US6008836A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for adjusting television display control using a browser
Assignee: Adeia Technologies Inc
•
Filing: 1996-11-22
•
Granted: 1999-12-28
•
Expires: 2016-11-22
Abstract
Abstract Web browser software implemented in a set-top box as part of a client system communicating over the Internet with one or more servers allows a user to adjust the picture quality of a monitor through World-Wide Web pages displayed on the monitor. The web browser software provides picture adjustment screens which contain instructions on how to adjust the monitor controls to optimize the picture quality. The picture adjustment screens also contain test patterns which provide reference and visual feedback of the monitor adjustment. The user adjusts the picture quality of the monitor using the monitor display controls and the test patterns provided on the picture adjustment screens. Picture adjustment screens are provided for display characteristics such as picture brightness, contrast, sharpness, color, and hue.
Inventors
- 👤 Timo A. Bruck
- 👤 Bruce A. Leak
- 👤 Steven C. Wasserman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 03:12
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N21/00; H04N21/40; H04N21/47; H04N21/485; H04N21/4854; G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/048; G06F3/0487; G06F3/0489; G06F3/04892; G06F3/04897; G06F8/00; G06F8/60; G06F8/65; H04L; H04L67/00; H04L67/01; H04L67/02; H04L67/025; H04L67/34; H04L69/00; H04L69/30; H04L69/32; H04L69/322; H04L69/329; H04N13/00; H04N13/30; H04N13/302; H04N13/31; H04N21/43; H04N21/431; H04N21/4312; H04N21/4314; H04N21/433; H04N21/4331; H04N21/443; H04N21/45; H04N21/462; H04N21/4622; H04N21/478; H04N21/4782; H04N21/80; H04N21/81; H04N21/8166; H04N5/00; H04N5/44; H04N5/445; H04N5/45; H04N7/00; H04N7/14; H04N7/141; H04N7/147; H04N7/16; H04N7/173; H04N7/17309; H04N7/17318; G09; G09G; G09G2370/00; G09G2370/02; G09G2370/027; H01; H01H; H01H9/00; H01H9/02; H01H9/0214; H01H9/0235; H04L65/00; H04L65/60; H04L65/61; H04L65/613; H04M; H04M2242/00; H04M2242/22; H04M3/00; H04M3/42; H04M3/42025; H04M3/42034; H04M3/42059; H04N21/41; H04N21/422; H04N21/42204; H04N21/4316; H04N5/60; H04N5/602
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
279 words
In a networked computer system which includes a plurality of server systems each of which is connected to a network infrastructure which provides access to a plurality of sites, each site including one or more pages containing text or graphics, and the networked computer system including at least one client system which is connected either directly or logically to one or more of said server systems, and each client system comprising a conventional television monitor on which to display said one or more pages of an accessed site, and an electronic unit for controlling said television monitor in order to provide a user of the client system with a graphical user interface by which the user can browse said sites or otherwise access said network infrastructure, a method for interactively prompting a user as to the proper adjustment of the television monitor in order to optimize display of a page accessed at one of said sites, the method comprising the steps of: the user using the television monitor to adjust the electronic unit to access a server system which contains a graphical user interface comprising interactive user instructions for adjustment of a picture on the television monitor; downloading the interactive user instructions from the server system for display on the television monitor; utilizing the electronic unit to activate one or more of the displayed interactive user instructions, which then instruct the user as to how to adjust the picture on the television monitor as to one or more selected characteristics of the picture; and adjusting the one or more selected characteristics of the picture on the television monitor in accordance with the one or more activated interactive user instructions.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
279 words
In a networked computer system which includes a plurality of server systems each of which is connected to a network infrastructure which provides access to a plurality of sites, each site including one or more pages containing text or graphics, and the networked computer system including at least one client system which is connected either directly or logically to one or more of said server systems, and each client system comprising a conventional television monitor on which to display said one or more pages of an accessed site, and an electronic unit for controlling said television monitor in order to provide a user of the client system with a graphical user interface by which the user can browse said sites or otherwise access said network infrastructure, a method for interactively prompting a user as to the proper adjustment of the television monitor in order to optimize display of a page accessed at one of said sites, the method comprising the steps of: the user using the television monitor to adjust the electronic unit to access a server system which contains a graphical user interface comprising interactive user instructions for adjustment of a picture on the television monitor; downloading the interactive user instructions from the server system for display on the television monitor; utilizing the electronic unit to activate one or more of the displayed interactive user instructions, which then instruct the user as to how to adjust the picture on the television monitor as to one or more selected characteristics of the picture; and adjusting the one or more selected characteristics of the picture on the television monitor in accordance with the one or more activated interactive user instructions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
55 words
A method according to claim 1, further comprising, prior to the stop of adjusting the one or more selected characteristics of the picture, the step of displaying a test pattern on the television monitor, said test pattern containing an attribute corresponding to at least one of the one or more selected characteristics of the picture.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
69 words
A method according to claim 2, wherein the one or more activated interactive user instructions indicate that the user is to adjust the contrast of the television monitor until the test pattern exhibits a desired contrast attribute, the step of adjusting the one or more selected characteristics of the picture comprising the step of responding to user input generated as the user adjusts the contrast of the television monitor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
69 words
A method according to claim 2, wherein the one or more activated interactive user instructions indicate that the user is to adjust the brightness of the television monitor until the test pattern exhibits a desired brightness attribute, the step of adjusting the one or more selected characteristics of the picture comprising the step of responding to user input generated as the user adjusts the brightness of the television monitor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
