JP3523470B2 - Digital broadcast receiver - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to reception of program guide data corresponding to a plurality of broadcasting stations in a digital broadcasting receiver.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A basic configuration diagram of a digital broadcast receiver is shown in FIG. The decoding procedure of the digital broadcast receiver 100 will be described. A broadcast is received via an antenna terminal 101 from an antenna 115 (for receiving a radio wave broadcast) or a cable 116 (for receiving a cable broadcast), and the tuner 102 of the digital broadcast receiver receives the broadcast. And tune it, QP
SK demodulator and error correction processing (hereinafter abbreviated as FEC) 1
At 03, it is converted into a transport stream.

The converted transport stream is subjected to audio data, video data, and program information (SI: Service Information) by the transport processing unit 104.
on) separated into data.

The separated audio data is demodulated into digital audio data by the MPEG audio demodulation unit 108, and is sent to the TV monitor 112 as analog audio output by the audio D / A (DA converter) 109 for output.

The separated video data becomes digital video data by the MPEG video demodulation unit 110 and is sent to the video encoder 111. Separated program information (SI)
The data is demodulated by the program information demodulation unit 106 into program information data and recorded in the memory 105.

The contract information is recorded in the IC card memory 105. O based on these stored program information (SI)
SD (OnScreenDisplay: TV screen display) processing 107 is performed to create necessary screen data.

The screen data created here is mixed with the video data created by the MPEG video demodulation unit 110,
The video encoder 111 sends the analog video output to the TV monitor 112 for output. And CP
U113 controls each block.

Next, FIG. 7 shows a configuration for supporting a plurality of broadcasting stations. FIG. 7 shows a case of satellite broadcasting, in which a plurality of broadcasting satellites (hereinafter, broadcasting satellites are referred to as broadcasting stations. In FIG. 7, broadcasting stations A 200 and B 201) are separately broadcasting and are transmitted to the antenna 202. If you want to receive it, you have to adjust the antenna according to the direction of the broadcasting station you want to receive.

At this time, in the case of a dual antenna, the operation is almost the same as the switch switching. In any case, you have to decide which broadcast satellite you want to receive and perform the switching operation.

FIG. 3 shows a conventional flow in the case where a program being broadcast by the broadcast station A is being viewed while the program being broadcast by the broadcast station B is being viewed.

A state where the program of the broadcasting station A is being received (see FIG. 3).
If it is desired to switch to the program of the broadcast station B from step 500), the setting of the receiver (reception setting etc.) is first changed so that the broadcast of the broadcast station B can be received (step 50 in FIG. 3).
1).

Next, since the antenna is switched so that the broadcast wave of the broadcast station B can be received, the antenna direction and the polarization angle are adjusted (step 502 in FIG. 3) so that the broadcast of the broadcast station B can be received. At that time, the program desired to be viewed is viewed using a channel selection function such as a program guide (step 503 in FIG. 3).

At this time, if the user wants to view the program of the broadcasting station A again, the operations of steps 500 to 503 in FIG. 3 are required. As described above, conventionally, it takes a lot of time and effort to select a channel between broadcasting stations, which hinders the reception of broadcasting by a plurality of broadcasting stations.

[0014]

In the case of receiving broadcasts from a plurality of broadcast stations, it has conventionally been necessary to determine which broadcast station to receive the broadcast and perform antenna switching work from there. .

Therefore, for example, when the broadcast of the broadcast station A is received, even if the broadcast of the broadcast station B suddenly wants to be received, it is necessary to start from the antenna switching work. It took quite a while before I could see the broadcast.

Even in the case of the dual antenna, the antenna switching work can be performed quickly, but after switching the antenna, it was necessary to wait until the program information for the program guide was acquired again.

As described above, since it takes time to switch the broadcasting stations, it is not possible to efficiently receive the broadcasting even if the broadcasting is sent by a plurality of broadcasting stations.

The present invention automates the antenna switching work for viewing a program spanning broadcast stations, so that the program tuning operation spanning broadcast stations can be selected without being aware of the broadcast stations. The purpose is to provide an efficient tuning environment.

[0019]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, in a digital broadcast receiver, a means for receiving a radio wave broadcast or a cable broadcast sent from a plurality of broadcasting stations and a switching of the plurality of broadcasts. Means for automatically receiving the broadcasts of multiple broadcasting stations by automatically switching between antennas or cables during standby (when the power is turned off by the remote control), and broadcast program information sent by broadcasting. And a means for storing the decoded information in a memory, and a means for creating a program guide using the broadcast program information stored in the memory.

