TELEVISION AND COMPUTER MULTIMEDIA DISPLAY SYSTEM

Abstract: An information processing apparatus comprising a video input (230), a data input (120), means for combining (10) the video input and the data input, and means for outputting (130) the combined signal to a video display unit.

Description: TELEVISION AND COMPUTER MULTIMEDIA DISPLAY SYSTEM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The invention is directed primarily to multimedia, and more particularly to an information processing apparatus for use in association with a video display unit, such as a television. The information processing apparatus is capable of combining broadcast (or otherwise transmitted) video signals with received data signals which comprise graphics and alphanumeric text and generated graphics and text. 2. Background Art Since the advent of video, televisions and other video displays have become commonplace in virtually every venue. For example, televisions and video displays are commonly found in the home, office, airports, hotels, restaurants, and bars, to name just a few. Indeed, it is difficult to find a place where televisions are inaccessible or otherwise not available. Televisions are generally used for receiving and displaying broadcast signals from such sources as terrestrial transmissions, cable transmissions and/or satellite transmissions. Such transmissions are disseminated to a wide number of televisions and to numerous geographic regions. Most transmissions include advertising in the form of commercials. Typically, such commercials comprise 15 to 60 second spots between scenes of a show, innings of a baseball game, etc. These commercials are transmitted to a generally wide audience of viewers. For example, a typical terrestrial broadcast in the Chicago area is disseminated to several million people. Thus, it is not possible to tailor commercials for each particular home, bar, and hotel within the geographic area. Additionally, one of the most effective manners in which to provide information to individuals is by transmission over television. Indeed, at a broadcaster level, inclement weather conditions can be scrolled across the bottom of a screen. However, such messages are disseminated to the entire viewing public. As such, there is no manner in which, for example, a tavern can advertise specials over television screens, especially without adversely affecting the ability to view the regularly transmitted video signal. Thus, it is an object of the invention to facilitate the combination of a video signal with a data signal which may be transmitted to a video display unit. It is a further object of the invention to facilitate the transmission of unique data signals for combination with video signals to individual video display units. These and other objects will become evident in light of the specification and the claims appended hereto. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention comprises an information processing apparatus comprising a video input, a data input, a means for generating and modifying images and text from the data input , a means for combining the video input and the resultant data input images and text, and means for outputting the combined signal to a video display unit. Essentially, the apparatus combines a data signal with a video signal to simultaneously display both over a video display unit. In a preferred embodiment, the information processing apparatus further includes an audio input. In another preferred embodiment, the audio and video inputs comprise a single video/audio input. In yet another preferred embodiment, the single video/audio input comprises a coaxial cable connector. In a preferred embodiment, the video input comprises a tuner having a coaxial cable connector. In other embodiments the video input my be an F signal, component, composite or digital video input. In another preferred embodiment, the data input comprises one of the group consisting of: a USB port, Serial port, Parallel port, IRDA port, wireless data receiver, vertical blanking or other video imbedded data signal or modem. Preferably, the combining means includes means for resizing a video signal received from the video input. Additionally, the combining means may include means for positioning a video signal received from the video input to a particular region of a video display unit. In another embodiment, the combining means may include means for positioning data received from the data input to a particular region of the video display unit. In yet another preferred embodiment, the combining means may include means for overlaying the data received from the data input over the video signal received from the video input. In a preferred embodiment, the data input is capable of receiving graphics and alpha- numerictext. Preferably, the graphics comprise meta data and the alpha-numeric text comprises encoded alpha-numeric text. In a preferred embodiment, the output means comprises a combined signal output. Preferably, the combined signal output comprises a Radio Frequency, Composite Video, Component Video or any other applicable digital or analog video format. In a preferred embodiment, the combined signal output comprises a plurality of combined signal outputs, to, in turn, output the signal to a plurality of visual display units. The invention likewise comprises a method of combining a video signal and a data signal for display onto a video display unit. The method comprises the steps of (a) providing a video signal; (b) providing a data signal; (c) Processing the data signal to generate graphics and textual elements (d) combining the video signal and the data signal; (e) outputting the combined signal to a video display unit; and (f) displaying the combined signal on the video display unit. In a preferred embodiment, the method further comprises the step of providing an audio signal. In a preferred embodiment, the step of combining comprises the step of resizing at least a portion of the video signal. In another preferred embodiment, the step of combining comprises the step of repositioning at least a portion of the video signal. In yet another preferred embodiment, the step of combining comprises the step of overlaying at least a portion of the data signal over at least a portion of the video signal. