JP2008078961A - Video display device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable a user utilizing a video display device to collectively obtain recorded programs in each of a plurality of recording/reproducing devices so as to allow the user to easily execute an operation for instructing prescribed processing to each recording/reproducing device after partially or wholly selecting the recorded programs when the video display device and a plurality of the recording/reproducing devices are connected. <P>SOLUTION: A television receiver X is composed as follows. Recorded-program information regarding the recorded programs which are recorded by each of a plurality of the recording/reproducing devices Y is acquired from a plurality of the recording/reproducing devices Y through an HDMI interface W. The content information of the recorded programs regarding a plurality of the recording/reproducing devices Y is organized on the basis of the recorded-program information so as to display it on a video display part 5. The recorded program is selected corresponding to an operation input executed by an operation part of a remote control 8 so as to instruct each recording/reproducing device Y through a CEC line 42 to execute reproduction processing or deletion processing regarding the selected recorded program. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a video display device (such as a television receiver) configured to be able to communicate with a plurality of recording / playback devices through signal transmission means compliant with the HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface) standard.

Generally, a recent recording / playback apparatus acquires electronic program guide (EPG) information through television broadcasting or the Internet, and when the broadcast program (video and audio) is digitally recorded in a storage unit such as a hard disk drive, the recorded program is recorded. EPG information relating to this is also stored in the storage unit. The EPG information relating to the recorded program stored in this way is included in the selected menu video of the recorded program to be played back, and the selected menu video is displayed on the video display unit of the television receiver connected to the recording / playback apparatus. .
On the other hand, Patent Document 1 discloses a system in which a recording / playback apparatus is controlled by a computer through a network. As a result, the remote control of the recording / playback apparatus can be performed.
The recording / playback apparatus is connected to a television receiver (an example of a video display apparatus) having a video display unit (liquid crystal display unit or the like) via a signal transmission cable, and an EPG is connected to the video display unit of the television receiver. In many cases, an input interface image (screen) of information or program reservation information is displayed. Thus, the video display unit of the television receiver functions as a man-machine interface of the recording / reproducing apparatus in addition to functioning as an output destination of video of a recorded program.

On the other hand, as disclosed in Patent Document 2, as one of means for signal transmission between a television receiver and a recording / playback apparatus or a set-top box (STB), a signal transmission means (hereinafter referred to as HDMI standard) is used. HDMI interface). This HDMI interface can simultaneously transmit a digital video signal and an audio signal by a cable integrated in appearance, and can realize simple wiring and signal transmission without deterioration. Here, the HDMI interface transmits unencoded (uncompressed) video signals and audio signals (transmitted by the baseband method), so it is not affected by the difference in the signal encoding method between devices, and is expanded. And excellent durability (possibility of connection with devices that adopt a new encoding method in the future).
In the HDMI interface, a signal including a video signal and an audio signal is transmitted at high speed through a TMDS (Transition Minimized Differential Signaling) signal transmission line (hereinafter referred to as a TMDS line).
The HDMI standard further defines the CEC (Consumer Electronics Control) standard, and the HDMI interface is a signal transmission means including a signal transmission line (hereinafter referred to as CTC line) compliant with the CTC standard. Composed. The HDMI interface including the CTC line can transmit other information (such as control information) through the CTC line in addition to transmission of the video signal and the audio signal through the TMDS line. Note that the HDMI interface can transmit video signals and audio signals through the TMDS line only in one direction, but can transmit information through the CTC line in both directions.
JP 2000-101965 A JP 2004-208290 A

By the way, when a television receiver and a plurality of recording / playback apparatuses exist, a plurality of recording apparatuses exist by using a video display unit and an operation unit (such as a remote controller) of the television receiver as a man-machine interface. Without the user being particularly aware of this, the recorded programs recorded in each of the plurality of recording / playback apparatuses are collectively grasped, and predetermined processing (playback processing, deletion processing, etc.) for a part or all of the recorded programs is performed. If an operation for instructing the recording / playback apparatus can be performed, it is very convenient for the user.
In addition, recent recording / playback devices are often priced and owned by a plurality of devices in the family, and the recording capacity (capacity of a storage unit such as a hard disk drive) is large. For this reason, the merit which can grasp | ascertain the content of many recorded programs recorded on the several recording / reproducing apparatus collectively by the display image | video of a video display apparatus is very large.
On the other hand, in a combination of a conventional general television receiver and a recording / playback apparatus, the television receiver switches the video input source to the recording / playback apparatus by so-called input switching, and then records. There is a problem in that it is necessary to operate the playback device so that the selected menu image is output, and that operation is troublesome.
Patent Document 1 discloses that when a computer and a plurality of recording / playback apparatuses are connected via a network, the user can grasp the recorded programs together without being aware of the existence of the plurality of recording / playback apparatuses. There is no disclosure or suggestion about the configuration to be made.
Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and the object of the present invention is to allow a user who is using a video display device when the video display device and a plurality of recording / playback devices are connected. , A video display for easily grasping a recorded program in each of a plurality of recording / playback apparatuses, selecting a part or all of the recorded programs, and instructing the recording / playback apparatus for a predetermined process To provide an apparatus.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention includes a TMDS signal transmission line (corresponding to the TMDS line) that includes a video display unit and transmits a signal including a video signal, and a CEC signal transmission line that conforms to the CEC standard (the CEC line). And an HDMI signal transmission means (corresponding to the HDMI interface) configured to communicate with a plurality of recording / playback apparatuses. The following (1) to (4) It is comprised as a video display apparatus provided with each component shown.
(1) Recorded program information acquisition means for acquiring recorded program information related to a recorded program recorded in the storage unit of each of the plurality of recording / playback apparatuses from the plurality of recording / playback apparatuses through the HDMI signal transmission means.
(2) Based on the recorded program information acquired by the recorded program information acquisition means, recorded program information display for organizing the contents information of the recorded program for the plurality of recording / playback apparatuses and displaying the information on the video display unit Control means.
(3) Recorded program selection means for selecting the recorded program in accordance with an operation input through a predetermined operation unit in a state where content information of the recorded program is displayed on the video display unit.
(4) Processing instruction means for instructing the recording / playback apparatus through the CEC signal transmission line to execute processing for the recorded program selected by the recorded program selection means.
Here, the recorded program information acquisition means, for example, requests the plurality of recording / playback apparatuses to transmit the recorded program information through the CEC signal transmission line and returns the recorded program information returned in response thereto. To get. The recorded program information acquisition means is actively sent from the video recording / playback apparatus side as well as the video display apparatus side actively requesting information to the video recording / playback apparatus. It is also possible to passively acquire (receive) the recorded program information.

