JP2004120057A - Broadcast receiver - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a broadcast receiver with enhanced convenience by minimizing revision of existing user setting information attended with a change in an operating environment. <P>SOLUTION: The broadcast receiver for receiving a broadcast signal transmitted from a broadcast station and presetting channel data of the broadcast station corresponding to the broadcast signal to a channel preset memory 13, is provided with: a means for detecting whether or not a broadcast signal exists in a channel stored in the channel preset memory 13; a means for detecting a channel other than the channel stored in the channel preset memory 13 and wherein a broadcast signal of a newly receptible broadcast station exists; and a means for replacing the channel data of the newly receptible broadcast station with the channel data wherein the presence of the broadcast signal is not detected and registering the resulting data to the channel preset memory 13. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a broadcast signal receiving apparatus such as a television receiver and a video tape recorder, and more particularly to a broadcast receiving apparatus capable of automatically performing channel preset.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In general, in a broadcast receiving apparatus for receiving a television broadcast signal, a remote controller (remote controller) or the like is operated to designate a channel position, thereby setting a television set based on desired channel data set in a channel preset memory. The television broadcast signal of a desired frequency band can be selected from television broadcast signals.
[0003]
Here, the correspondence between the channel position and the channel data is set in advance by performing a channel setting process called a channel preset according to an area where the broadcast receiving device is installed. Further, even when a broadcasting service area defined by a broadcaster or the like is installed in the same broadcasting service area, channel data to be preset (channel selection) depending on the direction of the antenna, the surrounding environment, or the performance of the broadcast receiving apparatus. Frequency bands).
[0004]
As such a channel presetting method, generally, three types of "auto presetting method", "region code setting method", and "manual setting method" are used. The selection of which method to perform the channel preset may be made, for example, when a user (viewer) uses a remote controller to display an image of a “menu” screen on a monitor display screen and selects “channel preset (setting)”. From the guidance screen displayed on the screen.
[0005]
Here, the “auto-preset method” is activated when a user (viewer) operates, for example, a remote controller and selects “auto-preset”, and the VHF band (1 to 12CH) and the UHF band (13 to For all frequency bands of 62CH), broadcast radio signals receivable at the installation location of the broadcast receiving apparatus are automatically and sequentially detected in ascending order of frequency, and channel data of receivable broadcast stations are sequentially channel-positioned. It is set to.
[0006]
The “region code setting method” is activated by a user (viewer) operating, for example, a remote controller and selecting “region code setting”, and is used to select each region which is divided and set as a broadcast region in advance. The user (viewer) designates an area code indicating a broadcast area closest to the installation location of the broadcast receiving apparatus from the plurality of area codes shown.
[0007]
As a result, it is possible to automatically set the channel data for each channel position stored in advance as the optimal channel data for the broadcast area. Here, the channel data of the channel position corresponding to each area code is set and registered in the area code table in advance, but generally, the setting contents of the area code and the setting contents of the channel data are determined by the model of the broadcast receiving apparatus, that is, the broadcast receiver. It differs depending on the type of receiving device (particularly, the manufacturer of the broadcast receiving device).
[0008]
Further, the "manual setting method" means, for example, that once a channel is preset, channel data corresponding to another channel position is additionally set, or channel data of a channel position already preset is changed. The program is started when a user (viewer) operates a remote controller and selects “manual setting”, for example, to manually set channel data for each channel position.
[0009]
This allows you to make fine adjustments such as shifting the reception frequency back and forth with respect to the channel data automatically set by, for example, the "auto-preset method" or "region code setting method", or to set the content to be displayed on the screen when displaying the channel. It is also possible to make unique settings for each user such as
[0010]
As an application example related to such a channel presetting method, for example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 8-79645, a channel auto-preset selection processing program is executed according to an operation of an auto-tuning key operated by a key input unit and output to a DA converter. The tuning frequency of the electronic tuner is gradually changed by gradually changing the tuning control data, and the channel data of the television station received based on the detection signal input from the synchronization signal detection circuit and the detection signal input from the AFC voltage detection circuit Corresponding to the channel No. Is read with reference to the data stored in the CH data storage circuit, and the read channel No. is read. The preset No. of the preset CH data storage circuit that matches the preset No. Describes that channel data is preset.
