(19) United States
`(12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2006/0230360 A1
`Young et al.
`(43) Pub. Date:
`Oct. 12, 2006
`
`US 2006023O360A1
`
`(54) METHOD FOR SELECTING SIGNAL
`SOURCES OF A DISPLAY APPARATUS
`
`(76) Inventors: Jenn-Shoou Young, Miao-Li County
`(TW); Weimin Tseng, Miao-Li County
`(TW)
`
`Correspondence Address:
`J.C. Patents, Inc.
`Suite 250
`4 Venture
`Irvine, CA 92.618 (US)
`
`(21) Appl. No.:
`(22) Filed:
`
`11/323,145
`Dec. 29, 2005
`
`(30)
`
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`
`Apr. 8, 2005 (TW)........................................... 941 11102
`
`Publication Classification
`
`(51) Int. Cl.
`(2006.01)
`G06F 3/00
`(2006.01)
`G06F 9/00
`(2006.01)
`G06F 7/00
`(2006.01)
`G06F 3/00
`(2006.01)
`H04N 5/445
`(52) U.S. Cl. ............................ 715/781; 725/37; 715/828:
`71.5/829
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A method for selecting signal Sources of a display apparatus
`is provided. The method comprises the steps, which is
`following as providing a plurality of windows for a menu,
`displaying the image content of a plurality of signal Sources
`of the display apparatus via the windows, and selecting one
`of the foregoing signal Sources.
`
`Dispose windows
`
`Display image Contents Ond
`statuses of the signal Sources
`
`301
`
`302
`
`Move the CurSOr to 0 window
`displaying O signo SOUrce
`
`303
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Select the son SOUCC
`
`304
`
`
`
`Roku EX1020
`U.S. Patent No. 10,334,311
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Oct. 12, 2006 Sheet 1 of 2
`
`US 2006/0230360 A1
`
`101
`
`102
`
`Component 1
`Component 2
`HDM 1
`HDMI 2
`Composite
`S-Video 1
`S-Video 2
`Computer
`
`FIG. 1 (PRIOR ART)
`
`
`
`Analog TV
`
`Component 1
`
`Component 2
`
`GA
`Digital TV
`
`CA Not Connected
`HDM 1
`HDMI 2
`
`
`
`No Signol CA CA CA
`Composite
`S-Video 1
`S-Video 2 | Computer
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`201
`
`202
`
`FIG. 2
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Oct. 12, 2006 Sheet 2 of 2
`
`US 2006/0230360 A1
`
`
`
`
`
`Dispose windows
`
`301
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Display image Contents Ond
`stotuses of the signal Sources
`
`
`
`Move the CurSOr to 0 window
`displaying O signal Source
`
`Select the sonal source
`
`
`
`302
`
`303
`
`304
`
`FIG 3
`
`

`

`US 2006/0230360 A1
`
`Oct. 12, 2006
`
`METHOD FOR SELECTING SIGNAL SOURCES
`OF A DISPLAY APPARATUS
`
`CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATION
`0001. This application claims the priority benefit of Tai
`wan application serial no. 94111102, filed on Apr 08, 2005.
`All disclosure of the Taiwan application is incorporated
`herein by reference.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`0002) 1. Field of the Invention
`0003. The present invention relates to a method for
`selecting signal sources of a display apparatus, and particu
`larly to a method for selecting signal sources, which
`employs a plurality of windows to display image contents
`and statuses of the signal sources.
`0004 2. Description of Related Art
`0005 Nowadays, conventional analog televisions (TVs)
`are being gradually replaced by digital TVs. Newly devel
`oped digital TVs are usually equipped with multiple input
`terminals in order to adapt for the more and more compli
`cated and diversified functions thereof and standards of
`video/audio. Currently, a TV usually displays a menu 101
`(shown as FIG. 1) on the on-screen display (OSD), thereby
`users can select one of the input terminals via the menu 101
`to receive a signal for displaying an image.
`0006. As shown in FIG. 1, the TV has ten input terminals
`displayed on the and menu 101 and distributed from top to
`bottom, being respectively Analog TV, Digital TV, Compo
`nent 1, Component 2, HDMI (High Definition Multimedia
`Interface) 1, HDMI 2, Composite, S-Video (Separate Video)
`1, S-Video 2 and Computer. The users move cursor 102 up
`and down to select input terminal. As shown in FIG. 1, the
`cursor 102 is located at the position of Digital TV input
`terminal.
