Multimedia computer and television apparatus

Abstract

A multimedia computer and television apparatus ( 10 ) includes a dual mode monitor portion ( 20 ) adapted to display either or both a TV broadcast signal or computer (data) signal, connected to a computer portion ( 30 ) configured for both Internet access and television broadcast reception, and a remote control portion ( 40 ) adapted to control the computer portion ( 3 ) and monitor portion ( 20 ).

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A monitor, comprising: 
 means for receiving and displaying a TV broadcasting signal and a computer signal, the TV broadcast signal being displayed by itself in a first mode of the monitor, the computer being displayed by itself in a second mode of the monitor, both the TV broadcast signal and the computer signal being displayed in a third mode of the monitor; and    means for receiving a remote control signal that controls the monitor to operate in one of the first, second and third modes.    
     
     
         2 . The monitor as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the monitor further comprises: 
 a first input port that is configured to receive the TV broadcasting signal having a television horizontal frequency at a first horizontal scanning frequency; and    a second input port that is configured to receive the computer signal having a computer signal horizontal frequency at a second horizontal scanning frequency different from the first horizontal scanning frequency.    
     
     
         3 . The monitor as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein the monitor is configured to display either or both of the TV broadcasting signal and the computer signal based on control signals received by the receiving means, 
 wherein the monitor is configured to operate at one or more of a plurality of monitor scanning frequencies, and    wherein the monitor displays either or both of the TV broadcasting signal and the computer signal on a display of the monitor based on a selected one or more of the monitor scanning frequencies in accordance with the remote control signal.    
     
     
         4 . The monitor as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the first input port is a 75-ohm cable input port for operation in the first mode, and wherein the second input port is a VGA 15-pin input port for operation in the second and third modes.  
     
     
         5 . The monitor as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the monitor is communicatively coupled to a computer portion which provides the computer signal to the monitor.  
     
     
         6 . An apparatus, comprising: 
 a monitor that is configured to display a TV broadcasting signal and a computer signal, the TV broadcast signal being displayed by itself in a first mode of the monitor, the computer being displayed by itself in a second mode of the monitor, both the TV broadcast signal and the computer signal being displayed in a third mode of the monitor; and    a remote control unit that is configured to control the monitor by way of at least one control signal being provided to the monitor by way of the remote control unit,    wherein the remote control unit is operable to set the monitor to one or the first, second and third modes.    
     
     
         7 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 6 , wherein the remote control unit controls signals being displayed by the monitor based on user inputs to the remote control unit.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 6 , wherein the monitor further comprises: 
 a first input-port that is configured to receive the TV broadcasting signal having a television horizontal frequency at a first horizontal scanning frequency; and    a second input port that is configured to receive the computer signal having a computer signal horizontal frequency at a second horizontal scanning frequency different from the first horizontal scanning frequency.    
     
     
         9 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein the monitor is configured to operate at one or more of a plurality of monitor scanning frequencies, and 
 wherein the monitor displays either or both of the TV broadcasting signal and the computer signal on a display of the monitor based on a selected one or more of the monitor scanning frequencies in accordance with the at least one control signal provided by the remote control unit.    
     
     
         10 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein the first input port is a 75-ohm cable input port for operation in the first mode, and wherein the second input port is a VGA 15-pin input port for operation in the second and third modes.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein the monitor is communicatively coupled to a computer portion which provides the computer signal to the monitor.