WO2001011873A1

WO2001011873A1 - Internet tv

Info

Publication number: WO2001011873A1
Application number: PCT/KR2000/000791
Authority: WO
Inventors: Johney Hwang; Sung-Joo Lee
Original assignee: Gentor.Com Inc.
Priority date: 1999-08-05
Filing date: 2000-07-24
Publication date: 2001-02-15
Also published as: GB2354651B; JP2001094966A; GB2354651A; CN1283925A; GB0018785D0; AU5855000A

Abstract

An Internet TV and its operating method for facilitating the user to easily change the TV channel during looking at the TV channel information in the Web site without any key input and allowing to organize the TV screen and the Web screen into a desired configuration such that the user may watch the TV screen and the Web screen in one screen. The Internet TV includes an Internet part having a central processor unit (CPU) for outputting a channel change command and corresponding channel information, receiving current TV channel information and transmitting the current TV channel information to a Web server, and a storing unit for storing a name of broadcasting station and an actual channel number corresponding to a location of the broadcasting station by control of the CPU; and a TV part having a controller (30) for changing the TV channel according to the channel change command and the corresponding channel information from the CPU, and a remote control signal receiver (29) for receiving a remote control signal and inputting the remote control signal in the controller.

Description

INTERNET TV

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an Internet TV, and more

particularly to apparatus and method for channel linking of an Internet

TV for insuring easy movement to a desired TV channel.

The present invention also relates to an Internet TV in which screen

size and position may be reorganized as desired when linking TV channel

information provided by a Web site with an actual TV channel.

BACKGROUND ART

As the information technology is rapidly developed, the Internet

becomes one of very useful communication means in a real life. For use

of the Internet, a user usually accesses a server with use of an on-line

access device.

Currently, most widely used on-line access device is a personal

computer (PC) and other various devices for accessing the Internet without

the PC are now under development, one of which is the Internet TV.

The Internet TV is a device combining a function of a general TV and

a communication function of the PC, with which the user may watch a TV

program in a TV mode and use the Internet in an Internet mode.

Such Internet TV requests the user to push a corresponding button for changing from the TV mode to the Internet mode or from the Internet

mode to the TV mode. When changing from the TV mode to the Internet

mode for using the Internet function and then changing to the TV mode

again, the Internet TV shows same broadcast channel as one, which is

provided before changing to the Internet mode. Therefore, there is

inconvenience that the user should input a corresponding key for watching

another broadcast channel in the TV mode.

For example, in case that a user, who watched a MBC (Munwha

Broadcasting Center in Korea) program, converts into the Internet mode

for using the Internet and then converts again into the TV mode, the

Internet TV shows the MBC program again to the user. If the user wants

to see a KBS (Korea Broadcasting System in Korea) program during using

the Internet, the user should push a key for changing the channel after

converting into the TV mode.

In addition, the user should look for a newspaper or a magazine to

find the broadcast program information, which is so inconvenient to the

user.

Furthermore, though a general TV is commonly equipped with a PIP

(Picture in Picture) function for displaying a sub- screen in a main screen,

the user may not see an area in the main screen overlapped by the sub-

screen because the sub-screen occupies the area.

Therefore, there is a need for a screen reorganization technique, which improves the PIP function of the general TV, specially applied to the

Internet TV. The screen reorganization technique is directed to the

functions that the user may watch a Web screen and a TV screen at the

same time without any loss of the screens and it is possible to adjust size

and position of the screens.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

The present invention is designed to overcome the above problems

and inconveniences of the prior art. An object of the present invention is

to provide an Internet TV and its operating method, which enables the

user to easily change the TV channel during looking at the TV channel

information in the Web site without any key input, which enables to

organize the TV screen and the Web screen into a desired configuration

such that the user may watch the TV screen and the Web screen in one

screen, and which organizes the Web screen not to occupy the TV screen

area such that the user may see contents of the Web site in the Web

screen without any loss of the screen.

In order to accomplish the above object, the present invention

provides an Internet TV including a TV part having a TV broadcast signal

reception function and an Internet part having an Internet communication

function, wherein the Internet part comprises a central processor unit

(CPU) for outputting a channel change command and corresponding channel information to the TV part when selecting a TV channel in a Web

site providing TV channel information, receiving current TV channel

information from the TV part and transmitting the current TV channel

information to a Web server when required, and a storing means for

storing a name of a broadcasting station and an actual channel number

corresponding to a location of the broadcasting station by control of the

CPU; and wherein the TV part comprises control means for changing the

TV channel according to the channel change command and the

corresponding channel information from the CPU, and remote control

signal reception means for receiving a remote control signal and inputting

the remote control signal in the control means.

In the above embodiment, when connecting to the Web server, the

CPU may transmit equipment information used for connection to the Wen

server.

