JP2002290848A - Automatic setting method for television program and television receiver - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To automate program reservation, etc., from next time. SOLUTION: Operation mode decision information for deciding an operation mode of television program watching, video-recording, etc., a history of watching time, and a history of video-recording reservation time are stored as discrimination information in a memory and this discrimination information is compared with electronic program superposed on a television signal. When the both match each other, the same operation mode with the operation mode decision information is automatically entered. In, for example, video-recording mode, the television program is automatically video-recorded. Consequently, program history information is generated once and then the operation modes based upon the program history are automatically executed thereafter, so the user is prevented from forgetting to video-record or watch a television program. The need to repeatedly perform a program reserving process is eliminated.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a method for automatically setting a television program and a television receiver. More specifically, by using electronic program information superimposed on a television signal, a television program that has been viewed once or a television program for which recording reservation has been made can be automatically set without resetting.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In order to reserve a television program, a user normally inputs a program reservation code, so-called G code (8-digit number string), which is described together with the television program in a television section of a newspaper or the like. I have.

[0003]

When the recording of the television program specified by the G code is completed, it is necessary to input the G code again even if the subsequent recording of the same television program is scheduled. That is, the code string becomes invalid after the recording date and time represented by the G code has passed.

Therefore, when there are a large number of TV programs to be recorded, the operation of inputting a G code becomes troublesome, and often the user fails to record the target TV program due to an input error.

[0005] When recording reservation has been made in the past,
It is likely that the TV program will be recorded and watched every week, so in such a case, if the previous recording reservation is valid, the trouble of making a recording reservation again can be saved, and even if you forget to make a reservation It is very convenient for the user because there is no more. In recent years, since the recording capacity has increased remarkably than before, it is considered that even if such a recording reservation function is added, a situation in which the recording capacity becomes insufficient can be avoided.

[0006] In addition, a television program that the user wants to watch has a preference, and the favorite television program is generally viewed every week. Even if you want to watch your favorite TV show every time, you often forget to miss it when you are busy or when you are with your family.

Therefore, the present invention solves such a conventional problem. Particularly, when a recording reservation is set in the past or when a television program is viewed every time, The present invention also proposes an automatic television program setting method and a television receiver that automatically make a reservation for recording in the next week and allow the television program to be viewed.

[0008]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, in the method for automatically setting a television program according to the present invention, an operation mode such as whether a television program is viewed or recorded is set. The operation mode discrimination information to be discriminated, the history of the viewing time and the history of the recording reservation time are each stored as identification information, and the identification information is compared with the electronic program information superimposed on the television signal. Then, the operation mode automatically changes to the same operation mode as the operation mode determination information.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a television receiver according to the present invention, comprising: operation mode discrimination information for discriminating an operation mode such as whether a television program is viewed or recorded;
A first memory for storing a history of viewing time and a history of recording reservation time as identification information; a second memory for downloading and storing electronic program information superimposed on a television signal; Means, a means for recording a television program, and a control unit for controlling the above. The identification information and the electronic program information superimposed on the television signal are collated. It is characterized in that a transition is automatically made to the same operation mode as the discrimination information.

In the present invention, program history information of a user is generated. The program history information includes the history information on the channel, day, and time that the user has watched or reserved a television program,
This is the discrimination information of the operation mode of the television receiver (the distinction between the viewing mode, the recording mode, and the combined mode of recording the counterprogram while viewing). The program history information is completed in one week, for example.

Next, a collation process with the program history information is performed using the electronic program information superimposed on the television signal. If they match, the operation mode is executed. For example, when in the recording mode, the television program is automatically recorded. By doing so, it is possible to prevent the user from forgetting to record or watch the television program, and to eliminate the program reservation processing that needs to be repeated each time.

[0012]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, an embodiment of a method for automatically setting a television program and a television receiver according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a television receiver according to the present invention, which has an automatic television program setting function. In FIG. 1, a television signal received by an antenna 12 or the like is supplied to a tuner 14 to select a desired channel (television program). The television signal of the selected television program is supplied to the video signal processing circuit 16, where the video signal of the television program is demodulated. The demodulated video signal is supplied to the television monitor means 18 to reproduce the video. The television monitor means 18 is a display means made of liquid crystal, a cathode ray tube, or the like.

In the present invention, the video signal demodulated by the liquid crystal processing circuit 16 is supplied to the control unit 20 constituted by a microcomputer, and the electronic program information of the television signal received by the tuner 14 is supplied.

The control unit 20 incorporates a timer 22, and the control unit 20 is associated with first and second memory means 24 and 26. First memory means 24
Stores information such as television programs that the user has reserved and watched, days of the week, and time zones as program history information. Further, the electronic program information is downloaded and stored in the second memory means 26 in accordance with an instruction from the control unit 20. If the electronic program information is on a weekly basis, the weekly program information is stored.

The control unit 20 also performs various controls on the recording means 28. As a recording medium of the recording means 28, a hard disk (HDD), a semiconductor memory, or the like can be used. The key information from the key operation unit 30 is also supplied to the control unit 20, and selection and reservation of a television program are executed.

In this embodiment, a sensing sensor 32 is further provided on the front surface of the cabinet (set) of the television receiver, and its sensing output is supplied to the control unit 20. The sensing sensor 32 is for determining whether the person is in the room or not, and an infrared sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, or the like is used.

The control unit 20 executes generation of program history information of the user, collation processing with the electronic program information, video projection processing of the collation result (monitor display processing), recording processing, and the like. First, generation of program history information of the user,
This is a process for storing the history in the first memory means 24 when the user selects a television program to view or record from a television section of a newspaper or the like.

FIG. 2 shows an example of the program history information of a certain user at x month x day. In this example, a channel 1 television program is watched for one hour from 6:00, a channel 3 television program is reserved for recording from 1:00 to 3:00 in the day, and a recording is scheduled from 6:00 to 7:00 in the evening. Meanwhile, while watching channel 1, the user reserves a television program for channel 3.

Such program history information is stored on a weekly basis. The CRT program history information is identification information that includes discrimination information relating to the operation mode of the television receiver and time zone history information. Here, as the operation mode of the television receiver, a viewing mode of a television program, a recording mode, and a combined mode of recording while viewing are considered.

Next, the control unit 20 monitors the tuner output, and downloads the information to the second memory means 26 when the electronic program information is superimposed on the television signal. When the user's program history information is stored in the first memory means 24, the program history information is compared with the electronic program information, and when there is a television program that matches the identification information, The operation mode according to the operation mode determination information is reproduced. For example, when the program history information as shown in FIG. 2 is stored, when the same time zone arrives one week later, for example, at 6:00 in the morning of the day, the power of the television receiver is automatically turned on, and the channel 1 is turned on. Is received. Thus, the user can view channel 1 without bothering the user. At this time, when the user is not present, the power is turned off because it is useless to operate the television receiver. The selection of whether to turn off the power is determined by the presence or absence of the output of the sensor 32.

Similarly, at 1:00 in the daytime, the mode automatically switches to the recording mode of channel 3. As a result, a television program broadcasted at the same time every week can be recorded, so that forgetting to make a recording reservation can be eliminated. The recording process is executed even when the user is absent. While watching a television program, it is also possible to record a so-called back program that records another television program.

Therefore, the control program stored in the memory 34 in the control unit 20 executes the following processing. FIG. 3 shows an example of processing for generating program history information of a user, and the processing is started when the power is turned on. First, it is determined whether or not the user is only watching a television program (step 41). If the user is watching the program, the program waits for the end of the program, and selects the operation mode (viewing mode) selected.
The channel and broadcast time zone (day and time) are stored in the first memory means 24 as identification information (step 42).

When the operation mode is not the viewing mode but the recording mode only (step 43), the recording channel and the recording time zone (day of week and time) are used as the first identification information.
(Step 44). When it is determined that the recording reservation is made simultaneously with the viewing of the television program (step 45), the recording reservation processing is performed simultaneously with the viewing of the television program, and the identification information thereof is stored in the first memory means 24 as the program history information. (Step 46,
47).

By performing such processing every day,
One week's program history information for the user is generated. The generated program history information is collated with the electronic program information. FIG. 4 shows processing steps when the matching processing is performed.

The program history information of the day is read from the first memory means 24, and the electronic program information of the day is read from the second memory means 26 (step 51). Next, the two are collated (step 52). As a result of the comparison, when it is determined that the operation mode is the viewing mode (step 5
3), determine the output of the sensing sensor 32 (step 5)
4).

When an infrared sensing sensor is used as the sensing sensor 32, the sensor output becomes "1" when the user is present and the sensor output becomes "0" when the user is not present. If yes, the same television program watched last week is automatically received and its video is displayed on the monitor 18 (step 55). When it is determined that the user is absent, the television program is not received even if the television program viewing time has arrived. This can reduce waste.

If the result of the check indicates that the operation mode is the recording mode, the television program is automatically recorded when the recording reservation time of the television program comes (steps 56 and 57). Here, when the combination mode is set, the television program can be automatically received and the recording of the television program can be automatically scheduled by the determination processing in steps 53 and 56. This process continues until the main power is turned off (step 58).

[0028]

As described above, according to the present invention, collation processing with program history information is performed using electronic program information superimposed on a television signal, and when they match, the operation mode is automatically changed. It is intended to be executed.

In this manner, if the program history information includes a history of recording reservation, the recording mode is automatically set in the broadcast time zone. As a result, it has features that it is possible to prevent forgetting to record and forget watching a TV program, and to eliminate the program reservation processing that is repeatedly performed each time.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system diagram of a main part showing an embodiment of a television receiver having a television program automatic setting function according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of program history information.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of program history information generation processing.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a television program automatic setting process.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 TV receiver 14 Tuner 16 Video signal processing circuit 18 TV monitor 20 Control unit 24, 26 Memory unit 28 Recording unit 30 Key operation unit 32 Sensing sensor

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

Claims (8)

[Claims] An operation mode discrimination information for discriminating an operation mode such as whether a television program has been viewed or recorded, a history of a viewing time and a history of a recording reservation time are stored as identification information, respectively. And the electronic program information superimposed on the television signal, and when the two match, automatically transition to the same operation mode as the operation mode discrimination information. Automatic setting method. 2. The television program according to claim 1, wherein the operation mode discrimination information is a television program viewing mode, a recording mode, and a combined mode for recording another television program while viewing the television program. Automatic setting method. 3. The automatic setting method of a television program according to claim 1, wherein the viewing time and the recording reservation time are on a weekly basis, and the matching process is executed on a weekly basis. 4. First memory means for storing, as identification information, operation mode discrimination information for discriminating an operation mode such as whether a television program has been viewed or recorded, and a history of viewing time and a history of recording reservation time. A second memory means for downloading and storing electronic program information superimposed on a television signal, a television monitor means, a television program recording means, and a control unit for controlling these. A television characterized in that the identification information and the electronic program information superimposed on the television signal are collated, and when they match, the operation mode automatically transitions to the same operation mode as the operation mode discrimination information. Receiver. 5. A system according to claim 1, wherein a sensing sensor is provided, and when the absence is confirmed by the sensing sensor, a television program viewing mode is prohibited in the operation mode automatic setting processing. 4
The television receiver as described. 6. The television receiver according to claim 5, wherein said sensing sensor is an infrared sensor or an ultrasonic sensor. 7. The television receiver according to claim 5, wherein the operation mode discrimination information is a television program viewing mode, a recording mode, and a combined mode for recording another television program while viewing the television program. Machine. 8. The television receiver according to claim 4, wherein the viewing time and the recording reservation time are on a weekly basis, and the matching process is executed on a weekly basis.