The video display apparatus according to the present invention organizes the contents information of the recorded programs of each of the plurality of recording / playback apparatuses, displays them on the video display unit, and executes selection of the recorded programs and instructions for processing in the display state. For this reason, the user can grasp the recorded programs in each of the plurality of recording / playback apparatuses collectively by using the video display unit and the operation unit (remote controller or the like) of the video display device as a man-machine interface, and a part of the recorded program Can be selected to instruct the recording / playback apparatus to perform predetermined processing (such as playback processing or deletion processing).
In addition, the recorded program information display control means includes a broadcast date and time, a broadcast channel, a predetermined keyword (genre, performer, etc.), predetermined classification information included in the recorded program information (a folder in which recorded program data is stored). It is conceivable to organize the content information of the recorded program based on one or more of the identification information of the recording / playback apparatus being recorded.
As a result, the user can easily select a desired recorded program from a large number of recorded programs based on pieces of program information (broadcast date / time, broadcast channel, keyword, storage folder name, etc.). To find out.

Here, the recorded program information acquisition means may be (a) acquiring the recorded program information through the TMDS signal transmission line and (b) acquiring through the CEC signal transmission line.
In the case of the former (a), the recorded program information acquisition means converts the recorded program information including content information of the recorded program displayed on the video display section by the recorded program information display control means to the TMDS signal transmission line. Through the plurality of recording / playback apparatuses.
Accordingly, the content information of the recorded program is transmitted at high speed through the TMDS signal transmission line even when the capacity of the recorded program is large. In the HDMI standard, the TMDS signal transmission line is defined so that information other than the video signal can be transmitted as a subpacket, and the recorded program information can be transmitted by being included in the subpacket.
However, in the case of (a), depending on the internal configuration of the video display device and the connection form with a plurality of recording / playback devices, it is necessary to sequentially switch the signal acquisition destination (recording / playback device) by the TMDS signal transmission line. There is a possibility that the image being displayed on the display unit cannot be continuously displayed.
On the other hand, the signal transmission speed through the CEC signal transmission line is relatively slow (about 300 bps). For this reason, if the content information of the large-capacity recorded program is transmitted through the CEC signal transmission line, the time required for the transmission becomes long and impractical.
Therefore, in the case of the latter (b), it comprises electronic program information storage means for storing electronic program information (EPG information) in which program identification information and program content information are associated, and the recorded program information acquisition means comprises: The recorded program information including identification information of the recorded program is received from the plurality of recording / playback apparatuses through the CEC signal transmission line. Then, the recorded program information display control means is content information of the recorded program to be displayed on the video display unit from the electronic program information stored in the electronic program information storage means based on the identification information of the recorded program. Search for.
As a result, the capacity of the recorded program information (the program identification information) transmitted through the CEC signal transmission line is minimized, and the transmission time of the recorded program information can be shortened. Further, it is possible to avoid the phenomenon that the video being displayed on the video display unit cannot be continuously displayed.

In the video display device according to the present invention, a user who uses the video display device summarizes the contents of a large number of recorded programs in a plurality of recording / playback devices using the video display unit and the operation unit of the video display device as a man-machine interface. It is possible to easily perform an operation of grasping (confirming) and selecting a recorded program and instructing processing. That is, it is not necessary for the user to check the contents of the recorded program by operating each of the plurality of recording / playback apparatuses.
In addition, the video display device according to the present invention includes a broadcast date and time, a broadcast channel, a predetermined keyword (genre, performer, etc.), and predetermined classification information included in the recorded program information (a folder in which recorded program data is stored). If the contents information of the recorded program is organized on the basis of one or more of the recorded recording / playback apparatus identification information, the user can record the desired recording from among the recorded programs. The program can be easily searched, and the operability is further improved.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings for understanding of the present invention. In addition, the following embodiment is an example which actualized this invention, Comprising: The thing of the character which limits the technical scope of this invention is not.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a recording system Z including the television receiver X according to the embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a recording program operation process in the recording system Z, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display screen of a recorded program selection menu in the television receiver X according to the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data configuration of EPG log information stored in the television receiver X. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data configuration of recorded program information acquired by the television receiver X from the recording / playback apparatus.

