Abstract:
A remote jack pack has a video input jack that receives a video signal, an audio input jack that receives an audio signal, a video output that transfers the video signal to a television, an audio output that transfers the audio signal to the television, and a control output that automatically supplies control signals to the television. The control signals indicate the availability of the video and audio signals for processing by the television. The television has a tuner that supplies video and audio signals of a selected channel, a video connector that receives video from the remote jack pack, an audio connector that receives audio from the remote jack pack, a control connector that receive control signals from the remote jack pack, and a processor that is responsive to the control signals to selectively control display of the video and audio signals from the tuner and the video and audio signals from the video and audio connectors.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to a remote jack pack that is useful in remotely connecting various local video and/or audio sources to a television.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Televisions, such as those used in facilities like hotels and motels that accommodate guests, are connected to cables that carry a variety of television program, radio program, and/or video-on-demand channels. It is also known to use such televisions to notify guests about the activities offered or hosted by the facility. It is further known to use such televisions to offer guests various guest services such as express check out. Occasionally, games and video players coupled to the televisions are even provided by the facility so that the guests can play videos or games on the televisions.  
         [0003]     However, all such programs, information, guest services, games, and video players are provided by the facility. Currently, guests have limited ability to connect their own equipment to the televisions provided in their accommodations. For example, guests frequently travel with personal computers, camcorders, portable games, DVD players, and MP3 players. Guests are unable to conveniently avail themselves of the enhanced viewing and/or listening experience that these televisions offer with respect to their own personal equipment.  
         [0004]     The present invention relates to a remote jack pack that allows a user to remotely, easily, and conveniently connect user equipment to a television.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     According to one aspect of the present invention, a remote jack pack comprises a video input jack, an audio input jack, a video output, an audio output, and a control output. The video input jack is configured to receive a video signal, and the audio input jack is configured to receive an audio signal. The video output is configured to transfer the video signal to a television, and the audio output is configured to transfer the audio signal to the television. The control output is configured to automatically supply control signals to the television upon detection of a video and/or audio signal at a respective one of the video and/or audio input jacks. The control signals indicate the availability of the video and audio signals for processing by the television.  
         [0006]     According to another aspect of the present invention, a television comprises a tuner arranged to supply video and audio signals of a selected channel, a video connector arranged to receive video from a remote jack pack, an audio connector arranged to receive audio from the remote jack pack, a control connector arranged to receive control signals from the remote jack pack, and a processor responsive to the control signals to selectively control display of the video and audio signals from the tuner and the video and audio signals from the video and audio connectors.  
         [0007]     According to still another aspect of the present invention, a system comprises a remote jack pack and a television. The remote jack pack comprises a video input jack configured to receive a video signal, an audio input jack configured to receive an audio signal, a video output configured to transfer the video signal to the television, an audio output configured to transfer the audio signal to the television, and a control output configured to supply control signals to the television. The control signals indicate the availability of the video and audio signals for processing by the television. The television comprises a tuner arranged to supply video and audio signals of a selected channel, a video connector connected to the video output of the remote jack pack to receive the video signal from a remote jack pack, an audio connector connected to the audio output of the remote jack pack to receive the audio signal from the remote jack pack, a control connector connected to the control output of the remote jack pack to receive the control signals from the remote jack pack, and a processor responsive to the control signals to selectively control display of the video and audio signals from the tuner and the video and audio signals from the video and audio connectors.  
         [0008]     According to yet another aspect of the present invention, a television comprises at least first, second, and third control terminals and a processor. The at least first, second, and third control terminals are arranged to receive corresponding first, second, and third control signals from a source external of the television. The processor selectively controls display of audio signals from first and second audio sources in response to only the first control signal and selectively controls display of video signals from first and second video sources in response to only the second and third control signals. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]     These and other features and advantages will become more apparent from a detailed consideration of the invention when taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:  
         [0010]      FIG. 1  illustrates a remote jack pack connected to a television according to one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  illustrates the audio portion of the remote jack pack shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0012]      FIG. 3  illustrates the video portion of the remote jack pack shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0013]      FIG. 4  illustrates video and audio control signals that are coupled from the remote jack pack to the television of  FIG. 1 ; and,  
         [0014]      FIG. 5  illustrates an example of a television that can be used for the television of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0015]     As shown in  FIG. 1 , a remote jack pack  10  is remotely coupled to a television  12  by electrical lines  14 . The remote jack pack  10 , for example, may be attached to a mounting structure such as a desk, table, or stand that is remotely located from the television  12 . This mounting structure can conveniently, although not necessarily, support any of the equipment to be connected to the remote jack pack  10 .  
