Abstract:
An apparatus comprising a switching circuit and a display. The switching circuit may be configured to present an output signal in response to a plurality of input signals. The output signal may be generated in response to an active one of the input signals. A user prompt may appear prior to switching to the active one of the input signals. The user prompt may allow a user to confirm or reject switching to the active input. The display circuit may be configured to display information from the output signal.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to digital televisions generally and, more particularly, to a method and/or apparatus for implementing a digital television with improved input selection functionality. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Conventional digital televisions (DTVs) have the ability to connect and view multiple source inputs (i.e., Cable TV, Sat TV, DVD/Blu-ray Player, VCR, etc.). The input connections on a DTV typically include Ant/Cable, Component Video 1, Component Video 2, RGB, HMDI 1, HDMI 2, USB, Composite, etc. As long as the source device has a matching connection (i.e., an HDMI output of a Satellite TV box is connected to an HDMI input of the DTV), a user is free to choose which source device is connected to which input connection on the DTV. When the user wants to watch a DVD instead of the cable TV, the user first selects the input menu on the DTV using the remote, then scrolls to the input of interest and then manually selects the input with the remote. Once an input is manually selected by the user, the internal electronics of the DTV switch to the selected input so the content can be viewed by the user. 
         [0003]    It would be desirable to implement a method and/or apparatus in a television to automatically recognize that a source device has begun providing a signal and then either (i) automatically switch to the input for that source device or (ii) prompt the user with a screen, asking the user to confirm or reject switching to the new input to view the content. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The present invention concerns an apparatus comprising a switching circuit and a display. The switching circuit may be configured to present an output signal in response to a plurality of input signals. The output signal may be generated in response to an active one of the input signals. A user prompt may appear prior to switching to the active one of the input signals. The user prompt may allow a user to confirm or reject switching to the active input. The display circuit may be configured to display information from the output signal. 
         [0005]    The objects, features and advantages of the present invention include providing a device that may (i) provide an input selection circuit in a television, (ii) provide a user prompt prior to switching inputs, (iii) provide a user prompt in a non-viewing area of a picture and/or (iv) provide a user prompt if two inputs are active. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]    These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description and the appended claims and drawings in which: 
           [0007]      FIG. 1  is a diagram of an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is a flow diagram of an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is a diagram showing a placement of a user prompt; 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is a diagram showing a placement of a user prompt; 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  is a diagram of a multi-room configuration of the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 7  is a diagram of an embodiment with a second input in a picture-in-picture window; and 
           [0014]      FIG. 8  is a flow diagram of another embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0015]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a block diagram of a system  50  is shown in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The system  50  generally comprises a number of blocks (or circuits)  52   a - 52   b  and a block (or circuit)  54 . The circuits  52   a - 52   n  may be implemented as source devices, such as an optical disc player, a satellite receiver, etc. In one example, source device  54   a  may be implemented as an optical disc player, such as a DVD player. The source device  52   a  may also be implemented as a Blu-ray player. The block  54  may be implemented as a display device, such as a digital television (DTV), a plasma screen, LCD screen, or other appropriate display device. The source device  52   a  may include a block (or circuit)  60 . The circuit  60  may be a memory and/or processor configured to store computer readable code that, when executed, performs various steps. A disc  62  may be inserted into the player. The disc  62  may be implemented as a removable optical disc. The block  54  may include a block (or circuit)  100 . The circuit  100  may be implemented as a switching circuit. 
         [0016]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , a block diagram of the circuit  100  is shown in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In one example, the circuit  100  may be implemented as part of a digital television. In another example, the circuit  100  may be implemented as an external device that may be connected to a digital television. In yet another example, the circuit  100  may be implemented as part of the video switching portion of an audio/video receiver that may be connected to a digital television. 
         [0017]    The circuit  100  generally comprises a number of inputs  102   a - 102   n,  a number of inputs  104   a - 104   n,  a block (or circuit)  106  and a block (or circuit)  108 . The inputs  102   a - 102   n  may be implemented as digital inputs. For example, the inputs  102   a - 102   n  may be implemented as HDMI inputs. In another example, the inputs  102   a - 102   n  may be implemented as Digital Video Interface (DVI) inputs. However, the particular type of digital input implemented may be varied to meet the design criteria of a particular implementation. The inputs  104   a - 104   n  may be implemented as analog inputs. For example, the inputs  104   a - 104   n  may be implemented as component video signals, composite video signals, S-video signals or other types of analog video signals. A number of devices  110   a - 110   n  may present a video signal to the inputs  102   a - 102   n . Similarly, a number of devices  112   a - 112   n  may present a video signal to the inputs  104   a - 104   n.  The devices  110   a - 110   n  may be implemented, in one example, as digital devices, such as HDMI devices. The devices  112   a - 112   n  may be implemented, in one example, as analog devices. 