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 of the drawings is a plan view of the processor apparatus of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a schematic presentation of same; Fig. 3 is an elevational view of the display unit and signal; Fig. 4 is an elevational view of yet another display unit and signal; Fig. 5 is an elevational view of yet anotlier display unit and signal; and Fig. 6 is an elevational view of yet another display unit and signal. BEST MODE FOR PRACTICING THE INVENTION While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will be described in detail, several specific embodiments with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiments illustrated. Information Processing apparatus 10 is shown in Fig. 1 as comprising housing 18, video input 20, audio input 22, data input 24, means 26 for combining the video, audio and data input, and combined signal output 28. Housing 18 comprises an aluminum housing which protects internal components, and effectively dissipates heat. While various components are contemplated, apparatus 18 is about the size of a VHS video tape, thus, the apparatus can easily be stored and transported. As shown schematically in Fig. 2, processor apparatus 10 is associated with video source 100, audio source 110 and data source 120 so as to be capable of receiving information from such sources. Likewise, processor apparatus 10 is associated with at least one video display unit, such as video display unit 130. Video input 20 is shown in Fig. 1 as comprising various jacks and connectors capable of receiving video signals from video source 100. Similarly, audio input 22 may comprise various jacks and connectors capable of receiving audio signals from audio source 110. In many instances, the video and audio are provided by a single combined source. Such sources may include cable company broadcasts, terrestrial (airwave) broadcasts or satellite broadcasts. Video input 20 may likewise comprise a RF signal, component, composite or digital video input. Additionally, the sources may comprise on-site sources, such as video cameras (VHS, VHS-C, 9mm, Hi-9, non-tape etc.), VTR's (VHS, 9mm, 3/4 inch, etc.), DVD, Laser Disc, etc. Various common connectors are utilized by the foregoing video and audio sources. These include S-Video connections, RCA type connections, coaxial cable connectors, wire pairs, fiber optic, to name a few. Of course, the particular input connectors are not limited to any one connector, and indeed, other connectors (custom and common) may, in the future, become available. In certain embodiments, video input 20 may include a tuner capable of decoding cable, terrestrial and satellite signals. In such an embodiment, it is not necessary to include a separate tuner to decode the various signals prior to input into video input 20. Such a tuner can be integrated with decoder 40 (Fig. 1). Data input is shown in Fig. 1 as comprising various jacks and connections capable of receiving digital data signals from data source 120 (Fig. 2). Data source 120 may comprise, for example, a remote or a local computer having data readable and usable by processor apparatus 10. Such computers may comprise remote servers which are accessible over the Internet. Indeed, it is contemplated that each processor apparatus 10 will have a designated IP address (i.e. xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx or the like). In this manner, each processor apparatus can be individually addressed and accessed. Alternatively, such computers may be local and directly accessible by various means. Various computers are contemplated including, but not limited to, computers operating under various systems such as UNIX, LINUX, Windows 98/00/NT, BeOS, Mac OS, Windows CE, Palm OS, among others. Various common connection systems may be utilized as data input 24. These include modem connectors associated with a DSL, 56K or cable modem line. These connections are useful, especially wherein the data source comprises a server accessible through the Internet. In other instances, especially wherein the data source is a local connection to the apparatus, the connectors may comprise a USB port, serial port, parallel port, infrared port (IRDA), RF, wireless data receiver, vertical blanking or other video imbedded data signal, to name a few. Indeed, these are only some of the possibilities, and the invention is not limited to any particular set of connectors. Specifically, the apparatus may be tailored to use specific custom connectors, or connectors which may become available in the future. Combining means 26 is shown schematically in Fig. 1 as comprising an IC board having C PU/processor 32, SDRAM 34, FLASH memory 36, encoder 38 and decoder 40. As will be understood, the foregoing hardware is operably wired together and software is embedded in either the SDRAM 34 and/or FLASH memory 36 (additional software as necessary can be sent via data input). It will be understood that in certain embodiments, flash memory may be replaced or supplemented with hard disks, CD Rom drives, or other permanent and/or removable media. The software, which can be programmed by one skilled in the art of computer programming, coordinates the hardware to accept video, audio, and data input from each of inputs 20-24 and decode