The following descriptions are more detailed descriptions of the first embodiment As shown in
When the viewer wants to read a program schedule of the first source or the second source, the viewer inputs an instruction via the remote controller 211. The instruction is converted to a wireless signal which is received by the remote receiver 213. The control processor 225 controls the first interface 229 or the second interface 231 to transmit the corresponding EPG to the display 207 in response to the instruction. The viewer may read the program schedule thereby.
For example, if the viewer wants to read the program schedule of the second source, the EPG of the second source is shown on the display 207. After reading the program schedule, the viewer selects one of the programs and sets a predetermined period of time to remind himself or herself of the schedule of the desired program. The predetermined period of time also corresponds to a period of time before the desired program starts. Thus, the viewer may set the predetermined period of time as, for example, 10, 5, or 3 minutes. A visual message will be shown on the display 207, when the time comes, to remind the viewer.
After receiving an instruction for setting the predetermined period of time, the remote receiver 213 passes it to the control processor 225. The control processor 225 then stores the information in the memory 221. In addition to the schedule of the second source, the memory 221 also stores the predetermined period of time, wherein the schedule of the second source comprises the schedule of the desired program. It is noted that this embodiment may alternatively support a manual input to store the schedule of the desired program via the remote controller 211.
Thereafter, the control processor 225 compares the schedule of the desired program with the predetermined period of time based on the time generated by the time provider 223. When the time is close to the schedule around the predetermined period of time, the control processor 225 generates a control signal and sends it to the second interface 231. The second interface 231 outputs the desired program to the second screen 205 in response to the control signal. Meanwhile, the first screen 203 is displaying a program of the first source. For example, if the desired program will start at 8:00 PM and the predetermined period of time is set as 10 minutes, the desired program will be displayed on the second screen 205 at 7:50 PM to remind the viewer while the viewer is watching the program of the first source on the first screen 203.
In this embodiment, a second reminder is used. The second reminder of the desired program is illustrated via a visual message as well. More particularly, the second reminder is texture information displayed in an on screen display (OSD) format, wherein the texture information may comprise the remaining time until the beginning of the desired program or the title of the desired program. When the time is close to the schedule around the predetermined period of time, the control processor 225 transmits a signal to the OSD device 227. The signal carries the above-mentioned texture information. The OSD device 227 then transmits the texture information to the display 207 which displays the texture information in an OSD format. The OSD can be arranged at any position of the first screen 203 or the second screen 205.
In this embodiment, a third reminder is used. When the time is close to the schedule around the predetermined period of time, the control processor 225 also sends a signal to the third interface 233. The third interface 233 generates an audio signal to a speaker 235 in response to the signal. The speaker 235 plays a sound to remind the viewer thereby.
In the first embodiment, the first source does not have to be limited to a digital TV source. For example, the first source may be derived from a multimedia player, such as a VCD player and a DVD player.
A second embodiment of the present invention is a method, while displaying a first source, for reminding viewers of a schedule of a second source on a display with a first screen and second screen. The method is adapted for a TV receiver, as noted in the first embodiment. In addition, in this second embodiment, both the first source and the second source are digital TV sources.
The method may further comprise the step of providing a clock generator or a timing receiving device to provide time in step 603.
In addition to the steps shown in
A third embodiment of the present invention is a TV receiver, which is capable of being applied in the display system recited in the first embodiment. In contrast to the first embodiment, the first interface of the third embodiment stops outputting the first source to the first screen in response to the control signal when the time comes. Then the first interface starts to output the second source to the first screen. The second interface outputs the first source to the second screen in response to the control signal when the time comes so that the viewer is reminded of the program of the second source on the first screen and is able to keep watching the program of the first source on the second screen.
A fourth embodiment of the present invention is a method, while displaying a first source, for reminding viewers of a schedule of a second source on a display with a first screen and second screen. This method is adapted for a TV receiver, as noted in the third embodiment. In contrast to the second embodiment, step 611 is replaced in the fourth embodiment with the steps of stopping outputting the first source to the first screen in response to the control signal, outputting the second source to the first screen, and outputting the first source to the second screen.
In addition to the recited steps, the fourth embodiment is able to execute all of the operations or functions noted in the third embodiment.
The present invention provides a solution to visually reminding viewers of approaching TV programs so that the viewers will not miss the desired television programs.
The above disclosure is related to the detailed technical contents and inventive features thereof People skilled in this field may proceed with a variety of modifications and replacements based on the disclosures and suggestions of the invention as described without departing from the characteristics thereof Nevertheless, although such modifications and replacements are not fully disclosed in the above descriptions, they have substantially been covered in the following claims as appended.