JP2004350056A - Information processor and method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To display a recording reservation setting screen capable of recognizing programs which can be simultaneously recorded. <P>SOLUTION: In a step S1, information (called as recording reservation setting screen information hereafter) required for generating the recording reservation setting screen is acquired. In the case of this example, an entrepreneur's name, a program name, broadcast starting time and continuing time, etc. are acquired as the recording reservation setting screen information. In a step S2, channels which are multiplexed to the same transport stream and can be simultaneously recorded are detected. In a step S3, a recording reservation generation screen on which the channels which can be simultaneously recorded are displayed in distinction from other channels is generated and displayed based on the recording reservation setting screen information obtained in the step S1 and a detection result in the step S2. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, method, and program, and more particularly to an information processing apparatus, method, and program that can efficiently provide a recording reservation setting screen for recording reservation of a digital broadcast program. .
[0002]
[Prior art]
A plurality of broadcast programs receive a transport stream coded and multiplexed according to the MPEG-2 (ISO / IEC 13818-1) standard, and demodulate the transport stream to record on a hard disk or the like. Recording devices for recording on a medium have been developed.
[0003]
In this recording device, a recording reservation can be made in the same manner as a recording device corresponding to a conventional analog broadcast. However, this recording reservation is usually made by an electronic program guide (EPG: Electric Program Guide) as shown in FIG. ) Is performed using a GUI (Graphical User Interface). This GUI has a channel name display (A to F in the example of FIG. 1) and a broadcast time display (18 in the example of FIG. 1), similarly to a radio / TV column (latate column) published in a newspaper or the like. Hour, 19 o'clock, 20 o'clock), and display of a program name or the like corresponding to the channel name and the broadcast time (broadcast on the channel in that time zone) (in the example of FIG. 1, a1 to f1, a2 to f2, a3 to f3).
[0004]
The user can reserve recording of the predetermined program by pointing and selecting the display of the predetermined program from the GUI using, for example, an input device of the recording device.
[0005]
By the way, programs with overlapping broadcasting times (for example, a1 to f1 broadcasted at 18:00, a2 to f2 broadcasted at 19:00, and a3 to f3 broadcasted at 20:00) cannot be recorded simultaneously. There are cases. For example, when multiplexed on different transport streams, those programs cannot be recorded simultaneously. Further, even when multiplexed in the same transport stream, simultaneous recording may not be possible depending on the operation speed of the hard disk drive of the recording device and the image processing speed.
[0006]
Therefore, in the conventional recording apparatus, each time the GUI shown in FIG. 1 is operated and the program to be reserved for recording is selected, the broadcast time of the currently selected program overlaps with the broadcast time, and the broadcast time of the currently selected program coincides with that of the currently selected program. It is determined whether or not a program that cannot be recorded is already reserved for recording, and if it is determined that such a program is already reserved for recording, a message to that effect is displayed and the user is prompted to change the reserved recording. I have. Thus, the user reselects a program or cancels a previously set recording reservation (see Patent Literature).
[0007]
[Patent Document]
JP-A-2002-94916
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
That is, every time a program to be scheduled for recording is selected, a conventional recording apparatus that presents to the user that a program that cannot be simultaneously recorded with the program is already reserved is re-scheduled according to the presentation. Therefore, there is a problem that the operation of the recording reservation becomes complicated because an operation such as the recording operation is required.
[0009]
The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and it is an object of the present invention to present a channel or a program that can be simultaneously recorded to a user in advance so that a recording reservation can be made efficiently.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The information processing apparatus of the present invention presents, to a user, detection means for detecting a simultaneously recordable digital broadcast program among digital broadcast programs having overlapping broadcast times, and information on the simultaneously recordable digital broadcast program detected by the detection means. Presentation means.
[0011]
Input means for inputting a transport stream in which a digital broadcast program is multiplexed, and acquisition means for acquiring presentation information of a digital broadcast program from the transport stream are further provided. , A digital broadcast program that can be simultaneously recorded can be detected.
[0012]
The presenting unit can present information on digital broadcast programs that can be simultaneously recorded, for each transport stream.
[0013]
The detecting means can detect a digital broadcast program whose broadcast time overlaps with the predetermined digital broadcast program and which can be simultaneously recorded with the predetermined digital broadcast program among the digital broadcast programs.
[0014]
Acquisition means for acquiring presentation information from a communication device connected to the network can be further provided.