First, the configuration of a recording system Z including a television receiver X according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described using the block diagram shown in FIG.
In the recording system Z, a television receiver X (an example of a video display device) having a video display unit 5 and a plurality of (two in FIG. 1) recording / playback devices Y having a recording / playback function comply with the HDMI standard. This is a system configured to be communicable through an HDMI interface W which is a compliant signal transmission means. Here, the HDMI interface W includes a TMDS line 41 for transmitting a video signal and an audio signal (both are digital signals), and a CEC line 42 (corresponding to a CEC signal transmission line) compliant with the CEC standard which is an optional standard of the HDMI standard. Is included. The TMDS line 41 is composed of a plurality of signal lines, and the TMDS line 41 and the CEC line 42 are apparently configured as one HDMI cable 40.
The feature of the recording system Z is that the television receiver X displays the content information (program titles) of the programs (recorded programs) recorded in each of the plurality of recording / playback apparatuses Y together on the video display unit 5, and The operation of the television receiver X is to execute a recorded program operation process that enables selection of a recorded program and an instruction for a process (reproduction process or deletion process) for the selected recorded program. Details thereof will be described later.

[TV receiver X]
As shown in FIG. 1, a television receiver X according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a tuner 1, two HDMI receiving units 2xa and 2ya, a CEC interface 2xb, a video switching circuit 3, a video processing circuit 4, and a video display unit. 5, a control circuit 6, a remote control interface (I / F) circuit 7, a remote control 8, a sub MPU 9, an audio switching circuit 10, an audio processing circuit 11, an amplifier 12, a speaker 13, and the like.

The tuner 1 extracts (selects) a broadcast channel signal instructed by the control circuit 6 from a broadcast signal such as a terrestrial broadcast signal or a BS satellite broadcast signal, and detects a video signal and an audio by detecting the extracted signal. The signal is taken out, and the video signal and the audio signal are transmitted to the video switching circuit 3 and the audio switching circuit 10, respectively.
The HDMI receiving units 2xa and 2ya (denoted as HDMI-RX in the figure) are signal transmission interfaces compliant with the HDMI standard. The HDMI receiving units 2xa and 2ya input video signals and audio signals from an external device (here, the recording / playback device Y) through the TMDS line 41 in a baseband manner, and input them to the video switching circuit 3 and the audio switching circuit 10. Transmit to each.
The CEC interface 2xb is a signal transmission interface conforming to the CEC standard in the HDMI standard. The CEC interface 2xb transmits / receives information to / from an external apparatus (here, the recording / playback apparatus Y) through the CEC line 42. The direct transmission destination of the reception information and the direct supply source of the transmission information of the CEC interface 2xb are the sub MPU 9.
In the example illustrated in FIG. 1, the television receiver X includes two HDMI receiving units 2xa and 2ya corresponding to two recording / reproducing devices Y (external devices), respectively. The television receiver X includes only one CEC interface 2xb corresponding to the two recording / reproducing apparatuses Y.
The video switching circuit 3 receives video signals from the tuner 1 and the HDMI receiving units 2xa and 2ya, and selects and outputs any one of the video signals according to an instruction from the control circuit 6. It is.

The video processing circuit 4 performs various signal processing on the video signal output from the video switching circuit 3. For example, the video processing circuit 4 has an OSD function that superimposes (superimposes) the video of information specified by the control circuit 6 on the video signal from the video switching circuit 3.
Furthermore, the video processing circuit 4 also has an EPG extraction function that extracts EPG information (electronic program guide information) contained therein from the broadcast signal of the program extracted by the tuner 1 and delivers it to the control circuit 6. Then, the control circuit 6 always uses a part of the EPG information acquired from the video processing circuit 4 as the EPG log information D0 only for the latest predetermined period (for example, a predetermined period of about 2 to 12 months). The data is stored in the EEPROM 6c.
FIG. 4 shows an example of the data configuration of the EPG log information D0 stored in the EEPROM 6c (an example of electronic program information storage means).
As shown in FIG. 4, the EPG log information D0 is associated with a program identification code d1 that is program identification information, a program title d2, a broadcast channel d3, a broadcast date and time d4, a genre d5, and the like that are program content information. Information (electronic program information).
The video display unit 5 includes a liquid crystal display unit including a liquid crystal panel and a liquid crystal driver, and displays video based on a video signal output from the video processing circuit 4.

The audio switching circuit 10 receives the audio signal from the tuner 1 and the audio signals from the HDMI receiving units 2xa and 2ya, and outputs one of the audio signals according to an instruction from the control circuit 6. This is output to the processing circuit 11.
The audio processing circuit 11 performs equalization processing, D / A conversion processing, and the like on the signal output from the audio switching circuit 10.
The amplifier 12 performs processing (volume adjustment processing) for amplifying or attenuating the audio signal processed by the audio processing circuit 11 in accordance with an instruction from the control circuit 6, and outputs it to the speaker 13.

