Abstract:
A television on-screen display (OSD) method, the OSD incorporating integration of analog and digital menus, and the use of a remote controller configured to control the television OSD. The method of OSD provides the method for displaying a channel banner, a program information banner, and an electronic program guide (EPG) with proper information, in the adequate space and time. And the remote controller includes left and right direction buttons for scrolling pages of the EPG and moving a cursor in the OSD for selecting certain displayed items; and a select button for executing a function for the currently selected field.

Description:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY  
         [0001]    This application makes reference to, incorporates the same herein, and claims all benefits accruing under 35 U.S.C §119 from an application entitled The Composition Method Of On-Screen Display, Menu, And Remote Controller For Digital Television earlier filed in the Korean Industrial Property Office on Sep. 20, 2000, and there duly assigned Ser. No. 2000-55129 by that Office.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0003]    The present invention relates to on-screen display (OSD) method, menu system, and remote controller for digital television.  
           [0004]    2. Description of Related Art  
           [0005]    Typically, the program information of the analog television broadcasting is provided through a newspaper, a magazine, or a program guide of television. However, as digital multi-channel broadcasting has been introduced, tens to hundreds of channels are provided, and thus the choice of programs becomes more complicated. Therefore, the digital multi-channel broadcasting provides an electronic program guide (hereinafter referred to as simply “EPG”) which shows a program table and other information. In the conventional digital television, the information is displayed as on-screen display (hereinafter referred to as simply “OSD”).  
           [0006]    In order to use such EPGs, the conventional remote controller has various functional buttons, a power button, a TV/VTR converter button, a MUTE button, a MENU button, etc. FIG. 1 is a plan view illustrating the conventional remote controller. As shown in FIG. 1, the remote controller has a jog shuttle button  1 , up/down channel buttons  2   a  and  2   b,  and −/+ volume control buttons  3   a  and  3   b,  and others.  
           [0007]    The method of OSD described above has the following disadvantages. Worst, the displayed information has too many items and some of them are unnecessary. Besides, the items in one display screen are repeated in another display screen. Accordingly, I desire to simplify the displayed information.  
           [0008]    Second, menu items that have no relation with EPG are displayed, e.g., a search menu, which does not operate on the EPG, is activated and it is an obvious functional fallacy. Moreover, the channels are not scrolled by page but by only row, so that information about tens to hundreds of channels is not rapidly provided to the user. Also, for a brilliant appearance of screen, the use of images such as heart-shaped image which represents favorite channel and color button images increases the program size. So the displaying time becomes long and the OSD is not displayed smoothly.  
           [0009]    Third, in case of the timeline EPG, the various menus displayed simultaneously occupy so much space, that the information for only five programs may be provided in one page. Further, scrolling by page according to channel and time can not be accomplished.  
           [0010]    The conventional remote controller has the following disadvantages in connection with the problems of the OSD method described above. First, there are many buttons not often used, so users become confused. Additionally, the manufacturing cost is high and the size of program becomes large.  
           [0011]    Second, the arrangement of upward and downward and left and right buttons on the conventional remote controller is different from the picture structure that is provided as a help function by Multimedia and Hypermedia Information Coding Experts Group (MHEG) broadcasting service. Therefore, when performing the function required for the MHEG service, the user should use the jog shuttle button  1  to move up and down or left and right, usually, however, the user is apt to use channel buttons  2   a  and  2   b  or volume control buttons  3   a  and  3   b  according to the MHEG service screen, so that there is a room of error such as channel or volume change.  
           [0012]    Third, the button name for program information is “DISPLAY”, and the button name for channel navigation is “INFO”. However, the user can&#39;t easily understand the use of them at once.  
           [0013]    Fourth, in the digital OSD, the items are selected by moving the jog shuttle  1  up and down or left and right direction and executed by pressing the jog shuttle  1 . However, it is very difficult and inconvenient to manipulate the jog shuttle as compared with other rubber buttons.  
           [0014]    Fifth, in the analog menu, the channel buttons  2   a  and  2   b  and the volume control buttons  3   a  and  3   b  play a role of moving up and down and left and right, respectively. In the digital menu, however, they do not operate and the jog shuttle  1  replaces the function. In this manner, the methods for manipulating a remote controller in analog and digital mode are not consistent. And the analog menu can be entered directly by using a menu hot key, but the digital menu can be entered only through the EPG.  
