JP2019197951A - Electronic apparatus and method - Google Patents

Abstract

To efficiently display recorded programs in an easily identified manner.SOLUTION: An electronic apparatus of an embodiment records a plurality of programs and stores recorded programs in a storage section. The electronic apparatus includes a program guide generation section for generating program guide data in which the programs having been recorded are displayed together with information of the programs in program columns. The program guide generation section generates the program guide data such that dates are arranged on one of a horizontal axis and a vertical axis and the program columns are arranged on the other of the horizontal axis and the vertical axis in order of program start time.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  Embodiments described herein relate generally to an electronic apparatus and method.

  A technique for displaying a program recorded by an electronic device such as a recording / reproducing apparatus in a program table format is known. In this case, for example, by simply diverting a program table in a latte column such as a newspaper as it is, an efficient and easy-to-discriminate display cannot be performed.

JP 2017-184066 A

  The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide an electronic apparatus and method capable of displaying a recorded program efficiently and easily.

  An electronic apparatus according to an embodiment is an electronic apparatus that records a plurality of programs and stores the recorded programs in a storage unit, and records the program table data in which the recorded programs are displayed in the program column together with the program information. A program guide generating unit for generating, wherein the program guide generating unit arranges dates on either the horizontal axis or the vertical axis, and the program column is the start of the program on either the horizontal axis or the vertical axis The program guide data is generated so as to be arranged in time order.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a recording / reproducing apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a management table according to the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a display example of the time shift machine past program table according to the embodiment. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a display example of a recording list according to the embodiment. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a display example of the recommended recorded program guide according to the embodiment. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the recording / reproducing apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the recording / reproducing apparatus according to the embodiment.

  Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a recording / reproducing apparatus according to an embodiment of an electronic apparatus. As shown in FIG. 1, the electronic device is a recording / reproducing apparatus 1 to which a display 109 and a speaker 108 are connected, and can record (record) and reproduce an arbitrary number of programs broadcasted by a broadcaster in an arbitrary time zone, for example. is there. The recording / reproducing apparatus 1 includes a recorder (referred to as a “BD recorder”) equipped with a drive device that drives a recording / reproducing recording medium such as a Blu-ray disc to record / reproduce, or a television incorporating a recorder function. John apparatus may be used. The television device may be a personal computer (PC) capable of receiving a program or a portable terminal device having a display unit.

  The program may be content distributed by a distribution company through a network or the like in addition to content broadcast (including 4k8k broadcast) by terrestrial digital broadcasting, BS broadcasting, CS broadcasting, or the like. The program may be content prepared by the information supply source so that it can be acquired based on a predetermined condition when the user accesses the program. Furthermore, a program may be referred to as a stream or information. The program is composed of video and audio and music attached to the video. The video includes at least one of text information represented by a moving image and a still image or characters or symbols indicated by a coded code string.

  The method for acquiring the program recorded by the recording / reproducing apparatus 1 is realized by any means. A broadcast station that is a program supply source may receive a broadcast that is transmitted using, for example, spatial waves (radio waves). Alternatively, a distribution company that is a program distribution source may acquire a program to be distributed using a network such as an optical fiber (cable) or an Internet protocol (Internet Protocol) communication network. Alternatively, acquisition and reproduction of streaming video (stream) from a content server that is a program provider on the network, video transfer technology using a network function, or the like may be used.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the recording / reproducing apparatus 1 of the embodiment includes a receiving unit 102, a demodulating unit 103, an MPEG processing unit 104, an output unit 105, a system control unit 106, an operation input unit 107, a loop recording unit 110, an individual recording. Unit 111, program distribution unit 112, program information management unit 115, communication control unit 116, program table generation unit 117, memory 118, first storage device H1, and second storage device H2.

  The recording / reproducing apparatus 1 is configured as a computer including, for example, a hardware processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a memory, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), and the like. The first storage device H1 and the second storage device H2 are realized by an HDD or the like. Reception unit 102, demodulation unit 103, MPEG processing unit 104, output unit 105, system control unit 106, operation input unit 107, loop recording unit 110, individual recording unit 111, program distribution unit 112, program information management unit 115, communication Each function of the control unit 116 and the program guide generation unit 117 is realized by the CPU executing a program. However, some or all of these functions may be realized by a dedicated hardware circuit.

  The receiving unit 102 is connected to the antenna 101. The output unit 105 is connected to a display (display unit) 109 that displays video (video) and a speaker 108 that reproduces audio / sound (audio). The communication control unit 116 is connected to the external server 2 via the network 3. The display 109 and the speaker 108 or at least one of them may acquire video or audio / sound, for example, by wireless communication without contact with the recording / reproducing apparatus 1. Further, the display 109 and the speaker 108 may be integrated with the recording / reproducing apparatus 1.

