JP3417483B2 - Broadcast information retrieval device - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a broadcast information search apparatus such as a page search apparatus in a teletext broadcast receiving apparatus.
It is related to the location . 2. Description of the Related Art In West Germany, teletext broadcasting is performed by a broadcasting system called TOP (Table Of Pages) for the purpose of facilitating and retrieving pages. This system uses the German broadcast agency IR to facilitate the page search operation that was complicated in the conventional teletext system.
This system was developed in cooperation with T / WDR / ZDF. In TOP, collect multiple related pages and GROUP
And a plurality of related GROUPs are grouped into a BOX. Also, the remote control transmitter has "Next Page", "Next Group", "Next Box" and "Previous Page"
The four types of operation buttons described above are provided, and the operation of these buttons makes it possible to search for information without being conscious of the page number at all. [0003] In addition to the above information used by the user , the broadcasting station stores the first page of the BOX and GROUP, the presence / absence information of the page, and the title information of each page in BTT (Basic).
ic Top Table) is sent as fixed page number page data, similar to general teletext broadcasts. Therefore, by searching and analyzing the BTT by the teletext decoder, all page information being broadcast can be grasped. [0004] However, the conventional BT
In BOX · GROUP retrieval system using the T, place in a BOX
After determining the desired information set, the desired information in the GROUP , B
Since the operation of requesting the first page of OX or GROUP has been started, there is a problem that it takes time until a desired page appears on the screen. [0005] An object of the present invention is to start a request operation of a top page for information likely to be specified before a desired BOX or GROUP is determined, so that a time required for a desired page to appear on a screen can be obtained. significantly reduce the
It is possible to provide a broadcast information search device capable of performing the above. A broadcast information search apparatus according to the present invention searches for and displays transmission information with a series of numbers.
In the broadcast information retrieval apparatus shown in FIG.
The transmission information is classified into a first set, and a first set related to each other.
Are classified into the second set, and the names of the second set are listed.
Display the first array with the cursor and the second collection with the cursor
The first set belonging to this second set
Means for displaying a second array in which the names of the sets are arranged;
When the cursor is positioned on the name of the second set
If not, a name is assigned within the third from the top of the second array.
The first transmission information of the first set is stored in the storage means.
Means for performing the operation of inserting the car,
When the sol is combined, at least the first collection of this name
If the name is placed before and after this information,
The first transmission information of the first set is stored in the storage means.
Means for performing the operation of inserting the car,
The sol is adjusted to display the transmission information of this first set.
When it is determined that the operation is to be performed,
Means for displaying the first set of transmission information of the first set . According to the information retrieval apparatus of the present invention, a cursor
In the process of searching for the desired first set by moving
When selecting the second set, the cursors in the first array
According to the position, the first set that is likely to be specified is
The top transmission information is taken into the storage means.
You. Further, after the second set is determined, the second set
The number that is likely to be specified in accordance with the cursor position
Operation of loading the first transmission information into storage means for one set
Is performed. Therefore, according to the information search device of the present invention,
As in the prior art, after determining the desired first set, the first transmission information is taken.
Head transmission information is displayed on the screen
The time to appear is greatly reduced. The following examples are provided to illustrate the present invention and should not be construed as limiting the invention described in the claims or reducing the scope thereof. FIG. 1 shows an example in which a page retrieval apparatus for teletext broadcasting according to the present invention is applied to a video tape recorder (VTR). The broadcast signal captured by the antenna (1) is received and selected by the tuner (2), and then passed through the video intermediate frequency and detection circuit IF / DET (3) and the video signal processing circuit (4) to switch the display signal. It is supplied to the circuit (5). A display signal switching circuit (5) receives a video signal (b) from a video signal processing circuit (4) or a teletext decoder (5) according to a switching signal (a) from a teletext control unit (6) composed of a microcomputer. 7), and outputs the character signal or the composite signal c of the character signal and the video signal. On the other hand, the teletext signal multiplexed during the vertical blanking period among the video signals obtained from the IF DET (3) is extracted by a teletext signal extracting circuit (8), and is extracted by a teletext decoder (7). Supplied to The teletext decoder (7) extracts only the data of the page number specified by the teletext control unit (6) and supplies it to the screen memory (9). by this,
Screen data of a specific page number selected by the teletext decoder (7) is written in the screen memory (9) in accordance with a control signal from the teletext control unit (6). The data written in the screen memory (9) is read out according to a control signal from the teletext control unit (6), and is converted into a character signal by a teletext decoder (7). The teletext control unit (6) controls the display of the television screen and the teletext screen by directly sending a command to the teletext decoder (7) and the display signal switching circuit (5) as described above. An operation of writing data to the screen memory 9 and displaying an arbitrary character is also performed. The data input by operating the remote control transmitter (10) and the keyboard (11) provided on the main body of the VTR is converted into a common code signal by an input control unit (12), and then converted into a common code signal. It is supplied to the control unit (13). The VTR control unit (13) performs a timer reservation or a channel selection operation by controlling the channel selection circuit (14) according to the content of the code signal from the input control unit (12), or performs various operations of the VTR,
That is, operations such as reproduction, fast-forward, rewind, and stop and program recording reservation are performed, and codes related to teletext control are supplied to the teletext control unit (6). Next, by operating a remote control transmitter (10) or a keyboard (11) provided on the main body of the VTR.
