Abstract:
A method of setting user viewing conditions of a video display apparatus including detecting a peripheral terminal via a wireless communication; determining whether the detected terminal is registered by receiving address information of the detected terminal; confirming a viewer rating of the detected terminal, if the detected terminal is registered; comparing the viewer rating of the detected terminal user profile with the viewer rating of a preset user profile, if the viewer rating of the detected terminal is confirmed; loading the detected user profile of the terminal, if the viewer rating of the detected terminal user profile is lower than the viewer rating of a preset user profile; and setting user viewing conditions based on the loaded user profile.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a Continuation of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/242,628 filed on Apr. 1, 2014, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/061,431 filed on Apr. 20, 2011 (now U.S. Pat. No. 8,737,919, issued on May 27, 2014), which is a National Phase of International Application No. PCT/KR2009/004844 filed Aug. 28, 2009, which claims priority to Application No. 10-2008-0084340 filed in the Republic of Korea on Aug. 28, 2008. The entire contents of all of the above applications are hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a video display apparatus and a method of setting user viewing conditions, more specifically, to a video display apparatus that is able to set viewing conditions for users via communication with a peripheral bluetooth device by using Bluetooth technology. 
     Discussion of the Related Art 
     Generally, if a user selects a viewing condition menu, a viewing condition is set based on a setting value predetermined in a conventional video display apparatus. That is, Television viewing conditions may be supplied to the user based on predetermined menu settings including predetermined video images and audio sounds. Such a video display apparatus typically has a function of adjusting a video mode and audio mode. As a result, the user sets video mode adjustment values such as desired contrast, brightness, color intensity and sharpness and audio mode adjustment values such as bass, treble, balance and the like. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  is a diagram illustrating viewing condition setting of a conventional video display apparatus. 
     First of all, a favorite channel list (M1) displays a plurality of channels and broadcasting program titles. According to the conventional video display apparatus, when registering favorite channels, users are not categorized. In a user viewing setting (M2) of the conventional video display apparatus, only one setting value, for example, volume (30), viewer rating (more than 19 years), video mode (clear mode), audio mode (sport mode) and the like is preset and stored. This may cause a problem that various user requirements cannot be satisfied. 
     Moreover, displaying means out of video display apparatuses such as Televisions have various menus operable by the user. Especially, selection for favorite channels, volumes, viewer ratings and the like may be different according to the user preference and age. The user viewing condition setting of the conventional video display apparatus that provides users with only one stetting fails to reflect such the requirements. Even in case there might various settings according to users, it will be inconvenient to change such the various settings manually every time when the user views the television. 
     Recently, apparatuses having Bluetooth installed therein have been consumed a lot. Especially, Bluetooth is adapted to mobile phones as standard feature. Models of televisions Bluetooth that supports Bluetooth headset have been released. The present invention is invented to improve user convenience through communication between Bluetooth device and televisions. 
     To solve the problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a video display apparatus and a method of setting user viewing conditions thereof, which is able to register a Bluetooth device and to set user viewing conditions of the video display apparatus automatically. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a video display apparatus and a method of setting user viewing conditions, which is able to give the priority order to a plurality of detected bluetooth devices, if they are detected by the video display apparatus, and to set user viewing conditions according to the priority order of the Bluetooth devices. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide a video display apparatus and a method of setting user viewing conditions, which is able to load user profile of a Bluetooth device having the lowest rating and to set user viewing conditions, if a plurality of registered Bluetooth devices having different ratings are detected by the video display apparatus. 
     To achieve these objects and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, a video display apparatus includes a Bluetooth module detecting a peripheral Bluetooth terminal via inquiry scan/response and acquiring address information of the detected Bluetooth terminal; a control unit loading user profile of the detected Bluetooth terminal and setting user viewing conditions based on the loaded user profile; a profile database storing the user profile of the detected Bluetooth terminal and user profile setting menu managing the user profile; a tuner receiving a broadcasting program based on the set user viewing conditions; a video/audio processor processing the received broadcasting program into video and audio signals based on the set user viewing conditions; and a display unit displaying the processes video signal and outputting the user profile setting menu as OSD message. 
     The Bluetooth module periodically may inquiry-scan a peripheral Bluetooth terminal. 
