Abstract:
A visual source management system that allows simultaneous preview and control of multiple video sources and/or streams of content is provided. The processors feature easy, fast, and independent control over video and audio outputs with or without content protection. Display systems provide a number of useful configurations to allow multitasking as well as simultaneous high performance preview for easy intuitive selection of video sources for TV, television, computing, Internet, streaming, or applications.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a visual source management system. More specifically, embodiments of the present invention relate to the processors or systems for simultaneous preview, control and processing of multiple simultaneous symmetric or asymmetric video sources displayed individually on multiple displays. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    As the growth in TV, Internet and other forms of media expand, there becomes a need to better preview and select among the broad choice of content. Additionally, more and more people choose to multi-task in a variety of ways such as watching news while analyzing and trading stocks; watching TV while social networking and gaming; or watching multiple live sports casts while enjoying friends. This invention also allows a viewer to not only see the main feed of an NBA basketball game, but also to simultaneously view multiple camera angles of the same event. Thus improving personal control over which view appears on the main screen within your home. 
         [0005]    Previous to this invention, TV viewers used features such as “Input Selection”, “Channel Surfing”, “Electronic Program Guides” or “Picture-In-Picture”to navigate among choices of video content. Each of these required many complex or repetitive actions to use. Electronic program guides have limited or even misleading information. Picture-in-picture is a poor compromise requiring a portion of the images to be obscured or splitting precious screen-space resulting in smaller, lower-quality distorted images. Switching among video sources was slow and more often guess-work. 
         [0006]    Previous industrial, commercial, or security solutions such as tiling, switchers, distribution amplifiers or matrix boxes failed to provide the convenience, features, functions, needs and cost of a consumer requirement typically omitting independent control of audio and video, not supporting content protected video sources, lack full resolution image quality, lacking instant one touch control of content on the primary display and/or other features. 
         [0007]    Previous streaming content solutions such as computers, notebooks, tablets, mobile phones, routers, modems, cable-boxes or game consoles are limited by the computing resources and switching among many streams quickly cripples the responsiveness to the user. Switching web video sources caused an interruption requiring a restart, break in the action, repeated commercial advertisements, and/or many steps including authentication, synchronization and buffering of data delaying when a smooth enjoyable view can begin. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The present invention describes processors and systems for visual source management. Visual source management allows a user or group of users to enjoy multiple independent streams of full performance content. The user has easy and fast control over which video appears on the primary display among a set of displays as well as independent control or mixing of which audio stream or streams are audible. 
         [0009]    Combinations of three sets of unique processors are incorporated into four classes of solutions. Each class of solution further breaks down into a variety of novel application solutions including but not limited to: towers, bars, or arrays for multi-display TV&#39;s or multi-display monitors. The main display may be integrated or separate. Portions of the audio system may be integrated or separate. Each logic element can be individually or in combination integrated onto a chip. Logic or control may be centralized and/or distributed to allow chaining of systems. 
         [0010]    As individual signals have dedicated processing power, there is no performance degradation as the number or complexity of signals grows. This invention applies equally well when viewing multiple channels of TV, PC, Internet content, game consoles, BD, DVD, other sources or any combinations thereof. 
         [0011]    In addition to multi-tasking, the user also benefits from visual preview of available content. This simplifies the task of selecting what to watch and how to select a program on your main display or TV. There is no break in the action since your attention can seamlessly shift from a preview to the main display. 
         [0012]    Switching on the main display becomes faster since the connection to each input device is maintained by the associated dedicated display. Previous to this invention, switching to re-establish synchronization can easily take 5-7 seconds for television content and even more for streaming Internet content. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    Advantage of one or more disclosed embodiments may become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon reference to the drawings in which: 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  is a schematic depicting an illustrative source monitoring processor, according to one or more embodiments described herein; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is a schematic depicting an illustrative source flipping processor, according to one or more embodiments described herein; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a schematic depicting an illustrative TV processor, according to one or more embodiments described herein; 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is a schematic depicting illustrative source monitoring display systems, according to one or more embodiments described herein; 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  is a schematic depicting illustrative source monitoring television systems, according to one or more embodiments described herein; 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  is a schematic depicting illustrative source flipping display systems, according to one or more embodiments described herein; 
           [0020]      FIG. 7  is a schematic depicting illustrative source flipping television systems, according to one or more embodiments described herein; 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0021]    Described herein are exemplary systems and methods for implementing visual source management. In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of various embodiments. However, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the various embodiments may be practiced without the specific details. In other instances, well known methods, procedures, components, and circuits have not been illustrated or described in detail so as not to obscure the particular embodiments. 