The control circuit 6 includes an MPU 6a which is an arithmetic means, a ROM 6b (EPROM) which is a storage means in which a control program executed by the MPU 6a is stored in advance, an EEPROM 6c which stores various information read and written in processing executed by the MPU 6a, and the like. Provided, and controls the entire television receiver X. The following processing and functions of the control circuit 6 are realized by the MPU 6a executing a program stored in the ROM 6b.
The remote controller 8 is a remote controller that outputs a radio signal (for example, an infrared signal) for controlling the operation of the television receiver X, and includes an operation input unit (not shown), a radio signal output circuit, and the like.
The operation input unit is an operation unit for inputting information such as a channel selection key and a volume control key, and a signal corresponding to the operation content is transmitted to the wireless signal output circuit. Further, the radio signal output circuit converts a signal transmitted from the operation input unit (that is, a control signal for the operation of the television receiver X) into a radio signal (for example, an infrared signal), and the remote controller 8 To the TV main body side.
On the other hand, the remote control interface circuit 7 receives a radio signal (infrared signal or the like) transmitted from the remote control 8 and converts it into an electrical signal, thereby acquiring various information transmitted from the remote control 8 and acquiring the information. Information is transmitted to the sub MPU 9.
The sub MPU 9 is a microcomputer that executes processing for relaying information transmission between the control circuit 6, the remote control interface circuit 7, and the CEC interface 2xb.

[Recording / playback device Y]
As shown in FIG. 1, a recording / playback apparatus Y according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a tuner 21, a recording / playback circuit 22, an HDD 23 (hard disk drive), an HDMI transmission unit 25a, a CEC interface 25b, a control circuit 24, and a remote control interface. The circuit 26, the remote controller 27, the sub MPU 28, and the like are provided.
Here, the tuner 21, the remote control interface circuit 26, the remote control 27, and the sub MPU 28 are the same as the tuner 1, the remote control interface circuit 7, the remote control 8, and the sub MPU 9 in the television receiver X, respectively.

The recording / playback circuit 22 executes broadcast program recording processing and recorded program playback processing. That is, the recording / playback circuit 22 executes a recording process in which the broadcast signal (video signal and audio signal) of the program extracted by the tuner 21 is compressed and encoded and recorded in the HDD 23. Further, the recording / reproducing circuit 22 executes a reproducing process of outputting to the outside through the HDMI transmitting unit 25a while decoding the data of the broadcast program recorded (recorded) in the HDD 23.
Further, the recording / playback circuit 22 has an EPG acquisition function for extracting EPG information (electronic program guide information) included in the broadcast signal of the program extracted by the tuner 21 and recording it in the HDD 23. The EPG information includes processing for generating a reserved program selection menu screen during recording reservation processing, program titles and broadcasts recorded in the HDD 23 in association with video signals and audio signals of recorded programs (recorded programs). It is used when executing processing for specifying date and time.
The HDMI transmission unit 25a (denoted as HDMI-TX in the figure) is a signal transmission interface compliant with the HDMI standard. The HDMI transmission unit 25a outputs a video signal and an audio signal through the TMDS line 41 to an external device (here, the television receiver X) in a baseband system.
Similar to the CEC interface 2xb in the television receiver X, the CEC interface 25b is a signal transmission interface conforming to the CEC standard in the HDMI standard. The CEC interface 25b transmits and receives information to and from an external device (here, the television receiver X) through the CEC line 42. The direct transmission destination of the reception information and the direct supply source of the transmission information of the CEC interface 25b are the sub MPUs 28.

In the recording / reproducing apparatus Y, the HDMI transmitting unit 25a and the CEC interface 25b, the sub MPU 28, and the remote control interface circuit 26 that constitute a part of the HDMI interface W are connected to a commercial power source. In this state, the power is always supplied. On the other hand, the tuner 21, the control circuit 24, the recording / playback circuit 22, the HDD 23, etc., when the recording / playback apparatus Y is connected to a commercial power source, Is switched to two states, i.e., a standby state in which is interrupted. The switching between the two states is realized by the sub MPU 28 performing switching control of an energization switch (not shown).
That is, when the recording / playback apparatus Y is in the standby state, the sub MPU 28 has received a power key operation signal from the remote control 27 through the remote control interface circuit 26 or from the television receiver X through the CEC interface 25b. When it is detected that any command addressed to the device itself has been received, the recording / playback device Y is switched from the standby state to the operating state (ie, activated) by switching the energization switch from the OFF state to the ON state. .
Further, the sub MPU 28 receives the operation signal of the power key from the remote controller 27 through the remote controller interface circuit 26 or the television receiver X through the CEC interface 25b when the recording / playback apparatus Y is in the operating state. When it is detected that the stop command has been received, the recording / reproducing apparatus Y is switched from the operating state to the standby state by switching the energization switch from the ON state to the OFF state.
Thereby, the recording / reproducing apparatus Y is switched between the operation state and the standby state by remote control from the remote controller 27 or the television receiver X.