[0015]
The information processing method of the present invention provides a user with a detection step of detecting digital broadcast programs that can be simultaneously recorded among digital broadcast programs having overlapping broadcast times, and information on the digital broadcast programs that can be simultaneously recorded detected in the processing of the detection step. And a presenting step of presenting.
[0016]
The program of the present invention presents to a user a detection step of detecting a digital broadcast program that can be simultaneously recorded among digital broadcast programs having overlapping broadcast times, and information on the simultaneously recordable digital broadcast program detected in the processing of the detection step. And causing the computer to execute a process including a presentation step.
[0017]
In the information processing apparatus and method and the program according to the present invention, a digital broadcast program that can be simultaneously recorded among digital broadcast programs having overlapping broadcast times is detected, and information on the detected digital broadcast program that can be simultaneously recorded is presented to the user. You.
[0018]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described, but in order to clarify the correspondence between each means of the invention described in the claims and the following embodiments, in parentheses after each means, The characteristics of the present invention will be described as follows by adding the corresponding embodiments (one example). However, of course, this description does not mean that each means is limited to those described.
[0019]
The information processing apparatus of the present invention includes a detecting unit (for example, the system controller 11 in FIG. 2) for detecting a digital broadcast program that can be simultaneously recorded among digital broadcast programs having overlapping broadcast times, and a simultaneous recording that is detected by the detecting unit. There is provided a presentation unit (for example, the display unit 17 in FIG. 2) for presenting information on the digital broadcast program (for example, the recording reservation setting screen in FIGS. 15, 16, 17, 19, and 20) to the user.
[0020]
Input means (for example, tuner 12 in FIG. 2) for inputting a transport stream in which a digital broadcast program is multiplexed, and presentation information (for example, FIGS. 7 to 14) of a digital broadcast program from the transport stream (E.g., the system controller 11 and the demultiplexer 14 in FIG. 2), and the detecting means can detect a digital broadcast program that can be simultaneously recorded based on the presentation information (for example, FIG. 3). In step S2).
[0021]
The presentation means can present information on digital broadcast programs that can be simultaneously recorded together for each transport stream (for example, a recording reservation setting screen in FIGS. 15, 16, and 17).
[0022]
The detecting means can detect a digital broadcast program whose broadcast time overlaps with the predetermined digital broadcast program and which can be simultaneously recorded with the predetermined digital broadcast program among the digital broadcast programs (for example, the process of step S23 in FIG. 18).
[0023]
The information processing method according to the present invention includes a detecting step (for example, step S2 in FIG. 3) for detecting a digital broadcast program that can be simultaneously recorded among digital broadcast programs having overlapping broadcast times, and a simultaneous recording detected in the processing of the detecting step. And a presenting step (for example, step S3 in FIG. 3) for presenting information on a possible digital broadcast program to the user.
[0024]
FIG. 2 shows a configuration example of a recording apparatus 1 to which the present invention is applied. The recording apparatus 1 displays a recording reservation setting screen for recognizing a program that can be simultaneously recorded, as described later, so that the user can efficiently make a recording reservation.
[0025]
The system controller 11 of the recording device 1 includes a CPU 21, a ROM 22, and a RAM 23. The CPU (Central Processing Unit) 21 includes, for example, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 22, a hard disk built in the hard disk drive 15, or a magnetic disk 31, an optical disk 32, a magneto-optical disk 33, or a semiconductor memory mounted on the drive 18. A program stored in a recording medium such as 34 is loaded into a RAM (Random Access Memory) 23 and executed to control each unit of the recording apparatus 1. The RAM 23 stores, in addition to programs executed by the CPU 21, predetermined data as appropriate.
[0026]
The tuner 12 receives a transport stream constituting a digital broadcast program such as a BS digital broadcast or a terrestrial digital broadcast via an antenna (not shown). The demodulation unit 13 demodulates the transport stream received by the tuner 12.
[0027]
The demultiplexer 14 separates a predetermined packet from the transport stream demodulated by the demodulation unit 13.
[0028]
The hard disk drive 15 writes the transport stream packets separated by the demultiplexer 14 into a built-in hard disk.
[0029]
The operation unit 16 includes a keyboard, a mouse, buttons, switches, a remote controller, and the like, inputs information according to a user operation, and supplies the information to the CPU 21 of the system controller 11.
