JP2006013840A - Tuning receiver and tuning method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To automatically tune a channel to be the one which is most desired by a user in power supply. <P>SOLUTION: When power is supplied, a controller determines whether electronic program information of this week exists or not. It is determined whether a keyword is set or not in the case of existence. When the keyword is set, it is determined whether a program corresponding to the keyword exists in the electronic program information or not as the program of an applicable time band. When the program corresponding to the keyword exists, it is determined whether the channel which is tuned in the same time band on the same day of the preceding week exists or not with referring to a tuning history table. In the case of existence, the channel is tuned. In the case of non-existence, the channel is tuned where the program corresponding to the keyword is broadcasted. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a channel selection receiver such as a television receiver having a channel selection function based on electronic program information (program guide data) such as EPG (Electronic Program Guide), and a channel selection method in the channel selection receiver. .

  Automatic channel selection at the time of power-on (just after power-on) in the television receiver is (1) a method in which a fixed channel preset in the device is selected, and (2) a user specifies in some way (3) A method of selecting a so-called last channel that was selected at the end of the past, that is, when the power was turned off before turning on the power, and (4) Selecting a plurality of channels. A method of displaying each video on a small screen divided on the display screen has been considered and implemented.

  Recently, as a channel selection function based on electronic program information, when a program corresponding to a keyword set in advance by a user exists, a method of automatically selecting a channel of the program has been considered.

  Regarding EPG, Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-232797) receives multi-channel broadcasting such as CS (Communication Satellite) digital broadcasting, BS (Broadcast Satellite) digital broadcasting, or CATV (Cable Television) broadcasting. In order to easily perform the channel selection operation of the device, a method of dividing multiple channels into a plurality of groups for each condition, storing program information of the channels of each group as separate channel tables, and displaying them on a display screen It is shown.

The prior art documents listed above are as follows.
JP 2002-232797 A

  However, in the method (1) in which a fixed channel preset in the apparatus is selected, when there are a large number of selectable channels, the channel desired by the user is selected and the video is displayed. Decrease the probability.

  In the above method (2), in which the channel designated by the user in some way is selected, when there are a plurality of user's favorite channels or when the favorite channel changes, the user changes the designation each time. It must be cumbersome.

  In the method of selecting the so-called last channel in (3) above, when the desired channel is selected, when the power is turned on after the power is turned off several times, the same channel as the previous channel is selected. The probability decreases, and the user often has to perform an operation of selecting a desired channel again.

  In the method (4) in which a plurality of channels are selected and each image is displayed on a small screen divided on the display screen, the user must select one of the channels. It is inefficient when the program you want is decided. Further, when the display screen is small like a mobile device, selection becomes difficult.

  Further, as a channel selection function based on electronic program information, when there is a program corresponding to a keyword set in advance by the user, in a method in which the channel of the program is automatically selected, for example, the user sets the keyword. If a program that you have watched at the same time on the same day of the week is included as a program that does not correspond to that keyword, but you have set a keyword but do not fall under that keyword, the program is automatically received Instead, the user must again perform an operation of selecting a channel of the program.

  Therefore, according to the present invention, when the power is turned on, the channel that is most desired by the user is automatically selected.

The channel selection receiver of this invention is
A channel receiving device having a channel selection function based on electronic program information,
Control means for controlling each part of the channel selection receiver;
Channel selection means for selecting a channel designated by the control means and receiving the program;
Channels selected by the channel selection receiving means for each day of the week and time zone, and storage means for recording as channel selection history information,
When the channel selection receiver is powered on, the control means includes electronic program information for a certain period including the time in the channel selection receiver, and the electronic program information includes a program for the time period. When there is a program corresponding to the set keyword, a channel selection history channel that is a channel selected for a predetermined time or more in the same time zone on the same day of the previous week with reference to the channel selection history information When the channel selection history channel exists, the channel selection receiving unit is controlled to select the channel, and when the channel selection history channel does not exist, the channel corresponds to the keyword. The channel selection receiving means is controlled to select a channel of a program.

  In the channel selection receiver of the present invention configured as described above, when the power is turned on, electronic program information exists, and a program corresponding to a keyword set as a program in the time zone is included in the electronic program information. Even if it exists, when a channel selection history channel exists in the time zone, the channel is preferentially selected.

  So if a user does n’t have a keyword, or has a keyword, but there ’s a program that does n’t fall under that keyword, they ’re watching every week on the same day of the week, The program is automatically received, and the user can watch the program being watched without fail in the same time zone on the same day of the week without performing an operation of selecting a channel of the program.

  As described above, according to the present invention, when the power is turned on, the channel that is most desired by the user is automatically selected.

[Embodiment of channel selection receiver: FIGS. 1 and 2]
FIG. 1 shows an example of a channel selection receiving apparatus of the present invention, which is a case of a television receiving apparatus.