         [0022]    The term “video” is used to improve readability and is presumed the reader understands that state of the art video includes but not limited to audio, data, metadata, control, handshaking, power, networking and/or content protection in either or both directions. Video may be implemented using a variety or combinations of information representation schemes such as TMDS, LVDS, HDMI, DisplayPort, Thunderbolt, USB, Light Peak, component video, YUV, RGB, dRGB, VGA, composite video, ATSC, DVB, VSB, QAM, MPEG, MPEG2, MPEG4, MP3, analog audio, digital audio, Dolby Digital, advanced audio coding, FLASH, HTML, XML, HTML5, EDID, Plug &amp; Play, and other protocols. It is well known that video may be obtained from a variety of vehicles including but not limited to Internet, terrestrial broadcast, cable, satellite, fiber, disc, or tape. References to HDMI include solutions that are compatible to HDMI such as TMDS, DisplayPort or Thunderbolt. A display may be implemented using LCD, LED, OLED, bi-stable, plasma, projection, laser, or other technologies. Video processing reaches beyond selecting streams and include but not limited to mixing, blending or signal processing within one or among combinations of input signals down to the pixel or sub-pixel level in space and/or time. References to controls or remote controls presume an appropriate set of functions. The input signals are understood to include but not limited to antennae, cable boxes, satellite receivers, PC&#39;s, notebooks, tablets, phones, DVD&#39;s, BD&#39;s, VCR&#39;s, receivers, recorders, DVR&#39;s, routers, bridges, radios, modems, repeaters, video processors, and other devices. Communications and control links include but are not limited to remote controls, USB, serial, parallel, optical, wired and/or wireless. 
         [0023]      FIG. 1  is a schematic depicting an illustrative system  100  for source monitoring processor, according to one or more embodiments. In one or more embodiments, a first video input  101  is connected to a corresponding video input processor  111 . A preferred embodiment of input  101  would be HDMI where each active HDMI video input link is maintained during processing. The input processor  111  replicates the input  101  into two corresponding video signals  121  and  125 . One of the replicated signals  125  enters a video output processor  131  where the signal is transformed into a video output signal  151  that is suitable for display. A preferred embodiment of output  151  is LVDS. The output processor  131  also produces a corresponding audio output  141 . 
         [0024]    Similarly, the same logic flow is repeated for a number (n) of video input signals. A second input  102 , a third input  103  and so forth to n th  input  104 . These n signals are replicated by corresponding input processors ( 111 ,  112 ,  113 , . . .  114 ) into two corresponding video signals ( 121 ,  122 ,  123 , . . .  124 ,  125 ,  126 ,  127 , . . .  128 ). One of each replicated video signal enters a video output processor ( 131 ,  132 ,  133 , . . .  134 ). Each output processor produces n transformed video outputs ( 151 ,  152 ,  153 , . . .  154 ) and n corresponding audio outputs ( 141 , 142 , 143 , . . .  144 ). 
         [0025]    The second of the n replicated signals ( 121 ,  122 ,  123 , . . .  124 ) enters an n+1 th  main video output processor  120 . This output processor  120  transforms one or more of the n inputs to produce a video output signal  150 . Note that there are now n+1 video output signals in total. In this way any of the n input signals can be monitored on the n outputs while having simultaneous and/or independent main output  150  to an external TV or display. A preferred embodiment of the main video output is HDMI. 
         [0026]    The n audio signals ( 141 ,  142 ,  143 , . . .  144 ) enter an audio processor  145 . The audio processor  145  produces a number of common audio output formats including digital audio  146  or analog audio  147 . In this way any there can be simultaneous and/or independent audio outputs ( 146 ,  147 ). 
         [0027]    Power enters through an external connection  106  and conversion, distribution and management is performed by power management  116 . The power management  116  may selectively sleep or wake individual elements based on user settings and system information. Control, wireless and/or wired communication links  105  enter a control unit  115 . User controls such as a remote control allow selection of video and/or audio in a quick single action. Connections for power and control to the individual blocks are omitted to improve readability. 
         [0028]      FIG. 2  is a schematic depicting an illustrative system  200  for a source flipping processor, according to one or more embodiments. In one or more embodiments, a first video input  101  is connected to a corresponding video input processor  211 . A preferred embodiment of input  101  would be HDMI where each active HDMI video input link is maintained during processing. The input processor  211  replicates the input  101  into n corresponding video signals  210 . One of the replicated signals  210  enters a video output processor  221  where the signal is transformed into a video output signal  241  that is suitable for display. A preferred embodiment of output  241  is LVDS. The output processor  221  also produces a corresponding audio output  231 . 
