JP2003333450A - Information indicator and information indicating method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To propose an information indicator and an information indicating method which enables the audience or a user to easily retrieve and acquire desired information. <P>SOLUTION: After displaying a plurality of icons for guiding various genre information on a part of a display screen, the information indicator displays a contents description corresponding to one icon selected among the genre information icons. Thus, a consistent indication form can be changed to improve the handling convenience for a user, thereby realizing an information guide which is greatly comprehensible and facilitates retrieving desired information. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information display device and an information display method, for example, when selecting a program required by a viewer from a large number of television programs distributed via broadcasting satellites. It is suitable for application to an information display device and an information display method for displaying a guide of a program.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a satellite broadcasting system in which television programs are distributed to viewers via broadcasting satellites, television signals are digitalized and a huge number of programs are simultaneously delivered. In such a system, the number of programs selected by the viewer is significantly increased.

In a system in which various information such as programs, movies, music, magazine articles, product information, etc. are provided from the host side to the computer terminal via a telephone line or a dedicated line, the user on the terminal side has a large amount of information. The required information is selected from the, and this is requested to the host side.

[0004]

When a viewer or a user tries to select such information using a television program or a computer, a desired program or information must be retrieved from a huge amount of programs or information. I won't. In this case, when the desired information is searched while displaying the information units hierarchically classified based on a certain concept on the monitor screen, the user's operation becomes necessary, and the hierarchy of the information currently searched is displayed. There is a problem that it is difficult to easily retrieve the information desired by the user, because it becomes unclear or the classification concept is not understood.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above points, and proposes an information display device and an information display method by which a viewer or a user can easily retrieve desired information.

[0006]

In order to solve such a problem, in the present invention, first operation means for displaying a plurality of jeanul information icons for guiding various jeanul information on a part of a display screen, and jeanul information. The second operation means for selecting the jeanul information icon for displaying the corresponding explanation from the icons and the various jerk information on a part of the display screen in response to the operation of the first operation means. Of the first display screen for displaying a plurality of jeanul information icons for guiding the user, and a second display screen for displaying a description corresponding to the jeanul information icon in response to the operation of the second operation means. A control means for controlling any one of the displays is provided.

As a result, in this information display device, there are provided a first display screen for displaying a plurality of jeanul information icons for guiding various jeanul information and a second display screen for displaying a description corresponding to the jeanul information icons, respectively. By switching according to the operation of the user, it is possible to improve the usability for the user by consistently switching the display form.

Further, in the present invention, after displaying a plurality of jeanul information icons for guiding various jeanul information on a part of the display screen, a content explanation corresponding to the jeanul information icon selected from the jeanul information icons is displayed. I decided to do it.

As a result, in this information display device, a plurality of jeanul information icons for guiding various jeanul information and a display of a content explanation corresponding to the jeanul information icon are switched by a user's operation, thereby consistently performing the operation. The user-friendliness can be improved by switching the display form.

[0010]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

(1) Overall Configuration of Satellite Broadcasting Reception System In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes the satellite broadcasting receiving system as a whole, and the broadcast signal received by the parabolic antenna 3 is received and decoded by an IRD (Integrated Receiver / Decorder) 2
Are demodulated and compressed and decoded by. The resulting video / audio signal SV1 is a VCR (Video Casset) of the following VHS system.
tte Recorder) 6 is transmitted.

The VCR 6 records the video / audio signal SV1 on a video tape loaded therein, or sends the video / audio signal SV1 as it is from the output line to the monitor device 4, thereby displaying it. To do.

When the viewer operates the remote commander 5, a command corresponding to the operation is converted into an infrared signal IR and sent to the reception / decoding device 2. Receiving and decoding device 2
Is a channel switch based on the command, registration / readout of user data, and each device connected to the receiving / decoding device 2 (VCR6, VCR7, DVD8 and MD9).
It performs various operations such as sending the control signal CONT to. The control signal CONT is sent to the VCR 6 via the control line. When the VCR 6 is designated as a control target by this control signal CONT, the control signal CONT
VCR6 is controlled by NT. On the other hand, as the control target of the control signal CONT, the devices sequentially connected to the VCR 6 through the control line (8 mm type VCR 7, digital video disc player (DVD: Digital Vid
eo Disc) 8, Mini Disc Player (MD: Mini Disc)
9 or the monitor device 4) is specified, the VCR 6 sends the control signal CONT as it is to the VCR 7 of the following 8 mm system.

