Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
  • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
  • H04N21/41—Structure of client; Structure of client peripherals
  • H04N21/422—Input-only peripherals, i.e. input devices connected to specially adapted client devices, e.g. global positioning system [GPS]
  • H04N21/4227—Providing Remote input by a user located remotely from the client device, e.g. at work
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N5/00—Details of television systems
  • H04N5/44—Receiver circuitry for the reception of television signals according to analogue transmission standards
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
  • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
  • G06F3/01—Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer
  • G06F3/03—Arrangements for converting the position or the displacement of a member into a coded form
  • G06F3/033—Pointing devices displaced or positioned by the user, e.g. mice, trackballs, pens or joysticks; Accessories therefor
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
  • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
  • H04N21/41—Structure of client; Structure of client peripherals
  • H04N21/422—Input-only peripherals, i.e. input devices connected to specially adapted client devices, e.g. global positioning system [GPS]
  • H04N21/42204—User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
  • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
  • H04N21/47—End-user applications
  • H04N21/485—End-user interface for client configuration
  • H04N21/4858—End-user interface for client configuration for modifying screen layout parameters, e.g. fonts, size of the windows
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
  • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
  • H04N21/41—Structure of client; Structure of client peripherals
  • H04N21/422—Input-only peripherals, i.e. input devices connected to specially adapted client devices, e.g. global positioning system [GPS]
  • H04N21/42204—User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor
  • H04N21/42206—User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor characterized by hardware details
  • H04N21/4221—Dedicated function buttons, e.g. for the control of an EPG, subtitles, aspect ratio, picture-in-picture or teletext
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
  • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
  • H04N21/41—Structure of client; Structure of client peripherals
  • H04N21/422—Input-only peripherals, i.e. input devices connected to specially adapted client devices, e.g. global positioning system [GPS]
  • H04N21/42204—User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor
  • H04N21/42206—User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor characterized by hardware details
  • H04N21/42221—Transmission circuitry, e.g. infrared [IR] or radio frequency [RF]

Definitions

• the present invention is directed to a system and method for selecting an area of a video display screen, and more specifically, to a system and method for selecting an area of video display screen with a standard television remote control unit.
• Video display devices permit a user to easily and conveniently select an area on the video display screen by using a pointing device such as a computer mouse or by using keyboard commands. For example, if a user wants to select a rectangular area on the video display, the user clicks the mouse at a first location, then moves the mouse to a second location, and clicks the mouse at the second location. The computer equates the distance between the first and second locations to be a diagonal of the desired rectangle. After the desired rectangle has been selected in this manner, the user then clicks the mouse one more time to cause the computer to perform some desired action on the text or graphics within the rectangle. Depending upon the application, the action could cause the selected area to be highlighted, or to be copied, or to be deleted, etc. Alternatively, it is possible to select an area of a video display screen using commands entered from a keyboard.
• Selecting an area of a video display screen is not easy to accomplish in consumer appliances that do not have a computer mouse or a keyboard.
• the only input device is a standard television remote control unit for changing channels, increasing and decreasing volume, and performing similar functions.
• the remote control unit is used to perform selection functions, the possible selections are usually pre-determined in a fixed manner and set forth as entries in a menu list. Sequentially pressing a first button on the remote control unit causes a highlight to scroll through a list of entries in the menu list. When a desired entry on the list is highlighted, pressing a second button on the remote control unit causes the function of the desired entry to be performed.
• the present invention generally comprises a system and method for selecting an area of a video display screen with a standard television remote control unit that does not have a keyboard or a computer mouse.
• the system of the invention comprises a video area controller capable of receiving signals from a standard television remote control unit ("remote control unit").
• the video area controller In response to receiving signals from the remote control unit, the video area controller sends signals to a video display screen to display a border around an area of the video display screen. The viewer then sends signals from the remote control unit to move the border, to adjust the size of the border, and to select the area of the video display screen contained within the border.
• the method of the invention comprises the steps of 1) generating a border on a video display screen, 2) moving the border vertically into a desired vertical position on the video display, 3) moving the border horizontally into a desired horizontal position on the video display, 4) adjusting the size of the border to enclose an area of the video display screen that the viewer desires to select, and 5) selecting the area of the video display screen within the border.
• FIGURE 1 illustrates an exemplary television set that utilizes the system and method of the present invention
• FIGURE 2 illustrates an exemplary remote control unit for use with the system and method of the present invention
• FIGURE 3 is a block diagram of an exemplary television set that utilizes the system and method of the present invention
• FIGURE 4 illustrates an exemplary television set that utilizes the system and method of the present invention showing an area of the video display screen to be selected and a border located on the video area display screen
• FIGURE 5 illustrates an exemplary television set that utilizes the system and method of the present invention showing a border of the present invention enclosing the area of the video display screen to be selected
• FIGURE 6 is a flow chart diagram illustrating the method of operation of the system of the present invention.
• FIGURES 1 through 6, discussed below, and the various embodiments set forth in this patent document to describe the principles of the system and method of the present invention are by way of illustration only and should not be construed in any way to limit the scope of the invention.
• the present invention is integrated into, and is used in connection with, a digital television receiver.
• the present invention will be described as a system and method for selecting an area of a video display screen in a digital television set with a remote control unit. It is important to realize that the system and method of the present invention is not limited to television receivers.
• FIGURE 1 illustrates exemplary television system 100, according to one embodiment of the present invention.
• Exemplary television system 100 comprises television receiver 105, set top box 150 with infrared (IR) detector 160.
• IR infrared
• the present invention provides a system and method for selecting an area of video display screen 110 with remote control unit 125.
• television receiver 105 comprises video display screen 110 for displaying television programs, infrared (IR) sensor 115, and a set of manual controls 120, as indicated by a surrounding dotted line.
• Manual controls 120 may include, without limitation, a power button, a volume control button, vertical and horizontal control buttons and one or more channel selection buttons.
• Infrared (IR) sensor 115 receives IR control signals from hand-held remote control unit 125 that is operated by the television viewer.
