United States Patent [19]
`Chun
`
`[54] MENU-TYPE MULTI-CHANNEL SYSTEM
`HAVING A PAGE UP/DOWN MODE
`FEATURE
`
`[75] Inventor: Yu J. Chun, Seoul, Rep. of Korea
`[73] Assignee: SamSung Electronics Co., Ltd.,
`Kyungki-do, Rep. of Korea
`
`[21]
`[22]
`
`Appl. No.: 563
`Filed:
`Jan. 4, 1993
`Related U.S. Application Data
`[63] Continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 807,414, Dec. 13, 1991,
`which is a continuation of Ser. No. 771,807, Oct. 8, 1991,
`which is a continuation of Ser. No. 365,573, Jun. 14, 1989.
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`[30]
`1988/7120
`Jun. 14, 1988 [KR] Rep. of Korea
`• * * *
`* *** ->~-v-f- * * * * * *** ------------
`[51] Int. Cl* .…. H04N 5/45
`[52] U.S. Cl. .......................... 348/565; 348/567; 348/588;
`348/732
`[58] Field of Search ................................. 358/183, 1931,
`358/191.1; 455/166; 348/565, 567, 568,
`588, 732, 731; H04N 5/45
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`4,914,516 4/1990 Duffield .................................. 358/183
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`50471 3/1986 Japan ............................... H04N 5/45
`
`[56]
`
`||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
`US005506628A
`[11] Patent Number:
`5,506,628
`[45]. Date of Patent:
`Apr. 9, 1996
`
`277275 12/1986 Japan ............................... H04N 5/45
`146671 6/1988 Japan ............................... H04N 5/45
`Primary Examiner—James J. Groody
`Assistant Examiner—Sherrie Hsia
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Robert E. Bushnell
`[57]
`ABSTRACT
`A menu type multi-channel display system utilizing picture
`in-picture (PIP) function and a page up/down mode. The
`present invention first comprises a first and second tuner to
`receive broadcasting signals and to output each of the
`broadcasting signals on a channel. The present invention
`further comprises a main screen selecting module to select
`either one of said first and second tuner or a line input signal
`and to output at least one main screen signal. The present
`invention further comprises a sub-screen selecting module to
`select either the first tuner, the second tuner, or a line input
`signal, and to then output a subscreen signal. The present
`invention further comprises a VCR signal processing circuit
`to screen-process the output signals from a reproduction
`output module of the main screen selecting module and to
`output a screen signal. The present invention further com
`prises a PIP processing circuit to input the screen signals
`from the VCR signal processing circuit and the sub-screen
`selecting module and to output a PIP multi-screen signal.
`The present invention further comprises an audio output
`selecting circuit to select and output phonetic signals pro
`cessed from the PIP processing circuit to a main screen. The
`present invention further comprises a control module to
`control the circuits separately according to the output selec
`tion of the tuners, the VCR reproduction mode or the
`multi-channel page up/down signal.
