Receiver Indicator (e.g., On Screen Display) Patents (Class 348/569)
  • Patent number: 8902362
    Abstract: A prediction means for predicting a maximum delayed change time, which is the longest in a change time which allows a next program to be displayed, if a channel is selected to change the current program to the next program; and a display control means, by which, from a reception completion time when the reception of the current program has been completed, a relevant program is displayed on the basis of original program data remaining in a buffer at the relevant reception completion time, and at the same time, the reproduction speed of the display is based on a speed at which the current program is displayed during the period between the reception completion time and a maximum delayed change time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masakazu Maehara
  • Patent number: 8902361
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for displaying a plurality of secondary images based on image data of a primary image include displaying a primary image and a plurality of secondary images based on the image data of the primary image. Each of the plurality of secondary images is displayed having a size based on a relevance of each respective one of the plurality of secondary images to the primary image. The primary image can be selected from a plurality of images or a frame of a video. Subsets of secondary images can be displayed in clusters including images having content similar to particular content of the primary image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Lee Begeja, David Crawford Gibbon, Raghuraman Gopalan, Zhu Liu, Eric Zevesky
  • Patent number: 8896762
    Abstract: A method for accessing a multimedia resource of a smart television, includes: receiving a channel selection signal to determine a target channel index number; querying pre-bound correspondence between a channel index number and a multimedia resource; when one multimedia resource corresponding to the target channel index number exists, starting the multimedia resource; and when multiple multimedia resources corresponding to the target channel index number exist, presenting all identifiers of the multimedia resources corresponding to the target index number, and determining a target multimedia resource according to a selection instruction of a user and starting the target multimedia resource, where the multimedia resource is a television channel or an application program.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Guozhu Li
  • Patent number: 8896705
    Abstract: A measuring device for measuring a response speed of a display panel is provided. The measuring device includes a microcontroller and at least one photo sensor. The microcontroller provides a control command, according to which a display controller of the display panel provides test pattern to the display panel. The photo sensor senses a test frame displayed corresponding to the test pattern by the display panel, and provides a corresponding sensing signal associated with brightness and a response signal. According to the response signal, the response speed of the display panel is calculated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: MStar Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Chih-Chiang Chiu, Tien-Hua Yu, Wen-Cheng Wu
  • Patent number: 8890933
    Abstract: A parallax image conversion apparatus according to an embodiment includes: a first multiple parallax image generation unit configured to generate a first multiple parallax image concerning a first image signal; a second multiple parallax image generation unit configured to receive a second image signal, depth information, and blend information concerning an OSD image, change the blend information based on the depth information, and generate a second multiple parallax image concerning the OSD image based on the second image signal and the depth information; and a compounding unit configured to compound the first multiple parallax image and the second multiple parallax image by using the changed blend information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Masahiro Yamada
  • Patent number: 8891017
    Abstract: A video input section acquires a video signal formed of a plurality of frames. A frame separator separates the video signal acquired by the video input section on a frame basis and distributes the separated video signals. A plurality of parallel processors perform video processing in parallel on the separated video signals corresponding to the frames separated and distributed by the frame separator. A frame combiner combines the separated video signals on which the plurality of parallel processors have performed the video processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuyoshi Kegasawa
  • Patent number: 8891023
    Abstract: A display device includes: a monitor and receiving set having a video signal receiving section, a display section, an image quality control section, a first control signal transceiver, and a first control section; and a control and transmission set having a television broadcast receiving section, a video signal input section, a video signal transmitting section, a second control signal transceiver, a key input section, and a second control section. The Power consumption of a first radio transmission path formed by the video signal transmitting section and the video signal receiving section is larger than that of a second radio transmission path formed by the first and second control signal transceivers. A control signal for a user interface is communicated by the first and second control signal transceivers. Only the second radio transmission path of the first and second radio transmission paths is communicable in a standby state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Naoki Hasegawa, Yoshinori Ota, Kaoru Kamiyama, Masanobu Kimoto, Hiroshige Hayakawa, Hideyuki Yoshimura, Masayuki Miyamoto, Takeshi Ono, Atsuro Hirakawa, Mari Sasaki, Akihiro Shironouchi, Kazuya Shimomura, Yuji Anami, Masato Hirose