           [0015]    The problems of the OSD method and the remote controller described above are caused by being designed without mutual correlation. Therefore, the OSD method and the remote controller need to be redesigned with mutual correlation.  
           [0016]    Besides, it is preferable to manage the menu items that have no relation with EPG to be separated from EPG. Therefore, it is required to redesign and manage the analog and digital menus systematically and efficiently.  
           [0017]    There are numerous patents on electronic program guides and remote controllers therefor. Incorporated by reference are U.S. Pat. No. 6,020,930 to Ludovic Legrand entitled Method and Apparatus for Generating and Displaying a Broadcast System Program Guide; U.S. Pat. No.: 5,986,650 to Michael Dean Ellis et al. entitled Electronic Television Program Guide Schedule System and Method with Scan Feature; and U.S. Pat. No.: 6,177,931 to Ronald Alexander et al. entitled Systems and Methods for Displaying and Recording Control Interface with Television Programs, Video, Advertising Information and Program Scheduling Information.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0018]    To overcome the problems described above, the preferred embodiments of the present invention provide useful OSD methods and a remote controller that can be easily manipulated by users.  
           [0019]    It is another object of the present invention to provide an OSD method and a remote controller that can simplify the process of OSD, decrease the size of a program and provide more improved functions.  
           [0020]    It is further object of the present invention to provide a systematic integration of analog and digital menus.  
           [0021]    In order to achieve the above objects, the preferred embodiments of the present invention provide an OSD method, including: moving to the upper and lower items of the menu, respectively, using upward and downward direction buttons; and moving to the left and right items of the menu, respectively, using left and right direction buttons.  
           [0022]    The preferred embodiment of the present invention provides an OSD method, including: enabling a channel banner to be displayed on the upper and left side of a television screen for a predetermined time and then it disappears; arranging a program information banner on the lower portion of television screen, horizontally; configuring an EPG to occupy the whole screen to help users see a lot of information at once; executing page scroll using color buttons according to channel and time; showing the program information according to each category by pressing a CAT button; and composing the contents of OSD based on text, whereby the size of the OSD program and operating time will be reduced.  
           [0023]    The preferred embodiment of the present invention provides an OSD method, including: unifying the main menus in analog mode with ones in digital mode; arranging the sub-menu items in each main menu portion; and providing additional advanced functions.  
           [0024]    The preferred embodiment of the present invention further provides a remote controller designed to correspond to a television OSD, including: left and right direction buttons for moving to left and right fields, respectively; upward and downward direction buttons for moving to upper and lower fields, respectively; and a select button for executing the function that the user currently wants. And the remote controller provides additional buttons for selecting e-mail, home shopping, home banking, and internet access functions; a MENU button for selecting the integrated analog and digital menu; a GUIDE button for EPG; an INFO button showing the program information banner; and an EXIT button for ending an application or OSD. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0025]    A more complete appreciation of the present invention, and many of the attendant advantages thereof, will become readily apparent as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like reference symbols indicate the same or similar components, wherein:  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 1 is a plan view illustrating the conventional remote control;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 2 is a plan view illustrating a remote controller according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 3 shows a channel banner of a television OSD according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 4 shows a program information banner which is popped up when the user presses the INFO button while watching television according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 5 shows a detailed program information banner about the program when the user presses the INFO button while the program information banner is displayed according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0031]    FIGS.  6  to  8  show an EPG of the television OSD according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 9 shows the integrated analog and digital menu according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 10 shows the sub-menu items in the “Program” menu of an analog mode according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0034]    FIGS.  11  to  14  show the same sub-menu items of analog and digital modes according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 15 shows the sub-menu items in a “Setup” menu of an analog mode according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 16 shows the sub-menu items in the “Program” menu of a digital mode according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 17 shows the sub-menu items in a “Setup” menu of a digital mode according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 18 is a flow chart illustrating the display method for a channel banner and a program information banner according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0039]    [0039]FIG. 19 is a flow chart illustrating the display method for EPG according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0040]    [0040]FIG. 2 is a plan view illustrating the remote controller according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, the remote controller has an “i” button  11 , a MAIL button  12 , a FAV button  13 , a CAT button  14 , a MUTE button  15 , an EXIT button  16 , a TEXT button  17 , a MENU button  21 , an INFO button  22 , a GUIDE button  23 , a SELECT button  30 , direction buttons  31 ,  32 ,  33  and  34 , a VOL button  41 , a CH button  42 , color buttons  50 , a HELP button  61 , and a SUBTITLE button  62 , and others.  
