Basic Receiver With Additional Function Patents (Class 348/553)
  • Publication number: 20020030760
    Abstract: A television receiver receiving an analog video signal, comprises additional information detecting means for separating and extracting an additional information code from the analog video signal, and outputting the additional information code; additional information recording means for recording the additional information code output from the additional information detecting means; additional information writing switch means for passing or blocking the additional information code that is output from the additional information detecting means toward the additional information recording means, in response to a control signal; conversion means for converting the additional information code output from the additional information detecting means or the additional information code reproduced from the additional information recording means into a character or an image; and signal synthesizing means for synthesizing the analog video signal and the additional information that has been converted into a character or an
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2001
    Publication date: March 14, 2002
    Applicant: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toshiro Nishio, Kiyoshi Imai, Akira Usui, Kiyokazu Hagiwara
  • Publication number: 20020030763
    Abstract: The receiver comprises a tuner that converts the FM radio broadcast signal into an intermediate frequency signal that is the same as a sound intermediate frequency subcarrier signal when receiving the television broadcast signal and outputs it when receiving the FM radio broadcast signal, a SAW filter passes only an intermediate frequency band out of the output of the tuner, a video detector detects a video signal containing a sound subcarrier signal when receiving the television broadcast signal and detects a sound subcarrier signal when receiving the FM radio broadcast signal, a VIFAGC circuit makes the amplitude of a video signal output at a constant value, and an AGC circuit makes the amplitude of a sound subcarrier signal outputted from a band pass filter at a constant value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2000
    Publication date: March 14, 2002
    Inventors: Hiroshi Izuta, Akio Ohnishi
  • Publication number: 20020024616
    Abstract: A television based on an operating system, including: a first memory storing a boot loader program, the boot loader program performing a hardware basic test and a booting; a television signal generating portion outputting a television broadcast; a second memory storing a MPEG control program and preset channel information, the MPEG control program driving the television signal processing portion to output a video signal corresponding to a received television broadcast corresponding to the stored preset channel information; and a central processing unit executing the boot loader program, executing the MPEG control program after the hardware basic test of the boot loader program and loading the operating system onto a random access memory after the MPEG control program drives the television signal processing portion to output the video signal corresponding to the received television broadcast corresponding to the stored preset channel information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2001
    Publication date: February 28, 2002
    Inventor: Jae-Ik Kim
  • Publication number: 20020015109
    Abstract: A broadcast receiver apparatus includes a video/data separation unit separating video from data included in a broadcast wave, and a CRT displaying the video separated by the video/data separation unit, and displaying a button on the video based on button data included in the separated data. The CRT displays video associated data corresponding to a button selected by a viewer. Therefore, the correspondence between video and video associated data can easily be grasped.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2001
    Publication date: February 7, 2002
    Inventor: Kenji Mameda
  • Patent number: 6344879
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for capturing an object in a TV program to display or print an object selected by a user is disclosed. The present invention includes a media object description table decoder to generate a data file corresponding to the object captured among the image frames being displayed on a display unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2002
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jae Ryong Kim, Mun Youl Lee, Sung A Cho, Sang Won Chung, Se Jung Sohn
  • Patent number: 6342928
    Abstract: A receiver includes two input terminals. A VHF broadcast signal over a 6-MHz band channel is inputted through one input terminal, while an FM broadcast signal over an approximate 100-kHz band channel is inputted through the other input terminal. The other input terminal is connected with a trap circuit for band width reduction. This trap circuit causes attenuation in signal components over channels close to a desired channel except that over the desired channel with a band of approximately 100 kHz. An analog switch inputs selectively the VHF broadcast signal and the FM broadcast signal attenuated in the signal components to a tuning circuit having a tuning band width of approximately 6 MHz. When an FM broadcast signal is selected, an FM broadcast signal only over a desired channel is outputted from the tuning circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2002
    Assignees: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd., Sanyo Tuners Industries Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Koji Ohira
  • Patent number: 6337715
    Abstract: A broadcasting reception apparatus includes a display unit for presenting a display showing a plurality of channels, with which the user can recognize whether decoding software programs for decoding program signals being currently broadcast via each channel are held in a library buffer, or not, thereby making possible pleasant zapping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2002
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoru Inagaki, Atsushi Ishizu, Tetsuji Maeda, Shuuhei Taniguchi, Yutaka Nio, Etsuyoshi Sakaguchi, Kenjirou Tsuda
  • Patent number: 6335762