  • Patent number: 8878997
    Abstract: A visual display includes at least a first canvas configured to display a first session on the display and a second canvas configured to display a second session on the display. The first session includes first content received from a first content source and the second session includes second content having subject matter associated with the first content. The display includes a user agent configured to determine that the first content of the first session is associated with the second content of the second session and to pair the first and second canvases such that the first content and the second content are synchronized to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Graham Clift, Brant Candelore, Kazumoto Kondo, Steven Richman, Fred Zustak
  • Patent number: 8878999
    Abstract: The invention allows detecting which graphics, if any, have been added to the video signal at any given time by utilizing only the various signals provided by prior art hardware. A first video signal, graphics signal(s), and a second video signal are received. It is then determined which graphics, if any, are present in a given frame of the received second video signal based on comparing actual values of pixels of the received second video signal and calculated values of pixels derived from the first video signal, and the graphics signal(s), and the combination of graphics signal(s) which produces the best match is searched for.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Supponor Oy
    Inventor: Vesa Suontama
  • Patent number: 8878994
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an information processing apparatus includes a first receiver, a screen transmitter, a second receiver and a controller. The first receiver receives first information associated with a display function of an external device. The screen transmitter generates an operation screen for operating the apparatus based on the first information, and transmits a video signal of the generated operation screen to the external device. The second receiver receives second information associated with content of an operation on the operation screen from the external device. The controller controls operation of the apparatus based on the second information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Takahiro Arai, Eita Shuto
  • Patent number: 8875175
    Abstract: A digital video viewing system including methods for user selection of video advertisement content and time of display of video advertisements during a live video content stream. The digital video viewing system includes modules for receiving, evaluating and transmitting data within the digital video viewing system and to Internet protocol content providers. Also shown are methods for recording and re-playing live internet protocol content in conjunction with the video advertisement display methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Network Entertainment International LLC
    Inventors: Charles McCoy, True Xiong, Stewart Stremler
  • Patent number: 8872976
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a 3D display has an image processor including an overlay detector connected to a display controller. The image processor receives a 3D-compatible image stream from a 2D legacy device that may superimpose overlays, e.g., a 2D captions, over 3D-compatible images. The overlay detector automatically determines whether a received image comprises a caption overlay and, if so, provides the location and dimensions of the overlay to the display controller. The display controller processes the overlaid 3D-compatible image to isolate the caption characters of the caption overlay and generates, for a viewer of the 3D display, different left-eye and right-eye images, each including overlaid caption characters that substantially match the characters of the caption overlay. The result is the appearance, to the viewer, of a substantially flat and coherent caption overlay over a 3D image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Home Box Office, Inc.
    Inventor: Craig Davis Cuttner
  • Patent number: 8872972
    Abstract: A router module is arranged in a housing of a smart television. The router module is externally connected to a modem for surfing the Internet. The router module is electrically connected to a micro processing unit of the smart television. Therefore, the smart television is connected to the Internet through the router module. A wireless transmission chip of the router module is configured to process Internet signals. An antenna module is configured to wirelessly transmit the Internet signals, so that wireless network is shared to outside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Inventor: Nai-Chien Chang
  • Patent number: 8869201