`
`24 Claims, 12 Drawing Sheets
`
`630
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`OUTPUT
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`600
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`Comcast, Exhibit-1106
`
`1
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 9, 1996
`
`Sheet 1 of 12
`
`5,506,628
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`U.S. Patent
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`Apr. 9, 1996
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`Sheet 2 of 12
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`U.S. Patent
`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 9, 1996
`
`Sheet 3 of 12
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`5,506,628
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`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 9, 1996
`
`Sheet 4 of 12
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`5,506,628
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`
`
`FIG. 2A
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`M|N
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`REFERENCE (1 SEC)
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 9, 1996
`
`Sheet 5 of 12
`
`5,506,628
`
`SKIP MEMORY
`
`POSITION |
`POSITION 2
`POSITION 3
`POSITION 4
`POSITION 5
`POSITION 6
`POSITION 7
`POSITION 8
`POSITION 9
`POSITION TO
`
`POSITION 32
`
`
`
`PAGE DOWN
`
`6
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 9, 1996
`
`Sheet 6 of 12
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`5,506,628
`
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`

`U.S. Patent
`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 9, 1996
`Apr. 9, 1996
`
`Sheet 7 of 12
`Sheet 7 of 12
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`5,506,628
`5,506,628
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`FIG.4D
`
`FIG,4C
`
`FIG.4B
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`FIG.4A
`
`
`
`8
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 9, 1996
`Apr. 9, 1996
`
`Sheet 8 of 12
`Sheet 8 of 12
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`5,506,628
`5,506,628
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`
`
`FIG.4
`
`9
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 9, 1996
`
`Sheet 9 of 12
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`5,506,628
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`50]
`
`Q6
`
`TV TUNER
`
`
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`VCR SIGNAL
`PROCESSOR
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`SCREEN
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`OUTPUT
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 9, 1996
`
`Sheet 10 of 12
`
`5,506,628
`
`
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 9, 1996
`
`Sheet 11 of 12
`
`5,506,628
`
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 9, 1996
`
`Sheet 12 of 12
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`5,506,628
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`EXECUTES
`
`732
`
`OUTPUTS ROTATE DATA
`
`733
`
`OUTPUIS PIP STILL DATA,
`OUTPUIS ROTATE KEY DATA
`SELECTION OF TUNER,
`PERFORMS THE AFT ACTION,
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`
`13
`
`

`

`1.
`MENU-TYPE MULTI-CHANNEL SYSTEM
`HAVING A PAGE UP/DOWN MODE
`FEATURE
`
`This is a Continuation in Part of application Ser. No.
`07/807,414 filed on Dec. 13, 1991, which is a Continuation
`of the application Ser. No. 07/771,807 filed on Oct. 8 1991,
`which is a Continuation of the application Ser. No. 07/365,
`573 filed on Jun. 14, 1989.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`This invention relates to the control and display of simul
`taneous plural video images on standard television equip
`ment. The invention is a menu-driven multi-channel system
`in which a user easily selects channels by executing page up
`and page down commands.
`The invention utilizes the picture-in-picture (PIP) func
`tion of existing and well-known television and video cas
`sette recorder (VCR) technology. However, current technol
`ogy displays only one sub-screen video image in the corner
`of a main screen. This invention displays more than one
`sub-screen in a main screen.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`An object of the invention is to display plural images on
`a single television screen.
`Another object of the invention is to provide a convenient
`and easy-to-use menu system for television channel selec
`tion.
`The invention provides a menu-type multi-channel video
`display system with page up/down mode comprising:
`a skip memory,
`a television tuner circuit,
`a VCR signal processing circuit,
`a switching circuit,
`a PIP processing circuit
`an input selector for the main screen,
`an output selector for the sub-screen,
`a microcomputer,
`an on-screen display integrated circuit (OSDIC),
`a mixer,
`an audio circuit,
`two tuners, and
`a multiplexer.
`Television channels are stored in the skip memory and
`assigned to a particular sub-screen. When the main screen is
`in PIP mode, and a multi-channel signal is received (from a
`user activating the multi-channel capability), the channels
`stored in skip memory are displayed in menu format, and
`can be selected by a novel page up/page down feature. This
`allows a user to easily and conveniently select the channel
`of his choice.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
`FIGS. 1(A) and 1B are the waveforms for PIP and tuning
`for the exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
`FIG. 1(C) is a representation of skip memory showing the
`position in the memory of various television channels.
`FIG. 1(D) and 1E are status diagrams of multi-channel
`displays which are displayed in a main screen;
`FIG. 2 (A) is a multi-channel strobing time chart;
`
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`2
`FIG. 2 (B) is a reference time variation chart;
`FIGS. 3(A), 3B, 3C and 3D are strobing charts of screens
`depicting the relationship of channel memory location to
`sub-screen location;
`FIGS. 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D and 4E are the display charts of the
`main screen and sub-screen of tuner 1 and tuner 2;
`FIGS. 5(A), 5C, 5B and 5D are hardware block diagrams
`of tuner 1 and tuner 2, respectively;
`FIG. 6 is the total hardware block diagram for the
`multi-channel operation of this invention; and
`FIGS. 7A and 7B are flow chart for the multi-channel
`operation of this invention.
