Digital TV Keyboard Input via Mobile Terminal Mediator

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The inconvenience of inputting a keyboard on digital TVs using virtual keyboards, which hides content and disrupts user experience, especially when trying to control digital TVs via mobile terminals.

Innovation Solution

A system and method that allows adaptive keyboard input processing based on application attributes, user authority, and mobile terminal state, enabling keyboard input on digital TVs through mobile terminals with minimal intervention in pre-executed applications, using a digital device's network interface to transmit control commands and receive keyboard input data from external devices.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a virtual keyboard is displayed on the digital TV screen for keyboard input, then keyboard input functionality is provided, but the displayed content is hidden and user experience is disrupted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvekeyboard input convenienceVSAvoiddisplayed content visibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a mobile terminal as an intermediary device between the user and the digital TV. The mobile terminal displays and processes keyboard input data, then transmits it to the digital TV via network communication. This mediator approach allows the TV to receive keyboard input without displaying a virtual keyboard, thus maintaining content visibility while enabling convenient input through the mobile device's screen and keyboard.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If keyboard input is implemented through a remote controller, then input functionality is provided, but only limited control functions are available

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinput function versatilityVSAvoidinput convenience
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables the mobile terminal to serve multiple functions: it acts as a keyboard input device, a remote controller, and a display device simultaneously. The digital TV can receive various types of input data from the mobile terminal including keyboard input, remote control commands, and displayed content. This multi-functional approach replaces the specialized remote controller with a versatile mobile device that provides both convenience and versatility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Ease of operation

If a physical keyboard is used with the digital TV, then keyboard input is enabled, but device complexity increases and portability is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvekeyboard input capabilityVSAvoidsystem configuration complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the keyboard input functionality from the digital TV system and relocates it to the mobile terminal. Instead of integrating a physical keyboard with the TV, the keyboard display and input processing are taken out and implemented on the mobile device. The TV receives only the input data through network communication, significantly reducing system complexity while maintaining full keyboard input capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP3141986B1Digital device and method of processing data the same
Publication Date: 2019.11.06 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP3141986B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3141986B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3141986B1 patent drawingFigure 3(a)~3(b)

AI summary

A digital device and a method of processing data in a digital device are disclosed. The digital device includes a user interface (UI) for receiving a signal for executing an application and a signal for requesting to provide a keyboard during execution of the application, a controller for transmitting a first control command for requesting the external device for keyboard input data , if it is paired with an external device having a high priority related to providing a keyboard more than the digital device, outputting keyboard input data received from the external device in response to the first control command, controlling an operation based on the output keyboard input data, and controlling the keyboard input termination, and an output unit for outputting text data corresponding to an application execution image and text data corresponding to the received keyboard input data.