When the VCR 7 receives the control signal CONT, it determines the device designated by the control signal CONT. When this determination result is VCR7, VC
R7 executes the operation designated by the control signal CONT. This instruction is, for example, 8 mm loaded in the VCR7
When the instruction is to reproduce the video tape, the VCR 7 reproduces the video tape and sends the reproduced video signal SV3 to the monitor device 4 to display it. Further, when the instruction by the control signal CONT is an instruction for recording the broadcast signal (video / audio signal SV1) received and decoded by the reception / decoding apparatus 2 in the VCR 7, the VCR 7 operates from the reception / decoding apparatus 2 to the VHS system. V
The video / audio signal SV1 input via the CR 6 and the monitor device 4 is recorded. On the other hand, the control signal CONT
When the control target of is not the VCR 7, the VCR 7 sends the control signal CONT as it is to the subsequent DVD 8.

When the control signal CONT is input to the DVD 8, the DVD 8 discriminates the device designated by the control signal CONT. If this determination result is DVD8, DV
D8 executes the operation designated by the control signal CONT. If this instruction is, for example, an instruction to reproduce video and / or audio from the disk loaded in the DVD 8,
DVD8 plays video / image by playing the disc.
This is displayed by sending the audio signal SV4 to the monitor device 4. On the other hand, when the control target of the control signal CONT is not the DVD8, the DVD8 has the control signal C
The ONT is sent as it is to the following MD9.

When the control signal CONT is input, the MD 9 determines the device designated by the control signal CONT. When this determination result is MD9, MD9
Performs the operation designated by the control signal CONT. When this instruction is, for example, an instruction to reproduce the disk loaded in the MD 9, the MD 9 reproduces the disk and sends an audio signal SV5 to the monitor device 4 to audibly display it. Further, the instruction by the control signal CONT MD the broadcast signal (video / audio signal SV1) received and decoded by the reception / decoding device 2.
If the instruction is to record at 9, the MD 9 records the audio signal of the video / audio signal SV1 input from the receiving and decoding apparatus 2 via the VHS VCR 6 and the monitor apparatus 4. On the other hand, the control target of the control signal CONT is M
When it is not D9, MD9 sends the control signal CONT as it is to the subsequent monitor device 4. At this time, the monitor device 4 executes the operation designated by the control signal CONT.

(2) Configuration of Reception / Decoding Device In FIG. 2, the reception / decoding device 2 outputs the RF signal output by the LNB (Low Noise Block down converter) 3A of the parabolic antenna 3 to the tuner 2 of the front end 20.
1 and demodulated. The output of the tuner 21 is Q
The signal is supplied to the PSK demodulation circuit 22 and QPSK demodulated.
The output of the QPSK demodulation circuit 22 is supplied to the error correction circuit 23, which detects and corrects errors and corrects them if necessary.

A CAM (Conditional Access) which is composed of an IC card composed of a CPU, a ROM and a RAM.
The module 33 stores the key necessary for decrypting the code together with the decryption program. Since the signal transmitted via the broadcast satellite is encrypted, a key and a decryption process are required to decrypt this encryption.
Therefore, through the card reader interface 32, CA
This key is read from M33, and the demultiplexer 2
4 is supplied. The demultiplexer 24 uses this key to decrypt the encrypted signal.

The demultiplexer 24 receives the signal output from the error correction circuit 23 of the front end 20, supplies the decoded video signal to the MPEG video decoder 25, and supplies the decoded audio signal to the MPEG audio decoder 26.

The MPEG video decoder 25 stores the inputted digital video signal in the DRAM 25A,
The decoding process of the video signal compressed by the PEG method is executed. The decoded video signal is NTS
It is supplied to the C encoder 27, and the luminance signal (Y), the chroma signal (C) and the composite signal (V) of the NTSC system.
Is converted to. The luminance signal and the chroma signal are output as S video signals via buffer amplifiers 28Y and 28C, respectively. Further, the composite signal is output via the buffer amplifier 28V.

The MPEG audio decoder 26 stores the digital audio signal supplied from the demultiplexer 24 in the DRAM 26A and executes the decoding process of the audio signal compressed by the MPEG system. The decoded audio signal is sent to the D / A converter 3
At 0, digital / analog conversion is performed, the left channel audio signal is output via the buffer amplifier 31L, and the right channel audio signal is output via the buffer amplifier 31R.

The RF modulator 41 converts the composite signal output by the NTSC encoder 27 and the audio signal output by the D / A converter 30 into an RF signal and outputs the RF signal. Further, the RF modulator 41 passes through an NTSC-type RF signal input from another device and outputs it to another device as it is. In the case of this embodiment, these video signal and audio signal are supplied to the VCR 6 via the AV line.

The CPU 29 executes various processes according to the programs stored in the ROM 37. Also, C
The PU 29 controls the AV device control signal transmitting / receiving unit 2A, outputs a predetermined control signal to another device through the control line, and receives a control signal from the other device.

