JP2000184228A - Multi-channel broadcast receiver - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To quickly and easily perform tuning even in the case of successively performing tuning by providing a channel number input means capable of freely increasing and decreasing a channel number in a remote controller for transmitting command signals to the receiver of multi-channel broadcast. SOLUTION: A power source switch 3, a service A selection button 5 for selecting a service A, a service B selection button 6 for selecting the service B and a screen display button 7 for switching screen display are provided in an order from the top on the upper left side in a longitudinal direction of the remote controller 1. Further, on the lower part of the remote controller 1, a jog shuttle 21 which is the channel number input means is provided. The jog shuttle 21 is composed of a jog dial 22 and a shuttle ring 23 which is a channel number change object digit switching part. Then, by using the jog shuttle 21, a channel is quickly and easily tuned.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a multi-channel broadcast receiving apparatus used for satellite broadcasting, cable television, and the like, and more particularly, to a multi-channel broadcasting receiving apparatus in which channel selection is extremely easy.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the spread of satellite broadcasting and cable television, multi-channel broadcast receiving apparatuses have increased. Such a multi-channel broadcast receiving apparatus is provided with a remote controller for easy operation. The remote controller is operated to transmit a command, which is a command signal, by infrared rays, wireless communication, or the like. The command receiving unit receives a command, selects a channel, and outputs a video / audio signal to a television receiver or the like.

FIG. 9 is a front view showing a remote controller of a conventional multi-channel broadcast receiving apparatus. Remote controller (remote controller) 3 for multi-channel broadcasting receiver
A power switch 33 is provided at the upper part in the longitudinal direction of 2.
Further, for example, in digital satellite broadcasting, if service X is “perfect TV service” and service Y is “sky service”, service X for selecting service X
The selection button 34, the service Y selection button 35 for selecting the service Y, the screen display switching button 36 for switching the screen display, the ten keys 37 each representing a one digit number from 0 to 9, and the ten key 37 are inputted. A channel selection button 39 for determining the channel number is provided.

[0004] In a middle portion of the remote controller 32 in the longitudinal direction, a favorite list button 4 for displaying a list of favorite channels on a screen is provided.
3. Program guide button 4 for displaying the program guide on the screen
4, a menu button 45 for displaying a menu on the screen,
A favorite channel up / down button 47 and a channel up / down button 48 are provided. Further, a cancel button 49 for canceling the input of the various buttons immediately before, a cursor direction button 50 for moving a cursor in a desired direction, and a channel number selected by the cursor direction button 50 are determined at the lower part of the remote controller 32 in the longitudinal direction. A decision button 51 for selecting a channel is provided.

In a channel selection method in which an operator directly selects a channel number, a service is selected by pressing a service X selection button 34 or a service Y selection button 35, and a channel number (for example, a three-digit number) is input by a numeric keypad 37; The user selects a channel by checking the displayed channel number and pressing the channel selection button 39.

In a channel selection method for selecting a channel by displaying the screen in the order of channel numbers, the user selects a service by pressing the service X selection button 34 or the service Y selection button 35, and presses the channel up / down button 48 from the displayed channel number by pressing the channel up / down button 48. The stations are tuned in order.

In a channel selection method of selecting a channel by an EPG (Electronic Program Guide), a service X selection button 34 or a service Y selection button 35 is pressed to select a service, and a program guide button 44 is pressed to display a list of program guides. The cursor is moved to a desired channel number by pressing the direction button 50, and the channel number is determined by pressing the determination button 51 to select a channel. When the user presses the program guide button 44 again, the program guide disappears.

Next, a description will be given of a channel selection method for selecting a channel with a desired channel. When selecting a desired channel, the user selects a service by pressing the service X selection button 34 or the service Y selection button 35, and presses the desired channel up / down button 47 to sequentially select the set favorite channels in order of channel number. It is supposed to. Also, by pressing the favorite list button 43 to display a list of favorite channels, the cursor direction button 50 is displayed.
Is pressed to move the cursor to the desired favorite channel, and the enter button 51 is pressed to determine the desired channel and select a channel.

[0009]

By the way, in the above-mentioned multi-channel broadcast receiving apparatus, any of the channel selection methods requires complicated button operation, and the button operation is troublesome and troublesome. In particular, in the case of sequentially selecting channels, if it takes about one second to raise one channel in the tuning operation by the tuner, it takes about five minutes to sequentially advance 300 channels. Therefore, it was extremely time-consuming and troublesome.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a multi-channel broadcast receiving apparatus configured to enable quick and easy channel selection even when channels are sequentially selected.