`0007. In addition to the above-described menu, a remote
`control of the TV provides key-presses for the users to select
`input terminals. The simplest way to do so is Switching the
`input terminals one by one by pressing a single key-press.
`The better equipped TVs often provide a plurality of key
`presses for Switching among different input terminals, for
`example, providing a TV key-press for selecting conven
`tional TV signal input terminal, an HDMI key-press for
`switching among several HDMI input terminals, and a PC
`key-press for selecting an input terminal for a personal
`computer.
`0008 However, the above-described methods have a
`variety of shortcomings. Instead of previewing the image
`contents of each terminal, the users often have to switch
`among many input terminals one by one to find out what
`they want. Also, the more input terminals, the more time the
`users need to find out what they want. Unfortunately, the
`quantity of input terminals of the TV is increasing genera
`tion by generation and Such problem is more and more
`obvious.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`0009. An object of the present invention is to provide a
`method for selecting signal Sources of a display apparatus,
`
`which allows users to preview image contents and statuses
`of every signal source Such as input terminals and program
`channels to quickly find the correct signal Source.
`0010 Another object of the present invention is to pro
`vide a method for selecting signal sources of a display
`apparatus, thereby the key-presses of the remote control of
`the display apparatus for Switching the signal sources can be
`reduced or even omitted and therefore the remote control
`can be slimmer and handier.
`0011 For achieving the foregoing objects and others, the
`present invention provides a method for selecting signal
`Sources of a display apparatus, including steps, which are
`providing a plurality of windows for a menu, displaying
`image contents of a plurality of signal sources of a display
`apparatus via the windows, and selecting one of the signal
`Sources. The present invention employs a plurality of win
`dows for displaying the image contents and statues of the
`signal sources such as input terminals and program chan
`nels, which allow the users to preview before selecting
`signal sources. Furthermore, the display apparatus can be set
`as automatically skipping over the signal sources of certain
`statues such as No Signals or Shut Off in order to rapidly
`select suitable signal source when selecting the signal
`Sources. Moreover, instead of Switching the signal Sources
`one by one, only moving the cursor can select signal sources,
`and therefore the key-presses of the remote control of the
`display apparatus for Switching the signals sources can be
`reduced or even omitted. The remote control can be slimmer
`and handier.
`0012. The accompanying drawings are included to pro
`vide a further understanding of the invention, and are
`incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification.
`The drawings illustrate embodiments of the invention and,
`together with the description, serve to explain the principles
`of the invention.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`0013 FIG. 1 is a conventional menu for selecting signal
`SOUCS.
`0014 FIG. 2 is a menu for selecting signal sources of a
`display apparatus according to an embodiment of the present
`invention.
`0.015 FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a method for
`selecting signal sources of a display apparatus according to
`an embodiment of the present invention.
`
`DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENTS
`0016 Referring to FIG. 2, a menu 201 is for selecting
`signal sources of a display apparatus, for example, a digital
`television (TV) or a projector etc., according to an embodi
`ment of the present invention. The menu 201 is displayed on
`an on-screen display (OSD). Referring to FIG. 2 and FIG.
`1, the menu 201 has ten input terminals the same as the menu
`101 of FIG.1. However, the menu 201 has ten windows 202
`for displaying image contents of the ten signal Sources. For
`the purpose of being easy to be identified by a user, the
`windows 202 of the menu 201 also display names of the
`signal sources at the same time. In the present invention, the
`signal sources can be either the input terminals of a display
`apparatus or a plurality of program channels received by the
`
`

`

`US 2006/0230360 A1
`
`Oct. 12, 2006
`
`display apparatus such as channels provided by cable TV
`service Suppliers. The image contents of the signal sources
`can be either instant extracted Static images, namely Snap
`shots, or real-time motion images. In the embodiment, the
`menu 201 displays all the signal sources in a single page,
`each window displaying the image content of only one
`signal source. The image content is symbolized as circles
`and triangles.
