Television Receiver Videophone Integration for Automatic Mode Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing television receivers and videophones operate independently, requiring users to manually switch between TV viewing and videophone calls, which is time-consuming and inconvenient, especially when a call arrives during a broadcast.
Innovation Solution
A videophone function-added TV receiver integrates video and audio decoding/encoding capabilities, allowing simultaneous TV viewing and videophone communication, with automatic operation mode switching and echo cancellation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If TV receiver and videophone operate as independent devices, then each device can be optimized for its specific function, but the user must manually switch between TV viewing and videophone calls, increasing operational complexity and time consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the TV receiver and videophone into a single integrated device. The TV receiver includes a decoder for receiving and decoding broadcast signals, an encoder for capturing and encoding camera and microphone signals, a display for showing video content, and a speaker for audio output. This integration allows the user to make videophone calls without leaving the TV viewing location, eliminating the need to manually switch between separate devices and reducing operational complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the TV receiver integrates videophone functionality, then the user can make calls without moving from the TV viewing location, but the device requires additional components and functions increasing its complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The TV receiver is designed with multi-functionality to serve both as a traditional TV broadcast receiver and as a videophone device. The decoder handles broadcast program signals, while the encoder processes signals from the built-in camera and microphone. The display and speaker are used for both TV content and videophone communication. This universal design allows the single device to adapt to multiple uses without requiring separate dedicated equipment.
3Loss of time
If manual switching between TV and videophone modes is required, then device functions remain distinct and simple, but user time and effort increase during mode transitions
Solution Approach 1:
The TV receiver is pre-configured with all necessary components for videophone functionality, including the encoder, decoder, camera, microphone, display, and speaker. The system maintains readiness for both TV broadcasting and videophone operations simultaneously. When a call arrives, the user can immediately respond without needing to physically move to another device or perform complex switching operations, as the videophone capabilities are already prepared and integrated into the current viewing position.
Data Source
AI summary
A videophone system includes a processor which selectively sets a television (TV) broadcast program viewing function mode and videophone function mode in response to manual operation of a remote control, a decoder which performs, in the TV program view mode, a TV program-use decode function for decoding a broadcast program signal received from a TV tuner to thereby display it on a display screen while producing audio sounds by loudspeakers and which performs, in the videophone function mode a videophone-use decode function for decoding a videophone signal received from a distant party to thereby display on the screen an image of the distant party using the screen and speakers, and an encoder which performs a videophone-use encode function for encoding a video signal from a camera and a voice signal from a microphone to generate a videophone signal, which is sent to the distant party via a network.