[0011]
Further, as another application example of the channel presetting method, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 8-154039 discloses a receivable channel for each predetermined area range, a position number for selecting the channel, and broadcast station name data. Is provided with an area data ROM stored as area data, and sequentially compares the broadcasting channel of the tuning data stored in the preset memory with the broadcasting channel in the area data. It describes that the area data is replaced with the coincident area data, and after presetting, the position number and the broadcast station name corresponding to the selected channel are displayed.
[0012]
By the way, current (analog) television broadcasting is performed in the VHF band (90 to 220 MHz). Digital terrestrial broadcasting, which is expected to be introduced in full scale from 2003, is scheduled to be moved to the UHF band (470 to 770 MHz). However, in some areas, radio waves from existing analog UHF stations are crowded, causing interference. Probable, not enough frequencies available. Therefore, a frequency conversion (hereinafter, referred to as an analog-analog conversion) for changing the frequency of the current analog broadcasting station and leaving a frequency for digital broadcasting is required.
[0013]
Such an analog-to-analog conversion process is performed not only for changing a broadcast transmitting apparatus for broadcasting terrestrial analog broadcasting or a relay station for relaying a broadcast radio signal, but also for each viewer (user). Also in the broadcast receiving device, it is necessary to change a channel preset table preset as channel selection information.
[0014]
Thus, with the start of terrestrial digital broadcasting, the frequency band allocated for terrestrial digital broadcasting overlaps the frequency band for terrestrial analog broadcasting that is currently being implemented, and it is necessary to perform so-called analog-analog conversion processing. In a certain area, it is necessary to update the channel preset information by any one of the channel preset methods described above.
[0015]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-8-79645 [Patent Document 2]
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-154039
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
As described above, in the conventional broadcast receiving apparatus, the frequency of the current terrestrial analog broadcast is changed when the use area of the apparatus changes due to, for example, a change of residence, or with the start of terrestrial digital broadcast. In this case, the previously set channel preset data must be updated using the “auto preset method”, the “region code setting method”, and the “manual setting method”.
[0017]
Here, when the channel preset data is updated using the above-described “auto preset method” and “region code setting method”, channel data of all receivable broadcast stations are automatically preset in a new use environment. Therefore, all the setting contents before the change of the use environment are discarded.
[0018]
That is, since the additional information (user setting information) uniquely set by the user according to the “manual setting method” according to the preference is also lost, the setting of the additional information (user Settings), which is very inconvenient.
[0019]
As a method to cope with the analog-to-analog conversion accompanying the start of terrestrial digital broadcasting, it is conceivable to update the area code table itself used in the "area code setting method". Moreover, since this does not correspond to the area separately set by each maker, a broadcasting station or a service person of the maker visits user (viewer) homes in a predetermined area one by one at a predetermined time. It is necessary to update the area code table, which is not practical.
[0020]
The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and provides a broadcast receiving apparatus capable of improving usability by minimizing a change in existing user setting information due to a change in use environment. Things.
[0021]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention is a broadcast receiving apparatus for receiving a broadcast signal transmitted from a broadcast station and presetting channel data of the broadcast station corresponding to the broadcast signal in a channel preset memory, the broadcast receiving apparatus being stored in the channel preset memory. Means for detecting whether or not a broadcast signal is present in a channel; means for detecting a channel in which a broadcast signal of a newly receivable broadcast station exists, other than the channel stored in the channel preset memory; Means for replacing channel data of a newly receivable broadcast station with channel data in which the presence of the broadcast signal is not detected and registering the channel data in the channel preset memory.