In the above embodiment, when outputting the channel information

to the TV part, the CPU may output an actual channel number

corresponding to the location of the broadcasting station stored in the

storing means.

The storing means preferably has a mapping table storing the name

of the broadcasting station and the actual channel number corresponding

to the location of the broadcasting station.

The control means may analyze the remote control signal inputted through the remote control signal reception means, and wherein, in case

that the remote control signal is for the Internet part, the control means

converts the remote control signal into a predetermined code and

transmits to the CPU.

The CPU and the control means may transmit data in parallel

through data buses and clock lines.

In the above embodiment, the CPU and the control means may

transmit in series through data buses and clock lines.

In the above embodiment, the CPU may output a screen

reorganization command and TV screen size and position information

when a user selects a desired screen configuration among various screen

configuration samples; the storing means may store the selected screen

configuration, the TV screen size and position information and the latest

selected TV channel information by control of the CPU; and the Internet

TV may further comprise video mixer means for reorganizing the screen

to the selected screen configuration according to the TV screen size and

position information from the CPU.

In the above embodiment, the Internet TV may further comprise a

ROM (read-only memory) for storing a Web browser program for

reorganizing a Web screen conforming to the selected screen configuration

when the user selects the desired screen configuration among the various

screen configuration samples. The control means preferably receives the screen reorganization

command and the TV screen size and position information from the CPU

and provides the TV screen size and position information to the video

mixer means.

The video mixer means may comprise sync separating means for

separating a sync signal from a main video signal and a sub-video signal

inputted; sub-screen reorganization means for reorganizing and outputting

the sub-video signal to conform to a sub-screen size of the selected screen

configuration; switching means for switching output of the sub-screen

reorganizing means and the main video signal and outputting a composite

video signal conforming to the selected screen configuration; and screen

reorganization control means for controlling the sub- screen reorganization

means and the switching means such that the screen is reorganized to

conform to the selected screen configuration according to the outputs of

the sync separating means and the control means.

The main video signal is preferably an video signal for the Web

screen reorganized by the Web browser by control of the CPU when

selecting the screen configuration.

The sub-video reorganization means may comprise an A/D converter

for A/D converting the sub-video signal by control of the screen

reorganization means; a field memory for storing output of the A/D

converter by control of the screen reorganization means; and a D/A converter for D/ A converting output of the field memory to conform to a

sub- screen of the selected screen configuration and outputting to the

switching means by control of the screen reorganization means.

Preferably, size and position of the TV screen in the selected screen

configuration are adjustable.

Also preferably, size and the position of the sub-screen are adjusted

by using a screen size adjustment icon and a screen position adjustment

icon.

A TV channel of the TV screen is preferably determined as a TV

channel stored in the storing means when reorganizing the screen to

conform to the selected screen configuration.

In order to obtain the above object, the present invention provides a

method of operating an Internet TV comprising the steps of: automatically

connecting to Internet when turning on the Internet TV; connecting to a

Web server, which provides TV channel information, and selecting a

hyperlink of a desired broadcast; analyzing a script of the selected

hyperlink and determining whether the hyperlink is for channel change

or a general hyperlink; connecting to a linked part of the general hyperlink

in case that the hyper link is the general hyperlink and outputting a

control signal for channel change and corresponding channel information

from a mapping table storing a name of a broadcasting station and an

actual channel number according to a location of the broadcasting station in case that the hyperlink is for channel change; and changing a channel

according to the corresponding channel information according to the

control signal.

In the above embodiment, when connecting to the Web server, a Web

browser of a user may transmit equipment information used for

connection to the Web server.

The script of the hyperlink may include the channel information and

information informing that the hyperlink is for channel change in case that

the hyperlink is for channel change.

The method of operating an Internet TV may further comprise a TV

program information inquiry step, which includes the steps of; converting

into an Internet mode, connecting to the Web server providing the TV

channel information and then transmitting the TV program information

inquiry request signal and inquired channel information, when a user

requests a TV program information inquiry for a channel; and receiving the

channel information from the Web server and displaying the channel

information on a screen.

The method of operating an Internet TV may further comprise the

step of providing a Web screen and a TV screen in one screen, which

includes the steps of: accessing the Web server providing the TV channel

information and then selecting a desired screen configuration among

various screen configuration samples provided from the Web server; analyzing script data of the selected screen configuration; outputting a

video signal of the Web screen conforming to the Web screen configuration

and a video signal of the TV screen conforming to the TV screen

configuration as a result of the analysis; and composing the video signal

of the Web screen and the video signal of the TV screen to configure both

video signals into one screen.

The script data may include a screen reorganization command and

TV screen size and position information.