         [0041]    The “i” button  11  is used to display the functions, such as home shopping, home banking, and internet access. The MAIL button  12  is used to enter an e-mailing function. The FAV button  13  is used to select the favorite channels on an EPG (electronic program guide) and search them on the program information banner. The CAT button  14  functions as a hot button to see programs according to category on the EPG. The MUTE button  15  is used to silence the audio. The EXIT button  16  is used to end an ongoing application program or OSD.  
         [0042]    The TEXT button  17  is used to enter an analog text mode. The MENU button  21  is used to display the integrated analog and digital menu. The INFO button  22  is used to see the program information. The GUIDE button  23  is used to see the EPG. The SELECT button  30  is used to execute the function of a selected field. The direction buttons  31 ,  32 ,  33  and  34  are used to move up, down, left or right on the OSD screen.  
         [0043]    The VOL button  41  is used to control the volume. The CH button  42  is used to increase or decrease channels. The color buttons  50  are composed of four buttons: a red (R) button; a green (G) button; a yellow (Y) button; and a blue (B) button, and they function as the colored items on the OSD. The HELP button  61  is used to see help functions for each menu and OSD. Finally, the SUBTITLE button  62  is used to turn a subtitle on or off.  
         [0044]    Hereinafter, the configuration of the OSD according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention is explained in detail with reference FIGS.  3  to  19 .  
         [0045]    FIGS.  3  to  5  and FIG. 18 show the method of OSD for a channel banner and a program information banner according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. First, if the channel button is pressed while the user is watching television (step S 10 ), the channel banner which contains channel number and broadcasting company name is displayed for a predetermined time period (about two or three seconds), as shown in FIG. 3 and then disappears (step S 11 ). It is preferred, but not limited thereto, that the channel banner be displayed on the upper and left side of a television screen.  
         [0046]    If the user presses the INFO button  22 , instead of the channel button, while the user is watching television (step S 12 ), the program information banner is displayed, as shown in FIG. 4, (step S 13 ), showing current channel information, present program information and information about the next program. It is preferred, but not limited thereto, that the program information banner be displayed at a different location of the television screen from the location of the channel banner. In this case, the program information banner is displayed on a lower portion of the television screen, across the width of the television screen.  
         [0047]    While the program information banner is displayed, if the user presses the left direction button  33  or the right direction button  34 , the program information about the present channel is shown according to time (step S 15 ). Here, it is preferred, but not limited thereto, that the time be scrolled in half-hour increments. Also, when the user presses the upward direction button  31  or the downward direction button  32 , the program information is displayed according to the increase or decrease of channel number (step S 16 ).  
         [0048]    When the user presses the FAV button  13  during display of the program information banner, the program information according to the selected user&#39;s favorite channels is rotationally displayed (step S 17 ). The user&#39;s favorite channels are easily set on the proposed EPG. When the user presses the INFO button  22  while the program information banner is being displayed, the detailed program information banner, FIG. 5, is displayed (step S 18 ) until the EXIT button is pressed. When the Exit button is pressed while the detailed program information banner is being displayed, the detailed program information banner disappears and the program information banner, FIG. 4, is displayed.  
         [0049]    When the user presses the SELECT button  30  (step S 19 ) to watch a certain program selected by any of steps S 15 -S 17 , the program information banner disappears, the channel changes (if changed) and the channel banner, FIG. 3, is displayed for a predetermined time.  
         [0050]    FIGS.  6  to  8  and FIG. 19 show the method of displaying the EPG. When the user presses the GUIDE button  23  (step S 20 ), the EPG, as shown in FIG. 6, is displayed (step S 21 ). Then, the next step is the recognition of which button is next pressed (step S 22 ).  
         [0051]    At this time, if the user presses the CAT button  14  (step S 23 ), the program information about the selected category is highlighted. FIG. 7 shows an example of each of the movie items being highlighted.  
