WO2007040484A1

WO2007040484A1 - Method for providing a menu lock for settings of an electronic apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2007040484A1
Application number: PCT/US2005/034068
Authority: WO
Inventors: Margaret P. Smith; Susan J. Deem; Mark Gilmore Mears
Original assignee: Thomson Licensing
Priority date: 2005-09-23
Filing date: 2005-09-23
Publication date: 2007-04-12

Abstract

An electronic apparatus (20) such as a television signal processing apparatus provides a menu lock for settings which may prevent users from intentionally or accidentally changing such settings. According to an exemplary embodiment, the electronic apparatus (20) includes a first terminal (13) operative to receive a first signal from a first signal source. A memory (15) is operative to store first user settings specific to the first terminal (13). A processor (14) is operatively coupled to the memory (15), and enables user access to the first user settings in response to detecting input of a first password.

Description

METHOD FOR PROVIDING A MENU LOCK FOR SETTINGS OF AN ELECTRONIC APPARATUS

The present invention generally relates to electronic apparatuses such as television signal processing apparatuses, and more particularly, to a method for providing a menu lock for settings of an electronic apparatus which may prevent users from intentionally or accidentally changing such settings.

Electronic apparatuses such as television signal processing apparatuses may include a relatively large number of video and/or audio settings. For example, electronic apparatuses may include video settings such as contrast, color, tint, black level, sharpness, noise reduction, and/or other settings, which may be adjusted by users during a setup process of the electronic apparatus. Such settings may also be available for each individual input terminal of the electronic apparatus. That is, certain electronic apparatuses may include multiple input terminals in which each individual input terminal includes its own video settings that are specific to that particular input terminal. In this manner, video signals received via a particular input terminal are processed to provide a video output in accordance with the user-defined video settings for that particular input terminal.

With the aforementioned type of electronic apparatus, the amount of time required to perform the setup process for the apparatus may be relatively long since the user may adjust several settings for each individual input terminal. The amount of time required to perform the setup process may increase as the number of available settings increases and/or the number of input terminals increases. Accordingly, certain electronic apparatuses having a relatively large number of available settings and/or input terminals (e.g., high definition television signal processing apparatuses that perform and/or enable sophisticated display techniques such as digital light processing (DLP) display techniques, etc.) may require a relatively large amount of user time in order to adjust the settings for each individual input terminal. Given the potentially large amount of time required to adjust the settings for each individual input terminal, it can be particularly problematic and inconvenient for a user if his/her preferred settings are intentionally or accidentally changed by another user. When this occurs, the user is required to re-perform the setup process to re-establish his/her preferred settings, thereby inconveniencing and wasting the user's time. Accordingly, there is a need for a technique for controlling an electronic apparatus such as a television signal processing apparatus which avoids the foregoing problems, and thereby provides a menu lock for the settings of an electronic apparatus which may prevent users from intentionally or accidentally changing such settings. The present invention addresses these and/or other issues.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, an electronic apparatus is disclosed. According to an exemplary embodiment, the electronic apparatus comprises: first means for receiving a first signal from a first signal source; means for storing first user settings specific to the first means; and means for enabling user access to the first user settings in response to detecting input of a first password.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a method for controlling an electronic apparatus is disclosed. According to an exemplary embodiment, the method comprises the steps of: storing first user settings specific to a first terminal, receiving a first signal from a first signal source via the first terminal, processing the first signal in accordance with the first user settings, and enabling user access to the first user settings in response to detecting input of a first password.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a television signal processing apparatus is disclosed. According to an exemplary embodiment, the television signal processing apparatus comprises: a first terminal operative to receive a first signal from a first signal source; a memory operative to store first user settings specific to the first terminal; and a processor operatively coupled to the memory, which enables user access to the first user settings in response to detecting input of a first password.

The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an exemplary environment suitable for implementing the present invention; FIG. 2 is a block diagram providing further details of the electronic apparatus of FIG. 1 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating steps for controlling an electronic apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 4 is an on-screen menu according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is another on-screen menu according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The exemplifications set out herein illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention, and such exemplifications are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 1 , an exemplary environment 100 suitable for implementing the present invention is shown. As indicated in FIG. 1 , environment 100 comprises user input means such as user input device 10, and an electronic apparatus 20. According to an exemplary embodiment, electronic apparatus 20 is embodied as a television signal processing apparatus that enables a display using digital light processing (DLP) technology, but may be embodied as any type of device or apparatus capable of receiving and processing video and/or audio signals.

