Patent Publication Number: US-2012030622-A1

Title: Display apparatus

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a display apparatus, which displays images and menus on its display. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Functions that a display apparatus provides are increasing dramatically nowadays. This has caused a dramatic increase of setting parameters users can modify. Such many parameters satisfy the demands of users who require a lot for the quality of pictures and sounds. 
     The setting parameters are usually changed on menus shown on the display. In a menu, there are items that correspond to the setting parameter. By selecting a specific item, the user can change the value or setting of the parameter. However, as the number of parameters that the user can change has been increasing, the number of items shown on the menu has also been increasing. This situation may make it difficult for the user to quickly find the parameter that he wants to change. In addition, to reach the parameter the user wants to change, he may have to press buttons a number of times. Such circumstances are inconvenient for the users. 
     Since some users are very demanding for the quality of sounds and pictures to fit their tastes, recent high-end display apparatuses need to change some parameters in detail. It would be convenient if the user can change the parameters in detail and reach their preferred setting without pressing buttons excess number of times. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     One aspect of the present invention is a display apparatus including a display and a controller. The controller displays a plurality of menus in a hierarchy order on the display. One of the menus contains a plurality of selectable items. When one of the plurality of selectable items is selected more than a predetermined number of times, the controller displays said one of the plurality of selectable items in a menu on a higher hierarchy. 
     Another aspect of the present invention is a display apparatus including a display and a controller. The controller displays an item and a plurality of items related to the item or a coarse gauge and a fine gauge on the display. Both of the coarse gauge and the fine gauge represents a value of a setting parameter. When a predetermined condition is not fulfilled, the controller displays the item or the coarse gauge. When the predetermined condition is fulfilled, the controller displays the plurality of items or the fine gauge. 
     Another aspect of the present invention is a display apparatus including a plurality of input terminals, a display and a controller. The plurality of input terminals contains a first input terminal and a second input terminal. The display selectably displays an image based on a signal originated from one of the plurality of the input terminals. The display also displays a menu for changing a setting of the display apparatus. The controller stores data of a parameter relating to the setting of the display apparatus. The data includes a first datum corresponding to the first input terminal and a second datum corresponding to the second input terminal. When the display displays an image based on a signal originated from the first input terminal, the controller adjusts the image or modifies the menu based on the first datum. When the display displays an image based on a signal originated from the second input terminal, the controller adjusts the image or modifies the menu based on the second datum. 
     Another aspect of the present invention is a display apparatus including a display and a controller. The controller displays a plurality of menus in a hierarchy order on the display. A menu on the highest hierarchy contains a first area, a second area and a third area. A menu on a lower hierarchy than the highest hierarchy contains a selectable item. When the selectable item is selected more than a predetermined number of times, the controller displays the selectable item in the first area of the highest hierarchy. The controller displays another item that is registered by a user in the second area of the highest hierarchy. The controller displays a preset item in the third area of the highest hierarchy. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  depicts a front view of an embodiment of a display apparatus. 
         FIG. 2  depicts a plan view of an example of a remote controller used for the display apparatus. 
         FIG. 3  depicts a plan view of terminals of the display apparatus. 
         FIG. 4  depicts a block diagram of the electrical components of the display apparatus. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates an example of a display image to explain menus of the display apparatus. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates an example of a display image to explain menus of the display apparatus. 
         FIG. 7  illustrates an example of a display image to explain menus of the display apparatus. 
         FIG. 8  illustrates an example of a display image to explain menus of the display apparatus. 
         FIG. 9  illustrates an example of a display image to explain menus of the display apparatus. 
         FIG. 10  illustrates an example of a display image to explain menus of the display apparatus. 
         FIG. 11  illustrates an example of a table used to create the menu. 
         FIG. 12  illustrates an example of a table used to create the menu. 
         FIG. 13  illustrates an example of a table used to create the menu. 
         FIG. 14  illustrates a flowchart describing operational steps of the display apparatus. 
         FIG. 15  illustrates a flowchart describing operational steps of the display apparatus. 
         FIG. 16  illustrates a flowchart describing operational steps of the display apparatus. 
         FIG. 17  illustrates a flowchart describing operational steps of the display apparatus. 
         FIG. 18  illustrates a flowchart describing operational steps of the display apparatus. 
         FIG. 19  illustrates a flowchart describing operational steps of the display apparatus. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     §1. Overview of the Display Apparatus 
       FIG. 1  shows an embodiment of a display apparatus.  FIG. 1  depicts a display apparatus  100  seen from the front side of the display apparatus  100 . The display apparatus  100  is a multifunctional display device. It functions as a television, a video-file player, a display device and a monitor device. Therefore, the user can use the display apparatus  100  to watch TV, videos and video files, to play video games, to operate computers and so on. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the display apparatus  100  contains a body  110 , a stand  120 , a display  200 , speakers  250 , electrical components  300  and terminals  400 . In addition, a remote controller  500  as shown in  FIG. 2  is attached to the display apparatus  100 . The basic function of the display apparatus  100  is to display an image on the display  200  based on an input signal entering one of the terminals  400 . 
     In the display apparatus  100 , the display  200  occupies a major portion of the front side of the body  110 . The body  110  is physically supported by the stand  120  so that the stand  120  erects the body  110  on a flat surface. The electrical components  300  and speakers  250  are provided inside of the body  110 . The terminals  400  are provided on the backside of the body  110 . 
