JP2001333357A - Broadcast program recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a broadcast program recorder with which a user can surely record a broadcast program again when the user fails in performing its reserved recording by some causes. SOLUTION: When a user fails in recording his/her reserved broadcast program, the unrecorded broadcast program is retrieved by means of an electronic program list EPG that is acquired after the reserved recording failed (S11-S15). When the relevant rebroadcast program is retrieved, an inquiry is given to the user for performing the reserved recording of the program (S16-S24).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic program guide (EPG: Electric
The present invention relates to a broadcast program recording apparatus that receives a broadcast transmitted by a Program Guide) and records the broadcast program on a hard disk device or the like, and more particularly to a broadcast program recording apparatus that can perform so-called reservation recording using a timer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, television broadcasting has been digitized to achieve higher sound quality, higher image quality, and more channels, and more advanced services have been realized by, for example, transmitting a broadcast program table in which a program broadcast schedule is described. Have been. In order to record such a program, a digital broadcast-compatible recording device is newly required as a receiving side, and the method of reserving a program has changed greatly in accordance with the above-mentioned service. Basically, the contents of a broadcast program include audio data and image data at the same time, and one of the contents is an electronic program guide service. The digital broadcast receiving and recording device performs an operation of receiving the electronic program guide, presenting the electronic program guide to the user, accepting and storing the program reservation, and recording the program at the reserved time.

[0003] Also, as described above, since digital broadcasting has a great feature of multi-channel broadcasting, the same program may be broadcast a plurality of times at different times on different channels in a short period of time. Since the service content of the electronic program guide is digital data, once registered as data in the receiver, the same program as described above can be easily searched for by using keywords such as title and performer as keywords, and the same program differs. It is possible to easily grasp the time or a broadcast schedule on a different channel.

Utilizing such a function of obtaining an electronic program guide in advance, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. Hei 10-21601 and Hei 11-185316 disclose two programs that are reserved in the same time zone. A technique for changing one of the broadcast programs to a reservation for a rebroadcast program is shown. Also, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-2
No. 00865 discloses a technique for reserving a rebroadcast program during program reproduction.

[0005]

In the current analog broadcast recording device, even if the reservation recording fails for some reason such as a power outage or a change in the broadcast content after the reservation is made, no further recovery can be made, and the user cannot recover. Also, I had to search for the same program and repeat the recording reservation.

Further, according to the technique shown in the above-mentioned prior art, if the rebroadcasting schedule is known using the program guide service at the time of reproduction or reservation, the rebroadcasting is used to ensure the rebroadcasting. Recording can be realized, but if the rebroadcast schedule is not always known at that time because the rebroadcast schedule is out of the coverage of the program guide service,
The rebroadcast cannot be used effectively. Furthermore, the method shown in the above-mentioned prior example cannot cope with a case where recording fails due to a factor other than duplication of programs, such as a power failure or a change in broadcast content.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and when reservation recording fails for any reason,
It is an object of the present invention to provide a broadcast program recording device capable of reliably recording a rebroadcast program of the failed broadcast program.

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a broadcast program and program schedule information indicating a broadcast schedule of the broadcast program are received, and a timer of the received broadcast program is set. In a broadcast program recording apparatus capable of using reserved recording, when recording of a broadcast program for which recording reservation has been made by a user fails, the program schedule information is used to search for a rebroadcast program of the failed broadcast program. When the rebroadcast program exists, the reservation recording of the rebroadcast program is performed.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a broadcast program recording apparatus capable of receiving a broadcast program and program schedule information indicating a broadcast schedule of the broadcast program, and capable of making a reservation recording of the received broadcast program using a timer. When a recording reservation is made by the user, the program schedule information is used to search for a rebroadcast program of the broadcast program for which the recording reservation has been made, and when the rebroadcast program exists, recording of the rebroadcast program is performed. The reservation is stored as a spare recording reservation, and when the recording of the broadcast program for which the recording reservation has been made by the user fails to be recorded, the reservation recording of the rebroadcast program is performed based on the spare recording reservation. And

