System and method for presenting multiple pictures on a television

Abstract

A device provides multiple video streams from a plurality of video streams to a display. The device includes an input interface, a frame controller, and an output interface. The input interface is configured to receive a plurality of video streams and to transfer the plurality of video streams to the frame controller. The frame controller is configured to generate frame signals including multiple subframe signals corresponding to a video stream of the plurality of video streams. The output interface is configured to output the frame signals to the display. The frame signals are configured to cause video from multiple video streams of the plurality of video streams to be displayed in separate non-overlapping portions on the display.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device comprising:
 an input interface configured to receive video data from a plurality of different video streams and transfer the video data to a frame controller in communication with a display;   the frame controller configured to cause the video data from each of the plurality of different video streams to be displayed in a separate frame on the display, each frame occupying an area of the display separate from an area occupied by any other frame, and one of the frames being larger than any of the other frames;   the frame controller further configured to receive a user selection of a change operation and the frame controller further configured, in response to the user selection of the change operation, to cause the frame that is larger than any of the other frames to swap positions and size with one of the other frames.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the frame larger than any of the other frames is fifty percent larger than any of the other frames. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the frame larger than any of the other frames is twice as large as the average size of the other frames. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the other frames are the same size. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the other frames consist of a plurality of sizes. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the frame controller includes a plurality of tuners, each tuner configured to generate a subframe signal, the subframe signal corresponding to one of the plurality of different video streams 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the frame controller includes an input interface configured to receive at least one of the plurality of different video streams via a coaxial cable. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the frame controller includes an input interface configured to receive at least one of the plurality of different video streams via an Ethernet cable. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the frame controller includes an input interface configured to receive at least one of the plurality of different video streams via a wireless connection. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the frame controller includes an input interface configured to receive at least one of the plurality of different video streams via a high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) connection. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the frame controller includes an input interface configured to receive at least one of the plurality of different video streams via a component cable. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the frame controller includes an input interface configured to receive at least one of the plurality of different video streams via a composite cable. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the display is a television screen. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the display corresponds to a television screen. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the display corresponds to a mobile display device. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the frame controller includes an output interface configured to display content that corresponds to an internal bus of the display. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the frame controller includes an output interface that is wirelessly connectable to the display. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the frame controller includes an output interface that connects to the display via a cable. 
     
     
         19 . A device comprising:
 a frame controller that includes an input interface and a plurality of tuners coupled to the input interface, the input interface configured to receive a plurality of different video streams, each of the plurality of tuners selecting one of the different video streams and generating a subframe signal corresponding to the selected video stream for that tuner, each subframe signal corresponding to a display in a separate non-overlapping frame on a screen and at least one of the subframe signals corresponding to a display on a larger portion of the screen than the other subframe signals;   the frame controller configured to receive a user selection of a change operation; and   the frame controller further configured, in response to the user selection of the change operation, causing the subframe signal that is displayed on the larger portion of the screen than any of the other subframe signals to swap positions and size on the screen with one of the other subframe signals.   
     
     
         20 . A method comprising:
 receiving video data from a plurality of different video streams;   displaying on a screen the video data from each of the plurality of different video streams in a separate frame on the screen, each frame occupying an area of the screen separate from an area occupied by any other frame, and one of the frames being larger than any of the other frames;   receiving a user selection of a change operation; and   in response to receiving the user selection of the change operation, swapping positions and size of the frame that is larger than any of the other frames with one of the other frames.