    Abstract: Circuit and method for determining a received signal for a receiver such as a simulcast receiver or an HDTV receiver are provided. The circuit includes a first detector for detecting a first reference signal included in a received signal and outputting a first detection signal, and a second detector for detecting a second reference signal included in the received signal and outputting a second detection signal. The circuit also includes a generator for generating a determination signal which indicates that the received signal is an analog broadcasting signal in the event the first detection signal is detected, and indicates that the received signal is a high definition signal in the event if the second detection signal is detected. Therefore, the received signal can be determined correctly, according to channel selection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2002
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Myeong-hwan Lee
  • Patent number: 6330035
    Abstract: A television signal receiver (television apparatus, video recorder, CDI player) executes a plurality of processing operations to be executed (sync separation, subcarrier regeneration, color decoding, teletext) with a central processing unit (4). Each processing operation is stored in the form of a control program in a memory (10). The processing operations to be actually executed are selected and time-sequentially executed by the processing unit. The control programs to be executed are selected in dependence upon operating signals (TXT, PIP) or signal recognition (PAL, NTSC). Qualitatively different versions of some control programs are stored and the version which can be executed at the available processing capacity is selected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2001
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventors: Cornelis C. A. M. Van Zon, Franciscus W. Sijstermans
  • Patent number: 6330718
    Abstract: An entertainment system sets a number of operating parameters to a number of parameters values in view of a consumption distance of an entertainment program. The entertainment system then renders the entertainment program for the consumption distance using the parameter values set for the operating parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2001
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Anthony A. Shah-Nazaroff, Christopher D. Williams
  • Patent number: 6320623
    Abstract: A device for automatically providing program information to a television display upon detection of an event in the program. The event being a user definable event. The device also provides automatic PIP display of the program having the event and a delay of the event so that it is not missed by the viewer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Assignee: Philips Electronics North America Corporation
    Inventors: Alan P. Cavallerano, Richard C. Shen, Claudio Ciacci
  • Patent number: 6317162
    Abstract: A digital television receiver comprises first program rewriting unit for downloading a program sent by broadcasting to rewrite the contents of a first non-volatile memory, an electrically rewritable second non-volatile memory storing identification information indicating whether the program has been normally rewritten by the program rewriting unit or the program has not been normally rewritten by the shutoff of the power during the rewriting, and second program rewriting unit for checking the identification information when a control portion in the receiver is activated, and downloading the program sent by broadcasting again to rewrite the contents of the first non-volatile memory when it is detected that the program has not been normally rewritten.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2001
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kiyoshi Matsumoto
  • Publication number: 20010035917
    Abstract: There is provided a display apparatus capable of assuredly conveying communicative information to viewers, the display apparatus comprising the following: display means for displaying video picture; switching means for turning power-source ON and OFF; and controlling means for controlling the display means to display communicative information thereon in place of the video picture during a period after the switching means executes an operation to turn off the power source until the power source is actually turned off.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2001
    Publication date: November 1, 2001
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sei Satake, Suehiro Nakamura, Hirofumi Kanemaki
  • Publication number: 20010035913
    Abstract: An interface (10) for connecting a calculator (12) to a standard television (11), so that the calculator's display can be re-displayed on the television (1). The interface also receives input from a pointing device (10a) such as a mouse, which permits the areas of the television display to be pointed to, highlighted, or otherwise manipulated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2001
    Publication date: November 1, 2001
    Inventor: Mikhail Y. Shtyrenkov
  • Publication number: 20010033342
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are described for receiving digital television signals where the receiver is capable of demodulating and demultiplexing the digital television signals from multiple, independent transmission channels. The preferred embodiment of the present invention provides for a Dual Channel Digital TV Receiver which receives signals from two independent transmission channels. In order to address each of the digital television signals from the two independent transmission channels, the Dual Channel Digital TV Receiver of the preferred embodiment of the present invention includes two independent paths for channel demodulation and transport stream demultiplexing. Thus, within the Dual Channel Digital TV Receiver of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a signal from each of the transmission channels are received, decoded and sent for further processing or viewing, as desired by the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2001
    Publication date: October 25, 2001
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Yeong-Taeg Kim
  • Patent number: 6300980