The TV screen size and position information is preferably X-Y

coordinates of the TV screen.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present

invention will become better understood with regard to the following

description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings, in which like

components are referred to by like reference numerals. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram for showing an Internet TV of the

present invention;

FIG. 2 is a detailed view for show ng an Internet part in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a detailed view for showing a TV part in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is for showing data flows between a CPU and a controller in

the Internet TV of the present invention; FIG. 5 is a flow chart for illustrating a channel change operation of

the Internet TV according to the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a flow chart for illustrating operation of the Internet TV

according to a current channel inquiry;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram for showing a screen reorganization device

according to the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a detailed view of a video mixer in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a view showdng screen configuration samples of the present

invention;

FIG. 10 is a view for illustrating a screen reorganization operation;

FIG. 11 is a view showing a screen size adjustment icon and a

screen position adjustment icon of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a flow chart for illustrating a screen reorganization

process of the present invention; and

FIG. 13 is a view for illustrating size and position information of a

TV screen.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention wall be

described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a basic concept of an Internet TV according to the

present invention. Referring to the figure, an Internet part 10 for an Internet function and a TV part 20 for a TV function are bidirectionally

connected in the Internet TV to transmit information to each other.

FIG. 2 shows a detail configuration of the Internet part 10 in FIG. 1.

As shown in the figure, the Internet part 10 includes a modem 11

having a modulation/ demodulation function for receiving and transmitting

relevant data for Web browsing in connection with the Internet, a keyboard

controller 12, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 13 for storing a Web browser

program and relevant various programs, a RAM (Random Access Memory)

14 for temporarily storing data required for the Web browser, a CPU

(Central Processor Unit) 15 for executing the Web browser program,

outputting a control signal corresponding to a command inputted from a

keyboard or a remote controller through a controller 30 (described below)

of the TV part 20 and exchanging data required for channel change with

the controller 30 of the TV part 20, video and audio processors 16, 17 for

converting video and audio signals from the CPU 15 to have a format

receivable in the TV part 20, and a flash memory 18 having a mapping

table for storing a name of a broadcasting station and an actual channel

information of the broadcasting station according to its location. All of

the above components are connected to the CPU 15.

At this time, the modem 11 is only an example and various

connecting devices such as a general modem, an ADSL (Asymmetric

Digital Subscriber Line) modem, an ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) modem, etc. are possible.

FIG. 3 shows the TV part of FIG. 1 in detail. As shown in the figure,

the TV part 20 includes a tuner 22 for tuning a broadcast signal received

through an antenna 21 into a desired specific frequency and outputting a

basic video signal and a basic audio signal, an audio processor 23 for

processing the basic audio signal from the tuner 22 into an actual audio

signal, an audio amplifier 24 for amplifying an output signal of the audio

processor 23 and outputting a speaker (SP) driving signal, a video

processor 25 and an electron gun driving signal generator 26 for

converting the basic video signal from the tuner 22 into an electron gun

driving signal, an electron gun driver 27 for driving an electron gun of a

CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) according to the electron gun driving signal of the

electron gun driving signal generator 26, a system memory 28 and a

remote control signal receiver 29 for receiving a remote control signal from

a remote controller (not shown).

The TV part 20 also includes a controller 30 for controlling each of

above components in the TV part 20 according to the remote control

signal, transmitting data required for channel change with the CPU 15 of

the Internet part 10 and controlling the channel change according to the

data, an audio selection switch 31 connected between the audio processor

23 and the audio amplifier 24 for selecting one of the outputs from the

audio processor 17, 23 of the Internet part 10 and the TV part 20 by control of the controller 30, and a video selection switch 32 connected

between the video processor 25 and the electron gun driving signal

generator 26 for selecting one of the outputs of the video processor 16, 25

of the Internet part 10 and the TV part 20 by control of the controller 30.

A bus available for the CPU 15 and the controller 30 may employ an

existing data transmitting/ receiving method such as I²C or a serial

communication method, and in another simple way, it is also possible to

install 8 or 4 bit data bus and clock lines. The CPU 15 and the controller

30 may endow a required command writh a peculiar code.

Moreover, though not shown in the figure, the remote controller or

other key input units of the TV part 20 is provided with a plurality of keys

for performance of various functions.

When the Internet TV of the present invention is in a TV mode, the

audio selection switch 31 and the video selection switch 32 are switched

into terminal CD respectively by control of the controller 30.

Therefore, the audio signal received through the antenna 21 and

tuned in the tuner 22 is outputted to the speaker (SP) through the audio

processor 23 - the terminal Φ of the audio selection switch 31 - the audio

amplifier 24, while the video signal is outputted to the CRT through the

video processor 25 - the terminal ® of the video selection switch 32 - the

electron gun driving signal generator 26 - the electron gun driver 27.

In an Internet mode, the audio selection switch 31 and the video selection switch 32 are switched into terminal © by control of the

controller 30.

