Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Display driving control circuitry – Controlling the condition of display elements
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-03
2001-07-10
Sax, Steven (Department: 2773)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Display driving control circuitry
Controlling the condition of display elements
C345S215000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06259440
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to devices with integrated multiple functional modalities, and in particular, to convergence device systems having integrated computer and consumer/home electronics functionalities.
2. Description of Related Art
Achieving convergence of various information, entertainment and communications technologies has become a much sought-after goal. A highly visible example of this trend is the attempt to integrate computer technologies (such as, for example, personal computer technologies) with consumer/home electronics technologies (such as, for example, television technologies, video game technologies, video telephony, video/laser disc technologies, et cetera). It is hoped that one of the products of this convergence would be a single integrated device for information, entertainment and communications, which device can, at least in part, utilize the available communications bandwidth, mass storage and graphics handling capabilities of the personal computer (PC) to deliver, store and display a variety of applications so as to provide a seamlessly unified audio-visual environment to consumers.
In spite of many recent advances in this area, several problems persist. One of the more significant difficulties relates to providing a user/viewer effective content control and engaging interactivity, preferably all in one machine, with selectable modes of “functionalities” that essentially appertain to experiences associated with different discrete entities, for example, a PC or a TV or a video/laser disc unit et cetera, such that the viewer can seamlessly make a transition from one functionality to another. Further, it can be appreciated that by providing a functionality that is as close as possible to a discrete unit in terms of the viewer's experience thereof, the convergence aspect of the machine is greatly enhanced. Such enhanced convergence may be necessary or desirable in relation to increasing the “appeal” and feature-set of the integrated device.
Current developments in this area fall into two broad categories. One category relates to conventional TV sets with access to the Internet or the World-wide Web. The other category relates to PCS with a limited TV functionality. Neither of these categories provide a “fully-converged” system wherein the viewer can seamlessly select from a broad “menu” of experiences, each of which comprises a functionality that is substantially identical to one offered by an individual discrete unit. Current TV sets with Web access do not offer the full range of PC functionality. On the other hand, current PCS operable with TV signals provide only a limited TV experience in that a TV application is typically displayed as a window on the PC desktop presented on the same monitor associated with the PC. Typically, the viewer does not experience in these systems a TV viewing environment that is identical to a conventional TV with over-scanned display images having enhanced brightness, sharpness, contrast and color temperatures, enhanced Red-Green-Blue (RGB) amplifier gains et cetera.
Accordingly, based upon the foregoing, it should be understood and appreciated that there is a need for a system that is more completely converged than is currently known or possible in order to provide a user/viewer with a seamless environment for education, entertainment, communications and information. Although systems such as TVS with Web access and PCS with TV in a window described above have been extant for sometime, no current system is known to have all of the advantages and novel features of the system described and claimed hereinbelow.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one aspect, the present invention is drawn to an electronic convergence device comprising a computer for generating indications of a first mode of operation and for generating indications of a second mode of operation; and an output device coupled to the computer to receive the indications of the first mode of operation and to receive the indications of the second mode of operation, wherein the output device is provided for at least alternately outputting the indications of the first mode of operation and the indications of the second mode of operation.
In another aspect, the present invention relates to a system operable to provide computer functions and operable to provide convergence functions, which system comprises a convergence functionality device for generating convergence function signals; a computer coupled to the convergence functionality device to receive the convergence function signals, the computer for generating computer function signals; and a display device coupled to the computer to receive the computer function signals and the convergence function signals, the display device being operable to at least alternately display the computer function signals in a manner which appear to a user to be the computer functions and to display the convergence functions signals in a manner which appear to the user to be the convergence functions.
In a yet another aspect, the present invention is drawn to a method of operation for an electronic convergence device, which method comprises the steps of: generating indications of a first mode of operation; generating indications of a second mode of operation; and outputting, in at least a user selectable alternate manner, the indications of the first mode of operation and the indications of the second mode of operation.
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Belmont Brian V.
Brase Thomas J.
Brusky Kevin J.
Johnson Drew S.
Vaughan Mark P.
Compaq Computer Corporation
Sax Steven
Sharp Comfort & Merrett P.C.
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