US 5,543,857 A · Graphical menu for a television receiver

Abstract

A television receiver, includes a graphics generator for generating for display a stylized image of the environment in which the user's physical television receiver is situated. The image includes graphical representations of functions which are available for selection and control by a user, and at least one of which functions affect the display of the video image. In one embodiment of the invention, a video inset-image from a PIP unit is completely surrounded by a graphics image. The PIP image is aligned with the screen of a graphically displayed television receiver to portray an image of a television displaying an received television program. Alternatively, an animated graphics presentation is displayed in the screen area of the graphically-displayed television receiver to simulate live video. In another embodiment, a stylized display of the user's room is altered in response to user input regarding the user's consumer electronics equipment, and submenu operational choices are enabled or disabled accordingly.

Claims4

Dependent claims

Menu generation apparatus for use in a television receiver, comprising:

graphics generation means for generating a graphics signal for display, said graphics signal representing a graphics image;
video processing means for producing a processed video signal at an output;
and
picture-in-picture processing means for receiving first and second video signals and for producing a combined video signal comprising a main image portion and a secondary image portion at an output and coupling said combined video signal to said video processing means;
said picture-in-picture processing means deriving a secondary image signal from one of said first and second video signals for use as said secondary image portion;
said video processing means being coupled to said picture-in-picture processing means for receiving said secondary image signal and to said graphics generation means for receiving said graphics signal and producing a combined signal which when displayed comprises a video image completely surrounded by said graphics image;
wherein said graphics image includes graphical representations of functions to be controlled, said functions being selected for control by a user;
and
at least one of said functions affects the display of said processed video signal.

6 more elements

Menu generation apparatus for use in a television receiver, comprising:

graphics generation means for generating a graphics signal for display, said graphics signal representing a graphics image;
video processing means for producing a processed video signal at an output;
said video processing means including switch means having a first input coupled to receive a video signal and a second input coupled to receive said graphics signal, said switch means coupling one of said signals at said inputs to an output;
picture-in-picture processing means for receiving first and second video signals, said picture-in-picture processing means producing a combined video signal comprising a main image portion and a secondary image portion, said picture in picture processing means having an output coupled to said video processing means for applying said combined video signal thereto;
and
a controller for controlling said switch means and said picture-in-picture processing means;
said controller operating in a first mode for causing said picture-in-picture processing means to select said first video signal for use as said main image portion and said secondary image portion is derived from said second video signal;
and
said controller operating in a second mode for causing said switch means of said video processing means to select said graphics signal for use as said main image portion and said secondary image portion is derived from one of said first and second video signals;
said graphics image including graphical representations of functions to be controlled, said functions being selected for control by a user, at least one of said functions affecting the display of said processed video signal;
and
said controller operating in a third mode for causing said switch means of said video processor to select said graphics image only, said graphics image including a depiction of a screen of a television receiver, and said graphics generation means generates animated graphics for display on said screen of said depiction of said television receiver.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Graphical menu for a television receiver

Life of this patent

Graphical menu for a television receiver

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims4