This is a reissue of U.S. Pat. No. 7,320,136 issued Jan. 15, 2008, which claims priority of Korean Patent Application No. 1999-49266 filed Nov. 8, 1999. The entire contents of each of these applications are hereby incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus for connecting a TV and a computer.
2. Description of the Background Art
FIG. 1 is a view illustrating a state that a TV and a computer are separately used.
The TV is generally placed on a floor of a certain room so that a viewer can view a certain broadcast program, and a computer is installed in a certain room separately from the TV. A certain number of software programs are installed in the computer.
As the society is advanced, there is a need for providing various functions such as an internet browsing function, a bi-directional broadcasting function, etc. to the TV compared to the conventional TV which is used for just viewing a simple broadcast program. Recently, the TV has a function similar to the function of the computer. In addition, the computer has an advanced multi-media function, so that the functions of the computer and TV are overlapped in a digital video image, a video conference system, etc.
In the conventional art, the TV and computer are separately used. A certain interactive function and a data communication are not effectively performed between the TV and computer. When a certain interactive control function is provided between the TV and the computer for transmitting and receiving data, it is possible to more effectively use the TV and computer.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAccordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for connecting a TV and a computer which is capable of more effectively using a TV and a computer by controlling a computer at the side of a TV by connecting the TV and computer and transmitting a certain data between the computer and TV.
In the present invention, a transmission line capable of inputting and outputting a control signal, video signal and audio signal is connected between a TV and a computer.
To achieve the above object, there is provided an apparatus for connecting a computer and a TV which includes a TV coding unit for encoding various control signals such as a TV signal, etc. generated in a TV and generating a first packet signal, a computer coding unit for encoding a computer signal such as a video signal, audio signal and various control signals generated in a computer and generating a second packet signal, a TV transmission and receiving unit for receiving the first packet signal, transmitting the received first packet signal to the outside and receiving the second packet signal from the outside, a computer transmission and receiving unit for receiving the second packet signal, transmitting the received second packet signal to the outside and receiving the first packet signal from the outside, a TV decoding unit for receiving the second packet signal from the TV transmission and receiving unit, decoding the same and recovering into an original signal, a computer decoding unit for receiving the first packet signal from the computer transmission and receiving unit, decoding the received first packet signal and recovering into an original signal, and a transmission line connected between the TV transmission and receiving unit and the computer transmission and receiving unit for transmitting the first packet signal and the second packet signal.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSThe present invention will become better understood with reference to the accompanying drawings which are given only by way of illustration and thus are not limitative of the present invention, wherein:
FIG. 1 is a view illustrating an example that a computer and a TV are separately used in a certain home;
FIG. 2 is a schematic view illustrating a structure for connecting a TV and a computer;
FIGS. 3A and 3B (hereafter collectively referred to asFIG. 3) illustrate elements according to the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a view illustrating a structure of a transmission line and a packet signal transmitted through the transmission line according to the present invention;
FIG. 5A is a flow chart illustrating an operation of a computer according to the present invention; and
FIG. 5B is a flow chart illustrating an operation of a TV according to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTSFIG. 3 is a block diagram of elements of the present invention which includes a TV system and a computer system.
The TV system includes aTV coding unit16 for encoding various signals such as an input signal of a mouse, keyboard, microphone, etc. and a control signal, a TV transmission and receivingunit15 for transmitting a first packet signal encoded by theTV coding unit16 to the outside and receiving a second packet signal such as a video signal, an audio signal and a control from the outside, aTV decoding unit14 for decoding a second packet signal from the TV transmission and receivingunit15, a videosignal interface unit17 for receiving a video signal from theTV decoding unit14, all audio signaloutput interface unit18 for receiving an audio signal from theTV decoding unit14, a control signaloutput interface unit19 for receiving a control signal from theTV decoding unit14, a control signalinput interface unit20 for outputting a control signal to theTV coding unit16, awireless receiving module26 for receiving a wireless signal, a wirelessmouse interface unit21 for receiving a signal from thewireless receiving module26 and outputting a wireless mouse signal to theTV coding unit16, a wirelesskeyboard interface unit22 for receiving a signal from thewireless receiving module26 and outputting a wireless keyboard signal to theTV coding unit16, anamplifier27 for amplifying a signal from themicrophone29, amicrophone interface unit23 for receiving a signal from theamplifier27 and outputting a microphone signal, anAV switch24 for receiving signals from the video signaloutput interface unit17 and the audio signaloutput interface unit18 and switching the receiving signals, a TV microcomputer for controlling elements of the TV and a TVmain unit28.
