METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATIC STARTUP AND SHUTDOWN INCLUDING AUTOMATIC SOURCE SWITCHING

1 . A method for selecting video content from a video input source to be automatically displayed on a visual display device comprising:

detecting a new input source; and

selecting automatically video content from said new input source for display on the visual display device.

2 . The method of claim 1 further comprising the initial step of scanning input sources on the visual display device for a new input source.

3 . The method of claim 1 further comprising the intermediate steps of:

determining the power state of the visual display device; and

if the visual display device is currently off, automatically powering on the visual display device prior to said selecting step.

4 . The method of claim 1 further comprising the final steps of:

detecting when no signal source is available; and

beginning an automatic shutdown timer.

5 . A method of automatically shutting down a visual display device, using a timer, based upon user action and source input availability, comprising the steps of:

detecting whether or not input sources exist;

detecting whether or not a user has performed any action;

setting an expiration time on a timer; and

at the expiration time, turning off the visual display device.

6 . The method of claim 5 further comprising the additional step of continually checking for user action prior to the expiration time of said timer.

7 . The method of claim 6 further comprising the additional step of returning to said detecting step to ascertain whether input sources exist in response to user action prior to the expiration time of said timer.

8 . The method of claim 7 further comprising the step of resetting said timer in response to user action prior to the expiration time of said timer.

9 . A method of powering on a visual display device in response alternatively to user action and new video signal comprising:

Detecting a new video signal;

detecting at least one of a key press on a remote and a key press on the visual display device; and

powering on the visual display device in response to at least one of said new video signal and said key press.

10 . The method of claim 9 further comprising the additional step of performing the pre-programmed action associated with said key press.

11 . An apparatus for selecting video content from a video input source to be automatically displayed on a visual display device comprising:

a video input;

detection means, connected to said video input, for detecting when a new video signal is present on said said input; and

selection means, connected to said detection means, such that when said new video signal is present on said video input, video content from said new video input is displayed on the visual display device.

12 . The apparatus of claim 11 further comprising scanning means, connected to said video input and said detection means, for scanning said video input on the visual display device for said new video signal.

13 . The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the video display device further comprises:

display state status means for determining the power state of the visual display device; and

responsive power means, connected to said display state status means, for automatically powering on the visual display device in response to said new video signal if the display is off.

14 . The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said detection means is also capable of detecting when no video signal is available and further comprising timer means, connected to said detection means, for beginning an automatic shutdown timer.

15 . An apparatus for automatically shutting down a visual display device based upon user action and source input availability, comprising:

first detection means for detecting whether input sources exist;

second detection means for detecting whether a user has performed any action;

timer means, connected to said first and second detection means, for setting a time at which the visual display device will be shutdown; and

shutdown means, connected to said timer means, for turning the visual display device off based upon the lack of said input sources and expiration of said time.

16 . The apparatus of claim 15 further wherein said second detection means continually checks for user action prior to the expiration of said timer.

17 . The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said first detection means further continuously checks whether input sources exist prior to the expiration of said timer.

18 . The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said timer is reset in response to user action prior to the expiration of said timer.

19 . An apparatus for powering on a visual display device in response to detecting at least one of user action and new video signal input source comprising:

first detection means for detecting a new video signal;

second detection means for detecting alternatively a key press on a remote and on the visual display device; and

startup means, connected to said first and second detection means, for powering on the visual display device in response alternatively to said new video signal and said key press.

20 . The apparatus of claim 19 further comprising queuing means for performing the pre-programmed action associated with said key press.