[0022]
In other words, the broadcast receiving apparatus of the present invention does not change the channel data of a previously receivable broadcast station without changing the channel data of a receivable broadcast station. It is replaced by channel data and registered, so even when resetting the channel preset contents according to the change of the usage environment, usability can be improved by minimizing the change of the existing user setting information. It is possible.
[0023]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of a broadcast receiving apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 9, for example, regarding a television receiver. Here, FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a main part in the television receiver of the present embodiment, and FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of storage contents of a CH preset memory in the television receiver of the present embodiment. .
[0024]
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a channel setting menu screen in the television receiver of this embodiment. FIGS. 4 and 5 are flowcharts showing additional preset processing in the television receiver of this embodiment. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a display screen at the time of additional presetting in the television receiver of the embodiment.
[0025]
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes an antenna for receiving broadcast radio waves, reference numeral 2 denotes a tuner section for selecting a received radio wave, and reference numeral 3 denotes a level detection section for detecting an output level of AFT (Automatic Fine Tuning) from the tuner section 2. Reference numeral 4 denotes a level detection unit for detecting an output level of an automatic gain control (AGC) from the tuner unit 2, and 5 performs various video processing on the video signal from the tuner unit 2, and a display monitor (LCD, CRT, or the like). (Not shown).
[0026]
Reference numeral 6 denotes a synchronization signal detection unit that detects a vertical / horizontal synchronization signal extracted by the video processing unit 5, reference numeral 7 denotes an S / N detection unit that detects the S / N of the video signal processed by the video processing unit 5, and reference numeral 8 denotes An audio processing unit that performs various types of audio processing on the audio signal from the tuner unit 2 and outputs audio to a speaker (not shown) or the like, and 9 performs S / N of the audio signal processed by the audio processing unit 8. It is an S / N detector for detecting.
[0027]
Reference numeral 10 denotes an operation panel for a user (viewer) to input a predetermined instruction to the television receiver, 11 denotes a remote control light receiving unit for receiving a remote control signal from a remote control (not shown), and 12 denotes an operation panel 10 Alternatively, based on an instruction input (command signal) from the remote control light receiving unit 11, the control CPU performs operation control of each function circuit unit such as channel selection control of the tuner unit 2 and control at the time of channel preset described later. . The control CPU 12 uses one or more of the detection outputs of the level detection units 3 and 4, the synchronization signal detection unit 6, and the S / N detection units 7 and 9 to determine whether or not a broadcast station exists at the reception CH frequency. It also has a function of determining whether or not it is receivable.
[0028]
Reference numeral 13 denotes an EEPROM (CH preset memory) in which channel selection data set by a channel preset described later is stored and held as channel preset information, and reference numeral 14 denotes that a broadcast signal is not detected in a previously set channel at the time of a channel preset described later. This is a RAM for temporarily storing and holding a channel preset number that has become vacant (become unreceivable).
[0029]
As shown in FIG. 2, the CH preset memory 13 stores channel data for each of 1 to 12 CH preset numbers corresponding to channel selection keys of the operation panel 10 and a remote controller (not shown). Note that here, 1 to 12 CH preset positions are provided in one-to-one correspondence with the channel selection keys. However, 13 or more CH preset positions that can be selected using the channel up / down keys may be provided. good.
[0030]
The channel preset data includes the reception CH No. And the reception CH No. , A fine adjustment value for the broadcast frequency, information indicating the contents to be displayed on the OSD at the time of CH display, skip information indicating whether or not to skip (skip) with the channel up / down key (0: do not skip) , 1: skip), and additional information (user setting information) that can be arbitrarily set by the user, such as GR setting information (0: GR processing off, 1: GR processing on) indicating whether or not to perform ghost reduction processing. include.
