JP2005236777A - Message display system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To display a message without preventing user's concentration on a television program from being disturbed at the time of displaying the message for notifying the user of an event occurring in each electric appliance and the state of the electric appliance on a monitor. <P>SOLUTION: This message display system has a displaying means 215 for displaying at least television broadcasting or a moving picture; a video content data acquiring means 207 for acquiring information showing details of video displayed by the displaying means; a favorite setting means 208 for setting a displaying method in the case of displaying prescribed video displayed by the displaying means and the message at the same time; a comparing means 209 for comparing the information showing the details of the video with set contents of the favorite setting means; and a changing means 211 for changing at least a message displaying method or message displaying timing in accordance with the set contents when the prescribed video displayed on the displaying means coincides with setting by the favorite setting means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a message display system that notifies a message from each electric device connected via a network to a user.

  In a network constructed by connecting electrical devices such as TVs, PCs, telephones, printers, refrigerators, etc. by wire or wirelessly, messages for informing users about the events occurring in each electrical device and the status of the electrical device are There are many opportunities to be displayed on a television where users can spend the most time among the electric devices in the world. The user can receive the message instantly by displaying the message on the monitor viewing the television broadcast.

  However, if you want to watch programs such as dramas and movies in a concentrated manner, if messages are frequently displayed on the monitor, it may feel annoying to the user, disturbing the concentration of TV viewing and entering the program. There is a problem that can not be included.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems. When a message for notifying the user of an event occurring in each electric device or a state of the electric device is displayed on the monitor, the user concentrates on the television program. It aims to be able to do without disturbing.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention is configured by electrical devices connected via a network, and can generate at least an event that has occurred in each of the electrical devices or a state of the electrical device as a message to notify a user. A message display system, a television broadcast receiving means for receiving a television broadcast, a moving picture reproducing means for playing back a recorded moving picture, a display means for displaying at least the television broadcast or the moving picture, and a display on the display means Video content data acquiring means for acquiring information indicating details of the video being performed, favorite setting means for setting a display method when displaying both the predetermined video displayed on the display means and the message, and the video Comparison means for comparing the information indicating the details of the information and the setting contents of the favorite setting means, and a predetermined information displayed on the display means Provided is a message display system or the like having a changing means for changing at least a message display method or a message display timing according to the setting contents when the video matches the setting in the favorite setting means .

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, when displaying the message for notifying a user of the event which generate | occur | produces in each electric equipment, and the state of an electric equipment on a television monitor, it can carry out without disturbing a user's concentration to a television program. .

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a message display system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
The message display system of this embodiment includes a digital television 102 that receives broadcast data from a broadcasting station 101, a video 103 that is a general electric device connected to the digital television 102 by wire or wirelessly, a printer 104, A mobile phone 105 and a refrigerator 106 are included.

  In the present embodiment, when a user is watching the monitor of the digital television 102, an electric device connected to the digital television 102, an event that has occurred in the digital television 102 itself, a state of the device, or the like is used as a message. Implemented when displaying the monitor to the user.

FIG. 2 is a block configuration diagram of the digital television 102.
The television broadcast data receiving unit 201 shown in FIG. 2 includes means for receiving television broadcast data sent from the broadcast station 101 and inputting it to the tuner unit 203. The recorded data input unit 202 includes means for inputting digital data obtained by recording a television program using the video 103 or the like. The tuner unit 203 is a means for selecting a broadcast station, and performs adjustment for receiving television broadcast data from the broadcast station desired by the user set by the user interface unit 204, and outputs it to the selector unit 205. It is.

  The user interface unit 204 is a means for selecting whether to watch TV or recorded data, a channel selection means for watching TV, and does not normally display a message on the monitor screen while the user is watching a TV program or recorded video. Favorites setting input means is provided. The favorite setting storage unit 208 stores the favorite setting input by the user interface unit 204.

  The selector unit 205 includes means for outputting the television broadcast data or the recorded data selected by the user interface unit 204 to the decoding unit 206. The decoding unit 206 separates multiplexed data such as TV broadcast data and recording data received from the selector unit 205 into video data, audio data, image data, and video content data indicating details of the video data being decoded. Means for decoding.

  The video content data acquisition unit 207 includes means for acquiring video content data every time the decoding unit 206 decodes and updates the video content data. Thus, while the user is viewing the video from the display unit 215, the video content data such as the video program genre, the program name, the broadcast time, the program start / end time, the CM name, the performer, the broadcast station, etc. are continuously displayed. You can get it.

  Each time the video content data acquisition unit 207 updates the video content data, the message processing determination unit 209 compares the video content data with the content set in the favorite setting storage unit 208, and displays a message on the video data processing unit 211. Means for outputting enable information, message display disable information, message display enable level information, and message display method information are provided. In the recorded data reproduction, when the recorded data is embedded with message displayable information, message display disabled information, message displayable level information, and message display method information synchronized with the video, a means for outputting according to this is provided. . Here, the message display timing and display method instructions are given.