  In the channel selection receiver 10 of this example, the television broadcast signal received by the antenna 11 is channel-selected and received by the tuner unit 12 by channel selection control as described later by the controller 21, and the video signal is received from the tuner unit 12. And audio signals are obtained separately.

  The video signal is processed by the video processing unit 13 and then supplied to a video display device 31 having a display such as a liquid crystal display, and a video of a television program is displayed on the display screen of the video display device 31. . The audio signal is processed by the audio processing unit 14 and then supplied to the speaker 32, and the audio of the television program is output from the speaker 32.

  The electronic program information superimposed on the television broadcast signal is separated by the tuner unit 12, taken into the controller 21, and written into the nonvolatile memory 29. Further, the electronic program information is read from the nonvolatile memory 29 based on the user's operation, and is displayed on the display screen of the video display device 31 by the processing in the OSD (On Screen Display) processing unit 15. It is used for the user's channel selection operation and keyword setting operation.

  The controller 21 controls each part of the channel selection receiving device 10 and is omitted in the figure, but the CPU, the ROM in which the program executed by the CPU and various fixed data are written, and the program and data are expanded. It is comprised by RAM etc.

  The controller 21 is connected to a power switch 22 for turning on and off the main power supply of the channel selection receiver 10, is connected to a key input unit 24 via an interface 23, and receives infrared rays from a remote controller 27 via an interface 25. An infrared light receiving unit 26 for receiving a remote control signal is connected.

  A keyword for automatic channel selection, that is, a program title, a performer, or the like is input by the key input unit 24 or designates a corresponding portion in the program table displayed on the display screen of the video display device 31. Thus, the channel selection receiver 10 can be set. The set keyword is stored in the nonvolatile memory 29.

  Further, a calendar clock unit 28 is connected to the controller 21. The calendar-equipped clock unit 28 controls the automatic channel selection at the channel selection receiving device 10, that is, the tuner unit 12, and detects the channel selection history, the date, day of the week, and the time. It is to be measured.

  As the channel selection history in the channel selection receiver 10, as shown in FIG. 2 as a channel selection history table, the 24-hour day of each day of the week from Sunday to Saturday is set to 480, for example, in units of 3 minutes. The divided presence / absence of channel selection in each time zone and the channel number in the case of channel selection are recorded.

  Specifically, when a channel is selected for a time of 1 minute 30 seconds (90 seconds) or more by a channel selection operation by a user or automatic channel selection described later in a certain 3 minute period, In the time zone, the channel number is recorded assuming that the channel selection history exists. On the other hand, when the power is turned on and a channel is selected at the latter half of a certain three-minute time slot, or when the user frequently changes the channel within that time slot. The channel is not counted as the channel selection history.

  Note that if a channel A is selected from the beginning to the middle of the 3 minute time slot, and another channel B is selected from the middle to the end, In accordance with a predetermined rule, only one of the first-half channel A and the second-half channel B is counted as the channel selection history for the time period.

  The channel selection history table (channel selection history information) as described above can be stored in the non-volatile memory 29 for a plurality of past weeks as will be described later. However, in the following example, only the previous one week is stored. This is the case where the non-volatile memory 29 holds the channel selection history. Therefore, the channel selection history of each time zone is the presence / absence of channel selection and the channel number when the channel is selected.

  In general, the term “viewing history” is used, but even if a channel is selected, the user is actually doing something in another room, going out, sleeping, etc. Since it may not be viewed, the “channel selection history” is used instead of the “viewing history”.

  The electronic program information (program guide data) is not limited to the broadcasted information, but may be received from the transmission source server via the communication network and downloaded to the nonvolatile memory 29, for example.

[Embodiment of channel selection method: FIGS. 3 and 4]
In the channel selection receiver 10 of the above-described example, when the user turns on the power switch 22 (immediately after being turned on) or when the main power source of the channel selection receiver 10 is turned on by the remote controller 27 (turned on). Immediately), that is, the following method is executed as automatic channel selection under the control of the controller 21 when power is turned on (immediately after power is turned on).

  3 and 4 show an example of the automatic channel selection process performed by the controller 21 when the power is turned on.

  In this example, when the main power of the channel selection receiver 10 is turned on, the controller 21 first determines whether or not electronic program information for this week (week including the power-on time) exists in the nonvolatile memory 29 in step 41. If electronic program information exists, the process proceeds to step 42 to determine whether or not a keyword is set in the nonvolatile memory 29.

  If a keyword has been set, the process further proceeds to step 43, where the program corresponds to the set keyword as a program in the relevant time zone (the above three-minute time zone including the power-on time) in the electronic program information. It is determined whether there is a program to be performed.

  The program corresponding to the keyword is a program in which the title, performer, genre, etc. of the program indicated by the electronic program information match the keyword. For example, when the keyword “world heritage” is set, a program titled “World Heritage Tour” or “World Heritage Greece” is a program corresponding to the keyword.