69 words
A method according to claim 2, wherein the one or more activated interactive user instructions indicate that the user is to adjust the sharpness of the television monitor until the test pattern exhibits a desired sharpness attribute, the step of adjusting the one or more selected characteristics of the picture comprising the step of responding to user input generated as the user adjusts the sharpness of the television monitor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
69 words
A method according to claim 2, wherein the one or more activated interactive user instructions indicate that the user is to adjust the color of the television monitor until the test pattern exhibits a desired color attribute, the step of adjusting the one or more selected characteristics of the picture comprising the step of responding to user input generated as the user adjusts the color of the television monitor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
69 words
A method according to claim 2, wherein the one or more activated interactive user instructions indicate that the user is to adjust the hue of the television monitor until the test pattern exhibits a desired hue attribute, the stop of adjusting the one or more selected characteristics of the picture comprising the step of responding to user input generated as the user adjusts the hue of the television monitor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method according to claim 2, wherein said one or more selected characteristics of the picture comprise a display characteristic selected from the group consisting of contrast, brightness, sharpness, color and hue.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
323 words
In a networked computer system which includes a plurality of server systems each of which is connected to a network infrastructure which provides access to a plurality of sites, each site including one or more pages containing text or graphics, and the networked computer system including at least one client system which is connected either directly or logically to one or more of said server systems, and each client system comprising a conventional television monitor on which to display said one or more pages of an accessed site, and an electronic unit for controlling said television monitor in order to provide a user of the client system with a graphical user interface by which the user can browse said sites or otherwise access said network infrastructure, a computer program product for use by said electronic unit to implement a method for interactively prompting a user as to the proper adjustment of the television monitor in order to optimize display of a page accessed at one of said sites, the computer program product comprising: a computer readable medium for carrying computer program code means for implementing said method; and said computer program code means comprising: code means for accessing through the client system a server system which contains a graphical user interface comprising interactive user instructions for adjustment of a picture on the television monitor; code means for downloading the interactive user instructions from the server system for display on the television monitor; and code means for utilizing the electronic unit to activate one or more of the displayed interactive user instructions which then instruct the user as to how to adjust the picture on the television monitor as to one or more selected characteristics of the picture, such that the user can thereafter use the television monitor to adjust the one or more selected characteristics of the picture on the television monitor in accordance with the one or more activated interactive user instructions.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
323 words
In a networked computer system which includes a plurality of server systems each of which is connected to a network infrastructure which provides access to a plurality of sites, each site including one or more pages containing text or graphics, and the networked computer system including at least one client system which is connected either directly or logically to one or more of said server systems, and each client system comprising a conventional television monitor on which to display said one or more pages of an accessed site, and an electronic unit for controlling said television monitor in order to provide a user of the client system with a graphical user interface by which the user can browse said sites or otherwise access said network infrastructure, a computer program product for use by said electronic unit to implement a method for interactively prompting a user as to the proper adjustment of the television monitor in order to optimize display of a page accessed at one of said sites, the computer program product comprising: a computer readable medium for carrying computer program code means for implementing said method; and said computer program code means comprising: code means for accessing through the client system a server system which contains a graphical user interface comprising interactive user instructions for adjustment of a picture on the television monitor; code means for downloading the interactive user instructions from the server system for display on the television monitor; and code means for utilizing the electronic unit to activate one or more of the displayed interactive user instructions which then instruct the user as to how to adjust the picture on the television monitor as to one or more selected characteristics of the picture, such that the user can thereafter use the television monitor to adjust the one or more selected characteristics of the picture on the television monitor in accordance with the one or more activated interactive user instructions.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
43 words
A computer program product according to claim 9, wherein the computer program code means further comprises code means for displaying a test pattern on the television monitor, said test pattern containing an attribute corresponding to at least one display characteristic of the picture.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
A computer program product according to claim 10, wherein said test pattern is included in a Hypertext Mark-up Language object.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
A computer program product according to claim 11, wherein said test pattern is a Graphical Interchange File format encoded object.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
A computer program product according to claim 11, wherein said test pattern is a Joint Photographic Expert Group format encoded object.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