     The display apparatus  100  is controlled by the remote controller  500  as shown in  FIG. 2 . The remote controller  500  enables the user to operate the display apparatus  100  without going by the display apparatus  100 . The remote controller  500  has many buttons. The buttons frequently used in this embodiment are a menu button  510 , arrow buttons  520 , an enter button  530  and an input button  540 . The arrow buttons  520  contain an up button  521 , a down button  522 , a right button  523  and a left button  524 . 
     §2. Architecture of the Display Apparatus 
       FIG. 3  shows the arrangement of the terminals  400 . The terminals  400  contain various types of terminals. Thus, many kinds of video devices and sources can be connected to the display apparatus  100 . The terminals  400  contain a digital audio output terminal  410 , first component input terminals  421 , second component input terminals  422 , a PC input terminal  431 , a stereo audio input terminal  432 , an antenna input terminal  440 , an S-video input terminal  450 , composite input terminals  460 , stereo audio output terminals  470 , a universal serial bus (USB) port  480 , a first high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) input terminal  491 , a second HDMI input terminal  492  and a third HDMI input terminal  493 . 
       FIG. 4  shows the components of the electrical components  300 . The electrical components  300  contain a tuner  311 , a video decoder  312 , a transition minimized differential signaling (TMDS) receiver  313 , a USB controller  314 , a video coder/decoder (CODEC)  315 , a multiplexer  320 , an image processor  330 , an on-screen display generator  340 , an audio processor  351 , an audio CODEC  352 , an infrared (IR) receiver  360 , and a controller  600 . 
     Signals from an antenna enter the multiplexer  320  through the antenna input terminal  440  and the tuner  311 . Composite, S-video, component and RGB signals enter the multiplexer  320  through the composite input terminals  460 , the S-video input terminal  450 , the first component input terminals  421 , the second component input terminals  422  or the PC input terminal  431 , and the video decoder  312 . Digital visual interface (DVI) and HDMI signals enter the multiplexer  320  through the first HDMI input terminal  492 , the second HDMI input terminal  492  or the third HDMI input terminal  493 , and the TMDS receiver  313 . Video data such as mpeg and avi files from an external USB device are transmitted to the video CODEC  315  through the USB controller  314 . Then, the video data are converted into video signals by the video CODEC  315  and transmitted to the multiplexer  320 . One of the signals inputted into the multiplexer  320  is selected by the multiplexer  320  and transmitted to the image processor  330 . The signal inputted into the image processor  330  is divided into a video signal and an audio signal. In the image processor  330 , the video signal is processed to be displayed on the display  200 . In addition, in the image processor  330 , the video image is modified by the controller  600 . The processed and modified video signal is transmitted to the on-screen display generator  340 . By the on-screen display generator  340 , an image signal generated by the controller  600  is overlain onto the video signal generated by the image processor  330 . The overlain signal is transmitted to and displayed on the display  200 . The audio signal separated by the image processor  330  is transmitted to the audio processor  351 . The audio signal is modified by the audio processor  351  and transmitted to the speakers  250  or an external audio device through the audio CODEC  352 . 
     In the display apparatus  100 , a user input inputted with the remote controller  500  is transmitted to the IR receiver  360  as an infrared signal. Then, the user input signal is transmitted to the controller  600  from the IR receiver  360 . Furthermore, the controller  600  can access to data in an external USB device such as a USB flash disk or a USB hard disk drive through the USB controller  314  to display files in the USB device on the display  200  and can play video files in the USB device. 
     The controller  600  contains a central processing unit (CPU)  610  and a memory  620 . The memory  620  is composed of a read only memory (ROM)  621 , a random access memory (RAM)  622  and a flash memory  623 . The ROM  621  stores programs and default data sets. The RAM  622  stores temporary data. The flash memory  623  maintains data stored for a long-term. The CPU  610  controls the tuner  311 , the video decoder  312 , the USB controller  314 , the video CODEC  315 , the multiplexer  320 , the image processor  330 , the on-screen display generator  340 , the audio processor  351  and the audio CODEC  352  based on the programs and data stored in the memory  620  and user inputs transmitted from the IR receiver  360 . Furthermore, the CPU  610  generates images of menus described below and transmits the image signals to the on-screen display generator  340  to display the menus on the display  200 . 
     §3. Embodiments of Menus Shown on the Display 
     In this section, menus generated by the CPU  610  are explained. 
     §3.1 Menus Shown on the Display 
       FIGS. 5-10  illustrate examples of display images generated by the CPU  610 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , the CPU  610  can generate plural menus including a first menu  710 , a second menu  720 , a third menu  730  and a fourth menu  740 . Each menu contains items that can be selected by a user. These items represent setting parameters of the display apparatus  100 . 
     The menus are shown in a hierarchy order. The first menu  710  is on the highest hierarchy. The second menu  720  is on the second highest hierarchy. The third menu  730  is on the second lowest hierarchy. And, the fourth menu  740  is on the lowest hierarchy. Thus, when the user presses the menu button  510  (see  FIG. 2 ), the first menu  710  is displayed on the display  200  first. 
