JP2008098721A - Receiver for digital broadcast - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a receiver for digital broadcast to delete a recorded content of a program automatically having reached a retention period (viewing/listening limit) which is set by a user for recording reservation programs. <P>SOLUTION: The receiver for digital broadcast with a built-in HDD for recording the recording content comprises a first means for prompting a user to set the retention period of the recording content of a recording reservation program when recording of a program is reserved, a second means for storing the recording content retention period set for the recording reservation program as management control information thereof when recording reservation is performed, and a third means for deleting the recorded content of a program having reached the retention period based on the management control information. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a digital broadcast compatible receiving apparatus having a built-in HDD for recording recorded contents.

  Among recording devices that use HDDs, devices that support digital broadcasting are increasing. There are high-definition broadcasts and data broadcasts for digital broadcasts, and when recording digital broadcast programs, the current recording capacity is larger than that of general analog broadcasts.

  A conventional recording device using a magnetic tape or an optical disk needs to replace the recording medium, which is troublesome. However, a recording device with a built-in HDD does not need to replace the recording medium. However, in a recording device with a built-in HDD, there is a problem that if the user does not erase the recorded data, the recording area in the HDD becomes insufficient and new recording cannot be performed.

In a recording device compatible with digital broadcasting, in addition to a reservation function in which a user designates a program from EPG or the like and performs reserved recording, keywords and performers are registered in advance, Some have a function of automatically recording programs including performers. In such a recording device, since the amount of recording data increases without the user's intention, simplification of the recording data erasing procedure is an important issue.
JP2003-9068

  The present invention relates to a digital broadcast-compatible receiving apparatus capable of automatically deleting recorded contents of a recorded program whose retention period has expired based on a retention period (viewable time limit) set by a user for a scheduled recording program. The purpose is to provide.

  In addition, in the case where a program that is prohibited from being recorded but can be temporarily stored for a certain period is recorded, when a certain accumulation period defined for the program has passed, It is an object of the present invention to provide a digital broadcast compatible receiving apparatus capable of automatically deleting recorded contents.

  The present invention also provides a digital broadcast compatible receiving apparatus capable of notifying the user that the erasure time of the recorded program is approaching when there is a recorded program approaching the automatic erasure time. With the goal.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, in the digital broadcast compatible receiving apparatus having a built-in HDD for recording the recorded content, when the recording of the program is reserved, the user sets the retention period of the recorded content of the scheduled recording program. 1 means, at the time of execution of recording reservation, based on the second means for storing the recording content holding period set for the recording reservation program in the HDD as management control information of the recording reservation program, and management control information And a third means for automatically deleting the recorded contents of the recorded program whose retention period has expired.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, when recording is prohibited for a program that is prohibited from being recorded but can be temporarily stored for a certain period of time, the recorded contents of the scheduled recording program are retained. A fourth means for automatically setting the period is provided.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, based on the management control information, it is monitored whether or not there is a recorded program approaching the automatic deletion time, and the automatic deletion time is approaching. When there is a recorded program, a fifth means for displaying that the erasure time of the recorded program is approaching is provided.

  According to the present invention, based on the retention period (viewable time limit) set by the user for the scheduled recording program, the recorded contents of the recorded program whose retention period has expired can be automatically deleted. .

  Further, according to the present invention, when a program that is prohibited from being recorded but can be temporarily stored for a certain period is recorded, when a certain accumulation period determined for the program has elapsed. The recorded contents can be automatically deleted.

  Further, according to the present invention, when there is a recorded program whose automatic erasing time is approaching, it is possible to notify the user that the erasing time of the recorded program is approaching.

  Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings, an embodiment when the present invention is applied to a digital broadcast compatible receiving apparatus will be described.

  FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a digital broadcast-compatible receiving device with a built-in HDD.