  A television broadcast signal input from the antenna 101 to the receiving unit 102 is converted into an IF (intermediate frequency) signal by the receiving unit 102. Demodulation section 103 extracts a digital signal (TS: transport stream) from the IF signal and outputs it to MPEG processing section 104.

  The MPEG processing unit 104 separates the TS into video components, audio / sound components, and SI (Service Information) for electronic program guide (EPG) display, and decodes the video and audio / sound. The decoded video data / audio / sound data is output from the output unit 105 to the display 109 and the speaker 108.

  The system control unit 106, which is a main control block, comprehensively controls the operation of each processing unit. The system control unit 106 also outputs various control commands corresponding to control inputs (operation instructions) from a remote control (remote controller) terminal, a tablet PC, or the like received by the operation input unit 107. The control command is, for example, a command for instructing recording of a television broadcast, reproduction of recorded content, and the like.

  The loop recording unit 110 performs a first recording control for loop recording (loop recording) a program on the first recording device H1 based on a recording reservation (referred to as “first recording reservation”) set in a channel and a time zone. Part.

  More specifically, the loop recording unit 110 loop-records, for example, programs for six channels in the first storage device H1 for about two weeks based on a preset first recording reservation. That is, in the first storage device H1, programs for 6 channels are loop-recorded for about two weeks by the recording control by the loop recording unit 110. As described above, the first storage device H1 is a first storage unit in which programs are loop-recorded by specifying a channel and a time zone. In addition, as described above, recording in which one or a plurality of channels and time zones are specified and recording is repeated periodically is referred to as time shift machine recording in addition to loop recording. Here, the loop recording does not necessarily have to be a general loop recording. For example, recording is performed with one file per program, and when there is not enough free space, the recording (recording) date and time is deleted in order from the oldest program. This includes recording new programs in areas that have been erased.

  In other words, the loop recording here is a recording method in which, for example, when there is no remaining recording capacity, the recorded programs are overwritten and deleted in order from the program with the oldest recording date and time. Note that the user (viewer) can arbitrarily set the number of channels for loop recording, the time zone, and the recording rate (data size, recording quality when recording).

  The individual recording unit 111 is a second recording control unit that records in the second storage device H2 based on a recording reservation (this is referred to as a “second recording reservation”) in which a program is individually set apart from the loop recording. Such recording is also referred to as PVR (Personal Video Recorder) recording. More specifically, the individual recording unit 111 is based on the second recording reservation set by the user through a recording reservation instruction via the operation input unit 107 or an external recording reservation instruction via the network 3. Record any program indicated.

  An arbitrary program is recorded in the second storage device H <b> 2 based on a preset second recording reservation or recording operation instruction by recording control by the individual recording unit 111. That is, the second storage device H2 is a second storage unit that is used for recording and reproducing by individually specifying programs separately from the loop recording.

  The memory 118 stores settings such as the first recording reservation and the second recording reservation. The memory 118 stores a management table 21 (see FIG. 2). Further, the memory 118 stores user preference information to be sent to the server 2 and recommended program information acquired from the server 2. The user preference information indicates a situation in which the user has viewed, recorded, and played back a program in the past.

  Specifically, the user preference information is the operation content of the remote control terminal, the program ID, and the program attribute information associated therewith. The operation content of the remote control terminal includes, for example, a keyword or EPG input by the user at the time of viewing, recording, and reproduction, selection of a program column in the time shift machine past program table, and a confirmation operation.

  The communication control unit 116 connects to the server 2 on the network 3, reads out user preference information stored in the memory 118, sends it to the server 2 via the network 3, and recommends a program suitable for the user preference from the server 2. It is a recommended information acquisition unit that acquires the information.

  The program distribution unit 112 distributes the program reserved for recording based on the recommendation information acquired from the server 2 by the communication control unit 116 to the second recording reservation by the individual recording unit 111.

  The program information management unit 115 manages attribute information of recorded programs with the management table 21 (see FIG. 2). When the program information notified from the server 2 is new information, a new record is set in the management table 21 shown in FIG. 2 as an example, and the program information is stored and managed by the program ID of the program.

  In the management table 21, the program information management unit 115 sets “1” in the protection column of the program ID for the program designated as the protection target by the user, and sets the protection column of the program ID that is not the protection target. Set “0”.

  “0” may be set in advance as a default value in the protection column of program IDs that are not protected. In this way, program attribute information held in the second storage device H2 is held and managed.

