Abstract:
A display device includes a video screen having a maximum resolution. An operating system generates a browser mode on the screen at the maximum resolution to aid in the user&#39;s ability to view text in a browser window. A video driver locates and sizes the browser window in accordance with the maximum resolution of the video screen to permit the browser window to be sized at the maximum resolution on the video screen.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention generally relates to graphical user interface technology and, more particularly, to a method and system for providing resolution control for display of multiple windows on a display screen, such as a television.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     As network technologies have progressed, on-line video applications have been become more utilized. Many web sites and multimedia resources, available through a communications network as the Internet, provide video clips or live video feeds as a service for users. Videos and streaming content are now readily displayed on a user&#39;s a display screen or on a television screen. With devices that typically display images in a selected resolution, such as a television set, the resolution of a displayed image may not be the most desirable or may not be compatible with the selected screen resolution, which is pre-defined by the physical or software limits of a device. More specifically, video displayed in a pre-selected resolution may appear to be distorted.  
         [0003]     Television sets now often include web-browsing capabilities. These television sets provide interactivity beyond just channels and volume selections, as users are able to receive content through an Internet connection. One drawback of employing a television set as a web browser display is that the display screen is often inadequate in resolution to permit text to be legible, for video is typically concurrently displayed with a web browser. Characters and other symbols displayed may be difficult to read in the web browser window because the resolution of the web browser is too low for legibly displaying text.  
         [0004]     Therefore, a need exists for providing the highest possible resolution for television web-browsers when a display device is capable of multiple resolutions. A further need exists for a system which sizes and positions web-browser and video windows utilizing the best available screen resolution.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     A display includes a video screen having a capability for multiple resolutions, including a maximum resolution. An operating system generates a browser mode on the screen at the maximum resolution to aid in the user&#39;s ability to view text in a browser window. A video driver locates and sizes the browser window in accordance with the maximum resolution of the video screen to permit the browser window to be a largest size on the video screen.  
         [0006]     A method for starting a web browser for use on a television screen includes initiating a browser mode of the television screen and changing the screen resolution of a browser window to its largest value to display the browser window at a largest possible size in accordance with the value. A position for the browser window is then determined on the television screen. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]     The advantages, nature, and various additional features of the invention will appear more fully upon consideration of the illustrative embodiments now to be described in detail in connection with accompanying drawings wherein:  
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is a system diagram illustratively showing a browser and video window resolution control components in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0009]      FIG. 2  is a system diagram showing browser and video windows in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0010]      FIG. 3  is a system diagram showing a browser-only mode in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0011]      FIG. 4  is a system diagram showing a browser and video windows fit in a non-overlapping configuration in accordance with the present invention; and  
         [0012]      FIG. 5  is a block diagram for implementing resolution control of a browser application in accordance with the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0013]     The present invention provides a method and system, which selects a maximum available screen resolution which will result in the largest video window or browser window size. In one embodiment, when a web-browser application mode is run on a television set display, the present invention selects a maximum screen resolution mode for setting the largest browser window. In addition, the appropriate screen resolution according to a television input source may be selected whenever leaving web browser mode. Video sources include information for their own resolution (or source format). The present invention may select the screen resolution according to video input source format (resolution). However, when a browser is displayed as a main window and video as a smaller window, the present invention permits a preferred screen resolution to be selected for the browser window, preferably, the maximum resolution screen for getting the most window area size for the browser.  
         [0014]     It is to be understood that the present invention is described in terms of a television system; however, the present invention is much broader and may include any digital multimedia devices, which are capable of displaying video. In addition, the present invention is applicable to any input method including data received by telephone, set top boxes, computer, satellite links, etc. It should also be understood that the elements shown in the FIGS. may be implemented in various forms of hardware, software or combinations thereof. Preferably, these elements are implemented in a combination of hardware and software on one or more appropriately programmed general-purpose devices, which may include a processor, memory and input/output interfaces.  
         [0015]     Video data or video content, for purposes of the application, signifies any type of data that may be rendered as video, on a display device. Typically such data is rendered in a window of a specific area, such as area is defined as the resolution of the window. The terms also referring to resolution, for this application, include screen resolution, display resolution, and window resolution, referring to the area of pixels occupied by video. Web browsers typically render video comprising of HTML data and/or other forms of hypertext languages. Optionally, such web browsers render video that are stored as files on a display device or as streaming media located from various sources from the Internet, or other type of communications network.  
         [0016]     Referring now in specific detail to the drawings in which like reference numerals identify similar or identical elements throughout the several views, and initially to  FIG. 1 , an illustrative television system  10  is shown in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. System  10 , although shown as a television based system, represents any type of display device that is capable of accommodating different display resolutions. System  10  includes a television  12 , which may include a digital screen, a liquid crystal display, a phosphor screen a plasma display screen or any other suitable technology screen. Television  12  preferably includes one or more electronic components, as is known in the art. Television  12  preferably includes a video processing unit (e.g., video card)  14 , which has memory  16 . Memory  16  includes one or more software components  18  stored therein. Video drivers  20  and supporting software are employed to implement the present invention, determine video window attributes, and to render video data. Video rendering drivers  20  (the plural form of the term, not being limiting) are typically implemented as software code comprising video information telling a video unit  14  how to render video data. Television  12  includes a user interface  22  which may be programmed and interacts with the user to provide user selected services or to permit the user to change system parameters, such as volume, channel, tint, contrast, etc. Interface  22  may include a wireless or a wired link between a remote or box and the television  12 .  
