KR20060133416A - Method and apparatus for user interface of tv - Google Patents

Abstract

An apparatus and a method for a user interface of a TV are provided to offer a preview function about a next step of a screen, which a user currently selects, when displaying sub-items belonging to a home menu, thereby dispelling user's misgivings when the screen is changed and enabling a user to receive the easier user interface. An apparatus for a user interface of a TV(Television) comprises the followings: an image processing unit(100) for processing an image signal; a storage unit(200) for storing a main image, a preview image, and a user menu; a first format converting unit(112) for displaying the main image on a main screen; a second format converting unit(122) for displaying the preview image on a preview screen; and a user menu processing unit(500) for processing the user menu.

Description

TV user interface device and method {Method and Apparatus for user interface of TV}

1 is a block diagram schematically showing a user interface device of a TV according to the present invention.

Figure 2 is a first embodiment using a user interface device of the TV according to the present invention

Figure 3 is a second embodiment using a user interface device of the TV according to the present invention

Figure 4 is a third embodiment using a user interface device of the TV according to the present invention

5 is a flowchart illustrating a user interface method of a TV according to the present invention.

Figure 6 is a first embodiment using the user interface method of the TV according to the present invention

Figure 7 is a second embodiment using the user interface method of the TV according to the present invention

8 is a third embodiment using a user interface method of a TV according to the present invention.

9 is a fourth embodiment using a user interface method of a TV according to the present invention.

10 is a fifth embodiment using a user interface method of a TV according to the present invention.

11 is a sixth embodiment using a user interface method of a TV according to the present invention.

12 is a seventh embodiment using a user interface method of a TV according to the present invention.

13 is an eighth embodiment using a user interface method of a TV according to the present invention.

* Description of the symbols for the main parts of the drawings *

100: image processing means 110: first tuner

112: first video decoder 120: second tuner

122: second video decoder 200: storage means

300: first format conversion means 400: second format conversion means

500: user menu processing means 600: display means

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to televisions, and more particularly, to an apparatus and method for displaying a graphical user interface for displaying a graphical user interface more effectively.

In general, as the display means is transformed into display control elements such as LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) and Plasma Display Panel (PDP), the trend is to integrate TV and monitor functions, and to change to 50-inch and 60-inch large screens. to be.

Due to these changes, TV integrated circuits (ICs) are mainly used for the main CPU of system control, such as TV's inherent functions such as tuning and caption decoders for multiple sound boards. It is also used as a Graphical User Interface (GUI) feature.

 In this case, the GUI means to implement the interface between the user and the computer through the graphic, not the text-oriented screen, and the user interface with the computer is not the graphic but the text and the keyboard, and the inconvenience of having to memorize many commands.

The DOS command line interface with text only on the black screen is an example of a typical user interface before the GUI. The menu-based interface, which can be operated using the mouse instead of the keyboard, is an intermediate user interface between a command-driven interface such as DOS and the GUI.

Most operating systems today support a graphical user interface. Most applications come with the operating system or use their own GUI elements and ideas. What we often call icons is a good example of a GUI.

The GUI figuratively uses one or more objects that are well known in real life, such as the desktop or the view through a window. Elements of the GUI include windows, pull-down menus, buttons, scrollbars, icon images, wizards, and mice.

On the other hand, the TV is also provided with a graphical user interface, the GUI is displayed by the user's command or system needs through a remote control, etc. In this case, since the GUI is displayed as simple text, it does not satisfy the needs of the user.

In other words, assuming that the user selects a particular channel from the GUI of the entire channel displayed in simple text, the user needs help because he does not know the basic information of the selected channel, and the user wants to know even if the text is displayed individually. There is a limit to not satisfying needs.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a user interface display apparatus and method for a TV that implements and effectively displays a user interface device that stimulates and satisfies a user's emotion. To provide.

       In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a user interface apparatus for a TV according to the present invention includes an image processing means for processing an image signal, a main image and a preview image, a storage means for storing a user menu, and displaying the main image on a main screen. And first format converting means, second format converting means for displaying the preview image on the preview screen, and user menu processing means for processing the user menu.

Preferably, the image processing means comprises a plurality of tuners and a plurality of video decoders.

The main image displayed on the main screen is a TV broadcast signal, and the image displayed on the preview screen is a TV broadcast signal or a user menu OSD.

In addition, the main screen represents the total screen area of the display means, and the user menu is composed of a home menu and a submenu of the home menu.