Therefore, the Internet audio signal received through the modem 11

is outputted to the speaker (SP) through the CPU 15 - the audio processor

17 - the terminal © of the audio selection switch 31 - the audio amplifier

24, while the Internet video signal is outputted to the CRT through the

CPU 15 - the video processor 16 - the terminal © of the video selection

switch 32 - the electron gun driving signal generator 26 - the electron gun

driver 27.

The Internet TV uses TV channel information provided from the Web

server for channel change. When the Internet part 10 operates Web

browsing, the CPU 15 transmits to the Web server a control signal

informing that a currently used connection equipment is the Internet TV

such that the Web server may distinguish the user of the Internet TV from

others using personal computers.

If the user, who is accessing the Web server in the Internet mode,

accesses a site providing the TV channel information and then clicks a

desired channel in the Web site for channel change writh seeing the TV

channel information, the Web browser makes the CPU 15 of the Internet

part 10 send a TV channel change command signal and corresponding

channel information to the controller 30 of the TV part 20.

At this time, the CPU 15 extracts an actual channel information of the user selected channel from the mapping table stored in the flash

memory 18 and transmits the actual channel information to the controller

30.

The actual channel information is likely to depend on a location

where a TV is installed. For example, the MBC is provided with the

channel 11 in Seoul, which may be different in other locations.

Therefore, when the user wants to change a channel using

information shown in the Web browser without using a button in the TV

set or the remote controller, the TV channel information should include

channel information according to the location.

In this reason, the Web server stores a name of a broadcasting

station and actual channel information of the broadcasting station

according to its location in the mapping table. The mapping table is

stored in the flash memory 18 of the Internet part 10 from the Web server.

The mapping table is also periodically updated.

According to the TV channel change command signal and the

corresponding channel information, the controller 30 controls the tuner

22 to change the channel and switches the audio selection switch 31 and

the video selection swritch 32 into the terminal Φ, a TV mode switching

state, which enables to change the channel without any key input.

At this time, the controller 30 sends current channel information to

the CPU 15 in a predetermined period. The current channel information is required later for telling the user, who enters the Internet mode during

watching the TV, the channel that the user was watching.

That is, because the controller 30 periodically sends the current

channel information to the CPU 15, the Web browser may always know

which TV channel is selected at that time, which enables to show to the

user the channel information that the user was watching before entering

the Internet mode, while the user is seeing an Internet screen.

When changing the channel, sequential data transmission between

the CPU 15 of the Internet part 10 and the controller 30 of the TV part 20

is shown in FIG. 4. Referring to the figure, after the CPU 15 sends the TV

channel change command signal to the controller 30 of the TV part 20, the

controller 30 of the TV part 20 sends an acknowledgement signal

informing reception of the TV channel change command signal to the CPU

15 of the Internet part 10. The CPU 15 then sends the corresponding

channel information to the controller 30 and then the controller 30 sends

an acknowledgement signal informing the reception of the channel

information to the CPU 15.

Then, after tuning operation of the tuner 22 and switching

operations of the audio selection sw tch 31 and the video selection switch

32, the controller 30 sends a switching completion signal to the CPU 15 of

the Internet part 10. The CPU 15 then sends an acknowledgement signal

informing the reception of the switching completion signal to the controller 30.

The present invention is also configured that the controller 30 of the

TV part 20 receives and analyzes the remote control signal and then sends

the remote control signal to the CPU 15 of the Internet part 10.

In comparison with an alternative method that the CPU 15 of the

Internet part 10 directly receives and analyzes the Internet-related remote

control signal, the above data transmission method is more efficient

because the controller 30 of the TV part 20 receives and analyzes all

remote control signals, and the controller 30 converts the remote control

signal into a code defined between the controller 30 and the CPU 15 and

sends the converted code if the remote control signal is an Internet-related

signal, such that only the controller 30 of the TV part 20 analyzes the

remote control signal, which was duplicately proceeded by the controller

30 of the TV part 20 and the CPU 15 of the Internet part 10 in a

conventional manner.

The remote control signals may be signals generated by, for example,

direction keys (•*■ , ▼ , < , ► ), set keys, etc.

In addition, the present invention may give a TV program reserving

function. If the user selects the reservation function in the Web screen,

such information is sent and stored in the Web server.

If it is a time of starting a reserved TV program, the Web server

transmits a channel change command and the name of the corresponding broadcasting station to the Web browser. The CPU 15 then searches the

channel information corresponding to the broadcasting station name in

the mapping table stored in the flash memory 18 and then sends the

channel information to the controller 30 of the TV part 20.

At this time, the Web server notifies the start time of the reserved

TV program with use of KBPS (Korea Broadcasting Programmable System)

information or G code information.

The controller 30 then controls the tuner 22 such that the user may

watch the reserved program.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart for illustrating a channel change operation of

the Internet TV according to the present invention.