         [0017]     Television  12  includes one or more inputs port  24 , such as RCA jacks, I-1394 ports, coaxial cable, fiber optic connections, USB port, etc., capable of to receiving video data. Inputs port  24  may receive data from cable, telephone, wireless broadband, satellite, a wireless network, such as a television network, the Internet, or any other data source that are capable of being rendered as a video image. Video card  14  receives input data and renders an image on a screen  26  of television  12 . Typical resolutions for the rendering of video images are designated in accordance with ATSC video standard, such as 480p, 480i, 720p and 1080i, although other video resolutions may be used, as needed.  
         [0018]     Television operations and window sizing are preferably implemented and controlled by an operating system  15 . Operating system  15  may include any known operating system and can be stored in memory  16 .  
         [0019]     In one embodiment, a user enables a web-browser application (browser)  23 . In accordance with the present invention, video processing unit  14  employs a video driver  20 , which automatically sizes the web-browser window in accordance with the largest resolution available or a predetermined resolution if desired. Scaling factors  27  are video effects based processes for expanding and or contracting windows for use by video processing unit  14  and video driver  20 . Scaling factors  27  are implemented as similar to video effects used for video editing, and other types of video window manipulation. Specifically, the web-browser window is appropriately sized to accommodate the selected resolution. In a preferred embodiment, the screen resolution of the web-browser window is sized in accordance with the largest available resolution. A maximum screen resolution may be, for example, 1280×1080 (pixels) for a 1080i based video data. The screen resolution may be defined by the data input, the video processing unit software or the pixel density of the screen, among other things. In this way, web-browser window  28  provides legible text to a user, without having the user manually re-size the browser window. Video driver  20  determines the size for the window for the browser in accordance with a highest available resolution for the television or the pre-selected screen resolution defined by a user.  
         [0020]     In addition, when switching back to regular viewing mode, video processing unit  14  further provides for sizing of a viewing window for the best picture quality in accordance with the highest resolution available for the television  12 . When the user selects a different mode, the present invention provides a determination of the best size and placement of the graphics windows to be placed on the screen. The present invention may account for the placement of one or more windows on a screen by determining a priority of the window. For example, if a user triggers a browser mode, a browser window will open which has the largest possible size in accordance with the best possible resolution capability of the system.  
         [0021]     Continuing the example, a picture in a picture (PIP) screen is then opened, a largest possible window in accordance with the best possible resolution is shown, but the two windows are then placed in accordance with a predetermined or user-selected configuration. This may include an overlap of the windows with the last selected window in the foreground or include a split screen with no overlap. In any event, the size and placement of the windows will be in accordance with providing the best possible resolution for that configuration.  
         [0022]     In addition, the type of windows to be displayed may further prioritize the resolution and use of the available space in a display screen. Since text in the browser mode may be difficult to decipher, the web browser or other textual content window may have priority over video screens. This may mean that screen space is utilized first for providing the best resolution for textual content screens before accommodating video screens. The window resolution setting may also be selected by the user to accommodate user preferences.  
         [0023]     The present invention accommodates different onscreen graphics displays (OSDs) and PIP video size and position information for different screen resolutions. Sometimes, screen resolution is not enough to display all information on one screen so reductions in resolution may needed to be determined to fit the image of images on a single screen. In these instances, the largest possible resolution is adjusted to accommodate the largest possible resolution on a single screen.  
         [0024]     Referring to  FIGS. 2, 3  and  4 , diagrams are shown in accordance with illustrative screen shots in accordance with the present invention. Screen resolution control is provided by the present invention for displaying a web browser screen or screens and/or PIP video on a TV. When changing to web browser mode, the maximum screen resolution for getting the biggest web browser window size is preferably employed. When changing back to TV watching mode, the screen resolution is preferably changed to what is best fit to the input source. The examples shown in  FIGS. 2-4  illustratively depict displaying a web browser  100  and a video window  102  simultaneously on a TV screen  104 . In  FIGS. 2-4 , the maximum resolution may be 1920×1080, and the browser  100  size will be adjusted to 1920×1080. Video window  102  video resolutions selected within this size, but can also be adjusted by the window size (by, e.g., adjusting a scaling factor  27 ). Other resolutions and window sizes are also contemplated.  
         [0025]     In  FIG. 2 , web browser  100  occupies the largest possible screen area (largest possible resolution) while video window  102  includes a resolution that is comparable to its input source. Video window  102  may also include the same video resolution as web browser  100 .  