Next, the computer system includes acomputer decoding unit13 for decoding various signals such as an input signal of a mouse, a keyboard, and a microphone and a control signal, acomputer coding unit11 for encoding a video signal, an audio signal and control signal, a computer transmission and receivingunit12 tor transmitting a second packet signal encoded by thecomputer coding unit11 to the outside and receiving a first packet signal such as an input signal of a mouse, keyboard and microphone and a control signal, a video signal output unit4 for outputting a video signal to thecomputer coding unit11, an audiosignal output unit5 for outputting an audio signal to thecomputer coding unit11, a controlsignal output unit6 for outputting a control signal to thecomputer coding unit11, amouse7 for receiving a mouse signal from thecomputer decoding unit13, akeyboard8 for receiving a keyboard signal from thecomputer decoding unit13, amicrophone input unit9 for receiving a microphone input signal from thecomputer decoding unit13, a controlsignal output unit10 for receiving a control signal from thecomputer decoding unit13, amain board2 of the computer, atransmission bus1 of the computer, and abus interface unit3 for interfacing each element of the computer.
The operation and effects of the present invention will be explained with reference toFIGS. 3,4 and5.
First, theTV coding unit16 encodes a TV signal such as various control signals generated in the TV and generates a first packet signal. A chrome signal and control signal generated by the TVmain circuit28 are selected by theTV microcomputer25 and are applied to theTV coding unit16 through the controlinput interface unit20.
The above-described various control signals applied to theTV coding unit16 include a microphone signal inputted through themicrophone29 connected with the TV, theamplifier27 connected with themicrophone29, and themicrophone interface unit23, and a wireless mouse signal and a wireless keyboard signal inputted from the wirelessmouse interface unit21 and the wirelesskeyboard interface unit22 through thewireless receiving module26.
Thecomputer coding unit11 encodes a video and audio signal generated in the computer and various control signals and generates a second packet signal. Various signals generated by themain board2 of the computer are applied to thecomputer coding unit11 through thetransmission bus1 and thebus interface unit3 of the computer and the video output unit4, theaudio output unit5 and the controlsignal output unit6.
The TV transmission and receivingunit15 outputs the first packet signal generated by theTV coding unit16 to the outside and receives a second packet signal generated by thecomputer coding unit11. In addition, the computer transmission and receivingunit12 transmits the second packet signal generated by the computer coding unit to the outside and receives the first packet signal generated by theTV coding unit16.
At this time, thecomputer coding unit11 is installed in the computer, and theTV coding unit16 is installed in the TV. Therefore, an additional transmission line which connects the TV transmission and receivingunit15 and the computer transmission and receivingunit12 is needed so that the TV transmission and receivingunit15 and the computer transmission and receivingunit12 transmit and receive the first packet signal and the second packet signal.
FIG. 4 illustrates a transmission line structure according to the present invention and a packet signal transmitted through the transmission line.
The transmission line may be implemented based on a physical line or a wireless type between the TV transmission and receivingunit15 and the computer transmission and receivingunit12 for transmitting and receiving the first and second packet signals. The physical transmission line includes a first transmission line for transmitting a first packet signal from the TV transmission and receivingunit15 to the computer transmission and receivingunit12, and a second transmission line for transmitting a second packet signal from the computer transmission and receivingunit12 to the TV transmission and receivingunit15.
The first packet signal that the mouse signal, keyboard signal, microphone signal and control signal are encoded in the TV is transmitted through the first transmission line, and the second packet signal that the video signal, audio signal and control signal are encoded in the computer is transmitted through the second transmission line.
TheTV decoding unit14 decodes the second packet signal transmitted from the computer transmission and receivingunit12 through the second transmission line and recovers to an original signal. Therefore, the second packet signal is recovered into a video signal, audio signal and various control signals by theTV decoding unit14. The thusly recovered signals are applied to the video signaloutput interface unit17, the audio signaloutput interface unit18, and the control signaloutput interface unit19, respectively.
Thecomputer decoding unit13 decodes the first packet signal transmitted from the TV transmission and receivingunit15 through the first transmission line and recovers into an original signal. Therefore, the first packet signal is recovered by thecomputer decoding unit13 into a control signal outputted from the TV. The above-described signal includes various signals for controlling the operation of the computer, a microphone signal, a wireless keyboard signal, a wireless mouse signal, etc.
The TV connected with the computer by the connection apparatus according to the present invention includes aTC coding unit16 and aTV decoding unit14, a TV transmission and receivingunit15, and asignal selection unit24 for selecting the signal recovered by theTV decoding unit14 and a current broadcast video signal. Thesignal selection unit24 selects a signal among the current broadcast TV video signal and the TV audio signal and inputs the selected signal into the TVmain circuit28. Therefore, the TV can selectively displays a video signal and a broadcast signal of the computer using thesignal selection unit24, and the audio signal and broadcast signal of the computer are selectively outputted to the speaker. In addition, theTV microcomputer25 applies a TV control signal to the control input interface and receives a computer control signal recovered by theTV decoding unit14 through the control output interface and applies to the TV main circuit.