     The first menu  710  contains three areas, a user-registered item area  711 , a frequently-selected item area  712  and a default item area  713 . The user-registered item area  711  shows items that are registered by the user. The frequently-selected item area  712  shows items that are frequently selected by the user. The default item area  713  shows preset items that are located in the first menu  710  from the beginning. 
     When one of the items in the default item area  713  is selected and the selected item contains a subcategory of items, the second menu  720  is shown on the display  200 . The second menu  720  contains two areas, a frequently-selected item area  721  and a default item area  722 . 
     Likewise, when one of the items in the default item area  722  is selected and the selected item contains a subcategory of items, the third menu  730  is shown on the display  200 . The third menu  730  also contains two areas, a frequently-selected item area  731  and a default item area  732 . 
     The fourth menu  740  contains an item/gauge area  741  where at least one item and/or one gauge is shown. 
     In the case of  FIG. 5 , after menu button  510  was pressed and the first menu  710  showed up, an item ‘Picture’ was selected by pressing the down button  522  and the right button  523  or the enter button  530 . Then, the second menu  720  showed up. The default item area  722  of the second menu  720  includes the items that are subcategory of the item ‘Picture’. Then, an item ‘Manual’ was selected, and the third menu  730  showed up. In the third menu  730 , an item ‘Color’ was selected, and the fourth menu  740  showed up. In the fourth menu  740 , an item ‘Color’ and a color coarse gauge  750  were shown. The color coarse gauge  750  represents a value of a setting parameter ‘Color’. To make it easier for the user to see, the item ‘Color’ and the color coarse gauge  760  are also shown in the bottom of the display  200 . The item ‘Color’ and the color coarse gauge  760  in the bottom of the display  200  are larger than the item ‘Color’ and the color coarse gauge  750  in the fourth menu  740 . However, the color coarse gauge  750  and the color coarse gauge  760  represent the same value. By pressing the right button  523  or the left button  524 , the user can change the value of the setting parameter ‘Color’. 
     When one of the following conditions is met, the display image changes into as shown in  FIG. 6 . 
     Condition 1: When the item ‘Color’ or the color coarse gauge  750  have been displayed on the display  200  more than a predetermined number of times in a predetermined period. For example, when the item ‘Color’ and the color coarse gauge  750  have been shown on the display  200  more than five times in recent one month, the fourth menu  740  changes like  FIG. 6 . 
     Condition 2: When a parameter of the item ‘Color’, or the value of the color coarse gauge  750  have been modified more than a predetermined number of times while the item ‘Color’ and the color coarse gauge  750  have been displayed on the display  200 . For example, when the value of the color coarse gauge  750  has been changed by the user more than five times while the fourth menu  740  has kept shown on the display  200 , the fourth menu  740  changes like  FIG. 6 . 
     Condition 3: When the item ‘Color’ or the color coarse gauge  750  has been displayed on the display  200  for more than a predetermined period of time. For example, when the item ‘Color’ and the color coarse gauge  750  has kept shown on the display  200  for more than 10 seconds, the fourth menu  740  changes like  FIG. 6 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 5 to 6 , when one of the above conditions is fulfilled, the number of items and the number of gauges increase in the fourth menu  740 . Now, the fourth menu  740  contains the item ‘Color’, an item ‘Red’, an item ‘Green’, an item ‘Blue’, an item ‘Cyan’, an item ‘Magenta’, an item ‘Yellow’, the color coarse gauge  750 , a red coarse gauge  751 , a green coarse gauge  752 , a blue coarse gauge  753 , a cyan coarse gauge  754 , a magenta coarse gauge  755  and a yellow coarse gauge  756 . 
     In  FIG. 6 , the item ‘Blue’ is selected, and the user can change the value of the setting parameter ‘Blue’. While the blue coarse gauges  753  and  763  are displayed on the display  200 , a value of the blue coarse gauges  753  and  763  are changed with a larger step. For example, when the user presses the right button  523  or the left button  524 , the value of the blue coarse gauges  753  and  763  increases or decreases by a value ‘10’. Therefore, the user can change the value of the setting parameter largely without pressing buttons many times. 
     When one of the following conditions is met, the display image changes into as shown in  FIG. 7 . 
     Condition 1: When the item ‘Blue’ and the blue coarse gauge  753  have been displayed on the display  200  more than a predetermined number of times in a predetermined period. For example, when the item ‘Blue’ and the blue coarse gauges  753  and  763  have been shown on the display  200  more than five times in recent one month, the fourth menu  740  changes like  FIG. 7 . 
     Condition 2: When a parameter of the item ‘Blue’, or the value of the blue coarse gauges  753  and  763  has been modified more than a predetermined number of times while the item ‘Blue’ and the blue coarse gauges  753  and  763  have been displayed on the display  200 . For example, when the value of the blue coarse gauges  753  and  763  has been changed by the user more than five times while the fourth menu  740  has kept shown on the display  200 , the fourth menu  740  changes like  FIG. 7 . 
     Condition 3: When the item ‘Blue’ or the blue coarse gauges  753  and  763  have been displayed on the display  200  for more than a predetermined period of time. For example, when the item ‘Blue’ and the blue coarse gauges  753  and  763  have kept shown on the display  200  for more than 10 seconds, the fourth menu  740  changes like  FIG. 7 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 6 to 7 , when one of the above conditions is fulfilled, the blue coarse gauges  753  and  763  change into blue fine gauges  773  and  783 . While the blue fine gauges  773  and  783  are shown on the display  200 , the value of the item ‘Blue’ is changed with a smaller step than while the blue coarse gauges  753  and  763  are shown on the display  200 . For example, when the user presses the right button  523  or the left button  524 , the value of the item ‘Blue’ increases or decreases by a value ‘1’. Therefore, the user can change the value of the setting parameter in detail to fit his taste. 
     When one item is selected more than a predetermined number of times in a predetermined period, such item is displayed in a menu on a higher hierarchy. For example, as shown in  FIGS. 7 to 8 , when the item ‘Blue’ in the fourth menu  740  has been selected more than twice in a month, the item ‘Blue’ is also displayed in the frequently-selected item area  731  of the third menu  730 . Likewise, when the item ‘Blue’ has been selected more than five times in a month, the item ‘Blue’ will be displayed in the frequently-selected item area  721  of the second menu  720  instead of the frequently-selected item area  731 . Furthermore, when the item ‘Blue’ has been selected more than nine times in a month, the item ‘Blue’ will be displayed in the frequently-selected item area  712  of the first menu  710  instead of the frequently-selected item area  721 . 
     In the display apparatus  100 , the user can register an item that the user wants to see in the first menu  710 . For example, when the user wants to register an item ‘Brightness’ in the third menu  730 , the user selects the item ‘Brightness’ and hold the enter button  530  for a certain period of time such as five seconds. Then, as shown in  FIGS. 8 to 9 , the item ‘Brightness’ is registered and shown in the user-registered item area  711  in the first menu  710 . When the item ‘Brightness’ in the first menu  710  is selected by the user, a brightness fine gauges  777  and  787  are displayed on the display  200 . Now, the user can change a value of the item ‘Brightness’ in the first menu  710 . 
     The user can also delete the registered item from the user-registered item area  711 . For example, when the user wants to delete the item ‘Brightness’ from the user-registered item area  711 , the user selects the item ‘Brightness’ and hold the enter button  530  for a certain period of time such as five seconds. Then, the display image goes back as shown in  FIG. 8 . The item ‘Brightness’ has been deleted from the user-registered item area  711  and is shown only in the third menu  730 . 
     Likewise, the user can delete the items in the frequently-selected item areas  712 ,  721  and  731 . For example, when the user wants to delete the item ‘Blue’ from the frequently-selected item area  731 , the user selects the item ‘Blue’ and hold the enter button  530  for a certain period of time such as five seconds. Then, the display image goes back as shown in  FIG. 7 . The item ‘Blue’ has been deleted from the frequently-selected item area  731  and is shown only in the fourth menu  740 . 
     In the display apparatus  100 , the data and values related to items, parameters and gauges are stored independently based on the input terminals, which are the first component input terminals  421 , the second component input terminals  422 , the PC input terminal  431 , the antenna input terminal  440 , the S-video input terminal  450 , the composite input terminals  460 , the USB port  480 , the first HDMI input terminal  491 , the second HDMI input terminal  492  and the third HDMI input terminal  493 . The display images shown in  FIGS. 5-9  are examples of when the signal input is selected to be the first HDMI input terminal  491 . 
     If the signal input is selected to be the antenna by pressing the input button  540 , the display image can change like  FIG. 10 . In the display apparatus  100 , the memory  620  stores data of the number of times associated with the items selected during a predetermined period of time based on the input terminals. Thus, the CPU  610  generates different menus  710 - 740  based on the number of items selected by the user for each input terminal. In  FIG. 10 , items shown in the frequently-selected item areas  712 ,  721  and  731  are different from those shown in  FIGS. 5-9 . Whether the gauges are coarse gauges or fine gauges is also different from that in  FIGS. 5-9 . Furthermore, the number of items shown in the fourth menu  740  can be different too. 
     In addition to the number of times associated with the items having been selected, the memory  620  stores data of the items registered by the user separately based on the input terminals. Therefore, items shown in the user-registered item area  711  are different between when the display  200  shows an image based on the input signal from the first HDMI input terminal  491  and when the display  200  shows an image based on the input signal from the antenna input terminal  440 . In other word, items registered while the display  200  showed an image based on the input signal from the first HDMI input terminal  491  are shown in the user-registered item area  711  only while the display  200  is showing an image based on the input signal from the first HDMI input terminal  491 . Likewise, items registered while the display  200  showed an image based on the antenna input terminal  440  are shown in the user-registered item area  711  only while the display  200  is showing an image based on the input signal from the antenna input terminal  440 . 
     Furthermore, the memory  620  stores data of the values on pictures and sounds separately based on the input terminals. Thus, when the display apparatus  100  displays an image based on the first HDMI input, the controller  600  modifies the image based on the data set for the first HDMI input. Likewise, when the display apparatus  100  displays an image based on the antenna input, the controller  600  modifies the image based on the data set for the antenna input. In short, the values of the setting parameters for the display apparatus  100  are independent based on the input source. In other word, when the user changes the input source, the displayed image is modified based on the values of the setting parameters for that input source. In  FIG. 10 , the CPU  610  has restored the values for the antenna input that are stored in the memory  620 , and the display  200  shows the values of parameters in the color coarse gauge  750 , the red fine gauge  771 , the green fine gauge  772 , the blue fine gauge  773 , the cyan coarse gauge  754 , the magenta coarse gauge  755  and the yellow coarse gauge  756  based on the restored values. The sounds and pictures generated on the display  200  and the speaker  250  are modified based on these restored values. 