         [0052]    When the user presses the FAV button  13  at step S 22 , the user&#39;s favorite channel is checked or cancelled whenever the button is pressed (step S 24 ). The result performed above is displayed as shown in FIG. 8 when the user checks the channels 1, 4, 6 and 9 as the favorite channels. That is, the channels 1, 4, 6 and 9 are set on the EPG as the favorite channels. Accordingly, if the user presses the INFO button  22  to display the program information banner while watching television, and then presses the FAV button  13 , they can rotationally receive the program information about their favorite channels, 1, 4, 6, and 9.  
         [0053]    If the user presses the direction buttons  31 ,  32 ,  33  and  34  at the step S 22 , a cursor is moved around the screen according to the selected direction (step S 25 ). Movement is made in steps, by one item, each time the direction button is pressed.  
         [0054]    If the user presses the color buttons  50  at the step S 22 , a sub-function of the selected button is performed (step S 26 ). That is, the color buttons  50  have a main function of controlling displayed color and particular sub-functions (page up, page down, +time and −time) assigned thereto to be performed when the EPG is displayed. While the EPG is displayed, “page up” is executed by pressing the red button R, and “page down” is executed by pressing the green button G, and “+time” is executed by pressing the yellow button Y, and “−time” is executed by pressing the blue button B, as shown in FIGS.  6  to  8 .  
         [0055]    If the user presses the EXIT button  16  at the step S 22 , the EPG is finished (step S 27 ).  
         [0056]    Because the import of an image is not always understood with the same meaning by people and the viewers are more familiar with text information than image, the OSD information described above is based on text. Besides, this method reduces the program size and OSD display time.  
         [0057]    FIGS.  9  to  17  show the method of OSD for the integrated analog and digital menu.  
         [0058]    In order to manage the menu items in the same way, the main menus for analog and digital modes are unified. As shown in FIG. 9, the preferred embodiment of the present invention configures six items as a main menu: Program; Picture; Sound; Features; Pip (Picture-in-Picture); and Setup.  
         [0059]    The sub-menu items assigned to the “Picture”, “Sound”, “Features” and “Pip” menus, that are common in both the analog and digital modes, are shown in FIGS.  11  to  14 . The sub-menu items assigned to the “Program” and “Setup” menus in the analog mode are shown in FIGS. 10 and 15. And the sub-menu items assigned to the “Program” and “Setup” menus in the digital mode are shown in FIGS. 16 and 17.  
         [0060]    In this regard, when a user presses menu button  21  the main menu, FIG. 9, is displayed. One of the six items displayed in the main menu can be selected by moving the cursor using the direction buttons  31  or  34  and then a sub-menu of the selected item is displayed in response to user activation of the select button  30 . When a sub-menu is displayed, one of the sub-menu items can be selected by moving the cursor using the upward and downward direction buttons  31  or  34  and the select button  30 . Note here that sub-menu item “help” can also be selected using the help button  61 . With regard to the “Program” and “Setup” menus, the different analog and digital sub-menus can be displayed using the left and right direction buttons  32  and  33 .  
         [0061]    Since the sub-menu items of the “Program” and “Setup” menus for analog and digital modes are different from each other, the help function which explains the uses of the analog menu should be separated from that of the digital menu. In this case, however, since the sub-menu items of four main menus (i.e., Picture, Sound, Features, and Pip) are the same in both the analog and digital modes, it is inefficient for program size to separate the corresponding help functions. Accordingly, the preferred embodiment of the present invention suggests that the help functions should be included in each of the six main menus. By linking and managing the help function as module, such a configuration provides the advantage of reducing the program size and quickly providing the help function for the menu items which the user wants to know.  
         [0062]    As described herein before, the method of OSD of the EPG, the integrated analog and digital menu, and the remote controller according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention have the following advantages. First, since the functional buttons of the remote controller are appropriately arranged according to the OSD screen, the user can manipulate the remote controller without an instruction manual. Second, by reducing the procedure of OSD, the user can select or set functions quickly. So it is easy to make good use of the OSD functions with a remote controller while watching television. Third, since the analog and digital menus are systemically integrated, the program size can be sufficiently reduced and more improved functions can be provided.  
         [0063]    While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to the preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those who skilled in the art that the foregoing and other changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.