    Abstract: A method acquires program guide information in an image signal receiver, and program guide method and apparatus using the same. In the program guide apparatus, information immediately required by a user is obtained first, and information of less preferential channels is obtained next, thus presenting a smooth interface to the user. The method of acquiring program guide information for channels includes acquiring the program guide information for each channel by scanning accessible channels while a received program is not displayed. The program guide apparatus includes a tuner tuning a channel, a program guide information detector, a memory, a key input, a microprocessor, and a character signal generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ju-ha Park
  • Patent number: 8866969
    Abstract: A display apparatus includes a receiver which receives a broadcasting signal, a display which displays an image based on the received broadcasting signal, a communication unit which communicates with a mobile device, and a controller which determines whether the mobile device interferes with at least one channel of a plurality of broadcasting channels received through the receiver, and controls the display to display a user interface (UI) indicates a user whether image noise has resulted from channel interference by the mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Seok-woo Yong
  • Patent number: 8866970
    Abstract: A method for embedding an image in a video sequence for a mobile terminal. Preferably, the mobile terminal is a tablet or smartphone. The method comprises the steps of choosing an image to be embedded, reading the video sequence, displaying a frame, and determining the presence of an embedding zone in the frame. The embedding zone having been previously identified or deduced according to a predefined algorithm. The method further comprises the step of applying a deformation to the image to be embedded such that the image to be embedded coincides with the form of the embedding zone. The image combining the frame and the image to be embedded is displayed/disposed in place of the embedding zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Phonitive
    Inventor: Guillaume Lemoine
  • Patent number: 8860882
    Abstract: A system for constructing seamlessly viewable multimedia content from selectably presentable multimedia content blocks includes a block definition module for facilitating creation and modification of the content blocks. The block definition module includes a media assignment submodule for associating a synchronized audio and video segment with a content block. Also included is a block linking submodule for creating seamless connections between content blocks, whereby a transition between the connected blocks occurs substantially without interruption upon viewing the multimedia content. The block definition module further includes a layer submodule for associating an interactive layer having interactive controls with the content block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: JBF Interlude 2009 Ltd—Israel
    Inventors: Jonathan Bloch, Barak Feldman, Tal Zubalsky, Kfir Y. Rotbard
  • Patent number: 8854555
    Abstract: Systems and methods for toggling between television channels that appear on a display. A listing of channels is received from a user, with the channels being prioritized in an order of preference. One or more toggle types are also received from the user, with each toggle type further including a toggle trigger. In use, a channel is displayed on the display until a toggle trigger is detected. Once detected, the channel on the display is changed to another channel from the list of channels. This process may continue with the detection of another toggle trigger causing another changing of the displayed channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Inventors: Darryl Adderly, Brian Murray, Wenjian Qiao, Prasad Kashyap
  • Patent number: 8854544
    Abstract: A system is disclosed for controlling operation of an electronic device, such as a TV. The system includes a first sensor located at or near the electronic device and a second sensor spaced apart from the first sensor, wherein the first and second sensors are configured to detect motion of a user within an operating zone associated with the electronic device. A processor is coupled to the electronic device and the first and second sensors, the processor being configured to input a signal from the first and second sensors. Memory is coupled to the processor, the memory comprising a sensing algorithm configured to process the input signal from the first and second sensors and determine the location of the user with respect to the operating zone. The processor is configured to send a control command to the electronic device based on an output of the sensing algorithm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Ling Jun Wong
  • Patent number: 8854549
    Abstract: An application for a slider bar on a display has a series of ticks, each indicating one or more gradations of a parameter ranging between a minimum value and a maximum value. Two marker icons are on the display screen in relation to the ticks. A user control moves a first marker icon within a predetermined range of ticks. Once the first marker icon reaches an end of travel, if the end of travel is next the second marker icon, the first marker becomes inactive (remaining at its current location) and the second marker icon becomes the active marker icon, moving within a predetermined range for the second marker icon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Vizio, Inc.
