JP2021077960A - Digital broadcast receiving apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a digital broadcast receiving apparatus capable of improving convenience even when a user views a VOD content without programming video recording of a broadcast program.SOLUTION: A digital broadcast receiving apparatus 100 comprises: a broadcast tuner 102 which receives a digital broadcast and extracts a digital broadcast signal of a broadcast program and an EPG; a network I/F unit 112 which receives a VOD content via the Internet line 146; a program retrieval unit 150 which, when the VOD content received via the Internet line 146 is a content corresponding to a broadcast program broadcasted by digital broadcasting, retrieves the broadcast programs of the next time and after from the EPG; and a programming presetting unit 151 which programs video recording of the broadcast programs of the next time and after retrieved by the program retrieval unit 150.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to a digital broadcast receiving device capable of not only receiving digital broadcasts but also receiving and viewing video / audio contents from a distribution server or the like on the Internet.

In digital broadcasting, broadcast program information for eight days including the current day is sent as an electronic program guide (EPG: Electric Program Guide) from the broadcasting station together with the broadcast wave, and the user can use any broadcast from the electronic program guide. It is common to select a program and make a recording reservation.

On the other hand, with the spread of high-speed broadband environments such as home optical fiber networks, it is desirable that digital broadcast receivers are connected to distribution servers operated by video information providers via the Internet, and users are stored in the distribution servers. A video-on-demand (hereinafter referred to as "VOD") service that allows a user to receive and watch a program from a distribution server or the like on the Internet by selecting the program from a digital broadcast receiving device is also widespread.

Broadcasting stations that send out digital broadcasts may also operate distribution servers and the like as video information providers. In this case, there is a service in which a broadcast program such as a serial drama that has been transmitted is stored in a distribution server or the like and distributed as VOD content for a certain period of time. This service is known as a missed viewing service.

In recent years, a digital broadcast receiving device with improved usability has been proposed by combining a conventional recording reservation with an overlooked viewing service. For example, in Patent Document 1, when a user cannot record a desired program, the user is urged to select the same or similar program delivered by a VOD service or the like, thereby using the program due to recording failure. The technology to reduce the disadvantage of the person is disclosed.

Further, in Patent Document 2, when recording a broadcast content distributed from a broadcasting station, the broadcast content distribution period of the broadcast content re-distributed by VOD is checked, and if there is a distribution schedule, the broadcast program is recorded. A technique for omitting the above is disclosed.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2011-21148 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2014-232978

However, in the techniques described in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, the user needs to make a recording reservation for a broadcast program in advance. Therefore, when the VOD content is viewed without making a recording reservation for the broadcast program, the usability of the digital broadcast receiver cannot be improved.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a digital broadcast receiving device capable of improving usability even when a user views VOD contents without making a recording reservation for a broadcast program.

The digital broadcast receiving device according to the present invention includes a broadcast tuner unit that receives digital broadcasts and extracts digital broadcast signals and electronic program guide data of broadcast programs, and a network interface unit that receives VOD contents via an Internet line. When the VOD content received via the Internet line is the content corresponding to the broadcast program broadcast by the digital broadcast, the next and subsequent broadcast programs of the broadcast program are referred to as the electronic program guide data. It is provided with a program search unit for searching from, and a reservation setting unit for setting reservations for the next and subsequent broadcast programs searched by the program search unit.

According to the present invention, when a user views a VOD content received via an Internet line, the program search unit determines that the viewed VOD content is content corresponding to a broadcast program broadcast by digital broadcasting. Searches the next and subsequent broadcast programs of the broadcast program from the electronic program guide data, and the reservation setting unit makes reservation settings for the next and subsequent broadcast programs searched by the program search unit.

Therefore, even when the user views the VOD content without making a recording reservation for the broadcast program, the usability of the digital broadcast receiving device can be improved.

It is a block diagram which shows the connection between the digital broadcasting receiving apparatus which concerns on embodiment, and the peripheral device therefore. It is a flowchart which shows the search operation of the broadcast program from the next time onward.

