EP0838945A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Video user's environment
Assignee: Panasonic Holdings Corp
•
Filing: 1997-09-22
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2017-09-22
Abstract
Abstract The user (102) communicates through a digitizing writing surface (26) with the audio/video control apparatus (20). An on-screen display (32, 34) is generated, providing the user (102) with a user environment in which a wide range of different tasks and functions can be performed. The digitizing writing surface (26) can be incorporated into a hand-held remote control unit (24) and the audio/video control apparatus (20) may likewise be incorporated into existing home entertainment or computer equipment. By tapping on the writing surface (26) a command bar (32) is presented on the screen, allowing the user (102) to select among various functions. Included in these functions is an on-screen programming feature (158, 148), allowing the user to select programs for viewing or recording by entry of user-drawn annotations or commands via the writing surface (26).
Inventors
- 👤 Daniel P. Lopresti
- 👤 Yue Ma
- 👤 Andrew Tomkins
- 👤 Jian Zhou
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 14:41
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N21/00; H04N21/40; H04N21/45; H04N21/462; H04N21/4622; G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/048; G06F3/0487; G06F3/0488; G06F3/04883; H04N21/41; H04N21/422; H04N21/42204; H04N21/47; H04N21/472; H04N21/47214; H01; H01H; H01H9/00; H01H9/02; H01H9/0214; H01H9/0235; H03; H03J; H03J9/00; H03J9/06; H04N21/42206
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
122 words
An audio/video system having an enhanced video user
environment, characterized by: an audio/video control apparatus (20) for selectively
performing predetermined audio/video control functions
(106) in accordance with a user's (102) selection, said control
apparatus (20) including a port (62) for coupling to a video
display apparatus (64; 36; 22) for displaying video material; a remote control apparatus (24) having a digitizing
writing surface (26) for entry of hand-drawn instructions by a
user (102), said remote control apparatus (24) communicating
with said audio/video control apparatus (20); a processor (72) communicating with at least one of
said audio/video control apparatus (20) and said remote control
apparatus (24) for controlling operation of said video display
apparatus (64; 36; 22) in accordance with said hand-drawn instructions.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system of claim 1, characterized in that said
remote control apparatus (24) comprises a hand-held push-button
remote control structure (54-58) with said digitizing writing
surface (26) incorporated into said structure (54-58).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 1 or 2, characterized in that
said remote control apparatus (24) communicates with said
audio/video control apparatus (20) by infrared signals (30).
Claim 4
Independent Claim
25 words
The system of any of claims 1 - 3, characterized in
that said remote control apparatus (24) communicates bidirectionally
with said audio/video control apparatus (20).
Claim 5
Independent Claim
25 words
The system of any of claims 1 - 4, characterized in
that said remote control apparatus (24) includes a microphone
for input of speech instructions.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
24 words
The system of any of claims 1 - 5, characterized in
that said digitizing writing surface (26) is responsive to a
hand-held stylus (28).
Claim 7
Independent Claim
23 words
The system of any of claims 1 - 6, characterized in
that said digitizing writing surface (26) is responsive to the
user's fingertip.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
64 words
The system of any of claims 1 - 7, characterized in
that said audio/video control apparatus (20) includes at least
one control port for coupling to at least one component (36-52,
66) of audio/video equipment and wherein said audio/video control
apparatus (20) includes a control module for issuing (68;
70) control signals through said control port to said component
(36-52; 66) of audio/video equipment.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
81 words
The system of claim 8, characterized in that said
component (36-52; 66) of audio/video equipment is a component
selected from the group consisting of television (36; 22),
video cassette recorder (VCR) (46), audio tape recorder (44),
audio disc player (48), video disc player (48), audio amplifier
(42), surround sound processor (38, 40), video signal processor,
camcorder (50), video telephone, cable television signal
selector, satellite antenna controller, computer (52), CD-ROM
player, photo CD player, video game player and information network
access device.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
23 words
The system of any of claims 1 - 9, characterized in
that said processor (72b) is disposed in said audio/video control
apparatus (20).
Claim 11
Independent Claim
22 words
The system of any of claims 1 - 9, characterized in
that said processor is attached to said audio/video control apparatus
(20).
Claim 12
Independent Claim
23 words
The system of any of claims 1 - 9, characterized in
that said processor (72a) is disposed in said remote control
apparatus (24).
Claim 13
Independent Claim
45 words
The system of any of claims 1 - 9, characterized in
that said processor (72) comprises a multiprocessor system
(72a, 72b) having a first portion (72b) disposed in said
audio/video control apparatus (20) and having a second portion
(72a) disposed in said remote control (24).
Claim 14
Independent Claim
48 words
The system of any of claims 1 - 14, characterized in
that said audio/video control apparatus (20) includes an integrated
television tuner for tuning a user selected channel carrying
program information and providing a video signal representing
said program information to said video display apparatus
(64; 36; 22).
Claim 15
Independent Claim
46 words
The system of any of claims 1 - 14, characterized in
that said video display apparatus (64; 36; 22) is a television
(36; 22) and wherein said audio/video control apparatus (20)
outputs a video signal through said port, preferably an NTSC or
PAL or HDTV signal.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
25 words
The system of any of claims 1 - 15, characterized in
that said audio/video control apparatus (20) is incorporated
into a component of audio/video equipment.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
79 words
The system of claim 16, characterized in that said
component of audio/video equipment is a component selected from
the group consisting of television (36; 22), video cassette recorder
(VCR) (46); audio tape recorder (44), audio disc player
(48), video disc player (48), audio amplifier (42), surround
sound processor (38, 40), video signal processor, camcorder
(50), video telephone, cable television signal selector, satellite
antenna controller, computer (52), CD-ROM player, photo CD
player, video game player and information network access device.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
20 words
The system of any of claims 1 - 17, characterized in
that said processor (72) includes a speech recognizer module.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
93 words
The system of any of claims 1 - 18, characterized in
that said processor (72) generates at least one menu (32, 34)
of user selectable system control options (136, 156, 160-168)
and said audio/video control apparatus (20) issues a signal
through said port (62) to display said menu (32, 34) on said
video display apparatus (64; 36; 22) coupled to said port (62),
wherein, in case said processor (72) is a multiprocessor system
(72a, 72b), at least one processor of said multiprocessor system
(72a, 72b) generates said at least one menu (32, 34).
Claim 20
Independent Claim
28 words
The system of any of claims 1 - 19, characterized in
that said processor (72) is coupled to memory means (74, 76,
86, 88) for storing user input.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 20, characterized in that said
user input comprises handwritten annotations drawn on said digitizing
writing surface (26).
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system of claim 21, characterized by an on-demand
video interface (158, 148) whereby said handwritten annotations
are used to recall a prerecorded entertainment program
for presentation on said video display apparatus (64; 36;
22).
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 21 or 22, characterized in that
said handwritten annotations are translated into a known computer
character set for subsequent processing.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
108 words
The system of any of claims 1 - 23, characterized in
that said digitizing writing surface (26) is a digitizing
writing display surface for entry of said hand-drawn instructions
by said user and for displaying information to said user;
and said processor (72) is a multiprocessor system (72a,
72b) having a first portion (72b) disposed in said audio/video
control apparatus (20) and having a second portion (72a) disposed
in said remote control (24), said multiprocessor system
(72a, 72b) communicating between said audio/video control apparatus
(20) and said remote control apparatus (24) for controlling
operation of said video display apparatus (64; 36; 22) in
accordance with said hand-drawn instructions.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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