The control circuit 24 includes an MPU 24a which is an arithmetic means, a ROM 24b (EPROM) which is a storage means in which a control program executed by the MPU 24a is stored in advance, an EEPROM 24c which stores various information read and written in processing executed by the MPU 24a, and the like. And controls the entire recording / playback apparatus Y. The processing and functions of the control circuit 24 described below are realized by the MPU 24a executing a program stored in the ROM 24b.
In addition, the control circuit 24 of the recording / playback apparatus Y is configured to transmit broadcast programs (video and audio) based on the EPG information recorded in the HDD 23 by the recording / playback circuit 22 and the program reservation information recorded in the HDD 23 in advance. It also has a scheduled recording function for performing scheduled recording. Note that the scheduled recording function is a well-known function, and thus detailed description thereof is omitted here.
The control circuit 24 also has a folder setting function for setting one or a plurality of folders (hereinafter referred to as storage folders) that are recording destinations (storage destinations) of the recording data in the HDD 23.
Thus, the control circuit 24 designates a plurality of preset folders (sections) in accordance with an operation input to the remote controller 27, and then causes the recording / playback circuit 22 to execute recording processing and playback processing.
The control circuit 24 records the program identification code d1 which is identification information of the recorded program in the HDD 23 in association with the recorded data when the recording / playback circuit 22 records the broadcast program. The program identification code d1 is information included in the EPG information extracted by the recording / playback circuit 22.
As will be described later, in response to a request (instruction) from the television receiver X, the recording / playback apparatus Y receives recorded program information D1 (see FIG. 5) including a program identification code d1 corresponding to the recorded program. Delivered to John receiver X.

Next, the procedure of the recorded program operation process in the recording system Z will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.
Here, it is assumed that the process shown in FIG. 2 is started when a user operates a specific key (hereinafter referred to as a recorded program operation key) of the remote controller 8 or the like. Further, S101, S102,... Shown below represent identification codes of processing procedures (steps).
The recorded program operation process is a process executed by the television receiver X and the recording / playback apparatus Y while exchanging information through the HDMI interface W. Hereinafter, processing on the television receiver X side will be described first, and then processing on the recording / playback apparatus Y side will be described.

First, processing on the television receiver X side in the recorded program operation processing will be described.
[Steps S101 and S102]
When the control circuit 6 detects that the recorded program operation key is operated, the control circuit 6 sends a request command for requesting transmission of the recorded program information D1 (details will be described later) through the CEC line 42 to each recording / playback apparatus Y. (S101). Note that communication control (information transmission and reception control) through the CEC line 42 in the television receiver X is performed by the CEC interface 2xb.
Next, the control circuit 6 executes processing for receiving the recorded program information D1 returned from each recording / playback apparatus Y in response to the request for the recorded program information D1 through the CEC line 42 (CEC signal transmission line). (S102). As will be described later, the recorded program information D1 includes the program identification code d1 for identifying a recorded program recorded in the HDD 23 of each of the plurality of recording / playback apparatuses Y. The control circuit 6 that executes the processes of steps S101 and S102 is an example of a recorded program information acquisition unit.
Further, in step S102, the control circuit 6 determines whether or not the recorded program information D1 is received from each recording / playback apparatus Y within a predetermined time after transmission of the recorded program information request command. When the control circuit 6 receives a recording program absence notification (to be described later) from the recording / playback apparatus Y via the CEC line 42, the control circuit 6 determines that the recorded program information D1 has not been received from the recording / playback apparatus Y.
FIG. 5 shows an example of the data structure of the recorded program information D1.
The recorded program information D1 shown in FIG. 5 is the program identification code d1 for identifying each recorded program recorded in the recording / playback apparatus Y and information for identifying the recording / playback apparatus Y that is the transmission source of the recorded program information D1. This is information in which a device name d6 is associated with a folder name d7 (an example of classification information) that is identification information of the storage folder that is a storage destination of a recorded program.

[Steps S103, S111, S112]
When the control circuit 6 confirms that the recorded program information D1 has not been received from one or more recording / playback apparatuses Y in step S102, the control circuit 6 shifts the processing to steps S112 and S113. Then, the control circuit 6 causes the video display unit 5 to display an OSD message indicating that no recorded program exists (S112), erases the OSD display being displayed after a predetermined time (S111), and then performs the recorded program operation process. End.
On the other hand, when the control circuit 6 confirms that the recorded program information D1 is received from one or more recording / playback apparatuses Y in step S102, the control circuit 6 determines the recording program / playback apparatuses Y for the plurality of recording / playback apparatuses Y based on the recorded program information D1. A video (screen) of a recorded program selection menu for organizing and displaying the contents information of the recorded program is generated, and the menu video is OSD-displayed on the video display unit 5 (S103, an example of recorded program information display control means).
More specifically, in step S103, the control circuit 6 uses the program identification code d1 included in the recorded program information D1 acquired from the recording / playback apparatus Y as a search key to store the EPG log information stored in advance in the EEPROM 6c. The program title d2 (content information) and related information (broadcast channel d3, broadcast date and time d4, genre d5) of the recorded program to be displayed on the video display unit 5 are searched from D0 (electronic program information).
Then, the control circuit 6 (an example of the recorded program information display control means) has the broadcast channel d3, the broadcast date 4 and the genre d5 (an example of keywords) obtained by the search, and the device name d6 included in the recorded program information D1. By organizing a program title d2 (content information of a recorded program) based on (an example of identification information of a recording / playback apparatus) and a storage folder name d7 (an example of predetermined classification information), the recorded program selection menu v1 Is generated.