  If the controller 21 determines in step 43 that there is a program corresponding to the keyword as a program in the time period in this way, the controller 21 proceeds to step 44 and is recorded in the non-volatile memory 29 as shown in FIG. The channel selection history table is referred to, and the process further proceeds to step 45, where it is determined from the reference result whether there is a channel selected in the same time zone on the same day of the previous week.

  If there is a channel selected in the same time zone on the same day of the previous week, the controller 21 proceeds from step 45 to step 46 and controls the tuner unit 12 to select that channel. To do.

  Thus, for example, the keyword “world heritage” is set, and the program “world heritage tour” is broadcast on channel A and the program “news at 11 pm” is broadcast on channel B. If channel B is recorded as the channel selection history during the time period, channel B is selected and the program “11 p.m. news” is received.

  Also, for example, the keyword “world heritage” is set, and the program “world heritage tour” is broadcast on channel A in the time zone, and channel A is recorded as the channel selection history in the time zone. If so, channel A is selected and the program “World Heritage Tour” is received.

  On the other hand, if there is no channel selected in the same time zone on the same day of the previous week, the controller 21 proceeds from step 45 to step 47 to broadcast a program corresponding to the set keyword. The tuner unit 12 is controlled so as to select a certain channel.

  In this case, for example, the program genre “soccer” is set as a keyword, and the program “soccer AE vs. BF” is broadcast on channel A in the time zone, and “soccer CG vs. DH” is broadcast on channel B. When there are a plurality of channels that broadcast a program corresponding to the set keyword, such as a program “ A channel that broadcasts a program defined as a priority or another keyword such as “(specific team name)” is selected.

  If it is determined in step 41 that this week's electronic program information does not exist, if it is determined in step 42 that no keyword is set, or if it is determined in step 43 that there is no program corresponding to the keyword, the controller 21 goes to step 51, refers to the channel selection history table as in step 44, and further proceeds to step 52, and similarly to step 45, from the reference result, the same time on the same day of the previous week. It is determined whether there is a selected channel in the band.

  If there is a channel selected in the same time zone on the same day of the previous week, the controller 21 proceeds from step 52 to step 53 and selects that channel as in step 46. The tuner unit 12 is controlled.

  On the other hand, if there is no channel selected at the same time zone on the same day of the previous week, the controller 21 proceeds from step 52 to step 54, and in this example, at the last channel, that is, at the end of the past. The tuner unit 12 is controlled so as to select the selected channel.

  Automatic channel selection at the time of power-on (immediately after power-on) is performed as described above. Thereafter, the user freely selects a channel by a channel selection operation using the key input unit 24 or the remote controller 27, and A program can be received.

  Further, the above automatic channel selection method is not only performed when the power is turned on, but also during channel selection reception by the tuner unit 12, so that it is executed at each start time of the unit time zone according to the user setting. 10 may be configured.

  Specifically, in this case, for example, after power is turned on at 11:55 pm on Monday, a channel is selected by the above-described automatic channel selection process when the power is turned on, and a program of that channel is received. When the time reaches 11:57 pm on the same day, the above-described automatic channel selection processing is executed again. When the time reaches 0:00 am on the next day (Tuesday), the above-described automatic channel selection processing is performed. Is executed again.

  The program changes in units of time such as 2 hours, 1 hour, 30 minutes, and 15 minutes, and the channel that broadcasts the program desired by the user can also change in that time unit. By performing automatic channel selection every time, the user's operation for channel selection can be further reduced.

[Other Embodiments]
(About tuning history)
In the above-described example, the channel selection history for the most recent week is stored as a channel selection history table. Even if the user starts to watch the program, once the user selects the other channel, the other channel is automatically tuned to change the program at the turn of the season or the user's program. Responsive to changes in preferences for

  On the other hand, if a user watches a program every week, but happens to be unable to view the program on a trip or business trip during a certain week, the channel selection history of the program is interrupted, When the channel receiving device is turned on again in order to watch the program, if the keyword corresponding to the program is not set, the program is not automatically selected and received. It will be necessary to perform an operation to select the channel of the program again.

  Therefore, in consideration of such a case, the channel selection history for the latest plural weeks, for example, two weeks may be stored as the channel selection history table.

  However, if the channel selection history of the previous week and the channel selection history of the previous week have the same weight, the channel selected in the previous week and the channel selected in the previous week are selected even in the same time zone on the same day of the week. If the channels are different, the channel for automatic tuning cannot be determined when the power is turned on, so the tuning history of the previous week and the tuning history of the previous two weeks are changed in weight, and the former weight coefficient is set to the latter. Make it larger than the weighting factor.

