KR20060094978A - Method and apparatus for setting image input information - Google Patents

Abstract

The TV set includes a processor, a memory, a plurality of image inputs, and a corresponding cable detector for detecting the presence of a device connected to the image inputs. The processor runs an installation program stored in memory. In particular, when the processor detects the presence of a device connected to a particular image input through one of the cable detectors, the processor, in response to the detection, prompts the user to select one of a plurality of device labels to detect. To an associated device.

Description

TECHNICAL AND APPARATUS FOR SETTING UP VIDEO INPUT INFORMATION}

The present invention relates generally to a home entertainment system, and more particularly, to a TV set.

When installing or connecting an external peripheral device such as a DVD player, a VCR, or the like to a TV set, these devices are generally connected to the TV set through a plurality of video inputs. For example, the DVD player may be connected to the connector of video input 1, and the VCR may be connected to the connector of video input 2 or the like. To view the images from these devices, the user can select a suitable video input of the TV set, for example using the video input mode key of the remote control device of the TV set. In general, when a user presses a video input mode key, the TV set repeats all available video inputs and simply displays as labels what is currently connected to the video input via an on-screen display (OSD). For example, when image input 1 is selected, the TV set will simply display the label "Image input 1" in the upper right of the TV screen.

However, the user of the TV set may or may not be the same person who installed the peripheral. If the user is not the same person who installed the peripheral, he may have trouble as to which video input to use, for example when trying to access a DVD player. Also, even if the user is the same person who installed the peripheral, he may not remember, for example, that video input 1 is connected to the DVD player.

As such, TV sets are known that can be manually reconfigured by a user so that the labels associated with particular video inputs can be changed to represent more meaningful shorthand. Thus, when the user presses a video input mode key, the TV set displays on the OSD a video input that is now identified, for example "DVD", "VCR", and the like.

This simplifies the subsequent selection of the user's video input, but does not resolve the initial selection of the video input when the OSD still displays a default label such as "Video input 1". In addition, the ability to change labels manually means that someone will re-define (may not occur) the default label with a meaningful abbreviation from the beginning, and / or that the user can simply issue a manual label change command ( This may not be the case).

Summary of the Invention

In the above, the applicant has learned a method for simplifying the installation of these household entertainment products or peripherals when connecting the household entertainment products or peripherals to a video input switching device such as a TV set. In particular, in accordance with the principles of the present invention, an image input switching device detects a device connected to the image input and, in response, prompts the user to select one of a plurality of device labels to associate with the detected device. .

In one embodiment of the invention, the image input switching device is a TV set comprising a processor, a memory, a plurality of image inputs, and a corresponding cable detector for detecting the presence of a device connected to the image input. The processor runs an installation program stored in memory. In particular, when the processor detects the presence of a device connected to a particular image input through one of the cable detectors, the processor, in response to the detection, prompts the user to select one of the plurality of device labels to be detected. Relate to the device. As a result, the user is prompted to automatically configure the video input of the TV set, thus simplifying both initial installation and subsequent selection of the video input mode.

1 shows an example of a home entertainment system that embodies the principles of the present invention.

2 shows an example of a TV set in accordance with the principles of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a data structure for use in the TV of FIG. 2; FIG.

4 shows an example of a flowchart in accordance with the principles of the invention;

5 shows an example of an OSD in accordance with the principles of the invention;

FIG. 6 shows another example of the data structure of FIG. 3; FIG.

7-9 illustrate other examples of flowcharts in accordance with the principles of the invention.

10 illustrates another example of an OSD in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

11 and 12 illustrate other examples of flowcharts in accordance with the principles of the invention.

Unlike the concept of the invention, the components shown in the figures are well known and will not be described in detail. For example, contrary to the concept of the present invention, TV and its components such as cable detectors, remote control and the like are well known and are not described in detail herein. In addition, the inventive concept may be implemented using conventional programming techniques that may not be described herein. Finally, like reference numerals in the drawings indicate like elements.

An example of a household entertainment system 5 according to the principles of the invention is shown in FIG. 1. The home entertainment system 5 includes a number of external peripherals represented by the VCR 15, the DVD player 20 and the set top box 30, the video input switching device represented by the TV set 10, and the remote control. Device 25. The remote control device may, for example, issue an infrared (IR) signal 26 to issue any one of a number of commands to the TV set, such as power-on, power-off, channel selection, video input mode selection, and the like. The control signal is transmitted to the TV set 10 through. While not essential for the inventive concept, it should be noted that the remote control device 25 may control any one or more of the peripheral devices. The set top box 30 is connected via a cable 32 to, for example, a satellite antenna (not shown) or a cable system head-end (not shown) to receive programming content from the satellite antenna or the like. Although not necessary for the present invention, the set top box 30 may be connected to, for example, a public switched telephone network (PSTN).