<Embodiment>
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a connection between the digital broadcast receiving device 100 and its peripheral device according to the embodiment.

(Device configuration)
As shown in FIG. 1, the digital broadcast receiving device 100 is a device for receiving broadcast programs and viewing VOD contents, such as a television receiver having a broadcast program recording function and an Internet connection function. The digital broadcast receiving device 100 includes a broadcast tuner unit 102, a broadcast decoder unit 103, a recording unit 104, a network interface unit (hereinafter referred to as “network I / F unit”) 112, a content decoder unit 113, a video / audio switching unit 121, and a video. It includes an audio display unit 122, a microcomputer 130, a ROM (Read Only Memory) unit 131, a RAM (Random Access Memory) unit 132, a microcomputer bus 133, and an operation instruction receiving unit 135.

When an RF (Radio Frequency) signal including a plurality of digital broadcast channels received by the external antenna 101 is input, the broadcast tuner unit 102 performs tuning processing and demodulation processing for an arbitrary broadcast radio frequency to digitally broadcast the broadcast program. The broadcast signal is extracted, and the extracted digital broadcast signal is output to the broadcast decoder unit 103. The broadcast tuner unit 102 also extracts electronic program guide data (hereinafter referred to as "EPG data").

The broadcast decoder unit 103 decodes (decodes) the digital broadcast signal extracted by the broadcast tuner unit 102 into a first video / audio signal, and at the same time, a hard disk drive (HDD: Hard Disk Drive) connected to the broadcast decoder unit 103. Any broadcast program can be recorded on the recording unit 104 configured by the above.

Further, the network I / F unit 112 is connected to the Internet line 146 via the router 111. The network I / F unit 112 receives the VOD content from the Internet provider 145 via the Internet line 146 and the router 111, and outputs the VOD content to the content decoder unit 113. The content decoder unit 113 decodes the input VOD content into a second video / audio signal. The VOD content is stored in the program server 144 of the broadcasting station 140, and is transmitted from the program server 144 to the Internet provider 145.

The video / audio switching unit 121 selects either the first video / audio signal of the digital broadcast decoded by the broadcast decoder unit 103 or the second video / audio signal of the VOD content decoded by the content decoder unit 113. Then, it is output to the video / audio display unit 122. The video / audio display unit 122 is composed of a liquid crystal panel, a speaker, or the like, and outputs video and audio based on the input video / audio signal.

The microcomputer 130 operates according to the program code stored in the ROM unit 131, and uses the RAM unit 132 as the work area. Further, the microcomputer 130 has a program search unit 150 and a reservation setting unit 151. When the VOD content received via the Internet line 146 is the content corresponding to the broadcast program broadcast by digital broadcasting, the program search unit 150 selects the next and subsequent broadcast programs of the broadcast program from the EPG data. Search for. The reservation setting unit 151 makes reservation settings for the next and subsequent broadcast programs searched by the program search unit 150.

By executing the program stored in the ROM unit 131 by the microcomputer 130, each function of the program search unit 150 and the reservation setting unit 151 is realized. For example, each function is realized by executing software or firmware described as a program by the microcomputer 130. In the program, when the VOD content received by the digital broadcast receiving device 100 via the Internet line is the content corresponding to the broadcast program broadcast by digital broadcasting, the broadcast program from the next time onward of the broadcast program is included. Is described in the electronic program guide, and a function for making reservation settings for the searched broadcast programs from the next time onward is described. In addition, the program causes the computer to execute the procedure or method of the program search unit 150 and the reservation setting unit 151.

The broadcast tuner unit 102, the broadcast decoder unit 103, the recording unit 104, the network I / F unit 112, the content decoder unit 113, and the video / audio switching unit 121 can be controlled by the microcomputer 130 via the microcomputer bus 133.