The computer connected with the TV by the connection apparatus according to the present invention includes acomputer coding unit11 and acomputer decoding unit13, a computer transmission and receivingunit12, and abus interface unit3 and various input interfaces for applying a signal recovered by thecomputer decoding unit13 to themain board2 of the computer. Various input interface units include amouse input unit7, akeyboard input unit9, a controlsignal input unit10, etc. for thereby inputting various control signals generated in the TV to themain board2 of the computer.
The operation of the connection apparatus according to the present invention will be explained with reference to the accompanying drawings.
The video signal and audio signal generated by themain circuit28 of the TV are controlled by theTV microcomputer25, and the TV control signal is applied to theTV coding unit16 through the control signalinput interface unit20 and is encoded thereby. In addition, the microphone signal generated by themicrophone29 which is separately installed in the TV is amplified by theamplifier27 and is applied to theTV coding unit16 through themicrophone interface unit23 and is encoded thereby. The mouse signal and keyboard signal inputted through thewireless receiving module26 are applied to theTV coding unit16 through themouse interface unit21 and thekeyboard interface unit22. In addition, the first packet signal encoded by theTV coding unit16 is applied to the TV transmission and receivingunit15 and is transmitted to the computer transmission and receivingunit12 through the transmission line.
The first packet signal transmitted to the computer transmission and receivingunit12 is applied to thecomputer decoding unit13 and is recovered to an original signal. Namely, the first packet signal is recovered into a TV control signal, a mouse control signal, a keyboard signal and a microphone signal by thecomputer decoding unit13, respectively. The signals recovered by thecomputer decoding unit13 are applied to variousbus interface units3 and are inputted into the main board of the computer through thetransmission bus1 of the computer. As a result, the user controls the computer by operating the TV.
In addition, the video signal, audio signal and various control signals are inputted into the video output unit4, theaudio output unit5 and the control signal output unit through thetransmission bus1 of the computer and thebus interface unit3. The video signal and audio signal inputted into each output unit are encoded into a second packet signal by thecomputer coding unit11, respectively, and are transmitted to the TV transmission and receivingunit15 through the transmission line.
The sizes of the first packet signal and second packet signal may be decreased or increased based on the transmission amount of the data.
The second packet transmission signal transmitted to the TV transmission and receivingunit15 are applied to theTV decoding unit14 and are recovered into an original computer video signal, audio signal and control signal. The computer video signal recovered by theTV decoding unit14 is applied to thesignal selection unit24 of the TV through the video signal output interface unit. One of the computer video signal and the TV video signal is selected by thesignal selection unit24 and is inputted into themain circuit28 of the TV. Therefore, the video signal of the computer is displayed on the screen of the TV by the operation of thesignal selection unit24.
In addition, the computer audio signal recovered by theTV decoding unit14 is applied to the TVsignal selection unit24 through the audio signal output interface unit. One of the computer audio signal and TV audio signal is selected by thesignal selection unit24 and is inputted into themain circuit28 of the TV. Therefore, the audio signal of the computer is outputted through the computer speaker based on the operation of thesignal selection unit24.
The computer control signal recovered by theTV decoding unit14 is applied to the microcomputer of the TV through the control signaloutput interface unit19. The microcomputer which receives the computer control signal controls themain circuit28 of the TV, so that the video and audio-based operation is implemented by the computer.
Therefore, it is possible to output a video and audio signals of the computer by operating the screen and speaker of the TV based on a user's computer operation.
FIG. 5A is a flow chart of the operation of the computer according to the present invention, andFIG. 5B is a flow chart of the operation of the TV according to the present invention.
In the computer according to the present invention, a conventional computer work routine is performed in Step S11, and the video signal, audio signal and control signal of the computer are outputted to the TV in Steps S12, S13 and S14. The mouse signal, keyboard signal, various control signals and microphone signal transmitted from the TV are received in Steps S15, S16, S17 and S18. The computer work routine is repeatedly performed based on the above-described signals.
In the TV according to the present invention, a conventional TV work routine is performed in Step S21, and the video signal, audio signal and control signal transmitted from the computer are received in Steps S22, S23 and S24, and then the video signal and audio signal of the computer are outputted, and the TV work routine is repeatedly performed based on the received signals. In addition, the mouse signal and keyboard signal which control the computer and various control signals and microphone signal are outputted to the computer in Step S25, S26, S27 and S28.
Therefore, a user who uses the TV and computer according to the present invention is capable of controlling the computer through the TV and is capable of implementing computer video and audio signals on the TV by operating the computer.
Namely, in the connection apparatus according to the present invention, since the computer and TV which are separately used in the conventional art are connected by a transmission line, it is possible to integrally control the computer and TV. Therefore, the connection apparatus according to the present invention is capable of effectively connecting the computer and TV compared to the conventional art.
As the present invention may be embodied in several forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof, it should also be understood that the above-described embodiment is not limited by any of the details of the foregoing description, unless otherwise specified, but rather should be construed broadly within its spirit and scope as defined in the appended claims, and therefore all changes and modifications that fall within the meets and bounds of the claims, or equivalences of such meets and bounds are therefore intended to be embraced by the appended claims.