On Screen Television Input Management

• US 20090201420A1
• Filed: 12/31/2008
• Published: 08/13/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Contemporary Display LLC (IPValuation Partners, LLC), A.I.T. (Willy Naessens Industriebouw NV)
• Original Assignee: Robotarmy Corporation
• Inventors: Brown, Stephen, Chen, Leo, Stolarz, Damien, Kurpinski, Chris, Brown, Alan G.
• Granted Patent: US 8,863,219 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/552
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/205 with control bus for exchanging commands between units
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4113 PC
• 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 21/41407 embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4143 embedded in a Personal Computer [PC]
• 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 21/4312 involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4363 Adapting the video stream to a specific local network, e.g. a Bluetooth® network
• 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 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4781 Games
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/485 End-user interface for client configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4882 for displaying messages, e.g. warnings, reminders arrangements for providing short real-time information to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1895

Abstract

A television system that provides an on screen display menu system that allows a user to select from available input source using a graphical user interface. The television system also automatically adapts to the type on input signal selected for display. The television system and on screen display menu also support interaction between the television system and attached devices to unify the control of such devices including attached personal computers through the remote control of the television system.

Claims

1. A method of operating a television comprising:

identifying each of a plurality of input signals from a plurality of sources;

generating an on screen menu by the television to allow selection of each of the plurality of sources that have been identified including a display of an input source type or description that was identified;

receiving a user selection of a menu option corresponding to one of the plurality of input signals; and

displaying the input signal in response to the user selection.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying one of the plurality of input signals in the menu.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of input signals is received through a separate input source.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying at least one image from the plurality of sources through the on screen menu prior to selection confirmation.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying additional resources through the on screen menu including a help option, a what'"'"'s new option, a news option, a local events option, and a set up option.

6. A method comprising:

displaying non-computer based content through a television;

receiving a computer related command at the television;

forwarding the computer command to a computer; and

transitioning the television to display a computer source.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

receiving a command from the computer; and

transitioning the television display to television based content.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

processing television and computer commands while displaying computer source content.

9. A method comprising:

initiating television communication by a computer;

completing a handshake process with the television;

displaying computer content on the television; and

processing television and computer commands while displaying the computer content.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

resuming normal computer operations when television control software is stopped or disconnected from the television.

11. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

displaying an error message on the computer or television when a handshake fails or communication between the computer and television fails.

12. A system comprising:

a processing device to execute an on screen display for a television, the processing device housed in the television, the processing device to control input source selection; and

a display device coupled to the processing device to display a selected source,

wherein the on screen display provides an image of at least on source prior to selection and dynamically identifies and labels the source.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the processing device sends commands to external devices including an external computer through an output interface.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the processing device changes display modes in response to external computer commands.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the processing device sends commands to external devices that are input sources for the television.

16. The system of claim 12, further comprising:

a display device;

an audio device; and

an output interface.