METHOD FOR SELECTING AN INPUT MEDIA SOURCE
System and method for changing a current input terminal of a user device. In one embodiment of the invention, a method includes receiving an input terminal change request, requesting that a current input terminal be changed from a first input terminal to a second input terminal. The method may further include determining if an external device is connected to the second input terminal. In one embodiment of the invention, the second input terminal includes a connection detection switch. The method may also include switching to the second input terminal when the connection detection switch indicates an external device connection and skipping the second input terminal when the connection detection switch indicates no external device connected according to one embodiment of the invention.
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The present invention relates in general to a method and apparatus to improve the switching input response of a device which has multiple inputs.
BACKGROUNDAs the number of inputs to a TV receiver, monitor or any product with multiple inputs increases, the number of actions to select a required input and time spent by a user also increases. Current switching input response devices for TV receivers require a user to press the input select toggle button, either on the TV receiver or on a remote control, for each input connection available. The receiver takes a finite time interval to determine whether a signal is present on the selected input, and time is further spent trying to display the input on the screen. Users are wasting more time to access a particular input device, therefore diluting the users experience with a product. Thus, there is a need for reducing the number of actions required by a user when selecting a particular input.
Another problem with current switching input devices is determining if a cable is properly connected to the input interface. If an input device is improperly attached to the input interface, the system may not recognize the improper connection. The system may then attempt to determine if a signal is present and display the input on a screen. There exists a need to detect proper insertion of a cable connector.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art to overcome one or more of the aforementioned drawbacks.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONDisclosed and claimed herein are an apparatus and method for changing a current input terminal of a user device.
In one embodiment of the invention, a method includes receiving an input terminal change request, requesting that a current input terminal be changed from a first input terminal to a second input terminal. The method may further include determining if an external device is connected to the second input terminal. In one embodiment of the invention, the second input terminal includes a connection detection switch. The method according to one embodiment of the invention may also include switching to the second input terminal when the connection detection switch indicates an external device connection and skipping the second input terminal when the connection detection switch indicates no external device connected.
Other aspects, features, and techniques of the invention will be apparent to one skilled in the relevant art in view of the following detailed description of the invention.
One aspect of the invention is directed to changing a current input terminal of an electronic user device based on connection of an input terminal to an external device. According to one embodiment, an input terminal change request is received and the connection status of a second input terminal is detected with a connection detection switch. The current input may be switched to the second input terminal when the connection detection switch indicates an external device connection, or skipped when the connection detection switch indicates that the second input terminal is not connected to an external device. According to one embodiment of the invention, the connection detection switch may be a mechanical switch integrated with an input terminal. According to another embodiment, the connection detection switch may be activated by a dedicated pin or contact of an external device connection. The input terminals may correspond to composite terminals, component video terminals, audio terminals, HDMI terminals, fiber optic terminals, coaxial terminals or electronic device input terminals in general.
According to a further embodiment of the invention, determining the connection of external devices may further comprise generating a dynamic reference table of active external device connections. The reference table may be a list of active input terminals used as a reference when an input change request is received.
In another embodiment of the invention, a user electronic device is provided for advancing through a plurality of device connections. In one embodiment the user electronic device may include an input interface for connection to external devices. The input interface may include a connection detection switch. According to one embodiment, the user electronic device may include selection means coupled to the plurality of inputs and a processor coupled to the selection means. In one embodiment, when an input change request is received the processor may be configured to switch from a first input terminal to a second terminal or skip the second terminal based on the connection detection switch.
Another aspect of the invention, may be to alert a user of an improper connection to an input terminal. If a cable is not fully inserted or connected loosely to the input terminal, the user electronic device may display an alert signal or notification of the improper connection on a display associated with the electronic user device.
When implemented in software, the elements of the invention are essentially the code segments to perform the necessary tasks. The program or code segments can be stored in a processor readable medium. The “processor readable medium” may include any medium that can store or transfer information. Examples of the processor readable medium include an electronic circuit, a semiconductor memory device, a ROM, a flash memory or other non-volatile memory, a floppy diskette, a CD-ROM, an optical disk, a hard disk, a fiber optic medium, a radio frequency (RF) link, etc. The code segments may be downloaded via computer networks such as the Internet, Intranet, etc.
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While certain exemplary embodiments have been described and shown in the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that such embodiments are merely illustrative of and not restrictive on the broad invention, and that this invention not be limited to the specific constructions and arrangements shown and described, since various other modifications may occur to those ordinarily skilled in the art. Trademarks and copyrights referred to herein are the property of their respective owners.
Claims
1-20. (canceled)
21. A user electronic device comprising:
- a input terminal for connection to external devices comprising a connection detection switch that is activated by a dedicated pin of an external device connector; and
- a processor coupled to the input terminal configured to determine a connection status of the input terminal based on whether the connection detection switch is activated.
22. The device of claim 21, wherein the connection detection switch is a mechanical switch integrated with the input terminal.
23. The device of claim 21, wherein the connection detection switch is activated by contacting the dedicated pin of the external device connector.
24. The device of claim 21, wherein the connection detection switch is closed when the external device connector is properly inserted into the input terminal and open when the input terminal is not connected to the external device connector.
25. The device of claim 21, wherein the processor is further configured to determine a proper connection of an external device cable.
26. The device of claim 25, wherein a user is alerted when an improper connection is detected.
27. The device of claim 21, wherein the input terminal corresponds to one or more of composite terminals, component video terminals, audio terminals, HDMI terminals, fiber optic terminal and electronic device input terminals.
28. The device of claim 21, wherein when the processor receives a input terminal change request, the input terminal is automatically skipped over if the connection detection switch is not activated.
29. The device of claim 21, further comprising a storage medium storing a dynamic reference table of active external device connections corresponding to the connection status of a plurality of input terminals, including the input terminal.
30. The device of claim 21, further comprising a display device configured to display the connection status of the input terminal to a user.
31. A method for detecting connection at a user electronic device comprising:
- detecting if a connection detect switch of a input terminal is activated by a dedicated pin of an external device connector; and
- determining a connection status of the input terminal based on whether the connection detection switch is activated.
32. The method of claim 31, wherein the connection detection switch is a mechanical switch integrated with the input terminal.
33. The method of claim 31, wherein the connection detection switch is activated by contacting the dedicated pin of the external device connector.
34. The method of claim 31, wherein the connection detection switch is closed when the external device connector is properly inserted into the input terminal and open when the input terminal is not connected to the external device connector.
35. The method of claim 31, further comprising determining a proper connection of an external device cable.
36. The method of claim 35, further comprising altering a user when an improper connection is detected.
37. The method of claim 31, wherein the input terminal corresponds to one or more of composite terminals, component video terminals, audio terminals, HDMI terminals, fiber optic terminal and electronic device input terminals.
38. The method of claim 31, further comprising:
- receiving a input terminal change request; and
- automatically skipping the input terminal if the connection detection switch is not activated.
39. The method of claim 31, further comprising:
- storing a dynamic reference table of active external device connections corresponding to the connection status of a plurality of input terminals, including the input terminal.
40. The method of claim 31, further comprising:
- causing the display of the connection status of the input terminal to a user.
Type: Application
Filed: May 8, 2014
Publication Date: Aug 28, 2014
Applicants: (Tokyo), Sony Electronics Inc. (Park Ridge, NJ)
Inventors: Peter Shintani (San Diego, CA), Eiji Kouno (Kuala Lumpur)
Application Number: 14/273,390
International Classification: H04N 5/44 (20060101); H04N 5/445 (20060101);