Method and apparatus for automatically switching between analog and digital input signals

• US 20030071918A1
• Filed: 10/16/2001
• Published: 04/17/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: SONY CORPORATION AND SONY ELECTRONICS INC
• Inventors: Otani, Takashi, Kondo, Shigeharu, Suzuki, Atsushi, Takano, Hiroshi
• Granted Patent: US 6,961,099 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/552
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4108 characterised by an identification number or address, e.g. local network address protecting specific internal or external computer components using identification number G06F21/73; network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming H04L61/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4135 external recorder interface circuits between an apparatus for recording television signals and a television receiver H04N5/775
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42221 Transmission circuitry, e.g. infrared [IR] or radio frequency [RF]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42638 involving a hybrid front-end, e.g. analog and digital tuners
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43632 involving a wired protocol, e.g. IEEE 1394 high-speed IEEE 1394 serial bus H04L12/40052
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/485 End-user interface for client configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/46 for receiving on more than one standard at will deflecting circuits of multi-standard receivers H04N3/27

Abstract

An entertainment system includes a digital television connected to a number of audio/video input devices. The television and at least two of the input devices support analog legacy communication schemes. The television is adapted to uniquely identify the analog output channels from each of the input devices. Uniquely identifying the analog output channels from each input device enables the television to automatically select the correct device output from among the numerous possibilities. This automation relieves the user of having to manually select the correct analog channel.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a. a television, including a video display, a first analog input jack, a first digital communication jack, a second analog input jack, and a second digital communication jack;

b. a first video source connected to the first analog input jack via a first analog channel and to the first digital communication jack via a first digital channel; and

c. a second video source connected to the second analog input jack via a second analog channel and to the second digital communication jack via a second digital channel.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a video selection circuit having a first analog input connected to the first analog input jack, a second analog input connected to the second analog input jack, and an input-select port.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the television further comprises a digital interface connected to the input-select port.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the digital interface further comprises a digital communication port connected to the first digital communication jack.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the digital interface is adapted to instruct the video selection circuit in response to commands received via the first digital communication jack.

6. The system of claim 3, wherein the digital interface further comprises a look-up-table.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the look-up-table includes a plurality of device-identification fields and a corresponding plurality of analog-input identification fields.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein a first of the device identification fields includes a first unique identifier identifying the first video source and a first of the analog-input identification fields corresponding to the first device identification field includes a first plug identifier identifying the first analog input jack.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein a second of the device identification fields includes a second unique identifier identifying the second video source and a second of the analog-input identification fields corresponding to the second device identification field includes a second plug identifier identifying the second analog input jack.

10. A system comprising:

a. a first signal source having a first analog-signal port, a first digital-signal port, and a first unique signal-source identifier; and

b. a receiver having;

i. a first analog input channel connected to the first analog-signal port;

ii. a second analog input channel; and

iii. memory having a first device field storing the first unique signal-source identifier;

iv. wherein the receiver associates the first device field with the first analog input channel.

11. The system of claim 10, further comprising a second signal source having a second analog-signal port, a second digital-signal port, and a second unique signal-source identifier.

12. The system of claim 11, the memory having a second device field storing the second unique signal-source identifier, wherein the receiver associates the second device field with the second analog input channel.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the first analog input channel has associated therewith a first unique analog-input-channel identifier, and wherein the second analog input channel has associated therewith a second unique analog-input-channel identifier.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the receiver associates the first device field with the first unique analog-input-channel identifier.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the memory further comprises a first plug-identifier field associated with the first device field, and wherein the receiver associates the second device field with the second analog input channel.

17. The system of claim 10, wherein the analog and digital signals comprise video signals.

18. The system of claim 10, wherein the memory is a lookup table.

15. The system of claim 15, wherein the memory further comprises a first analog-plug identification field associated with the first device field and adapted to store the first unique analog-input-channel identifier.

19. A method of uniquely identifying an analog channel associated with a signal source having a digital port connected to a receiver and having an analog port connected to one of a plurality of analog input jacks on the receiver, the method comprising:

a. receiving a digital signature uniquely identifying the signal source;

b. storing the digital signature;

c. selecting a first one of the analog input jacks;

d. determining whether any analog signal from the first analog input jack is from the signal source; and

e. if the analog signal from the first analog input jack is from the signal source, associating the first analog input jack with the digital signature; and

f. if the analog signal from the first analog input jack is not from the signal source, selecting a second one of the analog input jacks.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein determining whether any analog signal from the first analog input jack is from the first analog input jack comprises:

g. interpreting the any signal from the first analog input jack; and

h. presenting the interpreted signal to a user.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein associating the first analog input jack with the digital signature comprises storing the digital signature in a lookup table.

22. The method of claim 19, further comprising, after selecting the second one of the analog input jacks,

g. determining whether any analog signal from the second analog input jack is from the signal source;

and

h. if the analog signal is from the signal source, associating the second analog input jack with the digital signature.

23. A system comprising:

a. a first signal source having a first analog channel, a first digital channel, and a first unique identifier; and

b. a receiver having;

i. a first analog input jack having a first plug identifier, the first analog input jack connected to the first analog channel;

ii. a second analog input jack having a second plug identifier;

iii. a first digital communication jack connected to the first digital channel; and

iv. a memory storing the first unique identifier and associating the first unique identifier with the first plug identifier.

24. The system of claim 23, further comprising a second signal source having a second analog channel connected to the second analog input jack and a second unique identifier, the memory further storing the second unique identifier and associating the second unique identifier with the second plug identifier.

25. A system comprising:

a. a first signal source having a first analog channel, a first digital channel, and a first unique identifier; and

b. a receiver having;

i. a first analog input jack connected to the first analog channel;

ii. a second analog input jack;

iii. a first digital communication jack connected to the first digital channel; and

iv. means for logically associating the first unique identifier with the first plug identifier.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the receiver is a television.