    Abstract: A computer system provides a communication link to a display monitor so as to control the display of not only computer signals but of other signals such as television signals. By providing this link the additional power of the computer can be used to provide a storage of preferred settings for the television/display monitor depending upon signal sources, time of day or the like. This provides a more versatile display. Further data contained within a received data stream such as from a web page or the like may inherently control functions of the television display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: Compaq Computer Corporation
    Inventors: Montgomery C. McGraw, Ralph K. Williamson, Elizabeth A. Richard, Drew S. Johnson, Christopher D. Voltz, John C. Barker, Kevin J. Brusky
  • Publication number: 20010024241
    Abstract: A television tuner includes a mixer circuit for receiving a television signal or an FM signal, and a local oscillator circuit for generating an oscillation signal received by the mixer circuit. When the television signal is received, a television intermediate-frequency signal is generated by the mixer circuit. When the FM broadcast signal is received, an FM intermediate-frequency signal having a frequency converted to about 10.7 MHz is generated by the mixer circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2001
    Publication date: September 27, 2001
    Applicant: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeru Osada, Masaki Yamamoto, Toshiro Furuta
  • Publication number: 20010022630
    Abstract: A signal receiver for displaying received broadcast electric waves including: a first memory for storing as a past record information representing whether the signal receiver was previously subjected to initial setup, an alarm device for alarming the necessity of initial setup of the signal receiver when the connection of a power source plug to an external power source is detected and no past record exists in the first memory, whereby a user can surely perform the initial setup, a second memory for holding the initial setup frame displayed on the display device after a response to the alarm of said alarm device is received or at the same time when the alarm is made, a third memory for storing district codes and reception channel groups corresponding to the respective district codes as a district code comparative chart district, and a tuner with which when a district code is input on the initial setup frame, the reception channel group corresponding to the district code thus input is read out and a channel con
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2001
    Publication date: September 20, 2001
    Inventors: Satoaki Nakagawa, Nobuhiro Kimura
  • Patent number: 6292230
    Abstract: A signal distribution apparatus having a learning feature for recognizing a remote control device code associated with a particular signal source and coupling the associated signal source to an output in response to receipt of the device code. The remote control device code may be transmitted using a universal remote control device or a dedicated remote control device associated with the particular signal source. The present invention allows a user to couple a plurality of signal sources and a display device, such as a television set, to the present signal distribution apparatus and thereafter couple a selected one of the signal sources to the display device using the universal remote control device or the dedicated remote control device. The learning feature obviates the need for a dedicated remote control for the signal distribution device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing S.A.
    Inventors: Lisa Yi Shui, Nathan William Andrews
  • Publication number: 20010020982
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a television receiving apparatus capable of notifying a user away from home of a message stored in the apparatus. A television receiving apparatus of the invention comprises a memory 31 for storing various data, a clock circuit 32 for counting a current time, a modem 33 for establishing connection with a public switched network, and a control circuit 21. When the clock circuit 32 reaches a time stored previously in the memory 31, the control circuit 21 causes a message held in the memory 31 to be transmitted via the modem 33 to an address designated by data stored in the memory 31.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2001
    Publication date: September 13, 2001
    Inventors: Kasumi Takeda, Ayumi Mizobuchi, Mami Uchida
  • Patent number: 6288750
    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 interval, 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: September 11, 2001
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mikihiko Yamada, Hirotoshi Uehara
  • Publication number: 20010019366
    Abstract: An audio muting apparatus comprises
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2001
    Publication date: September 6, 2001
    Applicant: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kiyonori Hida
  • Publication number: 20010017672
    Abstract: A method and an arrangement are disclosed for tuning a signal receiver such as a broadcast television receiver. The receiver includes a (remote) control device (7) having conventional channel selection keys (71,72) for manually selecting a channel or program. The receiver keeps a list of three or more selected channels in a history memory (5). The remote control device (7) further includes a recall key (74) for cyclically tuning the receiver to the listed channels. The channel being removed from the list in response to a manual channel selection is preferably the least recently viewed channel, so that the most recently viewed channels are recalled by the recall key.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2000
    Publication date: August 30, 2001
    Inventor: Jeroen Verhaeghe
  • Patent number: 6281937
    Abstract: In a receiver in a data broadcasting system, a receiver in a second data broadcasting system according to the present invention is characterized by comprising judging device for judging whether or not program data constituting at least one of received programs has been updated, and switching device for switching, when it is judged by the judging device that the program data has been updated, a program to be displayed into the program whose program data updating has been performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co.
