WO1999014948A1

WO1999014948A1 - Multistandard tv output selector for electronics device

Info

Publication number: WO1999014948A1
Application number: PCT/US1998/018101
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jonathan Kagle; Brian Moran
Original assignee: Microsoft Corporation
Priority date: 1997-09-18
Filing date: 1998-09-01
Publication date: 1999-03-25

Abstract

A video standard selector enables a consumer to configure a consumer electronics device to output video data to a display (e.g., television) using a compatible video transmission standard that is appropriate for the display. The video standard selector sequences through a set of video transmission standards. The display depicts images using the different standards. When a compatible video transmission standard is used, the display shows the images in a visually acceptable form. When the viewer perceives the images as visually acceptable, the viewer activates an input mechanism (e.g., keyboard, mouse, remote control handset, joystick, etc.) to generate a viewer-feedback signal. In response to the viewer-feedback signal, the video standard selector identifies the video transmission standard that is presently selected as being the compatible video transmission standard. The video standard selector then configures the electronics device to utilize the identified video transmission standard to output all future video signals.

Description

MU TTSTANDARD TV OUTPUT SELECTOR FOR FXECTRONTCS DEVICE

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to consumer electronics devices used with televisions. More particularly, this invention relates to systems and methods for selecting an appropriate video transmission standard to output video data to a television.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Conventional broadcast television signals are formatted for broadcast or cable distribution according to a video transmission standard. Televisions are equipped with circuitry that is compatible to the video transmission standard to convert the television signals into individual television frames.

Unfortunately, there are several incompatible video broadcast transmission standards that are supported by various countries. In North America, for instance, the broadcast television transmission standard is NTSC (North American Television Standard Committee). Other broadcast transmission standards include NTSC-J, PAL, PAL-M, and SECAM. These standards can be sent via the airwaves, cable television, or a non-broadcast connection, such as composite or S-Video inputs. Due to this incompatibility, a television that is configured according to one standard cannot properly display a television signal that is formatted in a different standard. Put another way, a television that is configured to display television signals in the United States would merely display unrecognizable noise (akin to the appearance of a scrambled cable channel), if transported and used in Europe.

Incompatible standards present a problem for manufacturers of consumer electronics devices (such as video games, computers, or DVD players) that must display images on television sets built to these incompatible standards. Consumer electronics devices sold into various regions of the world must be configured according to different standards. Yet, apart from this configuration difference, the devices are otherwise identical.

Consumer electronics manufacturers typically address this problem in one of three ways. One way is to simply set the device to a single transmission standard at the factory prior to sale and shipment. The second way is to provide a user- accessible switch, which the customer must manually set to the standard for his or her country before the item is used. The third way is to provide some kind of onscreen configuration sequence via an initial setup routine or a graphical-based help window that the viewer can use to find the appropriate standard. The second technique, however, requires the viewer to use an already working video display to depict the setup instructions used to initialize the television. Without the separate display, the instructions appear on the television being configured as garbled noise that is indecipherable to the viewer.

Ideally, the electronics manufacturers would like to ship one device that works on television sets anywhere in the world, without having to configure each set for the regional broadcast transmission standard. Perhaps more ideally would be to establish one international standard, but this is not likely in the near horizon, thereby leaving a problem that needs addressing.

Computer manufacturers are beginning to ship personal computers that are designed to display their output on television screens, rather than (or in addition to) high-resolution monitors. Computer manufacturers would like to ship the same computer and software throughout the world without having to specially configure each item for its destination's video standard. Unfortunately, the computer manufacturers are running into the same incompatible standards problem that is facing all of the consumer electronics industry. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention concerns technology that enables a consumer to configure an electronics device to send data to a visual display (such as a television) using a video transmission standard that is compatible for the display. Televisions are configured to accept video data according to a predefined transmission standard, typically dictated by geographical location. The electronics device implements a video standard selector to sequence through a set of possible video transmission standards one at a time. The device outputs video data to the television using the different standards. When a compatible video transmission standard is invoked, the television produces images that appear in a visually acceptable form. When an incompatible standard is used, the television depicts indecipherable images that are not acceptable to the viewer.

The electronics device includes an input mechanism (e.g., keyboard, mouse, remote control handset, joystick, etc.). When the viewer perceives the images as visually acceptable, the viewer activates the input mechanism to generate a viewer- feedback signal. In response to this signal, the video standard selector identifies the video transmission standard that is presently selected as being the compatible video transmission standard appropriate for depiction of the images from the video signals. The video standard selector then configures the display to utilize the identified video transmission standard to convert all future video signals.

The video standard selector can be implemented in many different ways. For example, the video standard selector might be implemented in software or firmware. The video standard selector might be incorporated into a television set, a set-top box, a computer, a video game console, or the like. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of a display system.