     The control unit may determine whether the detected Bluetooth terminal is registered based on the acquired address information and the control unit may generate user profile of the detected terminal, that includes the address information and user viewing condition setting values, by using the user profile setting menu if the terminal is not registered based on the result of the determination. 
     The control unit may measure RSSI of the detected Bluetooth terminal and the control unit may compare the measured RSSI with a reference RSSI to determine a connection state of the detected Bluetooth terminal. 
     The user profile of the user profile database may include Bluetooth terminal information and user viewing condition setting values of the Bluetooth terminal and priority order information. 
     The Bluetooth terminal information may include a kind, address and reference RSSI of the Bluetooth terminal. 
     The user viewing condition setting values may include a favorite channel list, volume, rating, video mode, audio mode, password, automatic power on/off, reservation viewing and record information. 
     The user profile setting menu stored in the user profile database may include registration, calling, and deletion and priority order changes of the user profile. 
     The user profile setting menu may add a password function to limit access to the user profile. 
     The video display apparatus may further include a HCI communication control unit controlling the Bluetooth module to perform the inquiry scan by using command packet and outputting even packet according to the response to the control unit. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, a method of setting user viewing conditions of a video display apparatus includes steps of detecting a peripheral bluetooth terminal via inquiry scan/response; determining whether the detected bluetooth terminal is registered by receiving address information of the detected bluetooth terminal; displaying a setting menu of user profile to register the bluetooth terminal, if it is determined that the bluetooth terminal is not registered; and generating user profile of the bluetooth terminal comprising address information of the bluetooth terminal and setting values of user viewing conditions by using the displayed the setting menu of the user profile. 
     The generated user profile may further include information of priority order of user profiles. 
     The method may further include measuring and comparing RSSI of the detected bluetooth terminal with preset reference RSSI. 
     If a value of the measured RSSI is larger than a value of the reference RSSI based on the result of the comparison, the bluetooth terminal may be registered. 
     The method may further include outputting a message of disconnecting the bluetooth terminal, if a value of the measured RSSI is smaller than a value of the reference RSSI based on the result of the comparison. 
     The user profile setting menu may include menu lists of registering, calling, deleting user profile and changing the priority order of the user profile. 
     The user profile setting menu may add a password function to limit access to the user profile. 
     The setting values of the user viewing conditions may include a favorite channel list, volume, rating, video mode, audio mode, password, automatic power on/off, reservation viewing and record information. 
     In a further aspect of the present invention, a method of setting user viewing conditions of a video display apparatus includes steps of: detecting a peripheral bluetooth terminal via inquiry scan/response; determining whether the detected bluetooth terminal is registered; comparing the priority order of the detected bluetooth terminal user profile with the priority order of a preset user profile, if the bluetooth terminal is registered based on the result of the determination; loading the user profile of the bluetooth terminal, if the priority order of the detected terminal user profile is higher based on the result of the comparison; and setting user viewing conditions based on the loaded user profile. 
     A message of disconnecting the detected bluetooth terminal may be outputted, if the priority order of the detected terminal user profile is lower based on the result of the comparison. 
     The method may further include measuring and comparing RSSI of the detected bluetooth terminal with preset reference RSSI. 
     If a value of the measured RSSI is larger than a value of the reference RSSI based on the result of the comparison, the priority order of the bluetooth terminal may be compared with the priority order of preset use profile. 
     A message of disconnecting the bluetooth terminal may be outputted, if a value of the measured RSSI is smaller than a value of the reference RSSI based on the result of the comparison. 
     The setting values of the user viewing conditions may include a favorite channel list, volume, rating, video mode, audio mode, password, automatic power on/off, reservation viewing and record information. 
     The set user viewing conditions may be maintained until at one of power-off, disconnection of Bluetooth terminal and load of the other user profiles may be performed. 
     If a plurality of other Bluetooth terminals are connected having different ratings are connected in the step of detecting the peripheral Bluetooth terminal, user profile of the Bluetooth terminal having the lowest rating may be loaded to set user viewing conditions. 
     If the Bluetooth terminal set as the user viewing conditions is re-detected for a predetermined time period, it may be asked as ° SD message whether to load standard user profile. 
     The present invention has following advantageous effects. 