The operation of the teletext control unit (6) when BOX and GROUP are selected will be described. FIGS. 2A to 2D show a BOX on a television screen.
This is a schematic representation of the process of selecting and displaying GROUP and GROUP, with the left column (15) of each figure displaying the BOX name group and the right column (16) displaying the GROUP name group. BOX
And a cursor (17) for selecting GROUP is displayed. The cursor movement key is operated from the state of FIG. 2A first displayed on the television screen, and a desired state is obtained as shown in FIG. 2B.
Move the cursor to the name of the BOX, for example, the position of the name “TV PROGRAM”. Next, when the BOX "TV PROGRAM" is determined by operating the BOX determination key in the state of FIG. 2B, the cursor moves to the GROUP side as shown in FIG. 2C. In a state where as BOX "TV PROGRAM" GROUP name group in is displayed in FIG. 2 (c), the by operating the cursor moving key, the cursor to the desired GROUP name as shown in FIG. 2 (d) Move. Finally, when the GROUP “ZDF” is confirmed by operating the GROUP confirmation key, the TV screen displays G in the BOX “TV PROGRAM”.
The first page in ROUP “ZDF” will be displayed. FIG. 3 shows BOX and GROUP by cursor movement.
The procedure executed by the teletext control unit (6) in the selection process is shown. In step S1, a remote control transmitter (10) or a keyboard (1
It is determined whether the input is from 1), and if it is a key input, the process proceeds to step S2. In step S2, the contents of the entered key code are checked, and if it is for moving the cursor, the flow proceeds to step S3. In step S3, BOX
Is selected, and if it is selected, the process proceeds to step S4. In step S4, the cursor is moved according to the contents of the key code checked in step S2, and the process proceeds to step S5. In step S5, among the GROUPs in the BOX moved in step S4, the first page of one or more GROUPs that are likely to be specified is set, and the process proceeds to step S6. In step S6, an instruction is issued to the teletext decoder (7) to take in the first page set in step S5, and the process returns to step S1. According to the above procedure, FIG.
At the stage where a desired BOX is selected as shown in (b),
One or more Gs that are likely to be specified in the GROUP
The request operation of the first page of the ROUP is started. In step S2 shown in FIG. 3, if the key code is not for moving the cursor, step S2 is executed.
Proceed to 7. In step S7, it is checked whether the key code is a key for fixing the BOX. If the key code is a key for fixing the BOX, the process proceeds to step S8. In step S8, the cursor is moved to the GROUP side, and the process returns to step S1. According to the above procedure, FIG.
As shown in (c), the BOX “TV PROGRAM” is determined, and the cursor moves to the GROUP side. In step S3 shown in FIG. 3, if a BOX is not being selected, the process proceeds to step S9. In step S9, GR
It is checked whether or not OUP is being selected, and if it is, the process proceeds to step S10. In step S10, step S
The cursor is moved according to the contents of the key code checked in step 2, and the process proceeds to step S5. In step S5, sets the first page of the likely 1 or more GROUP specified in the GROUP in BOX moved in step S 4, the process proceeds to step S6. In step S6, an instruction is issued to the teletext decoder (7) to take in the top page set in step S5 into the screen memory (9), and the process returns to step S1. According to the above procedure, FIG.
The cursor moves between GROUPs as shown in (d), and in parallel with this, one or more GROUPs that are likely to be specified
Of the first page is executed. If the key code is not for determining the BOX in step S7 in FIG. 3, the process proceeds to step S11.
In step S11, it is checked whether or not the key code is a key for determining the GROUP. If the key code is a key for determining the GROUP, the process proceeds to step S12. In step S12, step S
The first page of the GROUP determined in step 11 is displayed on the screen. By the above procedure, the GR shown in FIG.
OUP “ZDF” is confirmed and GROUP “ZD” in BOX “TV PROGRAM”
The screen of the first page in F "is displayed. FIG. 4 shows the specific contents of the request page setting procedure in step S5 in FIG.