FIG. 3 shows an example of the OSD display screen of the recorded program selection menu v1.
As shown in FIG. 3, the control circuit 6 displays on the video display unit 5 the video title v2 (an example of content information) of the recorded program for a plurality of recording / playback apparatuses Y and related information together with the video v0 that is already displayed. A list of d3 to d7 is displayed as a list by OSD display. In addition, it is also conceivable that the control circuit 6 displays the video v0 that is already displayed and the video of the recorded program selection menu v1 in a multi-screen display, or displays only the video of the recorded program selection menu v1 (not possible). (Illustrated).
Here, the control circuit 6 organizes the list of program titles d2 so as to be arranged in descending order or ascending order for the designated information (hereinafter referred to as designated items) among the related information d3 to d7. The example shown in FIG. 3 is an example in which the storage folder name d7 is the specified item.
When the control circuit 6 detects that the numeric keypads 1 to 5 on the remote controller 8 are operated while the recorded program selection menu v1 is being displayed, the control circuit 6 sets the related information d3 to d7 corresponding to the operated numeric keypad to the designated item. The list of program titles d2 is reorganized and the OSD display of the recorded program selection menu v1 is updated.
As a result, the user can easily find a target recorded program from a large number of recorded programs based on the pieces of related information d3 to d7 of the program grasped in a fragmentary manner.

[Steps S104 to S107]
Next, the control circuit 6 passes the operation unit of the remote controller 8 with the recorded program selection menu v1 (list of program titles d2 representing the contents of the recorded program) shown in FIG. A recorded program selection process for selecting a recorded program is executed according to the operation input (S104, an example of a recorded program selection means), and the destination of the next process is switched according to the selection result (S105). Here, the control circuit 6 determines which one of the up and down direction keys (key of the operation unit) is operated through the sub MPU 9 and selects one of the program titles d2 of the recorded programs displayed as a list according to the determination result. Select. At this time, the control circuit 6 confirms the selection of the recorded program when it is detected that the enter key is operated through the sub MPU 9, and when it is detected that the cancel key is operated, any of the recorded programs is detected. Confirm not to select.
When the control circuit 6 determines not to select any recorded program, the control circuit 6 notifies the recording / playback apparatus Y that has sent the recorded program information D1 that there is no selected program through the CEC line 42 ( (Notification of no selected program) is performed (S106), and then the displayed OSD display is erased (S111), and then the recorded program operation process is terminated.
On the other hand, when the selection of one of the recorded programs is confirmed, the control circuit 6 selects whether to perform reproduction processing or deletion processing (processing selection) for the selected recorded program (hereinafter referred to as a selected recorded program). And a process instruction command for instructing the recording / reproducing apparatus Y to execute the selected process through the CEC line 42 (S107, an example of a process instruction unit).
The processing instruction command includes the program identification code d1 of the recorded program to be processed and information indicating the processing content (reproduction or deletion).
Needless to say, the processing instruction command is transmitted to the recording / playback apparatus Y in which the selected recording program is recorded. For other recording / playback apparatuses Y, the control circuit 6 notifies the absence of the selected program through the CEC line 42 as in the process of step S106.

[Step S108]
Next, the control circuit 6 receives from the recording / playback apparatus Y that is the transmission destination of the processing instruction command whether or not a notification that the instructed process has been received (hereinafter referred to as a process execution notification) has been received within a predetermined time. If a process execution notification is received, a process corresponding to the process instructed in step S107 is executed (S109).
Specifically, when instructed to reproduce a recorded program, the control circuit 6 controls the video / video switching circuit 3 and the audio switching circuit 10 to reproduce the recording / playback apparatus Y that is the instruction of the reproduction process. Input switching is performed so that program signals (video signal and audio signal) are output through the video display unit 5 and the speaker 13.
In addition, when an instruction to delete a recorded program is given, the control circuit 6 causes the video display unit 5 to display an OSD message indicating that the deletion process has been executed.
On the other hand, if the processing execution notification is not received within a predetermined time, the control circuit 6 causes the video display unit 5 to display an OSD on a predetermined error message (S110).
Then, after executing the process of step S109 or S110, the control circuit 6 executes a process of deleting the OSD display being displayed on the video display unit 5 after the coincidence time (S111), and then ends the recorded program operation process. .
The above processing is the processing on the television receiver X side in the recorded program operation processing.

Next, processing on the recording / playback apparatus Y side in the recorded program operation processing will be described.
[Steps S201 and S202]
On the recording / playback apparatus Y side, first, the control circuit 24 executes a process of receiving the request command for the recorded program information transmitted from the television receiver X through the CEC line 42 in the process of step S101 (S201). When the recording / playback apparatus Y is in the standby state, first, when the sub MPU 28 receives a command addressed to itself, the sub MPU 28 controls the energization switch to change the operating state from the standby state. The control circuit 6 that has been started up is discriminated from the received command content.
When the control circuit 24 detects reception of the request command (in response to a request from the television receiver X), the control circuit 24 executes a search process for a recorded program stored in the HDD 23 (S202). Here, the recorded program search process is a process of specifying the program identification code d1 of the program (recorded program) recorded therein and the storage folder name d7 for each of the storage folders (an example of classification) in the HDD 23. It is.

