Zenith Electronics Corporation

Zenith Radio Corporation

Other

Lg Electronics Inc.

Thomas J Zato

Kevin J Gaughan

Peter C Skerlos

Frank C Templin

Gary A Jones

Mark J Fimoff

Paul A Snopko

Charles Steven Pint

Raymond M Rees

Jeffery A Puskas

A web television includes a display, a tuner, an internet module, and a PIP module. The tuner is arranged to select television video for display on the display and to select television audio for display by a speaker of the web television. The internet module is arranged to supply internet video for display on the display and to supply internet audio for display by the speaker of the web television, and the internet video and audio are derived from internet communications between the web television and internet content providers. The PIP module is arranged to provide a PIP area within a main area of the display. The internet video and the television video may be swapped between the PIP area and the main area of the display, and the speaker of the web television may be swapped between the internet audio and the television audio.

Web television having a two-way communication bus interconnecting a television controller and an internet module

Transferring information between an internet module and TV controller of a web TV

Polling internet module of web TV

Video display initiated by internet module of web TV

Video and audio functions in a web television

A web television includes (i) a display, (ii) an internet module for supporting internet communications between the web television and internet content providers, (iii) a PIP module for providing a PIP area of the display, (iv) a video processor module for supplying video to the display, (v) an audio processor module for supplying audio to a speaker of the web television, (vi) an video/audio switch for switching outputs from a tuner of the web television and from the internet module between the PIP module, the video processor, and the audio processor, (vii) a television controller, and (viii) a two-way communication bus interconnecting the internet module, the PIP module, the video processor module, the audio processor module. The television controller controls the internet module, the PIP module, the video processor module, the audio processor module, and the video/audio switch so as to selectively display the internet communications and television signals on the display. The television controller also transmits messages to, and to receive messages from, the internet module over the two-way communication bus.

Two-way communication protocol for a web television

A web television includes a monitor, a communication bus, an internet module, a tuner, and a television controller. The internet module is coupled to the communication bus, and is arranged to provide internet video for display on the monitor. The internet video is derived from internet communications between the internet module and internet content providers. The tuner is arranged to select television video for display by the monitor. The television controller is coupled to the communication bus, and is arranged to switch the monitor between the internet video and the television video. Also, the television controller receives displacement information from a remote control device and transmits the received displacement information to the internet module over the communication bus.

Transmission of displacement information in a web television

A web television includes a monitor, a communication bus, an internet module, a tuner, and a television controller. The internet module is coupled to the communication bus, and is arranged to provide internet video for display on the monitor. The internet video is derived from internet communications between the internet module and internet content providers. The tuner is arranged to select television video for display by the monitor. The television controller is coupled to the communication bus, the television controller is arranged to switch the monitor between the internet video and the television video, the television controller receives character data from a remote control device, and the television controller transmits the received character data over the communication bus to the internet module in a message containing a last received character datum and a current received character datum.

Communication of character data in a web television

A television remote control system includes an on-screen cursor that is controllable by a viewer-operated remote transmitter. The remote transmitter includes a trackball that yields X,Y coordinate information responsive to rotational movement thereof and a switch that generates an activate signal responsive to depression of the trackball. A microprocessor in the television receiver controls the on-screen cursor display and updates the cursor position in response to transmitted IR X,Y position signals. A microprocessor in the remote transmitter monitors the trackball, the trackball operated switch and any other functional key switches. The television screen is divided into different control function areas and the areas are illuminated as each area is accessed by the cursor, i.e. as the designated cursor position impinges on the area. The cursor movement defined by the position signal is divided into a series of smaller movements to produce smooth cursor movements on the screen.

On-screen remote control of a television receiver

A television display system having a remote control unit which sends different command codes, upon activation of the same button, dependent upon which mode the remote control unit is in; has a simplified operation by translating a noneffective command code from the transmitter into an effective command at the display unit when the display unit is not in a signal source which can act upon the noneffective command code. Further simplifying the keypad operation of the remote control transmitter by allowing function and adjustment keys to perform double duty depending on the operating mode of the display is also discussed.

Remote control unit code translation

A slice circuit for a data signal includes a clamp for clamping the data signal and a comparator having a first input coupled to the clamp, a second input coupled to a filter and an output coupled to a D/A converter. The output of the D/A converter is coupled to the filter such that a pulse width modulated signal is developed in the comparator output which is converted to a DC voltage by the D/A converter and filter for controlling the data slice level. The pulse width modulated signal is the sliced data.

Data slicing system

A method of finding a given line in the vertical blanking interval of a television signal in which the given line is preceded by a run-in signal and for recovering data on that line. A target line is accessed by counting a number of horizontal pulses after a vertical sync pulse and a test for the run-in signal is made. If the run-in signal is not found, another line in the vicinity of the target line is accessed after a subsequent vertical sync pulse. The process is repeated until the given line is found whereupon the number of horizontal pulses counted is remembered and directly used to access said given line in subsequent vertical blanking intervals. If no run-in signal is found, accessing and testing of corresponding lines in the other field of a two interlaced field television system is performed.

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Inverness, IL, United States of America

Thomas J Zato