Interactive discovery of display device characteristics

• US 8,161,388 B2
• Filed: 01/21/2004
• Issued: 04/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tech 5 SAS
• Original Assignee: Scientific-Atlanta LLC (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rodriguez, Arturo A., Banker, Robert O., Delacruz, Darryl S., Lett, David B., Nair, Ajith N., Kiker, James W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Belousov, Andrey
• Application Number:
  US10/761,777
• Publication Number:
  US 20050160468A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,009 Days
• Field of Search: 725/47, 348/125, 348/129, 348/177, 348/180, 348/189, 348/551, 348/554, 348/555, 348/556, 348/558, 348/569, 715/710, 715/718, 715/722
• US Class Current: 715/722
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/14 Digital output to display device ; Cooperation and interconnection of the display device with other functional units
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/14 Solving problems related to the presentation of information to be displayed
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2360/02 Graphics controller able to handle multiple formats, e.g. input or output formats
• 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 21/4147 PVR [Personal Video Recorder] H04N5/76 takes precedence ; arrangements for broadcast with accumulation-type receivers H04H20/40
• 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 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4402 involving reformatting operations of video signals for household redistribution, storage or real-time display details of conversion of video standards at pixel level H04N7/01; video transcoding H04N19/40; adapting incoming signals to the display format of the display terminal G09G5/005; media handling at the source in data packet switching networks H04L65/764
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/440263 by altering the spatial resolution, e.g. for displaying on a connected PDA
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4758 for providing answers, e.g. voting
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4854 for modifying image parameters, e.g. image brightness, contrast
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/46 for receiving on more than one standard at will deflecting circuits of multi-standard receivers H04N3/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/0122 the input and the output signals having different aspect ratios

Abstract

A system and method for determining the characteristics of a device coupled to a client device are disclosed. A method, according to one embodiment, includes driving a display device with a first video output signal formatted according to a first video interface specification; responsive to driving the display device, soliciting user input based on information included in the first video output signal; determining a characteristic of the display device based on the user input; and driving the display device according to the determined characteristic.

Claims

1. A method for determining the characteristics of a display device coupled to a network client device capable of receiving television (TV) signals, the network client device having video and audio output capabilities, said method comprising:

driving a display device with a first video output signal formatted according to a first video interface specification;

responsive to driving the display device, soliciting a response from a user, the solicitation comprising information rendered on a screen of the display device, the solicitation and nature of the response used to determine whether the user clearly observes the information rendered on the display device, the information included in the first video output signal;

responsive to receiving user input based on the solicitation, determining a characteristic of the display device;

responsive to receiving no user input during a predetermined interval after the solicitation, automatically driving the display device with a second video output signal to solicit a response from the user;

wherein the driving the display device with the second video output signal includes driving the display device with the second video output signal formatted according to a second video interface specification different than the first video interface specification, the second video output signal driven through an output port different than the output port used to drive the display device with the first video output signal;

receiving a request for cycling through a different video format a different output port, or a combination of a different video format and a different output port; and

cycling through a plurality of video formats, each part of the cycle including a predetermined time duration, the cycling occurring without an interruption corresponding to physical manipulation by a user of connections between the display device and the network client device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the characteristic includes at least one of a type of display device, picture size, frame rate, scan format, color format, colorimetry, picture width-to-height aspect ratio, width-to-height aspect ratio of pixels, and capability and manner of receiving ancillary data.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the display device includes a television set or a display monitor.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the solicitation further includes audible voice instructions to the user presented contemporaneously with driving the display device with the first video output signal.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the driving the display device with the first video output signal includes transmitting a combination of both graphics and a picture sequence corresponding to moving video of the video output signal.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining the characteristic includes determining at least one of how to drive the display device such that a legible, distorted picture is presented.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the driving the display device with the second video output signal further includes driving the display device according to a second video format different than a first video format of the first video output signal.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the driving the display device according to the second video format includes driving the display device through an output port used to drive the display device according to the first video format.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the display device is physically connected to a network client device.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the display device is in wireless communication with a network client device.

11. The method of claim 1, further including receiving a request for discovery of the characteristic.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the receiving the request includes receiving a signal corresponding to the activation of one of a multi-purpose button on a remote control device or a dedicated discovery button on a remote control device.

13. The method of claim 1, further including receiving a request for cycling through a different video format, a different output port, or a combination of a different video format and a different output port.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the receiving the request includes receiving a signal corresponding to the activation of a button on a remote control device.

15. The method of claim 1, further including driving the display device according to the determined characteristic or a plurality of determined characteristics to present content on the screen of the display device, wherein the driving the display device is further according to at least one parameter of the TV signal.

16. The method of claim 15, further including receiving stored video and graphics pictures to process and present the corresponding content on the screen of the display device.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the video and graphics pictures include at least one of distorted objects, non-distorted objects, distorted images, non-distorted images, visual information, and a graphical characteristic to provide an indication of the characteristic of the display device.