Fig. 2 is a flow diagram showing steps in a method for selecting a video transmission standard.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Fig. 1 shows a display system 20 constructed according to one exemplary implementation of this invention. The display unit 20 has a display 22 in the form of a television. The display unit 20 also has a computing unit 24 that controls operation of the television, as well as provides other functionality to the user. The computing unit 24 might be implemented as a circuit component incorporated within the television 22, or into a set-top box that is external to the TV 22, or into a video game console that connects to the TV 22. Alternatively, the computing unit 24 might be implemented as a computer (e.g., a personal desktop computer, a laptop computer, a handheld computer, etc.), which utilizes the TV 22 as the display output.

The computing unit 24 has a processing unit 30 (e.g., a microprocessor), a volatile memory 32 (e.g., RAM), and a non-volatile program memory 34 (e.g., ROM, flash, hard disk drive, floppy disk drive, CD-ROM, etc.). The computing unit 24 is also shown with a video adapter 36. The computing unit 24 can generate and send video signals to the TV 22 via the video adapter 36. Additionally, the computing unit 24 might also be configured to receive incoming video signals from an external source and pass them to the television 22 to output graphical images. Aspects of receiving a video signal and producing video images therefrom are conventional and well understood in the art. These aspects are not described in detail. It is further noted that the video adapter may not be included in the computing unit 24, but may be implemented separately within the television 22. The computing unit 24 has an I/O port 38 to receive data entry from a viewer- input mechanism. Examples of possible viewer-input mechanisms include a mouse 40, a keyboard 42, a handheld remote control 44, and a joystick 46. These mechanisms are provided for example purposes, as there are many other types of input devices, including a trackball, a stylus, and the like.

The television 22 is configured to receive television signals that are formatted according to one of many different video broadcast transmission standards. The region of the world dictates the specific standard. The display unit 20, and namely the computing unit 24, implements a video standard selection system that determines which video transmission standard is appropriate for the television 22.

Generally, the video standard selection system directs the television to sequence through a set of video transmission standards and depict the images using the different standards. When an incompatible standard is used, the images are not acceptable to, nor recognizable by the viewer. Instead the images resemble a scrambled cable channel. When a compatible standard is used, the images on the TV 22 are visually acceptable and recognizable by the viewer. When the viewer sees the proper picture, he/she uses an input mechanism 40-46 to enter a response (e.g., click a mouse button or keyboard key, or depress a button on the remote control or joystick). This viewer feedback signal informs the computing unit that it is using the appropriate standard. From that point on, the computing unit 24 configures the TV 22 or adapter 36 to the appropriate standard for all future video signals.

Fig. 1 shows an example implementation of a video standard selection system implemented in software. The computing unit has an operating system 50 that is stored in program memory 34, loaded into volatile memory 32 when launched, and executed on the processing unit 32. The operating system 50 is preferably a multitasking operating system that allows simultaneous execution of multiple applications. The operating system 50 preferably employs a graphical user interface windowing environment. One preferred operating system is a Windows-based operating system from Microsoft Corporation, such as Windows CE, Windows 95, Windows 98, or other derivative of the Windows operating system. It is noted, however, that the computing unit 24 may be implemented with other types of operating systems.

The operating system 50 has a video standard selector 52 that chooses the compatible transmission standard for the video data format being passed through to the TV 22. The video standard selector 52 maintains a set of video transmission standards 54 (e.g., NTSC, NTSC-J, PAL, PAL-M, SECAM, etc.) in a list or table stored in memory 34. The video standard selector 52, when executing on the processor 30, sequences through the video transmission standards 54 one at a time. When the compatible standard is finally located, as indicated by the viewer feedback, the video standard selector selects the compatible video transmission standard for converting all future video data streams received at the display system 20. Once a standard is selected, the electronics device will most likely not ever need to be reinitialized, unless the computing unit 24 is utilized with a different TV 22 that is configured to a different video transmission standard.

Fig. 2 shows a process implemented in the code of the video standard selector 52 to assist the viewer in finding the appropriate video transmission standard used in the viewer's geographical region. This code is executed when the display system 20 is booted for the very first time. As noted above, the computing unit 24 is equipped with numerous possible video transmission standards 54, which are designated as "S," for i = 1 to N. The video standard selector 52 begins with the first standard S_{ (step 60). For instance, the video standard selector 52 might choose the NTSC standard. The video adapter 36 is enabled to convert the video signals using the first standard S, (i.e., the NTSC standard) and to display a simple message using the first standard S, (step 62 in Fig. 2). The message can be any thing, such as a textual statement like:

Please Press a Key on the Remote Control When

You Can Read This Message.

The message might also be a picture or logo that is clearly identifiable when the proper standard is selected. If the first standard S, is not compatible, the message will not be readable or even recognizable. The viewer will determine that the image is not visually acceptable and hence will not provide any feedback. At step 64, the video standard selector 52 will determine whether there has been any viewer feedback within a preset time period (e.g., 5-10 seconds). If the time period elapses before any viewer feedback (i.e., the "no" branch from step 64), the video standard selector 52 proceeds to the next video transmission standard S₂ (step 66 in Fig. 2).