  The message data input unit 210 includes means for inputting message data constituting a message for notifying an event or state that has occurred in a connected electrical device. The message data output unit 216 includes means for outputting message data for notifying an event or a state occurring in the digital television of this embodiment to a connected electrical device.

  The video data processing unit 211 includes signal processing means necessary for displaying the video data decoded by the decoding unit 206 on the display unit 215. Further, while receiving message displayable information, message displayable level information, and message display method information from the message processing determination unit 209, message data to be displayed in the message data storage unit 218 is received, and according to the message display method information. It is displayed on the display unit 215 together with the video data. Means is provided for not displaying a message on the display unit 215 while receiving message display impossibility information from the message processing determination unit 209.

  The message data storage unit 218 includes means for storing message data input from the connected electrical device by the message data input unit 210 and message data from the digital television generated by the control unit 217. The received message data is processed by the video data processing unit 211 and stored until it is displayed on the monitor. The message data displayed on the monitor is provided with means for sequentially erasing.

The control unit 217 includes means for controlling all the blocks in FIG. Further, there is provided means for outputting message data for notifying an event or state occurring in the digital television of the present embodiment to the message data storage unit 218 or the message data output unit 216.
The audio data processing unit 212 includes means for outputting the audio data decoded by the decoding unit 206 to the speaker units 213 and 214.

  However, in the present embodiment, various communication methods can be applied to transmission / reception and input / output of various data with an externally connected electric device regardless of wired or wireless.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the contents of the favorite setting.
In the parameter string indicated by the favorite video column 301, when a message is generated while the user is viewing the monitor, a video for which the message display timing and the message display method are to be changed is set.

  Here, when the broadcast station column 302 is selected, if a broadcast station name or channel is set, the message display timing and message display method are changed when a broadcast from the broadcast station or the channel is being viewed. When the program name column 303 is selected, if a program name is set, the message display timing and message display method are changed while the program is being viewed. When the genre column 304 is selected, if the program genre is set, the message display timing and the message display method are changed while viewing the program of the genre. When the time zone column 305 is selected, if a time zone is set, the message display timing and the message display method are changed during viewing in that time zone. When the person field 306 is selected, if the person name is set, the message display timing and the message display method are changed while the set person appears in the video being viewed.

  In the parameter string indicated by the message type column 307, a change in message display timing and message display method is set for each message level.

  The error column 308 is a setting in the case of an error level message for notifying a serious error such as an operation stop error of a connected electric device or a print error of a digital TV capture screen coming from a printer. The notification column 309 is a setting for a notification level message that notifies the reception of an e-mail. All message fields 310 are settings for all message levels such as error level messages and notification level messages.

  The parameter string indicated by the message display timing field 311 sets the message display timing when a message is generated in the connected electrical device while viewing the video set in the parameter strings 302 to 306 indicated by the favorite video field 301.

  Here, when the “after program end” column 312 is selected, a message is displayed after the currently viewed program ends. When the mid-program CM column 313 is selected, a message is displayed while the currently viewed program is between commercials. In addition, when the field 314 after the person video ends is selected, a message is displayed while the person set in the person column 307 is not shown in the currently viewed video. If no setting is made, the field 315 immediately after the message is generated is selected.

  In the parameter string indicated by the message display method column 316, a message display method is set.

  Here, when the full screen display field 312 is selected, the message is displayed on the full screen. When the telop display field 318 is selected, the message is displayed in telop. When the non-display column 319 is selected, no message is displayed.

  For example, it is assumed that a drama is set as the favorite video 301 in the genre field 304, the notification 309 is set as the message type 307, 312 after the program is set as the message display timing 311, and the telop display 318 is set as the message display method 316. In this case, if a notification level message is generated while watching a drama, the message is displayed as a telop on the display unit 215 after the drama ends.

  In this way, the user can freely change the message display timing and message display method when a message is generated from an electric device connected during special video viewing by performing the favorite setting. In addition, when viewing a video without a favorite setting, as usual, when a message is generated from the connected electrical device, it is normally displayed on the display unit 215 immediately.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart of processing from the generation of message data from each electrical device to the display on the monitor in the message display system of this embodiment. This flowchart is mainly related to the present invention.

  First, in step S401, it is determined whether or not the user is watching a television broadcast or reproducing recorded data. As a result of this determination, if it is determined that the user is watching a television broadcast or reproducing recorded data, the process proceeds to step S402. On the other hand, if it is determined that the user is watching the television broadcast or the recorded data is not reproduced, the process stands by in step S401.

  Subsequently, in step S402, the decoding unit 206 decodes video data, audio data image data, and video content data from the television broadcast data or the recorded data.

  Subsequently, in step S403, the video content data acquisition unit obtains the decoded video content data. In the case of recording data reproduction, when recording data favorite setting data is embedded in the recording data, the recording data favorite setting data is also acquired.

  Subsequently, in step S404, in the case of viewing a television broadcast, whether the message processing determination unit 209 compares the favorite setting stored in the favorite setting storage unit 208 with the video content data decoded from the television broadcast data and can display a message. Judge whether or not. If it is determined that the message can be displayed as a result of the determination, message displayable information, message displayable level information, and message display method information are output, and the process proceeds to step S405. On the other hand, as a result of the determination in step S404, if it is determined that the message cannot be displayed, the message display disabled information is output and the process proceeds to step S408.