`
`DRAWING REFERENCE NUMERALS
`
`T.V. tuner circuit
`signal processing circuit of VCR
`switch part
`PIP processing circuit
`input selector of main screen
`output selector of sub-screen
`micro-computer
`OSD IC (On Screen Display Integrated Circuit)
`mixer
`audio circuit
`multiplexer
`tuner 1
`tuner 2
`
`501
`502, 512
`503, 513
`504, 514
`510
`511
`600
`610
`620
`630
`640
`650
`660
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
`Multi-channel mode is defined as n PIP sub-screens
`within a main screen, where each screen data of Said PIP
`sub-screens is fetched from skip memory and displayed on
`the n PIP sub-screens at the same time.
`Multi-channel mode can work on the PIP system with
`either tuner 1 or tuner 2. In multi-channel mode, the proce
`dure of PIP control is as follows: when a multi-channel
`signal is received (as when a multi-channel key is actuated
`by a user), the multi-channel mode activates, and the skip
`memory is scanned. FIG. 4B describes the TV screen on
`which the main screen is a blue screen not receiving a
`broadcasting signal and the subscreens are multi-channel
`screens when the TV is turned on but is not in playback
`mode.
`If there is a synchronized signal on a channel during the
`multi-channel mode, the channel becomes an effective chan
`nel as shown in timing diagram FIG. 1 (A):
`In FIG. 1 (A), a multi-channel signal is received from a
`user. Following this signal, the user initiates a command to
`rotate the subscreen images (shown as t). (1) is the current
`output of the PIP which corresponds to the current video
`sub-screen image. (2) is the requested data output or sub
`screen image. (3) is an output signal activated when the
`tuner selects a channel. (4) represents an auto fine tuning
`(AFT) function completed after the channel is initially
`tuned. (5) represents the output of new data from the PIP
`replacing the prior image. It is assumed that the channels K
`to N are stored in the skip memory.
`If no synchronized signal is found in the multi-channel
`mode, the channel becomes an ineffective channel as shown
`in FIG. 1 (B):
`In FIG. 1-(B), 1' to 3' execute the same function as 1 to
`3 of FIG. 1 (A). 4' is an output signal transmitted when no
`synchronized signal is found for the channel. 5" is an output
`
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`5,506,628
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`3
`signal jumping to a corresponding channel. 6' is an output
`signal for repeating the processes of 1' to 5' until the channel
`position having a synchronized signal is found, and 7"
`executes the process of FIG. 1-(A) when a synchronized
`signal is found.
`Thus, the channels stored in the skip-memory become
`active as shown in FIG. 1 (C), where it is assumed that a
`NON-ADDED channel exists in position 3 and an ineffec
`tive channel is in position 4.
`The NON-ADDED channel for a particular position, as
`shown, is defined as a channel not stored in the skip memory
`position.
`The screen displayed by the operation of FIG. 1 (B)
`represents the display of channels K, L, N and O, as shown
`in FIG. 1-(D), where channel M, which does not have a
`synchronization signal of FIGS. 1-(A), is skipped. If a
`specific channel, for example channel N is selected from the
`displayed channels K, L, N, and O, by a user as shown in
`FIG. 1 (E), the selected channel N will then be displayed on
`the main screen.
`FIGS. 2A and 2B show the waveform strobing time of
`multi-channel page up/page down operation. FIG. 2-(A)
`indicates the time (t) between successive channel selections.
`FIG. 2-(B) shows the process of making the strobing time
`0.2 second per step when the reference time of the changed
`time (At) is 1 second.
`FIG. 3-(A) shows a skip memory consisting of 32 posi
`tions. FIG. 3-(B) shows one page of a TV screen on which
`four channels corresponding to four positions of the skip
`memory are displayed when the multi-channel feature is on.