A second aspect of the present invention is, in a digital broadcast receiver, means for receiving radio wave broadcasts or cable broadcasts sent from a plurality of broadcasting stations, and means for switching and receiving the plurality of broadcasts. When the program guide is called, or when program information is requested by scrolling or switching pages in the program guide, the antenna or cable is automatically switched, and a means for automatically receiving broadcasts from multiple broadcasting stations and sent by broadcasting. The present invention is characterized by having means for decoding incoming broadcast program information, means for storing the decoded information in a memory, and means for creating a program guide using the broadcast program information stored in the memory.

In the first aspect of the present invention, the receiver is powered off.
In the state of (power off by remote control, not outlet off), the antenna is automatically switched to receive broadcasts from a plurality of broadcasting stations. Then, the program information for creating the program guide is stored. By doing so, when the program guide is requested after the power is turned on, it is possible to simultaneously provide the program information broadcast by a plurality of broadcasting stations. Also, if you select a program that is being broadcast from a station other than the one you are currently receiving,
The antenna is automatically switched to provide an efficient tuning environment without being aware of the broadcasting station.

In the second aspect of the present invention, when the requested program information is not stored in the memory when the program guide is requested, the broadcasting of the broadcasting station broadcasting the lacking program information is performed. Automatically switch to an antenna that can receive,
By acquiring the program information, it is possible to simultaneously provide the program information broadcast by a plurality of broadcasting stations. If this is used in combination with the first method of the present invention, the acquisition speed further increases and it is effective. Also,
Even if you tune in to a program that is being broadcast by a station other than the one you are currently receiving, you can automatically switch the antenna and select an efficient station without being conscious of the station. Provide the environment.

[0023]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows a configuration diagram when there are a plurality of broadcasting stations. Broadcasting stations A300 and B
Broadcast station A antenna 302 and broadcast station B antenna 303 that can receive the respective broadcasts.
There is.

These two antennas are connected to an antenna switching device 305 by an antenna cable 304. This antenna switching device 305 uses the control signal output from the digital broadcast receiver 306 through the antenna cable 304 to cause the antenna 302 for the broadcasting station A to operate.
Alternatively, it is possible to switch and control which of the broadcasting station B antennas 303 is connected to the digital broadcasting receiver 306.

That is, the digital broadcast receiver 306 can automatically switch the antennas. The antenna switching device 305 may be built in the digital broadcast receiver.

Another configuration example is shown in FIG. This is an example using the dual antenna 402, and it is assumed that the broadcasting of the broadcasting station A400 and the broadcasting station B401 can be received by this one antenna.

The dual antenna 402 is connected to the antenna switching device 403 by an antenna cable 405. This antenna switching device 403 includes a digital broadcasting receiver 404, an antenna cable 405, and
It is possible to control which of the broadcasting station A 400 and the broadcasting station B 401 is to be received by the dual antenna 402 by the control signal output through the.

In other words, the digital broadcast receiver 404 can automatically switch the antennas. The antenna switching device 403 may be built in the digital broadcast receiver.

Next, FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b) are flowcharts for changing the receiving broadcast station. The flow will be described in order. First, while the power of the digital broadcast receiver (306 in FIG. 1 or 404 in FIG. 2) is OFF (step 600 in FIG. 4A), the operation inside the receiver is not stopped. ,
Power is turned off by a remote controller, etc., broadcasting station A (300 in FIG. 1 or 400 in FIG. 2) and broadcasting station B (301 in FIG. 1)
Alternatively, in order to store the program information (401 in FIG. 2), the antenna (3 in FIG.
02, 303 or 402 in FIG. 2) to receive a broadcast from a plurality of broadcast stations (step 60 in FIG. 4A).
1).

The program information stored at this time is SI (Service Information) sent by broadcasting.
n) The program information, which is the program title, broadcast start time,
It shows information about the program such as broadcast time length, detailed program content, channel number information, channel logo, program fee and the like.

Then, the program information demodulator 106 of FIG. 6 extracts the program information from the received broadcast and stores the program information in the memory 105 as long as necessary (step 602 of FIG. 4A).

After that, the user turns on the power of the receiver (the power is turned on by a remote controller or the like), and the broadcasting station A (300 in FIG.
Alternatively, it is assumed that the broadcast of 400) of FIG. 2 is received (step 603 of FIG. 4B).

