Patent Application
20100013998
The present invention relates generally to televisions and, more particularly, to an intelligent task based user interface for televisions.
The capabilities and features of televisions continue to expand and improve. Many televisions include features and capabilities that allow a user or operator to fine tune picture and audio performance, device setup and the like in order to provide the highest quality presentation for a given viewing environment and content to be viewed. As these capabilities become more affordable, more and more consumers will seek a true theater experience with a complete compliment of audio-video components forming their entertainment system. Such systems, however, tend to be complicated to control and operate.
The consumer electronic control (CEC) standard has been implemented in an effort to simplify the control of the system components. Universal remote control unit manufacturers have attempted to take advantage of the features available with CEC compliant components by developing a task or activity based user interface that enables the user to succeed in proceeding with a task or activity such as, e.g., “watch a DVD”, by pressing a single button on the remote, which causes the DVD, television and audio-video receiver to turn-on, perform necessary input switching, and play the DVD program video on the television screen and output the sound over the system's loud speakers. Such remote control units must be synched to a computer and then programmed for the first time to control each component in the entertainment system. However, each time a new component is added to the system, the remote control unit must be again synched to a computer and then programmed to control the new device. This process is not only inconvenient to the user, but it is often fraught with problems.
Embodiments described herein are directed to improved systems and methods that facilitate the implementation of an activities or tasks based user interface displayable on a display screen of a television and/or remote control unit. As provided in the embodiments described herein, the embodiments utilize the device auto detect mechanisms incorporated in HDMI 1.3 (CEC) and 1394 compliant televisions and other audio-video components to provide a user interface within the OSD of the television and/or the remote control unit providing activities or task-based control. For example, when the user connects, e.g., a DVD player with HDMI CEC support, the television will automatically detect the device as a DVD player and provide a direct feature in the user interface called “Watch DVD” or “Play DVD”. No other manual configuration is necessary.
A two-way RF interface such as, e.g., Zigbee or Z-Wave, can be used to transmit the same user interface functionality from the television to the remote.
Other objects, systems, methods, features, and advantages of the invention will be or will become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of this invention, and be protected by the accompanying claims. It will be understood that the particular methods and apparatus are shown by way of illustration only and not as limitations. As will be understood by those skilled in the art, the principles and features explained herein may be employed in various and numerous embodiments.
The details of the invention, both as to its structure and operation, may be gleaned in part by study of the accompanying figures, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts. The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. Moreover, all illustrations are intended to convey concepts, where relative sizes, shapes and other detailed attributes may be illustrated schematically rather than literally or precisely.
It should be noted that elements of similar structures or functions are generally represented by like reference numerals for illustrative purpose throughout the figures. It should also be noted that the figures are only intended to facilitate the description of the preferred embodiments.
Embodiments described herein are directed to improved methods and systems for the implementation of a task or activities based user interface displayable within an on screen display (OSD) of a television and/or a remote control unit. As provided in the embodiments described herein, the embodiments utilize the device auto detect mechanisms incorporated in HDMI 1.3 (CEC) and 1394 compliant televisions and other audio-video components to provide a user interface displayable within the OSD of the television and/or the remote control unit providing activities or tasks based control. For example, when the user connects, e.g., a DVD player with HDMI CEC support, the television will automatically detect the device as a DVD player and provide a direct feature in the user interface called “Watch DVD” or “Play DVD”. No other manual configuration is necessary. A two-way RF interface such as, e.g., Zigbee or Z-Wave, can be used to transmit the same user interface functionality from the television to the remote.
Turning to the figures, the embodiments provided herein are described in detail. A typical television 10, as depicted in
Also housed within the enclosure 11 is an image display system 32, such as a projection system or the like, coupled to the screen 34, and an on screen display (OSD) controller 30 coupled to the CPU 20 and the image display system 32. The OSD 30 controls what is displayed on the screen 34.
The television system 10 preferably further includes a remote control device 40 wirelessly coupled to the television 10 to operate and control the television. As discussed in greater detail below, the remote control device 40 includes a display screen 44 and a function keypad 42. The remote control device 40 can send infra red (IR) signals, radio frequency (RF) signals or the like that are received by a receiver 28 housed in the enclosure 11 of the television 10 and coupled to the CPU 20. The remote control device 40 preferably sends and receives radio frequency (RF) signals to and from the television system 10 in which the receiver 28 is an RF transmitter-receiver. The televisions system 10 can also be controlled through the use of buttons positioned on a control panel (not shown) located on the enclosure 11 and coupled to the CPU 20.
The television system 10 also preferably includes multiple input ports including HDMI ports 12, 1394 ports 14, component ports 16 and RCA ports 18 coupled to OSD controller 30. The HDMI ports 12 and 1394 ports 14 are preferably coupled to the CPU 20 over a bidirectional bus to allow the control commands form HDMI(CEC) and 1394 to flow to and from the connected devices. As depicted, HDMI compliant components such as, e.g., a DVD 50, an MP3 52 and a DVR 54, and 1394 compliant components such as, e.g., a SAT 58 and a VCR 56, are coupled to the HDMI ports 12 and 1394 ports 14 over bi-directional cables.
Turning to
As shown in
The setup process 100, as depicted in
In operation, a task or activity such as “Play DVD” can be accomplished by making the selection of the task or activity from the user interface on the display of the television or remote. Once the selection is made, the DVD, television and audio-video receiver are caused to turn-on if not already on and perform the necessary input switching to play the DVD program video on the television screen and output the audio over the system's loud speakers.
The particular examples set forth herein are instructional and should not be interpreted as limitations on the applications to which those of ordinary skill are able to apply this device. Modifications and other uses are available to those skilled in the art which are encompassed within the spirit of the invention as defined by the scope of the following claims.
