Patent · US Expired

Graphical menu for a television receiver

US5543857A · kind A · utility

38Cited by
5References
4Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 30, 1994
Grant dateAug 6, 1996
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 30, 2014

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04N21/485
  • WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A television receiver, includes a graphics generator for generating for display a stylized image of the environment in which the user's physical television receiver is situated. The image includes graphical representations of functions which are available for selection and control by a user, and at least one of which functions affect the display of the video image. In one embodiment of the invention, a video inset-image from a PIP unit is completely surrounded by a graphics image. The PIP image is aligned with the screen of a graphically displayed television receiver to portray an image of a television displaying an received television program. Alternatively, an animated graphics presentation is displayed in the screen area of the graphically-displayed television receiver to simulate live video. In another embodiment, a stylized display of the user's room is altered in response to user input regarding the user's consumer electronics equipment, and submenu operational choices are enabled or disabled accordingly.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.