The home menu is composed of a plurality of specific menus, and the specific menu is / simple function / TV viewing / input selection / recording / video / photo * music / multi-screen / detail setting /.

In addition, the preview screen overlaps with the main screen and is displayed on an arbitrary part of the main screen.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of generating a user interface of a television, including: displaying a main image on a main screen; displaying a home menu on one side of the main screen; And displaying a preview image matching the item of the sub-menu.

Preferably, the displaying of the main image comprises tuning a broadcast signal received by a broadcasting station, demultiplexing the tuned broadcast signal into a video and audio additional information signal sequence, and performing the demultiplexed video signal. And decoding the same.

The home menu is in the form of a bar.

In addition, the home menu is made of / convenient functions / TV viewing / input selection / recording * video / photo * music / multi-screen / detail setting /.

When one side where the home menu is generated is displayed at the top or bottom of the main screen or left and right, the configuration of the home menu is shifted left, right, up and down according to one side to be generated.

In addition, the preview image is a broadcast signal image or user OSD information.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a user interface method of a TV according to the present invention, including displaying a main image, displaying a home menu, displaying a submenu when a specific menu of the home menu is selected, and displaying the submenu. A preview image matching the submenu is displayed on the preview screen in the menu.

Hereinafter, an apparatus and method for displaying a graphical user interface of a TV according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a block diagram schematically showing a user interface device of a TV according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, a user interface apparatus of a TV according to the present invention may include an image processing unit 100 for decoding an image signal among received broadcast signals and processing the image signal into a displayable signal and the image processing unit 100. Storage means 200 for storing the main image, the preview image, and a user menu; a first format converting means 300 for converting the main image according to the main screen format of the screen; Second format converting means 400 for converting to a preview screen format, a user menu processing means 500 for processing the user menu according to a user command such as a remote controller, and a display means 600.

The image processing means 100 is composed of a plurality of tuners (110, 120) and a plurality of video decoders (112, 122), the plurality of tuners (110, 120) is a broadcast signal transmitted from a broadcasting station of the user The decoders 112 and 122 decode video signals among the tuned broadcast signals according to a selection.

The storage means 200 is used collectively as a storage medium such as an MPEG memory, a hard disk, an EEPROM, a RAM, a ROM, and stores video / audio data, user registered information, and user OSD menu data.

In the method of generating a user interface using the user interface device of the TV configured as described above, first, the first tuner 110 of the image processing means 100 selects a channel selected by the user using a user key such as a remote controller and the like. When the decoder 112 decodes the first format means 300 to match the main screen format of the display means 600 and displays it on the main screen.

On the one side of the main screen, a home menu is displayed by a user's command, and the home menu is composed of / easy function / TV viewing / input selection / recording / video / photo * music / multi-screen / detail setting / etc. The text and the image are combined to display a bar or an arbitrary shape in the upper, lower, left and right sides of the main screen.

The home menu structure configured as described above is shifted to the top, bottom, left and right according to the display position.

 When the home menu is displayed on the main screen, the user selects a specific menu of the home menu, and displays a submenu of the selected specific menu and a preview image matching the items of the submenu on the preview screen.

For example, when the / TV viewing / menu of the home menu is selected, a broadcasting guide item, a whole channel item, etc., which are submenus of the selected / TV watching / menu, are displayed, and the image or text corresponding to the broadcasting guide item is displayed. To match the preview screen.

That is, in showing sub-items belonging to the home menu, the next step of the screen currently selected by the user is provided with information through the preview screen, so that the screen change can be predicted in advance.

Here, if the preview image matching the item of the sub-menu is a preview image received from a broadcasting station, the preview image is tuned through the second tuner 120 and decoded by the second decoder 122, and the decoded preview image is read. The second format conversion means 400 converts and displays it so as to be displayed on the preview screen of the display means 600.

On the other hand, the OSD image that is already stored in the storage means 200, the preview image matching the item of the lower menu, and displays it on the preview screen.

As described above, the TV user interface device of the present invention is applied through an embodiment according to a user's command.

First embodiment

Figure 2 is a first embodiment showing a user interface device of a TV according to the present invention.

The configuration of the first embodiment includes a user menu processing means 500 for receiving a user command through a remote control which is a user command means, a tuner 120, a demultiplexer 121, and a video decoder 122, wherein the user commands a user command. Using the means, the TV viewing menu is selected from the home menu displayed on one side of the main screen of the display means, and channel 1 is selected from the specific items of the submenu of the TV viewing menu.

Then, the user menu processing means 500 controls this, and the tuner 120 tunes the broadcasting of channel 1 among the signals transmitted from the broadcasting station.

The demultiplexer 121 demultiplexes the transport stream, which is the broadcast signal of the channel 1, into a video, audio, and additional information signal sequence, and decodes the separated video signal. The image is displayed on the preview screen.

Here, the preview screen is displayed on the main screen, and when the user wants to switch channels on the main screen, the user can determine whether to switch channels by obtaining channel 1 information.

Second embodiment

Figure 3 is a second embodiment showing a user interface device of a TV according to the present invention.

The configuration of the second embodiment is composed of a user menu processing means 500 for receiving a user command through a remote control which is a user command means, a ratio converting unit 600, a storage unit 200, a format converting unit 400, The user selects the simple function menu from the home menu displayed on one side of the main screen of the display means by using the user command means and selects the / 4: 3 / item from the sub-menu of the simple function menu.

Then, the user menu processing unit 500 receives and controls a user's command, and the preset preview screen ratio is converted into a 4: 3 ratio selected by the user by the ratio converter 600, and the storage unit When the format conversion unit 400 converts the preview image stored in the 200 to be displayed on the preview screen in 4: 3 ratio, the preview image is displayed.

Third embodiment

4 is a third embodiment of a user interface device of a TV according to the present invention.

The configuration of the third embodiment includes a user menu processing unit 500 for receiving a user command through a remote control which is a user command means, a tuner 120, an OSD processing unit 130, and a storage unit 200. Using the command means, select / record * video / menu from the home menu displayed on one side of the main screen of the display means to select / record list / among submenus of the / record * video / menu.

Then, the user menu processing means 500 receives the user's command and controls it, and the tuner 120 tunes and stores the broadcast of / recording list / in the memory 200 and stores the stored / recording list / When the preview image is displayed on the preview screen and the items of the / recording list / overlaid on the preview screen are drawn by using a user command means, the OSD processing unit 130 controls the storage unit ( The OSD stored in 200 is displayed on the preview screen.

5 is a flowchart illustrating a user interface method of a TV according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 5, when power is first applied to the TV, a main image is displayed on the main screen of the display means (S100 to S110).

Here, the main screen generally refers to a screen corresponding to the total area of the display means.

If the main image is displayed (S110), it is determined whether a user has a home menu display command (S120). If there is a home menu display command of the user, the home menu is displayed on the main screen (S130).

 Here, the home menu is composed of / convenience function / TV viewing / input selection / recording * video / photo * music / multi-screen / detail setting / etc., combining the text and the image (bar) or arbitrary shape The upper, lower, left and right sides of the main screen are displayed.

When a specific menu desired by the user is selected from the displayed home menu (S140), a preview screen and a submenu of the specific menu are displayed (S150).

Subsequently, when a user selects a specific item from the displayed lower menu (S160), a preview image matching the specific item is displayed on the preview screen (S170).

As described above, the TV user interface method of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the following embodiments.

First embodiment

6 is a first embodiment showing an interface method using a user interface device of a TV according to the present invention.

First, when power is applied to the TV, a main image is displayed on the main screen of the display means, and when a user issues a home menu display command using a user command means, a home menu is displayed on the main screen.

Here, the home menu is composed of / convenient function / TV viewing / input selection / recording * video / photo * music / multi-screen / detail setting / etc., by combining text and image bar shape or arbitrary shape The display is overlapped with the upper, lower, left and right sides of the main screen.

The home menu structure is shifted one by one up, down, left and right according to the position of the home menu.

On the other hand, when the / simple function / menu is selected by the user's command in the displayed home menu bar, the preview screen and the sub menu of the / simple menu / are displayed together with the home menu, and the / When / 4: 3 / is selected in the screen size /, the preview screen displays an image in the screen size of the selected item.

In other words, when the user switches the screen size to 4: 3 or 16: 9 using the remote control in the home menu, the preview screen shows how the current TV screen will change.

Second embodiment

7 is a second embodiment showing an interface method using a user interface device of a TV according to the present invention.

First, when power is applied to the TV, a main image is displayed on the main screen of the display means, and when a user issues a home menu display command using a user command means, a home menu is displayed on the main screen.

Here, the home menu is composed of / convenient functions / TV viewing / input selection / recording * video / photo * music / multi-screen / detail setting / etc., combining the text and the image (bar) or arbitrary shape The display is overlapped with the upper, lower, left and right sides of the main screen.

The home menu structure is shifted one by one up, down, left and right according to the position of the home menu.