  The program guide generation unit 117 displays program guide data (based on EPG information acquired from the outside under the control of the system control unit 106 under the control of the system control unit 106 when a user performs a display operation of an electronic program guide (EPG) at the time of recording reservation. EPG data) is generated. The program guide data is converted into a program guide display signal by the output unit 105 and output to the display 109. The program table displayed on the screen of the display 109, that is, the EPG, shows a list of programs to be broadcast in a table format (cell format) that can be designated by a time zone (vertical axis) and a channel (horizontal axis). Is.

  Further, the program guide generation unit 117 is operated based on the attribute information of the recorded program under the control of the system control unit 106 when the user performs a time shift machine past program guide display operation at the time of program playback or the like. Time shift machine past program guide data is generated. The time shift machine past program guide data is converted into a program guide display signal by the output unit 105 and output to the display 109.

  The time shift machine past program guide data is one of EPG information such as the title (program name) of the recorded program that can be reproduced, the content of the program, the performer, etc., based on the attribute information of the program recorded by the loop recording unit 110. It is the list | wrist for reproduction | regeneration of the recorded program which has the program column which displays information of a part. As shown in FIG. 3, the time-shift machine past program table displayed on the display 109 is a program table format (cell format) having a channel column and a time axis. ). The user can reproduce and view the program by designating a desired recorded program with a remote control terminal or the like and then instructing the reproduction.

  In addition, the program guide generation unit 117 generates recording list data based on the attributes of the recorded programs under the control of the system control unit 106 when the recording list display operation is performed by the user during program playback or the like. To do. The recording list data is converted into a program guide display signal by the output unit 105 and output to the display 109.

  The recording list data is a list for reproducing programs recorded in accordance with a recording reservation instruction by the user via the operation input unit 107 among programs recorded by the individual recording unit 111. As shown in FIG. 4, all the recorded programs that can be reproduced can be displayed on the screen of the recording list. Alternatively, only unviewed programs can be displayed, or can be displayed by being classified according to day of the week or genre. Further, for example, a playback video display area is provided at the upper left of the screen, and a video of a recorded program (a focused program) selected on the recording list can be played back and displayed in this area. A program marked with a lock is a program that is protected against deletion. Such protection for a predetermined program can be set on the screen of the recording list or on the screen of a recommended recording program guide which will be described later.

  Further, the program guide generation unit 117 generates recommended recorded program guide data as program guide data in which the recorded program is displayed in the program column together with the program information. At that time, the program guide generation unit 117 arranges the recommended recorded program guide data so that dates are arranged on the horizontal axis and program columns are arranged on the vertical axis in the order of program start times (in order of early start time or late start time). Generate.

  More specifically, the program guide generation unit 117 is operated based on the attribute of a recorded program under the control of the system control unit 106 by performing a recommended recorded program guide display operation by the user at the time of program playback or the like. Generate recommended recorded program guide data. The recommended recorded program guide data is converted into a program guide display signal by the output unit 105 and output to the display 109.

  The recommended recorded program guide data is a list for reproducing programs recorded based on the recommended information acquired from the server 2 by the communication control unit 116 among the programs recorded by the individual recording unit 111. Details of the recommended recorded program guide screen will be described later.

  The server 2 includes a communication unit 201, a recommendation information generation unit 202, and a storage unit 203. The server 2 permits the recording / reproducing apparatus 1 to connect to the communication unit 201 and access to the recommended information generating unit 202 in response to an information provision request from the recording / reproducing apparatus 1 through the network 3. In addition, the server 2 permits copying (downloading) of recommended information from the recommended information generating unit 202 to the recording / reproducing apparatus 1. In addition, the information provision service by the server 2 may be called a cloud service or a cloud.

  The communication unit 201 of the server 2 acquires user preference information used for generating recommended program information from the recording / reproducing apparatus 1 connected to the network 3, stores the information in the storage unit 203, and passes it to the recommended information generation unit 202. Further, the communication unit 201 receives the recommended program information generated by the recommended information generation unit 202 and transmits it to the recording / reproducing apparatus 1 through the network 3. The recommended information generation unit 202 generates recommended program information suitable for the user preference and stores it in the storage unit 203.

  The storage unit 203 holds user preference information acquired from the recording / playback apparatus 1 by the communication unit 201 and recommended program information generated by the recommendation information generation unit 202. In addition to this, a broadcasting station server is connected to the network 3, and holds, for example, the next notice of an arbitrary program and the original EPG of the broadcasting station, and is provided to the recording / reproducing apparatus 1 as necessary. To do.