         [0018]    The circuit  106  may have an output  120  that may present a signal (e.g., SEL) to an input  122  of the display  108 . The signal SEL may be an output signal that may be presented to the display  108 . The signal SEL may contain picture data, generally in uncompressed form, that may be displayed by the display device  54 . 
         [0019]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , a flow diagram of a method (or process)  200  is shown. The process  200  generally comprises a decision step (or state)  202 , a decision (or state)  204 , a step (or state)  206 , a decision step (or state)  208 , and a step (or state)  210 . The decision step  202  may determine if a new input (e.g., one of the inputs  102   a - 102   n  or  104   a - 140   n ) has been sensed. If so, the method  200  moves to the state  204 . If not, the method  200  moves to the state  206 . The state  206  keeps the current input selected. The state  204  determines whether a duration of the new input exceeds a predetermined time. The predetermined time may be a fixed time, such as 20 ms. Such a predetermined time may allow the circuit  100  to avoid false switching that may occur during a transient state. The example of 20 ms may be varied to meet the design criteria of a particular implementation. So long as the predetermined time is long enough to ensure that false switching does not occur, the predetermined time may be lengthened or shortened. If the predetermined time is not exceeded, the method  200  moves to the state  206  which keeps the current input. If the predetermined time is exceeded, the method  200  moves to the state  208 . The state  208  determines if a user confirms the change. If not, the method  200  moves to the state  206 , which keeps the current input selected. If so, the method  200  moves to the state  210 , which changes to the new input. The state  206  and the state  210  then move back to the state  202 , which continues to determine if a new input has been sensed. 
         [0020]    In an example operation, a user of the circuit  100  may be watching a first source device, such as a satellite TV signal. The satellite TV source may be implemented as the source device  112   a . In such an example, the source device  112   a  may present a component signal (e.g., Y, Cb, Cr; Y, Pb, Pr; etc.) to the input  104   a.  The user may then want to switch inputs, perhaps to an optical disk player (e.g., such as a DVD/Blu-ray player). The optical device may be implemented, in one example, as the source device  110   a.  The source device  110   a  may present a digital signal to the input  102   a.  Once the source device  110   a  is turned on, the input  102   a  senses a new signal. Once the new signal on the input  102   a  exceeds the predetermined time, the user prompt from step  208  may ask the user whether the input should be changed. If the user is ready to watch the optical disk on the input  110   a,  the user would likely confirm the switching to the new input  102   a.  At this point, the signal SEL may pass through the signal received from the input  102   a.  However, if the user was turning on the source device  110   a  in an effort to let the source device  110   a  skip past the initial trailer information, while still watching the source device  112   a,  the user may choose to decline changing to the new input. By declining, the signal received at the input  104   a  would continue to be presented as a signal SEL. This would allow the source device  110   a  to complete a start up procedure (e.g., load firmware and/or become fully functional), and presumably reach the main menu screen, which sometimes takes in excess of one minute on an optical player enabled with complex JAVA script programming during boot-up. 
         [0021]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , a diagram of a display  108  is shown. The display  108  has a black bar region  300 , a black bar region  302  and a viewable region  304 . The black bar regions  300  and  302  typically occur when the source region  304  is in one format (e.g., 1:1,235 or wide screen) and the display  108  is in another format (e.g., 16×9). The regions  300  and  302  may simply be blacked out. The user prompt, in this example asking “A new input has been detected, would you like to switch to the new input?” may be positioned in the region  302 . By positioning the user prompt in the region  300  and/or  302 , disruption of the playback region  304  is minimized. 
         [0022]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , an alternate implementation of the monitor  108 ′ is shown. The black bar regions  300 ′ and/or  302 ′ may be across the left and right sides respectively. The black bar regions  300 ′ and/or  302 ′ typically occur when the source region  304 ′ is in one format (e.g., 4×3) and the display  108 ′ is in another format (e.g., 16×9). The user prompt may be placed within the black bar region  302 ′. Similar to the monitor  100  described in connection with  FIG. 3 , the user prompt does not disrupt the viewable area  304 ′. 