     §3.2 Advantage of this Embodiment 
     In this embodiment, the menu on the highest hierarchy, which is the first menu  710 , contains the user-registered item area  711  the frequently-selected item area  712  and the default item area  713 . Such arrangement makes it unnecessary for the user to go to a menu on a deeper hierarchy to select some items. Thus such arrangement can reduce the number of buttons that the user presses to reach the item of which the user wants to change the parameter. 
     In this embodiment, when a predetermined condition is not fulfilled, the controller  600  displays one item ‘Color’ in the fourth menu  740  while the controller  600  displays plural items in the fourth menu  740  when the predetermined condition is fulfilled. This makes the menu simple in the beginning and prevents the user from being overwhelmed by excess number of items. 
     The one item ‘Color’ and the plural items related to the item ‘Color’ are displayed in the same menu. Such arrangement makes it easy for the user to understand the relation of the one item and the other plural items. 
     Likewise, when a predetermined condition is not fulfilled, the controller  600  displays a coarse gauge in a menu while the controller  600  displays a fine gauge in the same menu when the predetermined condition is fulfilled. This enables the user to change a value of a parameter by large amount with pressing a fewer number of buttons in the beginning. After that, the user can change the value of the parameter in detail to fit to their taste. 
     Since the appearance of the fine gauge is different from the appearance of the coarse gauge, the user can intuitively recognize that he can change the parameter by a different step. 
     However, width and length of the fine gauge are substantially equal to width and length of the coarse gauge respectively. In addition, the coarse gauge and the fine gauge are displayed almost at the same position. By this arrangement, the user can easily understand that the user is still setting the same parameter of an item even after the appearance of the gauge has changed. 
     In this embodiment, one selectable item such as the item ‘Blue’ is in a menu on a lower hierarchy than the highest hierarchy, such as the fourth menu  740 . When the selectable item is selected more than a predetermined time in a predetermined period, the selectable item is displayed in a menu on a higher hierarchy such as the third menu  730 . Such arrangement reduces the number of buttons the user presses to reach the item the user frequently uses. 
     As the frequency that the user selects an item increases, the item moves to menus on a higher hierarchy step by step. For example, when the item ‘Blue’ is selected equal to or less than a first predetermined number of times, the controller  600  displays the item ‘Blue’ in a menu on a default hierarchy, which is the fourth menu  740 . When the item ‘Blue’ is selected more than a first predetermined number of times, the controller  600  displays the item ‘Blue’ in a second menu on a higher hierarchy than the default hierarchy, which is the third menu  730 . When the item ‘Blue’ is selected more than a second predetermined number of times, the controller  600  displays the item ‘Blue’ in a third menu on a higher hierarchy than the hierarchy of the second menu, which is the second menu  720 . Such arrangement reduces the number of buttons the user presses to reach the item the user frequently uses without making a specific menu overcrowded. 
     The items shown in the user-registered item area  711 , frequently-selected item areas  712 ,  721  and  731  can be deleted by the user. This enables the user to see only the items that user wants to see in the menus on higher hierarchies. 
     In this embodiment, the controller  600  stores data of a parameter that is related to the setting of the display apparatus  100  independently based on the input terminals. When the display  200  displays an image based on a signal originated from one input terminal, the controller  600  adjusts the image and sound or modifies the menu based on the data for this input terminal. When the display  200  displays an image based on a signal originated from other input terminal, the controller  600  adjusts the image and sound or modifies the menu based on the datum for this other input terminal. The user may have different preferred settings on images and sounds for watching TV, videos and video files, for playing video games, and for operating a computer. The display apparatus  100  reproduces such settings based on the signal input. Therefore, the user doesn&#39;t have to set the parameter again to fit to his preference for that input after the user changes the input sources. 
     Besides, menus created on the display  200  are different based on the input signals from which the display  200  shows the image. The parameters of items the user frequently changes may be different when the user plays a video game and when the user plays video files from a USB flash disk. On the display apparatus  100 , the user can easily reach the items he wants to change after he changes the input sources. 
     §3.3 Other Embodiments 
     In the above embodiment, when a selectable item was selected more than a predetermined number of times in a predetermined period, the controller  600  displayed the item in a menu on a higher hierarchy. However, in other embodiment, when a selectable item is selected just more than a predetermined number of times, the controller  600  may display the item in a menu on a higher hierarchy without taking an account of a period of time. 
     In the above embodiment, when a selectable item or a coarse gauge has been modified more than a predetermined number of times while such item or the gauge has been displayed on the display  200 , the number of items shown increased or the coarse gauge changed into the fine gauge. However, in other embodiments, the number of items shown may increase or the coarse gauge may change into the fine gauge when a selectable item or a coarse gauge has been modified more than a predetermined number of times while at least one of the first menu  710 , the second menu  720 , the third menu  730  or the fourth menu  740  has been displayed on the display  200 . 
