Automatic formatting of signals sent to a plurality of outputs by a media device

摘要

A receiver (3) for television signals has a primary video output (22a) connected to a primary TV (2a) and a secondary video output (22b) connected to a secondary TV (2b) at a remote location (42b). The receiver (3) can be controlled by an infrared remote control (28) either directly or from the remote location (42b) via a remote control extender (40). The primary TV (2a) may be a widescreen TV with a 16:9 picture format, while the secondary TV (2b) has a 4:3 picture format. The receiver (3) can output video signals suitable for either format, but must apply the same format to both the primary and secondary video outputs (22a, 22b). The receiver (3) detects whether control signals are arriving directly or via the remote control extender, and automatically selects the correct format. In another embodiment, a wireless audio base station (55) is connected to the receiver (3) for relaying audio signals and programme data to a wireless audio receiver (60). The programme data is encoded as characters for display by the wireless audio receiver (60). The wireless audio receiver (60) also relays user control signals back to the base station (55) for controlling the output of the receiver (3). This embodiment allows convenient listening to radio stations and display of programme information.