[0030]
The display unit 17 is configured by a CRT, a liquid crystal display, or the like, and configures and displays a display screen in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 21.
[0031]
The system controller 11 to the drive 18 are connected to a system bus 19, and data transfer between the system controller 11 to the drive 18 is performed via the system bus 19.
[0032]
Next, the process of displaying the recording reservation setting screen will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
[0033]
In step S1, the system controller 11 of the recording device 1 acquires information necessary for generating a recording reservation setting screen (hereinafter, referred to as recording reservation setting screen information). In the case of this example, the name of the business operator (broadcasting station name), the name of the program, the broadcast start time and the duration of the program are acquired as the recording reservation setting screen information. Details of this processing will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
[0034]
In step S <b> 11, the system controller 11 controls the demultiplexer 14 so that the transport stream demodulated by the demodulation unit 13 is used to generate program sequence information (PSI / SI: Program Specific Information / Service Information). (NIT (Network Information Table), SDT (Service Description Table), and EIT (Event Information Table)) are separated.
[0035]
The program arrangement information is information related to a program multiplexed in the transport stream, and includes NIT, SDT, and EIT, a PAT (Program Association Table), a CAT (Conditional Access Table), a PMT (Program Map Table), And a table having a data structure called a section of the BAT (Bouquet Association Table). A predetermined table ID as shown in FIG. 5 is assigned to each table, and a packet storing the table stores a PID (Packet Identification) as shown in FIG.
[0036]
That is, for example, the system controller 11 refers to the PID of each packet, and finds a packet having a PID of 0x0010 (a packet storing an NIT), a packet having a PID of 0x0011 (a packet storing an SDT), and a PID. Is 0x0012 (a packet in which the EIT is stored) and separates them from the transport stream.
[0037]
The NIT is configured as shown in FIG. 7 and includes a network ID (network_id), a transport stream ID (transport_stream_id), and a descriptor (service_list_descriptor) (service List descriptor) (described later) and the like are stored. The network ID is an ID assigned to each broadcasting mode such as BS digital broadcasting, terrestrial digital television broadcasting, and terrestrial digital audio broadcasting.
[0038]
The SDT is configured as shown in FIG. 9 and includes a transport stream ID (transport_stream_id) and a service ID (service_id) of a service transmitted in the transport stream identified by the transport stream ID. ) And a descriptor (service_descriptor) (service descriptor) (described later) as shown in FIG.
[0039]
The EIT is configured as shown in FIG. 11, in which a transport stream ID (transport_stream_id) and a service ID (service_id) of a service transmitted in the transport stream identified by the transport stream ID are provided. , The start time (start_time) of the event (program) constituting the service and its duration (duration), and a descriptor (short_event_descriptor) (short-form event descriptor) as shown in FIG. Etc.) are stored.
[0040]
The PAT is a table that specifies a packet identifier of a transport stream packet that transmits a PMT related to a program. The CAT is a table that specifies a packet identifier of a transport stream packet that transmits individual information in pay broadcast related information. The PMT is a table that specifies an identifier of a transport stream packet that transmits each coded signal that constitutes a broadcast program and a packet identifier of a transport stream packet that transmits traffic information in pay-related related information. The BAT is a table that specifies information about the bouquet, such as the name of a bouquet (a set of editing channels) and the names of the organization channels that constitute the bouquet.
[0041]
Returning to FIG. 4, in step S12, the system controller 11 sets the network ID of the broadcast for generating the recording reservation setting screen from the packet storing the NIT (FIG. 7) separated in step S11. The packet storing the NIT is detected, and the transport stream ID and the service list descriptor (FIG. 8) are read from the NIT of the detected packet. For example, when generating a recording reservation setting screen for a BS digital broadcast, a packet of a NIT in which a network ID of the BS digital broadcast is set is detected, and a transport stream ID and a service list descriptor are read from the NIT.
[0042]
As shown in FIG. 8, the service list descriptor includes the service ID (service_id) of the service transmitted in the transport stream identified by the paired transport stream ID in the NIT (FIG. 7) and the service. The type (service_type) and the like are described in a list format.
[0043]
Next, in step S13, the system controller 11 describes the transport stream ID read from the NIT in step S12 and its service list descriptor from the packet storing the SDT (FIG. 9) separated in step S11. A packet storing the SDT in which the specified service ID is set is detected, and the service descriptor (FIG. 10) is read from the SDT of the detected packet.
