EP0560593A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Monitor apparatus for audio-visual system
Assignee: Sony Corp
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Filing: 1993-03-10
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2013-03-10
Abstract
Abstract A monitor apparatus for an audio-visual system which is so superior in user interface that the user can select a program to be displayed without being aware of audio-visual units constituting the audio-visual system is disclosed. A first control window for selecting one of audio-visual units of the audio-visual system and a second control window for designating an operation mode of the selected audio-visual unit are displayed on a screen of a monitor unit. Designations of the audio-visual units are displayed in the first window, and when one of the designations is pointed by a pointing device to select a corresponding audio-visual unit, available operation modes of the selected audio-visual unit are displayed in the second window. Then, when one of the operation modes is pointed by the pointing device to select it, the selected audio-visual unit is put into the selected operation mode. Also an improved control menu displaying apparatus is disclosed.
Inventors
- 👤 Harumi Sony Corporation Kawamura
- 👤 Kazuyuki Sony Corporation Ogawa
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 18:20
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N21/00; H04N21/40; H04N21/47; H04B; H04B1/00; H04B1/06; H04B1/16; H04B1/20; H04B1/205; H04N21/41; H04N21/422; H04N21/42204; H04N5/00; H04N5/76
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
179 words
A monitor apparatus for an audio-visual system which includes a monitor unit, a plurality of audio-visual units, and audio-visual bus means for transmitting data signals including a command, a video signal and an audio signal between said monitor unit and said audio-visual units, comprising: display means for displaying thereon a first control window for selecting one of said audio-visual units, a second control window for designating an operation mode of the selected audio-visual unit, and for displaying designations of said audio-visual units in said first window; pointing means for pointing a designation displayed in any of said first and second control windows; and controlling means for causing, when one of said designations of said audio-visual units displayed in said first window is pointed at by said pointing means to select a corresponding one of said audio-visual units, said display means being operative to display available operation modes of the selected audio-visual unit and to put, when one of the operation modes is pointed by said pointing means to select it, the selected audio-visual unit into the selected operation mode.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
179 words
A monitor apparatus for an audio-visual system which includes a monitor unit, a plurality of audio-visual units, and audio-visual bus means for transmitting data signals including a command, a video signal and an audio signal between said monitor unit and said audio-visual units, comprising: display means for displaying thereon a first control window for selecting one of said audio-visual units, a second control window for designating an operation mode of the selected audio-visual unit, and for displaying designations of said audio-visual units in said first window; pointing means for pointing a designation displayed in any of said first and second control windows; and controlling means for causing, when one of said designations of said audio-visual units displayed in said first window is pointed at by said pointing means to select a corresponding one of said audio-visual units, said display means being operative to display available operation modes of the selected audio-visual unit and to put, when one of the operation modes is pointed by said pointing means to select it, the selected audio-visual unit into the selected operation mode.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
A monitor apparatus for an audio-visual system according to claim 1, wherein said pointing means includes a plurality of remote control keys provided on a remote controller for said monitor unit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
A monitor apparatus for an audio-visual system according to claim 1, wherein said pointing means includes indications of keys displayed in said second window.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
153 words
A monitor apparatus for an audio-visual system which includes a monitor unit, a first audio-visual unit having a receiving function, a second audio-visual unit having a reproducing function, and audio-visual bus means for transmitting data signals including a command, a video signal and an audio signal between said monitor unit and said first and second audio-visual units, comprising: display means; control window producing means for producing on said display means a control window in which a channel of a program received by said first audio-visual unit and supplied to said monitor unit and a designation of said second audio-visual unit for reproducing a program supplied to said monitor unit are displayed at a time; pointing means for pointing at one of the channel and the designation displayed in said control window; and selecting means for selecting, in response to pointing by said pointing means, a program to be displayed on said display means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
153 words
A monitor apparatus for an audio-visual system which includes a monitor unit, a first audio-visual unit having a receiving function, a second audio-visual unit having a reproducing function, and audio-visual bus means for transmitting data signals including a command, a video signal and an audio signal between said monitor unit and said first and second audio-visual units, comprising: display means; control window producing means for producing on said display means a control window in which a channel of a program received by said first audio-visual unit and supplied to said monitor unit and a designation of said second audio-visual unit for reproducing a program supplied to said monitor unit are displayed at a time; pointing means for pointing at one of the channel and the designation displayed in said control window; and selecting means for selecting, in response to pointing by said pointing means, a program to be displayed on said display means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