• IR control signals from remote control unit 125 that are detected by IR sensor 115 are processed within television receiver 105 in order to change the channel being viewed on video display screen 110, to increase or to decrease the volume, to turn television receiver 105 on and off, and the like.
• the IR control signals detected by IR sensor 115 may be relayed to set top box 150 in order to control the operation of set top box 150.
• Set top box 150 performs conventional tuning and demodulation of incoming signals from a cable or satellite television program service provider to produce, for example, a stream of Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) encoded digital data from which video signals may be derived.
• MPEG Moving Picture Experts Group
• television receiver 105 may directly receive an incoming television broadcast signal from an external antenna (not shown).
• television receiver 105 performs conventional tuning and demodulation of incoming RF signals received from the antenna to produce, for example, a stream of MPEG encoded digital data from which video signals may be derived.
• Set top box 150 also comprises infrared (IR) sensor 160.
• IR sensor 160 receives infrared (IR) control signals from hand-held remote control unit 125 operated by the television viewer.
• remote control unit 125 that controls set top box 150 is the same remote control unit 125 that operates television receiver 105.
• IR control signals that are detected by IR sensor 160 are processed within set top box 150 in order to change the channel being transmitted to television receiver 105 for viewing on video display screen 110, to turn set top box 150 (and/or television receiver 105) on and off, and to adjust other television controls.
• set top box 150 may be integrated into television receiver 105.
• set top box 150 and television receiver 105 commonly occurs in cases when television receiver 105 is a high- definition digital television (HDTV) receiver. Because the functions and principles of operation of set top box 150 are well known, television manufacturers frequently find it advantageous to integrate set top box 150 into television receiver 105, thereby reducing the amount of equipment, wiring, and set-up work required to be performed by the television viewer.
• HDMI high- definition digital television
• FIGURE 2 illustrates exemplary remote control unit 125 for use with the system and method of the present invention.
• Exemplary remote control unit 125 comprises case 200 containing conventional electronic circuitry for sending infrared (IR) control signals to television receiver 105.
• Pressing power button 210 sends control signals to turn television receiver 105 on and off.
• Pressing the buttons of numeric keypad 220 sends control signals to select the number of a channel for display on video display screen 110.
• Pressing channel selector button 230 changes the channels and pressing volume control button 240 increases or decreases the volume.
• Pressing mute function button 250 a first time mutes the sound and pressing mute function button 250 a second time restores the sound.
• Pressing channel display button 260 causes the number of the channel being displayed to be shown on video display screen 110.
• Remote control unit 125 also comprises a directional keypad 270. Pressing the right button of directional keypad 270 increases the channel number. Pressing the left button of directional keypad 270 decreases the channel number. Pressing the top button of directional keypad 270 increases the volume. Pressing the lower button of directional keypad 270 decreases the volume.
• Remote control unit 125 also comprises video area selection button 280 for operating the video area selection program 390 of the present invention (shown in FIGURE 3).
• Video area selection program 390 is initiated by first pressing video area selection button 280 on remote control unit 125.
• video area selection program 390 is operated by pressing one or more control buttons on remote control unit 125, including video area selection button 280.
• FIGURE 3 illustrates a block diagram of exemplary television receiver 105, according to an advantageous embodiment of the present invention.
• the system for selecting an area of video display screen 110 is an embedded system integrated into television receiver 105.
• Television receiver 105 comprises tuner 305, intermediate frequency (IF) processor (IF PROC) 310, demodulation (DEMOD) circuit 312, demultiplexer (DEMUX) 315, MPEG video decoder 320, post processor (POST PROC) 325, and video display screen 110.
• Video display screen 110 may be a cathode ray tube or a flat panel display or any type of video display device.
• Tuner 305 receives an incoming radio frequency (RF) signal from either a cable source or a satellite antenna source through set top box 150 (not shown in FIGURE 3) or from a broadcast receive antenna (not shown).
• RF radio frequency
• Tuner 305 filters out a particular video signal from the RF signal according to the channel selected by the viewer through remote control unit 125 or through manual controls 120 (not shown in FIGURE 3). Tuner 305 down-converts the filtered RF signal to produce an intermediate frequency (IF) signal. Intermediate frequency (IF) processor (IF PROC) 310 further down-converts the output of tuner 305 to produce a modulated baseband signal. Demodulation (DEMOD) circuit 312 further demodulates the modulated baseband signal to produce a transport stream.
• IF intermediate frequency
• IFPC intermediate frequency processor
• EMOD Demodulation
• Demultiplexer (DEMUX) 315 extracts at least one elementary stream, such as an MPEG video encoded data stream, from the transport stream and transfers the extracted elementary stream to MPEG video decoder 320.