[0031]
Next, a channel preset operation in the television receiver of the present embodiment will be described. When the user selects a channel setting adjustment item from the television menu displayed on the monitor screen, a channel setting menu screen as shown in FIG. 3 is displayed. In this menu screen, a guidance display is provided in the left frame so that the user can arbitrarily select an automatic / area number / individual preset method.
[0032]
By default, the (top) "Auto Preset" is set to the selected state, and in this case, the right frame displays all search items, additional search, and no (return) execution items that can be selected. Is done. Here, when “search all” is selected and determined, the same processing as the above-described conventional “auto preset” is executed, and all frequency bands of the VHF band (1 to 12 CH) and the UHF band (13 to 62 CH) are executed. , A receivable broadcast radio signal is automatically detected, and set and registered in each CH preset position in ascending frequency order.
[0033]
When “search by addition” is selected and determined, the characteristic preset processing of the present invention is executed, that is, the current CH preset setting state stored and stored in the CH preset memory 13 is confirmed (broadcast at the set frequency. After performing a search for a CH preset number corresponding to a channel that cannot be received, a search is performed for a newly receivable reception channel (a receivable frequency that is not in the current CH preset setting). Available channels are set as available CH preset Nos. In the CH preset memory 13. Replace and register.
[0034]
Hereinafter, the processing operation of the “additional preset” will be described more specifically with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 4 and 5 and the menu screen display examples of FIGS. When the instruction of the additional preset process is started, first, a CH preset No. for confirming whether or not reception is possible is performed. Is initialized (= 1) (step 1). Then, the confirmation of the reception availability is made by the last CH preset No. It is determined whether the processing has been completed up to (= 12) (step 2), and the following processing is repeated until the confirmation is completed for all the CH preset positions (= 1 to 12).
[0035]
That is, it is determined whether or not the reception channel currently set at the CH preset position (CH preset No. = m) to be confirmed can be received by the level detection units 3 and 4, the synchronization signal detection unit 6, and the S / N detection unit. 7 or 9 (step 3). If it is determined that the reception is impossible (there is no broadcast), the CH preset No. 7 is determined. (= M) is stored in the RAM 14 (step 4). If it is determined that reception is possible (broadcast is present), the CH preset position is moved next (CH preset No. is changed to m + 1) (step 5), and the process returns to step 2.
[0036]
At this time, the contents of the channel slot currently stored in the CH preset memory 13 are displayed in the left half on the menu screen as shown in FIG. Then, as described above, the channel selection operation is performed in order from 1 with the current setting, and the CH preset No. for which reception cannot be confirmed. Is extracted and temporarily stored in the RAM 14, and on the menu screen, as shown in FIG. 7, the channels whose reception cannot be confirmed (in the example of FIG. 7, "2", "5", "7", "9", "9" 11)).
[0037]
If it is determined in step 2 that all the confirmations of the current channel setting state have been completed, the process proceeds to a search operation for a newly receivable channel. That is, a reception channel for which reception is to be confirmed is initialized (= 1) (step 6), and it is determined whether or not reception confirmation is completed up to the last channel (= 62) (step 7). The following processing is repeated until the confirmation of the channel (= 1 to 62) is completed. It should be noted that a tuning routine based on “auto preset” can be used for the tuning operation here.
[0038]
Whether or not the reception channel (= n) to be confirmed can be received is determined by using one or more of the detection outputs of the level detection units 3 and 4, the synchronization signal detection unit 6, and the S / N detection units 7 and 9. It is determined (step 8), and if it is determined that the reception is impossible (there is no broadcast), the receiving channel to be confirmed is moved next (changed to CH No. = n + 1) (step 9), and the step is performed. Return to 7.
[0039]
On the other hand, if it is determined that reception is possible (broadcast is present), it is determined whether or not the reception channel (= n) is within the current CH preset setting stored and stored in the CH preset memory 13. (Step 10) If the CH preset has already been set, the process proceeds to Step 9 without doing anything. For a new receivable channel that is not currently set as a CH preset, an empty CH preset temporarily stored in the RAM 14 is set. No. , And after registering it in the empty channel preset position with the smallest number (step 11), the process proceeds to step 9.
