Basic Receiver With Additional Function Patents (Class 348/553)
  • Publication number: 20090174816
    Abstract: Aspects of a method and system for detection of video connections are provided. In this regard, a pulse of current may be applied to a video interface and a voltage differential resulting from the applied current pulse may be measured to determine whether the video interface is connected to a video device. The current pulse may be a Hsync pulse of a video signal which may occur during a vertical blanking time of the video signal. A voltage differential resulting from each of a plurality of Hsync pulses occurring over one or more frames of said video signals may be measured. The current pulse may be a pulse in a pulse train. A voltage differential resulting from each of a plurality of pulses in a pulse train occurring over a period of time may be measured.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2008
    Publication date: July 9, 2009
    Inventors: Tim Hellman, Jiangfeng Wu, Hans Eberhart
  • Patent number: 7555201
    Abstract: In a method of controlling multiple decoders in an optical disc player system to read encoded bitstream data divided into multiple sectors from a buffer memory, one of the sectors stored in the buffer memory is read according to a reading pointer associated with one of the decoders that sent out a bitstream request. When a header portion of the sector that is being read from the buffer memory indicates a bitstream type corresponding to that of the bitstream request, a data portion of the sector is transferred to the decoder that sent out the bitstream request, and the reading pointer is adjusted to point to a next one of the sectors stored in the buffer memory. An optical disc player system for implementing the method and an optical disc player system capable of saving the memory bandwidth between a bitstream demultiplexer and a memory are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: MediaTek Inc.
    Inventor: Shang-Tzu Ju
  • Patent number: 7554604
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for simulating the scenes of image signals, which comparing different image signals in alternation time to decide the emitting type and the emitting conversion of a light-emitting device so as to accomplish simulating the scenes of the image signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: Compal Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Jyh-Chyang Tzou, Chih-Peng Ma
  • Patent number: 7551179
    Abstract: An image display apparatus includes: an image signal processing unit which adjusts an input grayscale values included in an input image signal according to a predetermined grayscale characteristic; a display unit which displays an image based on an image signal included in an output grayscale value adjusted by the image signal processing unit; and a grayscale characteristic changing unit which changes a correlation between the input and output grayscale values defined based on the grayscale characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Takefumi Sakakibara, Yuji Mochizuki, Osamu Kumamoto, Shiki Furui
  • Patent number: 7551301
    Abstract: A SI storage unit storing SI (program allocation information), a display program ID recording unit recording a display program ID which indicates a program displayed on a TV, an additional SI specification table recording unit recording a table for specifying an additional SI to be additionally printed together with pictures, and a print control unit obtaining a print instruction sent from a remote control, hold an image data to a screen data save unit, specify additional SI with reference to a display program ID recording unit and an additional SI specification table recording unit, read out the additional SI from the SI storage unit and send the readout additional SI to a combination unit. Further, the combination unit generates a print data by combining the image data held in the screen data save unit with the additional SI from the print control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Takehito Yamaguchi, Shigeki Matsunaga
  • Patent number: 7551228
    Abstract: An audio-video (AV) signal transceiving processing device which includes a AV decoder, a bridge, and a bus interface, wherein the bus interface is a PCMCIA, CardBus, or Express Card bus interface. The AV decoder is used to receive an analog video signals and a corresponding analog audio signal, and output a first digital video signal and a corresponding first digital audio signal. The bridge is used to receive the first digital video signal and the first digital audio signal, and output a second digital video signal and a second digital audio signal, which are compliant to a bus interface standard, to a computer through a bus interface that is compliant to the bus interface standard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: Avermedia Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Yung-Da Lin, Ming-Hou Dai
  • Patent number: 7545439
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for customizing a digital broadcast receiver. Video and audio clips may be captured from a broadcast signal after receiving commands from a user. The captured clips may then be used to provide background images and sounds. Sounds may also be assigned to broadcast receiver events.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: Nokia Corporation
    Inventor: Esa Wahlroos
  • Patent number: 7543323