`It is possible to have P pages in the skip memory. If each
`page is defined to display 4 positions then 4P channel
`positions are available overall.
`It was assumed in FIG. 3-(A) that position 4 and position
`6 are non-added channels, and position 3 and position 10 are
`ineffective channels (having no synchronized signal). In the
`case of FIG. 3(B), each of four channels corresponding to
`four positions of the skip memory is displayed on one page
`of one TV screen, and it is possible to change the display by
`use of a page up or page down command.
`The arrow of FIG. 3-(B) indicates the direction of the
`progress of strobing according to each channel.
`FIG. 3-(C) shows the progress of the page up/down
`display. FIG. 3(D) indicates channels added to the skip
`memory.
`If there are channels which do not have synchronous
`signals, the channel selector skips the channels. Thus, multi
`channel mode is realized through the selection of positions
`having synchronous signals. As an example, if position 3 is
`an ineffective channel not having a synchronous signal, the
`channel is skipped over and an effective channel becomes
`active.
`FIGS. 4A-4E show that multiple channels are displayed
`on a single screen.
`FIG. 4A shows that a main screen is a playback screen
`(PB screen) and the sub-screens are multi-channel screens
`when tuner I is in play back mode.
`FIG. 4C shows that the main screen is a playback (PB)
`screen and the Sub-screens are multi-channel Screens when
`tuner 2 is in a playback mode.
`FIG. 4D shows that, when there is a synchronizing signal
`in a main screen but the screen is not in the playback mode,
`the main screen displays tuner 1 or a single line and the
`sub-screen displays tuner 2.
`
`4
`FIG.4E shows that, when there is a synchronizing signal
`in a main screen but the screen is not in the playback mode,
`the main screen displays tuner 2 or a line screen and the
`sub-screen displays tuner 1 or tuner 2.
`FIG.5 (A) is the tuner I system and FIG. 5-(B) is the tuner
`2 system.
`The tuner I system comprises a TV tuner circuit (501), a
`VCR signal processing circuit (502), a switching circuit
`(503) which selects blue-screen signal whose channel does
`not receive any broadcasting signal and is controlled by
`control signals for the main screen (Q7) and the sub-screen
`(Q6), and PIP block (504) for controlling the PIP
`The tuner 2 system comprises a main screen input selector
`(510), sub-screen output selector (511), signal processing
`block (512) for the VCR, switching circuit (513) which
`selects blue screen and is controlled by control signals for
`the main screen (Q7) and the subscreen (Q6), and PIP block
`(514) for processing them in PIP mode.
`FIGS. 5C and 5D describe the operation of the tuner 1 and
`tuner 2 systems. “X” denotes a NORMAL state which has a
`synchronous signal and “Y” indicates an ineffective channel
`(having no synchronous signal ).
`In the example of FIG. 5D, Q6 becomes L (low) and
`selects the playback (PB) screen as the main screen (during
`playback mode).
`Q7 sets “X” to L if a synchronous signal is detected and
`selects the received channel as a sub-screen. If no synchro
`nous signal is detected, then Q7 sets “Y” to (high) and
`selects blue-screen as a sub-screen.
`Next, in the non-playback mode, Q6 and Q7 select either
`the received channel or blue screen as main screen or
`sub-screen according to whether a synchronous signal is
`found for the channel.
`FIG. 6 shows a complete system composed of tuners 1
`and 2 of FIGS. 5A-5D, and a microcomputer as a controller.
`FIGS. 7A and 7B are flow charts for the system of FIG.
`6.
`If microcomputer (600) receives a channel input (step
`701), it makes a decision whether the channel is the tuner 1
`system or tuner 2 system (step 704). If the channel is tuner
`1, it will determine whether the channel is in playback mode
`or not (step 705).