User input device 10 is operative to generate and output control signals that control the operation of electronic apparatus 20 and/or other devices. According to an exemplary embodiment, user input device 10 includes a plurality of input keys and outputs control signals in a wired and/or wireless (e.g., via infrared or radio frequency (RF) link, etc.) manner responsive to user depression of its input keys. User input device 10 may for example be embodied as a hand-held remote control device, wired and/or wireless keyboard, integrated control panel of electronic apparatus 20, and/or other user input device.

Electronic apparatus 20 is operative to receive signals including audio, video and/or data signals in analog and/or digital format from one or more signal sources such as terrestrial, cable, satellite, internet and/or other signal sources and to provide aural and/or visual outputs corresponding to these received signals. Electronic apparatus 20 is also operative to process received signals and provide the resulting processed signals to one or more external devices, and to receive signals from such external devices. According to the present invention, electronic apparatus 20 includes a menu lock feature for settings, which may prevent users from intentionally or accidentally changing such settings. Further details regarding these aspects of electronic apparatus 20 will be provided later herein. Referring to FIG. 2, a block diagram providing further details of electronic apparatus 20 of FIG. 1 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown. Electronic apparatus 20 of FIG. 2 comprises front panel means such as front panel assembly (FPA) 11 , amplifying means such as amplifier 12, and input and/or output (I/O) means such as I/O block 13, processing means such as processor 14, and memory means such as memory 15. Some of the foregoing elements of FIG. 2 may be embodied using ICs, and some elements may for example be included on one or more ICs. For clarity of description, certain conventional elements associated with electronic apparatus 20 such as certain control signals, power signals and/or other elements may not be shown in FIG. 2.

FPA 11 is operative to receive user inputs from user input device 10, and to output signals corresponding to the user inputs to amplifier 12. According to an exemplary embodiment, FPA 11 receives signals, such as IR and/or RF signals, from user input device 10 and generates corresponding signals which are output to amplifier 12. Amplifier 12 is operative to amplify the signals provided from FPA 11 for output to processor 14.

I/O block 13 is operative to perform I/O functions of electronic apparatus 20. According to an exemplary embodiment, I/O block 13 is operative to receive signals such as audio, video and/or data signals in analog and/or digital format from one or more signal sources such as terrestrial, cable, satellite, internet, external devices, and/or other signal sources. UO block 13 is also operative to output signals to one or more external devices. Although not expressly shown in FIG. 2, I/O block 13 includes a plurality of individual coupling means such as input and/or output terminals/connectors each operative to receive and/or output signals from and/or to a given signal source, respectively. According to an exemplary embodiment, I/O block 13 includes at least four such terminals/connectors, although the number and type of such terminals/connectors is a matter of design choice. I/O block 13 may for example include one or more composite video signal connectors, one or more S- video signal connectors, one or more component video signal (i.e., P_R, P_B, Y) connectors, one or more DVI connectors, one or more IEEE-1394 connectors, one or more Ethernet connectors, one or more RF connectors, and/or other types of connectors including dedicated audio connectors. As referred to herein, a given "terminal" or "connector" may include one or more individual jacks for plugs. As will be described later herein, each such terminal/connector of I/O block 13 may include its own video and/or audio settings such that signals received via a particular input terminal/connector are processed to provide a video and/or audio output in accordance with the user-defined video and/or audio settings for that particular input terminal/connector.

Processor 14 is operative to perform various signal processing and control functions of electronic apparatus 20. According to an exemplary embodiment, processor 14 processes the audio, video and/or data signals provided from I/O block 13 by performing functions including tuning, demodulation, forward error correction, and transport processing functions to thereby generate digital data representing audio, video and/or data content. The digital data produced from such processing functions may be provided for further processing and/or output.