[0011]

According to the present invention, there is provided a multi-channel broadcast receiving apparatus comprising a receiver for receiving a multi-channel broadcast and a remote controller for transmitting a command signal to the receiver. It is provided with channel number input means capable of freely increasing and decreasing the number.

In the multi-channel broadcast receiving apparatus according to the present invention, when sequentially selecting a channel, the channel number is freely increased or decreased by the channel number input means to quickly select a desired channel number.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a multi-channel broadcast receiving apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a front view of a remote controller of a satellite broadcast tuner (hereinafter abbreviated as a tuner), which is a multi-channel broadcast receiver to which the multi-channel broadcast receiver according to the present invention is applied. A power switch 3, a service A selection button 5 for selecting a service A, and a service B selection button for selecting a service B are sequentially provided from the top on the upper left side in the longitudinal direction of a remote controller (hereinafter abbreviated as a remote controller) 1. 6. A screen display button 7 for switching the screen display is provided. For example, in digital satellite broadcasting, service A is referred to as “perfect TV service” and service B is referred to as “sky service”. Each time the screen display button 7 is pressed, the screen can be sequentially switched to a screen not displaying the channel number or the like, a screen displaying the currently received channel number, or a screen displaying the program name in addition to the channel number. On the upper center and left side of the remote controller 1 in the longitudinal direction,
Numeric keypad 9, numeric keypad 9, numeric keys from 0 to 9
There is provided a channel selection button 10 which is a channel selection determination means for determining the channel number input in step (1).

At the center of the remote controller 1, a program guide button 14 for displaying a program guide on the screen, a menu button 16 for displaying a menu on the screen, a cancel button 17 for canceling input of various buttons immediately before, A cursor direction button 19 for moving the cursor in the direction of, and a decision button 20 for confirming, for example, a channel number selected by the cursor direction button 19 and selecting a channel are provided.

A jog shuttle 21 serving as channel number input means is provided below the remote controller 1. The jog shuttle 21 includes a jog dial 22 and a shuttle ring 23 that is a channel number change target digit switching unit. The present invention uses the jog shuttle 21 to quickly and easily select a channel.

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of a remote controller and a tuner according to the present invention. Commands transmitted from the remote controller 1 by infrared rays, radio waves, or the like are received by the command receiving unit 24 of the tuner 2 which is a multi-channel broadcast receiver, and are input to and controlled by a microcomputer (hereinafter abbreviated as a microcomputer) 25. The output signal of the microcomputer 25 is an on-screen display (OS
D) Output to the unit 26 and output to the tuner unit 27 so that the channel of the tuner unit 27 is switched. The tuner 27 has a receiving antenna 28
Are connected, and the video / audio signal from the tuner unit 27 is input to the video / audio processing circuit 29 for processing.
A screen display signal including a channel number from the on-screen display unit 26 is input to the video / audio processing circuit 29 and processed. The video / audio signal from the video / audio processing circuit 29 is output to the television 30 or the like.

When the operator directly selects a channel number and selects a channel, the user presses the service A selection button 5 or the service B selection button 6 to select a service, and inputs a channel number (for example, a three-digit number) using the ten keys 9. Then, the displayed channel number is confirmed and the channel selection button 10 is pressed to select a channel.

When selecting a channel using an EPG (Electronic Program Guide), the user selects a service by pressing the service A selection button 5 or the service B selection button 6, presses the program guide button 14 to display a list of program guides, and displays a cursor direction button. By pressing 19, the cursor is moved to the desired channel number, and the enter button 20 is pressed to determine the channel number and select a channel. Then, when the program guide button 14 is pressed again, the program guide disappears.

Next, a channel selection method using the jog shuttle 21 will be described. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a channel selection method using a jog shuttle. The reference mark 23a of the shuttle ring 23 is clockwise with "+"
It can be turned to the "10ch (channel)" position and the "+ 100ch" position, and can be turned counterclockwise to the "-10ch" position and the "-100ch" position. To return to.