         [0016]     The television  12  may be an analog television such as one conforming to the NTSC standard, a digital television such as one conforming to the ATSC digital television standard, or other television that is suitably equipped to receive the electrical lines  14 . The electrical lines  14  may include any number and type of electrical lines dependent upon the types of equipment to be coupled through the remote jack pack  10  to the television  12 .  
         [0017]     The remote jack pack  10  supports a 3.5 mm audio input jack  16 , left and right audio input jacks  18  and  20 , a super VHS video input jack  22 , a composite video input jack  24 , and an RGB input jack  26 . A radio audio input jack  28  is capable of accepting audio signals from a radio or other device. Because the radio audio input jack  28  may be supported on the back of the remote jack pack  10 , it is shown in phantom.  
         [0018]     The 3.5 mm audio input jack  16  is capable of receiving a corresponding plug from an MP3 player, CD, or radio. Accordingly, a user can play audio from any of these sources through the speakers of the television  12 .  
         [0019]     The left and right audio input jacks  18  and  20  are capable of receiving corresponding audio left and right plugs from audio equipment, a VCR, a DVD player, etc. Accordingly, a user can play the audio portion of a video cassette or DVD or the audio from audio equipment through the speakers of the television  12 .  
         [0020]     The super VHS video input jack  22  is capable of receiving video super VHS plugs from a super VHS player or DVD player. The audio from these devices can be plugged into one of the audio jacks described above. Accordingly, a user can play super VHS video and audio on the television  12 .  
         [0021]     The RGB input jack  26  is capable of receiving a plug from a computer or set top box so that a user can play the video of a game, a DVD, etc. from a user&#39;s computer on the television  12  or the video from a set top box on the television  12 . The audio from the computer or set top box can be plugged into one of the audio jacks described above.  
         [0022]     The composite video input jack  24  is capable of receiving video from a VCR or DVD. Accordingly, a user can play the video of a video cassette or DVD on the television  12 .  
         [0023]     The remote jack pack  10  may have other jacks such as a telephone jack  30 , a high speed internet connection jack  32 , and AC outlets  34  and  36 . Accordingly, the user can connect a computer or other equipment to the telephone jack  30  and to the high speed internet connection jack  32  and can power various equipment such as a computer by way of the AC outlets  34  and  36 . For these purposes, the remote jack pack  10  interconnects the telephone jack  30  with a telephone line  38 , interconnects the high speed internet connection jack  32  with a high speed internet access line  40 , and supplies AC power from AC lines  42  to the AC outlets  34  and  36 .  
         [0024]     The electrical lines  14  include three RGB lines  44 , a composite video line  46 , two (left and right) audio lines  48 , and four control lines  50 . The three RGB lines  44  connect the red (R), green (G), and blue (B) signals from the RGB input jack  26  to RGB inputs of the television  12 . The composite video line  46  connects the composite video signal from the composite video input jack  24  to a video input of the television  12 . As explained below, the composite video line  46  also connects the super VHS video input jack  22  to a video input of the television  12 . The audio lines  48  connect the audio signals from the 3.5 mm audio input jack  16 , from the left and right audio input jacks  18  and  20 , and from the radio audio input jack  28  to audio inputs of the television  12 . The control lines  50  connect various control signals from the remote jack pack  10  to the television  12 , as explained below.  
         [0025]     The remote jack pack  10  includes an audio portion  52  as shown in  FIG. 2 . The audio portion  52  of the remote jack pack  10  has the 3.5 mm audio input jack  16 , the left and right audio input jacks  18  and  20 , and the radio audio input jack  28  as shown. The audio portion  52  of the remote jack pack  10  further includes switches  54  and  56  and an audio detector  58 . The switch  54  cooperates with the 3.5 mm audio input jack  16 , and the switch  56  is controlled by the audio detector  58 .  
         [0026]     The contacts of the switch  54  respond to the insertion of an audio plug into the 3.5 mm audio input jack  16  by opening so that the inserted audio plug is connected to the switch  56  and so that the left and right audio input jacks  18  and  20  are not connected to the switch  56 . At the same time, the audio detector  58  detects that there is an audio signal on the 3.5 mm audio input jack  16  and, consequently, controls the switch  56  to couple this audio signal from the 3.5 mm audio input jack  16  to left and right audio output jacks  60  and  62  of the audio portion  52  of the remote jack pack  10 . The left and right audio output jacks  60  and  62  connect to the audio lines  48 .  
         [0027]     Alternatively, when an audio plug is not inserted into the 3.5 mm audio input jack  16 , the contacts of the switch  54  remain in their original positions. Accordingly, audio plugs inserted into the left and right audio input jacks  18  and  20  are connected to the switch  56  and the 3.5 mm audio input jack  16  is not connected to the switch  56 . At the same time, the audio detector  58  detects that there is an audio signal on the left and right audio input jacks  18  and  20  and, consequently, controls the switch  56  to couple this audio signal from the left and right audio input jacks  18  and  20  to the left and right audio output jacks  60  and  62  and then on to the audio lines  48 .  