     In the above embodiment, after a selectable item or a coarse gauge has been displayed on the display  200  for more than a predetermined period of time, the number of items shown increased or the coarse gauge changed into the fine gauge. However, in other embodiments, the number of items shown may increase or the coarse gauge may change into the fine gauge after at least one of the first menu  710 , the second menu  720 , the third menu  730  or the fourth menu  740  has been displayed on the display  200  for more than a predetermined period of time. 
     In the above embodiment, the menus on higher hierarchies kept shown on the display  200  after a menu on a lower hierarchy was shown. For example, the first menu  710  kept shown after the second menu  720  showed up. In other embodiment, the menu on a higher hierarchy may disappear when a menu on a lower hierarchy shows up. 
     In the above embodiment, colors and brightness were used as examples of setting parameters of image (picture). However the other embodiments can include tint, contrast, sharpness, dynamic contrast, signal balancer, noise reduction, white balance, vertical sharpness, edge enhancer, horizontal size, vertical size and so on as the setting parameters of image. Furthermore, the setting parameters of the display apparatus  100  are not limited to the parameters of image. In other embodiment, the setting parameters may include the parameter of sound or anything else. The setting parameters of sound may include bass &amp; treble, bass extension, lip sync, audyssey dynamic volume, 4-band equalizer and so on. 
     In the above embodiment, the display apparatus  100  played video files in the external USB devices through the USB port  480  and the video CODEC  315 . In other embodiments, the display apparatus  100  may display pictures of picture files such as jpeg files or tiff files. In other embodiments, the display apparatus  100  may play music of sound files such as mp3 or wave files. 
     In the above embodiment, items shown in the menus were about setting parameters of the display apparatus  100 . In other embodiment, the items in the menu may be files stored in a USB device connected to the USB port  480 . 
     In the above embodiment, the controller  600  was constituted with the CPU  610  and the memory  620 . In other embodiments, the controller  600  may be constituted with other type of processors or electrical devices. 
     §4. Operation of the Display Apparatus 
     In this section, operation of the display apparatus is explained with  FIGS. 11-19 . 
     §4.1 Data Table Used for the Operation 
     The controller  600  stores tables for items shown in the default item areas  713 ,  722 ,  732  and the fourth menu  740  in the ROM  621 . The controller  600  also stores tables for default values of setting parameters in the ROM  621 . 
     The tables shown in  FIGS. 11-13  are stored in the flash memory  623 . Thus, these data are stored for a long term and not lost during a power failure of the display apparatus  100 . Such data include values of parameters on items ( FIG. 11 ), values of numbers of times of the items which have been selected in recent one month (input history in  FIG. 12 ), and items registered by the user ( FIG. 13 ). As shown in  FIGS. 11 to 13 , the values of parameters on items, the values of numbers of times of the items which have been selected in recent one month, and items registered by the user are stored independently based on the input terminals. 
     The controller  600  generates temporary data of tables corresponding to the items displayed in the frequently-selected item areas  712 ,  721  and  731  in the RAM  622 . 
     §4.2 Operation of the Display Apparatus 
     Below, operation of the display apparatus is explained with  FIGS. 14-19 . First, main routines are explained based on  FIG. 14 . It is assumed that the turning on the display apparatus  100  initiates the first step of the operation. 
     &lt;Step S 110 &gt; The CPU  610  loads the values of the setting parameters from the flash memory  623 . More specifically, the CPU  610  reads a value set corresponding to the input source from which the display apparatus  100  generates an image. For example, when the display apparatus  100  is showing an image based on an input signal from the first HDMI input terminal  491 , the CPU  610  reads the values for ‘HDMI  1 ’ as referred in  FIG. 11 . 
     &lt;Step S 120 &gt; The display apparatus  100  displays an image on the display  200 , modifying the image based on the values read in the previous step. 
     &lt;Step S 130 &gt; The CPU  610  determines whether the input source is changed, or the input button  540  is pressed. If the input source is changed, the process goes back to the Step S 110 . In the second round of Step S 110 , if the user has selected to show a picture from the antenna, in other word, if the display apparatus  100  is showing an image based on an input signal from the antenna input terminal  440 , the CPU  610  reads the values for ‘Antenna’ as referred in  FIG. 11 . If the input source is not changed, the process proceeds to the next step. 
     &lt;Step S 140 &gt; The CPU  610  determines whether the menu button  510  is pressed. If the menu button  510  is pressed, the process proceeds to the Menu Step S 200 . If the menu button  510  is not pressed, the process goes back to the Step S 120 . 
     &lt;Step S 200 &gt; As shown in  FIG. 15 , the Menu Step S 200  is composed of Steps S 210 -S 250 , S 300  and S 400 . 
     &lt;Step S 210 &gt; The CPU  610  creates tables for items shown in the menus based on the tables stored in the memory  620 . The items in the tables created in this step correspond to the items shown in the menus on the display  200 . The tables are created based on the table of the items registered by the user ( FIG. 13 ), the table of the input history ( FIG. 12 ), and the tables for default items shown in the default item areas  713 ,  722 ,  732  and the fourth menu  740 . The table of the items registered by the user brings items shown in the user-registered item area  711 . The table of the input history brings items shown in the frequently-selected item areas  712 ,  721  and  731 . For example, when an item has been selected more than twice and less than six times in a month, this item is put in the table for the third menu  730 . If the item has been selected more than five times and less than ten times in a month, this item is put in the table for the second menu  720 . If the item has been selected more than nine times in a month, this item is put in the table for the first menu  710 . The tables of the default items bring the items shown in the default item areas  713 ,  722 ,  732  and the fourth menu  740 . 
