Roku Exhibit 1009
`Roku, Inc. v. Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
`IPR2020-00355
`Page 00001
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`Patent Application Publication
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`Jul. 5,2001
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`Sheet 1 of 4
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`US 2001/0006382 Al
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`101
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`102
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`103
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`fF
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`104
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`LL
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`105
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`106
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`FIG. 1
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`Patent Application Publication
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`Jul. 5,2001
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`Sheet 2 of 4
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`US 2001/0006382 Al
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` 202a
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`201
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`213
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`25
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`278
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`202b a:
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`>
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`| 6
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`FIG. 2
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`Patent Application Publication
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`Jul. 5,2001
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`Sheet 3 of 4
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`US 2001/0006382 Al
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`208
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`205b
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`FIG. 3
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`Patent Application Publication
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`Jul. 5,2001
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`Sheet 4 of 4
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`US 2001/0006382 Al
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`Jul. 5, 2001
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`MULTIPLE WINDOW DISPLAY SYSTEM
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`[0001] The invention relates to a display system compris-
`ing a display device having window meansfor displaying
`information in at least two windowsof said display device,
`parameter control means for controlling a parameter of a
`respective one of said windows in response to a user
`supplied parameter control command, and user operable
`window selection means for selecting a window to be
`controlled by said parameter control means.
`
`[0002] The invention further relates to a display device for
`use in the above display system, a remote control for use in
`the above display system, and to a method of controlling a
`multi-window display system.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`[0003] Adisplay system of the type defined in the opening
`paragraph is known from JP 10079989 A (abstract). The
`known system comprises a display device capable of show-
`ing information in a split-screen mode, presenting two
`windows of equal size and both occupying half of the
`display screen. A first window occupies the left part of the
`display screen, while the second window occupies the right
`part of the display screen. The system comprises window
`selection means enabling the user to control each window
`independently with a remote control. To this end, the win-
`dow selection means have two separate infrared (IR) receiv-
`ers near the bottom comers of the display screen. The
`intensities of the IR signals received by the two IR receivers
`differ from each other depending on the orientation of the
`remote control. From this difference the display device
`infers which window the user wishes to control.
`
`OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`is an object of the invention to provide an
`It
`[0004]
`improved system and method of the type defined in the
`opening paragraph. To achievethat goal, the display system
`according to the invention is characterized in that the display
`system comprises at least two remote controls, the display
`system comprising association means for associating a
`respective remote control with a respective window,
`the
`window selection means being adapted to select the window
`in response to a parameter control command received from
`a remote control associated with the selected window.It is
`
`displaying the information from each of said sources in a
`respective window, said parameter being the source of the
`information displayed in said respective window. For
`example,
`in a television receiver capable of displaying
`programs broadcast by different TV channels in a split-
`screen mode, two users can select programs independently
`for both windows. The programs may, for example, be
`received from an antenna, a cable network, a satellite dish,
`a DVD player or a recording device. The display system
`according to the invention thus provides each user with his
`own ‘zapping’ environment. In addition to the source of the
`displayed information, parameters such as brightness, con-
`trast, sound level, etc. may also be controlled in this way.
`
`[0006] An embodimentof the display system according to
`the invention is characterized by said association means
`comprising,
`in each respective remote control, window
`identification means for transmitting, along with a transmit-
`ted parameter control command, a signal indicative of a
`window associated with the respective remote control. For
`example, the windows displayable by the system may be
`numbered in a range from one to the numberofdisplayable
`windows. Each remote control may then have means for
`associating the remote control with one of the window
`numbers, by transmitting an IR signal representing said
`window number along with any transmitted control com-
`mand for controlling a parameter of the associated window.
`For example, said IR signal may be transmitted as a prefix
`to each parameter control command. The desired window
`number may be user supplied, and stored in non-volatile
`memory. Upon reception of the IR signals comprising the
`prefix and the parameter control command,
`the display
`devicefirst selects the appropriate window and subsequently
`applies the parameter control command to the selected
`window. Instead of identification by a number, windows
`may beidentified in other ways, for example, by a character
`string, screen coordinates etc.