A predetermined command can be directly input to the CPU 29 by operating an operation button switch on the front panel 40. When the operation key of the remote commander 5 is operated, an infrared signal is output by the IR transmitter of the remote commander 5, the infrared signal is received by the IR receiver 39, and the light reception result is supplied to the CPU 29. Therefore, by operating the remote commander 5, it is possible to input a predetermined command to the CPU 29.

Further, the CPU 29 uses the demultiplexer 2
For example, the EPG (Electronic Program Guide) information other than the video signal and the audio signal output by 4 is fetched,
EPG data will be created from this, and SRAM (Static Ra
ndom Access Memory) 36 and stores it. EP
The G information includes information on programs of each broadcasting channel from the current time to several tens of hours later (for example, program channel, broadcasting time, title, title, program description, etc.). Since this EPG information is frequently transmitted, SR
The AM 36 always holds the latest EPG information.

EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Pro
In the gramable read only memory) 38, there is data (rewritable, for example, a tuner 2) that is desired to be retained even after the power is turned off.
The reception history of the past four weeks of 1) and the like are stored. Also,
The CPU 29 compares the time information output by the calendar timer 35 with the time stamp separated and output from the received signal by the demultiplexer 24, and the decoding process can be performed at the correct timing according to the comparison result.
It controls the MPEG video decoder 25 and the MPEG audio decoder 26.

Further, the CPU 29 has a predetermined OSD (On-
When it is desired to generate (Screen Display) data, the MPEG video decoder 25 is controlled. The MPEG video decoder 25 generates predetermined OSD data in response to this control, writes the OSD data in the DRAM 25A, reads it out, and outputs it. As a result, predetermined characters, figures, etc. can be output to the monitor device 4 and displayed.

When the operation key of the program guide is selected on the remote commander 5 or the front panel 40, the CPU 29 controls the MPEG video decoder 25 to display the broadcast program selection screen on the monitor device 4. The user can select and designate a desired program by moving the cursor to the desired program position on this screen and clicking the remote commander 5.

(3) The CPU 29 of the information display receiving / decoding device 2 (FIG. 2) by the information guide system, in accordance with the information guide program of the ROM 37, transmits the EPG information taken in the SRAM 36 to the operation of the remote commander 5 by the user. And is displayed on the display screen 4A of the monitor device 4.

As shown in FIG. 3, on the remote commander 5, "cursor move" buttons K2, K3, K for moving the cursor displayed on the display screen 4A vertically and horizontally.
4 and K5, and a "OK" button K6 for deciding the item (program) designated by the cursor. Further, a "guide" button K11 for setting the information guide (program guide) mode and a "commentary" button K12 for switching the display mode of the information displayed on the display screen 4A are provided. The CPU 29 (FIG. 2) displays corresponding EPG information on the display screen 4A in response to these button operations.

That is, when the information guide mode is set by operating the "guide" button K11 of the remote commander 5, first, as shown in FIG. 4 (A), a plurality of information icon (icon) parts EY are displayed. Information icon list display area AR
Listed in EY. Each information icon EY is provided corresponding to each broadcast channel, and a character (a pictorial image, a logo mark, a word or the like of an image, etc.) representing a broadcasting station, which is a program provider of the channel, by a graphic and / or a character. ) Is displayed, and the cursor KA indicates one of the information icon areas EY. This cursor KA
Is a "cursor move" button K2- on the remote commander 5.
With K5 you can move it up and down, left and right, with the cursor pointing to one of the information icon parts EY,
When the "Explanation" button K12 of the remote commander 5 is operated, a screen in the information card format as shown in FIG. 4B is displayed on the display screen 4A.

On this screen, in the state of FIG. 4A, in the horizontal direction of the information icon portion EY designated by the cursor KA, the title of the program broadcast on the channel indicated by the information icon portion EY is displayed. And a title part TY whose gist is described in a simple sentence. Title part TY
A "return" icon portion RT is displayed in the corner of the "return" icon portion RT, and by designating the cursor on the "return" icon portion RT, the screen shown in FIG. 4B can be returned to the screen shown in FIG. 4A. it can. Incidentally, the information icon portion EY and the title portion T designated by the cursor KA in FIG.
The area composed of Y and the "return" icon portion RT is called a title bar.

When the "explanation" button K12 of the remote commander 5 is further operated in the state of FIG. 4B, a screen having an information content explanation section EX under the title section TY as shown in FIG. 4C. Switch to. In the information content explanation section EX, detailed content information of the program designated by the information icon EY at this time is shown in text. In the screen of FIG. 4C, by pointing the cursor to the “return” icon portion RT, the screen shown in FIG. 4C can be returned to the screen shown in FIG. 4B.