`0017. The menu 201 displays not only the image contents
`of the signal Sources but also statuses thereof, for example,
`a second high definition multimedia interface (HDMI 2)
`being at a status of Not Connected and a composite being at
`a status of No Signal. In the embodiment, the statuses of the
`signal sources include Signal On (being able to play), No
`Signal (no signal received). Not Connected (no connection
`with the corresponding input terminal), Connection Failure
`(failure occurred in the connection between input device and
`input terminals), Input Device Failure and Shut Off (to be
`illustrated later).
`0018. The users have several ways for selecting signal
`Sources, such as selecting with corresponding key-presses,
`numbering the signals sources and selecting the signals
`Sources according to the numbers, or selecting by moving a
`cursor. The selecting ways can be applied on either the
`display apparatus or a remote control. A moving mode of the
`cursor for selecting signal sources is not limited. It can be a
`one-dimensional right-and-left moving or a two-dimen
`sional up-and-down and right-and-left moving.
`0019. The windows 202 of the menu 201 are usually
`disposed in a two-dimensional matrix format. In order to
`speed up a movement of the cursor in the matrix and
`therefore speed up a process of selecting signal Sources, a
`leftmost column and a rightmost column can be disposed
`next to each other, and an upmost row and a downmost row
`are next to each other. In other words, moving left the cursor
`at the leftmost window of a row leads the cursor to the
`rightmost window of the same row, and moving right the
`cursor at the rightmost window of a row leads the cursor to
`the leftmost window of the same row. Also, moving up the
`cursor at the upmost window of a column leads the cursor to
`the downmost window of the same column, and moving
`down the cursor at the downmost window of a column leads
`the cursor to the upmost window of the same column.
`0020 Selecting the signal sources by moving the cursor
`or Switching in turn, the signal Sources at certain statuses can
`be automatically skipped over for further speeding up the
`process of selecting. For example, the users set needless
`signal sources as a Shut Off status, then the certain signal
`Sources are skipped over during selecting. More generally,
`the users preset a status set comprising at least one status,
`and the signal sources of the statuses included in the status
`set can be skipped over during selecting signals sources. For
`example, the status set consists of the statuses of No Signal
`and Not Connected, the signal sources of the statuses of No
`Signal and Not Connected can be skipped over during
`selecting signal sources. The above-described Shut Off of
`the signal sources and the status set can be set via the display
`apparatus or a remote control.
`0021
`FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a method for
`selecting signal sources of a display apparatus according to
`the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the method comprising
`the following steps. First, at a step 301, dispose a plurality
`
`of windows to a menu. This menu having the windows is
`opened by pressing a key of a remote control or the display
`apparatus. And then at a step 302, the image contents and the
`statuses of the signal sources display via the windows. At a
`step 303, the cursor moves to one of the windows. Finally,
`at a step 304, the signal source corresponding to the window
`indicated by the cursor is selected.
`0022. The present invention is not limited to the forego
`ing statuses of signal sources. In other embodiments, if the
`display apparatus has a stronger status detecting ability,
`more statuses of signal sources can be displayed within the
`menu, including a status of a head-end apparatus and a
`signal quality provided by cable TV service Suppliers. Also,
`more kinds of the statuses can be set as automatic skipping.
`0023 The menu 201 displays all the signal sources in a
`single page, however, it is not considered as a limitation of
`the present invention. In another embodiment, the menu
`displays all the signal Sources with a plurality of pages, the
`pages having a double-layer structure. In this embodiment,
`the pages of the menu include a main page and a plurality of
`Sub-pages, and the main page and the Sub-page respectively
`include a plurality of windows. There is a one-to-one
`correspondence between the windows of the main page and
`the Sub-pages. Each window of the main page displays all
`the image contents of the signal sources of the correspond
`ing Sub-pages. The user selects a window of the main page
`leading to the corresponding Sub-page. Each window of the
`Sub-page displays only one signal source for the selecting by
`USCS.
`0024. The foregoing double-layer structure can also be
`extended to a multi-layer structure, in which the Sub-pages
`have further lower layer sub-pages. However, in the lowest
`layer Sub-pages, one window displays only one signal
`Source for the convenient selecting by the user. The image
`contents of the signal sources of the Sub-pages can be
`displayed simultaneously via a method of dividing windows.