    Inventors: Yoshikazu Tomida, Hironori Mitoh, Toshiko Hiraoka
  • Publication number: 20010015770
    Abstract: A computer convergence system includes a convergence functionality module, a computer, and a display device. The convergence functionality module includes a first input for receiving a first video signal and a second input for receiving a second video signal. The computer is coupled to the convergence functionality module and receives therefrom indications of the first video signal received at the first input port and indications of said second video signal received at the second input port. The computer includes a controller for controlling the mapping of the indications of the first video signal to the primary video viewing surface, and further controls the mapping of the indications of the second video signal to either the second video viewing surface or the data acquisition destination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2001
    Publication date: August 23, 2001
    Inventors: Mark P. Vaughan, Thomas J. Brase, Drew S. Johnson, William H. Ellis
  • Publication number: 20010015772
    Abstract: TV receiver apparatus (1) and a related method are disclosed, the TV receiver apparatus comprising a video signal receiver (2) for receiving video signals transmitted from an external video signal transmitter, a GPS signal receiver (3) for receiving GPS signals transmitted from an external GPS signal transmitter and signal coupling means (4) connected to both receivers. The signal coupling means is adapted to provide both receivers with respective video and GPS signals via a common antenna (5) where the antenna is adapted to receive terrestrially broadcasted video signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2000
    Publication date: August 23, 2001
    Applicant: U.S. PHILIPS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Andrew T. Yule
  • Publication number: 20010008426
    Abstract: Electrical apparatus for processing received digital data into audio and/or video formats for listening via speakers and/or viewing via a display screen connected to the apparatus. The apparatus includes a memory means in which said received data can be stored for subsequent selective access by the user of the apparatus. The apparatus is provided with a display panel (2) and the panel and/or the display screen includes a plurality of light sources (6) and the illumination or non-illumination of the light source is controlled to indicate the selected mode of operation of the memory so as to provide a visual indication of the same to the user, and, if active, the illumination or non illumination of the light sources (6) is determined by the particular active mode of the memory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2001
    Publication date: July 19, 2001
    Applicant: Pace Micro Technoloogy P1c
    Inventor: Mark Goodburn
  • Publication number: 20010008427
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for supporting a picture-in-picture (PIP) type time shifting which enables a live broadcasting picture or a time-shifted SD stream to be viewed simultaneously with a time shifting of another SD stream on a PIP screen. The method includes a first display step of receiving a plurality of broadcasting programs received through a broadcasting network and displaying the respective live broadcasting programs through a PIP structure on a screen, a second display step of selectively storing in a storage section one among the plurality of broadcasting programs displayed at the first display step and selectively reproducing the stored broadcasting program through the time shifting to display the stored broadcasting program on the screen, and a third display step of displaying through the PIP structure on the screen a plurality of currently received other live broadcasting programs simultaneously with the second display step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2001
    Publication date: July 19, 2001
    Inventor: Bum Joo Seo
  • Patent number: 6259486
    Abstract: A viewer-presence sensor unit for controlling operation of a television set. The sensor unit first includes a detector for sensing presence of a living being near the television set and a timer for measuring the amount of time of non-presence of a living being. Second, the sensor unit incorporates a power interruption switch activated by the detector for terminating power to the television set upon reaching a measurement of a term of time of non-presence of a living being. Preferably, the term of time is a selectable period, and can range from less than an hour to 24 hours depending upon the needs and viewing habits of a user. Detectors can non-limitedly be chosen from motion sensor and heat sensors, and preferably have utility up to a reasonable viewing distance from the television set. In this manner television sets not in use are automatically turned off to thereby conserve resources otherwise expended as a result of non-viewed operating sets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Inventor: A. Pascal Mahvi
  • Patent number: 6259487
    Abstract: A television system (TV) which enables a user to view display represented by a television signal as well as to access data network applications. The TV includes an on-screen-display (OSD) controller which stores the network application data and other display entities in a memory module as separate bit maps. A single image for display on a TV display screen is generated by overlaying all the display entities (including television signal, network application data, pointer, and low resolution data) according to a predetermined priority. Display entities (other than TV signal) are stored in separate portions of the memory module as independent surfaces to enable the displays of individual display entities to be generated and modified according to the individual display entity requirements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Assignee: TeleCruz Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Vlad Bril