Incidentally, in the case of FIG. 4, the information icon section EY displayed as a list in the information icon list display section AREY.
Among the cases, the title part TY is displayed in the horizontal direction of the information icon part EY by pointing the cursor to the information icon part EY in the upper left corner, for example, as shown in FIG.
As shown in (A), the information icon portion EY at an arbitrary position
When the cursor is designated, as shown in FIG. 5 (B), the information icon portion EY designated by the cursor is moved to the left, for example, and as shown in FIG. Title section TY and "Return" to the right of EY
The icon part RT is displayed.

In this state, by operating the "Explanation" button K12 of the remote commander 5, the information icon portion EY and its title portion TY are moved to the uppermost stage, as described above with reference to FIG. 4 (C). The information content explanation section EX is displayed below the title section TY.

6 to 9 show a series of information display procedures. In step SP1 of FIG. 6, the main screen of the program designated by the channel at this time is displayed on the display screen 4A of the monitor device 4. . In this state, the CPU 29 of the reception / decoding device 2 waits for an input operation of the remote commander 5 by the user. When the user operates any operation button of the remote commander 5 here, the CPU
29 moves to step SP2 to judge the input contents by the remote commander 5.

If the "OK" button K6 of the remote commander 5 is operated, the CPU 29 returns to the above-mentioned step SP1 and continues displaying the main program. On the other hand, when it is determined in step SP2 that the "commentary" button K12 of the remote commander 5 has been operated, the CPU 29 moves to step SP4 and displays the program displayed on the display screen 4A in step SP1. The information icon list display area AREY in which the information icon section EY corresponding to is indicated by the cursor KA is displayed on the display screen 4A.

On the other hand, when it is determined in step SP2 that the "guide" button K11 of the remote commander 5 is operated, the CPU 29 determines in step SP2.
Moving to 3, the information icon list display area AREY is displayed on the display screen 4A as the initial screen of the program guide mode, and the information icon area EY at the upper left corner is instructed as the initial state of the cursor KA.

In this state, the CPU 29 again waits for an input operation of the remote commander 5 by the user.
When the user operates any of the operation buttons of the remote commander 5 here, the CPU 29 moves to step SP5 and determines the input content by the remote commander 5. If the "guide" button K11 of the remote commander 5 is operated, the CPU 29 releases the program guide mode, returns to step SP1 described above, and returns to the display of the main program selected originally.

On the other hand, when it is determined in step SP5 that the "OK" button K6 of the remote commander 5 is being operated, the CPU 29 determines that the step SP5 in FIG.
Moving to 15, the main part of the program corresponding to the information icon section EY designated by the cursor in step SP3 is displayed on the display screen 4A.

On the other hand, when it is determined in step SP5 that the "comment" button K12 of the remote commander 5 is being operated, the CPU 29 causes the CPU 29 to execute step S in FIG.
Moving to P7, the title portion TY is displayed on the display screen 4A, and at this time, the information icon portion E designated by the cursor is displayed.
The title and summary corresponding to Y are displayed.

On the other hand, when it is determined in step SP5 that the "cursor movement" buttons K2 to K5 are operated, the CPU 29 moves to step SP6 and, in response to the operation, the cursor on the cover screen 4A. Move KA. This allows the user to operate the "cursor move" buttons K2 to K5 of the remote commander 5 to move the cursor to the desired information icon section EY.

In this state, the CPU 29 again waits for an input operation of the remote commander 5 by the user.
When the user operates any of the operation buttons of the remote commander 5 here, the CPU 29 moves to step SP8 and determines the input content by the remote commander 5. If the "guide" button K11 of the remote commander 5 is operated, the CPU 29 releases the program guide mode, returns to step SP1 described above, and returns to the display of the main program selected originally.

On the other hand, when it is determined in step SP8 that the "OK" button K6 of the remote commander 5 has been operated, the CPU 29 causes the step SP8 of FIG.
Moving to 15, the main part of the program corresponding to the information icon portion EY designated by the cursor in step SP6 is displayed on the display screen 4A.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step SP8 that the "comment" button K12 of the remote commander 5 is operated, the CPU 29 causes the CPU 29 to execute step S in FIG.
Moving to P9, the title portion TY is displayed next to the information icon portion EY designated by the cursor at this time, and the title and the gist corresponding to the information icon portion EY designated by the cursor at this time are displayed.

In this state, the CPU 29 again waits for an input operation of the remote commander 5 by the user.
When the user operates any of the operation buttons of the remote commander 5 here, the CPU 29 causes the step SP1 of FIG.
Moving to 0, the contents input by the remote commander 5 are judged. Here, the "guide" button K on the remote commander 5
When 11 is operated, the CPU 29 releases the program guide mode, returns to the above-mentioned step SP1, and returns to the display of the main program selected originally.