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of a digital broadcast program recording / playback system according to an embodiment of the present invention. A digital broadcast signal from a broadcast satellite 1 is received by an antenna 2 and demodulated by a digital broadcast receiving and recording device 3, converted into an analog signal, output to a TV monitor 4, and a demodulated digital image signal and digital audio Recording and reproduction of signals are performed. The digital broadcast receiving and recording apparatus 3 is configured to be able to perform reservation recording using a timer.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the digital broadcast receiving and recording apparatus 3. This apparatus is a digital broadcast receiving section for demodulating a broadcast signal input from the antenna 2 and converting it to an analog signal. 11, a main controller 12 and a bus controller 13 for controlling recording and reproduction of a data stream including a digital image signal and a digital audio signal, and a recording / reproducing unit 14 which has a built-in hard disk device and records and reproduces a data stream.
A microprocessor 15 for performing overall control of the apparatus, a display 16 for displaying reservation information related to reservation recording, a reservation memory 17 for storing reservation information, and clocking for reservation recording. Clock 18 and remote control input unit 19 as an interface for relaying reservation information input from reservation input remote control 5 to microprocessor 15
And

With this configuration, the broadcast signal received by the antenna 2 is demodulated and converted into an analog signal, and is output to the TV monitor 4 by the monitor output.
The data stream is input to the recording / reproducing unit 14.
When the user (user) operates the reservation input remote controller 5 to make a reservation for recording a broadcast program, the reservation information including the identification information (program name, channel number) of the reserved broadcast program and the start time and end time is set. The program information is displayed on the display 16 and the reserved program information is stored in the reservation memory 17.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram for explaining in more detail a portion related to scheduled recording. The digital broadcast receiving section 11 includes a demodulation circuit 21 for demodulating a broadcast signal, an electronic program guide from the demodulated signal. The EPG is separated, a signal input from the separation circuit 22 to the microprocessor 15 and a signal input from the separation circuit 22 at the time of recording are output to the TV monitor 4, and a reproduction signal input via the main controller 12 is reproduced at the time of reproduction. Switching circuit 2 for outputting to 4
3 is provided. Further, the reservation memory 17 is provided with a reservation table TBL1 for storing the reserved program information, and a reservation remaining table TBL2 for storing the reserved program information of the failed broadcast program when the recording fails. The microprocessor 15 is connected to a clock 18 for managing the time of programmed recording.

A data stream including an image signal and an audio signal among the signals demodulated by the demodulation unit 21 is separated by a separation circuit 2.
2 is output to the switching circuit 23, while the data of the electronic program guide EPG is output to the microprocessor 15. The microprocessor 15 controls the recording / reproducing operation of the recording / reproducing unit 14, executes the EPG processing 31 and the reservation processing 32, and makes a recording reservation of a rebroadcast program using an electronic program guide EPG described later, and a broadcast by the user. It performs program recording reservation and recording operation control based on the recording reservation. The electronic program guide EPG contains the microprocessor 1
5 and presented to the user by the display 16. When the user operates the reservation input remote controller 5 to make a recording reservation, the program name, channel number, start time,
The reservation program information including the attribute information such as the end time, the performer, and the program genre is stored in the reservation table TB in the reservation memory 17.
Stored in L1. In the reservation remaining table TBL2, at the time of recording failure, reserved program information on the failed broadcast program is stored.

Next, with reference to FIG. 4, a first operation example in the case where a recording reservation is made by the user and recording of the broadcast program for which the recording reservation has been made has failed will be described. FIG. 4 shows programs on channels ch1 and ch2 and an electronic program guide EP.
G coverage ranges are shown in chronological order. Time PT
1 according to the electronic program guide EPG received.
It can be seen that the program P1 of h1 is broadcast at time t1.
In this example, since the coverage E1 of the electronic program guide EPG is before the time t2, it is not known at this time that the program P12 of the channel ch2, which is the same program as the program P1, will be broadcast.

If the user makes a recording reservation for the program P1 with reference to the electronic program guide EPG, the reserved program information is stored in the reservation table TBL1. FIG. 5A schematically shows the state of the reservation table TBL1 at this time. At the time PT1, the information in the table is the program information P1 such as the recording start time t1 and the program name.

When the recording is normally performed, at the time t1, the recording is started by the information at the time t1 stored in the reservation table TBL1, and the information in the reservation table TBL1 is cleared. This program will be reproduced later by the user. On the other hand, recording of the program P1 fails due to various factors such as a change in the program contents and a power failure, and the time P
At time T2, as shown in FIG. 4, at time PT1, the coverage E1 of the electronic program guide EPG is changed to the program P.
12, the schedule of the re-broadcast of the program P1 is not known at the time PT1. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5 (2), the reservation table TBL1 contains the program P1.
Is stored in the form of t1, P1.
Then, the recording fails, and the time information PT2 from the clock 18 is obtained at the time PT2, and when the start time t1 of the reserved program information in the reservation table TBL1 is referred to, it can be seen that the reserved recording has failed because t1 <PT2. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5, the reserved program information is moved to the reservation remaining table TBL2. There is no reservation in the reservation table TBL1, and the reservation is apparently cleared.

At time PT3, when the user performs an operation at this time, the microprocessor 15
In addition, the display 16 notifies the user that the recording has failed, receives the electronic program guide EPG in the cover range E2, and searches for a program that matches the program content of the program P1 in the reservation remaining table TBL2. At this time, program information of the program P1, for example, a program name, a program genre, and the like are used as keywords. FIG. 4 shows a case where it is found that the same program as the program P1 is broadcast as the program P12 on the channel ch2 at the time t2. In this case, the microprocessor 15
Indicates that the same program as program P1 is provided to the user on channel ch2.
To notify the user that the program P12 will be broadcast at time t2, and ask the user whether or not to make a re-recording reservation.
When making a reservation, the reservation program information of the program P12 is stored in the reservation table TBL1 as shown in FIG. 5, and the information of the program P1 in the reservation remaining table TBL2 is cleared. Thereafter, as in FIG. 5A, a normal recording reservation operation is performed. When the user answers that the reservation is not made, the information of the program P1 in the reservation remaining table TBL2 is cleared, and the reservation is completely cleared.

Next, with reference to FIG. 6, a description will be given of a second operation example when recording of a broadcast program for which recording reservation has been made has failed. FIG. 6 shows the coverage E1 of the electronic program guide EPG1.
Shows a case where, when the program P1 is reserved at the time PT1, the broadcast schedule of the program P12 which is a rebroadcast of the program P1 is also known. In this case, the reservation table T
At time PT1, as shown in FIG. 7, information on the program P1 is recorded in the BL1 and a reservation remaining table TBL is stored in the BL1.
2 also stores the information of the rebroadcast program P12 at the same time (storage of reserved recording reservation). When it is determined that the recording has failed at the time PT2, the program P in the reservation remaining table TBL2 is
The information of No. 12 is moved to the reservation table TBL1, and a normal reservation state is set. Similarly, when the user performs an operation at time PT3, the microprocessor 15 notifies the user that the recording of the program P1 has failed, and notifies the user of the program P1.
1 is the same as the program P on channel ch2 at time t2.
12 and is inquired of the user as to whether or not to make a re-recording reservation. Then, when making a reservation, the recording information of the program P12 is kept in the reservation table TBL1 as shown in FIG. 7, and the normal reservation recording operation is performed similarly to FIG. 5 (1). On the other hand, when the user answers that the reservation is not made, the information of the program P21 in the reservation table TBL1 is cleared, and the reservation is completely cleared.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a control procedure by the microprocessor 15 in the example shown in FIG. First, when a recording reservation is input, the electronic program guide EPG
, The reservation program information is stored in the reservation table TBL1 (steps S11, S12, S13). And
When the reserved program can be normally recorded, the reserved program information for the program stored in the reservation table TBL1 is cleared (steps S14 and S17).

On the other hand, when the recording of the reserved program fails, it is determined from the electronic program guide EPG whether there is a rebroadcast program of the program for which the recording failed (step S15, step S15).
S16). As a result, if there is no rebroadcast, the process proceeds to step S17, and if there is a rebroadcast, the reservation table TB
L1 is cleared, and the reserved program information on the rebroadcast program is stored in the reservation remaining table TBL2 (step S18,
S19).

After that, the system waits for an operation by the user, and when the operation is performed, notifies that the scheduled recording has failed, and inquires whether to make a recording reservation of the rebroadcast program (step S2).
0, S21, S22). As a result, when the user responds to make a recording reservation of the rebroadcast program, the reservation remaining table TB
The reserved program information stored in L2 is stored in the reservation table T.
When the user moves to BL1 and answers that the user does not make a recording reservation for the rebroadcast program, the reservation remaining table TBL2 is cleared (steps S23, S24, S25).

As described above, in the present embodiment, when recording of a broadcast program for which recording reservation has been made by a user fails, the broadcast program whose recording failed is re-recorded by the electronic program guide EPG obtained after the failure. When a broadcast program is searched for and the rebroadcast program exists, the user is inquired and the reservation recording of the rebroadcast program is performed. Can be reliably recorded.

When a user makes a recording reservation, the electronic program guide EPG searches for a rebroadcast program of the broadcast program for which the recording reservation has been made. If the rebroadcast program exists, the rebroadcast program is searched for. Recording reservation is made in the reservation remaining table T.
When the recording of the broadcast program for which the recording reservation has been made by the user fails, the reservation recording of the rebroadcast program is performed based on the preliminary recording reservation. If the broadcast program fails, a rebroadcast program of the failed broadcast program can be reliably recorded.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, and various modifications are possible. For example, a rebroadcast program may be automatically recorded without asking the user when the recording fails, and the user may be allowed to select whether or not to reproduce it after recording. That is, in FIG. 4, when there is no operation of the time PT3 by the user, as shown in FIG. 5 (2), the reserved program information of the program P12 is automatically moved to the reservation table TBL1, and the program P12 is recorded. After recording, the program P1 in the reservation table TBL1
The reserved program information for No. 2 is cleared. Thereafter, if the user's operation is at time PT4, the user may be notified that the recording of the program P1 has failed and that the program P12 has been recorded instead, and inquiring whether to play or delete the program. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the electronic program guide EPG has been described as being superimposed on the broadcast itself.
The present invention is also applicable to a case where the electronic program information EPG is obtained through another route such as an Internet connection by a modem.

[0026]

As described above in detail, according to the first aspect of the present invention, when the recording of a broadcast program for which recording reservation has been made by a user fails, the broadcast that failed in recording is performed based on the program schedule information. When a rebroadcast program of the program is searched and the rebroadcast program exists, the reservation recording of the rebroadcast program is performed.
The rebroadcast program of the failed broadcast program can be reliably recorded.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, when a recording reservation is made by the user, the program schedule information
The rebroadcast program of the broadcast program for which recording reservation has been made is searched,
When the rebroadcast program exists, the recording reservation of the rebroadcast program is stored as a spare recording reservation, and when recording of the broadcast program reserved for recording by the user fails,
Since the reservation recording of the rebroadcast program is performed based on the preliminary recording reservation, the same effect as the first aspect of the invention can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a digital broadcast program recording / playback system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the digital broadcast receiving and recording apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram for describing in more detail a portion related to scheduled recording.

FIG. 4 is a time chart illustrating a first operation example when recording of a broadcast program for which recording reservation has been made by a user has failed.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a transition of storage contents of a reservation memory in the example shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a time chart showing a second operation example in a case where recording of a broadcast program for which recording reservation has been made by a user has failed.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a transition of storage contents of a reservation memory in the example shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a control procedure by a microprocessor in the operation example shown in FIG. 4;

[Explanation of symbols]

 3 Digital Broadcast Reception / Recording Device 5 Reservation Input Remote Controller 11 Digital Broadcast Reception Unit 12 Main Controller 14 Recording / Reproduction Unit 15 Microprocessor 17 Reservation Memory 18 Clock

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04N 7/03 7/035

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A broadcast program recording apparatus capable of receiving a broadcast program and program schedule information indicating a broadcast schedule of the broadcast program and capable of recording a reservation of the received broadcast program using a timer. If the recording of the broadcast program failed, the program schedule information is used to search for a rebroadcast program of the failed broadcast program. If the rebroadcast program exists, the reservation recording of the rebroadcast program is performed. A broadcast program recording device. 2. A broadcast program recording apparatus capable of receiving a broadcast program and program schedule information indicating a broadcast schedule of the broadcast program and capable of recording a reservation of the received broadcast program using a timer. When the rebroadcast program is searched, the program schedule information is used to search for a rebroadcast program of the broadcast program for which the recording reservation has been made. Remember as
A broadcast program recording apparatus, wherein when a recording of a broadcast program reserved for recording by the user fails, a rebroadcast program is reserved and recorded based on the preliminary recording reservation.