     The video display apparatus according to the present invention automatically recognizes the user by using bluetooth devices, especially, mobile terminals such as mobile phones. As a result, the viewing conditions in consideration of ordinary viewing patterns or tastes of the user may be provided and a single television may be personalized by a plurality of users. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide further understanding of the disclosure and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this application, illustrate embodiments of the disclosure and together with the description serve to explain the principle of the disclosure. 
       In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is a diagram illustrating viewing conditions of a conventional video display apparatus; 
         FIG. 2  is an inner block view illustrating a video display apparatus  100  in communication with a peripheral Bluetooth device  200  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3 a    is a diagram illustrating a user profile setting menu for Bluetooth user registration; 
         FIG. 3 b    is a diagram illustrating a distance according to RSSI measurement of the peripheral Bluetooth device according to the video display apparatus of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  including  FIGS. 4 a  and 4 b    is a diagram illustrating a user profile setting menu according to another embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a flow chart illustrating a method of setting user viewing conditions of the video display apparatus using the Bluetooth device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a method of setting user viewing conditions of the video display apparatus using the Bluetooth device according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to the specific embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. 
       FIG. 2  is an inner block view illustrating a video display apparatus  100  in communication with a peripheral Bluetooth device  200  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     The video display apparatus  100  includes a Bluetooth module  101 , Rd communication controller  103 , control unit  105 , memory  107 , a user profile DB  109 , video/audio processor  111 , display unit  113  and a tuner  115 . 
     The Bluetooth module  101  performs inquiry for find out which peripheral devices there are and what is their communication address. The Bluetooth module  101  selects and sets an address of a Bluetooth device desired to communicate based on the collected addresses during the inquiry and it exchanges data with the Bluetooth device. 
     HCI communication controller  103  having defined interface, namely, host control interface (HCI) transmits and receives HCI packet to and from Bus firm ware. The HIC packet is categorized into command, event and data packets. The HCI communication controller  103  commands the Bluetooth module  101  to start the inquiry by using the command packet. In addition, the HCI communication controller  103  outputs an event packet to the control unit  105  based on the result of the inquiry performed by the Bluetooth module  101 . 
     The control unit  105  acquires information of relative Bluetooth device by using the event packet transmitted from the HCI communication controller  103  and the address of the Bluetooth module  101 . The control unit  105  identifies whether the Bluetooth terminal is registered to the user profile based on the acquired information of the Bluetooth device. Then, the control unit  105  loads user profile of the corresponding Bluetooth device based on the acquired information of the Bluetooth device. The control unit  105  sets user viewing conditions or generates new user profile by using the information of the connected Bluetooth device to register a setting value of user viewing condition. 
     In addition, the control unit  105  measures strength of a signal (Received Signal Strength Indication, RSSI) received by the detected Bluetooth device and it compares the measured signal strength with a preset reference RSSI to determine a connection state of the detected Bluetooth device. 
     The memory  107  stores programs for connection with Bluetooth devices according to the present invention therein. 
     The user profile database  109  stores setting values of viewing conditions according to Bluetooth device user types and user profile such as the information of the Bluetooth device therein. Here, the Bluetooth device information includes the name, address, signal strength of the Bluetooth terminal. The profile database  109  supplies graphical user interface, GUI that manages the user profile, for example, inputting a setting value of the user viewing condition corresponding to the information of the relative Bluetooth device to the user profile, determining the order of priority among the user profiles and the like. This may be referenced to as user profile setting menu. If the user profile setting menu is supplied in OSD way, the user may register, call and delete the user profile and also he may change the order of priority of the user profile and limit access to the setting menu of the user profile by setting password. 
     The control unit  105  measures RSSI of the peripheral Bluetooth device transmitted to the Bluetooth module  101 . If a value of the received RSST is larger than a value of the referenced RSSI, the control unit  105  determines that the Bluetooth device is connected and that the user of the corresponding Bluetooth device is in the viewing conditions of the television that is the video display apparatus. When registering the user profile, the control unit  105  outputs OSD message via the display unit  113  to inform that the user of the corresponding Bluetooth device would be remote as far as viewing fully before registering the Bluetooth device. Generally, the RSSI is in reverse proportion to the distance with the Bluetooth device and it can be used to measure a relative distance with respect to devices. 
     The control unit  105  loads user profile corresponding to the peripheral Bluetooth device  100  detected via the Bluetooth module  101  of the video display apparatus  100  and it sets user viewing conditions. 