As shown in FIG. 3A, when the reference mark 23a of the shuttle ring 23 is rotated and held to the position of "+ 10ch", a command of "shuttle + 10ch" is transmitted, and the channel number increases by 10 channels. When the shuttle ring 23 is turned to the position of “+100 ch” and held, a command of “shuttle + 100 ch” is transmitted, and the channel number increases by 100 channels. When the shuttle ring 23 is turned and held to the “−10 ch” position, a “shuttle−10 ch” command is transmitted,
The channel number goes down by 10 channels. When the shuttle ring 23 is turned and held to the “-100 ch” position, a command of “shuttle-100 ch” is transmitted,
The channel number goes down by 100 channels. Then, when the channel number becomes close to the desired channel number, when the holding of the shuttle ring 23 is released, the reference mark 23a of the shuttle ring 23 returns to the 0 position.

Then, as shown in FIG. 3B, every time the jog dial 22 is turned clockwise by one step, a "jog +" command is transmitted, and the channel number is increased by one channel. On the other hand, every time the jog dial 22 is turned one step in the counterclockwise direction, a "jog-" command is transmitted, and the channel number is decreased by one channel.
In this way, a desired channel can be quickly selected.

Therefore, by rotating and holding the shuttle ring 23 at a predetermined position, the channel number can be increased / decreased by 10 channels and increased / decreased by 100 channels. The number can be tuned quickly.

Next, an automatic carry selection method will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the processing of the microcomputer of the automatic carry selection method according to the second embodiment. The automatic carry selection method means that the next “Jog +” command or “Jog−” command is input to the command receiving unit 24 before the tuner tuning is completed, and if this command is repeated a predetermined number of times, the channel change target digit is automatically set. It is a tuning method that goes up. For example, if the next “Jog +” command is input before the tuner selection by the first “Jog +” command is completed, and this is repeated ten times, the carry is automatically carried out. N in the flowchart of FIG. 4 is a variable for counting the number of times the next “Jog +” command is input before the tuner tuning is completed, and CH-UP is a variable for storing the current channel step-up amount. Possible values are, for example, when the number of digits of the channel is 3 digits, 1ch, 10ch or 10
0 ch.

First, when a "Jog +" command is received (step 101), it is determined whether or not the tuner is performing a tuning operation (step 102). When the tuner is not performing a tuning operation, N = 0. , CH-UP = 1ch (step 103), and causes the tuner to step up the channel number according to the variable of “CH-UP” (step 104). Here, since CH-UP = 1ch, 1ch
Step up the channel number each time.

If the tuner is in the operation of selecting a channel in step 102, the channel selection is continuously determined to be in the UP direction (step 105). If the channel selection is continuously performed in the UP direction, it is determined whether or not N, which is a variable for counting the number of times the next “Jog +” command is input before the tuner channel selection is completed, is 10 or more (step). 106) If it is not 10 or more times, N = N + 1 is set (step 107), and the process proceeds to step 104, where "CH-UP" is sent to the tuner.
The channel number is stepped up according to the variable of
Here, since CH-UP = 1ch, the channel number is stepped up by one channel. On the other hand, if the "Jog-" command is received, it is determined in step 105 that the channel selection is not continuously performed in the UP direction, and the flow proceeds to step 103 to set N = 0 and CH-UP = 1ch. .

If N is equal to or greater than 10 in step 106, N is cleared and N = 0 (step 10).
8), it is determined whether the CH-UP is 1ch (step 10).
9), if CH-UP is 1ch, CH-UP = 10
channel (step 110), the process proceeds to step 104, and the tuner increases the channel number according to the variable of “CH-UP”. Here, CH-UP = 10ch
Therefore, the channel number is stepped up by 10 channels.

On the other hand, when N is 10 times or more and CH-UP is 1
If not, it is determined whether the CH-UP is 10 ch (step 111). If the CH-UP is 10 ch, CH-UP is set to 100 ch (step 11).
2), the process proceeds to step 104, and the tuner displays "CH
The channel number is increased according to the variable of "-UP".
Here, since CH-UP = 100 ch, the channel number is stepped up by 100 ch.

As described above, when the command comes near a desired channel, the jog dial 22 is returned to the command receiving section 2.
By inputting the "Jog-" command to the channel No. 4, the channel number can be increased or decreased one channel at a time by the jog dial 22. Thus, a desired channel is selected.