On the other hand, in step SP10,
When it is determined that the "OK" button K6 of the remote commander 5 is operated, the CPU 29 proceeds to step S of FIG.
Moving to P15, the above-mentioned step SP6 and step S
Information icon part E where the cursor is designated in P9
The main part of the program corresponding to Y is displayed on the display screen 4A.

On the other hand, in step SP10, the "cursor move" button K5 of the remote commander 5 is pressed.
If it is determined that is operated, this means that the user has designated to move the cursor KA to the "return" icon portion RT in the state of step SP9, and at this time, the CPU 29 causes step SP12. Then, the cursor KA is displayed on the "return" icon portion RT. In this state, the CPU 29 again waits for an input operation of the remote commander 5 by the user. When the user operates any of the operation buttons of the remote commander 5 here, the CPU 29 causes the step SP14 of FIG.
Then, the contents input by the remote commander 5 are judged.

When it is determined in step SP14 that the "comment" button K12 is operated, the CPU2
9 returns to step SP6 described above, and then step SP12
Information icon E of the program whose title was displayed in
The information icon list display area AREY in which Y is indicated by the cursor KA is displayed on the display screen 4A.

On the other hand, in step SP14,
When it is determined that the "guide" button K11 is operated, the CPU 29 releases the program guide mode, returns to step SP1 described above, and returns to the display of the main program selected originally. On the other hand, in step SP14,
When it is determined that the "OK" button K6 of the remote commander 5 has been operated, the CPU 29 causes the "return" icon portion RT by the user in step SP12 described above.
In response to the designation of, the process returns to the above-mentioned step SP1 and returns to the display of the main program selected originally.

If it is determined in step SP10 described above that the "explanation" button K12 of the remote commander 5 has been operated, the CPU 29 proceeds to step SP11 in FIG. 8 to explain the information contents on the display screen 4A. The section EX is displayed, and the contents of the program corresponding to the information icon section EY designated by the cursor (the information icon section EY designated by Step SP6 and Step SP9) at this time are displayed in text.

In this state, the CPU 29 again waits for the input operation of the remote commander 5 by the user.
When the user operates any of the operation buttons of the remote commander 5 here, the CPU 29 causes the step SP1 of FIG.
In step 3, the contents input by the remote commander 5 are judged. Here, the "guide" button K on the remote commander 5
When 11 is operated, the CPU 29 releases the program guide mode, returns to the above-mentioned step SP1, and returns to the display of the main program selected originally.

On the other hand, in step SP13,
When it is determined that the "comment" button K12 is operated, the CPU 29 continues to display the above-mentioned step SP11. On the other hand, in step SP13, "decision"
When it is determined that the button K6 is operated, the CPU
Then, 29 moves to the next step SP15, at which time the information icon portion EY designated by the cursor (step SP
6, the main part of the program corresponding to the information icon section EY designated in step SP9 and step SP11 is displayed on the display screen 4A, and the selection of the program by the user is completed.

On the other hand, in step SP13 described above, the "cursor move" button K of the remote commander 5 is pressed.
If it is determined that No. 5 is being operated, this means that the user has designated in the state of step SP11 to move the cursor KA to the "return" icon portion RT, and at this time, the CPU 29 executes the step. SP1
6 and move the cursor K to the "return" icon part RT.
Display A. In this state, the CPU 29 again waits for an input operation of the remote commander 5 by the user. When the user operates any operation button of the remote commander 5 here, the CPU 29 causes the step SP17.
Then, the contents input by the remote commander 5 are judged.

If it is determined in step SP17 that the "explanation" button K12 has been operated, the CPU 2
9 returns to the above-mentioned step SP12, and step SP1
6, the title section TY of the program whose program content was explained in the information content explanation section EX is the information icon list display section A.
Return to the screen displayed in REY.

On the other hand, in step SP17,
When it is determined that the "guide" button K11 is operated, the CPU 29 releases the program guide mode, returns to step SP1 described above, and returns to the display of the main program selected originally. On the other hand, in step SP17,
When it is determined that the "OK" button K6 of the remote commander 5 is operated, the CPU 29 causes the "return" icon portion RT by the user in step SP16 described above.
In response to the designation of, the process returns to the above-mentioned step SP1 and returns to the display of the main program selected originally.

(4) Operation and effects of the embodiment With the above configuration, when the user operates the "guide" button K11 of the remote commander 5, the CPU 29 enters the program guide mode, as shown in step SP3 (FIG. 6). The detailed information icon list display area AREY to monitor device 4
Is displayed on the display screen 4A. On the display screen 4A, a plurality of information icon portions EY are displayed vertically and horizontally corresponding to the plurality of channels. A broadcasting station corresponding to each channel is displayed in each information icon portion EY by a character. Therefore, the user can select the information icon list display section AR.
By looking at EY, it is possible to select a desired channel by operating the "OK" button K6 of the remote commander 5 while simultaneously viewing icons representing a plurality of channels (broadcasting stations).