         [0029]    Similarly, the same logic flow is repeated for a number (n) of video input signals. A second input  102 , a third input  103  and so forth to n th  input  104 . These n signals are replicated by corresponding input processors ( 211 ,  212 ,  213 , . . .  214 ) into n corresponding video signals  210 . One of each replicated video signal enters a video output processor ( 221 ,  222 ,  223 , . . .  224 ). Each output processor produces n transformed video outputs ( 241 ,  242 ,  243 , . . .  244 ) and n corresponding audio outputs ( 231 ,  232 ,  234 ). In this way each of the n input signals ( 101 ,  102 ,  103 , . . .  104 ) can appear independently and/or simultaneously on any of the n outputs ( 241 ,  242 ,  243 , . . .  244 ). 
         [0030]    The n audio signals ( 231 ,  232 ,  233 , . . .  234 ) enter an audio processor  235 . The audio processor  235  produces a number of common audio output formats including digital audio  236  or analog audio  237 . In this way any there can be simultaneous and/or independent audio outputs. 
         [0031]    Power enters through an external connection  206  and conversion, distribution and management is performed by power management  216 . The power management  216  may selectively sleep or Wake individual elements based on user settings and system information. Control, wireless and/or wired communication links  205  enter a control unit  215 . User controls such as a remote control allow selection of video and/or audio in a quick single action. Connections for power and control to the individual blocks are omitted to improve readability. 
         [0032]      FIG. 3  is a schematic depicting an illustrative system  300  for a TV processor, according to one or more embodiments. In one or more embodiments, a first video input  301  is connected to a corresponding video input processor  311 . There are a broad variety of video input signals not limited to ATSC, NTSC, DVB, HDMI, VGA, DisplayPort, Thunderbolt, component video or AV. A preferred embodiment of input  301  would be ATSC. Another embodiment of input  301  would be a network for Internet streaming data. The input processor  311  replicates the input  301  into n corresponding video signals  320 . One of the replicated signals  320  enters a video output processor  331  where the signal is transformed into a video output signal  101 . A preferred embodiment of output  101  is HDMI. 
         [0033]    Similarly, the same logic flow is repeated for a number (k) of video input signals. These k video signals may be similar or different. A second input  302 , a third input  303  and so forth to k th  input  306 . These k signals are replicated by corresponding input processors ( 311 ,  312 ,  313 , . . .  316 ) into k×n video signals  320  where k is greater than or equal to n. One of each replicated video signal enters a video output processor ( 331 ,  332 ,  333 , . . .  334 ). Each output processor produces n transformed video outputs ( 101 ,  102 ,  103 , . . .  104 ). In this way each of the k input signals ( 301 ,  302 ,  303 , . . .  306 ) can appear independently and/or simultaneously on any of the n outputs ( 101 ,  102 ,  103 , . . .  104 ). In a preferred embodiment, a single antenna connection on  301  can produce n distinct yet simultaneous TV channels appearing on n video output signals ( 101 ,  102 ,  103 , . . .  104 ). In an embodiment where input  301  is a network connection, the network access is distributed using input processor  311  that acts as a router and can produce n distinct yet simultaneous Internet sessions appearing on n video output signals ( 101 ,  102 ,  103 , . . .  104 ). 
         [0034]    Power enters through an external connection  308  and conversion, distribution and management is performed by power management  318 . The power management  318  may selectively sleep or wake individual elements based on user settings and system information. Control, wireless and/or wired communication links  307  enter a control unit  317 . Connections for power and control to the individual blocks are omitted to improve readability. 
         [0035]      FIG. 4  is a schematic depicting illustrative systems for source monitoring display systems, according to one or more embodiments. In one or more embodiments, n video inputs ( 101 ,  102 ,  103 , . . .  104 ) are connected to a source monitoring processor  100 . A preferred embodiment of the n inputs would be HDMI. The source monitoring processor  100  produces n video outputs ( 151 ,  152 ,  153 , . . .  154 ) which are attached to corresponding displays ( 401 ,  402 ,  403 , . . .  404 ). A preferred embodiment of the n displays is a set of n flat panel LCD display. 