  • Publication number: 20010006404
    Abstract: A combined terrestrial wave/cable broadcast receiver is disclosed which identifies if a cable broadcast program being carried and received or a cable broadcast program to be received is a HD broadcast and receives a HD broadcast from a terrestrial wave broadcasting station in the form of a HD terrestrial wave broadcast automatically or according to a user's selection, and a program information processing method therefor which processes program information such that it can identify a cable broadcast program as a HD broadcast in an EIT.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2000
    Publication date: July 5, 2001
    Inventor: Hwa Young Yun
  • Publication number: 20010006403
    Abstract: Television receiver furnished with a memory (21, 22, 23) for receiving service data comprising a processing module (11) which correlates usage criteria received together with the service data and storage criteria characterizing the memory or memories of the receiver. By correlating the two criteria, the module determines the conditions of storage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2000
    Publication date: July 5, 2001
    Inventors: Valerie Crocitti, Pierre Houeix
  • Patent number: 6256071
    Abstract: A receiver arranged to receive and store broadcast data transported by elementary stream of a multiplexed and modulated digital television signal in a rewritable memory during a low power consumption mode for later recall by a user of the receiver. For recall, the receiver is fully energized, and the receiver is further arranged to transfer the broadcast data stored in the rewritable memory to a receiver storage device for further processing of the data under control of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2001
    Assignee: Hitachi America, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazushige Hiroi
  • Patent number: 6249322
    Abstract: When an automatic programming process for searching receivable channels and presetting the receivable channels is executed or when an automatic erasing/adding process for adding or erasing a set channel is executed, a video signal of a master picture plane is muted by a muting circuit 20. A source selector switch 12 is switched so as to display a picture plane of the reception channel onto a slave picture plane. When the automatic programming process or automatic erasing/adding process is executed, since the video signal of the master picture plane is muted, a display signal is generated by a horizontal pulse and a vertical pulse in a free-run state. Thus, the display is stabilized. Even during the execution of the automatic program or automatic erasing/adding process, the video image of the channel which is being received can be confirmed by the slave picture plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2001
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Masakazu Sugihara
  • Patent number: 6246441
    Abstract: Radio waves transmitted from the antenna of a broadcasting station are received by the antenna of a television receiver. The television receiver extracts an EPG from the received radio waves and transmits it to a remote controller via an infrared transmission/reception section. The remote controller displays the received EPG on an LCD and is then rendered in a state of waiting for selection of a program. If some program is selected and then a reserve button is manipulated, the remote controller transmits a control command for a recording reservation to a video tape recorder. The video tape recorder receives the control command with an infrared transmission/reception section, whereby the recording reservation of the designated program is set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tomoko Terakado, Yukio Furudate, Tomoyuki Hanai, Tatsushi Nashida
  • Patent number: 6229572
    Abstract: A method of encoding data in the visible portion of a transmitted video signal without degrading display of the received video signal, and for decoding the data in the received video signal. Each group of data bits to be transmitted, referred to a data symbol, is associated with one of a number of longer predetermined sequences of chips. Each chip sequence is divided into a multiplicity of lines of chips, and each line of chips together with its inverse are embedded, in pairwise fashion, in respective pairs of line scans of the video signal prior to its transmission. Received pairs of line scans are operated upon to detect the lines of chips they represent, and each of the number of chip sequences is correlated with the detected line of chips to derive a correlation magnitude. The chip sequence with the largest correlation magnitude is selected as the chip sequence whose data symbol was transmitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: Koplar Interactive International, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Andrew Ciardullo, Kurt Louis Kosbar, Christopher Eric Chupp
  • Patent number: 6222591
    Abstract: Television signal receiver (television apparatus, video recorder, CDI player) in which the plurality of processing operations to be executed (sync separation, subcarrier regeneration, color decoding, teletext) is executed by a central processing unit (4). Each processing operation is stored in the form of a control program in a memory (10). The processing operations to be actually executed are selected and time-sequentially executed by the processing unit. The control programs to be executed are selected in dependence upon operating signals (TXT, PIP) or signal recognition (PAL, NTSC). Qualitatively different versions of some control programs are stored and the version which can be executed at the available processing capacity is selected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventors: Cornelis C. A. M. Van Zon, Franciscus W. Sijstermans