    Abstract: Displaying content associated with a television program using logical addresses identifying the content. Content associated with the television program is automatically displayed by a set top box. Before the broadcast of a program, television listing information, such as EPG data, is stored at the set top box. The listing information includes batch mode logical addresses or links. During the program, a viewer is notified about the link, enabling the content to be accessed and displayed concurrently with the program. In addition, real-time logical addresses or links, which are embedded in the program, may be extracted and displayed to the viewer. If both the real-time and batch mode links are available, a determination is made according to pre-defined rules regarding which link is brought to the attention of the viewer. In this manner, real-time links can be supplied with the broadcast to supplement or replace the batch mode links.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel J. Zigmond, Dean Blackketter, William M. Gillon, Phillip Goldman
  • Patent number: 7542511
    Abstract: Systems and methods for wireless transmission of uncompressed HDTV signals are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for transmitting an uncompressed HDTV signal over a wireless RF link, comprises providing a stream of regenerated data from the uncompressed HDTV signal; providing a first clock signal synchronized to said stream of regenerated data; encoding said stream of regenerated data, producing a stream of encoded data; providing a second clock signal synchronized to said stream of encoded data; demultiplexing said stream of encoded data, using said second clock signal, into an I data stream and a Q data stream; modulating a carrier with said I data stream and said Q data stream; and transmitting said carrier in a signal over the wireless RF link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Kurt W. Loheit, William A. Salter
  • Publication number: 20090128699
    Abstract: An integrated circuit includes display processing components to process pixel data of digital video. The integrated circuit also includes mask-programmable logic integrated with one or more of the display processing components to receive the pixel data in a first color space and at least a second color space, where the mask-programmable logic can further process the pixel data to enhance the digital video.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2009
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Applicant: Denace Enterprise Co., L.L.C.
    Inventors: Clyde H. Nagakura, Po Weng Chiu, Qinggang Zhou
  • Patent number: 7535965
    Abstract: Systems and methods for wireless transmission of uncompressed HDTV signals are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for communicating an uncompressed HDTV signal over a wireless RF link includes providing a clock signal synchronized to the uncompressed HDTV signal; providing a stream of regenerated data from the uncompressed HDTV signal, the clock signal being synchronized to the stream of regenerated data; demultiplexing the stream of regenerated data using the clock signal into an I data stream and a Q data stream; modulating a carrier with the I data stream and the Q data stream; and transmitting the modulated carrier over the wireless RF link. The synchronized clock signal may be provided using a clock and data recovery (CDR) component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Kurt W. Loheit, William A. Salter
  • Patent number: 7532251
    Abstract: A variable intensity light device is provided to illuminate front panel user buttons in a television apparatus. The television apparatus allows user control of the level of light intensity preferably via an on-screen menu. Automatic detection circuitry/logic is also provided that detects whether a light such as an LED is present upon initial user set-up. This allows the inclusion of the light device in televisions whose controllers are already designed. Moreover, the light device preferably utilizes a single wire for light presence detection and intensity control. Detection of the light causes the television apparatus to include a light control on-screen menu in the main television on-screen menu. Preferably, the light control menu allows the user selection of at least six different brightness or intensity levels for the light. In one form, the light is a diode that provides blue light though a light pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventors: William John Testin, William Patrick McCarthy, John Edward Nicholson
  • Publication number: 20090115898
    Abstract: A method and system for selectively viewing a broadcast channel in a particular place is provided. A method of selectively viewing a broadcast channel in a particular place includes: receiving image information associated with different locations of the particular place from a plurality of imaging devices; receiving sound information associated with the particular place from at least one of the plurality of imaging devices; multi-channelizing the image information and the sound information to generate a frame that includes the image information and the sound information; and transmitting the generated frame to a user terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2008
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Applicant: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Woo Goo Park, Dae Sik Kim, Gyung-chul Shin
  • Patent number: 7518656
    Abstract: A signal processing apparatus comprises: an audio signal detection circuit which detects a specific audio signal from a broadcasting program including an image signal and an audio signal; a control unit which controls an image processing processor, wherein the audio signal detection circuit generates a control signal for controlling the control unit when the audio signal detection circuit detects the specific audio signal, and the control unit controls the image processing processor according to the control signal so as to display a specific image and/or text by synthesizing the specific image and/or text corresponding to the specific audio signal and an image of the broadcasting program displayed according to the image signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Ohno, Shuntaro Aratani, Masayoshi Tachihara
