JP2004304214A - Program information acquisition device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To eliminate a case wherein equipment in a state shipped from a factory or not supplied with electric power for a long period cannot use functions of an electronic program table, program reservation, genre retrieval, etc., until the storage of program information is completed since it takes a long time to store the program information used for the electronic program table, program reservation, genre retrieval, etc. <P>SOLUTION: A receiver A which is not stored with the program information yet is connected to a receiver B which is already stored. When the receivers A and B become ready to communicate with each other, the receiver A automatically requests the program information of the receiver B. The receiver B when having the requested information in its own storage device converts the program information in equipment internal format to an inter-receiver common format and transfers it to the receiver A. The receiver A converts the received program information to its equipment internal format and stores the information into a storage means, and also registers it in an other-equipment acquisition information managing means. Then when the receiver A receives the program information registered in the other-equipment acquisition information managing means from a broadcast wave, the program information in the storage means is replaced with the information received from the broadcast wave and the registration is deleted from the other-equipment acquisition information managing means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a program information acquisition device for creating an electronic program guide for a television program or the like. In particular, the present invention relates to a program information acquisition device that can input and output program information between a plurality of devices connected to each other.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, systems using VBI (Vertical Blanking Interval) in terrestrial broadcasting and systems using BS / CS satellite digital broadcasting have been put into practical use as information providing systems using broadcast media. It is possible to view about 100 channels of programs, but it is expected that the number of available channels will increase in the future. In such a multi-channel system, it is essential to provide an electronic program guide.
[0003]
On the other hand, digital networks of home electric appliances represented by HAVi (Home Audio / Video interoperability) have been developed, and if a plurality of receiving devices are arranged on the network, information held by each device can be easily stored. Mutual use is possible.
[0004]
Therefore, the importance of an electronic program guide that mutually utilizes each electronic program information of a plurality of receiving apparatuses is becoming very important.
[0005]
This type of prior art has been proposed in which receiving devices of different information providing systems arranged on a network integrate program information held by each other and display the integrated program information as one integrated electronic program guide. (See Patent Document 1).
[0006]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2001-008119 A
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the related art does not consider connection between receiving devices of the same information providing system. Even if receiving devices of the same information providing system do not necessarily have the same program information, the mutual use of information held by each device should be considered in this case as well. It is.
[0008]
For example, it takes a lot of time to accumulate program information, so even if the equipment has been installed for a long time after installation, even if the accumulation of program information has been completed, the equipment in the factory shipping state or the power supply for a long time will not be supplied. Devices that did not complete the process have not yet accumulated the latest program information. Therefore, the use of functions (eg, electronic program guide display, program search, program reservation, etc.) using program information is limited in such devices for which program information accumulation has not been completed until the latest program information accumulation is completed. I was
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above problems, the present invention employs the following means.
[0010]
The first means is a storage means for storing program information, a storage control means for controlling input / output of data to / from the storage means, an information determination means for determining the storage status of the program information in the storage means, and other equipment. Interface means for inputting / outputting data from the other device, and program information requesting means for performing a process of requesting program information to another device and a process of accepting a request from another device, and acquiring unstored program information from another device. Features.
[0011]
The second means is characterized in that, in the first means, there is provided a data conversion means for mutually converting program information into broadcast format program information data and device internal format program information data.
[0012]
The third means is characterized in that in any one of the first and second means, there is provided a connection detecting means for detecting connection with another device.
[0013]
The fourth means is a device according to any one of the first to third means, wherein another device acquisition information management means for registering identification information of program information acquired from another device, and program information registered in the other device acquisition information management means. When information is obtained from the broadcast signal, the program information is replaced with the content obtained from the broadcast signal on the storage means, and information updating means for deleting the registration from the other device acquisition information management means is provided. I do.
[0014]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0015]
FIG. 1 shows an example of a hardware configuration for realizing a broadcast program and recorded program reproducing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0016]
In the figure, reference numeral 100 denotes a digital receiver A for obtaining program information, and reference numeral 300 denotes a digital receiver B for providing program information.