[Steps S203 to S205]
Next, the control circuit 24 of the recording / reproducing apparatus Y determines whether or not one or more recorded programs are specified by the recorded program search processing in step S202 (S203). Here, if the control circuit 24 determines that no recorded program has been specified, the control circuit 24 sends a notification indicating that there is no recorded program to the television receiver X via the CEC line 42. (S205), and then the process returns to step S201 described above. At this time, if the sub-MPU 28 is in the standby state before receiving the request command from the television receiver X, the sub-MPU 28 controls the energizing switch so that the recording / reproducing apparatus Y is in the operating state. To the standby state (return to the original state).
On the other hand, when it is determined that one or more recorded programs are specified, the control circuit 24 organizes the recorded program information D1 (see FIG. 5) and transmits it to the television receiver X through the CEC line 42 (see FIG. 5). S204).
As shown in FIG. 5, the recorded program information D1 is information in which the program identification code d1 of the recorded program, the device name d6 of the recording / playback device Y, and the storage folder name d7 are associated with each other. Here, the device name d6 and the storage folder name d7 are information set by the user by operating the remote controller 27, and are stored in the HDD 23 or the EEPROM 24c in advance by the control circuit 24. The program identification code d1 is a code for identifying each program in the EPG information.

[Step S206]
Next, the control circuit 24 of the recording / playback apparatus Y executes a process of receiving the processing instruction command (command transmitted in step S107) from the television receiver X through the CEC line 42 (S206). In step S206, the control circuit 24 determines whether or not the processing instruction command has been received from the television receiver X within a predetermined time after transmission of the recorded program information D1. When the control circuit 24 receives the notification of no selection program (notification transmitted in step S106) from the television receiver X through the CEC line 42, the processing instruction command is transmitted from the television receiver X. Determine that it was not received.
If the control circuit 24 determines that the processing instruction command has not been received, the control circuit 24 returns the processing to step S201 described above. At this time, if the sub-MPU 28 is in the standby state before receiving the request command from the television receiver X, the sub-MPU 28 controls the energizing switch so that the recording / reproducing apparatus Y is in the operating state. To the standby state (return to the original state).

[Steps S207 and S208]
On the other hand, when the control circuit 24 of the recording / playback apparatus Y determines that the recording instruction command has been received through the CEC line 42, the process execution notification indicating that the execution of the instructed process has been received (received in step S108). Notification) is transmitted to the television receiver X through the CEC line 42 (S207).
Further, the control circuit 24 executes an instructed process (reproduction process or deletion process) for the selected recorded program selected in the process of step S104 on the television receiver X side (S208), and thereafter performs the process. It returns to step S201 mentioned above. At this time, if the sub-MPU 28 is in the standby state before receiving the request command from the television receiver X, the sub-MPU 28 controls the energizing switch so that the recording / reproducing apparatus Y is in the operating state. To the standby state (return to the original state). Accordingly, the recorded program selected to be reproduced or deleted in the television receiver X is reproduced by the recording / reproducing circuit 22 or deleted by the control circuit 24.

The television receiver X described above organizes the contents information (program title d2) of the recorded program of each of the plurality of recording / playback apparatuses Y and displays the information on the video display unit 5 (S103). Are selected and processed (S104, S107). For this reason, the user can collectively grasp the recorded programs in each of the plurality of recording / playback apparatuses Y using the video display unit 5 and the operation unit (remote controller 8) of the television receiver X as a man-machine interface. A part of the program can be selected to instruct the recording / playback apparatus Y to perform playback processing or deletion processing. As a result, the user can easily understand (confirm) the contents of a large number of recorded programs in the plurality of recording / playback apparatuses Y, select a recorded program, and easily perform an operation of instructing processing. That is, it is not necessary for the user to check the contents of the recorded program by operating each of the plurality of recording / playback apparatuses Y.
In particular, in the recorded program selection menu v1, the list of program titles d2 is arranged based on the storage folder name d7, the broadcast channel d3, the broadcast date and time d4, the genre d5, the device name d6 of the recording / playback apparatus Y, and the like. The user can easily find a target recorded program from among a large number of recorded programs.

The recording system Z shown in FIG. 1 shows a configuration in which the television receiver X and the recording / playback apparatus Y are directly connected via the HDMI interface W. However, the embodiment of the present invention is not limited to this. Absent.
For example, a television receiver X and an STB (set top box) or recording / playback apparatus Y are connected by an HDMI interface W, and the STB or recording / playback apparatus Y and another recording / playback apparatus Y are further connected by an HDMI interface W. A configured configuration (indirectly connected configuration) is also conceivable.
In the above-described embodiment, an example is shown in which the recorded program information D1 includes the device name d6 of the recording / playback device Y. However, the present invention is not limited to this.
In the signal transmission according to the CEC standard, each device can identify each device connected by the CEC line 42. For this reason, it is also conceivable that the television receiver X stores the device name d6 in advance in association with the identification code of each recording / playback device Y connected by the CEC line 42.

The above-described recording system Z actively requests information (S101) from the television receiver X side to the recording / reproducing apparatus Y. However, the television receiver X is connected to the recording / reproducing apparatus Y. A configuration is also conceivable in which the recorded program information actively sent from the side is passively acquired (received).
For example, every time the recording / playback apparatus Y finishes the program recording process, the latest recorded program information is transmitted to the television receiver X, and the control circuit 6 of the television receiver X controls the latest recorded program information. Can be stored in the EEPROM 6c or the like. In this case, when the control circuit 6 of the television receiver X detects the operation of the recorded program operation key, the control circuit 6 may execute the processing from step S102 onward based on the recorded program information stored in advance. .