`Alternatively, the image contents of the signal sources of the
`Sub-pages can be displayed in turn via a method of dividing
`times. The above-mentioned methods may be employed for
`the upper layer windows to display image contents of a
`plurality of signal Sources.
`0025. In view of the above, the present invention
`employs a plurality of windows for displaying the image
`contents and the statues of the signal sources, which allows
`the users to preview before selecting signal Sources. Fur
`thermore, the display can be set as automatically skipping
`over the signal sources of certain statues in order to rapidly
`select the wanted signal Source when selecting the signal
`Sources. Moreover, instead of Switching the signal Sources
`one by one, simply moving the cursor can select signal
`Sources, and therefore the key-presses of the remote control
`of the display for Switching the signal Sources can be
`reduced or even omitted and the remote control can be
`slimmer and handier.
`0026. Other modifications and adaptations of the above
`described preferred embodiments of the present invention
`may be made to meet particular requirements. This disclo
`sure is intended to exemplify the invention without limiting
`its scope. All modifications that incorporate the invention
`disclosed in the preferred embodiment are to be construed as
`coming within the scope of the appended claims or the range
`of equivalents to which the claims are entitled.
`
`

`

`US 2006/0230360 A1
`
`Oct. 12, 2006
`
`What is claimed is:
`1. A method for selecting signal Sources of a display
`apparatus, comprising:
`disposing a plurality of windows in a menu:
`displaying image contents of a plurality of signal sources
`of said display apparatus via said windows; and
`Selecting one of said signal Sources.
`2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said signal
`Sources comprise input terminals of said display apparatus
`and program channels received by said display apparatus.
`3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said image
`contents comprise instantly extracted Static images and
`real-time motion images.
`4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising
`displaying statuses of said signal Sources via said windows.
`5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the statuses
`of said signal Sources comprise Signal On, No Signal. Not
`Connected, Connection Failure, Input Device Failure and
`Shut Off.
`6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising:
`setting a signal Source as Shut Off and
`automatically skipping over said signal source as Shut Off
`when selecting signal Sources.
`7. The method according to claim 5, further comprising:
`automatically skipping over signal sources comprising
`statuses belonged to a set of statuses when selecting
`signal sources, said set of statuses comprising at least
`one of the statues comprising No Signal. Not Con
`nected, Connection Failure. Input Device Failure and
`Shut Off.
`8. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of
`selecting one of said signal sources further comprises:
`moving a cursor to one of said windows displaying signal
`Sources; and
`Selecting said signal source corresponding to said window
`indicated by said cursor.
`9. The method according to claim 8, wherein said cursor
`moves in directions of up, down, left and right.
`
`10. The method according to claim 9 further comprising:
`moving left said cursor at a leftmost window of a row
`leads said cursor to a rightmost window of said same
`row;
`moving right said cursor at a rightmost window of a row
`leads said cursor to a leftmost window of said same
`row;
`moving up said cursor at an upmost window of a column
`leads said cursor to a downmost window of said same
`column; and
`moving down said cursor at a downmost window of a
`column leads said cursor to an upmost window of said
`same column.
`11. The method according to claim 1, wherein said menu
`displays all said signal sources in a single page.
`12. The method according to claim 1, wherein said menu
`displays all said signal sources in a plurality of pages.
`13. The method according to claim 12, wherein said pages
`of said menu comprise a main page and a plurality of
`Sub-pages, each of said main page and said Sub-pages
`respectively comprising a plurality of windows, there being
`a one-to-one correspondence between said windows of said
`main page and said Sub-pages, in that every window of said
`main page displays all said image contents of said signal
`Sources of said corresponding Sub-page, wherefrom select
`ing a window of said main page leads to said corresponding
`Sub-page for selecting a signal source of said Sub-page.
`14. The method according to claim 1, wherein each of said
`windows displays said image content of one signal source.
`15. The method according to claim 1, wherein each of said
`windows displays said image contents of a plurality of signal
`SOUCS.
`16. The method according to claim 1, wherein each of said
`windows displays said image contents of said plurality of
`signal sources simultaneously via a method of dividing
`windows.
`17. The method according to claim 1, wherein each of said
`windows displays said image contents of said plurality of
`signal sources in turn via a method of dividing times.
`18. The method according to claim 1, wherein said menu
`is on the on-screen display of said display apparatus.
`
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