[0044]
As shown in FIG. 10, the service descriptor (the broadcast station name) (the length of the service_provider_name_length char (character string)) and the service name (the length of the service_name_length char ( Character string)) are described.
[0045]
In step S14, the system controller 11 describes the transport stream ID read from the NIT in step S12 from the packet storing the EIT (FIG. 11) separated in step S11 and its service list descriptor. The EIT packet to which the service ID is set is detected, and the short event descriptor (FIG. 12) is read from the detected packet.
[0046]
As shown in FIG. 12, the short event descriptor includes a program name (event_name_char having a length of event_name__length (character string)) and a program description (text_char having a length of text_length (character string)). ) (For example, performer name)) is described.
[0047]
In step S15, from the service list descriptor (FIG. 8) of the NIT (FIG. 7) detected as described above, the system controller 11 replaces the service format type (service_type) with the service descriptor of the SDT (FIG. 9). From the EIT (FIG. 11), the program start time (start_time) and duration (duration) from the EIT (FIG. 11), and the program name from the short-form event descriptor (FIG. 12) And the program description are read out and stored in the RAM 23 together with the transport stream ID as recording reservation setting screen information of each program.
[0048]
When the recording reservation setting screen information is obtained as described above, the process proceeds to step S2 in FIG. 3, and the system controller 11 detects a program (channel) multiplexed on the same transport stream and capable of simultaneous recording. I do.
[0049]
Since programs multiplexed on the same transport stream have the same transport stream ID, whether or not they are multiplexed on the same transport stream is stored in the RAM 23 as recording reservation setting screen information. This is determined based on the transport stream ID.
[0050]
Also, as shown in FIG. 13, the service type type (service_type) to which the service type identification (service_id) is assigned is read from the service list descriptor (FIG. 8) as shown in FIG. A default maximum bit rate (maximum bit rate) is determined. Therefore, whether or not programs multiplexed in the same transport stream and having overlapping broadcast times can be recorded simultaneously is determined by the default maximum bit rate corresponding to the service format, the processing speed of the demultiplexer 14, the transfer speed to the hard disk drive 15, The determination is made based on the operation speed of the hard disk drive 15 and the like.
[0051]
Returning to FIG. 3, in step S3, based on the recording reservation setting screen information obtained in step S1 and the detection result in step S2, the system controller 11 performs the processing shown in FIG. 15, FIG. 16, or FIG. A recording reservation setting screen 17A is generated and displayed on the display unit 17.
[0052]
In the example of FIG. 15, the combination of channels that can be simultaneously recorded is displayed by being surrounded by a thick frame. In the example of FIG. 16, different combinations of channels that can be simultaneously recorded are displayed with different colors. In the example, a predetermined identification number is displayed in association with the identification number.
[0053]
As described above, the recording reservation setting screen capable of recognizing programs (channels) that can be recorded at the same time is displayed. For example, in the case of the examples of FIGS. For programs on channels D, E, and F, it can be recognized that simultaneous recording can be performed even when broadcast times overlap, and for programs with broadcast times that overlap, a recording reservation can be made within the range.
[0054]
When a predetermined program is selected by the user operating the operation unit 16 with respect to the recording reservation setting screen of FIG. 15, FIG. 16, or FIG. 17, the system controller 11 displays the recording reservation setting screen information of the selected program. The program is stored in the RAM 23 as recording reservation program information, and the program is recorded on the hard disk of the hard disk drive 15 using the information.
[0055]
Next, a process of displaying another recording reservation setting screen will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
[0056]
In step S21, the system controller 11 acquires recording reservation setting screen information. Here, since the processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. 4 is performed in the same manner, the description thereof is omitted.
[0057]
Next, in step S22, the system controller 11 determines whether or not the recording-reserved program information is stored in the RAM 23 (whether or not there is a program for which recording reservation has already been performed). Then, the process proceeds to step S23, and based on the recording reservation program information and the recording reservation setting screen information, a program multiplexed with the already-reserved program in the same transport stream and capable of simultaneous recording is detected.
[0058]
Whether or not multiplexing is performed on the same transport stream as a program that has already been reserved for recording is determined by using the same transport stream ID as the transport stream ID stored as the recording reservation program information of the program that has already been reserved for recording. It is determined according to whether or not there is, and whether or not simultaneous recording is possible is stored as default maximum bit rate and recording reservation setting screen information corresponding to the service format type stored as recording reservation program information of the program reserved for recording. The determination is made based on the default maximum bit rate corresponding to the service type type, the processing speed of the demultiplexer 14, the transfer speed to the hard disk drive 15, the operation speed of the hard disk drive 15, and the like.