The VCR 15, DVD player 20 and set top box 30 are connected to each other via respective cables 16, 21 and 31 to respective connectors or jacks of the video input of the TV set 10. For example, the VCR 15 is connected to the connector of the video input 1, the DVD player 20 is connected to the connector of the video input 2, and the set top box 30 is connected to the connector of the video input 3. By way of example, cables 16, 21, 31, and 32 are coaxial cable, optical cable, audio / video (A / V) cable, composite video cable, super video (S-video) cable, luminance and chrominance (Y & C) video. Any connection means such as, but not limited to, cables, component (Y, P _B , P _R ) video cables, red-blue-green (RGB) video cables, and the like. Obviously, each peripheral and TV set includes a corresponding electrical connector (not shown) therein for connecting to the respective cable. For example, if an S-video cable is used to connect to the TV set 10, the TV set 10 may be an S-video (unless a converter / cable (not shown) is used to convert to a suitable type of electrical connector). It must have a connector. In this regard, it should be noted that the image switching device represented by the TV set 10 may have a plurality of electrical connectors or electrical connector blocks associated with each image input. For example, video input 1 may include an electrical connector block, such as, but not limited to, a coaxial cable connector, an RGB connector, or the like. The example block 11 for video input shown in FIG. 1 includes two types of connectors, an S-video connector 12 and an A / V connector 13. Also, although described in terms of "wired" connections, the connection between the peripheral device and the video input switching device may be wireless. Thus, the term "cable" as used herein refers to both wired and wireless connections.

If the user of the home entertainment system 5 wants to watch a movie, for example with the DVD player 20, the user corresponds to a connector connected to the DVD player 20 via the remote control device 25. The video input must be selected first. In this example, the user must select image input 2. However, as mentioned earlier, even a simple selection of the correct image input by the user may be a problem. As such, the Applicant has learned how to simplify the installation of home entertainment products or peripherals when connecting a home entertainment product or peripheral to a video input switching device such as a TV set. In particular, according to the principles of the present invention, an image input switching device detects a device connected to the image input and, in response to the detection, prompts the user to select one of a plurality of device labels associated with the detected device. do. As a result, the user is prompted to automatically configure the video input of the TV set, thus simplifying both initial installation and subsequent selection of the video input mode.

Referring now to FIG. 2, an example of a TV set 10 in accordance with the principles of the present invention is shown. It should be noted that only components of TV set 10 are shown which are related to the principles of the present invention. The TV set 10 includes the signals described above from a number of cable detector circuits, a processor 105, a memory 115, a display 120, and a remote control device 25 represented by cable detectors 130, 135, and 140. It includes a remote interface 110 for receiving. Display 120 represents one of a number of display technologies, such as, for example, a plasma display, a rear projection TV, a front projection TV, a tube base, and the like, and displays an image through a particular type of display as well as the display element itself. Or include essential elements for displaying an image. The processor 105 is a stored program control processor, such as a microprocessor, that executes a program or programs stored in the memory 115 that is volatile and / or nonvolatile as necessary, inside and / or outside the processor 105. do. As can be seen in FIG. 2, the processor 105 receives signals from the cable detectors 130, 135 and 140 and the remote interface 110 and provides signals, such as data, for viewing through the display 120. do. The TV set 10 is associated with one of the cable detectors, respectively, and includes N image inputs with N ≧ 1. For example, cable detector 130 is associated with image input 1, cable detector 135 is associated with image input 2, and cable detector 140 is associated with image input 3. In this example, only three video inputs are shown in FIG. 2, and the cable detectors 130, 135 and 140 are connected when the cable / peripheral device is connected to the connector of the respective video input of the TV set 10. In addition to displaying the connection to the processor 105, it is assumed to indicate the detection to the processor 105 when a signal is detected through the respective cable.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 3 to 6 which also disclose the principles of the invention in conjunction with FIG. 2. In this example, it is assumed that none of the image inputs of TV set 10 are initially assigned to a particular peripheral device. In particular, the cables 16, 21 and 31 are not connected to the TV set 10 at that time. As such, when the TV set 10 is turned on, as in the example table 505 shown in FIG. 3, the data structure stored in the memory 115 is not assigned to any of the N image inputs to the peripheral device. It is initially pre-defined to indicate that it did not. For example, "image input 1" in the table 505 is associated with the entry "unallocated". As a result, if the user presses the video input mode key of the remote control device 25, the processor 105 of the TV set 10 (when receiving this command via the remote interface 110) enters a respective video input. It only displays on display 120 a default label associated with. For example, the default label may be "image input 1", "image input 2", or the like corresponding to image input 1, image input 2, or the like. This default label may be stored in memory 115.