According to an exemplary embodiment, processor 14 is further operative to execute software code that enables the menu lock feature for user settings. As will be described later herein, the menu lock feature allows users to password protect their preferred video and/or audio settings for each terminal of I/O block 13. Once the user settings for a particular terminal of I/O block 13 are locked, processor 14 enables user access to such settings only in response to detecting input of an applicable password. Also, once such user settings are invoked, processor 14 processes signals received via the particular terminal in accordance with the settings. Further details regarding the menu lock feature of the present invention will be provided later herein. Processor 14 is also operative to perform and/or enable other functions of electronic apparatus 20 including, but not limited to, processing user inputs made via user input device 10, reading and writing data from and to memory 15, and/or other operations.

Memory 15 is operatively coupled to processor 14 and performs data storage functions of electronic apparatus 20. According to an exemplary embodiment, memory 15 stores data including, but not limited to, software code, user setup data (e.g., video and/or audio settings for each individual terminal of I/O block 13, etc.), on-screen display data, and/or other data.

Referring to FIG. 3, a flowchart 300 illustrating steps for controlling an electronic apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown. For purposes of example and explanation, the steps of FIG. 3 will be described with reference to the elements of environment 100 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and will be directed towards locking the video settings of electronic apparatus 20 as opposed to its audio settings. However, the principles of the present invention may also be applicable to any audio settings that are specific to a particular input terminal of electronic apparatus 20. Accordingly, the steps of FIG. 3 are merely exemplary, and are not intended to limit the present invention in any manner.

At step 310, a terminal of I/O block 13 is connected to a signal source. According to an exemplary embodiment, a user may physically connect the terminal of I/O block 13 to the signal source via a transmission medium (e.g., cable, wire, etc.) at step 310. For example, in the event that the signal source is an external device such as a digital versatile disk (DVD) player (not shown in FIGS.), the user may physically connect the individual jacks (i.e., P_R, P_B, Y jacks) of a component video terminal of I/O block 13 to a corresponding terminal on the DVD player via one or more cables at step 310. At step 320, electronic apparatus 20 is turned on and tuned to the particular terminal of I/O block 13 connected to the signal source at step 310. If the signal source is an external device (e.g., DVD player, VCR, etc.), then the external device is also turned on at step 320. Accordingly, in the example presented above, the user would turn on both electronic apparatus 20 and the DVD player, and would tune electronic apparatus 20 to the particular component video terminal of I/O block 13 connected to the DVD player at step 310.

At step 330, user settings for the connected terminal of I/O block 13 are entered and stored in memory 15. According to an exemplary embodiment, the user first accesses a predetermined menu (e.g., picture quality menu) of electronic apparatus 20 at step 330 by providing inputs to electronic apparatus 20 via user input device 10. This menu may for example include a dialog box indicating that the user may adjust the video settings for the connected terminal of I/O block 13, and then lock the settings when finished. According to an exemplary embodiment, the video settings for each terminal of I/O block 13 are left unlocked at the time of manufacture of electronic apparatus 20. Therefore, users may adjust such settings during the initial setup process of electronic apparatus 20, and as long as the settings for a given terminal remain unlocked. However, as will explained later herein, once the settings for a given terminal are locked, the user must input a password before accessing those settings for adjustment.

After the user accesses the predetermined menu (e.g., picture quality menu), he/she may then navigate through a series of additional menus at step 330 that enable him/her to adjust various video settings that are specific to the connected terminal of I/O block 13. The number of such video settings and the format of the individual menus that enable their adjustment is a matter of design choice. According to an exemplary embodiment, the user may adjust several different video settings for the connected terminal of I/O block 13 at step 330 including, but not limited to: contrast, color, tint, brightness, black level, sharpness, noise reduction, edge enhancement, green stretch, contrast expand, film mode, horizontal position, and vertical position. The foregoing settings are generally known in the art and will not be described in detail herein so as not to obscure the inventive principles of the present invention. In general, the user adjusts the video settings for the connected terminal of I/O block 13 at step 330 in accordance with his/her personal preferences for the particular signal source. Accordingly, referring back to the example where the terminal of I/O block 13 is connected to a DVD player at step 310, the user may adjust the video settings to enhance his/her DVD viewing experiences. For example, if the user typically watches DVD movies at night, he/she may adjust the brightness setting relatively low and adjust the contrast setting relatively high to enhance his/her DVD viewing experiences.