         [0026]      FIG. 4  includes web browser  100  and video window  102  positioned to effectively provide the largest resolution given the screen area without overlapping, on screen  104 .  FIG. 3  shows a browser only screen  100  taking up all the area for screen  104 . In accordance with the present invention, video drivers may be employed to permit a user the option to toggle between the browser only screen ( FIG. 3 ) and a video window/browser screen ( FIG. 4 ). Other display combinations and windows may also be sized and positioned in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0027]     An additional embodiment of the invention supports the concept of having the invention support two sources of displayed content, one window being video of a specific resolution ( 102 ) and the other window being a web browser ( 100 ). In this embodiment, video window  102  has an intended resolution that is less than the maximum resolution capable of being displayed by television  12 . If a user activates a browser resulting in the rendering of browser window  100 , television  12  switches to the maximum screen resolution supported. Television  12  then will render the video in a window  102  of the intended video resolution and web browser, via browser window  100 , will be rendered in the remaining area that is not occupied by the other video window  102  (see  FIG. 4 ).  
         [0028]     Optionally, television  12  does a check to determine if the text in browser window  100  is capable of being displayed legibly. For example, television  12  supports a maximum screen resolution of 1200×1080 pixels. In the present case, video window  102  needs to be displayed in an area of 720×576 pixels. Video drivers  20  perform a check to determine whether browser window  100  can be displayed with legible text, at the same time with video window  102 . In the present case, a minimum size of a browser window  100  is defined for displaying legible text, as determined by the video drivers  20 . For this example, it is pre-determined that browser window  28  has to support a minimal window area of 640×480 pixels, although any minimal area can be used (720×480, 720×576, 720×480, etc.), as predefined in the programming of the video drivers. Alternatively, video drivers  20  determine a minimize size for fonts to be displayed in browser window  100 , so the window display fonts in a minimum point size, as determined in the programming of video drivers  20 .  
         [0029]     Video drivers  20  end up giving priority to browser window  100  by rendering a window in the minimum area space (640×480 pixels). Video window  102  is then reduced by a scaling factor that keeps the original aspect ratio of video content to be shown in the video window  102 . The aspect ratios typically are 16:9, 4:3, 5:4, and other ratios. In this case, video window  102  is scaled down to 480×384 pixels (an ratio respecting the original aspect ratio of 1.25) by video drivers  20 . This calculation is performed by video drivers  20  determining the maximum screen resolution of a device (1200×1080), by subtracting the requirements for the minimum window size required for browser window  100  (1200−720=480 pixels, horizontal direction, although the vertical direction may also be used). With the determined remainder (480 pixels), video drivers  20 , optionally then scales video window  102  in accordance with the original aspect ratio of the displayed video. Optionally, video drivers  20  use scaling factors  27  to perform the operation listed above via use of video unit  14 .  
         [0030]     This embodiment may also be performed for systems requiring multiple windows. Depending upon the physical limitations of a display device, this embodiment may be modified to support two or more windows of video  102  and a browser window  100 . Video windows or browser windows may be sized by employing scaling factors in the video drivers and re-computing the images in accordance with the appropriate scaling factors as determined by video drivers  20 .  
         [0031]     Referring to  FIG. 5 , (please refer to  FIGS. 1-4  for reference numerals) a flow diagram is shown for starting a web browser and sizing and positioning browser  100  and video windows  102  in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention. In block  200 , a user initiates a web browser application that is rendered on a display device, as television set  12 . Web browser window  100  may be initiated automatically depending on user-selected settings for television  12 . In block  202 , screen resolution for television  12  is preferably set to its maximum value based on the capabilities and settings of television  12 . For example, if television  12  is capable of 1080i resolution, the browser window will occupy the largest amount of screen area afforded by this screen resolution. This is preferably performed by video drivers  20  loaded on and executed by an operating system within television  12  or a display device.  
         [0032]     Once the resolution has been determined, the web browser window  102  is located on the screen and rendered at a full screen size, occupying the full area of television screen  104 . In block  206 , a determination is made whether the last saved mode was a browser only mode. In block  208 , if the last saved mode was browser only then browser window  100  is located and sized to fill screen  104 . Locating web browser window  100  preferably includes deciding the web browser  100  size and position and video window  102  size and position if it is a web browser with an embedded video window.  
         [0033]     In block  210 , if the last saved mode was a combination of windows or other then browser only mode, then the screen locations of the windows are resized and located in accordance with the best viewing resolution possible or in accordance with user preferences. For example, if a video window  102  and a browser window  100  are simultaneously being displayed, a configuration such as that shown in  FIG. 4  may be displayed. The resizing of the video for a video window  102  may include re-computing of video scaling factor in the video driver(s) for displaying video as a scaled video in the video window. This may be performed iteratively or based on conditional criteria. If, for example, it is desired to change the video window size, a scaling factor is resized for a video window. For example, if a reduction in the horizontal video size of {fraction (1/10)} is needed, then a scaling factor of {fraction (1/10)} is used. The scaling factor can be recomputed to obtain the best or better window size for an on-screen window or browser. In block  212 , the web browser window  100  is employed as a user interface to navigate through a network such as, e.g., the Internet.  
         [0034]     Having described preferred embodiments for resolution control for browser and video display (which are intended to be illustrative and not limiting), it is noted that modifications and variations can be made to utilize not just web browser windows, but any type of window where video is rendered. Such modifications may be done, in accordance with the principles of the present invention.