In this embodiment, four pages can be simultaneously requested in advance and stored in the screen memory (9). One of them is a BOX / GROUP selection screen (FIG. 2 (a)). The previous page is fetched, and the first three pages of the information pages included in the BOX or GROUP that are likely to be specified are fetched into the remaining three, respectively. And
As three BOX or GROUP that are likely to be specified,
BOX or GRO before and after the cursor is displayed
UP, these 3 BOX or G
ROUP is also changed. In step S1 of FIG. 4, it is checked whether a BOX is being selected or a GROUP is being selected. If the BOX is being selected, the process proceeds to step S2. In step S2, the first page of the currently selected BOX is set in the request page setting buffer in the teletext control unit (6),
Proceed to step S3. In step S3, the set BO
It is checked whether or not a GROUP exists in X. If there is no GROUP, the setting of the request page is ended. If there is a GROUP, the process proceeds to step S4. In step S4, the first page of the first GROUP is set in the request page setting buffer, and the process proceeds to step S5. In step S5, the following
If there is no GROUP, finish setting the request page,
If there is a next GROUP, the process proceeds to step S6. Step S6
Then, the first page of the next GROUP is set in the request page setting buffer, and the setting of the request page is completed. When the cursor is matched with the desired BOX “TV PROGRAM” as shown in FIG.
Among the GROUPs in the BOX, the top three GROUPs, namely "TV
The first page of each of "PROGRAM"," ARD ", and " ZDF " is set in the memory In step S1 of FIG. So, GROUP
Is moved to which group, and if it has moved to the previous GROUP, the process proceeds to step S8. In step S8, it is checked whether or not there is a previous GROUP. If not, the setting of the request page is completed. If there is, the process proceeds to step S9. In step S9, the check was made in step S8
GROUP is already check whether or not being requested, if Re you are requested to complete the setting of the request page, the process proceeds to step S10 if it is not. In step S10, the first page of the GROUP checked in step S8 is set in the request page setting buffer in which the first page of the next GROUP has been set.
Finish setting the page. If the process moves to the next GROUP in step S7, the process proceeds to step S11. In step S11, the next GR
Check if there is an OUP, if not, request
The page setting is completed, and if there is, the process proceeds to step S12. In the step S12, it is checked whether or not GROUP checked in step S11 has already been requested, to complete the setting of the request page if Re your being requested,
If not, the process proceeds to step S13. In step S13, the request page setting buffer in which the first page of the previous GROUP was set was checked in step S11.
Set the first page of GROUP and finish setting the request page. At the stage where the cursor is matched with the desired GROUP as shown in FIG. 2D by the above procedure, at the beginning of each of the three GROUPs including the GROUP, ie, "ARD", "ZDF" and "3SAT" The page will be set in memory. Therefore, if the target GROUP is determined thereafter, the time required for the desired page to appear on the screen is significantly reduced as compared with the conventional one because the first page of the GROUP has already been set in the memory. Will be. The description of the above embodiments is for the purpose of illustrating the present invention, and should not be construed as limiting the invention described in the claims or reducing the scope thereof. Further, the configuration of each part of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it is needless to say that various modifications can be made within the technical scope described in the claims. For example, in the present embodiment, the number of first pages of a BOX or GROUP that is highly likely to be instructed is set to 3, but it is also possible to set a larger number of pages.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a video tape recorder embodying the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a BOX and GROUP selection process. FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a page request procedure accompanying a cursor movement. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a request page setting procedure. [Explanation of symbols] (6) Teletext control unit (7) Teletext decoder

   ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page       (56) References JP-A-2-228892 (JP, A)                 JP-A-2-26189 (JP, A)                 JP-A-3-117990 (JP, A)                 JP-A-2-12963 (JP, A)                 JP-A-63-310020 (JP, A)                 JP-A-1-309149 (JP, A)                 JP-A-2-26191 (JP, A)

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] [Claim 1] Searching transmission information with a series of numbers,
In a broadcast information retrieval apparatus to be displayed, transmission information related to each other is classified into a first set,
The associated first set is categorized into the second set, and displaying the first array in which the names of the second set are arranged is common.
When the cursor is set to the name of the second set where the cursor is,
The second set in which the names of the first set belonging to the second set are arranged
Means for displaying an array, and when the cursor is placed on a name of a certain second set,
At least the name within the third from the top of the second sequence
The first transmission information of the arranged first set is stored in the storage means.
Means for performing an insertion operation, and when the cursor is set to a name of a certain first set,
At least the first transmission information of the first set of this name,
Of the first set with names placed before and after the name of
Means for performing an operation to capture and send information in the storage means, are combined is the cursor to the name of the first set in, this
When it is decided to display the transmission information of the first set of
The first transmission information of the first set captured in the storage means.
And a means for displaying information.