At step 340, a password may be selected and entered for the connected terminal of I/O block 13 and stored in memory 15. According to an exemplary embodiment, the user is presented with an on-screen menu at step 340, such as onscreen menu 400 shown in FIG. 4, that enables the user to lock the menu settings entered at step 330, or to leave them unlocked. Since leaving the menu settings unlocked renders them susceptible to being intentionally or accidentally changed, it is desirable for the user to lock the menu settings at step 340. Once the user decides to lock the menu settings, he/she is presented with another on-screen menu at step 340, such as on-screen menu 500 shown in FIG. 5, that enables the user to select and enter a password for the connected terminal of I/O block 13. After the user enters a password for the connected terminal of I/O block 13 at step 340, process flow advances to step 350 where the user settings entered at step 330 for that particular terminal are locked. Once locked, processor 14 enables user access to such settings only in response to detecting input of the applicable password. According to another exemplary embodiment, the user may also be presented with an option of locking the user settings for the connected terminal without selecting a password. With this exemplary embodiment, the user settings for the connected terminal remain locked until they are unlocked via, for example, an onscreen menu such as on-screen menu 400 of FIG. 4. In this manner, the user settings for the connected terminal are locked, but not password protected. This may prevent other users from accidentally changing the user settings, but may not prevent such users from intentionally changing the user settings since the settings may be accessed by simply unlocking them.

The steps of FIG. 3 may be repeated for each individual terminal of I/O block 13. In this manner, the user settings for each individual terminal of I/O block 13 may be password protected. For example, first user settings specific to a first terminal of I/O block 13 may be password protected by a first password, second user settings specific to a second terminal of I/O block 13 may be password protected by a second password, third user settings specific to a third terminal of I/O block 13 may be password protected by a third password, and so on.

According to another exemplary embodiment, user settings for the individual terminals of I/O block 13 may be password protected on a user-by-user basis. For example, one user may enter his/her preferred user settings for a particular terminal of I/O block 13 and password protect such settings with a selected password, and another user may enter his/her preferred user settings for the same terminal of I/O block 13 and password protect such settings with another selected password. In this manner, each individual terminal of I/O block 13 may include a plurality of sets of different user settings that are protected by a corresponding plurality of passwords. According to this exemplary embodiment, each user may be required to provide a designated input (e.g., the applicable password or other predetermined input) in order for processor 14 to invoke his/her settings for a particular terminal of I/O block 13. Once the settings are invoked, processor 14 processes signals received via the particular terminal in accordance with the settings. In addition to selecting a password (as described above at step 340) that enables user access to his/her settings for a particular terminal of I/O block 13, this exemplary embodiment may additionally require each user to select another password, which causes processor 14 to invoke the settings for the particular terminal. Alternatively, the password selected at step 340 may be used for both purposes (i.e., enabling access to the settings, and invoking the settings). Other variations of the present invention may also exist.

As described herein, the present invention provides a method for providing a menu lock for settings of an electronic apparatus, which may prevent users from intentionally or accidentally changing such settings. The present invention may be applicable to various apparatuses, either with or without an integrated display device. Accordingly, the phrase "electronic apparatus" or "television signal processing apparatus" as used herein may refer to systems or apparatuses including, but not limited to, television sets, computers or monitors that include an integrated display device, and systems or apparatuses such as set-top boxes, video cassette recorders (VCRs), digital versatile disc (DVD) players, video game boxes, personal video recorders (PVRs), computers or other apparatuses that may not include an integrated display device. Furthermore, the term "terminal" or "connector" as used herein may refer to any input and/or output signal coupling circuit points including, but not limited to, RCA connectors, optical connectors, S-video signal connectors, component video signal connectors, RF cable connectors, IEEE-1394 connectors, Ethernet connectors, wireless connectors, and/or individual jacks for plugs.

While this invention has been described as having a preferred design, the present invention can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.

Claims

1. An electronic apparatus (20), comprising: first (13) means for receiving a first signal from a first signal source; means (15) for storing first user settings specific to said first means; and means (14) for enabling user access to said first user settings in response to detecting input of a first password.

2. The electronic apparatus (20) of claim 1 , further comprising: second (13) means for receiving a second signal from a second signal source, wherein: said means (15) for storing stores second user settings specific to said second means; and said means (14) for enabling enables user access to said second user settings in response to detecting input of a second password.