     &lt;Step S 220 &gt; The CPU  610  displays menus on the display  200  based on the tables created in the previous step. 
     &lt;Step S 230 &gt; The CPU  610  receives user inputs for an item in the menu. 
     &lt;Step S 240 &gt; The CPU  610  determines whether the enter button  530  is held for a certain period of time such as five seconds. If the enter button  530  is held for a certain period of time, the process jumps to User-Register &amp; Input History Table Update Step S 300 . If the enter button  530  is held for less than five seconds, the process proceeds to Step S 250 . 
     &lt;Step S 250 &gt; The CPU  610  updates the table of user input history. For example, if the item ‘Blue’ is selected by the user while the display  200  is showing an image from an input signal from the first HDMI input terminal  491 , the CPU  610  increments the value corresponding to the item ‘Blue’ in the data set of HDMI  1  in  FIG. 12 . Then, the process jumps to Parameter Change Step S 400 . 
     After the Menu Step S 200  is done, the process goes back to the Step S 120 . 
     &lt;Step S 300 &gt; As shown in  FIG. 16 , the User-Register &amp; Input History Table Update Step S 300  is composed of Steps S 310 -S 350 . 
     &lt;Step S 310 &gt; The CPU  610  determines whether the item selected by the user is in the frequently-selected item area  712 ,  721  or  731 . If the item selected by the user is in the frequently-selected item area  712 ,  721  or  731 , the process branches to Step S 320 . If the item selected by the user is not in the frequently-selected item area  712 ,  721  or  731 , the process goes to Step S 330 . 
     &lt;Step S 320 &gt; The CPU  610  clears a value of the number of times of the items which have been selected in recent one month of the item selected currently in the Table for Input History ( FIG. 12 ). For example, if the item ‘Blue’ in the frequently-selected item area  731  in  FIG. 8  is held by the user while the display  200  is displaying an image based on the first HDMI input, the CPU  610  clears the value of the item ‘Blue’ in the HDMI  1  column in the Table for Input History. Thereby, the item ‘Blue’ is erased from the frequently-selected item area  731  as shown in  FIG. 7 . Then, the operation terminates the User-Register &amp; Input History Table Update Step S 300 . 
     &lt;Step S 330 &gt; The CPU  610  determines whether the item selected by the user is in the user-registered item area  711 . If the item selected by the user is not in the user-registered item area  711 , the process proceeds to Step S 340 . If the item selected by the user is in the user-registered item area  711 , the process branches to Step S 350 . 
     &lt;Step S 340 &gt; The CPU  610  adds the selected item in the Table for User Registered Item ( FIG. 13 ). For example, if the item ‘Brightness’ in the default item area  732  in  FIG. 8  is held by the user while the display  200  is displaying an image based on the first HDMI input, the CPU  610  adds the item ‘Brightness’ in the HDMI  1  column in the Table for User Registered Item. Thereby, the item ‘Brightness’ is added in the user-registered item area  711  as shown in  FIG. 9 . Then, the operation terminates the User-Register &amp; Input History Table Update Step S 300 . 
     &lt;Step S 350 &gt; The CPU  610  deletes the selected item from the Table for User Registered Item. For example, if the item ‘Brightness’ in the user-registered item area  711  in  FIG. 9  is held by the user while the display  200  is displaying an image based on the first HDMI input, the CPU  610  erases the item ‘Brightness’ in the HDMI  1  column in the Table for User Registered Item. Thereby, the item ‘Brightness’ is deleted from the user-registered item area  711  as shown in  FIG. 8 . Then, the operation terminates the User-Register &amp; Input History Table Update Step S 300 . 
     After the User-Register &amp; Input History Table Update Step S 300  is done, the process goes back to the Step S 210 . 
     &lt;Step S 400 &gt; As shown in  FIG. 17 , the Parameter Change Step S 400  is composed of Steps S 410 -S 440 , S 500  and S 600 . 
     &lt;Step S 410 &gt; The CPU  610  determines whether the item selected by the user is a specific item such as the item ‘Color’. If the selected item is the specific item, the process jumps to Specific Item Change Step S 500 . Otherwise, the process proceeds to Step S 420 . 
     &lt;Step S 420 &gt; The CPU  610  determines whether the item selected by the user relates to a value such as the item ‘Blue’. If the selected item relates to a value, the process jumps to Value Change Step S 600 . If the selected item does not relates to a value such as stereo sound/monaural sound, the process proceeds to Step S 430 . 
     &lt;Steps S 430  &amp; S 440 &gt; The CPU  610  receives a user input and changes the setting of parameter based on this user input. Then, the operation terminates the Parameter Change Step S 400 . 
     &lt;Step S 500 &gt; As shown in  FIG. 18 , the Specific Item Change Step S 500  is composed of Steps S 510 -S 590 . 