  This digital broadcast-compatible receiving device has a function of receiving a digital TV broadcast, outputting video / audio of the received digital TV broadcast program, and recording it on an HDD. It also has a function of playing back video / audio recorded in the HDD. Furthermore, a function for automatically erasing content files recorded on the HDD (automatic erasure function) is also provided.

  The receiver for digital broadcasting includes a digital tuner 1, a TS selector 2, a descrambler 3, a demux 4, an AV decoder 5, an OSD 6, a monitor 7, an NTSC encoder (NTSC Encorder). ) 8, a switcher 9, an external output terminal 10, a TS Remux 11, an HDD controller (HDD Controller) 12, an HDD 13, an IC card (ICCARD) 14, and a CPU 20.

  The digital tuner 1, TS selector 2, descrambler 3, demax 4, AV decoder 5, OSD 6, switcher 9, TS remax 11, HDD controller 12 and IC card 14 are controlled by the CPU 20. The CPU 20 includes a ROM 21, a RAM 22, and an NVRAM 23. In addition, a remote control signal from a remote controller (not shown) is input to the CPU 20 via a remote control signal receiver (not shown).

[1] Explanation of digital broadcast reception processing

  In digital broadcasting, a plurality of services (corresponding to analog broadcasting channels) are transmitted by one transport stream (TS), and frequency information necessary for tuner control is uniquely determined for each TS. Yes. The correspondence between the TS and the frequency information is described in a table called a network information table (NIT). The network information table (NIT) is transmitted in units of networks.

  The digital tuner 1 outputs a TS including the desired service by controlling the frequency / transport stream ID (TS_ID) corresponding to the desired service. The TS output from the digital tuner 1 is sent to the descrambler 3 via the TS selector 2. The descrambler 3 performs descrambling processing on the TS using the IC card 14. The TS that has been descrambled by the descrambler 3 is sent to the demax 4.

  The demax 4 separates an elementary stream (ES) such as video / audio corresponding to a desired service from the input TS. An individual packet ID (ES_PID) is added to the ES, and the correspondence between the desired service and the corresponding ES_PID is transmitted by a table called a program massaging table (PMT). The PMT is transmitted for the service transmitted in the TS, and the PID is indicated by a table called a program association table (PAT). The PAT PID is fixed, and only one PAT is transmitted to the TS.

  Therefore, in order to isolate an ES corresponding to a desired service, first, a PAT is acquired. By analyzing the PAT after completing the PAT acquisition, the PMT_PID corresponding to the desired service can be determined and the PMT corresponding to the desired service can be acquired. By analyzing the PMT after completing the acquisition of the PMT, the PID of the ES corresponding to the desired service can be determined and the ES corresponding to the desired service can be separated.

  The ES obtained by the demux 4 is sent to the AV decoder 5 and AV decoding processing is performed, whereby a video / audio signal corresponding to a desired service is obtained.

  The video signal obtained by the AV decoder 5 is combined with the on-screen image signal from the OSD 6 and then sent to the monitor 7 for display. The audio signal obtained by the AV decoder 5 is output from a speaker (not shown). The video / audio signal obtained by the AV decoder 5 is output to an external output terminal (recording terminal) 10 via the NTSC encoder 8 and the switcher 9.

  The ES or the like obtained by the demax 4 is stored in the HDD 13 via the TS remax 11 and the HDD controller 12. The TS remax 11 outputs a partial TS called a partial transport stream (PTS) composed of PAT, PMT, descrambled ES and PCR corresponding to the selected service. The HDD controller 12 writes this PTS in the HDD 13. The PAT included in the PTS is a PAT obtained by deleting a description other than the selected service from the acquired PAT. Further, the PMT included in the PTS is a PMT obtained by deleting a description other than the selected ES / PCR from the acquired PMT.