where necessary to combine them in various forms. The combined signal is encoded and output to combined signal output 28. In particular, the combining means can process the signals received from video input 20 and resize the video input to any size (i.e. shrink it between 0-100% full size) so that when transmitted to the video display unit, the video portion takes up either the whole or only a portion of the entire screen. In addition to resizing of the video input, the video input can be repositioned so that it appears at a predetermined location on the video display. As shown in Fig. 3, for example, the displayed video signal 200 has been reduced in side and repositioned into one corner of the screen. As shown in Fig. 4, the displayed video signal 200 has been reduced and repositioned in the center of the screen. In addition, combining means 26 can process the data input into imagery (which will comprise a combination of textual, visual and audio signals). While various formats are contemplated for use, one fonnat that is contemplated comprises a format which is of low bandwidth sold under the name Flash by Macromedia. Such a format is useful due to the limited memory required for the apparatus. The data signal is then processed(i.e. decoded) by CPU 32 to create imagery, i.e. the textual and graphic elements which are then combined with the video signal. Once decoded, processed and combined with the video signal, the combined signal is output to the video display unit. In the example shown in Fig. 3, the data portion of the combined signal is directed to the remaining "L" shaped region 210 of the video display unit. In the example shown in Fig. 4, the data portion of the combined signal is directed to the "frame" portion 220 of the display. In other formats, the data portion can be combined with the video portion so that the data (i.e. text or graphics) overlie the video image. By varying the programming provided to the combining means, the video signal and the data signal can be combined in varying manners to achieve the desired effect. The combining means further includes means for scheduling the display of the data signal (imagery). As a result, all of the data for a particular time period can be downloaded to apparatus 10, wherein the data will be stored until the combining means schedules the display of same. Instructions pertaining to scheduling can be generated locally by the combining means, or scheduling instructions can likewise be transmitted with the data singal. As will be understood, the combined signal is delivered to video display unit 130 by way of combined signal output 28. The combined signal output may comprise various connectors, many of which are commonly utilized in the audio-visual industry. These include S-Video connections, RCA type connections, coaxial cable connectors, wire pairs, fiber optic, to name a few. As with video input 20, the device is not limited to any particular type of connector. In operation, the user first attaches the apparatus to a video source, an audio source and a data source. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 2, the video source and the audio source comprise a cable service. The cable service signal is transmitted through coaxial cable 230 to combined apparatus 10. In this embodiment, the audio and video input is combined into a single coaxial connector. Once the video/audio inputs are attached, the data source is coupled to the data input. In the embodiment shown, the data source comprises a remotely positioned server which is accessible either directly or via the Internet. Accordingly, the data input comprises a modem which is connected via a RJ-45 (or similar) to an outside telephone line. Of course, as explained above, various other connections for the data source and the data input are contemplated for use. Once the video/audio and data and audio sources are coupled to the respective inputs, combined signal output 28 is connected to video display unit 130. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 4, combined signal output 28 comprises a video and an audio RCA jack. Video display unit 130 comprises a television. Of course, various video display units are contemplated for use, such as televisions in any one of HDTV, NTSC, PAL and SEC AM formats. In addition, the video display unit may comprise a monitor, such as a computer monitor. Once fully connected, a video/audio signal, and a data signal are transmitted to the apparatus. Once transmitted, the apparatus (via the onboard components and software) combines the signals so as to create a single combined output signal. It will be understood that the combining means generally controls the scheduling of the display of the data signal (i.e. imagery). For example, data may be received from a source, at, for example, the early morning hours, then the combining means will deteπnine the display schedule for the data received. For example, the video/audio signal may comprise a televised baseball game. The data signal may comprise, for example, an advertisement stored on a local computer. As shown in Fig. 6, combining means combines the signals by, for example, resizing the video signal so that the baseball game appears on 80% of the video display unit, starting in the upper left hand comer. The data signal which comprises an advertisement is fed to the remaining portion of the video display unit screen (about 20%>). In the embodiment shown in Fig. 5, the data signal is superimposed over the video signal, and, no resizing of the video display is executed. Thus, with either the configuration shown in Fig. 5 or Fig. 6, viewers can continue watching the baseball game and without interrupting the game, an advertisement can be displayed to each viewer on a portion of the screen. Of course it is likewise