    Inventors: Pat William Price, Peter Jay Schwartz
  • Publication number: 20140267913
    Abstract: A video display apparatus includes: a display unit configured to output screen information; a user interface unit including a local key input unit and remote controller receiving unit formed to receive a control signal for outputting an on-screen display (OSD) for controlling screen information to the display unit; and a controller configured to detect a user interface unit to which the control signal is input among the local key input and the remote controller receiving unit and control the display unit to output the OSD to any one of first and second regions which correspond to the local key input unit and the remote controller receiving unit and are placed at different positions in the display unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventors: Hongyong AN, Kyunghak Park
  • Patent number: 8836864
    Abstract: A display apparatus and a control method thereof are provided. The display apparatus includes a first signal processor which processes a first image; a second signal processor which processes a second image; a display unit which displays the processed first image on a main screen and the processed second image on a picture-in-picture (PIP) screen having a predetermined size and at least partially overlapping with the first image; a receiver which receives a pointer signal corresponding to a user's selection; and a controller which determines which one of the first image and the second image shows a pointer corresponding to the received pointer signal located thereon, and controls the second signal processor so that a result from performing an operation corresponding to a location of the pointer on the second image can be processed and displayed on the PIP screen if the pointer is located on the second image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jin-wook Choi, Hyun-sig Lim
  • Patent number: 8830403
    Abstract: An image processing device includes: a control section configured to allow, upon receipt of a moving image that includes, in time-series order, an original image and a duplicate image, a frame memory to hold a partial region in the original image and a remaining region in the duplicate image, in which the duplicate image is a duplicate of the original image, and the remaining region is a region excluding a region that agrees with the partial region; and an image processing section configured to read a piece of data that includes the partial region and the remaining region from the frame memory a plurality of times, and perform image processing by processing any of the read pieces of data as the original image and the remaining piece of data as the duplicate image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Kametani, Nobuyuki Asakura, Junya Kameyama
  • Patent number: 8830405
    Abstract: A DC/DC converter 10 has a high-side transistor QH as a switching element and a low-side transistor QL as a synchronous rectifier element. A first primary electrode D and secondary primary electrode S of the high-side transistor QH are connected to an input voltage VIN and an external terminal T1, respectively. A detection transistor QD is provided in a row with the high-side transistor QH, and the ON voltage of the high-side transistor QH when ON is output as detection voltage VQD from the detection transistor QD. The output detection voltage VQD is added to a feedback voltage VFB1 by an adder CB, and inputted to a comparator CMP1. The ON period of a one-shot pulse PS1 outputted from the comparator CMP1 is regulated so as to be in direct proportion to the sum of the detection voltage VQD and the feedback voltage VFB1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Murakami
  • Patent number: 8823879
    Abstract: A method carried out on a television receiver device involves at a television receiver/tuner device, carrying out a channel scan to identify available television channels that can be received by the television receiver device; while the channel scan is being carried out: reading a feature highlight video file from a memory; and displaying the feature highlight video file on a television display. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: True Xiong, Prisciliano Flores
  • Patent number: 8823881
    Abstract: A control device controls a television. The control device includes a touch module. The control device displays a menu containing a number of soft keys on a screen. The soft keys are activated to control the television to carry out corresponding functions. All positions on the menu are associated with all positions on the touch module correspondingly. As a result, a user can select desired soft keys to carry out corresponding functions by viewing the menu on the television and touching the touch module, rather than viewing the touch module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chih-Chun Chang
  • Patent number: 8826334
    Abstract: A television receiving apparatus includes a receiving unit configured to receive a broadcasting program, a program information obtaining unit configured to obtain program information about the broadcasting program, a language setting unit configured to set a language used to display an Electronic Program Guide (EPG), a selection unit configured to select a program to be broadcasted in a language set by the language setting unit using the program information, and a program guide generating unit configured to generate the EPG using the program information, wherein the program guide generating unit is configured to generate the EPG that displays and identifies a program selected by the selection unit while not displaying a program that is not selected by the selection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Katsuya Nakano
  • Patent number: 8826323
    Abstract: A method for switching between minor channels for digital televisions is disclosed. The method includes determining whether a minor channel is in a non-signal state, analyzing information of a major channel, to which the minor channel in the non-signal state pertains, if the minor channel is in the non-signal state, followed by obtaining information of minor channels pertaining to the major channel, and selecting other minor channels excluding the minor channel in the non-signal state based on an analysis of the information of the minor channels to sequentially determine whether the selected minor channels are in a signal state, followed by switching from the minor channel in the non-signal state to a minor channel in the signal state if a minor channel in the signal state is present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Maple Vision Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Kwang Seok Kim