[2] Explanation of recorded file playback processing

  When reproducing a recorded file, the CPU 20 displays a list of files recorded in the HDD 13 based on an instruction from the user, and allows the user to select a file to be reproduced. The CPU 20 determines the stream (PTS) to be sent to the demux 4 via the HDD controller 12 and the TS selector 2 and the read position of the stream from the management control information of the selected file, and sends the PTS to the HDD controller 12. Start reading.

  The PTS read from the HDD 13 by the HDD controller 12 is sent to the demux 4 via the TS selector 2. The DeMax 4 acquires a PAT in the PTS, and then acquires a PMT and extracts an ES in the PMT, as in the normal digital broadcast decoding process, but there is one service description in the PAT in the PTS. Only, that is, since only one PMT is included in the stream, the corresponding ES may be sent to the AV decoder 5 after the PMT acquisition is completed. The ES in the PTS is a non-scrambled ES that does not require descrambling.

  The AV decoder 5 performs AV decoding processing on the ES sent from the demax 4. Thereby, a video / audio signal is obtained. The video signal obtained by the AV decoder 5 is combined with the on-screen image signal from the OSD 6 and then sent to the monitor 7 for display. The audio signal obtained by the AV decoder 5 is output from a speaker (not shown).

  The video / audio signal obtained by the AV decoder 5 is output to an external output terminal (recording terminal) 10 via the NTSC encoder 8 and the switcher 9.

[3] Explanation of automatic deletion function

[3-1] Default Settings The user can perform the following basic settings (default settings) on the menu screen for automatic erasure.
(A) Whether to perform automatic erasure (b) Holding period until automatic erasure (c) Notification setting before automatic erasure

  In the above (a), when not performing automatic erasure is selected, automatic erasure is not performed. When performing automatic erasure, the default value of the retention period from the recording start time to automatic erasure can be set according to (b) above. In this example, a default value can be set from 1 hour 30 minutes / 3 hours / 6 hours / 12 hours / 1 day / 2 days / 1 week. As will be described later, the user basically sets the time limit (content retention period) for viewing the content for each scheduled recording program, but the default setting is applied unless otherwise specified.

  In the above (c), it is possible to select either within one hour or within one day without automatic warning. When within 1 hour or within 1 day is selected, it is specified that the date and time until the automatic deletion of content is imminent at the time of startup from standby, etc. Message is displayed.

[3-2] Automatic Erasing Setting at the Time of Reserving Recording The user can set a content retention period for a recording reservation program at the time of recording reservation. Specifically, since a setting screen for selecting the following items is displayed at the time of recording reservation, the user sets a content holding period for the recording reservation program on the setting screen.
(D) No content retention period is set (e) 1 hour 30 minutes / 3 hours / 6 hours / 12 hours (f) 1 day / 2 days (g) 1 week

  When the default value is set according to (b) above, when this setting screen is displayed, among the selection items of the holding period that can be selected by (e), (f), and (g), The selection item corresponding to the default value is selected. When (d) is selected, the content holding period is not set. When recording is prohibited for a program that is prohibited from being recorded but can be temporarily stored for a certain period of time, a certain accumulation period that is set for the program as a retention period for the recording contents of the scheduled recording program. Is automatically set.

  The recording reservation information (recording reservation information including information for specifying the service and recording start and end times and the content holding period) input by the recording reservation operation is registered in the NVRAM 23.

[3-3] Data Generated at the Start of Recording Reservation Execution When recording reservation is executed, management control information for managing the storage location of the content file, content recording date and time, recording time, content holding period, etc. is generated and stored in the HDD 13 Is done. In generating management control information, recording reservation information corresponding to a recording reservation program to be reserved is referred to.

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2, the HDD 13 stores a content file for each recorded program and a control file (control file) storing management control information. The management control information includes content number (content_no), location (location), playable time (duration), reason (reason), recording date and time (not shown), recording time (not shown), etc. for each content file. There is.

