External Device Icon Previews for Faster Input Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image display devices lack a user-friendly method for recognizing and switching input signals from external devices before they are applied, leading to confusion and inefficiency in managing multiple connected devices.
Innovation Solution
An image display device is equipped with a method to display a list of connectible external devices, allowing users to select and preview the image signal from a specific device through a pointer on an icon, enhancing user recognition and control over input switching.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple external devices are connected to the image display device, then the functionality and versatility of the system is improved, but the complexity of managing and identifying input sources increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the external device list into individual icon representations, each corresponding to a specific external device. This allows users to visually distinguish and select from multiple devices without confusion, reducing the complexity of managing multiple input sources while maintaining the versatility of connecting various external devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary interface (the external device list display with icons) between the user and the multiple external devices. This intermediary layer presents a simplified visual representation of connected devices, allowing users to easily identify and select the desired input source without directly managing the complexity of multiple device connections.
2Ease of operation
If the image display device displays all connected external devices, then the user can identify the correct device, but the interface complexity and time to locate the desired device increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs visual differentiation (including color coding) of external device icons to help users quickly identify and distinguish between different external devices. By using color changes or color-coded indicators, the system enables rapid device identification without requiring users to navigate through complex menus or read lengthy device information, thus reducing the time to locate the desired device while maintaining ease of operation.
3Ease of operation
If the system allows manual selection of external devices, then user control is improved, but the operation time and effort to switch inputs increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by pre-displaying the external device list with icons before the user needs to switch inputs. This allows users to quickly identify and select the desired device without having to navigate through multiple menus or perform time-consuming search operations. The preliminary presentation of device information enables rapid input switching while maintaining user control over the selection process.
Data Source
AI summary
An image display device including a display, a first input configured to receive a first image signal input from a first external device connected to the image display device, and a controller coupled with the display and the first input, wherein the controller is configured to display, on the display, a plurality of icons including a first icon and a second icon, wherein the first icon comprises a first default image identifying the first external device and the second icon comprises a second default image identifying a second external device, change the first default image to a first video image currently being played and corresponding to the first image signal received from the first external device in response to the first icon being selected if the first external device is connected to the image display device, and change the first video image back to the first default image that was being displayed when the first icon was selected in response to the second icon being selected, and wherein the first video image is displayed at a position corresponding to an area where the first icon is displayed.