Meanwhile, when / TV viewing / menu is selected by the user's command in the displayed home menu, the preview screen and the submenu of the / TV viewing / are displayed together with the home menu, and the / broadcast guide / of the displayed submenu is displayed. When selected, the broadcast guide OSD is displayed, or when / 06 channel / is selected in the / All Channels / submenu of the lower menu, the preview screen displays the image of channel 6 corresponding to the selected item.

That is, when the user switches channels using the remote control in the home menu, the selected channel is previewed on the preview screen.

Third embodiment

8 is a third embodiment illustrating an interface method using a user interface device of a TV according to the present invention.

First, when power is applied to the TV, a main image is displayed on the main screen of the display means, and when a user issues a home menu display command using a user command means, a home menu is displayed on the main screen.

Here, the home menu is composed of / convenience function / TV viewing / input selection / recording * video / photo * music / multi-screen / detail setting / etc., combining the text and the image (bar) or arbitrary shape The display is overlapped with the upper, lower, left and right sides of the main screen.

The home menu structure is shifted one by one up, down, left and right according to the position of the home menu.

Meanwhile, when / input selection / menu is selected by the user's command in the displayed home menu, the preview screen and the submenu of / input selection / are displayed together with the home menu, and / video 1 / of the displayed submenu is displayed. If selected, information on the selected menu is displayed on the preview screen.

That is, when a user selects an external input using a remote control in the home menu, a preview screen may be used to determine which device (eg, a video or a game console) is held in each terminal.

Fourth embodiment

9 is a fourth embodiment showing an interface method using a user interface device of a TV according to the present invention.

First, when power is applied to the TV, the main image is displayed on the main screen of the display means, and when the user issues a home menu display command using the user command means, the home menu is displayed on the main screen.

Here, the home menu is composed of / convenience function / TV viewing / input selection / recording * video / photo * music / multi-screen / detail setting / etc., combining the text and the image (bar) or arbitrary shape The display is overlapped with the upper, lower, left and right sides of the main screen.

The home menu structure is shifted one by one up, down, left and right according to the position of the home menu.

Meanwhile, when / recording * video / menu is selected by the user's command in the displayed home menu, the preview screen and the submenu of the / recording * video / are displayed together with the home menu, and the / recording list of the displayed submenu is displayed. When / is selected, the preview screen displays the appearance of the recording list of the selected menu.

That is, when the user selects a list such as a recording list by using a remote controller, the appearance of the list is displayed on the preview screen.

Fifth Embodiment

10 is a fifth embodiment showing an interface method using a user interface device of a TV according to the present invention.

First, when power is applied to the TV, the main image is displayed on the main screen of the display means, and when the user issues a home menu display command using the user command means, the home menu is displayed on the main screen.

Here, the home menu is composed of / convenience function / TV viewing / input selection / recording * video / photo * music / multi-screen / detail setting / etc., combining the text and the image (bar) or arbitrary shape The display is overlapped with the upper, lower, left and right sides of the main screen.

The home menu structure is shifted one by one up, down, left and right according to the position of the home menu.

Meanwhile, when / photo * music / menu is selected by the user's command in the displayed home menu, a preview screen and a submenu of the / photo * music / are displayed together with the home menu, and / photo registration of the displayed submenu. When the HDD / item is selected, the preview screen displays a list of pictures of the selected item.

In other words, when the user selects a list of photo lists, etc. using the remote control, the appearance of the list is previewed on the preview screen.

Sixth embodiment

11 is a sixth embodiment illustrating an interface method using a user interface device of a TV according to the present invention.

First, when power is applied to the TV, a main image is displayed on the main screen of the display means, and when a user issues a home menu display command using a user command means, the home menu is displayed on the main screen.

Here, the home menu is composed of / convenience function / TV viewing / input selection / recording * video / photo * music / multi-screen / detail setting / etc., combining the text and the image (bar) or arbitrary shape The display is overlapped with the upper, lower, left and right sides of the main screen.

The home menu structure is shifted one by one up, down, left and right according to the position of the home menu.

On the other hand, when the / multi screen / menu is selected by the user's command in the displayed home menu, the preview screen and the / multi screen / sub-menu is displayed with the home menu, / screen / item of the displayed sub menu If you select, the selected item is displayed on the preview screen.

In other words, in the home menu, when the user selects the simultaneous screen, channel search, etc. using the remote control, it shows in advance how the large screen will change.

Seventh embodiment

12 is a seventh embodiment showing an interface method using a user interface device of a TV according to the present invention.