A monitor apparatus for an audio-visual system according to claim 4, wherein said pointing means includes a plurality of remote control keys provided on a remote controller for said monitor unit.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
75 words
A monitor apparatus for an audio-visual system which receives and displays thereon various programs by way of a high speed large capacity digital communication network, comprising: display means; means for producing on said display means a control window in which a menu of the programs is displayed; pointing means for pointing one of the programs in the menu displayed in said control window; and controlling means for selecting the program pointed by said pointing means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
75 words
A monitor apparatus for an audio-visual system which receives and displays thereon various programs by way of a high speed large capacity digital communication network, comprising: display means; means for producing on said display means a control window in which a menu of the programs is displayed; pointing means for pointing one of the programs in the menu displayed in said control window; and controlling means for selecting the program pointed by said pointing means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
123 words
A control menu displaying apparatus for displaying a control menu for selecting a program to be displayed on a display unit, comprising: first means for causing said display unit to display thereon a control menu including several items of programs; second means for storing therein access data corresponding to the items; third means for developing an instruction to change the display position of a designated one of the items in the control menu; and fourth means responsive to the instruction from said third means for comparing the access data to the designated item with the access data to the other items and determining, based on a result of the comparison, whether or not the display position of the designated item should be changed.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
123 words
A control menu displaying apparatus for displaying a control menu for selecting a program to be displayed on a display unit, comprising: first means for causing said display unit to display thereon a control menu including several items of programs; second means for storing therein access data corresponding to the items; third means for developing an instruction to change the display position of a designated one of the items in the control menu; and fourth means responsive to the instruction from said third means for comparing the access data to the designated item with the access data to the other items and determining, based on a result of the comparison, whether or not the display position of the designated item should be changed.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
49 words
A control menu displaying apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the items are displayed in a vertical row, and when said fourth means determines that the display position of the designated item should be changed, it shifts the display position of the designated item upwardly in the vertical low.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
158 words
A control menu displaying apparatus for an audio-visual system, which includes a monitor init, a plurality of audio-visual units, and audio-visual bus means for transmitting a command, a video signal and an audio signal between said monitor unit and said audio-visual units, for displaying a menu of programs supplied from said audio-visual units on said monitor unit, comprising: first means for causing said monitor unit to display thereon a control menu including several items of programs; second means for storing therein access data to the items; third means for developing an instruction to change the display position of a designated one of the items in the control menu; and fourth means responsive to the instruction from said third means for comparing the access data to the designated item with the access data to the other items and determining, based on a result of the comparison, whether or not the display position of the designated item should be changed.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
158 words
A control menu displaying apparatus for an audio-visual system, which includes a monitor init, a plurality of audio-visual units, and audio-visual bus means for transmitting a command, a video signal and an audio signal between said monitor unit and said audio-visual units, for displaying a menu of programs supplied from said audio-visual units on said monitor unit, comprising: first means for causing said monitor unit to display thereon a control menu including several items of programs; second means for storing therein access data to the items; third means for developing an instruction to change the display position of a designated one of the items in the control menu; and fourth means responsive to the instruction from said third means for comparing the access data to the designated item with the access data to the other items and determining, based on a result of the comparison, whether or not the display position of the designated item should be changed.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
49 words
A control menu displaying apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the items are displayed in a vertical row, and when said fourth means determines that the display position of the designated item should be changed, it shifts the display position of the designated item upwardly in the vertical low.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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