`
`[0007] An alternative embodimentof the display system
`according to the invention is characterized by said associa-
`tion means comprising discrimination means for discrimi-
`nating signals received from said at least two remote con-
`trols so as to determine from which remote control the
`received signals originate. Once it has been determined from
`which remote control the received IR signals originate, the
`associated window is looked up, and the received parameter
`control command is applied to the associated window.
`Various methods of discriminating signals from different
`remote controls may be applied.
`
`thus achieved that multiple users can use a separate remote
`control for controlling any one of the windowsdisplayed on
`[0008] An embodimentof the display system according to
`the display screen. For example, in a split screen mode, the
`the invention is characterized by said at least two remote
`left windowis associated with a first remote control operated
`controls being arranged to transmit signals in accordance
`byafirst user, while the right window is associated with a
`with different protocols,
`the discrimination means being
`second remote control operated by a second user. Conse-
`arranged to recognize said different protocols. For this
`quently, the first and second user are capable of indepen-
`purpose, the display device may comprise two distinct IR
`dently controlling the left and the right windowrespectively,
`receivers each capable of decoding a different IR protocol,
`without
`the need to explicitly select
`the window to be
`for example,
`in respect of IR frequency, bit length etc.
`controlled. Conflicts arising from simultaneously transmit-
`Alternatively, the display device comprises one IR receiver
`ted IR commandsbythe at least two remote controls may,
`capable of receiving and decoding multiple IR protocols.
`for example, be resolved by simply ignoring such simulta-
`neously transmitted commandsor processing only the IR
`signals having the highest intensity.
`
`[0005] An embodimentof the display system according to
`the invention is characterized by the display device being
`capable of receiving information from different sources and
`
`[0009] An alternative embodimentof the display system
`according to the invention is characterized by said associa-
`tion means comprising, in each respective remote control,
`remote control identification means for transmitting, along
`with a transmitted parameter control command, a signal
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`identifying the respective remote control. Such an identifi-
`cation signal may be stored in the remote control in advance
`by the manufacturer, but advantageously, the remote control
`enables the user to select a respective one of a set of
`predetermined identities. For example, the user may assign
`a unique number to each of the available remote controls.
`Such a number,
`identifying the remote control, may be
`transmitted along with each parameter control command,for
`example, as a prefix. The display device is then capable of
`determining which remote control transmitted the parameter
`control command, look up the associated window and con-
`trol the appropriate parameter of the associated window.
`[0010] An embodimentof the display system according to
`the invention is characterized by the window selection
`means being arranged to bypass said association means
`when only one window is displayed on the display device.
`In this way it is achieved that each remote control can be
`used to control the main image when the window meansare
`not operative. For example, if, in a multi-window mode, one
`of two users deactivates the multi-window mode and leaves
`
`the room, the other user is immediately in control of the
`main image. As soon as the multi-window modeis re-
`activated, each remote controls is again associated with a
`default or previously associated window.
`[0011] The invention is particularly suitable for a (wide-
`screen) television receiver comprising a split-screen mode,
`allowing two users to ‘zap’ independently through the avail-
`able broadcast channels and to watch the resulting images in
`a separate part of the screen. Dependent on the screen size
`and the viewing distance, the number of distinct windows
`may be increased indefinitely, allowing each memberof a
`household to control his own part of the display screen. If a
`very large display screen is available, for example a flat
`screen occupying a substantial part of a wall, the windows
`may not even be located near each other, thus allowing the
`display device to provide one window in one part of the
`room, and another window in anotherpart of the room, both
`windows being controllable by a separate remote control.