  • Publication number: 20090086097
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a television that includes a speaker; a display; a tuner for receiving television broadcasting signals and generates first sound signals and first image signals based on the television broadcasting signals; a connecting terminal for connecting to a player device having an operation panel generating operation commands according to user's operations; an operation macro outputting unit for outputting an operation macro same as a plurality of the operation commands to the player device in order to make the player device perform consecutive operations, through the connecting terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2008
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Applicant: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takehiro Onomatsu
  • Publication number: 20090086098
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a television that includes: a power circuit; a tuner for receiving television broadcasting signals; a display for displaying an image according to image signals based on the television broadcasting signals; a speaker for outputting a sound according to audio signals based on the television broadcasting signals; a connecting terminal for connecting to a player device that is capable of playing a media file; a connection detecting unit for detecting that the player device is connected to the connecting terminal; a charging unit for charging a battery of the player device in case the player device is connected to the connecting terminal; and a charge preventing unit for preventing the charging unit from charging the battery according to a user's operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2008
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Applicant: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takehiro Onomatsu, Yoshihiro Yamanishi
  • Publication number: 20090079869
    Abstract: Image apparatuses capable of communicating with each other and a method of controlling the image apparatuses include the image apparatuses that communicate with each other using a high definition multimedia interface-consumer electronic control (HDMI-CEC) method. The keys provided to a remote controller to control a first image apparatus are mapped to a key code used to control the second image apparatus communicating with the first image apparatus. Therefore, the second image apparatus connected to the first image apparatus is also controlled by using the remote controller to control the first image apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2008
    Publication date: March 26, 2009
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Dae-hyun Kim
  • Patent number: 7508452
    Abstract: This invention discloses an arrangement allowing connection of various kinds of image displays to one supply source in an image display control system having a supply source for transmitting a signal including at least a video signal, and an image display for receiving the signal and displaying a corresponding image. The supply source acquires characteristic data of the image display when it is powered on, determines a signal communication specification with the image display based on the acquired characteristic data, and communicates a signal including the video signal with the determined communication specification. The image display transmits characteristic data for specifying the characteristics of the image display to the supply source, and communicates the signal including the video signal in accordance with the determined communication specification. This invention also discloses an arrangement permitting changing the specifications and version of the control program of the image display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Makiko Mori, Naoto Abe, Tatsuro Yamazaki, Muneki Ando
  • Publication number: 20090066837
    Abstract: A video apparatus, a video system, and a method for upgrading software thereof are provided. The video apparatus included in the video system is a set-top box and a display apparatus which receives a video signal from the set-top box. If a memory card storing upgrading software is mounted on the display apparatus, the display apparatus transmits the software to the set-top box in a wireless manner. After performing an upgrade, the set-top box and the display apparatus may perform a rollback to have the same version of software. Accordingly, the set-top box and the display apparatus perform a software upgrade at the same time and thus the same version of software is realized in the set-top box and display apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2008
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jae-ho CHOI, Jong-eun Lee
  • Patent number: 7486502
    Abstract: A computer including a chassis, a motherboard, an electronic component, an I/O port and a status display module is provided. The motherboard is disposed in the chassis. The electronic component is electrically connected with the motherboard. The I/O port is electrically connected with the motherboard and has at least one machine code to indicate the status of the electronic component. The status display module is electrically connected with the motherboard. The status display module includes a decoder and a display device. The decoder is configured to translate the machine code into a text description. The display device is disposed on the chassis and is electrically connected to the decoder to display the text description.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: Asustek Computer Inc.
