WO2018001516A1 - Image display device enabling activation of interactive picture-in-picture mute recording function - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an image display device capable of enabling activation of an interactive picture-in-picture mute recording function. The present invention more particularly relates to an image display device receiving a plurality of broadcasting services and comprising at least a first and second tuner. The image display device further comprises an electronic control unit being in communication with a memory unit.

Description

IMAGE DISPLAY DEVICE ENABLING ACTIVATION OF INTERACTIVE PICTURE-IN-PICTURE MUTE RECORDING FUNCTION

The present invention relates to an image display device capable of enabling activation of interactive picture-in-picture mute recording function.

Digital and interactive TV systems provide a comprehensive amount of TV channels and programs leading to the general outcome that conventional methods for configuring the operation of the image display device from among a plurality of setting parameters may become inefficient to the extent that it is unperformable in a time-saving manner.

Accordingly, user interaction is limited in the sense that the user has to engage in direct interaction with the image display device to initiate a desired function associated with the same. To this end, individual viewing preferences of users can be better processed and more effective control options can be offered to the user without losing the processing time spent in hunting a desired setting.

An image display device with various features and capabilities can be provided with a multitude of tuners so as to perform viewing of a first broadcast channel and simultaneous recording of a second broadcast program. It is to be noted that apart from viewing a first program content and recording a second program content, the receiver-decoder or the image display device itself may enable various types of services including interactive functions such as picture-in-picture.

Among others, one of the prior art disclosures in the technical field of the present invention may be referred to as EP0671102, which discloses a method for generating a picture-in-picture digital television frame comprising the steps of: converting a first analog television signal into a first digital frame comprising a first prescribed number of pixels; deriving a mean-only frame from the first digital frame, the mean-only frame comprising a second prescribed number of pixels; creating an insertion frame on the basis of the mean-only frame; and inserting the insertion frame into a second digital frame, thereby generating a picture-in-picture digital frame.

Another prior art reference can be provided as EP1985114, disclosing a method of forming a picture in picture (PIP) service over an internet protocol (IP) transmission to one or more users, the method comprising the steps of: receiving a request for a PIP channel comprising a first predetermined channel superimposed with a second predetermined channel; determining if the PIP channel already exists; forming the PIP channel if it does not already exist; and transmitting the PIP channel on a dedicated channel to any users who have requested that PIP channel.

The present invention provides a system and a method by which an image display device is operated such that a picture-in-picture (PIP) or picture-and picture (PAP) screen is automatically created as a secondary screen area when the user mutes a currently viewed channel and the last viewed channel is displayed as the primary screen area. The muted audio signal is automatically recorded to a memory medium for allowing the user to review the recorded content if/when needed.

The present invention therefore provides a system and method for interactive mute function as provided by the characterizing features defined in Claim 1.

Primary object of the present invention is to provide a system and method by which a picture-in-picture (PIP) screen is automatically created in response to a muting action according to which the muted audio content is recorded for immediate or later review.

The present invention proposes an image display device configured to reduce a currently viewed program content into a picture-in-picture window in response to a muting signal and recording of the audio stream of said currently viewed program content is automatically simultaneously initiated. The main screen outside the PIP screen is viewed through a second tuner.

The user can navigate between two muted screens by standard navigation arrows and select the screen to be unmuted. Power supply to the display panel is cut if a pre-specified time period elapses from a muting signal being received. Upon termination of a second pre-specified time duration, a sound indication is generated and if no reaction is received, stand-by mode is triggered at the end of a third pre-specified time duration.

Accompanying drawings are given solely for the purpose of exemplifying a system and method by which an image display device is operable, whose advantages over prior art were outlined above and will be explained in brief hereinafter.

The drawings are not meant to delimit the scope of protection as identified in the claims nor should they be referred to alone in an effort to interpret the scope identified in said claims without recourse to the technical disclosure in the description of the present invention.

Fig. 1 demonstrates a general workflow diagram according to which the image display device is operable in accordance with the present invention.

The present invention proposes a signal processing device in the form of an image display device or a set-top box receiving programs via satellite, cable or terrestrial broadcasting for instance in the form of separate subscription formats. A set-top box may typically contain a plurality of tuner inputs, operating in connection with an image display device. Alternatively, the image display device itself can receive programs using built-in tuners.

The present invention relates to an image display device having an interactive muting system to provide the user with an automatic picture-in-picture (PIP) or picture-and-picture (PAP) screen area. In other words, when the user communicates a mute signal to an electronic control unit of the image display device, the broadcast program content currently viewed on a primary channel is reduced to a PIP screen mode and displays a program content on the last viewed channel is displayed in muted mode as the primary screen area outside said PIP screen. Repetitive pressing of a dedicated mute function button can alternately mute or unmute audio contents associated with programs on the PIP and main screens.