[0017]
The digital receiver A100 includes a receiving unit 101 for receiving broadcast waves such as satellite broadcasts, terrestrial broadcasts, and cable broadcasts; an information extracting unit 102 for separating and extracting program information from a received signal; Data conversion means 103 for mutually converting between program information data and program information data in a device internal format; storage means 104 for storing program information; storage control means 105 for controlling input / output of data to / from the storage means; Information discriminating means 106 for discriminating the program information accumulation status, program information requesting means 107 for performing a process of requesting program information to another device and receiving a request from another device, connection detecting means 108 for performing a process of detecting connection with another device, An information updating means 109 for reacquiring and updating program information acquired from another device from a received signal, and an interface for inputting and outputting data to and from another device Stage 110, and a another device acquiring information management unit 111 for managing the information obtained from the other device.
[0018]
Further, the digital broadcast receiver B300 connected to the digital broadcast receiver A via the communication means 200 used for connection of each device serves to receive broadcast waves such as satellite broadcasts, terrestrial broadcasts, and cable broadcasts. Receiving means 301; information extracting means 302 for separating and extracting program information from a received signal; data converting means 303 for mutually converting the extracted broadcast format program information data and internal format program information data; storage for storing program information Means 304, storage control means 305 for controlling the input and output of data to the storage means, information determination means 306 for determining the status of accumulation of program information in the storage means, processing of program information requests to other devices and reception of requests from other devices Program information requesting means 307 for performing processing, connection detecting means 308 for performing connection detection processing with other devices, and program information acquired from other devices from broadcast signals. Information updating unit 309 acquires updated, and a another device acquiring information management unit 311 for managing the information obtained from the interface unit 310, other devices for inputting and outputting data with other devices.
[0019]
Here, an example is shown in which two digital broadcast receivers are connected, but these may be BS and CS digital broadcast tuners, digital cable television tuners, and the like. These may be a terrestrial television receiver or the like having an electronic program guide display function using VBI (Vertical Blanking Interval). Further, two or more receiving devices of the same information providing system may be connected.
[0020]
The communication unit 200 may use an AV connection cable and a serial control line, a wireless communication network using infrared rays, radio waves, or the like, or an IEEE (The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) 1394 connection.
[0021]
In the above configuration, the radio wave of the digital broadcast is received by the receiving means 101 of the digital broadcast receiver A100 via a parabolic antenna or the like.
[0022]
Here, the video signal and the audio signal are compressed by an MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group) method or the like, and are multiplexed with additional information and transmitted.
[0023]
The program information is included in the additional information, and includes a program title, a start time, an end time, a program price, detailed program information (names and stories of actors appearing), viewing restriction information (viewable Age), category information (eg, genre of the program), and the like.
[0024]
The program information is separated and extracted by the information extracting means 102 from the received signal received by the receiving means 101. Since the extracted program information is usually in a data format suitable for broadcasting (hereinafter, referred to as a broadcasting format) such as being divided into packets, the extracted program information can be easily handled in the receiver (date and time, channel number, program, etc.). (E.g., it is easy to take out partial data using a key as a key). After that, it is stored in the storage unit 104 via the storage control unit 105.
[0025]
Although the system of the digital receiver A that acquires program information has been described above, the digital receiver B also has exactly the same system configuration as the digital receiver A.
[0026]
Next, an example of program information received in the present embodiment and a method of storing the program information will be described with reference to FIG.
[0027]
The program information is transmitted after being divided for one hour for each channel. In FIG. 3, 501 and 502 and 503 and 504 are program information. Reference numerals 501 and 503 denote program information identification information for identifying program information for one hour on a certain channel, respectively. The date and time, the channel name, and the version number (when there is program information representing the same date and time, information of the same channel, The higher the version number is, the more recent information is shown). Each of 502 and 504 is program information detailed information indicating detailed information of a program included in one hour. 501, 502, 503, and 504 are converted into data in a device internal format and stored in the storage unit 505.
[0028]
In this embodiment, the program information is transmitted to all the channels for one week. In FIG. 3, the accumulation of program information up to 15:00 on 2002/01/04 for all channels has already been completed. If the current time is 0:00 on January 01, 2002, it can be said that the accumulation of the program information from 15:00 on January 01, 2002 to 0:00 on January 07, 2002 is not completed.
[0029]
Next, a processing sequence when program information is acquired from another device will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.