As shown in the figure, in the channel change operation, if turning

on the Internet TV and executing the Web browser, the Internet TV is

automatically connected to the Internet SI . If the user accesses the Web

site providing the TV channel information, the Web browser sends to the

Web server a signal informing that an equipment connected to the Web

server is the Internet TV S2.

Then, the user moves a cursor to a hyperlink of a desired broadcast

with a common cursor moving method using a directional key of the

remote controller or other pointing devices S3, and then selects the

hyperlink S4. The Web browser analyzes a script of the selected hyperlink

S5 and determines whether the hyperlink is for channel change S6. If the hyperlink is a general hyperlink not for the channel change,

the Web browser connects to a site linked to the hyperlink S7. If the

hyperlink is for the channel change, the CPU 15 of the Internet part 10

extracts an actual channel information (a channel number) of the selected

channel from the mapping table in the flash memory 18 and sends the

actual channel information to the controller 30 together writh the channel

change command S8.

The controller 30 then controls the tuner 22 to change the channel

according to the channel change command and switches the audio

selection switch 31 and the video selection switch 32 into the terminal Φ

to output the broadcast signal of the corresponding channel S9.

The controller 30 also determines whether there is an input of a

channel change key for changing to the Web site screen in the Internet

mode S10. If there is an input of the screen change key toward the Web

site screen, the controller 30 of the TV part 20 switches the audio selection

switch 31 and the video selection switch 32 into the terminal © for the

Internet mode SI 1. After that, the process returns to the step S3.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart for illustrating an operation for inquiring the

current channel information in the Internet TV according to the present

invention.

The current channel inquiry is required for inquiring TV program

information when changing from the TV mode to the Internet mode. As shown in the figure, at first the user inputs a current TV program

information inquiry key S21. Then, the Web browser sends the channel

number and a TV program information inquiry signal to the Web server

S22. Of course, the Web browser has already known the channel number

of the currently watched TV program because the controller 30 of the TV

part 20 periodically sends the current TV channel information to the CPU

15 of the Internet part 10.

The Web server 22 receiving the TV program information inquiry

signal then searches a database in the Web server by using the channel

number and a current time S23. After searching, the Web server 22

sends the TV program information currently broadcasted in the channel

to the Web browser S24.

Therefore, the user may refer to the currently broadcasted TV

program information displayed in the screen in order to determine whether

or not to watch the TV program.

This is useful when the user wants to change the channel during

watching a TV program and also wants to know about TV program

information currently broadcasted in other channels. That is, if the user

watching a MBC program wants to change the channel for watching a KBS

program, the user may inquire the TV program information currently

broadcasted in the KBS channel in order to determine whether or not to

watch the KBS program. FIG. 7 is a block diagram for showing the Internet TV having a

screen reorganization function according to another embodiment of the

present invention. In the figure, components like FIGs. 1 to 3 are

indicated by like reference numbers.

As shown in the figure, the Internet TV having the screen

reorganization function includes an Internet part 10 and a TV part 20,

similar to the above embodiment shown in FIG. 1. The Internet part 10

includes a CPU 15 for outputting a screen reorganization command and

TV screen size and position information to the controller 30 of the TV part

20 when a user selects a desired screen configuration among various

screen configuration samples, a ROM 13 for storing a Web browser

program for reorganizing a Web screen to conform to the selected screen

configuration when the user selects the desired screen configuration, and

a flash memory 18 for storing the selected screen configuration, the TV

screen size and position information and the latest selected TV channel

information by control of the CPU 15.

The TV part 20 includes a controller 30 for receiving the screen

reorganization command and the TV screen size and position information

from the CPU 15 and providing the TV screen size and position information

to a video mixer 40, described below, and a video mixer 40 for reorganizing

the screen to conform to the selected screen configuration according to the

TV screen size and position information from the controller 30. FIG. 8 is a detailed block diagram for showing the video mixer 40 in

FIG. 7.

As showm in the figure, the video mixer 40 includes a sub-video

signal sync separator 41 for receiving the output of the video processor 25

in FIG. 3 as a sub-video signal and separating a sync signal from the sub-

video signal, a main video signal sync separator 42 for receiving the output

of the video processor 16 in FIG. 2 as a main video signal and separating

a sync signal from the main video signal, a sub-screen reorganizer for

receiving the output of the video processor 25 as a sub-screen signal for

sub-screen display and reorganizing and outputting the sub-screen signal

to conform to the screen size and position information, a switching unit

44 for switching and outputting the output of the sub- screen reorganizer

43 and the output of the video processor 16 as a main video signal, an I²C

controller 45 for receiving a control signal in an I²C bus format from the

controller 30 of the TV part 20 and analyzing and outputting the command

signal, a screen reorganization controller 46 for receiving the output of the

I²C controller 45 and the outputs of the main and sub- video sync

separators 41, 42 to control the sub-screen reorganizer 43 and the

switching unit 44.