FIG. 5 is a timing chart showing an automatic carry selection method. For example, assuming that the number of digits of the channel is 3 digits and the initial state is 100 ch, a command of “Jog +” is transmitted every time the operator turns the jog dial 22 one step clockwise, and the channel number increases by one channel. When the tuner selects the 101 channel, the next “Jog +” command is input to the command receiving unit. When the tuner selects the 102 channel, the next “Jog +” command is input to the command receiving unit. Thus, when the tuner receives the next “Jog +” command while the tuner is in the channel selection operation, it is 1
When it is repeated 0 times, the subsequent “Jog +” command is increased by 10 ch. Further, during the tuning operation of the tuner, the next "Jog +" command (10
If (ch-up) is input ten times, the subsequent “Jog +” command is set to 100 ch-up. Then, when it comes near the desired channel, the jog dial 22 is turned in the reverse direction to input a “jog-” command to the command receiving unit, and the subsequent “jog +” command is increased by one channel, and the “jog-” command is This shows that the channel is down by one channel and the desired channel 302 channel is selected.

Therefore, when the next jog command is input to the command receiving unit while the tuner is in a channel selection operation, it is possible that the next jog command is input.
Since the number of digits to be changed is automatically increased when the number of times is repeated, a desired channel number can be swiftly selected in accordance with the operator's operation feeling even when the channels are sequentially selected. In the above-described embodiment, the predetermined number is set to ten times. However, the number is not limited to this, and may be another number. Although the automatic carry selection method for channel up has been described, the same processing flow is applied to the automatic carry selection method for channel down.

Next, a channel skip tuning method will be described. The channel skip tuning method is a tuning method in which a jog command input to the command receiving unit during the tuning operation of the tuner is reflected in the next tuning.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the processing of the microcomputer in the channel skip tuning method according to the third embodiment. In FIG. 6, CH is a variable that stores a channel number, and the channel number is immediately increased or decreased by a jog command. When a jog command is received (step 201), it is determined what the command is (step 202). If the jog command is "jog +", CH = CH + 1 is set (step 203), or the jog command is "jog-". If so, CH = CH-1 is set (step 204), and it is determined whether or not the tuner is performing a channel selection operation (step 205). If the tuner is in a channel selection operation, it is determined whether the next jog command has been received (step 206). If the next jog command is not received, the tuner is not in a channel selection operation and the current tuner is notified. Channel (channel number) is selected (step 207). If the next jog command is received in step 206, the process proceeds to step 202 to determine what the command is.
CH + 1, if "Jog-", then CH = CH-1, and if the tuner is not operating, the tuner is tuned to the current CH (channel number) (step 2).
07).

FIG. 7 is a timing chart showing a channel skip tuning method. For example, assume that the number of digits of the channel is three digits, and the initial state is 100 ch. Each time the operator turns the jog dial 22 clockwise one step, a command of “Jog +” is transmitted, and the channel number increases by one channel. However, the tuner displays “Jog +” during the channel selection operation of 101 ch. When a command is input and the channel selection operation of 101ch is completed, CH = 104
, The channel selection of 104 ch is started based on this CH variable. Then, when the tuner inputs a “Jog +” command to the command receiving unit during the channel selection operation of the 104ch, and when the channel selection operation of the 104ch is completed, CH = 106.
, The channel selection of 106 ch is started based on this CH variable. Further, if a “Jog +” command or a “Jog−” command is input during the tuner selecting operation of 106ch and CH = 107 when the tuning operation of 106ch is completed, the selection of 107ch is performed based on this CH variable. The station is started and the "jog +" command or the "jog-" command is not input to the command receiving section during the operation of selecting the 107ch, that is, the rotation of the jog dial 22 is stopped, and the desired 107ch is selected. It is shown that.

Therefore, the tuner reflects the jog command input to the command receiving section during the channel selection operation to the next channel selection, so that the tuner can select an appropriate channel number while avoiding unnecessary channel selection. Therefore, even when the channels are sequentially tuned, a desired channel number can be quickly tuned in accordance with the operation feeling of the operator.

Next, a non-real-time channel selection method will be described. In the non-real-time channel selection method, the tuner is not immediately tuned in response to a jog command, but only the channel number displayed on the screen by an on-screen display (0SD) or the like is changed. This is a method in which the tuner selects a target channel by pressing the channel selection button 10 which is a channel selection determination means by the operator.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of the processing of the microcomputer in the non-real time channel selection method according to the fourth embodiment. A jog command is received (step 301), and the command is determined (step 302). If the jog command is "Jog +", CH = CH + 1 is set (step 303), or if the jog command is "Jog-". If CH = CH−1 (step 304), “C” is displayed on the screen by an on-screen display (OSD) or the like.
H ”(channel number) is displayed (step 305).
Then, when a channel selection command is received by the operator pressing the channel selection button 10 (step 306), the tuner is tuned to the current “CH” (channel number) displayed on the screen (step 306). 307).