         [0036]    The source monitoring processor  100  produces an n+1 th  main video output  150  which is attached to a display  421 . A preferred embodiment of display  421  is a larger flat panel LCD main display. The image on this main display  421  can be selected from any of the n input video signals ( 101 ,  102 ,  103 , . . .  104 ) appearing on the n displays ( 401 ,  402 ,  403 , . . .  404 ). 
         [0037]    The source monitoring processor  100  produces a digital audio output  146  and/or an analog audio output  147 . One or more channels of analog audio output are amplified by amplifier  411  producing powered audio  412  and are heard over speakers  413 . The digital audio and/or analog audio can be selected to match with or independently of the main video output  150 . 
         [0038]    Power  106 , communications and control  105  are connected to the system. Power management is used to selectively sleep and/or wake individual displays and/or system elements. User controls allow manual and/or assisted selection of which input video appears on the main video output  150 , which audio appears on the digital audio output  146  and which audio appears on the analog audio output  147 . 
         [0039]    The source monitoring tower  400  combines the source monitoring processor  100 , n displays ( 401 ,  402 ,  403 , . . .  404 ) and the related signals ( 101 ,  102 ,  103 , . . .  104 ,  105 ,  106 ,  151 ,  152 ,  153 , . . .  154 ,  150 ,  146 ,  147 ). This source monitoring tower  400  would be used in conjunction with an external TV or display  421  and/or external sound system. 
         [0040]    The source monitoring bar  410  combines the source monitoring processor  100 , n displays ( 401 ,  402 ,  403 , . . .  404 ), sound system ( 411 ,  412 ,  413 ) and the related signals ( 101 ,  102 ,  103 , . . .  104 ,  105 ,  106 ,  151 ,  152 ,  153 , . . .  154 ,  150 ,  146 ,  147 ). This source monitoring bar  410  would be used in conjunction with an external TV or display  421 . The source monitoring bar  410  would be a standalone or add-on accessory that could be used with any TV or display for multi-tasking and/or improve the ease of selecting what appears on that external TV or display  421 . 
         [0041]    The source monitoring display  420  combines the source monitoring processor  100 , n+1 displays ( 401 ,  402 ,  403 , . . .  404 ,  421 ), sound system ( 411 ,  412 ,  413 ) and the related signals ( 101 ,  102 ,  103 , . . .  104 ,  105 ,  106 ,  151 ,  152 ,  153 , . . .  154 ,  150 ,  146 ,  147 ). This source monitoring display  420  could be used standalone or in conjunction with an external sound system. In this embodiment, a main display  421  would be larger then the other n smaller displays ( 401 ,  402 ,  403 , . . .  404 ). The image on the main display would repeat the image of one of the n smaller displays based on the user&#39;s desires. 
         [0042]      FIG. 5  is a schematic depicting illustrative systems for source monitoring TV systems, according to one or more embodiments. In one or more embodiments, k video inputs ( 301 ,  302 ,  303 , . . .  306 ) are connected to a TV processor producing n video signals ( 101 ,  102 ,  103 , . . .  104 ) where k is greater than or equal to n. A preferred embodiment of one of the k inputs would be ATSC. These n video inputs ( 101 ,  102 ,  103 , . . .  104 ) are connected to a source monitoring processor  100 . A preferred embodiment of the n inputs would be n HDMI connections. The source monitoring processor  100  produces n video outputs ( 151 ,  152 ,  153 , . . .  154 ) which are attached to corresponding displays ( 501 ,  502 ,  503 , . . .  504 ). A preferred embodiment of the n displays is a set of n flat panel LCD displays. 
         [0043]    The source monitoring processor  100  produces an n+1 th  main video output  150  which is attached to a display  521 . A preferred embodiment of display  521  is a large flat panel television. The image on this main TV display  521  can be selected from any of the k input video signals ( 301 ,  302 ,  303 , . . .  306 ) of which n appear on the n displays ( 501 ,  502 ,  503 , . . .  504 ). For example, the entirety of n different TV channels could appear simultaneously on n displays. 
         [0044]    The source monitoring processor  100  produces a digital audio output  146  and/or an analog audio output  147 . One or more channels of analog audio output is amplified  411  producing powered audio  412  and is heard over speakers  413 . The digital audio and/or analog audio can be selected to match with or independently of the main video output  150 . 
         [0045]    Power  106 , communications and control  105  are connected to the system. Power management is used to selectively sleep and/or wake individual displays and/or system elements. User controls allow manual and/or assisted selection of which input video appears on the main video output  150 , which audio appears on the digital audio output  146  and which audio appears on the analog audio output  147 . 