Referring now to FIG. 4, an example of a flowchart in accordance with the principles of the present invention is shown. In the following description, TV set 10 automatically detects the presence of a peripheral device and prompts the user to designate a context-related label for that device. Initially, in step 305, TV set 10 waits for cable detection through one of the cable detectors. This step can be accomplished, for example, via an interrupt mode of operation or a polling mode of operation. For example, assume a user connects cable 16 to TV set 10. In that case, the cable detector 130 provides an interrupt signal to the processor 105 that the cable was detected in step 305. Since this interrupt was provided from cable detector 130, processor 105 identifies this image input as image input 1 at step 310. In step 315, the TV set 10 waits for signal detection via a cable connected to video input 1. Upon detecting a signal through the cable detector 130, the processor 105 displays on the display 120 an image signal received from the image input identified in step 355. This is an image 404 depicting a movie reel and ticket, shown in FIG. 5. In this regard, image 404 represents an image from an added peripheral device, for example, image 404 may be represented by a logo identifying the type and manufacturer of the peripheral device, or by the current content or peripheral device of the peripheral device. It may be an image from the received content. As used herein, content may include programming content (movies, electronic programming instructions, menus, etc.) provided by, for example, a satellite or cable provider, or stored on media such as a DVD or cassette tape. It means any audio / visual material. Next, as shown in FIG. 5, the processor 105 is illustrated on the image 404 on the display 120 for viewing by the user, as indicated by the image 121, at step 321. Overlay OSD. The image or image 121 includes a prompt 401, a cursor 402 and a list 403. Prompt 401 is an example of text that prompts the user to select a device attached to an identified image input, in this example image input 1, by moving the cursor 402 to one of the labels in list 403. It is included. This list includes a number of predefined device labels such as, but not limited to, "DVD", "VCR", "Game Console", and the like. The user moves the cursor 402 through respective buttons (not shown) on the remote control device 25. Similarly, the user sends to processor 105 a selection signal of one of the labels of list 403 currently displayed by cursor 402 to assign a label to the peripheral device. In this example, the user places the cursor 402 over the VCR label in the list 403 via the remote control device 25 to indicate the selection. In response to the selection indication received via the remote interface 110 of the TV set 10, the processor 105 assigns the selected label to the identified image input in step 325 of FIG. 4, and the table 505. To indicate that image input 1 is now assigned to the label "VCR". Thus, a meaningful name is easily assigned to a peripheral device without the user remembering how to manually assign a label to the device, or whether an image input is connected to the device. In addition, using an input video signal from the identified video input (as indicated by image 404 of FIG. 5) allows the user to quickly identify a peripheral device associated with that video input, thereby creating a list (at step 325). 403) to select a suitable label. It should also be noted that for simplicity, no error conditions are shown in the flowcharts described herein. For example, if it waits for signal detection at step 315 but the processor 105 fails to detect the cable, the processor described above is restarted, or if the user does not respond at step 325, the processor may define a predefined time. It will stop after expiration.

The above-described procedure is performed on one or more of the N video input connectors of the TV set 10. In this regard, a table 505 after both image input 1 and image input 2 have been assigned via the method described above is shown in FIG. 6. As a result, subsequent selection of the user for a particular image input mode is simplified by using the context related labels shown in the table 505 of FIG. In particular, FIG. 7 illustrates an example of a processor 105 execution flowchart for displaying a suitable image input label. In response to the image input mode command received from the remote control device 25, the processor 105 changes the currently selected image input to a subsequent image input at step 705. For example, if the currently selected image input is image input 1, upon receiving the image input mode command, processor 105 changes the image input selected in step 705 to image input 2. In step 710, the processor 105 determines whether image input 2 is currently being marked as "unassigned" in the table 505. If so, the processor 105 causes a default label, such as "Image Input 2", to be displayed on the display 120 at 720. On the other hand, if the table 505 indicates that the video input 2 is not " unassigned ", then the processor 105 displays, at step 715, a label stored in the table 505, e. 120).