    Inventor: Yen-Po Yu
  • Patent number: 7483080
    Abstract: A first set of display information is received at a device driver. The first set of display information indicates a portion of the video image to be displayed in a first window of a first monitor. An aspect ratio of the video image is determined based on the first set of display information. Based on the determined aspect ratio, the display driver determines a location on a second display device where the video image is to also be displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: ATI Technologies ULC
    Inventors: Jitesh Arora, Peter X. Cao
  • Publication number: 20090021641
    Abstract: An unreceivability detector (6) that, based on various information obtained from a signal received from a broadcasting station of a digital broadcast program being viewed/listened to, detects that the received signal of that broadcasting station is currently unreceivable and outputs an unreceivability notification, an affiliated station memory (8) that stores channel information of the program being viewed/listened to and channel information of a station affiliated with that broadcasting station, and a tuning control unit (7) that, when it receives an unreceivability notification from the unreceivability detector, retrieves the channel information of the affiliated station from the affiliated station memory (8) and permits the program of the affiliated station to be viewed/listened to, if it is currently in a receivable state, and outputs an instruction to make a channel search for an affiliated station if no affiliated station is stored in the affiliated station memory are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2007
    Publication date: January 22, 2009
    Inventors: Daiki Matsuura, Keiichi Shirasuka, Soichiro Matsumoto, Minoru Sota, Tadashi Sakaguchi
  • Patent number: 7480010
    Abstract: An integrated circuit has a substantially non-customizable hardware portion and a mask-programmable logic portion. An image processing function common to many different makes and models of a type of electronic consumer device (for example, an image display device) is performed by the substantially non-customizable hardware portion. The substantially non-customizable hardware portion also outputs pixel data in both a first color space format and a second color space format. The mask-programmble logic portion can be mask-programmed for an individual manufacturer of electronic consumer devices such that the mask-programmable logic portion performs an additional special function specific to the electronic consumer devices of the individual manufacturer. Certain functions are better or more easily performed on pixel data in one color space format than another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2009
    Assignee: Denace Enterprise Co., L.L.C.
    Inventors: Clyde H. Nagakura, Po Weng Chiu, Qinggang Zhou
  • Patent number: 7477325
    Abstract: An audio/video separator provides a high-performance and cost-effective solution to analog TV reception with only one A/D converter and a minimum of analog IF components. The apparatus may operate on a digitized TV signal and, when integrated with a digital video processor, process video signals while separating audio signals. The resultant audio and video signals may be considered to have excellent signal quality due to highly optimized demodulation architecture and digital signal processing techniques on both audio and video data paths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2009
    Assignee: ATI Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Q. Zhu, Hulyalkar N. Samir, Binning Chen, Raul A. Casas, Dongsheng Wu
  • Patent number: 7477321
    Abstract: There is provided a video display system in which when supplying a video signal from a base station (200) to a plurality of display units (transportable one 100 and large-screen one 300), an operation instruction generator generates a screen select instruction corresponding to the direction of the user's touch on a touch panel (121) provided on the display screen of the transportable display unit (100) that displays an image corresponding to a video signal supplied from the base station (200) and transmits the operation instruction from the transportable display unit (100) to the base station (200), and a controller included in the base station (200) controls the channel selecting operation of two turning means included in the base station (200) correspondingly to the supplied operation instruction. Stroking the surface of the touch panel (121) on the display screen of the transportable display unit (100), the user can transfer an image between the plurality of display units (100, 300).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2009
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tatsuya Yokoyama, Yuka Ohashi, Jin Sato, Ayumi Mizobuchi, Yushi Sayama, Mami Uchida, Tatsushi Nashida, Goro Takaki, Kirihito Ogawa
  • Patent number: 7468755