The sub-screen reorganizer 43 includes an A/D converter 43a for

A/D converting the inputted sub-screen video signal by control of the

screen reorganization controller 46, a field memory 43b in which the output of the A/D converter 43a is stored by control of the screen

reorganization controller 46, and a D/A converter 43c for D/A converting

the output of the field memory 43b to conform to the sub-screen of the

selected screen configuration by control of the screen reorganization

controller 46 and outputting the converted output to the switching unit

44.

In the present invention configured as above, screen configuration

samples may be provided from the Web server as shown in FIG. 9. If a

user moves a cursor and selects a desired screen configuration sample

with use of directional keys in the remote controller, a display screen of

the Internet TV is configured in accordance with the selected screen

configuration sample.

That is, if the user selects one of the screen configuration samples

in FIG. 9, the TV screen (sub-screen) size and position information

according to the selected screen configuration sample is inputted in the

CPU 15 of the Internet part 10 and then the CPU 15 drives the Web

browser program stored in the ROM 13 in order to reorganize the Web

screen to show information in a remaining portion of the display screen

according to the TV screen size and position information.

Also, the CPU 15 transmits the screen reorganization command and

the TV screen size and position information for the selected screen

reorganization sample to the controller 30. The controller 30 then recognizes the screen reorganization command and then sends the TV

screen size and position information from the CPU 15 to the I²C controller

45 of the video mixer 40. The I²C controller 45 then analyzes a control

signal from the controller 30 and then sends the control signal to the

screen reorganization controller 46.

The video signal of the Web screen (main screen) reorganized by the

Web browser according to the selected screen configuration sample is then

inputted to the sync separator 42 through the video processor 16 for sync

separation. Then, only separated sync signals are inputted to the screen

reorganization controller 46 as well as the a terminal of the switching unit

44.

The sub-video signal, output of the video processor 25 of the TV part

20, is inputted to the sync separator 41 for sync separation and then only

separated sync signals are inputted to the screen reorganization controller

46.

The screen reorganization controller 46 analyzes the control signal

inputted from the controller 30 through the I²C controller 45, receives the

main video and sub-video sync signals from the main video and sub-video

signal sync separators 41, 42, and controls the sub-screen reorganizer 43

and the switching unit 44 according to the sync signals such that the

main video and the sub-video corresponding to the selected screen

configuration sample may be displayed. The screen reorganization controller 46 controls the sub-screen

reorganizer 43 as follows.

At first, the screen reorganization controller 46 controls the A/D

converter 43a to convert an inputted analog sub-video signal into a digital

signal, controls the field memory 43b to store and output the converted

digital sub-screen signal, and then controls the D/A converter 43c to

convert the output of the field memory 43b into an analog signal and

output the converted analog signal to the b terminal of the switching unit

44.

FIG. 10 shows an example of the screen configuration samples in

which the TV screen (sub-screen) has a 1/4 size of the whole screen and

is positioned in an upper left portion of the screen. The following

descriptions are based on one field (Even) in a NTSC (National Television

Standards Committee) analog TV using the interlacing scanning. In this

example, the D/A converter 43c should output a sub-video signal

conforming to size of the sub- screen. Therefore, the screen reorganization

unit 46 outputs video signals having 120 lines of total 240 lines vertically

and 320 pixels (one for a pixel) of total 640 pixels horizontally among the

sub-screen signals stored in the field memory 43b to the D/A converter

43c.

Therefore, the D/A converter 43c receives only the video signal for

the TV screen in FIG. 10. The video signal for the TV screen is converted into an analog signal and then inputted to the b terminal of the switching

unit 44. The video signal for the TV screen is outputted through the b

terminal of the switching unit 44 when displaying the TV broadcast.

However, the video signal for the TV screen is switched to the a terminal

of the switching unit 44.

Therefore, the output of the switching unit 44 is composed with the

video signal of the Web screen and the video signal of the TV screen to

conform to the selected screen configuration and then outputted.

At this time, instead of such method of reorganizing the Web screen

to show information in a screen area except the TV screen according to the

TV screen size and position information set by the user, the Web browser

may send the TV screen size and position information to the Web server

and receive a page reorganized by the Web server to display the page.

In addition, if reorganization of the screen is completed, screen size

control keys (up, down, right, left) and screen position control keys (up,

down, right, left) may be provided at a corner of the screen as shown in

FIG. 11 in order to adjust size and position of the TV screen.

That is, if the user adjusts the TV screen size or position with use of

the screen size control keys or the screen position control keys, a

corresponding command signal is sent to the CPU 15 of the Internet part

10. Then, the command signal is inputted to the controller 30 of the TV

part 20 and then to the screen reorganization controller 45 through the I²C controller 45 such that the sub-screen reorganizer 43 and the

switching unit 44 may control the size and position of the TV screen.

At this time, according to the size and position control of the TV

screen, the Web screen is also reorganized by the Web browser.