  • Publication number: 20140240600
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2014
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicants: Sony Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Shintani, Eiji Kouno
  • Patent number: 8817189
    Abstract: An apparatus comprising a switching circuit and a display. The switching circuit may be configured to present an output signal in response to a plurality of input signals. The output signal may be generated in response to an active one of the input signals. A user prompt may appear prior to switching to the active one of the input signals. The user prompt may allow a user to confirm or reject switching to the active input. The display circuit may be configured to display information from the output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: LSI Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph M. Freund, Roger A. Fratti
  • Patent number: 8817187
    Abstract: In a launcher display state, a launcher image is displayed on a screen. The launcher image includes a display frame. An application image, which has been reduced based on application video data at the time of startup previously stored in a main memory, is displayed in the display frame. In an intermediate display state, an intermediate launcher image is displayed on the screen. The intermediate launcher image includes an intermediate frame. In the intermediate frame, an application image, which has been reduced based on the application video data at the time of startup previously stored in the main memory, is displayed in the intermediate frame. In an application display state, an application image during startup is displayed on the whole screen of a monitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Koumei Kubota
  • Patent number: 8819758
    Abstract: A system and method are described for providing interactive television services and for switching between television programs, such as to an interactive program session from another program. An interactive server, capable of providing requested interactive video services to a set of subscribers in a given geographic area, is coupled to a network to which subscriber set top boxes are also coupled. Television programming, which may be furnished by any number of sources, is accompanied by a signal that indicates the availability of other programming, such as interactive television service related to the program being viewed, as well as information to be used in requesting such service. The user, when notified by this signal, may input to the set top box a request for a second program, such as an interactive program or application. The identity of the original program channel is stored, and a session with the video service provider is established over the network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Wayne R. Howe, Fred Thomas Danner, III, John R. Mauney
  • Patent number: 8804041
    Abstract: Provided are a method of controlling a resolution desired by a user in a graphics device of a digital data broadcasting receiver, an apparatus therefor, and a digital data broadcasting receiver using the same. The method includes providing a list of resolutions available on a graphic plane to a user; changing a resolution of the graphic plane according to a resolution selected by the user from the resolution list; and displaying an application on the graphic plane, the resolution of which has been changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hye-kyung Ko, Soo-kang Bae
  • Patent number: 8797461
    Abstract: A screen time control device includes a source interface for receiving a video signal, a processor connected to the video source interface for overlaying the video signal with a translucent signal to produce an overlaid video signal, and a device interface connected to the processor for receiving the overlaid video signal and providing the overlaid video signal to the display device. The processor substitutes the translucent signal in the overlaid video signal with a parental signal, where the parental signal can be a substantially opaque overlay signal that masks an image on the screen of the display device to prohibit viewing of the screen, a textual message, or a combination of both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Behavioral Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Steve G. Davis, Jim Vincent, Trever Patton, Kristin Christopherson
  • Patent number: 8799946
    Abstract: An apparatus provides an on-screen program guide that includes information indicating channel signal strength. According to an exemplary embodiment, the apparatus includes a memory operative to store data related to the program guide, and a processor operative to enable display of the program guide using the stored data. The program guide includes a plurality of program titles. The processor determines a program title pointed to by a pointer and determines a channel associated with the determined program title. Signal strength of the determined channel is displayed along with the program guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventor: Dennis Lee Cake
  • Patent number: 8788534
    Abstract: A system, method and data structure for processing basic client application data types to add thereto extension types and priority levels adapted for use by each of a plurality of set top box classes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: TVWorks, LLC
    Inventors: James Hindle, Peter G. N. Scheyen, Mark A. Vickers
  • Patent number: 8786781
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods and apparatus for detecting text information in a video signal that includes subtitles, captions, credits, or other text, and also for applying enhancements to the display of text areas in video. The sharpness and/or contrast ratio of subtitles of detected text areas may be improved. Text areas may be displayed in a magnified form in a separate window on a display, or on a secondary display. Further disclosed are methods and apparatus for extending the duration for which subtitles appear on the display, for organizing subtitles to be displayed in a scrolling format, for allowing the user to control when a subtitle advances to the next subtitle using a remote control, and for allowing a user to scroll back to a past subtitle in cases where the user has not finished reading a subtitle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: ATI Technologies ULC