    Abstract: A video signal receiving device comprises signal processing units which separate video components and audio components from received signals conforming to HDMI standard, and carry out a decoding process on the components, respectively, to thereby restore analog video signals and audio signals, a detecting unit which detects a change in received signals to generate a first detection signal, and a detecting unit which detects a change in a received connection recognition signal to generate a second detection signal, and a mute control unit which carries out a mute process for the signal processing units not to output audio signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2008
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Morio Ando
  • Publication number: 20080309822
    Abstract: A method for automatically setting configurations of a display apparatus according to audio/visual (AV) device information or program information, and an apparatus applying the method are provided. The method includes checking device information of an active audio/visual (AV) device, reading configuration setting values corresponding to the device information from a memory, and changing configurations of a display apparatus according to the configuration setting values. As a result, display configurations are changed to optimum conditions automatically, according to the types of external AV devices connected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2008
    Publication date: December 18, 2008
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Si-hong PARK
  • Publication number: 20080309819
    Abstract: A method for identifying video content consistent with certain embodiments involves, selecting a plurality pixels using a pixel selection algorithm, the pixels being selected to provide a repeatable selection of pixels in a selected frame in the video content; establishing a scene signature by: extracting a characteristic of each selected pixel that can be represented in a digital form for each pixel, and generating a digital stream by concatenating the digital form for the extracted characteristic of each pixel; transmitting the scene signature to an identification device for comparison with scene signatures in a database having a plurality of video content items to identify the video content; and receiving either the identification of the video content or an indication that no video content is uniquely identified by the scene signature. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2007
    Publication date: December 18, 2008
    Inventors: Robert L. Hardacker, Christopher Jensen Read
  • Publication number: 20080284911
    Abstract: A multimedia home platform (MHP) application (131) is customized for selecting, for presentation or recording during a commercial break (224), a channel or substream of a channel whose viewer category most closely matches the particular user profile (S320). The profile is built by logging channels visited, direct query and answer and by user voting on the commercial showing or just shown (S540).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2006
    Publication date: November 20, 2008
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS, N.V.
    Inventors: Johannes Hendrikus Maria Lemmers, Michiel Josephus Christianen
  • Patent number: 7453520
    Abstract: An apparatus and method of processing a plurality of video input signals in a display device by sensing a new video signal, aside from a presently displayed video signal, input through a video interface, and automatically displaying a menu of display options for the newly input video signal to convert input/output paths of video signals from the presently displayed video signal to the newly input video signal. Input of a new video signal, aside from a presently displayed video signal, is periodically checked, and if the new video signal is input, a new video signal input message and a predetermined menu for selecting whether to display the new video signal are automatically displayed. According to an input menu selection signal, the new video signal is displayed or the displaying of the presently displayed video signal is continued.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jung-dae Kim
  • Publication number: 20080273118
    Abstract: A broadcast signal receiving apparatus including a broadcast receiving unit that receives a broadcast signal; a communicating unit that performs communication with a mobile apparatus; a signal converting unit that converts the received broadcast signal; and a controller that controls the signal converting unit to convert the broadcast signal into a format corresponding to the mobile apparatus, and controls the communicating unit to transmit the converted broadcast signal to the mobile apparatus
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2007
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Seung-hyuk CHOI, Seung-seop SHIM, Moon-seok HAN, Joon-hyuk RYU
  • Patent number: 7446819
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for processing video signals, which can selectively freeze any one of two or more images being displayed, are disclosed. The apparatus includes a video decoder decoding at least one video stream in picture units, by using a plurality of decoding frames and at least one freezing frame, a memory storing in picture units the decoded video stream outputted from the video decoder, and a plurality of video processors reading the stored video stream from the memory and transforming the stored video stream to displayable data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Eung Tae Kim, Jin Seok Im