18. The method of claim 15, further including determining how a user has configured the display device to display a TV signal of a defined aspect ratio on the display device, the display device having at least one of the same physical aspect ratio and a different aspect ratio as the defined aspect ratio of the TV signal.

19. The method of claim 15, further including soliciting additional user input based on the content displayed on the display screen, the additional user input corresponding to user preferences pertaining to visual appearance of the displayed content.

39. The method of claim 1, further including:

mapping the first video interface specification and corresponding port to at least one parameter of a video sequence or picture associated with the first video output signal;

receiving a TV signal at a network client device;

processing the TV signal by the network client device according to the determined characteristic; and

transmitting a video output signal according to the first video interface specification and according to at least one parameter of the TV signal to the display device that corresponds to the at least one parameter of the video sequence or picture associated with the first video output signal.

41. The method of claim 39, wherein the transmitted video output signal is delivered through a video port in the network client device, the video port preset according to the first video interface specification and according to at least one parameter of the TV signal.

20. A system for determining the characteristics of a display device, said system comprising:

a memory with logic; and

a processor configured with the logic to drive a display device with a first video output signal formatted according to a first video interface specification;

responsive to driving the display device, solicit a response from a user, the solicitation comprising information rendered on a screen of the display device, the solicitation and nature of the response used to determine whether the user either can or cannot presently observe the information rendered on the display device, the information included in the first video output signal;

responsive to receiving user input based on the solicitation, determine a characteristic of the display device;

responsive to receiving no user input during a predetermined interval after the solicitation, automatically drive the display device with a second video output signal to solicit a response from the user responsive to receiving a request for cycling, cycling through a plurality of video formats, each part of the cycle including a predetermined time duration, the cycling occurring without an interruption corresponding to physical manipulation by a user;

wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to effect driving the display device with the second video output signal formatted in accordance with a second video interface specification different than the first video interface specification, the second video output signal driven through an output port different than an output port used to drive the display device with the first video output signal.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the characteristic includes at least one of a type of display device, picture size, frame rate, scan format, color format, colorimetry, picture width-to-height aspect ratio, width-to-height aspect ratio of pixels, and capability and manner of receiving ancillary data.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein the display device includes a television set or a display monitor.

23. The system of claim 20, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to effect transmittal of an audio output signal containing audible voice instructions to the user contemporaneously with driving the display device with the first video output signal.

24. The system of claim 20, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to effect the transmittal of a combination of graphics data and video data comprising plural picture sequences corresponding to a moving video.

25. The system of claim 20, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to receive a TV signal from a network, process the TV signal, and effect the transmittal of a video output signal according to the first video interface specification and according to at least one parameter of the TV signal.

26. The system of claim 20, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to effect the transmittal of a video output signal through a video port, the video port preset according to the first video interface specification and according to at least one parameter of the TV signal.

27. The system of claim 20, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to determine how to drive the display device such that a legible, distorted picture is presented.

28. The system of claim 20, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to effect driving the display device with the second video output signal according to a second video format, the second video format different than a first video format of the first video output signal.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to effect driving the display device with the second video output signal through an output port used to drive the display device with the first video output signal.

30. The system of claim 20, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to effect communication with the display device through a wireless connection or a physical connection.

31. The system of claim 20, further including a remote control device configured with a button that, responsive to activation of the button, cooperates with the logic to initiate discovery of characteristics of the device.

32. The system of claim 20, further including a remote control device configured with a button that, responsive to activation of the button, cooperates with the logic to cycle through at least one of a plurality of formats and a plurality of video ports.

33. The system of claim 20, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to receive video and graphics pictures from a storage device, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic, and in cooperation with a media engine and output system, to process the video and graphics pictures and present content resulting from the processing on the screen of the display device.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein the video and graphics pictures include at least one of distorted objects, non-distorted objects, distorted images, non-distorted images, visual information, and a graphical characteristic to provide an indication of the characteristic of the display device.

35. The system of claim 33, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic, and in cooperation with the media engine and the output system, to distort at least one of objects and video images and leave undistorted at least one of objects and video images.

36. The system of claim 33, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic, and in cooperation with the media engine and the output system, to determine how a user has configured the display device to display a TV signal of a defined aspect ratio on the display device having at least one of the same physical aspect ratio and a different aspect ratio as the defined aspect ratio of the TV signal.

37. The system of claim 33, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to solicit additional user input based on the content displayed on the screen, the additional user input corresponding to user preferences pertaining to selection of a first content in a first presentation instance and a second content in a second presentation instance.

38. The system of claim 20, wherein the system is embodied in a network client device in communication with the display device.

40. The system of claim 20, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to:

map the first video interface specification and corresponding port to at least one parameter of a video sequence or picture associated with the first video output signal;

receive a TV signal at a network client device;

process the TV signal by the network client device according to the determined characteristic; and

effect transmittal of a video output signal according to the first video interface specification and according to at least one parameter of the TV signal to the display device that corresponds to the at least one parameter of the video sequence or picture associated with the first video output signal.