[0030]
When the interface unit 110 is connected to the communication unit 200 and shifts to a state where power is supplied to the digital receiver A100, that is, when the digital receiver A100 becomes communicable, the connection detection unit 108 detects the connection of the own device to the communication means 200.
[0031]
When the digital receiver B is in a communicable state, the connection detection unit 308 notifies all the devices connected to the communication unit 200 that it has become communicable. At this time, if the digital receiver A is connected to the communication means 200 and is in a communicable state, the connection detection means 108 receives the above notification and sends another device (digital receiver) to the communication means 200. B300) is detected.
[0032]
As described above, when the connection of the own device to the communication unit 200 and the additional connection of another device are detected (step 401), the information determination unit 106 is stored in the storage unit 104 via the storage control unit 105. The program information is checked (step 402). If it is determined that there is unstored program information (step 403), a necessary (unstored) program information acquisition request is sent to all devices connected to the communication unit 200 via the program information requesting unit 107. Perform (Step 405). At this time, information (identification number of own device, date and time of necessary program information, channel, etc.) for specifying necessary program information is added to the data to be transmitted.
[0033]
No operation is performed when the connection of the own device to the communication means 200 and the additional connection of the other device are not detected in Step 401, and when the presence of the non-stored program information is not determined in Step 403 (Step 404).
[0034]
The program information acquisition request from the digital receiver A 100 is accepted by the program information requesting unit 307 of the digital receiver B 300, and at this time, the information discriminating unit 306 transmits the information requested by the storage unit 304 via the storage control unit 305. It is checked whether it exists (step 406). When it is determined that the program information exists (step 407), the program information requesting unit 307 notifies the digital device A that the program information can be provided (step 408).
[0035]
If it is determined in step 407 that there is no program information requested by the digital receiver A100 in the storage unit 304, nothing is performed (step 404).
[0036]
Next, the program information requesting means of the digital receiver A 100, which has received the program information provision notification from the digital receiver B 300, notifies the digital receiver B 300 of a transfer request for program information (step 409).
[0037]
The program information transfer request from digital receiver A100 is accepted by program information requesting means 307 of digital receiver B300. At the same time, the program information stored in the storage unit 304 is converted into broadcast format data by the data conversion unit 303 via the storage control unit 305, and then transmitted to the digital receiver A100 (step 410).
[0038]
The program information sent from the digital receiver B 300 is converted into a device internal format by the data conversion means 103 of the digital receiver A 100 and stored in the storage means 104 via the storage control means 105 (step 411).
[0039]
Here, it is assumed that the transfer data of the program information from the digital receiver B300 to the digital receiver A100 is performed in a broadcast format (the same format as when separated from the broadcast signal). This is because data in broadcast format was considered to be the most compatible across manufacturers, device types, release dates, etc., but as long as the format is unified between connected devices, it will be different. The transmission and reception may be performed using the common format data.
[0040]
When the information sent from the digital receiver B 300 is stored in the storage unit 104, the corresponding program information identification information is registered in the other device acquisition information management unit 111 via the information update unit 109 (step). 411).
[0041]
That is, when transferring the program information of the uncompleted storage from the other receiver 601 to the storage unit 602 in FIG. 4, the program information identification information 604 of the transferred program information is registered in the other device acquisition information management unit 603. . By doing so, it can be seen that, out of the program information stored in the storage unit 602, the part registered in the other device acquisition information management unit 603 is obtained from another device.
[0042]
The accumulation of program information obtained from a broadcast signal is normally performed only when new program information is received. In other words, this is the case where program information relating to unstored channels and date and time is obtained, or the case where program information having a larger version number than the stored program information is obtained. This is realized by the information extraction unit 102 using the above conditions as extraction conditions and acquiring only those that satisfy the conditions.
[0043]
However, as an exception, the program information registered in the other device acquisition information management unit 111 is added to the extraction condition of the information extraction unit 102 by the information update unit 109.
As a result, only the program information acquired from another device and stored in the storage means is extracted and acquired from the broadcast signal even when exactly the same program information is broadcast.
[0044]
In this way, when the program information registered in the other device acquisition information management unit is obtained from the broadcast signal, the registration of the corresponding program information is performed by using the information updating unit 109. Remove from. At the same time, the program information stored in the storage unit 104 is overwritten with the program information obtained from the broadcast signal. By doing so, even if the digital receiver B300 provides erroneous information to the digital receiver A100, problems can be minimized.
