# US 9,438,954 B2 · On-screen television input management

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- Number: US 9,438,954 B2
- Document ID: US9438954B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/512,510
- Filed: 2014-10-13
- Published: 2015-01-29
- Granted: 2016-09-06
- Earliest claimed: 2007-12-31
- Assignees: III Holdings 7, LLC
- Applicants: III Holdings 7, LLC
- Inventors: Alan G. Brown; Stephen Brown; Leo Chen; Chris Kurpinski; Damien Stolarz
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9438954B2

## CPC

- H04N 21/4622: {Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet (web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859)}
- H04B 1/205: {with control bus for exchanging commands between units}
- H04N 21/4113: {PC}
- H04N 21/4135: {external recorder (interface circuits between an apparatus for recording television signals and a television receiver H04N5/775)}
- H04N 21/41407: {embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop (constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57)}
- H04N 21/4143: {embedded in a} Personal Computer [PC]
- H04N 21/42204: {User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor (constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205)}
- H04N 21/4312: {involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations}
- H04N 21/4363: Adapting the video stream to a specific local network, e.g. a Bluetooth® network
- H04N 21/443: OS processes, e.g. booting an STB, implementing a Java virtual machine in an STB or power management in an STB
- H04N 21/47: End-user applications
- H04N 21/47202: {for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand}
- H04N 21/4781: {Games}
- H04N 21/4782: Web browsing {, e.g. WebTV}
- H04N 21/482: End-user interface for programme selection
- H04N 21/485: End-user interface for client configuration
- H04N 21/4882: {for displaying messages, e.g. warnings, reminders (arrangements for providing short real-time information to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1895)}
- H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04B: TRANSMISSION

## Abstract

A television system that provides an on screen display menu system that allows a user to select from available input source using a graphical user interface. The television system also automatically adapts to the type on input signal selected for display. The television system and on screen display menu also support interaction between the television system and attached devices to unify the control of such devices including attached personal computers through the remote control of the television system.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system comprising:
a computing device;
a television system communicatively coupled to the computing device, the television system configured to:
receive a first user input; and
in response to the received first user input, transmit a command to the computing device;
a first content input source communicatively coupled to the television system, the first content input source configured to transmit first content to the television system; and
a second content input source communicatively coupled to the computing device, the second content input source configured to transmit second content to the computing device, wherein the computing device is configured to:
receive the transmitted command from the television system;
in response to the received transmitted command from the television system, initiate a software application, the software application configured to enable the computing device to receive the second content; and
transmit the second content to the television system;
wherein the television system is further configured to identify the first content input source based on an identifier received from the first content input source, wherein, to identify the first content input source, the television system is configured to determine a type of device of the first content input source,
wherein the television system is further configured to:
determine that the type of device of the first content input source is not supported by the television system; and
receive, from the computing device, a firmware update that facilitates the television system to support the type of device of the first content input source.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the computing device is housed within a housing of the television system.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the television system and the computing device share a circuit board.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the user input is received from a remote control.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the television system is further configured to:
receive a second user input indicating a selected content input source, wherein the selected content input source is one of the first content input source or the second content input source; and
display content received from the selected content input source.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The system of claim 5, wherein the second content input source is transmitted to the computing device via the Internet, and wherein the software application comprises an Internet browser.

### Claim 7

A device comprising:
a display configured to display visual content;
a transceiver configured to receive a first user input and to receive the visual content from one or more of a first content input source or a second content input source;
a processor operatively coupled to the display and the transceiver, wherein the processor is configured to:
receive, from the transceiver, the first user input which indicates that the display is to display second content from the second content input source;
cause the transceiver to transmit to a computing device a command indicating that the computing device is to initiate a software application that enables the computing device to receive the second content;
receive, from the computing device, the second content;
cause the display to display the second content;
identify the first content input source based on an identifier received by the transceiver from the first content input source, wherein, to identify the first content input source, the processor is configured to determine a type of device of the first content input source;
determine that the type of device of the first content input source is not supported by the device; and
receive, from the computing device, a firmware update that facilitates the device to support the type of device of the first content input source.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The device of claim 7, wherein the processor is further configured to cause the transceiver to transmit to the computing device the first content for display on a display of the computing device.

### Claim 9

A device comprising:
a transceiver configured to receive second content from a second content input source and to communicate with a television system; and
a processor operatively coupled to the transceiver and configured to:
receive a command from the television system, wherein the command indicates a user input received by the television system;
initiate, in response to receiving the command, a software application that enables the transceiver to receive the second content;
cause the transceiver to transmit to the television system the second content;
cause the transceiver to transmit to the television system an identifier;
receive, from the television system, an indication that the television system does not support the device; and
cause the transceiver to transmit to the television system a firmware update that facilitates the television system to support the device.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The system of claim 9, wherein the device further comprises a display configured to display first content received by the transceiver from the television system.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The system of claim 9, wherein the transceiver is configured to receive the second content via the Internet.