• Demultiplexer (DEMUX) 315 also extracts and sends an MPEG audio encoded data stream to an MPEG audio decoder (not shown).
• MPEG video decoder 320 converts the incoming MPEG video encoded data stream and generates a standard video signal capable of being displayed on video display screen 110.
• Post processor (POST PROC) 325 may perform several different types of video signal processing, including (a) adaptive noise level reduction, (b) level sharpness enhancement, (c) luminance-chrominance separation, (d) motion detection, (e) motion estimation and compensation, and (f) incorporation of graphics video signals from a video area controller (described below). Post processor 325 produces signals for output to video display screen 110. Infrared (IR) sensor 115 in television receiver 105 and infrared (IR) sensor
• Infrared (IR) sensor 115 and infrared (IR) sensor 160 are connected to remote control receiver 360.
• Remote control receiver 360 is connected to input/output interface (I/O IF) 370 and to other circuitry (not shown) within television receiver 105.
• Input/output interface (I/O IF) 370 is connected to tuner 305.
• remote control unit 125 When the television viewer presses a control button on remote control unit 125 (e.g., channel selector button 230), remote control unit 125 sends an IR control signal to IR sensor 115 (and/or IR sensor 160).
• Remote control receiver 360 receives the IR control signal and sends a corresponding digital control signal to the appropriate circuitry within television receiver 105. For example, if the IR control signal results from the television viewer pressing channel selector button 230, then remote control receiver 360 sends a control signal to output interface (I/O IF) 270, which in turns sends a control signal to tuner 305 to cause tuner 305 to change the channel in accordance with the control signal received from remote control unit 125.
• I/O IF output interface
• the system of the present invention for selecting an area of video display screen 110 comprises central processing unit (CPU) 335 and memory 350.
• Central processing unit 335 comprises a conventional microprocessor chip.
• Central processing unit 335 is coupled to I/O interface 370, to memory 350, to demultiplexer (DEMUX) 315, to remote control receiver 360, and to post processor 325 via signal communication lines (shown in FIGURE 3).
• Central processing unit 335 operates in conjunction with operating system 380 (located within memory 350) to process data, to store data, to retrieve data and to send data to post processor 325 to be displayed on video display screen 110.
• Central processing unit 335 controls the operation of video display screen 110 of television receiver 105 by executing computer programs stored in memory 350.
• Memory 350 may comprise random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), or a combination of random access memory (RAM) and read only memory (ROM).
• memory 350 may comprise a non- volatile random access memory (RAM), such as flash memory.
• RAM non- volatile random access memory
• Memory 350 may also comprise a mass storage data device, such as a hard disk drive (not shown in FIGURE 3) or a compact disk read only memory (CD-ROM) (not shown in FIGURE 3).
• Central processing unit 335 and video area selection program 390 together comprise a video area controller that is capable of carrying out the present invention.
• central processing unit 335 modifies the video signal being processed in post processor 325 to include a graphical image of border 400 for indicating a desired area of video display screen 110 selected by the viewer.
• Border 400 may have the shape of a rectangle as shown in FIGURE 4. It is clear that geometrical forms other than a rectangle may be used. A rectangle is an example of one of many possible geometrical forms that may be used to practice the invention.
• video area selection button 280 When the viewer presses video area selection button 280 on remote control unit 125, video area selection button 280 activates an infrared (IR) initialization control signal that is received in remote control receiver 360 via IR sensor 115 or IR sensor 160.
• Central processing unit 335 receives a corresponding initialization control signal from remote control receiver 360 and, in response to receiving the initialization control signal, activates video area selection program 390.
• Video area selection program 390 comprises a set of instructions executable by central processing unit 335 that control the operation of video display screen 110 of television receiver 105. Control signals sent from central processing unit 335 to post processor 325 cause video display screen 110 to display images in response to the control signals from central processing unit 335.
• Video area selection program 390 generates an initial rectangle 400 for display on video display screen 110.
• central processing unit 335 causes border 400 to be displayed on video display screen 110. Border 400 may be placed at a preselected location on video display screen 110. Alternatively, border 400 may be placed at a random location on video display
• geometrical design 410 in the lower left hand corner of video display screen 110 represents the area of video display screen 110 that the viewer wishes to select.
• Video area selection program 390 is designed to respond to signals generated by pressing one or more of the keys of numerical keypad 220 to move border 400 vertically. For example, pressing the key labeled with the number two (2) on keypad 220 may cause border 400 to move a preselected distance (e.g., one inch) upwards toward the top of video display screen 110. Similarly, pressing the key with the number three (3) on keypad 220 may cause border 400 to move the same preselected distance downwards toward the bottom of video display screen 110. The vertical movement keys are repeatedly pressed until border 400 is in the desired vertical location.