Further, the digital broadcast receiving device 100 can receive the operation command of the user from the operation instruction transmitting unit 134 composed of the remote controller, the infrared transmitter, or the like via the operation instruction receiving unit 135. Here, it is assumed that the operation instruction receiving unit 135 is connected to the microcomputer 130 via the microcomputer bus 133.

In the present embodiment, both the digital broadcast and the VOD content received by the digital broadcast receiving device 100 are transmitted from the broadcasting station 140. Digital broadcasting, which is a real-time broadcasting, is a digital broadcasting signal managed and generated by the broadcasting equipment 141 of the broadcasting station 140. The digital broadcast signal is transmitted as a radio wave by the radio wave transmission equipment 142, and is received by the external antenna 101 via a broadcasting satellite (not shown) or a terrestrial wave equipment (not shown).

On the other hand, the broadcasting station 140 stores the digital broadcasting data managed and generated by the broadcasting equipment 141 in the program server 144 of the broadcasting station 140, and the digital broadcasting data is stored on the Internet according to the instruction from the digital broadcasting receiving device 100. It is received by the router 111 in the home via the provider 145 and the Internet line 146.

(Watching the program)
Next, the operation of the digital broadcast receiving device 100 will be described. First, the operation related to program viewing will be described.

When the user starts viewing a broadcast program by digital broadcasting using the digital broadcast receiving device 100, when the user presses the power key from the operation instruction transmitting unit 134, the key code corresponding to the power key presses the operation instruction receiving unit 135. It is transmitted to the microcomputer 130 via. The microcomputer 130 controls the broadcast tuner unit 102 to tune to an arbitrary channel frequency and start the demodulation process. Note that the arbitrary channel frequency generally refers to the frequency of the last channel selected when the previous viewing was performed.

Further, the microcomputer 130 controls the broadcast tuner unit 102 to extract and analyze program sequence information called SI (Service Information) information that stores program attributes such as a program title and a program genre from the digital broadcast signal. And generate EPG data. The microcomputer 130 displays the EPG data generated so that the user can recognize each broadcast program as an electronic program guide (hereinafter referred to as "EPG") on the video / audio display unit 122, and uses the operation instruction transmission unit 134. And make it possible to arbitrarily select the program to be reserved for recording.

When the demodulation process is completed, the microcomputer 130 controls the broadcast decoder unit 103 to extract and analyze information for identifying a program called PSI (Program Specific Information) information from the digital broadcast signal, and then broadcast the program. Filter data packets such as video and audio signals. Since the video and audio of digital broadcasting is data-compressed using a coding method such as MPEG (Moving Pictures Experts Group) 2 method and AAC (Advanced Audio Coding) method, the MPEG2 decoder built in the broadcast decoder unit 103. And the AAC decoder is used to decode into an uncompressed video / audio signal. By the above operation, the broadcast program by the digital broadcast being received is "viewed in real time".

(Program recording and playback)
Next, operations related to program recording and playback will be described. When the digital broadcast receiving device 100 is used to record a broadcast program by digital broadcasting currently being received, the user presses a recording key provided on the operation instruction transmitting unit 134, and a key code corresponding to the recording key is used. Is transmitted to the microcomputer 130 via the operation instruction receiving unit 135. The microcomputer 130 controls the broadcast decoder unit 103 to start a process of storing the digital broadcast signal before decoding into the first video / audio signal in the recording unit 104. By the above operation, the broadcast program by the digital broadcast being received is "manually recorded".

The digital broadcast signal stored in the recording unit 104 is read from the recording unit 104 by the broadcast decoder unit 103 according to the instruction of the user, and is decoded again into the first video / audio signal to record the program. Can be played.

In addition, the user can use the EPG to make a recording reservation for any broadcast program to be broadcast in the future. The microcomputer 130 stores the channel number, program name, broadcast start time, broadcast end time, and the like of the broadcast program reserved for recording, and activates the digital broadcast receiver 100 at the broadcast start time of the designated broadcast program. At the same time, the broadcast tuner unit 102 and the broadcast decoder unit 103 are controlled to receive the designated broadcast program and record it in the recording unit 104. By the above operation, the broadcast program by the digital broadcast being received is "reserved recorded".