  The location is information representing the storage location of the content file. The reproducible time is information indicating a content holding period. The duration “0 (no available)” represents a case where the retention period is not set, that is, a case where it is not a target for automatic deletion. The reason indicates the reason why the content retention period is set. There are three reasons, “0”, “1”, and “2”. “0” indicates that the retention period has not been set by the user, “1” indicates that the content retention period has been set by the user, and “2” indicates that only temporary storage is permitted by the content provider (broadcast station). Each case is shown.

  Hereinafter, the automatic deletion process executed by the CPU 20 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3, 4, and 5.

FIG. 3 shows a processing procedure performed by the CPU 20 when the initial power is turned on.
When the initial power is turned on (main power is turned on), first, various initialization processes are performed (step S1). Next, it is determined whether or not there is RTC time information (step S2). If there is RTC time information, the RTC time information is read in order to keep time on the OS side (step S3). Then, the control file in the HDD 13 is read (step S4). An erasure approach / erase target list data creation process based on the contents of the control file is performed (step S5).

  In other words, if there is something that is close to the date and time until automatic deletion of content files, data representing a list of these content files is created as erasure approach list data. Specifically, if there are content files to be automatically deleted from the current time until the time set by the notification setting before automatic erasure (the above (c)) elapses, those content files are present. Data representing a file list is created as deletion approach list data. Also, if there are content files that should be automatically deleted before the current time, data representing a list of these content files is created as erasure target list data.

  When the process of step S5 ends, the process proceeds to step S6. If there is no RTC time information in step S2, the process proceeds to step S6. In step S6, an initial channel selection process is performed. Then, it is determined whether or not the control file has been read (step S7). If the control file has not been read, the OS waits for the time information to be sent by the broadcast wave (step S8) and then acquires the time information from the broadcast wave (step S9). ). Then, the control file in the HDD 13 is read (step S10). An erasure approach / erase target list data creation process based on the contents of the control file is performed (step S11). Then, the process returns to step S7.

  If it is determined in step S7 that the control file has been read, it is determined whether or not deletion target list data has been created (step S12). If the deletion target list data has been created, the content file to be deleted is deleted (step S13). Then, an erase message indicating that the files have been erased is displayed together with the erased files (step S14). Further, the control file is reconfigured in accordance with the deletion of the file (step S15). Then, the reconstructed control file is read (step S16). Thereafter, the erasure target list data is erased (step S17). Then, the process proceeds to step S18.

  If it is determined in step S12 that erasure target list data has not been created, the process proceeds to step S18. In step S18, it is determined whether erase approach list data has been created. If the deletion approach list data has been created, a warning message such as “... will be deleted after x hours” is displayed for each file that is close to automatic deletion (step S19). Then, the process proceeds to the regular state monitoring process. If it is determined in step S18 that the deletion approach list data has not been created, the routine proceeds to a periodic state monitoring process.

FIG. 4 shows the procedure of the regular state monitoring process.
First, it waits for the time (in minutes) to be updated (step S21). When the time (in minutes) is updated, it is determined whether or not already created deletion approach list data exists (step S22). If it is determined that there is no deletion approach list data already created, deletion approach list data creation processing based on the contents of the control file is performed (step S23). That is, if there is content that should be automatically deleted from the current time until the time set by the notification setting before automatic erasure ((c) above), a list of the content is displayed. Create data as deletion approach list data.

  And it is discriminate | determined whether the deletion approach list data was produced (step S24). If the deletion approach list data is not created, the process returns to step S21. When the deletion approach list data is created, a warning message such as “... will be deleted after x hours” is displayed for each file that is approaching automatic deletion (step S25), and the process returns to step S21. .

  In step S22, if there is already deleted deletion access list data, the deletion control in the following steps S26 to S31 is performed for each data (data representing a content file) included in the list data. Perform processing.