Therefore, whole screen becomes reorganized by inputting the video signal

conforming to the reorganized Web screen into the switching unit 44.

If the screen is reorganized according to the selected screen

configuration, the TV channel is changed into the latest TV channel and

corresponding TV channel information is stored in the flash memory 18

of the Internet part 10.

The CPU 15 controls to store the screen configuration and the TV

screen size and position information in the flash memory 18 whenever the

screen configuration or the TV screen size and position information

changes such that the CPU 15 may remember the screen configuration

just before turning off the Internet TV. When turning on the Internet TV,

the screen configuration stored just before turning off the Internet TV is

displayed.

Though not mentioned about the audio signal, in fact that the

present invention displays the TV screen in form of the sub-screen, the

audio signal is switched to the terminal Φ of the audio selection switch 31

of FIG. 3 by control of the controller 30 in order to select and output an

audio signal conforming to the TV screen. In addition, when selecting a TV channel in the Web screen, the

present invention may apply the selected TV channel to the sub- screen.

Change of the channel is already described above.

FIG. 12 shows a flow chart for illustrating the screen reorganization

operation when changing the TV channel in the Web screen.

Referring to the figure, the user accesses the Web page giving the TV

channel information S31 and then selects a screen configuration icon S32.

Then the Web browser shows the screen configuration samples as shown

in FIG. 9 S33. At this time, each screen configuration sample includes

the screen reorganization command and the TV screen size and position

information for each screen configuration in the script data.

When selecting a screen configuration shown in FIG. 13, the TV

screen size and position information is XI, X2, Yl and Y2, which are X-Y

coordinates.

If selecting one screen configuration among the screen configuration

samples S34, the CPU 15 analyzes the script data S35 and then sends the

screen reorganization command and the TV screen size and position

information (XI, X2, Yl, Y2) to the controller 30 of the TV part 30, S36.

The Web browser reorganizes contents in the Web page to fit with

the screen area except XI -X2, Y1-Y2 area S37 and then outputs the

reorganized contents to the video mixer 40 through the video processor 16

S38. The controller 30 recognizes the screen reorganization command and then sends the TV screen size and position information to the video

mixer 40, S39.

Through the operations of the steps S38, S39, the video mixer 40

composes the video signal for the Web screen and the video signal for the

TV screen and then outputs the screen configuration desired by the user

S40. Such steps S37, S38 and S39 are executed at the same time.

As described above, the present invention gives convenience to the

user watching TV by connecting the TV with the Web because the user

may easily change the TV channel during looking at the TV channel

information in the Web site, in fact that watching TV and Web browsing

are performed separately in the conventional art.

In addition, because inquiry about a desired broadcast program is

possible, the present invention helps the user to select a program.

Furthermore, in the Internet TV of the present invention which may

change the TV channel in the Web page, the TV screen and the Web screen

may be seen in one screen and organized into a desired configuration and

the Web screen is organized not to occupy the TV screen area such that

the user may see contents of the Web site in the Web screen without any

loss of the screen.

The Internet TV according to the present invention has been

described in detail. However, it should be understood that the detailed

description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various

changes and modifications wdthin the spirit and scope of the invention will

become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

Claims

What is claimed is;

1. An Internet TV including a TV part having a TV broadcast

signal reception function and an Internet part having an Internet

communication function,

wherein the Internet part comprises a central processor unit (CPU)

for outputting a channel change command and corresponding channel

information to the TV part when selecting a TV channel in a Web site

providing TV channel information, receiving current TV channel

information from the TV part and transmitting the current TV channel

information to a Web server when required, and a storing means for

storing a name of a broadcasting station and an actual channel number

corresponding to a location of the broadcasting station by control of the

CPU; and

wherein the TV part comprises control means for changing the TV

channel according to the channel change command and the corresponding

channel information from the CPU, and remote control signal reception

means for receiving a remote control signal and inputting the remote

control signal in the control means.

2. The Internet TV as claimed in claim 1,

wherein, when connecting to the Web server, the CPU transmits equipment information used for connection to the Wen server.

3. The Internet TV as claimed in claim 1,

wherein, when outputting the channel information to the TV part,

the CPU outputs an actual channel number corresponding to the location

of the broadcasting station stored in the storing means.

4. The Internet TV as claimed in claim 1,

wherein the storing means has a mapping table storing the name of

the broadcasting station and the actual channel number corresponding

to the location of the broadcasting station.

5. The Internet TV as claimed in claim 1,

wherein the control means analyzes the remote control signal

inputted through the remote control signal reception means, and wherein,

in case that the remote control signal is for the Internet part, the control

means converts the remote control signal into a predetermined code and

transmits to the CPU.

6. The Internet TV as claimed in claim 1,

wherein the CPU and the control means transmit data in parallel

through data buses and clock lines.