`The full screen would then be used for video-conferencing
`and/or watching movies, while the multi-window mode
`would be applied to serve individual viewers in other
`situations.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`[0012] These and other aspects of the invention are appar-
`ent from and will be elucidated, by way of a non-limitative
`example, with reference to the embodiment(s) described
`hereinafter. In the drawings,
`[0013] FIG. 1 schematically showsa television system as
`an embodiment of the display system according to the
`invention,
`
`[0014] FIG. 2 shows a diagram of a television system as
`an embodiment of the display system according to the
`invention,
`
`[0015] FIG. 3 shows a diagram of a television system as
`an alternative embodimentof the display system according
`to the invention.
`
`[0016] FIG. 4 shows a flow diagram of an embodiment of
`the method according to the invention.
`DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
`
`[0017] FIG. 1 schematically showsa television system as
`an embodiment of the display system according to the
`
`invention. The television system comprises a television
`receiver 101 capable of showing video signals broadcast by
`two different channels in a split screen mode, one channel in
`a first window 102 on the left half of the screen and the
`
`second channel in a second window 103 ontherighthalf of
`the screen. In addition to video signals from TV channels,
`also signals obtained from other sources, such as a video-
`recorder or a video camera, maybe displayed in one or both
`of the windows. The television receiver 101 comprises an
`infrared (IR) receiver 104 for receiving IR signals from a
`remote control 105 and a remote control 106. The television
`
`receiver 101 is capable of discriminating signals from both
`remote controls, as described hereinafter, and applying con-
`trol commandsreceived from the remote control 105 to the
`window 102, and control commands received from the
`remote control 106 to the window 103. The location of the
`remote control 105 and the remote control 106 is not
`essential, e.g. exchanging their positions would not neces-
`sarily change the respective window controlled by them.
`However, such a feature is not excluded by the present
`invention. For example,
`in an advanced embodiment the
`television receiver 101 is capable of determiningthe relative
`positions of the two remote controls, e.g. by comparing and
`storing the angles of incidence of the IR signals, and of
`associating the windows accordingly. Each time an IR
`signals is received, the position is compared with the pre-
`viously stored positions, so as to detect an exchange of
`positions. Exchanging the positions of the remote controls
`will then change the window controlled by each respective
`remote control, and optionally, exchange each window’s
`parameters, such as the channel displayed.
`
`[0018] FIG. 2 shows a diagram of a television receiver as
`an embodimentof the apparatus according to the invention.
`Television signals from a plurality of channels are received
`from, for example, an antenna 201, or alternatively from a
`cable network. A tuner-unit 202 comprises a tuner 202a and
`a tuner 2025 for receiving and decoding signals from two
`channels simultaneously, in response to commands from a
`central processing unit 209. The signal of each selected
`channel is demodulated and split into an audio signal and a
`video signal. The audio signal is further processed by an
`audio processor 203a@ and 203b and loudspeakers 205a and
`205b. One or both of the loudspeakers 205a@ and 205b may
`be a headphone, enabling two users to simultaneously per-
`ceive the soundrelated to one of the selected channels in an
`undisturbed way. Each audio processor 203a and 203b
`comprises an audio parameter controller 204a and 204b,
`respectively, for controlling audio parameters, such as bal-
`ance, treble, bass and loudness,in responseto control signals
`from the central processing unit 209. The video signal is
`further processed by a video processor 206 and displayed on
`a display screen 208. The video processor 206 comprises
`window means 211 for displaying video images received
`from the tuners 202a@ and 202b in separate windowson the
`display screen 208, e.g. in a split-screen mode. Parameters
`of each of these windows can be controlled by a video
`parameter controller 207a and 207b, respectively, for con-
`trolling video parameters, such as brightness, contrast, color,
`sharpness, noise reduction, dynamic contrast and color
`enhancement, in responseto control signals from the central
`processing unit 209. The central processing unit 209 com-
`prises a user command processor 210 and a non-volatile
`memory 214 for storing data, e.g. presets and parameter
`settings. A user command unit 213 is capable of receiving
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`control commandsfrom a remote control 215 and a remote
`control 216, and sending said control commands to the
`central processing unit 209. For example, the user may enter
`a channel number in order to select
`the corresponding
`channel. The channel number is translated by the user
`command processor into an appropriate command whichis
`used to control the tuner 2024 or 2025 to tune to the desired
`channel.