    Inventor: Philip Swan
  • Patent number: 8780276
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for providing access to program channels, e.g., high definition programs and program channels which corresponding to a standard definition program and/or program channels are described. In accordance with the invention, a high definition auto tune function is supported. When enabled, in one exemplary embodiment, if a user selects a standard program definition channel, a check is automatically made to determine if a corresponding high definition program channel is available. The corresponding high definition program channel is a channel which provides the same program as on the selected standard definition channel but in high definition. When the auto tune function is enabled and a corresponding high definition channel is available, the device, e.g., set to box or tuner implementing the auto tune feature of the present invention, automatically tunes to the high definition channel instead of the standard definition channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC
    Inventor: Hugh Josephs
  • Patent number: 8773585
    Abstract: A method for identifying state of macro block of de-interlacing computing and an image processing apparatus are provided, the method is as follows. A video frame is divided into a plurality of regions, where each of the regions includes a plurality of macro blocks. Then, a basic threshold corresponding to each of the regions is provided according to a position of each of the regions in the video frame, and a first macro block is identified to be a first type macro block or a second type macro block according to the basic threshold corresponding to one of the regions where the first macro block of the macro blocks locates. Then, a corresponding de-interlacing computing step is performed on the first macro block according to an result that the first macro block is identified as the first type macro block or the second type macro block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: ALi (Zhuhai) Corporation
    Inventors: Jin-Song Wen, Feng Gao, Jin-Fu Wang
  • Patent number: 8773590
    Abstract: A video output apparatus includes an attribute information acquisition unit that acquires attribute information of a display apparatus through a communication unit, a determination unit that determines whether to superimpose additional information on a video signal based on the attribute information of the display apparatus acquired by the attribute information acquisition unit, an output unit that superimposes the additional information extracted by an additional information extraction unit on the video signal output from a video decoding unit and outputs the additional information superimposed on the video signal to the communication unit if the determination unit determines to superimpose the additional information on the video signal, and outputs the video signal output from the video decoding unit to the communication unit without superimposing the additional information on the video signal if the determination unit determines not to superimpose the additional information on the video signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takahisa Kawade
  • Patent number: 8766941
    Abstract: A display device having an on-screen display (OSD) menu function is provided, which includes a touch display panel, a touch screen controller, a display circuit, and a multiplexer. The touch display panel includes a display layer and a touch layer. The touch screen controller detects the touch layer and outputs a first detection result. The display circuit displays a first image of a first image source on the display layer, and the display circuit has the OSD menu function. In a normal display mode, the multiplexer transmits the first detection result of the touch screen controller to the first image source. If the first detection result complies with a predetermined pattern, the OSD menu function of the display circuit is triggered, and the display circuit enters a screen adjustment mode, and the multiplexer transmits the first detection result of the touch screen controller to the display circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Wistron Corporation
    Inventor: Chien-Hua Pan
  • Patent number: 8767130
    Abstract: A method for assisting users with channel entry utilizes channel tuning history to simplify the channel entry process. According to an exemplary embodiment, the method includes steps of storing a list of channel numbers previously tuned by the apparatus; receiving a first input selecting a most significant digit of a channel number; and enabling a display of channel numbers in response to the first input, wherein the displayed channel numbers comprise at least one channel number included in the stored list and having the most significant digit and at least one other channel number not included in the stored list and having the most significant digit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventors: Darrell Wayne Randall, Michael Joseph McLane
  • Patent number: 8769574
    Abstract: A receiver acquires program guide information in an image signal receiver, and program guide method and apparatus using the same. In the program guide apparatus, information immediately required by a user is obtained first, and information of less preferential channels is obtained next, thus presenting a smooth interface to the user. The method of acquiring program guide information for channels includes acquiring the program guide information for each channel by scanning accessible channels while a received program is not displayed. The program guide apparatus includes a tuner tuning a channel, a program guide information detector, a memory, a key input, a microprocessor, and a character signal generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ju-ha Park
  • Patent number: 8767125