contemplated that, at times, the video signal will comprise the entire combined signal (i.e. no data signal), or that the data signal will comprise the entire combined signal (i.e. no video signal). Indeed, the above described system in operation is quite well suited to, for example, a sports bar. Such environments often have various televisions displaying sporting events. In such a setting the data signal may comprise an advertisement which displays all of the specials which are currently available from the bar or the kitchen. Thus, without disrupting the patrons enjoyment of the televised game (i.e. waitress interruption, audio over a PA system, or a commercial over the television), the patrons of the sports bar are informed of the specials. Moreover, since the data is directly fed to the apparatus each apparatus can have a different data signal, or a single data signal can be transmitted to a group of video display units. Such a system is not limited for use in association with a sports bar. For example, the system can be rather useful in a nursing home environment. Specifically, the video signal may comprise cable television broadcast. The data input may comprise a series of reminders regarding ongoing activities at the nursing home such as meals being offered or times for medication administration, etc. The system is equally applicable in various other settings, such as a hospital, an airport, a restaurant, an office, to name a few. Indeed, the system is well suited for use in any environment which includes a television or other visual display unit and where advertisements, notices, or other information can be transmitted to viewers of the television. The foregoing description merely explains and illustrates the invention and the invention is not limited thereto except insofar as the appended claims are so limited, as those skilled in the art who have the disclosure before them will be able to make modifications without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims: CLAIMS What is claimed is: 1. An information processing apparatus comprising: - a video input capable of receiving a video signal; a data input capable of receiving a data signal; - means for combining the video signal and the data signal received from the video input and the data input; - means for outputting the combined signal to a video display unit. 2. The information processing apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an audio input. 3. The information processing apparatus of claim 2 wherein tire audio and video inputs comprise a single video/audio input. 4. The information processing apparatus of claim 3 wherein the single video/audio input comprises a coaxial cable connector. 5. The information processing apparatus of claim 1 wherein the video input comprises a tuner having a coaxial cable connector. 6. The information processing apparatus of claim 1 wherein the data input is selected from the group consisting of: a USB port, Serial port, Parallel port, IRDA port, video embedded data signals or modem. 7. The information processing apparatus of claim 1 wherein the combining means further comprises means for resizing a video signal received from the video input. 8. The information processing apparatus of claim 1 wherein the combining means includes means for positioning a video signal received from the video input to a particular region of a video display unit. 9. The information processing apparatus of claim 1 wherein the combining means includes means for positioning data received from data input to a particular region of the video display unit. 10. The information processing apparatus of claim 1 wherein the combining means includes means for overlaying the data received from data input over the video signal received from the video input. 11. The information processing apparatus of claim 1 wherein the data input is capable of receiving graphics and alpha-numeric text meta data , to in turn, facilitate the creation of graphics and textual imagery. 12. The information processing apparatus of claim 1 wherein the combining means further includes means for scheduling the combination, and in turn, display of the data signal. 13. The information processing apparatus of claim 1 wherein the combining means further comprises the means for decoding the data signal into imagery. 14. The information processing apparatus of claim 1 wherein the output means comprises a combined signal output. 15. The information processing apparatus of claim 14 wherein the combined signal output comprises a coaxial connector. 16. The information processing apparatus of claim 14 wherein the combined signal output comprises a plurality of combined signal outputs, to, in turn, output the signal to a plurality of visual display units. 17. A method of combining a video signal and a data signal for display onto a video display unit, the method comprising the steps of: - providing a video signal; - providing a data signal; - combining the video signal and the data signal; - outputting the combined signal to a video display unit; and - displaying the combined signal on the video display unit. 18. The method of claim 17 further comprising the step of providing an audio signal. 19. The method of claim 17 wherein the step of combining comprises the step of resizing at least a portion of the video signal. 20. The method of claim 17 wherein the step of combining comprises the step of repositioning at least a portion of the video signal. 21. The method of claim 17 wherein the step of combining comprises the step of overlaying at least a portion of the data signal over at least a portion of the vide signal.

Inventors: YARMOLICH PAUL M, YARMOLICH, PAUL, M.
Applicants: YARMOLICH PAUL M, YARMOLICH, PAUL, M.
Application year: 2001
Main classification: H04N5
IPC codes: H04N5