By operating the "Explanation" button K12 of the remote commander 5, a title bar (information icon section EY, title section TY) and "Return" are displayed on the display screen 4A as shown in step SP9 (FIG. 7). (Consisting of the icon portion RT) is displayed. Therefore, the user can see the title and a brief summary of the program currently being broadcast on the channel corresponding to the specific information icon portion EY designated by the user among the plurality of information icon portions EY.

As a result, the user can confirm that the program guide (title bar) currently displayed is in the information icon list display area ARE.
It can be seen that this is the display step that appears next to Y, and the display step of the current program guide can be easily determined. Further, in this state, the user can see the other information icon section EY (that is, another channel) together with the title bar, and the user can compare the summary of the channel by the title bar with other information icon sections EY (channel). Can be seen while.

In this state, when the user operates the "commentary" button K12 of the remote commander 5, an information card format screen shown in step SP11 (FIG. 8) is displayed on the display screen 4A. On the screen, in addition to the title bar, the detailed description of the program content is displayed in the information content description section EX, so that the user can display the program description in the channel provided by the information icon section EY.
And the program title by the title section TY.

In this way, the user can use the remote commander 5
It is possible to switch the information icon list display area AREY, the title bar, and the guide screen in the information card format by simply operating the "Explanation" button K12 of the above, and by further operating the "Enter" button K6 in each display step. At this time, the main program of the channel corresponding to the information icon portion EY designated by the cursor can be immediately displayed. In this way, the display steps of the program guide are arranged in a consistent order from the channel (information icon section EY), the program title being broadcast on the channel, detailed explanation of the program title and rough classification items to detailed explanations. You can switch with.

Thus, according to the above configuration, the display steps of the program guide can be switched with a smooth display transition that does not make the user feel the hierarchy, and the usability for the user can be improved.

(5) Other Embodiments (5-1) In the above-described embodiment, the case where the information icon list display areas AREY are arranged randomly in the vertical and horizontal directions has been described. The present invention is not limited to this, and for example, information icon portions EY representing the same channels may be arranged in the vertical direction of the list.

In this case, the CPU 29 (FIG. 2) displays the information icon list display area AREY as shown in FIG. 10 by operating the “guide” button K11 of the remote commander 5 (FIG. 3). In the information icon list display area AREY, channels (information icon area EY) that are broadcasting the same program (A, B, C, D, E or F) in the vertical direction are arranged based on the EPG information. Has been. Also, below the information icon list display area AREY, there is a jeanru search icon list display area AR in which a plurality of jeanul search icons GE corresponding to each column are arranged.
GE is displayed. The user can search for a program for each genre by using the genre search icon list display area ARGE.

That is, as shown in FIG. 11 (A), when the "guide" button K11 of the remote commander 5 is operated, the display screen 4A has a vertical information channel indicating the same program. It is displayed by the section EY. Below the information icon list display area AREY, the search icon list display area ARGE described above with reference to FIG. 10 is displayed. In this state,
The user operates the "cursor move" buttons K2 to K5 of the remote commander 5 to move the cursor KA to the position shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 1 (B), it can be matched with any of the search icons GE.

In this state, the user sets the remote commander 5
When the "Explanation" button K12 is operated, all the information icon parts EY in the column corresponding to the jeanul search icon GE designated by the cursor KA are switched to the title bar (FIGS. 11C to 12A). )).

In this state (FIG. 12 (A)), the user can see the titles of the programs of the same genre at the same time, and the "cursor move" button K2 of the remote commander 5 is displayed.
By operating K5 to K5, the cursor KA can be moved to the information icon portion EY corresponding to the desired title, as shown in FIG. Thus, by operating the "Explanation" button K12 of the remote commander 5, as shown in FIG. 12C, the information content explanation section EX showing a detailed explanation of the program designated by the cursor is displayed, and the user can Can see the detailed explanation of the program.

Incidentally, when the cursor is moved to the desired information icon EY or the title bar and the "OK" button K6 of the remote commander 5 is operated in each of the display steps shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the cursor KA is designated. The main part of the program can be immediately displayed on the display screen 4A.

Thus, the user can know the channel (broadcasting station) which is broadcasting the same program by just looking at the information icon parts EY arranged vertically in the information icon list display area AREY (FIG. 10). At the same time, the titles of the same jeanul can be viewed at the same time by simply moving the cursor KA to any jeanul search icon GE displayed in the jeanul search icon list display area ARGE. This allows the user to search for a program more easily.