The image display device of the present invention comprises or communicates with at least a pair of tuners for viewing a first program content and for simultaneously recording a second program content as will be delineated hereinafter. A memory unit in the form of a storage drive to store a muted audio content is used for allowing users to instantly or later on review the recorded audio content. This can be particularly advantageous if visual information in muted mode reveals that a particular content of interest is present and the user is also interested to hear the audio content. Preferably, the video stream in the PIP window can be recorded along with the audio content.

According to an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the PIP window can be selectively semi-transparent or opaque, indicating whether the audio content of the PIP screen or the main screen will be unmuted when the mute button is pressed again. In other words, when the main screen is reduced to a PIP window in muted mode, it will remain opaque indicating that a second press of the mute button will unmute the audio stream of the PIP window. Additionally, a further navigation button can be practically used to switch between the PIP window and the main screen to indicate which part of the screen will be muted/unmuted by the mute button.

According to a further embodiment of the present invention, when an audio stream is muted and remains so for a pre-specified amount of time, a backlight of an LCD panel is turned off, i.e. a power supply to the LCD panel is turned off. In this case, the image display device generates, upon termination of a second pre-specified time duration, a sound indication serving to the purpose reminding the muted program. The electronic control unit effects returning to the stand-by mode at the end of third pre-specified time duration.

The image display device in accordance with the present invention utilizes one of the tuners for displaying a first program content and a second tuner for recording a second program content.

In a nutshell, the present invention proposes an image display device receiving a plurality of broadcasting services and comprising at least a first and second tuners and the image display device further comprising an electronic control unit being in communication with a memory unit.

In one embodiment of the present invention, said electronic control unit is configured to reduce a currently viewed program content into a picture-in-picture window when a muting signal is received.

In a further embodiment of the present invention, said electronic control unit is further configured to automatically initiate recording of audio stream of said currently viewed program content through a first tuner and display a program content other than currently viewed program content receivable through said second tuner outside said picture-in-picture window.

In a further embodiment of the present invention, video stream within the picture-in-picture window associated with said recorded audio stream is recorded along with the audio stream.

In a further embodiment of the present invention, said picture-in-picture window and screen outside said picture-in-picture window are selectively marked in the manner that one of the same is unmutable.

In a further embodiment of the present invention, power supply to a display panel of said image display device is interrupted by said electronic control unit if a pre-specified time period elapses from a muting signal being received.

In a further embodiment of the present invention, said image display device with the display panel being turned off, generates a sound indication upon termination of a second pre-specified time duration.

In a further embodiment of the present invention, said electronic control unit effects returning to stand-by mode at the end of a third pre-specified time duration.

The present invention therefore provides a system and method by which an image display device is operated such that a muted program content is displayed in a PIP window and an alternative program content on another channel is shown in the primary screen area.

The user can easily navigate between muted channels, the opaque and semi-transparent frame of the PIP screen being indicative of the active channel. When the active channel (PIP screen or main screen) is unmuted, it becomes the main screen. Finally, if an unmuted channel remains inactive for a certain period of time, power supply to the display panel is cut and a second timer is started so that a non-intrusive sound indication can be generated as a reminder of the muted channel. The image display device subsequently returns to stand-by mode if no user reaction is received within a third pre-specified period The sound notification is advantageous in that the user can instantly start the image display device as it might take more time, i.e. typically several seconds to complete the boot up procedure (in the cases of smart TVs) if started in stand-by mode. Further, the sound indication basically serves as a non-intrusive reminder.

Claims (6)

1. An image display device receiving a plurality of broadcasting services and comprising at least a first and second tuners and the image display device further comprising an electronic control unit being in communication with a memory unitcharacterized in that;

   said electronic control unit is configured to reduce a currently viewed program content into a picture-in-picture window when a muting signal is received,

   said electronic control unit is further configured to automatically initiate recording of audio stream of said currently viewed program content through a first tuner to said memory unit and display a program content other than said currently viewed program content receivable through said second tuner outside said picture-in-picture window.
2. An image display device as in Claim 1,characterized in that video stream within the picture-in-picture window associated with said recorded audio stream is recorded along with the audio stream.
3. An image display device as in Claim 1 or 2,characterized in that said picture-in-picture window and screen outside said picture-in-picture window are selectively marked in the manner that one of the same is unmutable.
4. An image display device as in Claim 1, 2 or 3,characterized in that power supply to a display panel of said image display device is interrupted by said electronic control unit if a pre-specified time period elapses from a muting signal being received.
5. An image display device as in Claim 4,characterized in that said image display device with the display panel being turned off, generates a sound indication upon termination of a second pre-specified time duration.
6. An image display device as in Claim 5,characterized in that said electronic control unit effects returning to stand-by mode at the end of a third pre-specified time duration.

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