     &lt;Step S 510 &gt; The CPU  610  determines whether the item selected by the user has been shown in the display  200  in more than a predetermined frequency. In other words, the CPU  610  determines whether the selected item has been displayed on the display  200  more than a predetermined number of times in a predetermined period. For example, when the item ‘Color’ is selected by the user as shown in  FIG. 5 , the CPU  610  determines whether the item ‘Color’ has been shown on the display  200  more than five times in recent one month by referring to the Table for Input History ( FIG. 12 ). If the selected item has been displayed on the display  200  more than a predetermined number of times in a predetermined period, the process branches to Step S 570 . Otherwise, the process proceeds to Step S 520 . 
     &lt;Step S 520 &gt; The CPU  610  displays a simple item on the display  200 . For example, the CPU  610  shows just one item ‘Color’ in the fourth menu  740  as shown if  FIG. 5 . 
     &lt;Step S 530 &gt; The CPU  610  determines whether the item selected by the user has been shown in the display  200  for more than a predetermined period of time. For example, the CPU  610  determines whether the item ‘Color’ and the color coarse gauge  750  have kept shown on the display  200  for more than 10 seconds. If the selected item has been shown in the display  200  for more than a predetermined period of time, the process branches to Step S 570 . Otherwise, the process proceeds to Step S 540 . 
     &lt;Step S 540 &gt; The CPU  610  receives a user input through the remote controller  500 . 
     &lt;Step S 550 &gt; The CPU  610  determines whether a parameter of the item has been modified more than a predetermined number of times. For example, the CPU  610  determines whether the parameter of the item ‘Color’ has been changed by the user more than five times while the item ‘Color’ and the color coarse gauge  750  is kept shown on the display  200 . If the parameter of the item has been modified more than a predetermined number of times, the process branches to Step S 570 . Otherwise, the process proceeds to Step S 560 . 
     &lt;Step S 560 &gt; The CPU  610  changes the setting of the display apparatus  100  based on the user input. Then, the operation terminates the Specific Item Change Step S 500 . 
     &lt;Step S 570 &gt; The CPU  610  displays detailed items related to the simple items on the display  200 . For example, as shown in  FIG. 6 , the CPU  610  shows the items ‘Red’, ‘Green’, ‘Blue’, ‘Cyan’, ‘Magenta’, and ‘Yellow’ in the fourth menu  740 , all of which are related to the item ‘Color’. 
     &lt;Steps S 580  &amp; S 590 &gt; The CPU  610  receives a user input through the remote controller  500 . Then, the CPU  610  changes the setting of the display apparatus  100  based on this user input. Then, the operation terminates the Specific Item Change Step S 500 . 
     &lt;Step S 600 &gt; As shown in  FIG. 19 , the Value Change Step S 600  is composed of Steps S 610 -S 690 . 
     &lt;Step S 610 &gt; The CPU  610  determines whether the item selected by the user and the gauge related to this item have been shown in the display  200  in more than a predetermined frequency. In other words, the CPU  610  determines whether the selected item or gauge has been displayed on the display  200  more than a predetermined number of times in a predetermined period. For example, when the item ‘Blue’ and the blue coarse gauge  753  is selected by the user as shown in  FIG. 6 , the CPU  610  determines whether the item ‘Blue’ and the blue coarse gauge  753  have been shown on the display  200  more than five times in recent one month, referring the Table for Input History ( FIG. 12 ). If the selected item and the gauge have been displayed on the display  200  more than a predetermined number of times in a predetermined period, the process branches to Step S 670 . Otherwise, the process proceeds to Step S 620 . 
     &lt;Step S 620 &gt; The CPU  610  displays a coarse gauge on the display  200 . For example, the CPU  610  shows the blue coarse gauge  753  in the fourth menu  740  as shown in  FIG. 6 . 
     &lt;Step S 630 &gt; The CPU  610  determines whether the gauge has been shown in the display  200  for more than a predetermined period of time. For example, the CPU  610  determines whether the blue coarse gauge  753  has been kept shown on the display  200  for more than 10 seconds. If the gauge has been shown in the display  200  for more than a predetermined period of time, the process branches to Step S 670 . Otherwise, the process proceeds to Step S 640 . 
     &lt;Step S 640 &gt; The CPU  610  receives a user input through the remote controller  500 . 
     &lt;Step S 650 &gt; The CPU  610  determines whether the value of the coarse gauge has been changed more than a predetermined number of times. For example, the CPU  610  determines whether the value of the blue coarse gauge  753  has been changed by the user more than five times while the blue coarse gauge  753  is kept shown on the display  200 . If the value of the coarse gauge has been changed more than a predetermined number of times, the process branches to Step S 670 . Otherwise, the process proceeds to Step S 660 . 
     &lt;Step S 660 &gt; The CPU  610  changes the value of the parameter of the item based on the user input. Then, the operation terminates the Value Change Step S 600 . 
     &lt;Step S 670 &gt; The CPU  610  displays a fine gauge on the display  200 . For example, as shown in  FIG. 7 , the CPU  610  shows the blue fine gauge  773  in the fourth menu  740 . 
     &lt;Steps S 680  &amp; S 690 &gt; The CPU  610  receives a user input through the remote controller  500 . Then, the CPU  610  changes the value of the parameter of the item based on this user input. Then, the operation terminates the Value Change Step S 600 .