JP2004208187A - Digital broadcast receiver - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a digital broadcast receiver capable of improving convenience of an operation on a program guide display by avoiding the useless presentation of program information as much as possible. <P>SOLUTION: An OSD circuit 12 generates video data based on character information or color information which a CPU 13 instructs to output. The video data are superimposed on a received video by an adder 20. The CPU 13 gives the OSD circuit 12 the character information etc. based on EPG data read from a memory 14, thereby performing EPG display on a screen. The CPU 13 determines whether or not the same program is broadcasted for a plurality of channels in a predetermined time band to be subjected to EPG display. For the plurality of channels for which the same program is broadcasted, the display in which the plurality of channels are formed into one channel on an EPG display region in the predetermined time band is executed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
[Industrial applications]
The present invention relates to a digital broadcast receiving apparatus capable of displaying a program guide based on program guide data.
[0002]
[Prior art]
A digital broadcast receiving device that receives digital broadcasts using satellites or terrestrial waves selects an arbitrary broadcast wave from a plurality of broadcast waves received through a satellite antenna or a terrestrial antenna with a digital tuner, and selects the selected broadcast wave. , An arbitrary channel is selected from the plurality of channels included in the above by demultiplex processing, a digital signal of the selected channel is extracted, and a video / audio signal is output by decoding the digital signal.
[0003]
In such digital broadcasting, program information is transmitted as data in a table called an EIT (Event Information Table), and the receiving device acquires EITs for a plurality of channels and uses the information as a program guide based on the information. (EPG: Electronic Program Guide) is created and presented by a user operation. There is known a digital broadcast receiving apparatus that makes it easy to view the display of a program guide (see Patent Document 1).
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-2002-112144
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In digital broadcasting, a broadcasting station can have a plurality of channels in one frequency band. However, since the band that can be transmitted is determined, different programs are transmitted in the plurality of channels when transmitting in HD (High Definition). Is physically impossible to send. In such a case, the EPG display is performed as if a program with the same content is being broadcast on a plurality of channels. FIG. 3A shows a display example of the same program by a conventional receiving apparatus. In this example, the program columns for 4 hours and 3 hours are displayed on one screen, but since the program columns of CH101, CH102, and CH103 have the same program name, the information obtained by the user is substantially 2 Only the channel is gone. Therefore, the user can show useless information, and it is necessary to perform useless key operations to obtain more information. FIG. 4A also shows an example of the display of the same program by the conventional receiving apparatus. In the display time zone of the EPG screen from 1 o'clock to 3 o'clock, the program A of CH101 and CH102 is common. Has become.
[0006]
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to provide a digital broadcast receiving apparatus capable of minimizing the useless presentation of program information and improving the convenience of operation on a program guide display.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a digital broadcast receiving apparatus according to the present invention includes: means for determining whether or not the same program is broadcast on a plurality of channels in a predetermined time zone to be displayed by a program guide; Means for executing display for one channel on the program guide display area in the predetermined time zone for the plurality of channels determined to be the same.
[0008]
According to the above configuration, a plurality of channels determined to broadcast the same program in a predetermined time slot to be displayed in the program guide are displayed collectively as one channel. The presentation is avoided as much as possible, so that the need to perform a scroll operation or the like for viewing information of another channel is reduced, and the convenience of the operation on the display of the program guide is improved.
[0009]
The determination that the same program is to be broadcast may be configured so that at least the program name, the program start time, and the program end time match. Further, the determination that the same program is to be broadcast may be configured to require that there is a description indicating that the event is shared by a plurality of channels.
[0010]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, a digital broadcast receiving apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0011]
The antenna 1 is arranged outdoors in a predetermined direction, and receives a digital broadcast signal transmitted from a satellite. The antenna 1 generally includes a frequency converter, and supplies a received / frequency-converted signal to a tuner 2.
[0012]
The tuner 2 extracts a signal of a specific frequency from high-frequency digital modulation signals including video and audio data. That is, a process of selecting one from a plurality of digital broadcast transponders is performed. Further, the tuner 2 includes a demodulation circuit, a deinterleave circuit, an error correction circuit, and the like, and thereby demodulates the selected digital modulation signal and outputs a transport stream.
[0013]
The demultiplexer (DEMUX) 3 separates the transport stream into a video stream of MPEG2 (Moving Picture Experts Group2), an audio stream, and a PSI / SI (Program Specific Information / Service Information). The demultiplexer 3 supplies the video stream and the audio stream to the AV decoder 4, and supplies PSI / SI and the like to the CPU 13.
[0014]
The AV decoder 4 includes a video decoder that decodes a video stream and an audio decoder that decodes an audio stream. The video decoder obtains a quantization coefficient and a motion vector by decoding the input variable-length code, and performs inverse DCT transform, motion compensation control based on the motion vector, and the like. The audio decoder decodes the input coded signal to generate audio data. The video data generated by the decoding is output to the video processing circuit 5, and the audio data is output to the audio processing circuit 6.