  • Patent number: 6208326
    Abstract: Apparatus, and an associated method, selects parameters determinative of video display characteristics of video displays displayable upon a video monitor. The parameters, such as brightness and contrast parameters, are stored at the video display monitor. The video display monitor is connected to a computer system unit. During booting operations, the video display parameters are retrieved by the computer system unit and selectably used to determine the video display characteristics of video displays displayable upon the video display monitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Assignee: Compaq Computer Corporation
    Inventors: John W. Frederick, Thomas J. Brase, Mark P. Vaughan
  • Patent number: 6198511
    Abstract: An interactive broadcast may include television programming and associated services such as closed caption scripts. The audio portion of the broadcast television programming, in closed caption script format, is parsed and compared to a key word database which may be preprogrammed by the user. The closed caption text may be displayed in real time. When a match is identified, an event is fired. The particular event which occurs and the key word may be programmed by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: David J. Matz, James P. Ketrenos
  • Patent number: 6191781
    Abstract: A graphical user interface (GUI) for a TV receiver combines a graphical channel changer with an electronic program guide to enable a user to quickly and seamlessly go from a TV channel selection mode to a TV program selection mode. The graphical channel changer includes a vertical bar composed of channel boxes that contain number and logos of available TV channels. The user may tune the TV system to any one of the TV channels by directing a remote pointing device at the channel box that represents that TV channel. When the user switches to the program selection mode, the GUI transfers to the electronic program guide for displaying vertical program bars arranged in alignment with the channel boxes to show information on TV programs for the TV channels represented by the corresponding channel boxes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics, Ltd.
    Inventors: Jack Chaney, Steve Blonstein, Michael Deacon, Dimitry Nasledov
  • Patent number: 6191822
    Abstract: A separator circuit receives a stream of data including both audio and video components. The separator circuit separates the audio and video components for transmission to appropriate devices. In the preferred embodiment, the separator circuit is part of a decompression engine which decompresses the received stream of data and also separates the audio and video components. Preferably, the decompression engine is implemented within a device configured for coupling to an IEEE 1394-1995 serial bus network. Alternatively, the decompression engine is implemented as a separate dedicated device within the IEEE 1394-1995 serial bus network. After separating the audio and video components, one or both of those components are transmitted from the decompression engine over one or more isochronous channels on the IEEE 1394-1995 serial bus, to the appropriate devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Scott D. Smyers
  • Patent number: 6188447
    Abstract: A frequency diversity system for use in mobile reception of television and RF signals in the meter or decimeter wavelength, such as for use with a mobile television having a first receiver, an additional receiver and a control and analysis circuit. The additional receiver detects all incoming frequencies corresponding to a preset program and switches the main receiver to an incoming frequency of a higher quality. The receiver is able to identify the frequencies corresponding to the desired program through a transmitter identification code, which is added to each signal. This code is usually a VPS identification signal. The control and analysis circuit compares the incoming frequencies to the frequency of the signal transmitted by the television receiver to determine the highest quality signal. In order to accelerate the process, the system processes local position coordinates of the television so that the frequencies analyzed are only those expected within the coverage area of the television.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Assignee: Fuba Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Georg Rudolph, Michael Daginnus, Ralf Bösche
  • Patent number: 6188439
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a broadcast signal receiving device and method thereof in which genre data of a broadcast signal is detected to thereby automatically be converted to an appropriate video and audio signal. According to the present invention a broadcast signal including genre data is processed for being converted into an appropriate signal according to a control signal previously stored in a memory thereby to provide a best condition for the video and audio. Furthermore, the televiewer can change data for the video and audio established to fit the genre data at the time of manufacturing the set, and can adjust the current program being broadcasted to a certain data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jin-Bog Kim
  • Patent number: 6181333