[0059]
Next, in step S24, based on the recording reservation setting screen information obtained in step S21 and the detection result in step S23, the system controller 11 displays the recording reservation setting screen 17B as shown in FIG. 19 or FIG. It is generated and displayed on the display unit 17.
[0060]
In the example shown in FIG. 19, a program a2 already reserved and whose display is surrounded by a thick frame, a program b2 of channel B and a program c2 of channel C that can be simultaneously recorded are given predetermined colors. It is displayed (displayed separately from other programs).
[0061]
In the example of FIG. 20, the display of the already reserved program a2 whose display is surrounded by a thick frame, the display of the program B2 of the channel B and the program c2 of the channel C that can be simultaneously recorded are separately provided in a column 17C provided separately. Is displayed in.
[0062]
Returning to FIG. 18, when it is determined in step S22 that there is no program reserved for recording, the processes in steps S25 and S26 are performed. In steps S25 and S26, the processes in steps S2 and S3 in FIG. Since the same processing as in the case is performed, the description is omitted.
[0063]
In the above description, the case where the recording reservation setting screen information (recording reservation program information) is acquired from the transport stream has been described as an example. However, the recording reservation setting screen information may be acquired from a predetermined server or the like via a network.
[0064]
In this specification, the step of describing a program provided by a recording medium may be performed in chronological order according to the described order, or may not be performed in chronological order. This also includes processes executed individually.
[0065]
【The invention's effect】
ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to the information processing apparatus and method of this invention, and a program, a recording reservation can be made efficiently.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a conventional GUI for recording reservation.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a recording apparatus to which the present invention has been applied.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a recording reservation setting screen display process.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating details of step S1 in FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a table ID.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a PID.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the contents of NIT.
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the contents of a service list descriptor.
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the contents of an SDT.
FIG. 10 is a diagram showing contents of a service descriptor.
FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the contents of an EIT.
FIG. 12 is a diagram showing the contents of a short-form event descriptor.
FIG. 13 is a diagram showing service type identification.
FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a maximum bit rate for each service format.
FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an example of a recording reservation setting screen.
FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an example of another recording reservation setting screen.
FIG. 17 is a diagram showing an example of another recording reservation setting screen.
FIG. 18 is a flowchart illustrating another recording reservation setting screen display process.
FIG. 19 is a diagram showing an example of another recording reservation setting screen.
FIG. 20 is a diagram showing an example of another recording reservation setting screen.
[Explanation of symbols]
Reference Signs List 1 recording device, 11 system controller, 12 tuner, 13 demodulation unit, 14 demultiplexer, 15 hard disk drive, 16 operation unit, 17 display unit

Claims (7)

Detecting means for detecting digital broadcast programs that can be simultaneously recorded among digital broadcast programs having overlapping broadcast times,
An information processing apparatus, comprising: a presentation unit that presents, to a user, information on the digital broadcast program that can be simultaneously recorded and detected by the detection unit. Input means for inputting a transport stream in which the digital broadcast program is multiplexed,
An acquisition unit that acquires presentation information of the digital broadcast program from the transport stream,
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detection unit detects the digital broadcast program that can be simultaneously recorded, based on the presentation information. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the presenting unit presents information about the digital broadcast program that can be simultaneously recorded, for each of the transport streams. 3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the detection unit detects a digital broadcast program that can be recorded simultaneously with the predetermined digital broadcast program among digital broadcast programs whose broadcast time overlaps with the predetermined digital broadcast program. 4. apparatus. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: an obtaining unit configured to obtain the presentation information from a communication device connected to a network. A detecting step of detecting a digital broadcast program that can be simultaneously recorded among digital broadcast programs having broadcast times overlapping;
A presentation step of presenting to the user information on the simultaneously recordable digital broadcast program detected in the processing of the detection step. A detecting step of detecting a digital broadcast program that can be simultaneously recorded among digital broadcast programs having broadcast times overlapping;
And causing the computer to execute a process including a step of presenting to the user information relating to the digital broadcast program that can be simultaneously recorded and detected in the processing of the detecting step.

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