    Abstract: A video display device, a video output device, and a video system are provided, each of which has a user-interface having high usability in menu operation so that false operation may be prevented, and a menu-screen-display control method is provided. The menu-screen-display control method includes: determination process of determining which device, of a video display device and one or more video output devices connected to the video display device, is an object of operation through a menu screen displayed on the video display device; and prohibition process of setting a non-object device into a menu-operation-prohibited mode, the non-object device being a device other than an operation object device which is determined to be the object of operation through the menu screen under display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yosuke Kozono, Masahiko Nakahama
  • Patent number: 8760584
    Abstract: A memory space configuration method applied in a video signal processing apparatus is provided. The method includes: arranging a first memory space and a second memory space in a memory, the first and second memory spaces being partially overlapped; determining a type of a signal source; when the signal source is a first video signal source, enabling a first processing circuit and buffering data associated with the first video signal source by using the first memory space; and, when the signal source is a second video signal source, enabling a second processing circuit and buffering data associated with the second video signal source by using the second memory space. The second processing circuit is disabled when the first processing circuit is enabled; the first processing circuit is disabled when the second processing circuit is enabled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: MSTAR Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventor: Po-Jen Yang
  • Patent number: 8763039
    Abstract: A method acquires program guide information in an image signal receiver, and program guide method and apparatus using the same. In the program guide apparatus, information immediately required by a user is obtained first, and information of less preferential channels is obtained next, thus presenting a smooth interface to the user. The method of acquiring program guide information for channels includes acquiring the program guide information for each channel by scanning accessible channels while a received program is not displayed. The program guide apparatus includes a tuner tuning a channel, a program guide information detector, a memory, a key input, a microprocessor, and a character signal generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ju-ha Park
  • Patent number: 8760587
    Abstract: A remote control device is operative to enable and facilitate user control of video systems that are operative to provide one or more three-dimensional (3D) viewing effects. According to an exemplary embodiment, the remote control device includes a user input terminal having an input element operative to receive user inputs to adjust at least one of a volume setting and a channel setting of a video system, and further operative to receive user inputs to adjust a three-dimensional (3-D) viewing effect of the video system. A transmitter is operative to transmit control signals to the video system in response to the user inputs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventors: Dong Tian, Peng Yin, Wang Lin Lai, Zhenyu Wu, Chad Andrew Lefevre
  • Patent number: 8754992
    Abstract: A system and method for programming a remote control includes pressing keys to enter a programming mode. State changes are communicated from the remote to a set top box. A user selects a device to be controlled and instructions are communicated to a user. The set top box tracks signals received from the remote corresponding to a device code entered by the user into the remote. A program guides and informs the user of programming success or failure based on signals received by the set top box. The remote includes a transmitter and runs a program associating a particular device code with a particular electronic device. The set top box includes a receiver for receiving signals from the transmitter and runs a program providing an interface on a display. The interface guides the user through programming in response to signals received by the set top box from the remote.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Kim W. Schulze, Roshan Menon
  • Patent number: 8754987
    Abstract: A display device includes a display component coupled to a signal generating unit with a single trace. The signal generating unit generates a first signal. A processing unit, connected to the display component and the single trace, receives the first signal through the single trace and generates a first type control signal, a second type control signal, and a third type control signal according to the first signal. The processing unit generates and controls an on-screen display menu displayed by the display component according to status of the display device and the received first signal as one of the first type control signal, the second type control signal, and the third type control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: AmTRAN Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ching-Chang Hsu, Wen-Kang Wei, Yung-Hung Ho, Chien-Yu Hsiung
  • Publication number: 20140160305
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a generation unit and a transmission unit. The generation unit is configured to generate attribute information of OSD information which is displayed with the OSD information overlapped with an image, the attribute information including at least information relating to a display position and a display size of the OSD information. The transmission unit is configured to transmit the attribute information to an output apparatus that obtains display data to be used to display the OSD information corresponding to a resolution of a display unit thereof and causes the OSD information to be displayed on a position on the display unit specified by the information relating to the display position in a size specified by the information relating to the display size on the basis of the display data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2013
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Sawako KIRIYAMA