     The tuner  115  receives corresponding broadcasting programs to reflect favorite channels, viewer rating, reservation viewing and recording information according to the preset user viewing conditions. 
     The video/audio processor  111  processes and outputs video and audio modes of the broadcasting program received according to the preset user viewing conditions. 
     The display unit  113  displays images processed by the video/audio processor  111  and it outputs various OSD messages according to the present invention. 
     The Bluetooth device  200  includes a Bluetooth protocol stack  201  having a unique identification number and it is connected to the broadcasting receiver  100  having the Bluetooth module  101  installed therein to communicate with. Here, the Bluetooth device  200  communicate with the broadcasting receiver  100  by using serial profile prescribed in standard Bluetooth standard Ver. 1.2. The Bluetooth device  200  responds its address under allowance of operating conditions for lookup process of the other Bluetooth devices, namely, inquiry scan/response. 
       FIG. 3 a    is a diagram illustrating user profile setting menu for Bluetooth user registration according to the present invention. 
     The Bluetooth module  101  of the video display apparatus receives Bluetooth device information (L 1 , L 2  and L 3 ) including address information via inquiry scan/response with peripheral Bluetooth devices. In addition, the Bluetooth module  101  generates user profiles (P 1 , P 2  and P 3 ) according to Bluetooth user type based on the Bluetooth device information detected in the video display apparatus. 
     Selected Bluetooth device address information (42:A3:12:B1:65: . . . ) of the detected Bluetooth device information is asked whether to be registered to corresponding user profile (P 1 ). The user profile (P 1 ) includes a bluetooth terminal list of a registered user, a setting value of user viewing conditions and information of the user priority order. 
       FIG. 3 b    is a diagram illustrating a distance according to RSSI measurement of the peripheral bluetooth device according to the present invention. 
     Bluetooth uses 2.4 GHz ISM (Industrial Scientific Medical band radio frequency with 1 Mbps of transfer speed to enable wireless data communication against obstacles. Bluetooth is Ad hoc network configured of connection among more than two piconets. Here, the piconet is a set of devices sharing identical channels to exchange information. The video display apparatus  100  may manage whether the bluetooth device  200  is positioned within a predetermined distance, whether it maintains connection or finishes the connection, the bluetooth device is linked to the piconet. 
     The video display apparatus  100  according to the present invention detects peripheral bluetooth devices  200  via inquiry scan/response by using the bluetooth module and it measures RSSI of the peripheral bluetooth devices  200 . Then, the video display apparatus  100  compares the measured RSSI with a preset reference RSSI and it outputs the connection state of the detected bluetooth devices via the display unit as OSD message. If the RSSI transmitted from the detected bluetooth device  200  is larger than the preset reference value, it is determined that the detected bluetooth device is connected to the video display apparatus  100  and that the user is within a predetermined distance (S) for viewing TV. As a result, if the registered bluetooth device  200  is detected and connected to the video display apparatus  100 , the user profile corresponding to the bluetooth device may be loaded automatically or based on user selection. At this time, it is preferable that the predetermined bluetooth communication distance (S) is 10 m. 
     The video display apparatus  100  detects peripheral bluetooth devices  200  periodically by using the bluetooth module and the registered terminal is automatically linked to the piconet. 
     Once the user profile corresponding to the detected bluetooth device is loaded, the video display apparatus  100  maintains the user viewing conditions until the power off, disconnection of the registered terminal or until other user profile of detected bluetooth terminal with high priority is loaded. 
     Here, the disconnection means that it is determined that the user of the bluetooth device  200  connected to the video display apparatus  100  is absent for a predetermined time period, if a value of the received RSSI is smaller than a value of RSSI stored for a predetermined time period although the bluetooth device  200  exists in the bluetooth piconet, or if the corresponding bluetooth device is not detected in the bluetooth piconet for a predetermined time period. 
     In case of the disconnection with the bluetooth device  200 , the video display apparatus  100  outputs the disconnection as OSD message. If there is no re-detection of the bluetooth device for a predetermined time period, the video display apparatus  100  asks the user whether to load user profile having a higher order of priority than the former one or it outputs standard profile load as OSD message. 