• a preselected distance e.g., one inch
• Video area selection program 390 is designed to respond to signals generated by pressing one or more of the keys of numerical keypad 220 to move border 400 horizontally. For example, pressing the key labeled with the number four (4) on keypad 220 may cause border 400 to move a preselected distance (e.g., one inch) to the left toward the left edge of video display screen 110. Similarly, pressing the key with the number five (5) on keypad 220 may cause border 400 to move the same preselected distance to the right toward the right edge of video display screen 110. The horizontal movement keys are repeatedly pressed until border 400 is in the desired horizontal location.
• a preselected distance e.g., one inch
• border 400 was moved in a vertical direction before border 400 was moved in a horizontal direction. It is clear that the order of the movements of border 400 is immaterial. That is, the order of the movements of border 400 may be reversed. Border 400 may be moved in a horizontal direction before border 400 is moved in a vertical direction.
• border 400 will now be centered on the location of geometrical design 410 in the lower left hand corner of video display screen 110. Then the viewer again presses video area selection button 280 on remote control unit 125 to signal that the viewer will now cause the size of border 400 to be adjusted.
• Video area selection program 390 is designed to respond to signals generated by pressing one or more of the keys of numerical keypad 220 to adjust the size of border 400. For example, pressing the key labeled with the number six (6) on keypad 220 may cause the dimensions of border 400 to decrease in size by a preselected distance (e.g., one inch). Similarly, pressing the key with the number seven (7) on keypad 220 may cause the dimensions of border 400 to increase in size by the same preselected distance.
• final border 500 surrounds the desired area of video display screen 110 represented by geometrical design 410.
• Video area selection program 390 is designed to respond to the signal that is generated by pressing video area selection button 280 by selecting the area enclosed within final border 500. That is, pressing video area selection button 280 informs central processing unit 335 that the viewer has designated the area enclosed by final border 500 for a computer executed operation such as highlighting, copying, deletion, initiation of an operation described within the border, etc. Video area selection program 390 then terminates its operation and resets itself for the next time that the viewer initiates the operation of video area selection program 390 by pressing video area selection button 280.
• Central processing unit 335 then sends a signal to post processor 325 to cause final border 500 to be deleted from video display screen 110.
• Central processing unit 335 may optionally send a signal to remote control receiver 360 to notify remote control receiver 360 that video area selection program 390 has terminated its operation.
• FIGURE 6 is a flow chart diagram illustrating the method of operation of the system of the present invention.
• the viewer presses video area selection button 280 on remote control unit 125 to send a signal to central processing unit 335 to initiate video area selection program 390 (step 610).
• Central processing unit 335 sends control signals to post processor 325 to cause border 400 to be displayed on video display screen 110 (step 620).
• border 400 is moved is immaterial.
• the vertical movement of border 400 may be interchanged with the horizontal movement of border 400.
• the method of the present invention is not limited to the present example in which border 400 is first moved in a vertical direction and then moved in a horizontal direction.
• border 400 After border 400 has been positioned, the viewer then presses video area selection button 280 on remote control unit 125 (and size adjustment buttons on keypad 220) to send signals to central processing unit 335 to cause border 400 to increase or decrease in size to enclose a desired area of video display screen 110 (step 650). The viewer then presses video area selection button 280 on remote control unit 125 to send a signal to central processing unit 335 to select the area enclosed by final border 500 and to cause video area selection program 390 to terminate its operation (step 660).

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Multimedia (AREA)
• Signal Processing (AREA)
• Human Computer Interaction (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Details Of Television Systems (AREA)
• Two-Way Televisions, Distribution Of Moving Picture Or The Like (AREA)
• Position Input By Displaying (AREA)
• Selective Calling Equipment (AREA)

Priority Applications (3)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (2)

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Family Applications (1)

Country Status (5)

Cited By (4)

Families Citing this family (3)

Citations (1)

• 2001
  • 2001-09-26 EP EP01969783A patent/EP1336294A2/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 2001-09-26 WO PCT/EP2001/011150 patent/WO2002032115A2/en not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2001-09-26 KR KR1020027007402A patent/KR20020062326A/ko not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2001-09-26 CN CN01804897A patent/CN1404684A/zh active Pending
  • 2001-09-26 JP JP2002535376A patent/JP2004511966A/ja active Pending

Patent Citations (1)

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