When a program guide is requested to view another program, the digital broadcast receiver 100 shown in FIG.
The OSD processing and display processing unit 107 uses the program information stored in the memory 105 while the power is off.
The video encoder 1 creates a program guide screen in which program information broadcasted by a plurality of broadcasting stations is mixed.
The video signal is converted into a video signal by the TV monitor 112.
(Step 604 of FIG. 4B). From this program guide screen, select the program you want to watch without paying attention to the broadcasting station.

At this time, it is assumed that the program broadcast by the broadcasting station B (301 in FIG. 1 or 401 in FIG. 2) is selected (step 605 in FIG. 4). The switching process for receiving the broadcast of 301 or 401 of FIG. 2 is started.

First, since the antenna must be switched, the control signal for switching the antenna from the digital broadcast receiver (306 in FIG. 1 or 404 in FIG. 2) is sent to the antenna switching device (305 in FIG. 1 or FIG. 2). 403) (step 606 of FIG. 4B).

Then, the antenna is switched to the one for the broadcasting station B, and the broadcasting of the broadcasting station B can be received. Next, in the digital broadcast receiver 100 of FIG. 6, the operation of selecting the program being broadcast by the broadcast station B is performed, and the broadcast of the broadcast station B is received (step in FIG. 4B). 607).

With the above flow, it is possible to realize the tuning operation across the broadcasting stations with almost the same operation as the normal tuning operation.

Although the case of receiving digital satellite broadcasting is described here, the same applies to terrestrial broadcasting and cable broadcasting, which can be dealt with by switching the antenna and cable for receiving respectively.

At this time, in the main body of the digital broadcast receiver, the tuner 102 shown in FIG.
It is also necessary to switch the part of C103. For example, in the case of cable broadcasting, the tuner 102 becomes a cable broadcasting tuner, and the QPSK demodulation and FEC 103 are QAM.
It becomes a demodulator for cable broadcasting such as demodulation.

Further, in the case of terrestrial broadcasting, the tuner 102 of FIG. 6 becomes a tuner for terrestrial broadcasting, and the QP of FIG.
The SK demodulator and FEC 103 are terrestrial wave demodulators such as OFDM demodulator. Therefore, it is possible to switch the combination of satellite broadcasting, cable broadcasting and terrestrial broadcasting.

The configuration of the second embodiment is the same as that shown in the first embodiment, and will be omitted.

Next, FIG. 5 shows a flow chart in the case of changing the receiving broadcast station. To explain the flow in order, first,
It is assumed that the broadcast of the broadcasting station A is received (step 703 in FIG. 5). Therefore, it is assumed that the user requests the display of the program guide in order to watch another program (step 704 in FIG. 5).

Then, the information acquisition process necessary for displaying on the program guide is started (step 700 in FIG. 5).
If the requested program guide information is not stored in the memory, determine which broadcasting station is broadcasting the required program information and, if necessary, receive the broadcasting of the corresponding broadcasting station. Switch the antenna.

The antenna switching operation is claimed in claim 1.
Since it is shown in the embodiment of FIG. In this way, the program information broadcast by a plurality of broadcasting stations required for the requested program guide is acquired (step 701 in FIG. 5).

At this time, as shown in the embodiment of claim 1, if the program information is also stored when the power is turned off,
It is possible to obtain the information of the program guide more efficiently. Then, when all the necessary program information is prepared, the program guide is displayed (step 702 in FIG. 5).

From the created program guide screen, the user
Select the program you want to watch without paying attention to the broadcasting station. At this time, it is assumed that the program broadcast by the broadcasting station B (301 in FIG. 1 or 401 in FIG. 2) is selected (step 70 in FIG. 5).
5).

Then, the switching process for receiving the broadcast of the broadcast station B (301 in FIG. 1 or 401 in FIG. 2) is started. First, since the antenna has to be switched, a control signal for switching the antenna from the receiver (306 in FIG. 1 or 404 in FIG. 2) is output to the antenna switching device (305 in FIG. 1 or 403 in FIG. 2). (Step 706 in FIG. 5).

Then, the antenna is switched to the one for the broadcasting station B, and the broadcasting of the broadcasting station B can be received. Next, in the digital broadcast receiver 100 shown in FIG. 6, the operation of selecting the program broadcast by the broadcast station B is performed, and the broadcast from the broadcast station B is received (step 7 in FIG. 5).
07).