         [0028]     When a signal is present on the radio audio input jack  28 , the audio detector  58  detects that there is an audio signal on the radio audio input jack  28  and, consequently, controls the switch  56  to couple this audio signal from the radio audio input jack  28  to the left and right audio output jacks  60  and  62  and then on to the audio lines  48 .  
         [0029]     The audio detector  58 , such as a threshold comparator and a microprocessor, also supplies control signals, as explained more fully below, over appropriate ones of the control lines  50  to condition the television  12  to couple its appropriate audio sources to the audio processors of the television  12 .  
         [0030]     The audio detector  58  may be arranged to resolve the contention that is created when two or more plugs are inserted into the 3.5 mm audio input jack  16 , the left and right audio input jacks  18  and  20 , and/or the radio audio input jack  28  during overlapping periods of time. In this case, the audio detector  58  may be arranged or programmed to select one of the contending audio inputs for supply to the left and right audio output jacks  60  and  62 . For this purpose, this audio input selection may be implemented according to any desired prioritization model.  
         [0031]     The remote jack pack  10  further includes a video portion  64  as shown in  FIG. 3 . The video portion  64  of the remote jack pack  10  has the super VHS video input jack  22 , the composite video input jack  24 , and the RGB input jack  26 , as shown. The video portion  64  of the remote jack pack  10  further includes a switch  66 , a video detector  68 , and a combiner  70 . The switch  66  is controlled by the video detector  68 .  
         [0032]     When a super VHS video plug is inserted into the super VHS video input jack  22 , the combiner  70 , such as a summing circuit, combines the luminance and chrominance signals of the super VHS signal into a composite video signal. The video detector  68  detects that there is a composite video signal at the output of the combiner  70  and, consequently, controls the switch  66  to couple this composite video signal from the combiner  70  to a composite video output jack  72  in the video portion  64  of the remote jack pack  10 . The composite video output jack  72  connects to the composite video line  46 .  
         [0033]     When a composite video plug is inserted into the composite video input jack  24 , the video detector  68  detects that there is a video signal on the composite video input jack  24  and, consequently, controls the switch  66  to couple this video signal from the composite video input jack  24  to the composite video output jack  72  and then on to the composite video line  46 .  
         [0034]     When an RGB plug is inserted into the RGB input jack  26 , the resulting signal on the RGB input jack  26  is coupled directly through the remote jack pack  10  to an RGB output jack  74  and then on to the RGB lines  44 .  
         [0035]     The video detector  68 , such as sync detector and a microprocessor, also supplies control signals, explained more fully below, over appropriate ones of the control lines  50  to condition the television  12  to couple its appropriate video sources to the video processors of the television  12 . Assuming that the audio detector  58  and the video detector  68  have microprocessors as described above, the audio detector  58  and the video detector  68  may share the same microprocessor. These microprocessors or shared microprocessor may perform other functions, such as other switching functions, than those described herein.  
         [0036]     The video detector  68  may be arranged to resolve the contention that is created when plugs are inserted into both the super VHS video input jack  22  and the composite video input jack  24  during overlapping periods of time. In this case, the video detector  68  may be arranged or programmed to select one of the contending video inputs for supply to the composite video output jack  72 . For this purpose, this video input selection may be implement according to any desired prioritization model.  
         [0037]      FIG. 4  illustrates the video and audio control signals that are coupled over corresponding ones of the control lines  50  to the television  12 . As can be seen in  FIG. 4 , the television  12  has six terminals. These six terminals may be formed as one or more jacks, pins, etc. Each of these terminals is connected to a corresponding one of the control lines  50 . There four control lines  50  are designated  0 - 3  in  FIG. 4 .  
         [0038]     Thus, when the video detector  68  detects no signal on the super VHS video input jack  22 , the RGB input jack  26 , and the composite video input jack  24 , it drives the control lines  0  and  1  high. In response to these control signals, the television  12  supplies the video output from its own tuner to its video processor for display to the user. A signal on control line  3  is not controlling as indicated by the x, and a signal on control line  2  controls audio as discussed below.  
         [0039]     When the video detector  68  detects an RGB signal on the RGB input jack  26 , it drives the control line  0  low and the control line  1  high. In response to these control signals, the television  12  supplies the RGB video on the RGB lines  44  to its video processor for display to the user. Again, a signal on control line  3  is not controlling as indicated by the x, and a signal on control line  2  controls audio as discussed below.  