First, when power is applied to the TV, a main image is displayed on the main screen of the display means, and when a user issues a home menu display command using a user command means, the home menu is displayed on the main screen.

Here, the home menu is composed of / convenience function / TV viewing / input selection / recording * video / photo * music / multi-screen / detail setting / etc., combining the text and the image (bar) or arbitrary shape The display is overlapped with the upper, lower, left and right sides of the main screen.

The home menu structure is shifted one by one up, down, left and right according to the position of the home menu.

On the other hand, when the / detail setting / menu is selected by the user's command in the displayed home menu, the preview screen and the sub-menu of the / detail setting / are displayed together with the home menu, and the / channel setting / item of the displayed submenu. If is selected, the detailed information of the channel setting is displayed on the preview screen as a setting window on the preview screen.

Eighth embodiment

13 is an eighth embodiment illustrating an interface method using a user interface device of a TV according to the present invention.

First, when power is applied to the TV, a main image is displayed on the main screen of the display means, and when a user issues a home menu display command using a user command means, a home menu is displayed on the main screen.

Here, the home menu is composed of / convenient functions / TV viewing / input selection / recording * video / photo * music / multi-screen / detail setting / etc., combining the text and the image (bar) or arbitrary shape The display is overlapped with the upper, lower, left and right sides of the main screen.

The home menu structure is shifted one by one up, down, left and right according to the position of the home menu.

Meanwhile, when / help / menu is selected by the user's command in the displayed home menu, the preview screen and the submenu of the / help / menu are displayed together with the home menu, and the / self diagnosis / item of the displayed submenu is displayed. The corresponding preview image is displayed on the preview screen.

As described above, the TV user interface apparatus and method according to the present invention have the following effects.

First, in showing the sub-items belonging to the home menu, it provides a preview function for the next step of the screen selected by the current user, thereby eliminating anxiety that the user feels when the screen is switched and providing an easier user interface. There is.

Second, in the trend of changing to 50-inch and 60-inch large screens, you can prepare for a change in the screen.

Third, the user's satisfaction can be improved by stimulating the user's emotion by using the user interface imaged in the past text to use the user interface according to the user's taste.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the technical spirit of the present invention.

Therefore, the technical scope of the present invention should not be limited to the contents described in the examples, but should be defined by the claims.

Claims (17)

Image processing means for processing an image signal; Storage means for storing a main image, a preview image, and a user menu; First format converting means for displaying the main image on a main screen; Second format converting means for displaying the preview image on a preview screen; And a user menu processing means for processing the user menu. The method of claim 1, And said image processing means comprises a plurality of tuners and a plurality of video decoders. The method of claim 1, And a main image displayed on the main screen is a TV broadcast signal. The method of claim 1, And the video displayed on the preview screen is a TV broadcast signal or a user menu OSD. The TV user interface device according to claim 1, wherein the main screen represents an entire screen area of the display means. The method of claim 1, And the user menu comprises a home menu and a submenu of the home menu. The method of claim 6 The user interface device of the TV, characterized in that the home menu is composed of a plurality of specific menu The method of claim 7, wherein The specific menu is a TV user interface device, characterized in that / simple function / TV viewing / input selection / recording * video / photo * music / multi-screen / detail setting /. The method of claim 1, And the preview screen overlaps the main screen and is displayed on an arbitrary portion of the main screen. Displaying a main image on a main screen; Displaying a home menu on one side of the main screen; A TV user interface generating method of displaying a submenu of the displayed home menu and a preview image matching the items of the submenu The method of claim 10, Displaying the main image, Tuning a broadcast signal received at the broadcast station; Demultiplexing the tuned broadcast signal into a video and audio additional information signal sequence; And decoding the demultiplexed video signal. The method of claim 10, The home menu is a bar (bar) characterized in that the user interface generating method of the TV. The method of claim 10, The home menu is a TV user interface creation method, characterized in that consisting of / simple functions / TV viewing / input selection / recording * video / photo * music / multi-screen / detail setting /. The method of claim 10, One side of the home menu is generated, the user interface generating method of the TV, characterized in that the upper or lower or left and right long display of the main screen. The method of claim 10, The configuration of the home menu is shifted left, right, up, down (shift) according to the generated one side of the TV user interface generation method. The method of claim 10, And the preview image is a broadcast signal image or user OSD information. Displaying a main image; Displaying a home menu; Displaying a lower menu when selecting a specific menu of the home menu; The user interface method of the TV, characterized in that the preview image matching the sub-menu is displayed on the preview screen in the sub-menu.

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