Accordingly, when the tuner receives the jog command, it changes only the channel number displayed on the screen, and does not select a channel each time. The tuner displays the channel number only when the tuning command is received. Since the channel is selected based on the channel number to be set, there is no useless tuning operation by the tuner, and the channel number can be quickly determined and selected. In FIG. 8, the jog dial 2
2 is turned one step at a time to set the channel number and display it on the screen. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The channel number is set by the above-described automatic carry channel selection method or channel skip channel selection method and the screen is set. Of course, it may be displayed above.

In the first to fourth embodiments, the receiver of the multi-channel broadcast receiving apparatus is a tuner for satellite broadcasting. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Of course, it is good.

Although the number of channel digits is set to three digits, the number is not limited to this, but may be other digits such as two digits or four digits.

Although the service A selection button and the service B selection button are used as the service selection means, the service A or the service B may be selected by switching the single service selection switch.

[0041]

As described above, according to the present invention,
By operating the channel change target digit switching unit,
The digit to be changed of the channel number input by the channel number input means can be switched, and a desired channel number can be quickly selected even when the channels are sequentially selected.

When the next jog command is repeatedly input a predetermined number of times during the channel selection operation of the receiver,
Since the digit to be changed of the channel number is automatically increased, even when the channels are sequentially selected, the desired channel number can be quickly selected in accordance with the operation feeling of the operator.

Also, the receiver reflects the channel number input from the channel number input means during the channel selection operation to the next channel selection, so that the receiver avoids useless channel selection and selects an accurate channel number. Therefore, even in the case of sequentially selecting channels, a desired channel number can be quickly selected in accordance with the operation feeling of the operator.

Further, when the channel number of the screen display signal created by the screen display signal creation means is determined by the channel selection determination means, the receiver selects this channel number. , And the channel number can be quickly determined and selected.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a remote controller of a multi-channel broadcast receiving apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a remote controller and a tuner of the multi-channel broadcast receiving apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a channel selection method using a jog shuttle.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a process of a microcomputer in an automatic carry selection method according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a time chart showing an automatic carry selection method.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a process of a microcomputer of a channel skip tuning method according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a time chart showing a channel skip tuning method.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a process of a microcomputer of a non-real-time channel selection method according to a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a front view of a remote controller of the conventional multi-channel broadcast receiving device.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 1 Remote controller (remote controller) of multi-channel broadcast receiver 2 Tuner (multi-channel broadcast receiver) 3 Power switch 5 Service A selection button 6 Service B selection button 7 Screen display button 9 Numeric keypad 10 Tuning button (Tuning decision means) Reference Signs List 19 cursor direction button 20 decision button 21 jog shuttle (channel number input means) 22 jog dial 23 shuttle ring (channel number change target digit switching section) 24 command receiving section 25 microcomputer 26 on-screen display section (screen display signal creating means) 27 tuner Unit 28 receiving antenna 29 video / audio processing circuit 30 television

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A multi-channel broadcast receiving apparatus comprising a receiver for receiving a multi-channel broadcast and a remote controller for transmitting a command signal to the receiver, comprising a channel number input means capable of freely increasing and decreasing a channel number. A multi-channel broadcast receiving apparatus characterized by the above-mentioned. 2. The multi-channel broadcast receiving apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said channel number input means comprises a channel number change target digit switching section for switching said channel number change target digit. Channel broadcast receiving device. 3. The multi-channel broadcast receiving apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the input of the next channel number from said channel number input means is repeated a predetermined number of times during the channel selection operation of said receiver. Is a multi-channel broadcast receiving apparatus which selects a channel by increasing a digit to be changed of a channel number input by the channel number input means. 4. The multi-channel broadcast receiving apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the receiver reflects a channel number input from the channel number input means during a channel selection operation in a next channel selection. Multi-channel broadcast receiving device. 5. The multi-channel broadcast receiving apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a screen display signal creating means for creating a screen display signal based on an input from said channel number input means; Channel determination means for determining and selecting a channel number of the screen display signal, wherein the channel number of the screen display signal created by the screen display signal creation means is determined by the channel selection determination means. A multi-channel broadcast receiving device, wherein a receiver selects this channel number. 6. The multi-channel broadcast receiving apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least said channel number input means is provided in said remote controller. 7. The multi-channel broadcast receiving apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said channel number input means comprises a jog dial. 8. The multi-channel broadcast receiving apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said channel number change target digit switching unit comprises a shuttle ring.