Abstract: An audio/video (A/V) component networking system comprising a sink component configured to control presentation of A/V program data received from a source component on a presentation device and a sink interface configured to receive an input command from an input device and determine whether to direct the input command for processing to either the sink component or the presentation device.

Abstract: An audio/video (A/V) component networking system, comprising a presentation device and a sink component configured to simultaneously present on the presentation device A/V program data received from at least two different source components.

Abstract: A web television includes a display, a tuner, an internet module, and a PIP module. The tuner is arranged to select television video for display on the display and to select television audio for display by a speaker of the web television. The internet module is arranged to supply internet video for display on the display and to supply internet audio for display by the speaker of the web television, and the internet video and audio are derived from internet communications between the web television and internet content providers. The PIP module is arranged to provide a PIP area within a main area of the display. The internet video and the television video may be swapped between the PIP area and the main area of the display, and the speaker of the web television may be swapped between the internet audio and the television audio.

Abstract: A web television includes a display, a tuner, an internet module, and a PIP module. The tuner is arranged to select television video for display on the display and to select television audio for display by a speaker of the web television. The internet module is arranged to supply internet video for display on the display and to supply internet audio for display by the speaker of the web television, and the internet video and audio are derived from internet communications between the web television and internet content providers. The PIP module is arranged to provide a PIP area within a main area of the display. The internet video and the television video may be swapped between the PIP area and the main area of the display, and the speaker of the web television may be swapped between the internet audio and the television audio.

Abstract: A web television includes a display, a tuner, an internet module, and a PIP module. The tuner is arranged to select television video for display on the display and to select television audio for display by a speaker of the web television. The internet module is arranged to supply internet video for display on the display and to supply internet audio for display by the speaker of the web television, and the internet video and audio are derived from internet communications between the web television and internet content providers. The PIP module is arranged to provide a PIP area within a main area of the display. The internet video and the television video may be swapped between the PIP area and the main area of the display, and the speaker of the web television may be swapped between the internet audio and the television audio.

Abstract: A web television includes a display, a tuner, an internet module, and a PIP module. The tuner is arranged to select television video for display on the display and to select television audio for display by a speaker of the web television. The internet module is arranged to supply internet video for display on the display and to supply internet audio for display by the speaker of the web television, and the internet video and audio are derived from internet communications between the web television and internet content providers. The PIP module is arranged to provide a PIP area within a main area of the display. The internet video and the television video may be swapped between the PIP area and the main area of the display, and the speaker of the web television may be swapped between the internet audio and the television audio.

Abstract: A web television includes a display, a tuner, an internet module, and a PIP module. The tuner is arranged to select television video for display on the display and to select television audio for display by a speaker of the web television. The internet module is arranged to supply internet video for display on the display and to supply internet audio for display by the speaker of the web television, and the internet video and audio are derived from internet communications between the web television and internet content providers. The PIP module is arranged to provide a PIP area within a main area of the display. The internet video and the television video may be swapped between the PIP area and the main area of the display, and the speaker of the web television may be swapped between the internet audio and the television audio.

Abstract: A web television includes (i) a display, (ii) an internet module for supporting internet communications between the web television and internet content providers, (iii) a PIP module for providing a PIP area of the display, (iv) a video processor module for supplying video to the display, (v) an audio processor module for supplying audio to a speaker of the web television, (vi) an video/audio switch for switching outputs from a tuner of the web television and from the internet module between the PIP module, the video processor, and the audio processor, (vii) a television controller, and (viii) a two-way communication bus interconnecting the internet module, the PIP module, the video processor module, the audio processor module. The television controller controls the internet module, the PIP module, the video processor module, the audio processor module, and the video/audio switch so as to selectively display the internet communications and television signals on the display.

Abstract: A web television includes a monitor, a communication bus, an internet module, a tuner, and a television controller. The internet module is coupled to the communication bus, and is arranged to provide internet video for display on the monitor. The internet video is derived from internet communications between the internet module and internet content providers. The tuner is arranged to select television video for display by the monitor. The television controller is coupled to the communication bus, and is arranged to switch the monitor between the internet video and the television video. Also, the television controller receives displacement information from a remote control device and transmits the received displacement information to the internet module over the communication bus.

Abstract: A web television includes a monitor, a communication bus, an internet module, a tuner, and a television controller. The internet module is coupled to the communication bus, and is arranged to provide internet video for display on the monitor. The internet video is derived from internet communications between the internet module and internet content providers. The tuner is arranged to select television video for display by the monitor. The television controller is coupled to the communication bus, the television controller is arranged to switch the monitor between the internet video and the television video, the television controller receives character data from a remote control device, and the television controller transmits the received character data over the communication bus to the internet module in a message containing a last received character datum and a current received character datum.