[0045]
【The invention's effect】
The program information acquisition apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention acquires a program information that has not been stored from another device, thereby enabling the program information acquisition device to obtain a factory shipment state immediately after purchase or a device that has not been powered for a long time. In addition, functions using program information (such as electronic program guide display, program search, and program reservation) can be used without limitation immediately after the installation of the device.
[0046]
The program information acquisition device according to the invention as set forth in claim 2 of the present application is configured such that program information data input / output with other devices is performed not in device-internal format data specific to each device but in broadcast format program information data, so that a manufacturer It is possible to maintain compatibility when transmitting and receiving program information irrespective of the type of device, release time, and the like.
[0047]
The program information acquiring apparatus according to the third aspect of the present invention, when detecting connection with another device, automatically starts acquiring program information from another device without a user's request, thereby acquiring program information. This eliminates the need for the user to make troublesome settings without making the user aware that the information is obtained from another device.
[0048]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a program information acquisition apparatus which broadcasts program information acquired from another device when program information relating to the same program as the program information acquired from another device is obtained from an actual broadcast signal. By substituting the information obtained from the signal, it is possible to minimize the problem even if wrong information is obtained from another device.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of a program information acquisition device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a program information acquisition sequence of the program information acquisition device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of program information and a method of storing the program information according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing program information acquisition from another device of the program information acquiring device according to the embodiment of the present invention. ]
100 Digital receiver A
101 receiving means (digital receiver A)
102 Information extraction means (digital receiver A)
103 Data conversion means (Digital receiver A)
104 storage means (digital receiver A)
105 Storage control means (digital receiver A)
106 Information discriminating means (digital receiver A)
107 Program information requesting means (digital receiver A)
108 Connection detection means (Digital receiver A)
109 Information update means (digital receiver A)
110 interface means (digital receiver A)
111 Other device acquisition information management means (digital receiver A)
200 Communication means 300 Digital receiver B
301 receiving means (digital receiver B)
302 Information extraction means (digital receiver B)
303 Data conversion means (Digital receiver B)
304 storage means (digital receiver B)
305 Storage control means (digital receiver B)
306 Information discriminating means (digital receiver B)
307 Program information requesting means (digital receiver B)
308 Connection detection means (digital receiver B)
309 Information update means (digital receiver B)
310 Interface means (digital receiver B)
311 Other device acquisition information management means (digital receiver B)
401 Operation Flow: Step 1
402 Operation Flow: Step 2
403 Operation flow: Step 3
404 Operation flow: Step 4
405 Operation flow: Step 5
406 Operation Flow: Step 6
407 Operation flow: Step 7
408 Operation flow: Step 8
409 Operation flow: Step 9
410 Operation Flow: Step 10
411 Operation Flow: Step 11
412 Operation flow: Step 12
413 Operation flow: Step 13
414 Operation Flow: Step 14
501 Program information identification information (1)
502 Detailed program information (1)
503 Program information identification information (2)
504 Detailed program information (2)
505 Storage unit 601 Other receiver 602 Storage unit 603 Other device acquisition information management unit 604 Program information identification information

Claims (4)

Storage means for storing program information, storage control means for controlling the input and output of data to and from the storage means, information discrimination means for judging the storage status of unstored or unupdated program information in the storage means, Interface means for inputting / outputting data to / from a device, and program information requesting means for performing a process of requesting non-stored or unupdated program information to another device and a process of receiving a request from another device. A program information acquisition device. Data conversion means for mutually converting program information into program information data in a broadcast format and program information data in a device internal format is further provided, and input / output of program information data to / from another device is performed by program information data in a broadcast format. A program information acquisition device. 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a connection detecting unit configured to perform a connection detection process with another device, wherein the acquisition of program information from the other device is started when the connection with the other device is detected. The described program information acquisition device. Another device acquisition information management means for registering identification information of information acquired from another device, and, when program information registered in the other device acquisition information management means is acquired from a broadcast signal, a corresponding program in the storage means 4. The program information acquiring apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: an information updating unit that replaces the information with information obtained from a broadcast signal and deletes registration from the other device acquired information managing unit.

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