(Watching VOD content)
Next, the operation related to VOD content viewing will be described. When viewing VOD content using the digital broadcast receiving device 100, the user uses the operation instruction transmitting unit 134 to enter the list of viewable VOD content in the program server 144 provided by the broadcasting station 140. Select any VOD content from. In the list of VOD contents, the presentation method and the selection method are not particularly specified, but it is assumed that the VOD contents having the contents corresponding to the broadcast program whose broadcast has ended can be selected for a certain period of time. Here, a fixed period is set to, for example, 7 days. That is, for example, a serial drama broadcast on Monday can be viewed from the end of the broadcast on Monday to the start of the next broadcast.

When the user selects the VOD content stored in the program server 144 by using the operation instruction transmitting unit 134, the broadcasting station 140 uses the Internet provider 145 to select the VOD specified for the digital broadcast receiving device 100. Start delivering content.

When the distributed VOD content is input to the network I / F unit 112, the microcomputer 130 controls the network I / F unit 112 to extract data packets such as video signals and audio signals of the VOD content. Further, the microcomputer 130 decodes the data packet extracted by the network I / F unit 112 into an uncompressed video / audio signal by using the video decoder and the audio decoder built in the content decoder unit 113. The resolution of the VOD content and the video / audio compression method may differ depending on the broadcasting station 140 or the VOD content.

In this way, the broadcasting station 140 prepares the content corresponding to the broadcast program whose broadcast has ended as selectable VOD content, so that the user does not have to perform real-time viewing or scheduled recording for a certain period of time. You can watch broadcast programs. Therefore, "missed viewing" becomes possible. If the overlooked viewing service becomes widespread, the user will be able to perform time-shifted viewing that can be viewed at the convenience of the user without having to operate the recording reservation, but the broadcasting station 140 will only provide the overlooked viewing service for a certain period of time. Since it is not provided, time-shift viewing will not be possible after a certain period of time.

On the other hand, in the case of scheduled recording, there is no limit to the time-shifted viewing period, but the recording reservation operation is required before the broadcast start time. In order to save the trouble of recording reservation, there is a method of preparing a plurality of broadcast tuners 102 to record all programs, but the recording unit 104 requires a huge recording capacity, and the manufacturing cost of the digital broadcast receiving device 100 increases. To do.

(Automatic recording reservation setting)
Next, the operation related to the automatic setting of the recording reservation will be described. When the user views the VOD content using the overlooked viewing service on the digital broadcast receiving device 100, the microcomputer 130 uses the program search unit 150 to use the program search unit 150 to perform the next and subsequent broadcast programs having the content corresponding to the viewed VOD content. Search for broadcast programs from EPG data. For example, when a user views VOD content corresponding to the first broadcast of a serial drama broadcast on Monday, the broadcast program of the second broadcast next Monday is searched. Next, the microcomputer 130 uses the reservation setting unit 151 to make reservation settings for the next and subsequent broadcast programs searched by the program search unit 150.

Since the EPG data of digital broadcasting stores broadcast program information for eight days including the current day, it is highly possible that the next broadcast of the serial drama will be found if the relevant broadcasting station can receive it. Watching using the missed viewing service means that the user is interested in the program and is likely to watch it in the future. Therefore, removing the time-shift viewing period limit improves the convenience of the user. Leads to. In addition, since it is possible to narrow down the programs to which the user is highly interested, it also leads to effective utilization of the recording capacity of the recording unit 104.

(Search for broadcast programs from the next time onward)
Next, the search operation of the broadcast program from the next time onward will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the search operation of the broadcast program from the next time onward.

As shown in FIG. 2, when the processing of the digital broadcast receiving device 100 is started, the microcomputer 130 monitors whether or not the user has started viewing the VOD content by using the overlooked viewing service (step S1).