  • Patent number: 7440036
    Abstract: Even when a user is by the immediate side of a screen of a large screen television receiver such as a plasma TV receiver, the user can view an image displayed on the screen entirely by contracting the image to be displayed, and power consumption of the television receiver can be reduced. When the user choose a contraction mode for displaying the image with contraction, the video signal processor performs pixel skipping of video data corresponding to predetermined pixels to video data of a television signal received by a tuner. The display panel displays a contracted image with an initial contraction ratio at an initial display position on a screen of the display panel with using the processed video data. The contraction ratio and the display position of the contracted image on the screen of the display panel can be varied optionally by operating a wireless remote controller, corresponding to a distance between the user and the screen of the display panel or according to the user's predilection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takehiro Onomatsu, Kentaro Eto
  • Patent number: 7436459
    Abstract: A digital broadcast receiving apparatus for receiving a digital broadcast, includes a freeze determining section and a display control section. The freeze determining section determines whether or not a freeze process should be initiated on a basis of a receiving status of the digital broadcast. The freeze determining section also determines whether or not the free process being performed should be terminated on the basis of a receiving status of the digital broadcast. The display control section initiates the freeze process when the freeze determining section concludes that the freeze process should be initiated. The display control section terminates the freeze process being performed when the freeze determining section concludes that the freeze process being performed should be terminated. The freeze process includes displaying a freeze notification on a screen while changing the freeze notification so that a user recognizes the change of the freeze notification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: Fujitsu Ten Limited
    Inventors: Toshio Tanaka, Shinichi Iwamoto, Mutsuo Tanabe, Sonoe Mori
  • Publication number: 20080246879
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a device detecting portion which performs detection of device portions which are connected to a communication bus; a storing portion which stores kind information which shows kind of all the device portions that can be connected to the communication bus and general-purpose control program which can control all the device portions that can be connected to the communication bus; and a control portion which reads out the general-purpose control program from the storing portion to execute when control of the respective device portions which are provided in a group of devices is performed. The control portion discriminates between kind of the device portions which are connected to the communication bus and kind of the device portions which are not connected to the communication bus utilizing the detection result and the kind information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2008
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Inventor: Kazuteru Adachi
  • Patent number: 7433973
    Abstract: A display device includes a plurality of video input interfaces. The display device also includes a display controller coupled to the plurality of video input interfaces. The display controller determines a sequence in which the plurality of video input interfaces are scanned for a video signal. The display controller makes the determination in response to activity information associated with one or more video input interfaces included in the plurality of video input interfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Thomas Cantwell, Joe E. Goodart
  • Patent number: 7425992
    Abstract: A television upgrade system allows a consumer to upgrade applications or features in a television (TV) simply by inserting an external device containing an upgrade file into the TV. The TV then executes a boot loader code which automatically replaces an executable code for applications or features currently in the TV with the new or upgraded executable code from the upgrade file. A consumer can also upgrade the boot loader code that maps out where the executable code for the different applications or features are located in memory. This allows the TV to be completely reconfigured for a wider variety of new applications and features. A verification operation can be performed to prevent the TV from being reconfigured with incorrect versions of the boot image and to avoid unauthorized files from being loaded into the TV.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2008
    Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America, Inc.