`
`[0019] The remote control 215 comprises window identi-
`fication means 217, and the remote control 216 comprises
`similar window identification means 218. The window iden-
`tification means 217 and 218 cause IR control commands
`transmitted by the remote controls 215 and 216 to be
`prefixed by a window identification signal identifying a
`window displayed on the display screen of the television
`receiver. When a control command is received while the
`
`the user
`television receiver is in the split-screen mode,
`command unit 213 interprets the window identification
`signal and transmits a command to the user command
`processor 210 so as to control the appropriate window in
`accordance with the window identification signal. If the user
`command is a channel selection command, the user com-
`mandprocessor 210 controls, in dependence on the window
`identification signal, the tuner 202a¢ or the tuner 2025 to
`select the desired channel, and the window means 211 to
`display the video signals of that channel in the desired
`window. The window identification transmitted by the
`remote controls 215 and 216 may beentered by the user,
`prestored by the manufacturer, or dynamically altered in
`dependence on the remote control’s position, as described
`above. The window identification means 217 and 218 thus
`constitute association means for associating the remote
`controls 215 and 216 with respective windows. The user
`command unit 213 and the user command processor 210
`constitute window selection meansfor selecting a window to
`be controlled in response to the window identification signal
`supplied by the window identification means 217 and 218,
`respectively.
`
`If the prefixed window identification signal consti-
`[0020]
`tutes a regular control command for selecting a window to
`be controlled, the television receiver can be a conventional
`split-screen television capable of selecting a window in
`response to said regular control command. The association
`means of the present invention are thus comprised in the
`remote controls 215 and 215. The user commandis issued
`automatically by the remote controls 215 and 216 compris-
`ing the window identification means 217 and 218 according
`to the invention. Additionally, the user command maystill
`be issued manually, and the remote control may comprise
`user operable meansfor bypassing the window identification
`means to switch off the automatic windowselection.
`
`[0021] FIG. 3 shows a diagram of a television system as
`an alternative embodimentof the display system according
`to the invention. For consistency and ease of understanding,
`FIG. 3 uses the same reference numerals as in FIG. 2 for
`
`items having functions similar to those of the corresponding
`items in FIG. 2. In the present embodiment the user com-
`mand unit 213 further comprises discrimination means 221
`for discriminating signals received by the user command
`unit 213 from the remote controls 215 and 216, so as to
`determine from which remote control the received signals
`originate. For that purpose,
`the user command unit 213
`comprises, in one embodiment, two distinct IR receivers 222
`
`and 223, each adapted for receiving IR signals from a
`predetermined remote control, e.g. a remote control trans-
`mitting IR signals in accordance with a specific protocol. In
`an alternative embodiment, each remote control 215 and 216
`has, preferably user operable, remote control identification
`means 219 and 220 for transmitting, along with a control
`command signal, an identification signal
`identifying the
`remote control. Each remote control may thus be assigned an
`identity, e.g. RC1 and RC2, which identity is transmitted to
`the television receiver along with each control command.
`Other ways to discriminate signals from different remote
`controls may be applied too, e.g. by measuring IR frequency,
`signal strength etc. In such cases, the remote controls may
`comprise meansto adjust the identifying parameter, so as to
`uniquely identify the remote control. The discrimination
`means maintain a table specifying which remote control is
`assigned to which window onthe display screen. This table
`has a default content, e.g. RC1 controls the left window,
`while RC2 controls the right window,and the content can be
`altered by the user by meansof the user command unit 213.