With the above flow, it is possible to realize the tuning operation across the broadcasting stations with almost the same operation as the normal tuning operation.

Although the case of receiving digital satellite broadcasting is described here, the same applies to terrestrial broadcasting and cable broadcasting, which can be dealt with by switching the antenna and cable for receiving respectively.

At this time, in the main body of the digital broadcast receiver, the tuner 102 shown in FIG.
It is also necessary to switch the part of C103. For example, in the case of cable broadcasting, the tuner 102 of FIG. 6 becomes a tuner for cable broadcasting, and the QPSK demodulation and FEC1 of FIG.
03 is a demodulator for cable broadcasting such as QAM demodulation.

Further, in the case of terrestrial broadcasting, the tuner 102 of FIG. 6 becomes a terrestrial broadcasting tuner, and the QP of FIG.
The SK demodulator and FEC 103 are terrestrial wave demodulators such as OFDM demodulator. Therefore, it is possible to switch the combination of satellite broadcasting, cable broadcasting and terrestrial broadcasting.

[0053]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, while the power of the digital broadcast receiver is OFF (the power inside is turned OFF by the remote controller or the like, the operation inside the receiver is not stopped),
By storing the program information broadcast from a plurality of broadcast stations in the memory, it is possible to provide a program guide in which program information broadcast from a plurality of broadcast stations is mixed.
It enables efficient program search.

Further, since the antennas are automatically switched as needed at the time of tuning, it is possible to provide an efficient tuning operation without being aware of the broadcasting station even if the tuning operation spans broadcasting stations.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, when the program guide is requested by the user and the requested program information is not stored in the memory, the lacking program information is broadcast. By automatically switching between the antennas to receive broadcast stations and receiving, and storing the program information broadcast from multiple broadcast stations in the memory, the program information broadcast from multiple broadcast stations was mixed. A program guide can be provided, and an efficient program search can be performed.

At this time, as shown in the first aspect of the present invention, if it is used together with the processing for storing the program information while the power is off, the speed of providing the program information is further increased and the efficiency is improved.

Further, since the antennas are automatically switched as needed at the time of tuning, it is possible to provide an efficient tuning operation without paying attention to the broadcasting stations even if the tuning operation is performed across broadcasting stations.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a first configuration diagram of an embodiment when there are a plurality of broadcasting stations.

FIG. 2 is a second configuration diagram of an embodiment when there are a plurality of broadcasting stations.

FIG. 3 shows a conventional flow chart when a receiving broadcast station is changed.

FIG. 4A is a flow chart of the first embodiment in the case of changing the broadcasting station to receive while the power of the receiver is OFF, and FIG.
Shows a flow chart of the first embodiment in the case of changing the broadcasting station to receive while the power of the receiver is ON.

FIG. 5 shows a flowchart of the first embodiment when changing a receiving broadcast station.

FIG. 6 shows a basic configuration diagram of a digital broadcast receiver.

FIG. 7 shows a conventional configuration diagram when a plurality of broadcasting stations exist.

[Explanation of symbols]

300 broadcasting station A 301 Broadcasting station B 302 Broadcast Station A Antenna 303 Broadcasting Station B Antenna 304 antenna cable 305 Antenna switching device 306 Digital broadcasting receiver

Continuation of the front page (56) Reference JP-A-9-275530 (JP, A) JP-A-8-56205 (JP, A) JP-A-9-289615 (JP, A) JP-A-9-102827 (JP , A) Special table H11-504171 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04N 5/38-5/46

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A digital broadcast receiver, means for receiving radio wave broadcasts or cable broadcasts sent from a plurality of broadcasting stations, means for automatically switching antennas or cables, and broadcasts. It has means for decoding broadcast program information, means for storing the decoded information in a memory, and means for creating a program guide using the broadcast program information stored in the memory. , A digital broadcasting receiver characterized by automatically switching between antennas or cables and storing program information from multiple broadcasting stations. 2. A digital broadcast receiver, means for receiving radio wave broadcasts or cable broadcasts sent from a plurality of broadcasting stations, means for automatically switching antennas or cables, and broadcasts. It has means for decoding broadcast program information, means for storing the decoded information in the memory, and means for creating a program guide using the broadcast program information stored in the memory. A digital broadcast receiver characterized by automatically switching antennas or cables and storing program information of a plurality of broadcasting stations when program information is requested by scrolling or switching pages.