         [0040]     When the video detector  68  detects a composite video signal either on the composite video input jack  24  or at the output of the combiner  70 , it drives the control line  0  high and the control line  1  low. In response to these control signals, the television  12  supplies the composite video on the composite video line  46  to its video processor for display to the user. Still again, a signal on control line  3  is not controlling as indicated by the x, and a signal on control line  2  controls audio as discussed below.  
         [0041]     When the audio detector  58  detects no signal on the 3.5 mm audio input jack  16 , the left and right audio input jacks  18  and  20 , and the radio audio input jack  28 , it drives the control line  3  high. In response to this control signal, the television  12  supplies the audio output from its own tuner to its audio processor for supply to its speakers. Any signal on control line  3  is not controlling, and signals on control lines  0  and  1  control video, as discussed above.  
         [0042]     When the audio detector  58  detects an audio signal on the 3.5 mm audio input jack  16 , the left and right audio input jacks  18  and  20 , or the radio input jack  28 , it drives the control line  0  low. In response to this control signal, the television  12  supplies the audio on the audio lines  48  to its audio processor for supply to its speakers. Again, any signal on control line  3  is not controlling, and signals on control lines  0  and  1  control video, as discussed above.  
         [0043]     An exemplary television  80  is shown in  FIG. 5  and can be used for the television  12 . The exemplary television  80  includes a cabinet  82  on which are mounted a video connector  84 , an RGB connector  86 , an audio connector  88 , and a control connector  90 . The control connector  90  may comprise one or more jacks, pins, an RS232 connector, etc. The video connector  84  is connected to the composite video line  46 , the RGB connector  86  is connected to the RGB lines  44 , the audio connector  88  is connected to the audio lines  48 , and the control connector  90  is connected to the control lines  50 . The video connector  84 , the RGB connector  86 , and the audio connector  88  may be corresponding jacks, terminals, pins, etc.  
         [0044]     The exemplary television  80  also includes a television controller  92 , a tuner  94 , a video processor  96 , an audio processor  98 , a video display  100 , and audio speakers  102 . The television controller  92 , for example, may comprise a microprocessor and controls the tuner  94  in accordance with a channel selected by a user.  
         [0045]     When the television controller  92  detects x111 control signals on the control connector  90 , the television controller  92  controls the video processor  96  and the audio processor  98  to process the video and audio from the tuner  94 . When the television controller  92  detects x010 control signals on the control connector  90 , the television controller  92  controls the video processor  96  to process the video from the RGB connector  86  and controls the audio processor  98  to process the audio from the audio connector  88 . When the television controller  92  detects x001 control signals on the control connector  90 , the television controller  92  controls the video processor  96  to process the video from the video connector  84  and controls the audio processor  98  to process the audio from the audio connector  88 .  
         [0046]     As can be seen from  FIG. 4 , other combinations are possible. For example, if the television controller  92  detects x011 control signals on the control connector  90 , the television controller  92  controls the video processor  96  to process the video from the tuner  94  and controls the audio processor  98  to process the audio from the audio connector  88 .  
         [0047]     As further shown in  FIG. 5 , the video processed by the video processor  96  is supplied to the video display  100 , and the audio processed by the audio processor  98  is supplied to the audio speakers  102 .  
         [0048]     Certain modifications of the present invention have been discussed above. Other modifications of the present invention will occur to those practicing in the art of the present invention. For example, the remote jack pack  10  is shown with various audio and video input jacks. However, the remote jack pack  10  may be provided with audio and video input jacks that allow connection to sources in addition to and/or other than an MP3 player, a DVD, a VCR, and a super VHS as described above.  
         [0049]     Moreover, as described above, the remote jack pack  10  includes the left and right audio output jacks  60  and  62 , a composite video output jack  72 , and an RGB output jack  74  to connect audio and video signals over the RGB lines  44 , the composite video line  46 , and the audio lines  48  to the television  12 . Instead, the RGB lines  44 , the composite video line  46 , and the audio lines  48  may be directly wired into the circuits within the remote jack pack  10 .  
         [0050]     As can be seen from  FIG. 4 , not all of the control lines  50  are used to carry a control signal. Therefore, the control line not used as indicated by  FIG. 4  may be used by the remote jack pack  10  for other purposes, may be deleted, or may be retained for expansion purposes.  
         [0051]     The exemplary television  80  as described above is provided with a control connector  90  that is coupled to the television controller  92  of the exemplary television  80 . The television controller  92 , accordingly, detects the state of the control lines  50 , as also described above. As also described above, the control connector  90  may be an RS 232 connection such as for those televisions that are equipped with RS 232 ports by the manufacturer.  
         [0052]     Accordingly, the description of the present invention is to be construed as illustrative only and is for the purpose of teaching those skilled in the art the best mode of carrying out the invention. The details may be varied substantially without departing from the spirit of the invention, and the exclusive use of all modifications which are within the scope of the appended claims is reserved.