`If it is not in playback mode, it selects the blue screen as
`a main screen (707). If the tuner system is tuner 2, it will
`determine whether the present mode is playback mode or not
`(step 708). If it is in playback mode, it selects the playback
`screen as the main screen (step 706). If it is not in playback
`mode, it will determine whether it is a main screen or a
`sub-screen (step 710).
`If it is a main screen, it will check the existence of a
`synchronous signal (step 711). If no synchronous signal is
`detected, it selects the blue screen as the main screen (step
`712). If the signal is a sub-screen (step 710), it reverses the
`mode of main/sub again (step 713) and selects a main screen
`according to the kind of input: tuner 1, tuner 2 or LINE (step
`714).
`If the input is tuner 1, the controller sets Q2 to H (step
`715) and controls the tuner 1 (step 716).
`If the input is tuner 2, the controller sets Q2 to low (step
`717) and controls tuner 2 (step 718).
`If the input is LINE, the controller keeps the previous
`state of Q2 (step 719) and does nothing for control (step
`720).
`When a main screen is selected according to the above
`process, the controller selects the blue screen as a main
`
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`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`5
`
`5
`screen (step 722) according to the existence of a synchro
`nous signal (step 721).
`In contrast, the selection of a sub-screen is determined
`according to whether the output selector is tuner 1, tuner 2
`or LINE (step 725).
`If the output selector is tuner 1, the controller sets the
`signal Q2 to high (step 726), and controls tuner 1 (step 727).
`If it is tuner 2, the controller sets the signal Q2 low (step
`728), and controls tuner 2 (step 729).
`If it is LINE, the controller keeps the previous state of Q2
`(step 730) and does nothing for control (step 731).
`Selection of the sub-screen is completed according to the
`above process. The microcomputer executes the multi-chan
`nel screen according to screen 1, 2 or n (step 732), outputs
`15
`both the current PIP data and the ROTATE key data (step
`733), begins the selection of a tuner, performs the AFT
`action, and then outputs the PIP data again (step 734).
`The microcomputer makes a decision based on the pres
`ence of a synchronous signal for the sub-screen (step 735).
`If there is no synchronous signal, the controller jumps
`over to the next position (step 736). If there is a synchronous
`signal, the strobing is completed (step 736-1). The controller
`executes the strobing in progress (step 737), increases the
`content of the page counter (step 739) when the page up
`command is issued (step 738), decreases the content of the
`page counter (step 741) when the page down command is
`issued (step 740), and makes a decision as to the existence
`of multi-channel key input (step 742) inputted again. If there
`is input, the multi-channel function ceases (step 743), and
`the multi-channel function reverts to the state it was in prior
`to activation (step 745).
`If there is no multi-channel key input (step 746), a
`corresponding channel is displayed on the corresponding
`screen (step 747).
`Thus, according to this invention, a television screen is
`converted to a multi-channel display by using an existing
`PIP or multiscreen function, with the effect of improving the
`convenience and reliability of channel selection so that a
`user may easily select channels through a menu-based
`Selection.
`What is claimed is:
`1. In a multi-channel picture-in-picture television display
`system, a method for controlling a selection of television
`channels for display, comprising the steps of:
`scanning a skip memory having a plurality of positions
`storing video information in correspondence with a
`plurality of television channels to be displayed on a
`display screen, for television channel allocations by
`detecting television channels with synchronization sig
`nals to be displayed on corresponding sub-screens of
`said display screen, and displaying the detected televi
`sion channels on said sub-screens of said display
`Screen;
`receiving a page up/down command representative of one
`of a page-up command and a page-down command;
`and
`sequentially scanning said skip memory for detecting a
`next sequence of television channels with synchroni
`zation signals to be displayed on said corresponding
`sub-screens of said display screen and displaying the
`detected next sequence of television channels on said
`corresponding sub-screens of said display screen in
`accordance with said page up/down command.
`2. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising
`the steps of:
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`6
`skipping positions in said skip memory that do not have
`a corresponding television channel allocation; and
`skipping positions in said skip memory that do not have
`a corresponding synchronization signal.