3. The electronic apparatus (20) of claim 2, wherein: said means (15) for storing stores third user settings specific to said first means, and stores fourth user settings specific to said second means; and said means (14) for enabling enables user access to said third user settings in response to detecting input of a third password, and enables user access to said fourth user settings in response to detecting input of a fourth password.

4. The electronic apparatus (20) of claim 3, wherein said first, second, third and fourth user settings each includes at least one of video settings and audio settings.

5. The electronic apparatus (20) of claim 3, wherein: said first and second user settings are defined by a first user; and said third and fourth user settings are defined by a second user.

6. The electronic apparatus (20) of claim 3, wherein: said means (14) for enabling invokes said first user settings in response to detecting input of said first password; said means (14) for enabling invokes said second user settings in response to detecting input of said second password; said means (14) for enabling invokes said third user settings in response to detecting input of said third password; and said means (14) for enabling invokes said fourth user settings in response to detecting input of said fourth password.

7. The electronic apparatus (20) of claim 1 , wherein said electronic apparatus (20) is a television signal processing apparatus that enables a digital light processing display.

8. A method (300) for controlling an electronic apparatus, comprising the steps of: storing first user settings specific to a first terminal; receiving a first signal from a first signal source via said first terminal; processing said first signal in accordance with said first user settings; and enabling user access to said first user settings in response to detecting input of a first password.

9. The method (300) of claim 8, further comprising the steps of: storing second user settings specific to a second terminal; receiving a second signal from a second signal source via said second terminal; processing said second signal in accordance with said second user settings; and enabling user access to said second user settings in response to detecting input of a second password.

10. The method (300) of claim 9, further comprising the steps of: storing third user settings specific to said first terminal; storing fourth user settings specific to said second terminal; receiving said first signal from said first signal source via said first terminal; receiving said second signal from said second signal source via said second terminal; processing said first signal in accordance with said third user settings; processing said second signal in accordance with said fourth user settings; enabling user access to said third user settings in response to detecting input of a third password; and enabling user access to said fourth user settings in response to detecting input of a fourth password. _.

11. The method (300) of claim 10, wherein said first, second, third and fourth user settings each includes at least one of video settings and audio settings.

12. The method (300) of claim 10, wherein: said first and second user settings are defined by a first user; and said third and fourth user settings are defined by a second user.

13. The method (300) of claim 10, further comprising the steps of: invoking said first user settings in response to detecting input of said first password; invoking said second user settings in response to detecting input of said second password; invoking said third user settings in response to detecting input of said third password; and invoking said fourth user settings in response to detecting input of said fourth password.

14. A television signal processing apparatus (20), comprising: a first terminal (13) operative to receive a first signal from a first signal source; a memory (15) operative to store first user settings specific to said first terminal; and a processor (14) operatively coupled to said memory (15), said processor enabling user access to said first user settings in response to detecting input of a first password.

15. The television signal processing apparatus (20) of claim 14, further comprising: a second terminal (13) operative to receive a second signal from a second signal source, wherein: said memory (15) stores second user settings specific to said second terminal; and said processor (14) enables user access to said second user settings in response to detecting input of a second password.

16. The television signal processing apparatus (20) of claim 15, wherein: said memory (15) stores third user settings specific to said first terminal, and stores fourth user settings specific to said second terminal; and said processor (14) enables user access to said third user settings in response to detecting input of a third password, and enables user access to said fourth user settings in response to detecting input of a fourth password.

17. The television signal processing apparatus (20) of claim 16, wherein said first, second, third and fourth user settings each includes at least one of video settings and audio settings.

18. The television signal processing apparatus (20) of claim 16, wherein: said first and second user settings are defined by a first user; and said third and fourth user settings are defined by a second user.

19. The television signal processing apparatus (20) of claim 16, wherein: said processor (14) invokes said first user settings in response to detecting input of said first password; said processor (14) invokes said second user settings in response to detecting input of said second password; said processor (14) invokes said third user settings in response to detecting input of said third password; and said processor (14) invokes said fourth user settings in response to detecting input of said fourth password.

20. The television signal processing apparatus (20) of claim 14, wherein said television signal processing apparatus (20) enables a digital light processing display.