Abstract: A television remote control system includes an on-screen cursor that is controllable by a viewer-operated remote transmitter. The remote transmitter includes a trackball that yields X,Y coordinate information responsive to rotational movement thereof and a switch that generates an activate signal responsive to depression of the trackball. A microprocessor in the television receiver controls the on-screen cursor display and updates the cursor position in response to transmitted IR X,Y position signals. A microprocessor in the remote transmitter monitors the trackball, the trackball operated switch and any other functional key switches. The television screen is divided into different control function areas and the areas are illuminated as each area is accessed by the cursor, i.e. as the designated cursor position impinges on the area. The cursor movement defined by the position signal is divided into a series of smaller movements to produce smooth cursor movements on the screen.

Abstract: A television display system having a remote control unit which sends different command codes, upon activation of the same button, dependent upon which mode the remote control unit is in; has a simplified operation by translating a noneffective command code from the transmitter into an effective command at the display unit when the display unit is not in a signal source which can act upon the noneffective command code. Further simplifying the keypad operation of the remote control transmitter by allowing function and adjustment keys to perform double duty depending on the operating mode of the display is also discussed.

Abstract: A slice circuit for a data signal includes a clamp for clamping the data signal and a comparator having a first input coupled to the clamp, a second input coupled to a filter and an output coupled to a D/A converter. The output of the D/A converter is coupled to the filter such that a pulse width modulated signal is developed in the comparator output which is converted to a DC voltage by the D/A converter and filter for controlling the data slice level. The pulse width modulated signal is the sliced data.

Abstract: A method of finding a given line in the vertical blanking interval of a television signal in which the given line is preceded by a run-in signal and for recovering data on that line. A target line is accessed by counting a number of horizontal pulses after a vertical sync pulse and a test for the run-in signal is made. If the run-in signal is not found, another line in the vicinity of the target line is accessed after a subsequent vertical sync pulse. The process is repeated until the given line is found whereupon the number of horizontal pulses counted is remembered and directly used to access said given line in subsequent vertical blanking intervals. If no run-in signal is found, accessing and testing of corresponding lines in the other field of a two interlaced field television system is performed.

Abstract: A closed caption system includes digital data on a line in the vertical blanking interval of a television signal. The line is preceded by a run-in signal of the same frequency as the data. A start bit follows the run-in signal. A high frequency dot clock is used to sample the run-in signal, and the number of dot clocks during a period of the run-in signal is used to control subsequent sampling of the data, which is initiated by the start bit.

Abstract: A video system includes a TV receiver, a TTX processor, and a microprocessor control for controlling the functions thereof. The TTX processor includes an RGB switch unit supplied with RGB signals from a shift register in the TTX processor and from an external source of RGB signals. A video coder unit includes RGB switch means for selectively supplying RGB signals from the TTX processor and from the TV receiver and a switch for selectively coupling a timing signal from the TV receiver and the external source. The RGB switch unit in the TTX processor has a TTX address and all switching is controlled by the microprocess.

Abstract: A digital TV system includes a CCU that is interconnected by a three-wire, high speed bus to a plurality of TV signal function modules for controlling operation thereof by means of a high speed hardware generated clock signal. A software generated clock signal in the CCU is supplied on a low speed two-wire auxiliary device bus which is connected to microprocessors in a plurality of auxiliary devices for performing functions ancillary to TV signal processing. The microprocessor in each auxiliary device is an off-the-shelf type that does not require any special hardware because the timing on the auxiliary device bus is sufficiently slow to enable software monitoring of the line and data transfer.

Abstract: A microprocessor based TV/TTX processor includes a stored pages ROM in the TTX processor for storing on-screen display messages and lists of functions and characteristics as pages of TTX data. An RGB switch is coupled to receive the output of a character generator in the TTX processor and to receive the video output of the TV for selectively displaying information from each source with or without the on-screen messages and lists. The stored pages ROM relieves the microprocessor of the necessity of generating the on-screen messages and lists. Items on the list are controllable by the viewer and an indication of the status of the item is given by the microprocessor changing a character in the display memory of the TTX processor.

Abstract: A microprocessor controlled television receiver includes a decoder input for receiving coded data streams for controlling functions of the television receiver from a remote and a local keyboard. Microprocessor based arbitration means scan the keys of the local keyboard and control operation of a gate for selectively coupling the data streams from the remote keyboard and the local keyboard to the decoder of the television microprocessor. The arbitration means assures noninterference between the respective data streams.

Abstract: A hand-held remote control transmitter for controlling a plurality of functions in a number of different devices includes a matrix keyboard comprising keys operating two independent switches with a single depression, with the first switches selecting a memory page in an IC and the second switches selecting a function code on the page by the X-Y key closure. A multi-position device switch accesses the memory page associated with the selected device. The first switches of each of a group of redefinable keys that perform the same functions in each of the different devices are connected to the multi-position device switch. The independent switches are formed by overlying two conventional membrane switches with the lower one providing tactile sensation.