  In step S404, when the recorded data is reproduced, if the favorite setting data for recording data is embedded in the recorded data in the message processing determination unit 209, the favorite setting in the recorded data is compared with the video content data. It is determined whether a message can be displayed. If it is determined that the message can be displayed as a result of the determination, message displayable information, message displayable level information, and message display method information are output, and the process proceeds to step S405. On the other hand, as a result of the determination in step S404, if it is determined that the message cannot be displayed, the message display disabled information is output and the process proceeds to step S408.

  In step S405, the video data processing unit 211 receives message displayable information and message displayable level information, and determines whether there is message data of the same level in the message data storage unit 218. If it is determined that there is message data of the same level as a result of the determination, the process proceeds to step S406. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S405 that there is no message data at the same level, the process proceeds to step S408.

  Subsequently, in step S406, the video data processing unit 211 captures message data from the message data storage unit 218. Further, when the captured message data is displayed on the monitor, it is deleted from the message data storage unit 218.

  Subsequently, in step S407, the video data processing unit 211 performs signal processing necessary for monitor display in accordance with the message display method information so that both message data and video data can be displayed on the monitor.

  On the other hand, in step S408, the video data processing unit 211 performs signal processing necessary for monitor display so that the video data can be displayed on the monitor.

  In step S409, the display unit 215 displays the signal processed by the video data processing unit 211 on the monitor.

  As described above, the case where a digital television is taken as an example of the embodiment of the present invention has been described. However, as another embodiment, the constituent elements of the present invention are scattered by a plurality of electric devices and are connected by wire or wirelessly. Thus, the present invention can also be realized in a system that is implemented in the entire network. In that case, there may be a case where a plurality of monitors exist. In the form in which the plurality of monitors are present, when a message cannot be displayed on one monitor due to the favorite setting, a function of displaying a message on another monitor is also provided.

It is a schematic block diagram of the message display system in embodiment of this invention. It is a block block diagram of a digital television. It is a figure which shows the content of the setting of a favorite setting. In the message display system of this embodiment, it is a flowchart of a process after message data from each electric equipment generate | occur | produces until it displays on a monitor.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 101 Broadcast station 102 Digital television 103 Video 104 Printer 105 Mobile phone 106 Refrigerator 201 Television broadcast data receiving part 202 Recording data input part 203 Tuner part 204 User interface part 205 Selector part 206 Decoding part 207 Video content data acquisition part 208 Favorite setting storage part 209 Message processing determination unit 210 Message data input unit 211 Video data processing unit 212 Audio data processing units 213 and 214 Speaker unit 215 Display unit 216 Message data output unit 217 Control unit 218 Message data storage unit 301 Favorite video column 302 Broadcasting station column 303 Program name field 304 Genre field 305 Time zone field 306 Person field 307 Message type field 308 Error field 309 Information field 310 All message fields 311 Message Sage display timing field 312 After program end field 313 Mid-program CM field 314 After person video end field 315 Message immediately after field 316 Message display method field 317 Full screen display field 318 Ticker display field 319 No display field

Claims (9)

A message display system configured by an electrical device connected via a network, generating at least an event occurring in each electrical device or a state of the electrical device as a message and notifying a user,
A television broadcast receiving means for receiving a television broadcast;
Movie playback means for playing back recorded videos,
Display means for displaying at least the television broadcast or the moving image;
Video content data acquisition means for acquiring information indicating details of the video displayed on the display means;
Favorites setting means for setting a display method when displaying both the predetermined image displayed on the display means and the message;
Comparison means for comparing information indicating details of the video and the setting contents of the favorite setting means;
And changing means for changing at least a message display method or a message display timing according to the setting contents when a predetermined video displayed on the display means matches the setting in the favorite setting means. -The display system.   The video content data acquisition means acquires at least one of broadcast station, channel, program name, genre, broadcast time zone, and information of the person being shown from the video displayed on the display means. The message display system according to claim 1, wherein:   3. The message display system according to claim 1, wherein the changing unit changes at least the message display method or the message display timing according to the information acquired by the video content data acquiring unit.   3. The message display system according to claim 1, wherein the changing unit changes at least the message display method or the message display timing based on the importance of the message.   The message display method is a display method including at least information acquired by the video content data acquisition unit or full screen display selected according to the importance of the message, telop display, and non-display. Item 5. The message display system according to any one of Items 1 to 4.   The message display system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the message display timing is to display a message after the video or program projected by the display means ends.   The message display system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the message display timing is a message displayed at the time of an image projected by a display means or a commercial in the middle of a program.   6. The message according to claim 1, wherein the message display timing is such that a message is displayed when a predetermined person is not shown in the video or program shown on the display means. Display system.   The message display method and the message display timing are set immediately after the message is generated regardless of the setting contents in the case of a message related to an instruction given to the video displayed on the display means such as a screen capture print instruction. 9. The message display system according to claim 1, wherein the message is displayed.

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