  In other words, if the content file to be processed among the content files included in the deletion approach list data is a target file, it is first determined whether or not the target file has reached the deletion time (step S26). . If the target file has reached the erasure time, it is determined whether or not the target file is being reproduced (step S27). If the target file is not being reproduced, the target file is deleted (step S28). Then, an erase message indicating that the file has been erased is displayed together with the erased file (step S29). Data corresponding to the deleted file is deleted from the deletion approach list data (step S30). It holds that the file has been erased (step S31). Then, the erase control process for the file of interest ends.

  If it is determined in step S26 that the target file has not reached the deletion time, the deletion control process for the target file is terminated. If it is determined in step S27 that the file of interest is being reproduced, the erasure control process for the file of interest ends.

  When the erasure control process (the processes of steps S26 to S31) for all data (data representing the content file) included in the erasure approach list data is completed, whether or not the content file has been erased in the erasure control process. Is determined (step S32). If it is determined that the content file has been erased, the control file is reconfigured (step S33). Then, the reconstructed control file is read (step S34). Then, the process proceeds to step S35.

  If it is determined in step S32 that no content has been erased, the process proceeds to step S35. In step S35, erase approach list data is provisionally created separately from the existing erase approach list data. That is, if there is content that should be automatically deleted from the current time until the time set by the notification setting before automatic erasure ((c) above), a list of the content is displayed. Temporarily create data as deletion approach list data.

  Then, it is determined whether or not the contents of the temporarily created deletion approach list data are different from the contents of the existing deletion approach list data (step S36). If the contents of the two deletion approach list data match, the process returns to step S21. On the other hand, if the contents of the deletion approach list data are different, a warning message such as “~ will be deleted after x hours” is displayed for each file corresponding to the difference (step S37). Thereafter, the contents of the existing erasure approach list data are updated to the contents of the erasure approach list data temporarily created (step S38). Then, the process returns to step S21.

FIG. 5 shows a processing procedure performed by the CPU 20 when a reproduction command is input.
When a reproduction command is input, a reproduction file is selected and reproduction is started (step S41). When the reproduction ends (step S42), it is determined whether or not the retention period of the reproduced file has expired (step S43). If the retention period of the reproduced file has not expired, the current process is terminated.

  If the retention period of the reproduced file has expired, the file that has been reproduced is deleted (step S44). Then, an erase message indicating that the file has been erased is displayed together with the erased file (step S45). Further, the control file is reconstructed along with the deletion of the file (step S46). Then, the reconstructed control file is read (step S47). And this process is complete | finished.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the digital broadcast corresponding | compatible receiving apparatus incorporating HDD. It is a schematic diagram which shows the content file and control file which are stored in HDD13. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence performed by CPU20 at the time of initial stage power ON. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of a regular state monitoring process. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence by CPU20 when a reproduction | regeneration command is input.

Explanation of symbols

1 Digital tuner 2 TS selector
3 Descrambler
4 Demux
5 AV decoder (AV Decorder)
6 OSD
7 Monitor 11 TS Remux
12 HDD Controller
13 HDD
20 CPU
21 ROM
22 RAM
23 NVRAM

Claims (3)

In a digital broadcast compatible receiving apparatus with a built-in HDD for recording the recording contents, when recording a program, the first means for setting the recording content retention period of the recording reservation program by the user, when executing the recording reservation, A recording program whose retention period has expired based on the second means for storing the retention period of the recording content set for the scheduled recording program in the HDD as management control information of the scheduled recording program, and the management control information A digital broadcast-compatible receiving apparatus, comprising: third means for automatically deleting the recorded contents of When recording is prohibited for a program that is prohibited from being recorded but can be temporarily stored for a certain period of time, a fourth means is provided for automatically setting a retention period for the recording contents of the scheduled recording program. The receiver for digital broadcasting according to claim 1. Based on the management control information, it is monitored whether or not there is a recorded program approaching the automatic erase time. If there is a recorded program approaching the automatic erase time, the erase time of the recorded program is approaching. The digital broadcast-compatible receiving device according to claim 1, further comprising a fifth means for displaying the fact that the device is present.

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