The control circuit 6 (an example of the recorded program information acquisition means) of the television receiver X described above acquires the recorded program information D1 through the CEC line 42. The control circuit 6 controls the TMDS line 41. An example in which the recorded program information D1 is acquired through is also conceivable.
In this case, the recording / playback apparatus Y further includes a control circuit for the television receiver X, such as the program title d2 (content information), the broadcast channel d3, the broadcast date and time d4, and the genre d5, in addition to the recorded program information D1 shown in FIG. 6 (recorded program information display control means) can be transmitted including the contents information of the recorded program displayed on the video display unit 5. This is because, since the signal transmission speed through the TMDS line 41 is high, even if the capacity of the recorded program information is large, it can be transmitted in a short time.
On the other hand, the control circuit 6 of the television receiver X receives the recorded program information D1 including the contents information (program title d2 etc.) of the recorded program in the step S102 through the TMDS line 41, respectively. (An example of recorded program information acquisition means).
Further, in step S103, the control circuit 6 organizes the content information of the recorded program included in the recorded program information D1 and displays it on the video display unit 5.
This eliminates the need for the television receiver X to store the EPG log information D0.

By the way, in the HDMI standard, the TMDS line 41 is stipulated so that information other than the video signal can be transmitted as a subpacket. Therefore, the recording / playback apparatus Y and the television receiver X receive the recorded program information D1 as a subpacket. Included in the delivery. At this time, in the television receiver X, for example, each of the two HDMI receiving units 2xa and 2ya may extract the recorded program information D1 included in the subpacket and deliver it to the control circuit 6.
On the other hand, when, for example, the video processing circuit 4 extracts the recorded program information D1 included in the subpacket based on the signal selected by the video switching circuit 3, the control circuit 6 controls the video switching circuit 3. The recorded program information D1 included in the sub-packet needs to be extracted while sequentially switching the signal acquisition destination (recording / reproducing apparatus Y) by the TMDS line 42.

  The present invention is applicable to a video display device such as a television receiver.

1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a recording system Z including a television receiver X according to an embodiment of the present invention. The flowchart showing the procedure of the recording program operation processing in the recording system Z. The figure showing an example of the display screen of the recording program selection menu in the television receiver X which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The figure showing an example of the data structure of the EPG log information memorize | stored in the television receiver X. The figure showing an example of the data structure of the video recording program information which the television receiver X acquires from a video recording / reproducing apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

X ... Television receiver Y ... Recording / playback apparatus Z ... Recording system 1, 21 ... Tuner 2xa, 2ya ... HDMI receiving unit 2xb, 25b ... CEC interface 3 ... Video switching circuit 4 ... Video processing circuit 5 ... Video display unit 6, 24 ... Control circuit 7, 26 ... Remote control interface circuit 8,27 ... Remote control 9,28 ... Sub MPU
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Audio switching circuit 11 ... Audio processing circuit 12 ... Amplifier 13 ... Speaker 22 ... Recording / playback circuit 23 ... HDD
25a ... HDMI transmission unit 40 ... HDMI cable 41 ... TMDS line 42 ... CEC line D0 ... EPG log information D1 ... recorded program information d1 ... program identification code d2 ... program title d3 ... broadcast channel d4 ... broadcast date / time d5 ... genre d6 ... recording Device name d7 of playback device ... Save folder name S101, S102, ... Process procedure (step)

Claims (6)

A plurality of recording / playbacks by an HDMI signal transmission means having a video display unit and including a TMDS signal transmission line for transmitting a signal including a video signal and a CEC signal transmission line in accordance with the CEC standard and performing signal transmission in accordance with the HDMI standard A video display device configured to be communicable with the device,
Recorded program information acquisition means for acquiring recorded program information related to a recorded program recorded in the storage unit of each of the plurality of recording / playback apparatuses from the plurality of recording / playback apparatuses through the HDMI signal transmission means;
Recorded program information display control means for organizing content information of the recorded program for the plurality of recording / playback apparatuses based on the recorded program information acquired by the recorded program information acquisition means and displaying the information on the video display unit. ,
Recorded program selection means for selecting the recorded program according to an operation input through a predetermined operation unit in a state where the content information of the recorded program is displayed on the video display unit;
Processing instruction means for instructing the recording / playback apparatus through the CEC signal transmission line to execute processing for the recorded program selected by the recorded program selection means;
A video display device comprising:   2. The video display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the process instructing the recording / playback apparatus to execute the process includes one or both of a playback process and a deletion process of the recorded program.   The recorded program information display control means is based on one or more of broadcast date and time, broadcast channel, predetermined keyword, predetermined segment information included in the recorded program information, and identification information of the recorded recording / playback apparatus. The video display device according to claim 1, wherein content information of the recorded program is organized.   The recorded program information acquisition means requests the plurality of recording / playback apparatuses to transmit the recorded program information through the CEC signal transmission line, and acquires the recorded program information returned in response thereto. Item 4. The video display device according to any one of Items 1 to 3.   The recorded program information acquisition means includes the recorded program information including content information of the recorded program displayed on the video display unit by the recorded program information display control means through the TMDS signal transmission line. The video display device according to claim 1, wherein the video display device is received from the video device. Electronic program information storage means for storing electronic program information in which program identification information and program content information are associated;
The recorded program information acquisition means receives the recorded program information including identification information of the recorded program from the plurality of recording / playback apparatuses through the CEC signal transmission line,
The recorded program information display control means retrieves content information of the recorded program to be displayed on the video display unit from the electronic program information stored in the electronic program information storage means based on the identification information of the recorded program The video display device according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

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