         [0023]    The circuit  100  may be implemented to receive an output signal from a set-top box  110   a  and/or Btu-ray player  110   b.  The particular type of input  102   a - 102   n  used by a particular source device  110   a - 110   n  may be varied to meet the design criteria of a particular implementation. In one example, the set-top box  52   b  may be powered on while the Blu-ray player  52   a  (or one of the source devices  52   a - 52   n ) is powered off. In such an example, the signal SEL may be set to watch the content from the set-top box  52   b.  The Blu-ray player  52   a  may then be powered on, either by a user or an internal timer within the player  52   a.  The output signal generated when the Blu-ray player  52   a  is powered on may be transmitted from the Blu-ray player through an HDMI output. In such an example, the input  110   a  may be connected to the DTV. The internal electronics of the circuit  100  and/or firmware may now be recognized and/or processed to generate the signal SEL. 
         [0024]    In another example, the set-top box  52   b  may be powered on, while the device  52   a  is powered off. The DTV  54  may be set to watch the content being provided by the set-top box  52   a.  The new device  52   a  (e.g., a Blu-ray player) is then powered on, either by a user or an internal timer with the player. Based upon the output signal generated when the player  52   a  is powered on and/or transmitted from the Blu-ray player to the input connection on the DTV  54 , the internal electronics and/or firmware of the circuit  100  may recognize and/or process the output signal from the Blu-ray player. The prompt  208  may provide a menu, asking if a user would like to switch the input to the new device  52   a.    
         [0025]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , an example of a multi-room environment  400  is shown. A television  54   a  and a source device  52   a  are shown in a first room  402 . A television  54   b  and a source device  52   b  are shown in a second room  404 . Alternately, the source device  52   a  and/or the source device  52   b  may be connected to the television  54   a  and/or the television  54   b  through a wireless signal  404  as shown. A wired home network (e.g., such as an Ethernet network through an RJ-45 type connection) may also be implemented. The wireless signal  406  may be implemented as a 802.11 wireless signal (e.g., wireless B, wireless G, wireless N, etc.), Bluetooth, and/or other type of wireless signal. In one example, a connection between the television  54   a  and the television  54   b  may be made via the wireless connection  406 . 
         [0026]    In one example, a disc may be loaded into the source device  52   a.  The television  54   b  may recognize that a new component  52   a  has been turned on. The television  54   b  may then prompt one or more viewers if they would like to switch to the new input to view content from the source device  52   a.  The viewers of the television  54   b  may then watch the same source material from the source device  52   a  that is being viewed by the television  54   a.  In one example, the data stream from the source device  52   a  may be directed to a digital video recorded (DVR) (e.g., situated near the television  54   b ). The viewers of the television  54   b  may then have the ability to pause the playback (or fast-forward, rewind, etc.), as if the viewers of the television  54   b  were in control of the playback of the source device  52   a.  In such a multi-room environment  400 , all of the source components  52   a - 52   n  and/or televisions  54   a - 54   n  may be interconnected and/or accessible to each other. 
         [0027]    Additionally, laptops and/or smart phones may be recognized and/or may interact with the televisions  52   a - 52   b  wirelessly, adding additional functionality and/or interplay between components. For example, a Blu-ray player in a notebook computer  410  may act as a source device for playback of a movie on one or more of the televisions  54   a - 54   n.  In another example, a smart phone may transmit images to one or more of the televisions  54   a - 54   n.  While a notebook computer  410  and a smartphone  412  have been described, the particular type and/or number of source devices may be varied to meet the design criteria of a particular implementation. 
         [0028]    Referring to  FIG. 7 , a diagram of an embodiment with more than one screen prompt is shown. A picture-in-picture (PIP) window  500  may be used to aid the user. The PIP window  500  may be a portion of the display  108  configured to display a video signal that may be the same or different than the video signal displayed in the source region  304 . After the initial screen prompt of, for example, “A new input has been detected, would you like to switch to the new input?” is shown, a second prompt may be used to further aid the user. For example, if the user indicates “no” to the first prompt, then the presentation continues. If the user indicates “yes”, then a second screen prompt may ask “Would you like the new input to be displayed full screen or as PIP (picture in picture)?”. If the user selects PIP, then the new input may be displayed in the PIP window  500 , which may be located in one of the black bar regions  300  and/or  302 . The user may continue viewing the first presentation as the primary screen, and then when the new content has fully loaded and is ready to view, the user may observe this in real time through the PIP window  500  and switch the new input to full screen. All of these steps may be fully interactive and may be made through additional prompts to the user (to be described in more detail in connection with  FIG. 8 ). 