[0015]
The video processing circuit 5 receives the video data from the AV decoder 4, performs D / A conversion, and converts the data into, for example, a composite video signal. The audio processing circuit 6 receives the audio data output from the AV decoder 4 and performs D / A conversion to generate, for example, a right (R) sound analog signal and a left (L) sound analog signal.
[0016]
The video processing circuit 7 and the audio output circuit 8 include an output resistor, an amplifier, and the like. The AV output terminal 9 is provided with an output unit (a set of left and right audio output terminals and a video output terminal and the like). The output unit includes a monitor 16 having a CRT 16a and a speaker 16b by a video / audio code 17. Connected.
[0017]
The OSD (on-screen display) circuit 12 outputs to the adder 20 video data based on character information and color information instructed by the CPU 13 to output. The adder 20 performs a process of superimposing the video data on the received video data output from the AV decoder 4. The OSD circuit 12 can display an EPG screen, a menu screen, and the like.
[0018]
The remote control transmitter 10 has various keys and sends various commands to the broadcast receiving device 30. When the keys are operated, a signal light (remote control signal) indicating a command corresponding to the key is emitted. Sent from the department. The remote control light receiver 11 receives the signal light, converts the signal light into an electric signal, and supplies the electric signal to the CPU 13.
[0019]
The memory (for example, RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory, etc.) 14 stores data for displaying the EPG screen, software for performing the display processing of the EPG screen, and the like. The memory 14 is also used for temporary storage of information (such as storage of the number of the array CH described later) in the processing of the software.
[0020]
The CPU 13 performs overall control of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 30, and particularly executes processing for displaying an EPG screen as described below, as processing according to the present invention.
[0021]
FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating the display processing of the EPG screen. In this example of the EPG screen, a program column for 4 hours and 3 hours can be displayed on one screen. When the user presses, for example, an "EPG" key provided on the remote control transmitter 10 (step S1), the CPU 13 initializes the arrays CH1, CH2, CH3, and CH4, and sets the parameters N1, N2, N3, and N4 to 0. Is set, and EPG data is read from the memory 14 (step S2). Then, first, channel numbers are acquired for channels to be displayed on the EPG screen (for example, four channels including the channel that the user was watching), and the channel numbers are set to CH1 [0] from the leftmost channel on the EPG screen ], CH2 [0], CH3 [0], and CH4 [0] (step S3).
[0022]
The CPU 13 matches the program information (program name, start time, and end time) within the display time zone of the channel indicated by CH1 [0] with the channel on the left side (for example, the channel adjacent to the smaller numerical value side). (Step S4). If they match, the channel number of the left channel is inserted at the beginning of the array CH1. That is, the number indicated by CH1 [0] is taken over by CH1 [1] (CH1 [N1 + 1] ← CH1 [N1]), the number of the left channel is set in CH1 [0], and N1 is counted up. (Step S5). Then, the process returns to step S4, and the process is continued until the program information of CH1 [0] and the program information of the left channel do not match. Here, assuming that there is one channel of the same program as the channel of the number indicated by CH1 [0], two channel numbers of CH1 [0] and CH1 [1] are managed in the array CH1. Will be done.
[0023]
If NO in step S4, it is determined whether the program information in the display time zone of CH1 [0] and CH2 [0] match (step S6). If they match, the number indicated by CH2 [0] is inserted as CH1 [N1 + 1] at the end of the sequence CH1, the number indicated by CH3 [0] is taken over by CH2 [0], and CH4 [0] is taken over. Is taken over by CH3 [0], the channel number of the channel on the right side of CH4 [0] (for example, the adjacent channel having a larger numerical value) is set to CH4 [0], and N1 is counted up. (Step S7). Then, returning to step S6, the process is continued until the program information of CH1 [0] and CH2 [0] does not match. Here, if there is one channel of the same program as the channel indicated by CH1 [0], in the array CH1, CH1 [0], CH1 [1], and CH1 [2] (CH1 [ 2] manages three channel numbers based on CH2 [0]).
[0024]
If NO in step S6, it is determined whether or not the program information in the display time zone of CH2 [0] and CH3 [0] match (step S8). If they match, the number indicated by CH3 [0] is inserted as CH2 [N2 + 1] at the end of the sequence CH2, and the number indicated by CH4 [0] is passed to CH3 [0], and CH4 [0] Is set to CH4 [0], and N2 is counted up (step S9). Then, the process returns to step S8, and the process is continued until the program information of CH2 [0] and CH3 [0] does not match.