  Next, the details of the recommended recorded program guide screen will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a display example of the recommended recorded program guide according to the embodiment. As described above, the recommended recorded program guide screen is displayed based on the recommended recorded program guide data for program playback recorded based on the recommended information from the server 2. However, as shown in the example of FIG. 5, the recommended recorded program table may be displayed including the program recorded by the recording instruction by the user. The date axis may be the vertical axis instead of the horizontal axis.

  As shown in FIG. 5, in the recommended recorded program guide, recorded programs are displayed in the program column together with program information. The program information includes, for example, a part of EPG information such as a program name, program contents, and performers. The program information includes information on the channel that broadcasts the program, and the channel is displayed in each program column. In addition, “Recommended” is displayed on the program recorded based on the recommended information from the server 2. Further, the user can set protection for deletion prevention for a predetermined program, for example, by pressing a “lock” button on the remote control terminal. A “lock” mark is displayed in the upper right position of the cell for a program that is protected. For the program that has already been viewed, the background of the program column is displayed in gray, for example, as “evening news” at 5 pm on February 30. However, it may be displayed with an icon or the like indicating that it has been viewed.

  In the recommended recorded program guide, dates are arranged on the horizontal axis, and program columns are arranged on the vertical axis in the order of program start times (in order of early start time or late start time). When the program start times are the same, the program columns are arranged in the order of channels (for example, in ascending order of channel numbers or in descending order). That is, the time axis on the vertical axis is not an absolute time as in the existing program guide. The date on the horizontal axis is displayed in units of one week, for example, with the displayed date as the last day. On the day when the recording time is shorter than the others, the time zone where there is no recorded program below the display frame is displayed in, for example, dark gray. Even if the recording is not performed all day, the date frame is left blank. Thereby, for example, the screen display can be switched on a weekly basis by pressing a “week switching” button (“<<” button or “>>” button on the remote control terminal) of the remote control terminal.

  In the recommended recorded program table, a program column (cell) is basically set so as to have a vertical width corresponding to the length of the program. However, the vertical width of the program column (cell) has a lower limit and an upper limit. The lower limit of the vertical width is set so that the information in the program column can be displayed. As for program information, at least a part of the program name or the like may be displayed. The upper limit of the vertical width is set so that the program column can be displayed on one screen.

  Hereinafter, with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 6, an operation related to recording based on the recommendation information of the recording / reproducing apparatus 1 of the embodiment will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 6, in the recording / reproducing apparatus 1, the communication control unit 116 acquires information on recommended programs suitable for the user preference from the server 2 from the situation in which the user has viewed, recorded, and reproduced the program in the past (step S101). ) To the program distribution unit 112.

  Since the recommended program acquired from the server 2 includes a program ID, a program name associated therewith, its channel, and the like, the program distribution unit 112 assigns the program corresponding to the recommended program and its channel to the electronic program guide information. (Step S102). The program distribution unit 112 sets the program as a second recording reservation by the individual recording unit 111 (step S103).

  When the time reaches the recording reservation time of the second recording reservation, the individual recording unit 111 starts recording, and when it reaches the recording end time, the recording ends (steps S104 to S107).

  At this time, the individual recording unit 111 records the program using the second storage device H2. Further, attribute information of each program to be recorded is stored in the memory 118, and the information is stored in the management table 21.

  Next, with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 7, the operation | movement concerning the display of the recommended video recording program schedule of the recording / reproducing apparatus 1 of embodiment is demonstrated.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the recording / reproducing apparatus 1 waits for a user to perform a recommended recorded program guide display operation (step S201: No).

  When a recommended recorded program guide display operation (for example, pressing the “Recommended Recorded Program Guide” button on the remote control terminal) is performed (step S201: Yes), the program guide generating unit 117 manages the management table managed by the program information managing unit 115. 21, the attribute information of the program to be displayed is acquired (step S202). Further, the program guide generation unit 117 generates recommended recorded program guide data based on the acquired program attribute information (step S203).

  The output unit 105 converts the recommended recorded program guide data into a program guide display signal and outputs it to the display 109 (step S204).

  Thus, the operation related to the display of the recommended recorded program guide of the recording / reproducing apparatus 1 is completed.

  In the recommended recorded program table displayed by the recording / reproducing apparatus 1 of the embodiment, dates are arranged on the horizontal axis, and program columns are arranged in the order of program start times (in order of early start time or late start time) on the vertical axis. It is out. As a result, for example, if channels are arranged on the horizontal axis, a lot of free time zones without recorded programs are displayed, so that recorded programs can be displayed more efficiently. In addition, since the program columns are arranged in the order of the recording start time, the broadcast order of the day can be determined at a glance.