10 to 12, a case has been described in which the information icons EY of the same jean are arranged in the vertical direction, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the title bar may be displayed in correspondence with, for example, the Japanese vertical display. In the case of the portrait orientation, the information icon parts EY of the same jean may be arranged in the horizontal direction. In this case, the search icon GE is displayed to the right or left of the corresponding row.

(5-2) In the above embodiment, the case where only the information icon portions EY are randomly arranged vertically and horizontally as the information icon list display area AREY has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a genre identification code color-coded or pattern-coded for each jeanru may be added to a part of each information icon portion EY.

That is, FIG. 13A shows the information icon list display area AREY displayed on the display screen 4A, and the information icon area E is displayed above each information icon area EY.
The color of the program currently being broadcast on the channel represented by Y is the color of the color or pattern.
Is displayed in. On the upper part of the display screen 4A, the color or pattern corresponding to each jeanul is displayed together with the jeanul name (jeanul identification code index portion IDX).

Therefore, the user can easily identify the jerk by the jerk identification code portion CO. Incidentally, FIG. 13B shows a state in which it is displayed in the information card format, and in this case as well, the jeanul identification code portion CO is displayed above the information icon portion EY.

FIG. 14 shows the jeanul identification code part CO
14A, the information icon portion E is shown in FIG.
The genre identification code portion CO is displayed on the entire upper portion of the title bar composed of Y, the title portion TY, and the "return" icon portion RT.

Further, in FIG. 14B, a jerk identification code portion CO is displayed above and to the left of the information icon portion EY of the title bar. In this case, in addition to the title bar display, the jeanul identification code portion CO may be displayed on the upper and left portions of all the information icon portions EY displayed in the information icon list display area AREY. The position of is not limited to the upper part and the left part, but may be a combination with the right part and the lower part.

Further, in FIG. 14C, the entire information icon portion EY of the title bar is covered with a color or a pattern corresponding to the jean, thereby displaying the jean. In this case, in addition to the title bar display, the information icon list display area ARE
All the information icon portions EY displayed in Y may be similarly color-coded or pattern-coded. As a result, it is possible to further facilitate the identification of genre division.

Also, in FIG. 14D, the entire portion displayed in the information card format is displayed so as to be colored or covered with a pattern according to the jean. This allows the user to recognize the jean more strongly.

(5-3) In the above-mentioned embodiment, the case where six information icon parts EY (that is, 36 information icon parts in total) are displayed in the information icon list display area AREY has been described. The invention is not limited to this, and may be further subdivided to display many information icon portions EY.

On the other hand, as a method of handling a larger number of information icon parts EY without changing the number of information icon parts EY displayed on the display screen 4A, as shown in FIG. A part (36) of the above may be displayed on the display screen 4A. That is, FIG. 15A has a vertical scroll bar SC1 and a horizontal scroll bar SC2, and the vertical scroll bar SC1
By specifying the up scroll button SCUP or the down scroll button SCDW attached to the cursor with the cursor KA, the information icon array of the information icon list display area AREY can be scrolled up and down on the screen. By specifying the left scroll button SCL or the right scroll button SCR attached to the scroll bar SC2 with the cursor KA, the information icon array of the information icon list display area AREY can be scrolled left and right on the screen, As a result, the information icon portion EY that can be displayed on the display screen 4A
It is possible to handle more information icon parts EY than the number.

Further, FIG. 15B is different from the vertical scroll buttons SCUP and SCDW and the horizontal scroll buttons SCL and SCR of FIG. 15A in that a page switching icon ARP is provided and a page return button P1 or a page forward button P2 is provided. By designating the cursor, the information icon array in the information icon list display area AREY can be handled in page units, and even in this case, more information icons than the number of information icon areas EY that can be displayed on the display screen 4A are displayed. The department EY can be handled.

(5-4) In the above-mentioned embodiment, the case where each program of satellite broadcasting is displayed as an information icon has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, the Internet WWW (World Wide Web) home page. , DV
As shown in FIGS. 16A and 16B, in the information guide system including the media source of the disk library such as D or CD, the source icons of the TV broadcast, the homepage and the disk are displayed on the display screen 4A of SOU. Provided above the information icon list display area AREY,
Mode (T) specified by each source icon SOU
Information icons corresponding to V mode, WWW mode, DISC mode) may be displayed.

That is, in FIG. 16A, the television (TV) mode is designated by the source icon SOU, and the information icon EYTV corresponding to the television program (channel) is displayed in the information icon list display area AREY. There is. In this state, if the disk (DISC) mode of the source icon SOU is specified, as shown in FIG. 16B, the information icon EYDISC in which the graphic of the disk jacket is reduced is displayed in the information icon list display area AREY. To be done. Therefore, the user can select information icons of a plurality of types of media only by selecting the source icon SOU. In this case, each disk can be selected on the display screen 4A of the monitor device 4 by using a disk-engine-mounted type capable of housing a plurality of disks as the DVD 8 or MD 9 in FIG.