`
`[0022] As soon as only a main picture is displayed, the
`association means, embodied by either the window identi-
`fication means 217 and 218, or the discrimination means 221
`in combination with either the distinct IR receivers 222 and
`223 or the remote control identification means 219 and 220,
`are bypassed, thus allowing both remote controls 215 and
`216 to control the main picture.
`
`[0023] Conflicts between simultaneously received IR sig-
`nals from different remote controls may be resolved by just
`ignoring distorted IR signals, or reconstructing the distinct
`signals using information concerning IR protocol,
`fre-
`quency, angle of incidence, signal strength etc.
`
`[0024] Sound related to respective displayed windows
`may be directed to various output means. For example, the
`sound of one window may bedirected to the loudspeaker of
`the display device, while the sound of the other windowsis
`directed to respective headphones. Alternatively, the sound
`of a window may be directed to a loudspeaker which is
`located close to said window. For example, in a dual-screen
`mode comprising a left and a right window,
`the sound
`related to the left window may be directed to the left
`loudspeaker, while the sound related to the right window is
`directed to the right loudspeaker.
`
`[0025] FIG. 4 shows a flow diagram of an embodiment of
`the method according to the invention. In a step 400 remote
`controls comprised in the display system are associated with
`a respective one of two windowsof a split screen display
`device, by programming each remote control to transmit,
`with each parameter control command, a prefix indicating
`the associated window.In a step 401 a control commandis
`received from any of the remote controls. In a step 402 the
`prefix is separated from the remote control command and a
`window identification is decoded from it. In a step 403, it is
`determined for which window the received control com-
`
`mand is meant, by testing the value of the window identi-
`fication decoded from the prefix. If the window identity
`refers to a first window,
`it is determined in a step 404
`whether the control command is a channel selection com-
`
`mand. If so, a first tuner coupled with the first window is
`controlled in a step 406 to tune to the desired channel.
`Otherwise, the control commandisinterpreted in a step 407
`as a parameter control commandfor controlling a parameter
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`is
`of the first window, e.g. brightness or contrast. If it
`determined that the control command is meant for a second
`
`window, it is determined in a step 405 whether the control
`commandis a channel selection command. If so, a second
`tuner coupled with the second windowis controlled in a step
`408 to tune to the desired channel. Otherwise, the control
`commandis interpreted in a step 409 as a parameter control
`commandfor controlling a parameter of the second window.
`
`the invention relates to a display
`In summary,
`[0026]
`system comprising a display device capable of displaying
`information in multiple windows of the display device,
`enabling the user to select a window for controlling a
`parameter of said window in response to subsequent user
`supplied parameter control commands. The display system
`according to the invention comprises two or more remote
`controls, and association means for associating a respective
`remote control with a respective window. Uponreception of
`a control command from a remote control,
`the window
`associated with the remote control
`is selected, and the
`control commandis applied to the selected window.In this
`way, multiple users are enabled to independently control a
`window displayed on the display device.
`
`[0027] Although the invention has been described with
`reference to particular illustrative embodiments, variants
`and modifications are possible within the scope of the
`inventive concept. Thus, for example, instead of remote
`controls transmitting IR signals, hard-wired remote controls
`or remote controls transmitting RF signals may be applied.
`Throughout
`this specification, a remote control
`is to be
`understood as any device which enables a user to remotely
`control
`the display device. This includes also a speech
`recognition unit which is capable of understanding voice
`commands uttered by a user. In such an embodiment, the
`speech recognition unit
`is coupled to the discrimination
`means, so as to discriminate between voices of different
`users, which can be accomplished by means of techniques
`which are known per se, e.g. measuring certain character-
`istics indicative of a person’s voice, such as voice pitch,
`volumeetc. In this way, each user may be associated with,
`and allowed to control parameters of, a particular window on
`the display screen.
`
`Instead of, or in addition to, a double tuner, other
`[0028]
`sources for supplying video information for display in the
`respective windows may be used, for example, a video
`recorder, a DVD player, a video cameraetc.
