Method and system for switching between video modes in consumer electronics
DVD players and the like may support multiple video formats, including interlaced and progressive scan video. If a user selects a mode (e.g., progressive scan) not supported by their monitor or television, then the user may lose the video image output, and can no longer see the GUI (Graphical User Interface) which would allow the user to switch back to the previous mode. The present invention solves this problem by providing a method and system whereby a new display mode or resolution is generated and a message displayed requesting the user to confirm whether the resultant display is acceptable. If the user does not respond to the message after a predetermined period of time (e.g., 20 seconds), then the system reverts back to the previous resolution or mode. The system thus prevents and corrects for the cases where a user selects an inappropriate video output. In addition, a user-friendly interface, which results in better customer satisfaction, is provided. Moreover, while minor software changes to the operating system of the consumer electronic video device (e.g., DVD player) may be required, the need for new hardware is eliminated.
1 . A method for providing multiple display modes in a consumer product with a television display output, the method comprising:
switching a display mode of a consumer product to a selected display mode by a consumer among available display modes;
displaying, for a predetermined period of time, a message requesting input from the consumer as to whether the selected display mode is satisfactory;
maintaining the selected display mode in response to an input received from a consumer indicating the selected display mode is satisfactory; and
reverting back to a previous display mode in response to an input received from the consumer indicating the selected display mode is not satisfactory or in response to no response being received from the consumer within a predetermined time period.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving from the consumer, a selection of one of the available display modes further comprises:
displaying a plurality of available display modes; and
receiving from the consumer, a selection of one of the available display modes.
3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
removing the selected display mode from being among the available display modes for the television display output in response to an input being received from the consumer indicating the selected display mode is not satisfactory or in response to no response being received from the consumer within the predetermined time period.
4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
flagging the selected display mode from being among the available display modes in response to an input being received from the consumer indicating the selected display mode is not satisfactory or if no response is received from the consumer within the predetermined time period such that if the selected display mode is again selected, a message is displayed to the consumer indicating that the selected display mode has previously been rejected by the consumer.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of available display modes includes interlaced and progressive scan modes.
6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the plurality of available display modes further includes NTSC analog video mode, PAL mode, and SECAM mode.
7 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the plurality of available display modes further includes composite video mode, S-video mode, and component video mode.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of available display modes includes NTSC analog video mode, PAL mode, and SECAM mode.
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of available display modes includes Composite video mode, S-video mode, and component video mode.
10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of available display modes includes NTSC analog video mode and HDTV mode.
11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein reverting back to a previous display mode comprises reverting to a default display mode.
12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the default display mode is NTSC analog video mode.
13 . An apparatus for providing multiple display modes in a consumer product with a television display output comprising:
a display controller for displaying a plurality of available display modes on the television display;
an input selection system for receiving from a consumer, a selected display mode among the available display modes;
an output selection system for switching a display mode of the consumer product to the selected display mode;
wherein the display controller displays, for a predetermined period of time, a message requesting input from the consumer as to whether the selected display mode is satisfactory, maintaining the selected display mode in response to an input received from the consumer indicating the selected display mode is satisfactory, and reverting back to a previous display mode in response to an input received from the consumer indicating the selected display mode is not satisfactory or in response to no response being received from the consumer within the predetermined time period.
14 . The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the display controller removes the selected display mode in response to an input received from the consumer indicating the selected display mode is not satisfactory or in response to no response being received from the consumer within the predetermined time period.
15 . The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the display controller flags the selected display mode from being among the available display modes in response to an input received from the consumer indicating the selected display mode is not satisfactory or in response to no response being received from the consumer within the predetermined time period such that if the selected display mode is again selected, then a message is displayed to the consumer indicating that the selected display mode has previously been rejected by the consumer.
16 . The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of available display modes includes interlaced and progressive scan modes.
17 . The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the plurality of available display modes further includes NTSC analog video mode, PAL mode, and SECAM mode.
18 . The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the plurality of available display modes further includes composite video mode, S-video mode, and component video mode.
19 . The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of available display modes includes NTSC analog video mode, PAL mode, and SECAM mode.
20 . The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of available display modes includes Composite video mode, S-video mode, and component video mode.
21 . The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of available display modes includes NTSC analog video mode and HDTV mode.
22 . The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the display controller reverts to a default display mode if a response is not received from the consumer within the predetermined time period.
23 . The apparatus of claim 22 , wherein the default display mode is NTSC analog video.