If the user has not started viewing the VOD content using the overlooked viewing service (No in step S1), the process returns to step S1, and the microcomputer 130 monitors the start of viewing the next VOD content. When the user starts viewing the VOD content using the overlooked viewing service (Yes in step S1), the microcomputer 130 determines whether or not the viewer has viewed the VOD content for a certain period of time or longer, that is, the network I / F. It is determined whether or not the time when the VOD content is received by the unit 112 has elapsed more than a preset time (step S2).

In step S2, if the user starts watching the VOD content but stops watching it in the middle, there is a possibility that the user started watching the VOD content but was not interested in it, or the content selection operation itself was mistaken. If so, such a determination is made.

When the viewer views the VOD content for a shorter time than a certain period of time (No in step S2), the process returns to step S1. When the viewer views the VOD content for a certain period of time or longer (Yes in step S2), the microcomputer 130 acquires the VOD content information of the viewed VOD content from the broadcasting station 140 (step S3).

The VOD content information is information related to a broadcast program having contents corresponding to the VOD content. Specifically, the VOD content information includes program identification information that identifies a broadcast program, broadcast station identification information that indicates the name (ID) of the broadcast station that broadcasts the broadcast program, program title information that indicates the title of the broadcast program, and broadcast program. It includes at least one of program broadcast time information indicating the broadcast start time and broadcast end time, program genre information indicating the genre of the broadcast program, continuous program identification information indicating whether or not the broadcast program is a continuous program, and the like.

Next, the microcomputer 130 uses the continuous program identification information to determine whether or not the VOD content is a continuous program, that is, whether or not the broadcast program having the content corresponding to the VOD content is a continuous program ( In step S4), if the VOD content is not a serial program (No in step S4), the process returns to step S1. The serial program generally refers to a broadcast program that is broadcast weekly or daily.

If the VOD content is a continuous program (Yes in step S4), the microcomputer 130 uses the acquired VOD content information, and the broadcast program having the content corresponding to the VOD content from the EPG data stored in the digital broadcast receiving device 100. Search for the next broadcast program of (step S5). At this time, the microcomputer 130 performs a search using at least one piece of the acquired VOD content information.

The microcomputer 130 determines whether or not the next broadcast program of the broadcast program having the content corresponding to the VOD content exists in the EPG data, that is, whether or not the next broadcast program can be searched from the EPG data (step S6). .. If the next broadcast program cannot be searched from the EPG data (No in step S6), the process returns to step S1. On the other hand, if the next broadcast program can be searched from the EPG data (Yes in step S6), the process proceeds to step S7. The reason why the next broadcast program cannot be searched from the EPG data is considered to be a case where the radio wave reception state is poor or the reception area of the VOD content is not included in the broadcast area of the broadcast program. Alternatively, it is possible that this broadcast is the final episode.

Next, the user is asked whether or not to make a recording reservation for the next broadcast searched from the EPG data (step S7). If the user's consent is not obtained (No in step S7), the process returns to step S1. On the other hand, when the consent of the user is obtained (Yes in step S7), the next broadcast searched is reserved for recording (step S8). In step S8, it is desirable to select an appropriate format for the recording reservation according to the type of the serial program such as "weekly" or "daily". Further, step S7 for obtaining the consent of the user may be omitted.

Further, in the present embodiment, the microcomputer 130 acquires the VOD content information after confirming that the viewing of the VOD content is for a certain period of time or longer, but the VOD content information may be acquired at the start of viewing the VOD content. ..

Further, in the present embodiment, the next broadcast program is reserved for recording regardless of the program genre of the VOD content viewed by the user, but the program genre may be limited to a specific genre such as a drama or variety show. The user may be able to select it. It is generally considered that the program genres for which repeated time-shift viewing is desired are mostly serial dramas and the like.