  For example, the weighting coefficient of the tuning history of the previous week is set to 0.6, and the weighting coefficient of the tuning history of the previous week is set to 0.4. In terms of time, when a channel is selected for a time of 1 minute 30 seconds (90 seconds) or more in a 3 minute time zone as in the above example, there is a tuning history in that time zone. Assuming that the channel selection history of the previous week is 54 seconds, the channel selection history of the previous week is 36 seconds.

  (1) If the same channel is selected in the previous week and the previous week, the channel selection history of that channel is set to once (90 seconds). (2) If there is no channel selection history in the previous week, the channel selection history of the channel selected in the previous week is set to 0.4 times (36 seconds), and (3) the previous week is selected. If the station history does not exist but the channel selection history exists in the previous week, the channel selection history of the channel selected in the previous week is set to 0.6 times (54 seconds), and (4) When different channels are selected in the week and the previous week, the channel selection history of the channel selected in the previous week is 0.4 times (36 seconds), and the channel selected in the previous week is selected. The tuning history is 0.6 times (54 seconds).

  When the channel selection history weight is a predetermined number of times (predetermined time) or more, for example, 0.4 times (36 seconds) or more, and different channels are selected in the previous week and the previous week. Configures the channel receiving device so that the channel with the greater weight of the channel selection history, that is, the channel selected in the previous week, is finally determined as the channel previously selected.

  According to this, as described above, the user views a program every week, but happens to be a channel selection history of the program even if the program cannot be viewed due to travel or business trip during a certain week. When the channel selection receiver is turned on again to watch the program again in the next week, the program is automatically set even if the keyword corresponding to the program is not set. Therefore, the user does not need to perform an operation of selecting a channel of the program again.

  In addition, as described above, even when the user watches a program on a channel different from the previous one at the same time zone on the same day of the week, once the user selects the other channel, The other channel is automatically selected, and is responsive to program changes at the turn of the season and changes in user preferences.

(Other)
Although the above-described example is a case of receiving terrestrial analog broadcasting, the present invention is similarly applied to the case of receiving television broadcasting such as CS digital broadcasting, BS digital broadcasting, terrestrial digital broadcasting, and CATV broadcasting. Moreover, the present invention can be applied not only to television broadcasting but also to reception of radio broadcasting.

It is a figure which shows an example of the channel selection receiver of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of channel selection history information. It is a figure which shows a part of example of the automatic channel selection process at the time of power activation. It is a figure which shows a part of example of the automatic channel selection process at the time of power activation.

Explanation of symbols

  Since all the main parts are described in the figure, they are omitted here.

Claims (5)

A channel receiving device having a channel selection function based on electronic program information,
Control means for controlling each part of the channel selection receiver;
Channel selection means for selecting a channel designated by the control means and receiving the program;
Channels selected by the channel selection receiving means for each day of the week and time zone, and storage means for recording as channel selection history information,
When the channel selection receiver is powered on, the control means includes electronic program information for a certain period including the time in the channel selection receiver, and the electronic program information includes a program for the time period. When there is a program corresponding to the set keyword, a channel selection history channel that is a channel selected for a predetermined time or more in the same time zone on the same day of the previous week with reference to the channel selection history information When the channel selection history channel exists, the channel selection receiving unit is controlled to select the channel, and when the channel selection history channel does not exist, the channel corresponds to the keyword. A channel selection receiving apparatus for controlling the channel selection receiving means so as to select a channel of a program. In the channel selection receiving apparatus according to claim 1,
The control means, when the power is turned on, when the electronic program information does not exist in the channel selection receiver, when no keyword is set, or there is no program corresponding to the keyword in the electronic program information In this case, the channel selection receiving apparatus controls the channel selection reception unit so as to select a channel that has been selected last in the past. In the channel selection receiving apparatus according to claim 1,
The control means performs the same channel selection control as when the power is turned on for each start time of a predetermined time width during channel selection reception by the channel selection reception means. apparatus. A channel selection method at power-on in a channel selection receiver having a channel selection function based on electronic program information,
It is determined whether there is electronic program information for a certain period including the time when the power is turned on, and whether there is a program corresponding to the set keyword as a program in the time zone in the electronic program information. The first step;
In this first step, when it is determined that the electronic program information exists and the program corresponding to the keyword exists in the electronic program information, from the channel selection history information recorded in the storage means, A second step of determining whether there is a channel selection history channel that is a channel selected for a predetermined time or more in the same time zone on the same day of the week;
In this second step, when it is determined that the channel selection history channel exists, a third step of selecting the channel,
A fourth step of selecting a channel of a program corresponding to the keyword when it is determined in the second step that the channel selection history channel does not exist;
A channel selection method comprising: In the channel selection method according to claim 4,
When the electronic program information does not exist, when no keyword is set, or when there is no program corresponding to the keyword in the electronic program information, the channel selected at the end in the past is selected. How to select a channel.

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