    Abstract: A TV graphical user interface is provided with a graphical channel changer for enabling a user to select a required TV channel among about 1000 channels offered by a satellite TV system. The graphical channel changer contains a vertical channel bar composed of channel boxes that display numbers and logos of selected TV channels. To switch the TV set to a required TV channel, the user directs the pointing device at the graphical channel box that indicates the required channel. A program guide that contains a list of TV programs may be provided based on the channel changer. Vertical program bars that display TV programs are aligned with the channel boxes indicating TV channels that carry the corresponding TV programs. An arrange guide mode is provided to enable the user to arrange the program guide in order of TV channel numbers, or in alphabetical order according to names of TV channels or TV programs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jack Chaney, Steve Blonstein, Fai-To Leung, Donald Gillespie
  • Patent number: 6177963
    Abstract: A video signal distribution system comprises an interface device and video signal input means for receiving TV signals on broadcast channels connected to the interface device. A plurality of video appliances and a plurality of TV sets may be connected to the interface device such that the television sets are arranged to be remote from the plurality of video appliances. A person using the system has a remote control device that may be actuated to emit signals for selecting channels for viewing and to control the video appliances. Each of the television sets includes a repeater arranged to receive the control signals from the remote control device and form corresponding electrical control signals. The interface device receives the electrical control signals corresponding to a selected TV set and directs electrical control signals to a selected one of the plurality of video appliances to provide video signals to the television sets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2001
    Assignee: Multiplex Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard T. Foye, John B. Crosby
  • Patent number: 6177960
    Abstract: A TV signal receiver has a tuner for deriving a first TV signal from the input signal, and a device for storing in a memory and reading therefrom a plurality of blocks of a second TV signal derived from the input signal. The first TV signal has interruptions during which a block of the second TV signal is insertable so as to obtain a composite TV signal which is supplied at an output terminal of the receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2001
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventor: Balthasar A. G. Van Luyt
  • Patent number: 6175390
    Abstract: A module TV and control method thereof selects a module type requested by a customer at an initial stage during the module TV production, and enables a variety of module TVs to respectively have a plurality of functions in accordance therewith. The module TV includes a key control unit for acknowledging a key signal serving to control the module TV, a microcomputer for controlling function cards mounted in the module TV and determining whether the function cards are mounted in the module TV, a connection unit for connecting the microcomputer and the function cards, and a memory connected to the microcomputer and for storing therein functional states of the function cards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2001
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Bok Kie Kim, Woon Gil Baek
  • Patent number: 6172719
    Abstract: An automatic color temperature control device for a video appliance is disclosed which can control the color temperature of a picture displayed on a screen so as to give the viewer the impression of being coolly refreshed when the environmental temperature is high, and the impression of being warmed when the environmental temperature is low.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Jae Man Kim
  • Patent number: 6173112
    Abstract: In a data communication network wherein broadcasted transmissions include a portion uniquely identifying the content of the following transmission and wherein transmissions are repeated at predetermined intervals, a communication unit for operating within the system includes a receiver, a processor, and memory for storing data and instructions for the processor. The receiver receives transmissions over the communication network. The communication unit receives a record command from a user that causes it to record the audio/video content being broadcasted during a subsequent transmission thereof. The memory includes space for storing the program that causes the communication unit to automatically record the transmission at the time the transmission is re-broadcasted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: George Gregory Gruse, Kenneth Louis Milsted, Marco M. Hurtado, Glen Edward Hamblin
  • Patent number: 6163316
    Abstract: An electronic programming guide (70) operates on a computing platform (12) associated with a television (40). The platform (12) accesses a program listing database (48) containing program listing information (6) for a plurality of television programs. The electronic programming guide (70) includes a profile database (80) that stores a viewer profile (84) and a suggest module (76) that is coupled to the profile database (80). The suggest module (76) accesses the viewer profile (84) and the program listing information (6) and, in response, generates a preferred schedule (100) according to the viewer profile (84) and the program listing information (6). The preferred schedule (100) indicates the desirability of a particular program relative to other programs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2000
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Robert T. Killian