`3. Menu type multi-channel display system utilizing pic
`ture-in-picture functions and a page up/down mode, com
`prising:
`first and second tuner means for receiving a plurality of
`broadcasting signals to provide each of said plurality of
`broadcasting signals on different respective channels;
`main screen selector means for selecting a first one of said
`broadcast signals from a first one of said first and
`second tuner means and a line input terminal to provide
`a selected main screen signal for a main screen of a
`display screen;
`sub-screen selector means for selecting a second one of
`said broadcast signals from a second one of said first
`and second tuner means and said line input terminal to
`provide a selected sub-screen signal for a sub-screen of
`said display screen;
`signal processor means for screen-processing said
`selected main screen signal and a mode signal repre
`sentative of one of a playback mode and a non
`playback mode to provide a processed screen signal;
`switch means for enabling transmission of one of said
`processed screen signal and a selected color-screen
`signal in response to a first control signal to provide a
`first intermediate screen signal, and for enabling trans
`mission of one of said selected sub-screen signal and
`said selected color-screen signal in response to a sec
`ond control signal to provide a second intermediate
`screen signal; and
`picture-in-picture processor means for converting said
`first and second intermediate screen signals into pic
`ture-in-picture multi-screen signals.
`4. The system as claimed in claim 3, wherein said
`picture-in-picture processor means reverses said main
`screen and said sub-screen of said display screen in accor
`dance with a main/sub signal input from a controller.
`5. A method of performing a page up/down mode in a
`menu-type-multi-channel display system utilizing a picture
`in-picture display, comprising the steps of:
`sequentially scanning a present set of channel data stored
`in a skip memory having a plurality of positions, each
`position storing a corresponding one of a plurality of
`television channels to be displayed on a main screen for
`identifying television channels among said plurality of
`television channels having synchronizing signals;
`selecting a number of television channels from among the
`identified television channels capable of being dis
`played on a corresponding plurality of sub-screens of
`said main screen, and displaying the selected television
`channels on said plurality of sub-screens;
`determining whether a page up/down command is input
`by a viewer;
`and
`sequentially scanning for one of a next set of television
`channels and a previous set of television channels
`having synchronizing signals corresponding to a num
`ber of television channels of said plurality of sub
`screens, and displaying the corresponding television
`channels on said plurality of sub-screens in dependence
`upon said page up/down command,
`whereby on said plurality of sub-screens, the television
`channels corresponding to the number of the sub
`
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`

`7
`screens are simultaneously displayed in dependence
`upon said page up/down command.
`6. A menu-type multi-channel system, comprising:
`means for receiving a command signal;
`skip memory means having a plurality of channel posi
`tions corresponding to a plurality of television chan
`nels, for providing selected television channels to be
`displayed on a plurality of sub-screens of a main screen
`in dependence upon reception of said command signal,
`each television channel of said selected television chan
`nels having a corresponding synchronization signal;
`display means for displaying said selected television
`channels on said plurality of subscreens of said main
`Screen; and
`means for rotating the displayed selected television chan
`nels on said plurality of sub-screens of said main screen
`by scanning through said plurality of channel positions
`of said skip memory means.
`7. A menu-type multi-channel system as claimed in claim
`6, further comprising:
`means for providing a selected television channel having
`a corresponding synchronization signal to be displayed
`on said main screen;
`means for determining whether said selected television
`channel to be displayed on said main screen is in a
`television mode; and
`means for displaying said selected television channel
`having said corresponding synchronization signal on
`said main screen.
`8. A menu-type multi-channel system, comprising:
`means for receiving a command signal representative of
`one of a multi-screen signal and a page up/down signal
`from one of a keypad and a remote controller;
`skip memory means having a plurality of channel posi
`tions corresponding to a plurality of television chan
`nels, for providing a predetermined number of televi
`sion channels on a corresponding number, of sub
`screens of a main screen of a display screen in
`dependence upon reception of said command signal
`representative of said multi-screen signal, each televi
`sion channel of said predetermined number of televi
`Sion channels having a corresponding synchronization
`signal, said skip memory means providing said prede
`termined number of television channels on said corre
`sponding number of sub-screens by scanning through
`each channel position of said predetermined number of
`channel positions for detecting whether a synchroniza
`tion signal exists for each scanned channel position;
`and
`display means for displaying said predetermined number
`of television channels on said corresponding number of
`sub-screens of said main screen of said display screen.