The information of each disk is registered in the SRAM 36 of the reception / decoding device 2 by the user when the disk is loaded into the disk engineer, or the disk information is recorded in advance in each disk and loaded. It may be read out at some time and stored in the SRAM 36. Further, as the home page information of Internet, the information input through the communication line may be fetched into the SRAM 36, and the information guide may be performed based on the information.

(5-5) In the above embodiment, the display sequence of the program guide is set to C of the receiving and decoding apparatus 2.
Although the case of using the PU 29 has been described, the present invention is not limited to this, and a separate device may be used as the information guide device.

[0085]

As described above, according to the present invention, from the first operation means for displaying a plurality of jeanul information icons for guiding various jeanul information on a part of the display screen, and the jeanul information icons, Second operation means for selecting a jeanul information icon for displaying a corresponding description, and jeanul information for guiding various jeanul information to a part of the display screen in response to operation of the first operation means. Either the display of the first display screen that displays a plurality of icons or the display of the second display screen that displays the content description corresponding to the jeanul information icon in response to the operation of the second operation means. By providing the control means for controlling the display, it is possible to improve the usability for the user by consistently switching the display form, and thus it is easier to understand. , Can be realized information guide may retrieve information easily desired.

Further, according to the present invention, a plurality of jeanul information icons for guiding various jeanul information are displayed on a part of the display screen, and a content explanation corresponding to the jeanul information icon selected from the jeanul information icons is displayed. By displaying the information, it is possible to improve the usability of the user by consistently switching the display form, and thus it is possible to realize an information guide that is much easier to understand and can easily retrieve desired information.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a satellite broadcast receiving system to which an information display method according to the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a reception / decoding device.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing an arrangement example of various buttons of a remote commander.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing changes in a program guide screen in an information card format.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing changes in a program guide screen in an information card format.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an information display procedure.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing an information display procedure.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing an information display procedure.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing an information display procedure.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing an array of information icons for each genre.

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram used for explaining a search display procedure using a janru search icon.

FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram used for explaining a search display procedure using a janru search icon.

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing a display example with a janru identification code.

FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram showing another embodiment of a jeanul identification code section.

FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram showing an example of switching display of a large number of icons.

FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram showing an example of switching display by a source icon.

[Explanation of symbols]

2 ... Receiving / decoding device, 4 ... Monitor device, 4A ... Display screen, 5 ... Remote commander, K2-K5 ... "Cursor move" button, K6 ... "Enter" button, K11 ...
… “Guide” button, K12 …… “Explanation” button, EY
…… Information icon section, AREY …… Information icon list display section, KA …… Cursor, TY …… Title section, RT…
... "Return" icon part, GE ... jeanul search icon, CO ... jeanul identification code part, SC1 ... up and down scroll bar, SC2 ... left and right scroll bar, ARP
...... Page switching icon, SOU ... Source icon.

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor, Kimiyoshi Yoshida             Sony 6-735 Kitashinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo             Within the corporation F-term (reference) 5C025 BA19 BA21 CA06 CA09 CB09                       DA01 DA04 DA08                 5E501 AB10 BA05 CA01 CB03 CC02                       EA11 FA04 FA09

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A first operation means for displaying a plurality of jeanul information icons for guiding various jeanul information on a part of a display screen, and jeanul information for displaying a corresponding explanation from the jeanul information icons. A second operation means for selecting an icon and a plurality of jean information icons for guiding the various jean information are displayed on a part of the display screen in response to operation of the first operation means. Either the display of the display screen of No. 1 or the display of the second display screen for displaying the content explanation corresponding to the jeanul information icon is performed in response to the operation of the second operation means. An information display device, comprising: 2. The content description corresponding to the jeanul information icon displayed in response to the operation of the second operation means is at least a title of the program or a brief description of the program. The information display device according to claim 1. 3. A plurality of media are connected to the information display device, and a reading means for reading data from each of the media is provided.
A media information icon for guiding the media is further displayed on a part of the display screen displayed by the operation of the first operation means, and the second operation means further selects the media information icon. And the control means controls to further display the display screen for displaying information corresponding to each media information icon in response to the operation of the second operation means. The information display device according to claim 1. 4. A first display step of displaying a plurality of jeanul information icons for guiding various jeanul information on a part of the display screen, and a description corresponding to the jeanul information icon selected from the jeanul information icons. A second displaying step of displaying the information.