information table;

even if the application database has information for the received application by a previous signaling, and the signaling is no longer performed, the multi-screen providing device deleting the application from the application database;

if the received application having a same version as in the application database is signaled, the multi-screen providing device renewing the application database based on signaled application information;

if the application database includes information about the received application, and a new application that is not related to an active application instance is signaled, the multi-screen providing device renewing the application database based on currently signaled application information; and

if the application database includes an application, and a new application that is related to an active application instance is signaled, the multi-screen providing device completing a signaling process for a previous application or creating an application instance that permits only an application that is being executed.