The process is repeated until a compatible standard is found and the message is presented in a readable or visually acceptable form. At that point, the viewer will read (or recognize) the message and provide some form of viewer feedback by pressing a button on some input mechanism. The video standard selector 52 receives the viewer feedback (i.e., the "yes" branch from step 64), and selects the current video transmission standard S, as the compatible standard for sending video signals to the TV 22. Once selected, the video adapter 36 22 is configured with the selected video transmission standard. At this point, the initialization procedure might continue to other setup procedures. For instance, the viewer might be taken through a series of menu screens concerning language preference, specific geographical locale, and so forth. These menus will be readily viewable because the display system 20 has already been configured to the appropriate video transmission standard.

The video standard selector has been described in the context of a software component that executes on a processing unit. This is one example implementation.

As an alternative, the video standard selector may be configured as a combination hardware/firmware component (such as a dedicated application specific integrated circuit (ASIC)) that can be incorporated into the display system.

Although the invention has been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological steps, it is to be understood that the invention defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or steps described. Rather, the specific features and steps are disclosed as preferred forms of implementing the claimed invention.

Claims

1. An electronic device for use with a display that depicts displayable images from video signals that are formatted according to a predefined video transmission standard, comprising: a video standard selector to sequence through a set of video transmission standards that includes the predefined video transmission standard and to cause the display to depict the displayable images using different standards within the set so that when the predefined video transmission standard is invoked, the display shows the images produced from the video signals in a visually acceptable form; an input mechanism to generate a viewer- feedback signal in response to activation by a viewer when the viewer perceives the images as visually acceptable; and the video standard selector identifying, in response to the viewer-feedback signal, the video transmission standard that is presently selected as being the predefined video transmission standard appropriate for depiction of the images from the video signals.

2. An electronics device as recited in claim 1, wherein the video standard selector configures the electronics device to utilize the identified video transmission standard to convert all future video signals.

3. A set-top box system incorporating the electronics device as recited in claim 1.

4. A general purpose computing system incorporating the electronics device as recited in claim 1.

5. A video game system incorporating the electronics device as recited in claim 1.

6. An electronics device as recited in claim 1, further comprising a processor and memory, the video standard selector being embodied as computer code stored on the memory and executable on the processor.

7. An electronics device as recited in claim 1, further comprising a processor, memory, and an operating system that is stored in memory and executes on the processor, the video standard selector being implemented as part of the operating system.

8. A video standard selecting unit for use in a system that outputs video data to a visual display for presentation of viewable images, the visual display being configured to receive video data according to a video transmission standard, the video standard selecting unit comprising: a memory to store a set of video transmission standards; and a controller to sequence through the video transmission standards one at a time, the controller enabling the system to output the video data using the currently selected video transmission standard so that when an appropriate standard is selected, the visual display presents images that are visually acceptable.

9. A video standard selecting unit as recited in claim 8, wherein the controller provides a message to be shown on the visual display, the message being humanly readable when the appropriate standard is selected.

10. A video standard selecting unit as recited in claim 8, wherein the controller selects the appropriate video transmission standard is response to input from a viewer when the viewer confirms that the images are visually perceptible.

11. A computer incorporating the video standard selecting unit as recited in claim 8.

12. A set-top box incorporating the video standard selecting unit as recited in claim 8.

13. A video game console incorporating the video standard selecting unit as recited in claim 8.

14. A video standard selecting module embodied on a computer- readable medium for use in a system that outputs video data to a visual display for presentation of viewable images, the video standard selecting module comprising: code means for sequencing through a set of video transmission standards one at a time, whereby the system outputs the video data to the display using a currently selected video transmission standard; and code means for selecting a particular video transmission standard from the set in response to input from a viewer when the viewer recognizes the images as visually perceptible, the selected video transmission standard being implemented by the system to output future video data streams into the display images.

15. A video standard selecting module as recited in claim 14, further comprising code means for providing a message to be shown on the visual display, the message being humanly readable when an appropriate one of the video transmission standards is selected.

16. A computer incorporating the video standard selecting module as recited in claim 14.

17. A set- top box incorporating the video standard selecting module as recited in claim 14.

18. A video game console incorporating the video standard selecting module as recited in claim 14.

19. An operating system embodied on a computer-readable medium comprising the video standard selecting module as recited in claim 14.

20. An operating system embodied on a computer-readable medium, the operating system being configured for use in a system that outputs video data to a visual display for presentation of viewable images, the operating system being operable in an initialization mode to sequence through a set of video transmission standards one at a time whereby a currently selected video transmission standard is passed to the system to output the video data according to the selected video transmission standard, the operating system selecting a particular video transmission standard in response to input from a viewer when the viewer recognizes the images as visually perceptible.

21. A computer incorporating the operating system as recited in claim

20.

22. A set-top box incorporating the operating system as recited in claim

20.

23. A video game console incorporating the operating system as recited in claim 20.

24. A method for initializing a unit to supply video data to a visual display, the method comprising the following steps: sequencing through a set of video transmission standards one at a time; outputting the video data to the display using the video transmission standard that is currently selected from the set, the display presenting images from the video data; selecting one of the video transmission standards in response to input from a viewer when the viewer recognizes the images as visually perceptible

25. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the steps in the method as recited in claim 24.