Other modifications may be made in accordance with the concepts of the present invention. For example, cable alone detection or signal only detection may be used to initiate the above-described automatic configuration. In addition, display of video signals from identified video inputs is desirable but not necessary. Also, if the user assigns the same type of device to more than one video input, e.g., if the user assigns "DVD" to both video input 1 and video input 2, then the processor 105 indicates that the label "DVD 1" May be automatically added to each label, such as is displayed for < RTI ID = 0.0 > and < / RTI > This adjunct may be added directly to the data structure disclosed in the table 505, or “on” the context related label in the table 505 before the processor 105 displays the context related label on the display 120. -the-fly) "may be added. In addition, another variation is disclosed in the flowchart of FIG. 8, which is similar to the flowchart of FIG. 4 described above, and illustrates a process in which step 345 is added. At step 345, processor 105 prompts the user via display 120 to turn on the device if no signal is detected at step 315. In addition, the above-described process may be modified to accommodate subsequent disconnection of the cable from the connector of the video input that already has a context-related label associated with the video input. This is disclosed in the flowchart of FIG. 9.

In step 905, the TV set 10 waits for the detection of cable disconnection through one of the cable detectors. As with step 305 of FIG. 4, this step may be accomplished, for example, via an interrupt mode of operation or a polling mode of operation. For example, suppose a user disconnects the cable 16 from the TV set 10. In this case, the cable detector 130 sends an interrupt signal to the processor 105 that the cable was removed in step 905. Since this interrupt was provided from cable detector 130, processor 105 identifies the image input as image input 1 at step 910. In step 915, the processor 105 displays a prompt on the display 120 for the user to see. An example picture or image 921 for use as an OSD is shown in FIG. 10. Image 921 includes prompt 901, cursor 902, and list 903. The prompt 901 is added to the identified image input, in this example image input 1, by moving the cursor 902 to one of the response choices in the list 903, ie, "yes" or "no". Examples include text that prompts the user to confirm the deletion of the device. The user moves the cursor 902 through respective buttons (not shown) on the remote control device 25. Similarly, the user sends to processor 105 a selection signal of one of the responses of list 903 currently displayed by cursor 902 to assign to the peripheral device. If the user selects “No” in step 920 of FIG. 9, the processor 105 does not change the associated label for the identified image input. On the other hand, if the user selects "yes" in step 920, processor 105 changes the label for the image input identified in step 925 back to the default label associated with that image input. Whatever the user selects, it should be noted that when the user reconnects the cable to the video input and automatically provides the user the opportunity to change the label associated with that video input, the flowchart of FIG. 4 described above is performed. Of course, if TV set 10 supports that functionality, the user may always manually edit the label, as is known in the art.

Another variation in accordance with the principles of the present invention is shown in FIG. 11, which shows an example of another flow chart for use in automatically configuring all added devices. This automatic configuration mode can be entered through individual installation instructions of the TV set or upon initial installation of the TV set. In step 205, TV set 10 prompts the user through the OSD to turn on all of the connected devices. In step 210, the TV set 10 selects one of the N image inputs, eg, image input 1. At step 215, TV set 10 assigns a context related label as described above. In step 220, the TV set 10 checks whether all N image inputs have been processed. If all of the N image inputs have not been processed, return to step 210 to select a subsequent image input. However, if all N image inputs have been processed, the procedure ends. As described below, an example of a flowchart for step 215 is shown in FIG. 12. This flowchart is similar to the flowcharts described above, and similar steps have the same reference numerals. In step 315, the TV set 10 waits for signal detection via a cable connected to the selected video input. If no signal is detected at the expiration of the preset timeout, the TV set 10 simply proceeds to step 220 to continue processing any residual image inputs. However, upon signal detection, the TV set 10 displays the video signal received from the video input selected in step 355. Then, in step 321, TV set 10 overlays 121 the image over image 404 from the video signal as described above with respect to FIG. 4. At step 325, TV set 10 assigns a label selected by the user, and the process proceeds to step 220.