A computer program product according to claim 11, wherein said test pattern is a bit-mapped object.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
45 words
A computer program product according to claim 9, wherein the one or more activated interactive user instructions indicate that the user is to adjust the contrast of the television monitor until a reference test pattern displayed on the television monitor exhibits a desired contrast attribute.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
45 words
A computer program product according to claim 9, wherein the one or more activated interactive user instructions indicate that the user is to adjust the brightness of the television monitor until a reference test pattern displayed on the television monitor exhibits a desired brightness attribute.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
45 words
A computer program product according to claim 9, wherein the one or more activated interactive user instructions indicate that the user is to adjust the sharpness of the television monitor until a reference test pattern displayed on the television monitor exhibits a desired sharpness attribute.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
45 words
A computer program product according to claim 9, wherein the one or more activated interactive user instructions indicate that the user is to adjust the color of the television monitor until a reference test pattern displayed on the television monitor exhibits a desired color attribute.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
45 words
A computer program product according to claim 9, wherein the one or more activated interactive user instructions indicate that the user is to adjust the hue of the television monitor until a reference test pattern displayed on the television monitor exhibits a desired hue attribute.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
271 words
In a networked computer system which includes a plurality of server systems each of which is connected to a network infrastructure which provides access to a plurality of sites, each site including one or more pages containing text or graphics, and the networked computer system including at least one client system which is connected either directly or logically to one or more of said server systems, and each client system comprising a conventional television monitor on which to display said one or more pages of an accessed site, and an electronic unit for controlling said television monitor in order to provide a user of the client system wild a graphical user interface by which the user can browse said sites or otherwise access said network infrastructure, a computer program product for use by at least one of said server systems to implement a method for interactively prompting a user as to the proper adjustment of the television monitor in order to optimize display of a page accessed at one of said sites, the computer program product comprising: a computer readable medium for carrying computer program code means for implementing said method; and said computer program code means comprising: code means for responding to a request for access from a client system to a graphical user interface comprising interactive user instructions for adjustment of a picture on the television monitor; and code means for downloading the interactive user instructions from the at least one server system to the television monitor of the client system, wherein the downloaded interactive user instructions are to be displayed on the television monitor of the client system.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
271 words
In a networked computer system which includes a plurality of server systems each of which is connected to a network infrastructure which provides access to a plurality of sites, each site including one or more pages containing text or graphics, and the networked computer system including at least one client system which is connected either directly or logically to one or more of said server systems, and each client system comprising a conventional television monitor on which to display said one or more pages of an accessed site, and an electronic unit for controlling said television monitor in order to provide a user of the client system wild a graphical user interface by which the user can browse said sites or otherwise access said network infrastructure, a computer program product for use by at least one of said server systems to implement a method for interactively prompting a user as to the proper adjustment of the television monitor in order to optimize display of a page accessed at one of said sites, the computer program product comprising: a computer readable medium for carrying computer program code means for implementing said method; and said computer program code means comprising: code means for responding to a request for access from a client system to a graphical user interface comprising interactive user instructions for adjustment of a picture on the television monitor; and code means for downloading the interactive user instructions from the at least one server system to the television monitor of the client system, wherein the downloaded interactive user instructions are to be displayed on the television monitor of the client system.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
52 words
A computer program product according to claim 20, wherein the downloaded interactive user instructions indicate to a user how to adjust one or more selected characteristics of the picture, wherein the one or more selected characteristics comprise a display characteristic selected from the group consisting of contrast, brightness, sharpness, color and hue.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
59 words
A computer program product according to claim 20, wherein the code means for downloading the interactive user instructions further comprises code means for downloading a test pattern to be displayed on the television monitor of the client system, said test pattern containing an attribute corresponding to at least one of the one or more selected characteristics of the picture.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4513318A
Cited
US4772206A
Cited
US5218671A
Cited
US5318450A
Cited
US5212546A
Cited
US5701417A
Cited
US5247358A
Cited
US5270821A
Cited
US5538255A
Cited
US5535422A
Cited
US5298993A
Cited
US5535323A
Cited
US5325423A
Cited
US5564001A
Cited
US5532753A
Cited
US5381349A
Cited
US5565897A
Cited
US5488411A
Cited
US5558339A
Cited
US5586257A
Cited
US5671011A
Cited
US5638117A
Cited
US5612730A
Cited
US5781247A
Cited
US5790753A
Cited
US5727156A
Cited
US5703661A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-12-27 | 2003-06-28 | 2003-12-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-12-27 | 2007-06-28 | 2007-12-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-12-27 | 2011-06-28 | 2011-12-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |