Patent ID: 7224323

Claim:
A display apparatus bi-directionally communicating with a base apparatus of the type operable to select a video signal from a first video signal obtained from a transmitted television signal to which said base apparatus is tuned or a second video signal inputted from an external input apparatus, and transmit to said display apparatus an information signal converted from said selected video signal in accordance with an operation signal transmitted from said display apparatus, said display apparatus comprising: a selection signal unit for producing a selection signal; a storage unit for storing a first control panel image containing operating information for controlling said base apparatus in response to operation inputs and for storing a second control panel image containing operating information for controlling said external input apparatus in response to operation inputs; an image readout unit for reading out said first or second control panel image from said storage unit in response to said selection signal; a display unit for displaying said read out control panel image; an input unit for detecting said operation inputs associated with said displayed control panel image to form an operation signal corresponding to the detected operation input; a transmission unit for transmitting said operation signal to said base apparatus; a receiving unit for receiving from said base apparatus an information signal corresponding to said transmitted operation signal; and a converting unit for converting said received information signal into a video signal for display by said display unit.