       FIG. 4  including  FIGS. 4 a  and 4 b    is a diagram illustrating a setting menu of the user profile according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 4 a    is an OSD message displayed in a display screen to ask the user whether to load user profile of the detected bluetooth device. 
       FIG. 4 b    shows the user viewing conditions of bluetooth user profile (P 1 , P 2  and P 3 ) displayed in the video display apparatus  100 . The bluetooth user profile includes a favorite channel list according to user types, volume, rating, video mode, audio mode, password, automatic power on/off, reservation viewing and record information. Especially, the video display apparatus according to the present invention sets user viewing conditions in communication with bluetooth devices such that it can manage the rating automatically. For example, if a plurality of bluetooth terminals with different ratings is connected, the bluetooth user profile with a relatively lower rating is loaded to set the user viewing conditions. That is, if there are different ratings, a relatively lower rating is selected such that children and their parents may view a corresponding broadcasting program together. 
       FIG. 5  is a flow chart illustrating a method of setting user viewing conditions of the video display apparatus in communication with bluetooth devices according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     The video display apparatus detects peripheral bluetooth devices via inquiry scan/response by using the bluetooth module installed therein (S 500 ). 
     The priority order of the profile preset in the video display apparatus at the present is compared and determined with the user profile corresponding to the detected bluetooth terminal (S 501 ). 
     If the priority order of the detected bluetooth terminal is higher than that of the preset profile, it is asked via the display unit whether the user profile of the detected bluetooth terminal is loaded (S 502 ). 
     If the user selects the load of the corresponding profile, the user profile of the detected bluetooth terminal is loaded (S 504 ). 
     The user viewing conditions preset in the loaded user profile is set (S 505 ). Here, the user favorite channels, volume value, video/audio mode, rating and reservation information of the detected bluetooth terminal user may be set as user viewing conditions. 
     If the priority order of the profile of the detected bluetooth terminal is lower than that of the preset profile or if the user refuses to load the corresponding profile, the detected bluetooth terminal is disconnected and the disconnection is outputted as OSD message via the display unit (S 506 ). 
       FIG. 6  is a flow chart illustrating a method of setting user viewing conditions of the video display apparatus in communication with a bluetooth device according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
     The video display apparatus periodically detects a peripheral bluetooth device via inquiry scan/response by using the bluetooth module (S 601 ). 
     It is determined whether the detected bluetooth terminal is registered (S 602 ). 
     If the detected bluetooth terminal is not preset and registered, a registering step registering the corresponding bluetooth terminal to the bluetooth user profile starts (S 611 ). 
     If the detected bluetooth terminal is registered one, RSSI of the bluetooth terminal is measured and compared with a preset reference RSSI (S 603 ), 
     If the value of the received RSSI is larger than the value of the reference RSSI, it is outputted as OSD message that the bluetooth connection is maintained (S 604 ). 
     The user viewing conditions of the user profile corresponding to the detected bluetooth terminal is maintained (S 605 ). 
     If the value of the received RSSI is smaller than the value of the reference RSSI, the preset bluetooth terminal is disconnected and the disconnection is outputted as OSD message (S 606 ). 
     After the disconnection with the detected bluetooth terminal is complete, it is determined whether a bluetooth terminal is re-detected for a predetermined time period (S 608 ). 
     If it is determined to perform the re-detection, the step (S 601 ) is performed. 
     If the re-detection of the bluetooth terminal is not performed for a predetermined time period, the user is asked whether to load user profile having the next higher priority order than the user profile of the preset bluetooth terminal. Or if there is no bluetooth terminal, the user is asked to load standard profile (S 608 ). 
     The corresponding profile required by the user is loaded (S 609 ). The user viewing conditions of the loaded profile is set as setting value (S 610 ). Here, operations of the video display apparatus performed during the viewing period is renewed and stored as corresponding user viewing condition value. 
     In the meanwhile, the terminology user in the specification of the present invention is defined in consideration of functions and it may be varied according to purpose or practices of people who pertains to the art. As a result, the definition of terminology may be performed based on the content of the description. 
     It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. 
     The present invention has an industrial applicability. 
     The video display apparatus according to the present invention automatically recognizes the user by using bluetooth devices, especially, mobile terminals such as mobile phones. As a result, the viewing conditions in consideration of ordinary viewing patterns or tastes of the user may be provided and a single television may be personalized by a plurality of users.