         [0046]    The source monitoring TV tower  500  combines the source monitoring processor and TV processor ( 100 ,  300 ), n displays ( 501 ,  502 ,  503 , . . .  504 ) and the related signals ( 301 ,  302 ,  303 , . . .  306 ,  101 ,  102 ,  103 , . . .  104 ,  105 ,  106 ,  151 ,  152 ,  153 , . . .  154 ,  150 ,  146 ,  147 ). This source monitoring TV tower  500  would be used in conjunction with an external TV or display  521  and/or external sound system. 
         [0047]    The source monitoring TV bar  510  combines the source monitoring processor and TV processor ( 100 ,  300 ), n displays ( 501 ,  502 ,  503 , . . .  504 ), sound system ( 301 ,  302 ,  303 , . . .  306 ,  411 ,  412 ,  413 ) and the related signals ( 101 ,  102 ,  103 , . . .  104 ,  105 ,  106 ,  151 ,  152 ,  153 , . . .  154 ,  150 ,  146 ,  147 ). This source monitoring TV bar  510  would be used in conjunction with an external TV or display  521 . The source monitoring TV bar  510  would be a standalone or add-on accessory that could be used with any TV or display for multi-tasking and/or improve the ease of selecting what appears on that external TV or display  521 . 
         [0048]    The source monitoring television  520  combines the source monitoring processor and TV processor ( 100 ,  300 ), n+1 displays ( 501 ,  502 ,  503 , . . .  504 ,  521 ), sound system ( 411 ,  412 ,  413 ) and the related signals ( 301 ,  302 ,  303 , . . .  306 ,  101 ,  102 ,  103 , . . .  104 ,  105 ,  106 ,  151 ,  152 ,  153 , . . .  154 ,  150 ,  146 ,  147 ). This source monitoring television  520  could be used standalone or in conjunction with an external sound system. In this embodiment, a main display  521  would be larger then the other n smaller displays ( 501 ,  502 ,  503 , . . .  504 ). The image on the main display would repeat the image of one of the n smaller displays based on the user&#39;s desires. 
         [0049]      FIG. 6  is a schematic depicting illustrative systems for source flipping display systems, according to one or more embodiments. In one or more embodiments, n video inputs ( 101 ,  102 ,  103 , . . .  104 ) are connected to a source flipping processor  200 . A preferred embodiment of the n inputs would be n HDMI connections. The source flipping processor  200  produces n video outputs ( 241 ,  242 ,  243 , . . .  244 ) which are attached to corresponding displays ( 601 ,  602 ,  603 , . . .  621 ). A preferred embodiment of the n displays is a set of n flat panel LCD displays of which one display  621  is larger. The image on this main display  621  can be selected from any of the n input video signals ( 101 ,  102 ,  103 , . . .  104 ) appearing on the n displays ( 601 ,  602 ,  603 , . . .  621 ). 
         [0050]    The source flipping processor  200  produces a digital audio output  236  and/or an analog audio output  237 . One or more channels of analog audio output is amplified  611  producing powered audio  612  and is heard over speakers  613 . The digital audio and/or analog audio can be selected to match with or independently of the main video output  244 . 
         [0051]    Power  106 , communications and control  105  are connected to the system. Power management is used to selectively sleep and/or wake individual displays and/or system elements. User controls allow manual and/or assisted selection of which input video appears on the main video output  244 , which audio appears on the digital audio output  236  and which audio appears on the analog audio output  237 . 
         [0052]    The source flipping tower  600  combines the source flipping processor  200 , n−1 displays ( 601 ,  602 , . . .  603 ) and the related signals ( 101 ,  102 ,  103 , . . .  104 ,  105 ,  106 ,  241 ,  242 , . . .  243 ,  244 ,  236 ,  237 ). This source flipping tower  600  would be used in conjunction with an external TV or display  621  and/or external sound system. 
         [0053]    The source flipping bar  610  combines the source flipping processor  200 , n−1 displays ( 601 ,  602 , . . .  603 ), sound system ( 611 ,  612 ,  613 ) and the related signals ( 101 ,  102 ,  103 , . . .  104 ,  105 ,  106 ,  241 ,  242 , . . .  243 ,  244 ,  236 ,  237 ). This source flipping bar  610  would be used in conjunction with an external TV or display  621 . The source flipping bar  610  would be a standalone or add-on accessory that could be used with any TV or display for multi-tasking and/or improve the ease of selecting what appears on that external TV or display  621 . 