    Inventors: James Lee Feeler, Bryan Severt Hallberg, Kim Wells
  • Patent number: 7400364
    Abstract: A system for automatically tuning a primary broadcast receiver using a secondary broadcast receiver to receive a first broadcast signal corresponding to a source of an origin program, one or more program transition detectors to monitor first broadcast signal tuned by the secondary broadcast receiver to determine and signal a transition from a non-original program content to origin program content while a user views or hears alternate programming from a primary broadcast receiver, and automatically tuning of the primary broadcast receiver to the first broadcast signal upon detection by the program transition detector that one or more of user-specific tune conditions have been met.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Yen-Fu Chen, John Hans Handy-Bosma, Nancy T. Sun, Keith Raymond Walker
  • Publication number: 20080152023
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus configured to connect an external device in conformity with a predetermined interface specification, includes: a control LSI configured to control signal output to an external device effectively connected; and a CPU configured to control the operation within the apparatus including the control LSI as a whole; wherein the CPU includes an interface circuit connected to a detecting unit configured to detect the validity of connection to an external device, a control LSI control unit configured to control reset of the control LSI, and release of the reset state of the control LSI according to the detection result of the detecting unit, and the control LSI.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Kikutada YOSHIDA, Tatsuya Sato
  • Publication number: 20080143876
    Abstract: A video signal identification system including an input module configured to receive an unknown video signal, a video signal processing module configured to process known video signals, and a processor coupled to the input module and to the video signal processing module and configured to determine and store information indicative of characteristics of the unknown video signal such that the unknown video signal becomes a known video signal that can be processed by the video signal processing module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2007
    Publication date: June 19, 2008
    Inventors: JAMES KOURAMANIS, Chun Wang
  • Patent number: 7385719
    Abstract: In case the digital broadcasting wave contains printable contents data, the invention multiplexes a message, a mark or an icon on the display screen of the currently viewed program or outputs an audio message to inform the user of the presence of such contents data. The invention prevents a situation where the contents data cannot be or are not printed even though the data are transmitted, and allows the user to correctly prepare the type or number of sheets in advance in the printer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Ohno, Yoshikazu Shibamiya, Shigeki Mori, Shuntaro Aratani
  • Publication number: 20080100747
    Abstract: A voice-controlled TV set comprises a storage device, a voice controller, and a processor. The storage device is used to store a plurality of application programs, which is utilized to execute the various functions of the TV set; the voice controller is used to receive the voice of the user, and compare said voice with more than one voice instruction and then output a control code. Finally, the processor is used to execute the application program corresponding to the control code, so that the voice-controlled TV set is able to perform various functions according to the voice instructions given by the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2006
    Publication date: May 1, 2008
    Inventors: Ming-Hui Lin, Yu-Chuan Chang
  • Patent number: 7365798
    Abstract: The procedure of the invention acquires a maximum RB value, which is a largest value of an R signal component and a B signal component, on the assumption that the signal format of an input video signal is an RGB signal, and obtains an RGB probability corresponding to a degree of largeness of the maximum RB value. The procedure also acquires a minimum color difference value, which is a smallest value of a color difference signal component, on the assumption that the signal format of the input video signal is a Y/color difference signal, and obtains a color difference probability corresponding to a degree of smallness of the minimum color difference value. The procedure compares the RGB probability with the color difference probability and thereby determines whether the signal format of the input video signal is the RGB signal or the Y/color difference signal. This arrangement effectively enhances the haccuracy of discrimination between the RGB signal and the Y/color difference signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Yukihiro Nashida
  • Publication number: 20080088739
    Abstract: An USB HUB with a TV receiver is provided mainly with a TV module that is able to shift a wireless signal received into a TV signal. Which is then transmitted to an electronic appliance connected with the USB HUB, achieving a purpose of miniaturization for saving space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2006
    Publication date: April 17, 2008
    Inventor: Robert Wang
  • Publication number: 20080079850
    Abstract: Provided are a broadcast receiving apparatus for providing a commerce broadcast without modifying a broadcast picture, and a broadcast providing method thereof. The broadcast receiving apparatus includes a broadcast receiver which receives a broadcast signal; a broadcast processor which processes the broadcast signal received through the broadcast receiver; and a controller which controls the broadcast processor to perform a processing in compliance with a broadcasting standard of the broadcast signal when determining the received broadcast signal to be a specific broadcast signal. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent inconvenience which may occur because of the difference between the product image viewed by the user through the broadcast picture and the actual image of the ordered product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2007