[0025]
If NO in step S8, it is determined whether the program information in the display time zone of CH3 [0] and CH4 [0] match (step S10). If they match, the number indicated by CH4 [0] is inserted at the end of the array CH3 as CH3 [N3 + 1], and the channel number of the right channel of CH4 [0] is set to CH4 [0]. Is counted up (step S11). Then, the process returns to step S10, and the process is continued until the program information of CH3 [0] and CH4 [0] does not match.
[0026]
If NO in step S10, it is determined whether or not the program information in the display time zone of CH4 [N4] matches the channel on the right side (step S12). If they match, the channel number of the right channel is inserted as CH4 [N4 + 1] at the end of array CH4, and N4 is counted up (step S13). Then, the process returns to step S12, and the process is continued until the program information of CH4 [N4] does not match the program information of the right channel.
[0027]
By the above processing, the channels having the same program information in the display time zone belong to the same arrangement. Therefore, based on the arrangements CH1, CH2, CH3, and CH4, the channel numbers belonging to each arrangement Is generated and EPG screen display data based on the program information is generated (step S14), and the EPG screen is displayed by the OSD circuit 12 (step S15).
[0028]
As shown in FIG. 3A, in the conventional EPG screen, each of the CH101 to CH103 sharing a program (program information) is displayed in the display time zone of 1:00 to 3:00. On the other hand, by performing the above processing, as shown in FIG. 3B, CH101 to CH103 belonging to the array of CH1 are collectively displayed in the leftmost column, and "CH101-CH103" is displayed on the channel display section. Will be displayed. As a result, on the conventional EPG screen, only the information of CH110 could be displayed in addition to CH101 to CH103 (common programs A and B), but as shown in FIG. 3B, the information of CH111 and CH112 was displayed. It will be displayed on one screen.
[0029]
Also, as shown in FIG. 4A, in the conventional EPG screen, in the display time zone from 1:00 to 3:00, the program A is common to CH101 to CH103, and the program B is common only to CH101 and CH102. In some cases, it will be displayed as shown in this figure. Here, it is assumed that the undisplayed CH100 has the same program information as the CH101 and CH102 within the display time zone. By performing the above-described processing, as shown in FIG. 4B, CH100 to CH102 belonging to the CH1 array are collectively displayed in the leftmost column, and "CH100-CH102" is displayed in the channel display column. Will be. In addition, since the program after 3:00 differs from CH101 and CH102, CH103 belongs to the array CH2 and is displayed in the second column from the left. As described above, in the conventional EPG screen, only the information of CH110 is displayed in addition to CH101 to CH103, but as shown in FIG. 4B, the information of CH111 is further displayed on one screen. Will be.
[0030]
If the display time period changes due to the vertical scroll operation, the above-described processing is executed for the changed display time period. When the horizontal scroll operation is performed, for example, in the display example of FIG. 4B, CH100 to CH102 belong to the array CH2, CH103 belongs to the array CH3, and CH110 corresponds to the array CH4. And CH111 is not displayed. If the left channel of CH100 is CH99, CH99 (or a plurality of channels including the same) is displayed as belonging to array CH1.
[0031]
In the above-described embodiment, the determination that the same program is broadcast is based on the requirement that the program name, the program start time, and the program end time match. However, it is strictly necessary to consider other information such as broadcast station information. A good match determination may be made. Further, such determination may be based on the requirement that there is a description indicating that the event is shared by a plurality of channels.
[0032]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, a plurality of channels determined to broadcast the same program in a predetermined time slot to be displayed in the program guide are displayed collectively as one channel. Useless presentation of the program information is avoided as much as possible, so that it is less necessary to perform a scroll operation or the like for viewing information of another channel, and the convenience of the operation on the display of the program guide is improved.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a digital broadcast receiving apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing processing contents of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIGS. 3A and 3B are explanatory diagrams illustrating a program guide display, in which FIG. 3A is a program guide display of a conventional device shown for comparison, and FIG. 3B is a program guide according to the embodiment of the present invention; This is a guide display.
4A and 4B are explanatory diagrams illustrating a program guide display, wherein FIG. 4A is a program guide display of a conventional apparatus shown for comparison, and FIG. 4B is a program guide display according to the embodiment of the present invention; This is a guide display.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 antenna 2 tuner 3 demultiplexer (DEMUX)
4 AV decoder 12 OSD circuit 13 CPU
14 memory

Claims (3)

Means for determining whether or not the same program is to be broadcast for a plurality of channels in a predetermined time zone to be displayed in a program guide; Means for executing a display corresponding to one channel on the above, a digital broadcast receiving apparatus comprising: 2. The digital broadcast receiving apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determination that the same program is to be broadcast is made such that at least a match between a program name, a program start time, and a program end time is required. Digital broadcast receiver. In the digital broadcast receiving apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, the determination that the same program is broadcast is performed based on a requirement that a description indicating that an event is shared by a plurality of channels is present. A digital broadcast receiving device, comprising:

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