`
`[0029] The word ‘comprising’ does not exclude the pres-
`ence of elements or steps other than those defined in a claim.
`The invention can be implemented by means of hardware
`comprising several distinct elements, and by means of a
`suitably programmed computer. In the device claim enu-
`merating several means, several of these means can be
`embodied by one and the same item of hardware.
`
`1. A display system comprising a display device having
`window means for displaying information in at least two
`windowsofsaid display device, parameter control means for
`controlling a parameter of a respective one of said windows
`in response to a user supplied parameter control command,
`and user operable window selection means for selecting a
`window to be controlled by said parameter control means,
`characterized in that the display system comprises at least
`two remote controls, the display system comprising asso-
`ciation means for associating a respective remote control
`
`the window selection means
`with a respective window,
`being adapted to select the window in response to a param-
`eter control command received from a remote control asso-
`ciated with the selected window.
`
`2. A display system as claimed in claim 1, the display
`device being capable of receiving information from different
`sources and displaying the information from each of said
`sources in a respective window, said parameter being the
`source of the information displayed in said respective win-
`dow.
`
`3. Adisplay system as claimedin claim 1, said association
`means comprising, in each respective remote control, win-
`dow identification means for transmitting, along with a
`transmitted parameter control command,a signal indicative
`of a window associated with the respective remote control.
`4. Adisplay system as claimed in claim 1, said association
`means comprising discrimination means for discriminating
`signals received from said at least two remote controls so as
`to determine from which remote control the received signals
`originate.
`5. Adisplay system as claimed in claim 4, said at least two
`remote controls being arranged to transmit signals in accor-
`dance with different protocols,
`the discrimination means
`being arranged to recognize said different protocols.
`6. Adisplay system as claimedin claim 4,said association
`means comprising, in each respective remote control, remote
`control identification means for transmitting, along with a
`transmitted parameter control command,a signal identifying
`the respective remote control.
`7. A display system as claimed in claim 1, the window
`selection means being arranged to bypass said association
`means when only one window is displayed on the display
`device.
`
`8. Adisplay device for use in a display system as claimed
`in any one of the preceding claims, comprising window
`means for displaying information in at least two windows,
`parameter control means for controlling a parameter of a
`respective one of said windows in response to a user
`supplied parameter control command, and user operable
`window selection means for selecting a window to be
`controlled by said parameter control means, characterized in
`that the display device comprises association means for
`associating a respective one of at least two remote controls
`with a respective window,
`the window selection means
`being adapted to select the window in response to a param-
`eter control command received from a remote control asso-
`ciated with the selected window.
`
`9. Adisplay device as claimed in claim 8, said association
`means comprising discrimination means for discriminating
`signals receiving from said at least two remote controls so as
`to determine from which remote control the received signals
`originate.
`10. A television receiver as a display device as claimed in
`claim 8 or 9.
`
`11. Aremote control for use in a display system as claimed
`in any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the remote
`control comprises association means for associating the
`remote control with a respective windowofa display device
`having window selection means which are adaptedto select
`said respective window in response to a parameter control
`command received from the remote control,
`the display
`device further comprising control means adapted to control
`a parameter of said respective window in accordance with
`said parameter control command.
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`12. A remote control as claimed in claim 11, said asso-
`ciation means comprising window identification means for
`transmitting, along with a transmitted parameter control
`command, a signal indicative of a window associated with
`the remote control.
`13. A remote control as claimed in claim 11, said asso-
`ciation means comprising remote control
`identification
`means for transmitting, along with a transmitted parameter
`control command,a signal identifying the remote control.
`14. A method of controlling a multi-window display
`system, comprising a step of user operably selecting a
`
`window, and a step of controlling a parameter of said
`selected window in response to a user supplied parameter
`control command, characterized in that the method further
`comprises a step of associating a respective one of at least
`two remote controls with a respective window, and a step of
`selecting the window in response to a parameter control
`command received from a remote control associated with
`the selected window.
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