    Publication date: April 3, 2008
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD
    Inventor: Jae-cheol KIM
  • Publication number: 20080074546
    Abstract: A warning and signal interrupt device for preventing a child from sitting to close to a TV includes a pressure mat for defining an area and sending a signal when an individual is within that area. The device also includes a timer for timing a period when the individual remains in the area. When the timer exceeds a first pre-selected increment of time, the device sounds an alarm which continues until the individual vacates the area. Then when the period of time exceeds a second pre-selected time interval, the device turns off the picture and mutes the TV sound. The device also restarts the TV when the individual moves outside of the area. A method for automatically training a child to sit at a proper distance from a TV screen is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2006
    Publication date: March 27, 2008
    Inventor: Abdulmohsen A. Momen
  • Publication number: 20080068502
    Abstract: A multimedia television is provided. The multimedia television includes a video playback apparatus, an audio processing device, M front loudspeakers, a rear audio playback apparatus, and a mixing device. The video playback apparatus is used for displaying a video signal. The audio processing device processes an audio signal into a multi-channel audio signal consisting of M front sub-audio signals and N rear sub-audio signals. Each front loudspeaker plays back one corresponding front sub-audio signal. And, the mixing device mixes the N rear sub-audio signals into a mixed audio signal, which is then wirelessly transmitted to the rear audio playback apparatus. After the mixed audio signal is processed into N rear sub-audio signals, N rear loudspeakers in the rear audio playback apparatus playback the N rear sub-audio signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2007
    Publication date: March 20, 2008
    Inventors: Mu-Hsuan Lee, Shen-Chin Chao, Chung-Shih Chen
  • Patent number: 7343141
    Abstract: An enhanced radio system is disclosed that provides for the capture and playback of one or more radio stations. The user may tune to a station, or scan through stations, rewind to hear what was missed (even while the system is turned off), and fast-forward through undesired content. The system allows a user to rate content, and to be notified when that content is being played on any station. The system may recognize content as it is broadcast and may jump to desirable content, save a copy of desirable content, or skip over undesirable content. The system may make radio station recommendations. The system may support multiple sets of configuration information to allow its use by multiple listeners and in multiple locations. The system allows the authorized user to respond easily to radio content, download and upload audio content, and send radio content to another user. The system may allow a user to download information about content that the user wishes to record a copy of.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Inventors: Michael D. Ellis, Caron S. Ellis
  • Publication number: 20080059990
    Abstract: A behavioral attention control apparatus and method for treating the short attention span of a child viewing a television that requires the child to respond to an alert signal within a specific window period to prevent the television from turning off. A specialized remote control component has a switch that must be triggered by the child to initially turn on the television and then retriggered periodically to keep the television turned on. A timer defines a window period during which the child must make a valid retrigger. After an interval with the television on, the window period opens and the child is alerted to the opening of the window period by lights and sound. If a valid retrigger is not made during the window period, the television is turned off. The remote control component is desirably housed in an enclosure that would be appropriately attractive to a child. In one embodiment, the enclosure is shaped like a frog and the sound alert is a frog-like “ribbet” sound.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2006
    Publication date: March 6, 2008
    Inventors: John N. Marr, Kenneth T. Joyce, John B. Peters, Charles F. Weber, Daniel A. Attema, Otto L. Dalmady
  • Patent number: RE40606
    Abstract: In an effective display area, an additional information recognizing part 203 recognizes a standard of a broadcast wave, refers to a ROM 212 and selects a target value, and provides an internal clock of a video data reading part 205 and an internal clock of an OSD data reading part 206 with the target value. At a retrace internal, on the other hand, the additional information recognizing part 203 notifies an additional information synthetic position deciding part 210 of the standard of the broadcast wave. The additional information synthetic position deciding part 210 selects from a ROM 211 a target value for reading the additional information applicable to the notified standard, and outputs the target value to an additional information reading parts 207. When the standard of the broadcast wave is changed, target values corresponding to the changes are responsively selected from the ROM 212 and the ROM 211.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Mikihiko Yamada, Hirotoshi Uehara