[0040]
At this time, in the right half on the menu screen, as shown in FIG. 8, among the receivable channels detected by the above-described auto search, those other than those already registered in the current channel slot (example of FIG. 8) In this example, a display is added in which "49", "51", and "53") are arranged in a channel slot previously determined to be unreceivable.
[0041]
Then, when the above-described operation of detecting a newly receivable channel is completed, as shown in FIG. 9 on the menu screen, the channel that is newly determined to be receivable is changed in its font color and Merge and display the channel slot. At this stage, the update saving to the EEPROM 13 is not yet performed, and the user waits for an instruction as to whether setting is possible.
[0042]
When the user presses the enter key to instruct the update setting, the channel selection information relating to the channel newly determined to be receivable is replaced by the CH preset position in the EEPROM 13 where the channel information determined to be unreceivable is stored. And update and store it.
[0043]
As a result, the preset setting information relating to the channels that can be currently received can be changed without any change, that is, the channels that cannot be received while retaining the additional information (user setting information) arbitrarily set by the user. It is possible to discard only the preset setting information related to the channel and replace it with a newly receivable channel for presetting. Here, it is needless to say that, when the above-described “additional preset” operation is performed in an initial state such as factory shipment, the same result as “auto preset” is obtained.
[0044]
As described above, in the present embodiment, by using the processing routine of “additional preset”, for example, when the use area of the device changes due to a change of house, etc., or with the start of terrestrial digital broadcasting, the current When the frequency for terrestrial analog broadcasting is changed (ana-analog conversion is performed), it is extremely easy to update the channel preset data due to a change in the use environment while minimizing the change in the user setting information up to that time. It is possible to significantly improve the usability.
[0045]
In the case of the television receiver of the present embodiment, the smallest No. is automatically set. Although the channels newly determined to be receivable are sequentially registered from the empty CH preset positions of the present invention, the present invention is not limited to this. May be.
[0046]
【The invention's effect】
Since the broadcast receiving apparatus of the present invention is configured as described above, the channel data of a newly receivable broadcast station can be received without changing the channel data of a receivable broadcast station as it is. It replaces the channel data of the broadcasting station that has become unavailable and registers it.Thus, even if the channel preset contents are reset according to the usage environment, it is possible to minimize the change of the existing user setting information. It is possible to improve usability.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a main part of a television receiver according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of stored contents of a CH preset memory in the television receiver according to one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a channel setting menu screen in the television receiver according to one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an additional preset process (pre-process) in the television receiver according to one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an additional preset process (post-process) in the television receiver according to one embodiment of the present invention. It is.
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a display screen at the time of additional presetting in the television receiver according to one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a display screen at the time of additional presetting in the television receiver according to one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a display screen at the time of additional presetting in the television receiver according to one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a display screen at the time of additional presetting in the television receiver according to one embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 antenna 2 tuner section 3 level detection section 4 level detection section 5 video processing section 6 synchronization signal detection section 7 S / N detection section 8 audio processing section 9 S / N detection section 10 operation panel 11 remote control light receiving section 12 control CPU
13 EEPROM
14 RAM

Claims (1)

A broadcast receiving apparatus that receives a broadcast signal transmitted from a broadcast station and presets channel data of the broadcast station corresponding to the broadcast signal to a channel preset memory,
Means for detecting whether a broadcast signal is present on a channel stored in the channel preset memory,
Means for detecting a channel in which a broadcast signal of a newly receivable broadcast station exists, other than the channels stored in the channel preset memory,
Means for replacing the channel data of the newly receivable broadcast station with channel data in which the presence of the broadcast signal is not detected, and registering the channel data in the channel preset memory;
A broadcast receiving device comprising:

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