         [0029]    Referring to  FIG. 8 , a flow diagram of an embodiment is shown. A flow diagram of a method (or process)  600  is shown. The process  600  generally comprises a decision step (or state)  602 , a decision (or state)  604 , a step (or state)  606  and a step (or state)  608 . The decision step  602  may determine if a new input (e.g., one of the inputs  102   a - 102   n  or  104   a - 140   n ) has been sensed. If so, the method  600  moves to the state  604 . If not, the method  600  moves to the state  606 . The state  604  asks a user whether to view the new input in a PIP window  500 . The state  606  activates the new input in the main screen area  304 . If the user confirms the PIP display is needed, the method  600  moves to the state  608  which activates the new window in the PIP  500 . If the user does not confirm the PIP display is needed, the method  600  moves to the state  608 . The state  206  normally activates the new window in the main screen  304 . 
         [0030]    The functions performed by the diagrams of  FIGS. 3 and 8  may be implemented using one or more of a conventional general purpose processor, digital computer, microprocessor, microcontroller, RISC (reduced instruction set computer) processor, CISC (complex instruction set computer) processor, SIND (single instruction multiple data) processor, signal processor, central processing unit (CPU), arithmetic logic unit (ALU), video digital signal processor (VDSP) and/or similar computational machines, programmed according to the teachings of the present specification, as will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art(s). Appropriate software, firmware, coding, routines, instructions, opcodes, microcode, and/or program modules may readily be prepared by skilled programmers based on the teachings of the present disclosure, as will also be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art(s). The software is generally executed from a medium or several media by one or more of the processors of the machine implementation. 
         [0031]    The present invention may also be implemented by the preparation of ASICs (application specific integrated circuits), Platform ASICs, FPGAs (field programmable gate arrays), PLDs (programmable logic devices), CPLDs (complex programmable logic device), sea-of-gates, RFICs (radio frequency integrated circuits), ASSPs (application specific standard products), one or more monolithic integrated circuits, one or more chips or die arranged as flip-chip modules and/or multi-chip modules or by interconnecting an appropriate network of conventional component circuits, as is described herein, modifications of which will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art(s). 
         [0032]    The present invention thus may also include a computer product which may be a storage medium or media and/or a transmission medium or media including instructions which may be used to program a machine to perform one or more processes or methods in accordance with the present invention. Execution of instructions contained in the computer product by the machine, along with operations of surrounding circuitry, may transform input data into one or more files on the storage medium and/or one or more output signals representative of a physical object or substance, such as an audio and/or visual depiction. The storage medium may include, but is not limited to, any type of disk including floppy disk, hard drive, magnetic disk, optical disk, CD-ROM, DVD and magneto-optical disks and circuits such as ROMs (read-only memories), RAMs (random access memories), EPROMs (erasable programmable ROMs), EEPROMs (electrically erasable programmable ROMs), UVPROM (ultra-violet erasable programmable ROMs), Flash memory, magnetic cards, optical cards, and/or any type of media suitable for storing electronic instructions. 
         [0033]    The elements of the invention may form part or all of one or more devices, units, components, systems, machines and/or apparatuses. The devices may include, but are not limited to, servers, workstations, storage array controllers, storage systems, personal computers, laptop computers, notebook computers, palm computers, personal digital assistants, portable electronic devices, battery powered devices, set-top boxes, encoders, decoders, transcoders, compressors, decompressors, pre-processors, post-processors, transmitters, receivers, transceivers, cipher circuits, cellular telephones, digital cameras, positioning and/or navigation systems, medical equipment, heads-up displays, wireless devices, audio recording, audio storage and/or audio playback devices, video recording, video storage and/or video playback devices, game platforms, peripherals and/or multi-chip modules. Those skilled in the relevant art(s) would understand that the elements of the invention may be implemented in other types of devices to meet the criteria of a particular application. 
         [0034]    While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to the preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.