7. The Internet TV as claimed in claim 1,

wherein the CPU and the control means transmit in series through

data buses and clock lines.

8. The Internet TV as claimed in claim 1,

wherein the CPU outputs a screen reorganization command and TV

screen size and position information when a user selects a desired screen

configuration among various screen configuration samples;

wherein the storing means stores the selected screen configuration,

the TV screen size and position information and the latest selected TV

channel information by control of the CPU; and

wherein the Internet TV further comprises video mixer means for

reorganizing the screen to the selected screen configuration according to

the TV screen size and position information from the CPU.

9. The Internet TV as claimed in claim 8, further comprising a

ROM (read-only memory) for storing a Web browser program for

reorganizing a Web screen conforming to the selected screen configuration

when the user selects the desired screen configuration among the various

screen configuration samples.

10. The Internet TV as claimed in claim 9,

wherein the control means receives the screen reorganization

command and the TV screen size and position information from the CPU

and provides the TV screen size and position information to the video

mixer means.

11. The Internet TV as claimed in claim 9, wherein the video mixer

means comprises:

sync separating means for separating a sync signal from a main

video signal and a sub- video signal inputted;

sub-screen reorganization means for reorganizing and outputting the

sub- video signal to conform to a sub- screen size of the selected screen

configuration;

switching means for switching output of the sub-screen reorganizing

means and the main video signal and outputting a composite video signal

conforming to the selected screen configuration; and

screen reorganization control means for controlling the sub-screen

reorganization means and the switching means such that the screen is

reorganized to conform to the selected screen configuration according to

the outputs of the sync separating means and the control means.

12. The Internet TV as claimed in claim 11, wherein the main video signal is an video signal for the Web screen

reorganized by the Web browser by control of the CPU when selecting the

screen configuration.

13. The Internet TV as claimed in claim 11, wherein the sub-video

reorganization means comprises:

an A/D converter for A/D converting the sub- video signal by control

of the screen reorganization means;

a field memory for storing output of the A/D converter by control of

the screen reorganization means; and

a D/A converter for D/A converting output of the field memory to

conform to a sub- screen of the selected screen configuration and

outputting to the switching means by control of the screen reorganization

means.

14. The Internet TV as claimed in claim 8,

wherein size and position of the TV screen in the selected screen

configuration are adjustable.

15. The Internet TV as claimed in claim 14,

wherein the size and the position of the sub-screen are adjusted by

using a screen size adjustment icon and a screen position adjustment icon.

16. The Internet TV as claimed in claim 8,

wherein, a TV channel of the sub-screen is determined as a TV

channel stored in the storing means when reorganizing the screen to

conform to the selected screen configuration.

17. A method of operating an Internet TV comprising the steps of:

automatically connecting to Internet when turning on the Internet

TV;

connecting to a Web server, which provides TV channel information,

and selecting a hyperlink of a desired broadcast;

analyzing a script of the selected hyperlink and determining whether

the hyperlink is for channel change or a general hyperlink;

connecting to a linked part of the general hyperlink in case that the

hyper link is the general hyperlink and outputting a control signal for

channel change and corresponding channel information from a mapping

table storing a name of a broadcasting station and an actual channel

number according to a location of the broadcasting station in case that the

hyperlink is for channel change; and

changing a channel according to the corresponding channel

information according to the control signal.

18. The method of operating an Internet TV as claimed in claim

17,

wherein, when connecting to the Web server, a Web browser of a

user transmits equipment information used for connection to the Web

server.

19. The method of operating an Internet TV as claimed in claim

17,

wherein the script of the hyperlink includes the channel information

and information informing that the hyperlink is for channel change in case

that the hyperlink is for channel change.

20. The method of operating an Internet TV as claimed in claim

17, further comprising a TV program information inquiry step, which

includes the steps of;

converting into an Internet mode, connecting to the Web server

providing the TV channel information and then transmitting the TV

program information inquiry request signal and inquired channel

information, when a user requests a TV program information inquiry for a

channel; and

receiving the channel information from the Web server and displaying the channel information on a screen.

21. The method of operating an Internet TV as claimed in claim

17, further comprising the step of providing a Web screen and a TV screen

in one screen, which includes the steps of:

accessing the Web server providing the TV channel information and

then selecting a desired screen configuration among various screen

configuration samples provided from the Web server;

analyzing script data of the selected screen configuration;

outputting a video signal of the Web screen conforming to the Web

screen configuration and a video signal of the TV screen conforming to the

TV screen configuration as a result of the analysis; and

composing the video signal of the Web screen and the video signal

of the TV screen to configure both video signals into one screen.

22. The method of operating an Internet TV as claimed in claim

21,

wherein the script data includes a screen reorganization command

and TV screen size and position information.

23. The method of operating an Internet TV as claimed in claim

22, wherein the TV screen size and position information is X-Y

coordinates of the sub-screen.