Method for providing remote control service and image display apparatus thereof

• US 8,990,871 B2
• Filed: 10/28/2011
• Issued: 03/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Jun, Suhee, Son, Hyeongho
• Primary Examiner(s): Lin, Jason K
• Application Number:
  US13/283,834
• Publication Number:
  US 20120198488A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,243 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 725/107
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4227 Providing Remote input by a user located remotely from the client device, e.g. at work
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4425 Monitoring of client processing errors or hardware failure
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6543 for forcing some client operations, e.g. recording remote booting in general G06F9/4416

Abstract

A system for servicing a display device is performed remotely through a network server. The server establishes a connection with the display device, transmits a first signal through the connection to instruct the display device to automatically perform a predetermined function, receives a captured image derived from a screen of the display device after performance of the predetermined function, and transmits a second signal through the connection to control at least one feature of the display device.

Claims

1. A television for providing a remote control service, comprising:

a tuner to tune a broadcast signal including audio, video, and PSI data;

a network interface unit to connect the television through an internet;

a user input interface unit to receive control signals from a remote control device;

a display unit to display the video; and

a control unit to cooperate with the tuner, the network interface unit, the user input interface unit and the display unit,

wherein the control unit is configured to;

receive a first command to enter a remote control service by the remote control device,

obtain a certification number through the network interface unit,

display, on the display unit, a certification number window including a certification number that is for identifying the television to be controlled by a service agent terminal, wherein the certification number is provided to the service agent terminal in order for receiving the remote control service from the service agent terminal by using a communication device such as wire or wireless telephone,

allow that the television is selected as a target apparatus for providing the remote control service to the service agent terminal by using the certification number, wherein the remote control service is a service for solving a problem such as failure in the television,

display the video of a normal operation state that is the broadcast signal received from the tuner,

receive a second command for performing a function related with at least one of channel, voice, and image of the broadcast signal from the service agent terminal,

perform the function according to the second command, and

transmit, to the service agent terminal, a current screen state image that displays a result of performance of the function.

2. The television of claim 1, wherein the function comprises a specific setting values that is at least one of a screen size change, an image mode change, an image mode initialization, a sleep mode setting, an auto-off setting, an auto-on setting, a sound mode change, an auto-volume setting, a TV speaker-on setting, a sound mode initialization, a password reset, a key lock setting, a user environment setting change, a screen image retention setting and an external input mode setting.

3. The television of claim 1, wherein the certification number window includes a message for informing the certification number to the remote service agent.

4. The television of claim 1, wherein the control unit is further configured to display a connection error window on the display unit when the television is not connected through the internet.

5. The television of claim 1, wherein the control unit is further configured to:

display a network setting error window on the display unit when there is an error in a network setting of the television,

receive a user input to solve the error in the network setting of the television, and

display, on the display unit, an initialization dialogue window that indicates performing initialization in the network setting.

6. The television of claim 1,

wherein the control unit is further configured to display, on the display unit, a question window that indicates a question of whether the user agrees to allow the remote control service.

7. The television of claim 6, wherein the question window includes a confirm button to agree for allowing the remote control service and a cancel button to disagree for allowing the remote control service.

8. The television of claim 1, wherein the control unit is further configured to display, on the display unit, an end notification window that the remote control service is completed.

9. The television of claim 1, wherein the command to enter the remote control service is received by using a specific key input of the remote control device.