  In the recommended recorded program table displayed by the recording / reproducing apparatus 1 of the embodiment, the vertical width of the program column is changed according to the recording time of the program. Thereby, the user can grasp the viewing time of the program at a glance.

  In the recommended recorded program table displayed by the recording / reproducing apparatus 1 of the embodiment, the vertical width of the program column has a lower limit and an upper limit. Thereby, even a program with a short recording time can display the minimum necessary information such as a program name. Even a program with a long recording time can be displayed without scrolling many times.

  In the recommended recorded program table displayed by the recording / reproducing apparatus 1 of the embodiment, the background of the viewed program column is displayed in gray, for example. As a result, it is possible to discriminate between a program that has not been viewed by the user and a program that has already been viewed.

  In the recommended recording program table displayed by the recording / reproducing apparatus 1 of the embodiment, the date on the horizontal axis is displayed in units of one week, for example. Thereby, for example, the display position of a program broadcast every day of the week such as a continuous drama can be made constant, and it becomes easy to search for a program to be viewed.

  In the above-described embodiment, the arrangement of the vertical axes in the recommended recorded program table is the order of the program start times, but is not limited thereto. The order of program columns may be the order of channels, the order of program names, the order of genres, and the like. Alternatively, the display may be switched by the user by setting.

  In the above embodiment, the recommended recorded program table includes the program recorded by the recording instruction by the user. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The recommended recorded program guide may display only programs recorded based on recommended information from the server 2. In addition, the program that has been recorded by the loop recording unit 110 may be included in the recommended recorded program table. Alternatively, the display may be switched by the user by setting.

  Various display methods of the recommended recorded program guide of the above-described embodiment may be applied to at least one of the time shift machine past program guide and the recording list. That is, in the time shift machine past program table and the recording list, the date may be arranged on the horizontal axis, and the program column may be arranged in order of the program start time on the vertical axis. At that time, the vertical width of the program column may be changed according to the recording time of the program.

  In the above-described embodiment, the recommended information generation unit 202 is provided in the server 2 on the network 3 and the recommended program information is acquired through communication between the server 2 and the recording / reproducing apparatus 1. It may be provided in the apparatus 1 and the recommended program acquisition function may be completed inside the apparatus.

  Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described, this embodiment is presented as an example and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. The novel embodiment can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. These embodiments and modifications thereof are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalents thereof.

  Each component shown in the above embodiment may be realized by a program installed in a storage such as a hard disk device of a computer. The above program is stored in a computer-readable electronic medium, and the program is electronically stored. The computer may realize the functions of the present invention by causing the computer to read from the medium. Examples of the electronic medium include a recording medium such as a CD-ROM, a flash memory, and a removable medium. Further, the configuration may be realized by distributing and storing the components in different computers connected via a network and communicating between the computers in which the components are functioning.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Recording / reproducing apparatus, 2 ... Server, 3 ... Network, 102 ... Reception part, 103 ... Demodulation part, 104 ... MPEG process part, 105 ... Output part, 106 ... System control part, 107 ... Operation input part, 110 ... Loop Recording unit 111... Individual recording unit 112. Program distribution unit 115 115 Program information management unit 116 Communication control unit 117 Program table generation unit 118 Memory

Claims (6)

An electronic device that records a plurality of programs and stores the recorded programs in a storage unit,
A program guide generator for generating program guide data for the recorded program to be displayed in the program column together with the program information;
The program guide generation unit
The program table data is generated so that the date is arranged on either the horizontal axis or the vertical axis, and the program column is arranged in order of the start time of the program on the other of the horizontal axis or the vertical axis.
Electronics. The program guide generation unit
Changing the vertical width of the program column in the program guide data according to the recording time of the program;
The electronic device according to claim 1. The information of the recorded program includes channel information of the program.
The electronic device according to claim 1 or 2. The program guide generation unit
When the start times of the recorded programs are the same, the program columns are arranged in channel order in the program guide data.
The electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The program guide generation unit
The vertical width of the program column in the program guide data is changed according to the recording time of the program, the lower limit of the vertical width is set so that at least a part of the information of the program column can be displayed, and the vertical Set the upper limit of width so that the program field can be displayed on one screen,
The electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 4. A recording step of recording a plurality of programs and storing the recorded programs in a storage unit;
A program guide generating step for generating program guide data in which the recorded program is displayed in the program column together with information on the program,
In the program guide generation step,
The program table data is generated so that the date is arranged on either the horizontal axis or the vertical axis, and the program column is arranged in order of the start time of the program on the other of the horizontal axis or the vertical axis.
Method.

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