`9. A menu-type multi-channel system as claimed in claim
`8, wherein said predetermined number of television chan
`nels on said corresponding number of subscreens and said
`main screen constitute a page, and said skip memory means
`skips channel positions having no existing synchronization
`signals.
`10. A menu-type multi-channel system as claimed in
`claim 9, wherein said predetermined number of television
`channels on said corresponding number of subscreens of
`said main screen rotate forward and backward in depen
`dence upon reception of said command signal representative
`of said page up/down signal.
`11. A menu-type multi-channel system as claimed in
`claim 8, wherein said number of sub-screens on said main
`
`5
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`5,506,628
`
`8
`screen is four and constitutes a page, and said plurality of
`channel positions of said skip memory means is thirty-two.
`12. A menu-type multi-channel system as claimed in
`claim 10, further comprising:
`means for providing a selected television channel to be
`displayed on said main screen in dependence upon
`reception of a main screen signal;
`means for determining whether said selected television
`channel to be displayed on said main screen is in a
`television mode; and
`means for displaying one of said selected television
`channel and a subscreen of selected color-on said main
`screen in dependence upon whether said selected tele
`vision channel having said] a corresponding synchro
`nization signal.
`13. An improved method of operation for a picture-in
`picture (PIP) video display system capable of displaying a
`selected number of P channel representations from a plural
`ity of N channel representations of television channels
`broadcasted in a predetermined mode of operation, wherein
`N is greater than P, and N and P are integers, the improved
`method comprising the steps of:
`(a) displaying a first set of said P channel representations
`of the television channels broadcasted on a screen in
`response to a first control signal for setting said pre
`determined mode of operation; and
`(b) when a second control signal different from said first
`control signal is input to said video display system,
`displaying a second set of said P channel representa
`tions of the television channels broadcasted on said
`screen; wherein at least one of said P channel repre
`sentations in said first set and said second set of said P
`channel representations displayed on said screen is to
`be selected for sole visual display on said screen by a
`user during said steps (a) and (b).
`14. An improved method of operation for a picture-in
`picture (PIP) video display system capable of displaying a
`plurality of P channel representations from a plurality of N
`channel representations of television channels broadcasted
`and stored in corresponding memory locations within said
`picture-in-picture video display system in a predetermined
`mode of operation, wherein N is greater than P, and N and
`Pare integers, the improved method comprising the steps of:
`(a) retrieving a first plurality of said P channel represen
`tations of the television channels for a visual display on
`a screen in response to a first control signal for setting
`said predetermined mode of operation; and
`(b) when a second control signal different from said first
`control signal is input to said video display system,
`retrieving a second plurality of said P channel repre
`sentations for a visual display on said screen.
`15. An improved method of operation for a picture-in
`picture (PIP) video display system capable of displaying a
`plurality of P channel representations from N stored channel
`representations of television channels broadcasted on a
`screen in a predetermined mode of operation, wherein each
`of said N channel representations is stored in a correspond
`ing memory location of a video display system memory,
`wherein N is greater than P and wherein N and P are
`integers, the improved method comprising the steps of:
`retrieving a first plurality of said Pchannel representations
`from said N channel representations stored in said
`video display system memory in response to a first
`control signal for setting said predetermined mode of
`operation;
`updating said screen of said picture-in-picture video dis
`play system to display said first plurality of said P
`
`17
`
`

`

`5,506,628
`
`20
`
`25
`
`9
`channel representations retrieved from said N channel
`representations;
`when a second control signal different from said first
`control signal is input to said video display system,