Although the concept of the present invention has been described in connection with a TV set, the concept of the present invention is not limited thereto, and peripheral devices may be connected to any type of image such as, but not limited to, a TV set, a monitor, a voice-video receiver, or the like. The same applies to the configuration of peripheral devices when connecting to the input switching device. In addition, although the components are bundled within the TV set 10, these components may be distributed to different units through any combination. For example, the image inputs and the processor 105 may be independent devices physically separated from the display 120 such that the processor 105 is connected to the display 120 or the like via a wired or wireless interface. In addition, although the concepts of the present invention have been described using an OSD to provide a visual prompt to a user, audio, such as voice prompting, may also be used instead of or in addition to the OSD. For example, when the processor 105 displays a text prompt 401 on the display 120, the processor 105 plays back a voice file or voice record stored in the memory 115, thereby causing the TV set 10 to be played. A speaker may be provided to the user through a speaker (not shown). Alternatively, TV set 10 may synthesize voice cues.

As such, the foregoing merely illustrates the principles of the invention and those skilled in the art, although not clearly described herein, may derive many other configurations that embody the principles of the invention within the spirit and scope of the invention. You will know. For example, although the invention has been described in terms of individual functional elements, such functional elements may be implemented on one or more integrated circuits (ICs). Similarly, while the components are shown as separate components, all or either of these components may be implemented within the storage program control processor. Accordingly, it should be understood that various modifications and other configurations may be made to the embodiments, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims (25)

A method for use in the video input switching device to configure a device connected to a video input switching device, Detecting a device connected to an image input of the image input switching device; Prompting a user to select a label for the detected device, the label associating the detected device with the image input. The method of claim 1, And said detecting step comprises detecting a cable connected to said video input. The method of claim 1, The detecting step includes detecting a signal received through the image input. The method of claim 3, wherein The signal detecting step includes prompting the user to turn on the device if no signal is initially detected. The method of claim 1, And the video input switching device is a TV set. The method of claim 1, The prompting step includes playing a voice cue to the user. A method for use in the video input switching device to configure a device connected to a video input switching device, Detecting a device connected to an image input of the image input switching device; In response to the detected device, displaying a prompting image for the user to select a label for use in associating the detected device with the image input; Receiving a response from the user to select a label that associates the detected device with the image input. The method of claim 7, wherein And said detecting step comprises detecting a cable connected to said video input. The method of claim 7, wherein The detecting step includes detecting a signal received through the image input. The method of claim 9, The signal detecting step includes prompting the user to turn on the device if no signal is initially detected. The method of claim 7, wherein And the video input switching device is a TV set. The method of claim 7, wherein And said image displaying step comprises displaying an image obtained from an image signal received from said detected device such that said image is overlaid on said image. As a method for use in a video input switching device comprising a plurality of video inputs, Prompting a user to turn on each of the plurality of peripheral devices connected to the video input switching device; Alternately selecting each of the plurality of image inputs and prompting the user to select one label from a list of labels to associate the selected image input with a particular type of peripheral device. The method of claim 13, The prompting step is performed only when a signal for the selected image input is first detected. The method of claim 13, And the video input switching device is a TV set. As a method for use in a video input switching device, Storing in the memory a table comprising a plurality of entries in which at least one entry relates a video input and a label of the video input switching device, the label identifying a device connected to the video input; Detecting a disconnection from the video input switching device of the device included in the table; Prompting the user to confirm deletion in the table of the disconnected device and its associated label. The method of claim 16, And the video input switching device is a TV set. The method of claim 16, The prompting step includes playing a voice cue to the user. With peripherals, A home entertainment system comprising at least one video input, wherein the video input switching device is connected to the peripheral device. And the video input switching device automatically prompts a user to select a label for the peripheral device upon detection of the peripheral device through the at least one video input. The method of claim 19, And the video input switching device detects the peripheral device by detecting a cable connected to the at least one video input. The method of claim 19, And the image input switching device detects the peripheral device by detecting a signal received through the at least one image input. A video input switching device, Processor, A memory for storing a list of labels, at least some of said labels representing possible peripherals that may be connected to said image input switching device; With display, Includes multiple video inputs, The processor automatically displays the list of labels and prompts a user from the displayed list when the processor detects that a peripheral device is connected to the video input switching device through at least one of the plurality of video inputs. Video input switching device to select a label. The method of claim 22, And the processor, the memory, the display and the plurality of video inputs are part of a TV set. The method of claim 22, And at least one cable detector, wherein the processor detects that a peripheral device is connected to the video input switching device when the cable detector detects that a cable is connected to a respective video input. The method of claim 22, And at least one cable detector, wherein the processor detects that a peripheral device is connected to the video input switching device when the cable detector detects that a signal is being received from each video input.

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