         [0054]    The source flipping display  620  combines the source flipping processor  200 , n displays ( 601 ,  602 , . . .  603 ,  621 ), sound system ( 611 ,  612 ,  613 ) and the related signals ( 101 ,  102 ,  103 , . . .  104 ,  105 ,  106 ,  241 ,  242 , . . .  243 ,  244 ,  236 ,  237 ). This source flipping display  620  could be used standalone or in conjunction with an external sound system. In this embodiment, a main display  621  would be larger then the other n−1 smaller displays ( 601 ,  602 , . . .  603 ). The image on the main display can be exchanged the image of one of the n−1 smaller displays based on the user&#39;s desires. A preferred embodiment would be where n=2 and the source flipping display  620  consists of one large display  621  and one small display  601 . 
         [0055]      FIG. 7  is a schematic depicting illustrative systems for source flipping television systems, according to one or more embodiments. In one or more embodiments, k video inputs ( 301 ,  302 ,  303 , . . .  306 ) are connected to a TV processor  300  producing n video signals ( 101 ,  102 ,  103 , . . .  104 ) where k is greater than or equal to n. A preferred embodiment of one of the k inputs would be ATSC. These n video inputs ( 101 ,  102 ,  103 , . . .  104 ) are connected to a source flipping processor  200 . A preferred embodiment of the n inputs would be HDMI. The source flipping processor  200  produces n video outputs ( 241 ,  242 ,  243 , . . .  244 ) which are attached to corresponding displays ( 601 ,  602 ,  603 , . . .  721 ). A preferred embodiment of the n displays is a set of flat panel LCD display. 
         [0056]    A preferred embodiment of display  721  is a large flat panel television. The image on this main TV display  721  can be selected from any of the k input video signals ( 301 ,  302 ,  303 , . . .  306 ) of which n appear on the n displays ( 601 ,  602 ,  603 , . . .  721 ). For example, the entirety of n different TV channels could appear simultaneously on n displays. 
         [0057]    The source flipping processor  200  produces a digital audio output  236  and/or an analog audio output  237 . One or more channels of analog audio output is amplified  611  producing powered audio  612  and is heard over speakers  613 . The digital audio and/or analog audio can be selected to match with or independently of the main video output  244 . 
         [0058]    Power  106 , communications and control  105  are connected to the system. Power management is used to selectively sleep and/or wake individual displays and/or system elements. User controls allow manual and/or assisted selection of which input video appears on the main video output  244 , which audio appears on the digital audio output  236  and which audio appears on the analog audio output  237 . 
         [0059]    The source flipping TV tower  700  combines the source flipping processor and TV processor ( 200 ,  300 ), n−1 displays ( 601 ,  602 , . . .  603 ) and the related signals ( 301 ,  302 ,  303 , . . .  306 ,  101 ,  102 ,  103 , . . .  104 ,  105 ,  106 ,  241 ,  242 , . . .  243 ,  244 ,  236 ,  237 ). This source flipping TV tower  700  would be used in conjunction with an external TV or display  721  and/or external sound system. 
         [0060]    The source flipping TV bar  710  combines the source flipping processor and TV processor ( 200 ,  300 ), n−1 displays ( 601 ,  602 , . . .  603 ), sound system ( 611 ,  612 ,  613 ) and the related signals ( 301 ,  302 ,  303 , . . .  306 ,  101 ,  102 ,  103 , . . .  104 ,  105 ,  106 ,  241 ,  242 , . . .  243 ,  244 ,  236 ,  237 ). This source flipping TV bar  710  would be used in conjunction with an external TV or display  721 . The source flipping TV bar  710  would be a standalone or add-on accessory that could be used with any TV or display for multi-tasking and/or improve the ease of selecting what appears on that external TV or display  721 . 
         [0061]    The source flipping television  720  combines the source flipping processor and TV processor ( 200 ,  300 ), n displays ( 601 ,  602 , . . .  603 ,  721 ), sound system ( 611 ,  612 ,  613 ) and the related signals ( 301 ,  302 ,  303 , . . .  306 ,  101 ,  102 ,  103 , . . .  104 ,  105 ,  106 ,  241 ,  242 , . . .  243 ,  244 ,  236 ,  237 ). This source flipping television  720  could be used standalone or in conjunction with an external sound system. In this embodiment, a main display  721  would be larger then the other n−1 smaller displays ( 601 ,  602 , . . .  603 ). The image on the main display can be exchanged the image of one of the n−1 smaller displays based on the user&#39;s desires. A preferred embodiment would be where n=2 and the source flipping television  720  consists of one large display  721  and one small display  701 .