Further, in the present embodiment, the recording unit 104 is built in the digital broadcast receiving device 100, but the recording unit 104 is an external HDD or the like connected by USB (Universal Serial Bus) or LAN (Local Area Network) or the like. It may be composed of.

Further, in the present embodiment, the next broadcast program searched from the EPG data is reserved for recording, but when the digital broadcast receiving device 100 does not have the recording function, the next broadcast program is reserved for viewing. Broadcast reception may be automatically started at the start time of the broadcast program.

Further, in the present embodiment, both the digital broadcasting and the VOD content received by the digital broadcasting receiving device 100 are transmitted from the broadcasting station 140, but the broadcasting station or the service business in which the digital broadcasting and the VOD content are different from each other. It may be configured to be sent from a person.

(effect)
As described above, in the digital broadcast receiving device 100 according to the embodiment, when the user views the VOD content received via the Internet line 146, the viewed VOD content becomes a broadcast program broadcast by digital broadcasting. When the content has the corresponding content, the program search unit 150 searches for the next and subsequent broadcast programs of the broadcast program from the EPG data, and the reservation setting unit 151 reserves the next and subsequent broadcast programs searched by the program search unit 150. Make settings.

Therefore, even when the user views the VOD content without making a recording reservation for the broadcast program, the usability of the digital broadcast receiving device 100 can be improved.

Since the digital broadcast receiving device 100 further includes a recording unit 104 that records the next and subsequent broadcast programs reserved by the reservation setting unit 151, the time shift is not limited to the viewable period set for overlooked viewing in a serial drama or the like. You can watch it.

When searching for a broadcast program from the next time onward from the EPG data, the program search unit 150 includes program identification information for identifying the broadcast program, broadcast station identification information indicating the name of the broadcast station that broadcasts the broadcast program, and the broadcast program. Program title information indicating the title, program broadcasting time information indicating the broadcasting start time and broadcasting end time of the broadcast program, program genre information indicating the genre of the broadcast program, and continuous program indicating whether or not the broadcast program is a continuous program. Use at least one of the identification information. Therefore, the accuracy of the search for the broadcast program can be improved.

Since the program search unit 150 searches the EPG data for the next and subsequent broadcast programs when the time for receiving the VOD content in the network I / F unit 112 elapses for a preset time or more, it is unnecessary for the program search unit 150. You can save the trouble of performing a simple search.

In the present invention, the embodiments can be appropriately modified or omitted within the scope of the invention.

100 digital broadcast receiver, 102 broadcast tuner section, 104 recording section, 112 network I / F section, 150 program search section, 151 reservation setting section.

Claims (4)

A broadcast tuner that receives digital broadcasts and extracts digital broadcast signals and electronic program guide data for broadcast programs,
A network interface that receives VOD content via the Internet and
When the VOD content received via the Internet line is the content corresponding to the broadcast program broadcast by the digital broadcast, the next and subsequent broadcast programs of the broadcast program are obtained from the electronic program guide data. Program search section to search and
A reservation setting unit that sets a reservation for the next and subsequent broadcast programs searched by the program search unit, and a reservation setting unit.
A digital broadcast receiver equipped with. The digital broadcast receiving device according to claim 1, further comprising a recording unit for recording the broadcast program from the next time onward, which is reserved and set by the reservation setting unit. When the program search unit searches for the broadcast program from the next time onward from the electronic program guide data, the program identification information for identifying the broadcast program, the broadcast station identification information indicating the name of the broadcast station that broadcasts the broadcast program, Program title information indicating the title of the broadcast program, program broadcast time information indicating the broadcast start time and broadcast end time of the broadcast program, program genre information indicating the genre of the broadcast program, and whether or not the VOD content is a continuous program The digital broadcast receiving device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein at least one of the continuous program identification information indicating the above is used. From claim 1, the program search unit searches the electronic program guide data for the next and subsequent broadcast programs when the time when the VOD content is received by the network interface unit elapses for a preset time or longer. The digital broadcast receiving device according to any one of claims 3.

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