JP3916499B2 - Digital broadcast receiver - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a digital broadcast receiving apparatus that receives a digital broadcast including a data broadcast, and more particularly to a data broadcast service technique in a receiving apparatus having a plurality of front end units.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In digital broadcasting, video, audio, data, etc. encoded by MPEG2 (Moving Picture Expert Group) or the like are multiplexed and transmitted in a transport stream. In such digital broadcasting, selecting a service desired by the user selects a transport stream.
[0003]
In the operation of selecting a new service by the user, conventionally, when the user instructs to select a service, first, a black screen is presented, and then the service is switched. Services were switched by displaying video, audio, data, etc. after they were ready.
[0004]
In particular, in the case of a service including data (hereinafter referred to as data broadcasting), the data is acquired after switching the service, the acquired data is processed, and the display is displayed on the screen after it is ready to be presented to the user. Is going.
[0005]
Since this data broadcast is sent by the data carousel method, it is presented after acquiring and processing a series of data, so depending on the content of the service, it may take a considerable time from service selection to content presentation. It will make you wait by showing the screen. Data broadcasting is described in a language called BML (Broadcast Markup Language), and it is necessary to analyze and process this content for screen presentation.
[0006]
In this way, in the prior art, every time a new service is selected, the data broadcast service is received and presented, that is, all the series of data required by the service is acquired by broadcast reception. It must be presented after waiting for the time required for this reception process.
[0007]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-36946 discloses a technique for shortening the time until a data broadcasting service is presented to a user, but considers the processing efficiency in data storage after data reception.
[0008]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
As described above, in data broadcasting, data acquisition and data processing are performed between when a user gives an instruction to switch services and when the service is displayed on the screen. Therefore, during these processes, a black screen is displayed on the screen, which makes the user wait.
[0009]
In addition, there is a method of issuing a message indicating that data is being acquired or data is being processed during this period, but there is no change in making the user wait.
[0010]
An object of the present invention is to quickly use necessary data by accumulating data broadcast data of other services using a front end that is not currently used for viewing.
[0011]
Another object of the present invention is to display a service that has been previously selected until a service including the data broadcast is presented when the data storage means of the data broadcast is not employed. Is to alleviate the waiting time.
[0012]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above problems, the present invention mainly adopts the following configuration.
A digital broadcast receiving apparatus having a plurality of front end units composed of a tuner for receiving digital broadcasts and a digital demodulation unit, and having a function of simultaneously receiving and presenting a plurality of digital broadcast services,
Receiving data broadcast data within the broadcast service using the front end that is not used for the broadcast service currently being viewed,
The received data is recorded in a database in an internal or external storage device together with information for identifying a broadcast service,
When presenting a broadcasting service including data broadcasting, check whether the data broadcasting data in the presented broadcasting service is in a database,
If it is databased, it is confirmed whether or not the databased data is the same as the data currently being broadcast. If the data is the same, the databased data is used preferentially. A digital broadcast receiver that presents broadcasts.
[0013]
Further, the digital broadcast having a front end unit composed of a tuner for receiving digital broadcast and a digital demodulating unit, and having a removable front end unit connected via an external bus of an arbitrary form different from the front end unit A receiving device,
When the detachable front end unit is not used for a broadcast service being viewed, the detachable front end unit is used to receive data broadcast data in the broadcast service,
Record the received data as a database in an internal or external storage device,
When presenting a broadcasting service including data broadcasting, check whether the data broadcasting data in the presented broadcasting service is in a database,
If it is databased, it is confirmed whether or not the databased data is the same as the data currently being broadcast. If the data is the same, the databased data is used preferentially. A digital broadcast receiver that presents broadcasts.
[0015]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
A digital broadcast receiving apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a digital broadcast receiving apparatus according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a processing flow example 1 in a digital broadcast receiving apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining another embodiment of the present invention and a mode of data presentation in the prior art. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a processing flow example 2 in the digital broadcast receiving apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a digital broadcast receiving apparatus according to still another embodiment of the present invention.
[0016]
In FIG. 1, a radio wave transmitted from a broadcasting station passes through a receiving antenna 1 and is received by a digital television broadcast front end unit (consisting of a tuner for receiving digital broadcast and a digital demodulation unit) 2. The digital television broadcast front end unit 2 includes a main front end unit 2a and a sub front end unit 2b. The main front end unit 2a is a front end for receiving the service being watched by the user, and the sub front end unit 2b is for storing data broadcast data in the background regardless of the service being watched by the user. It is a front end to do.
[0017]
Here, the distinction between main and sub is made for the sake of convenience, but a configuration that does not distinguish between main and sub is also possible. Further, in the configuration example of FIG. 1, the front end portion is composed of two main and sub portions, but may be composed of three or more front end portions.
[0018]
The digital TV broadcast front end unit 2 receives the digital TV broadcast signal and separates it into video / audio / data, the video / audio signal is decoded by the video / audio signal decoder 3, and the video signal is a video / OSD signal synthesis unit. 5 is output to the video output 14. On the other hand, the audio signal is output to the audio output 13 through the audio signal synthesizing unit 4 that synthesizes the data with the audio data of the data broadcast.
[0019]
Since the main front end unit 2 a receives the service that the user is viewing, the user can control the main front end 2 a by operating the remote controller 6. When the user operates the remote controller 6, the signal is received by the remote controller receiver 7. When the received signal is an operation related to the front end such as channel selection, the remote control receiving unit 7 outputs a signal to the front end management unit 15, and the front end management unit 15 issues an instruction to the main front end unit 2a.
[0020]
On the other hand, the sub-front end unit 2b receives radio waves regardless of user operations, and when the data broadcast is included in the signal, sends the data broadcast signal to the DSM-CC unit 9 and stores the signal in the storage management unit A database is created at 10 and the data is stored in the storage unit 11.
[0021]
It is assumed that the service received by the front-end unit 2b is a specific service designated by the user in advance, or that all services are sequentially selected. For example, when the user stores data broadcasting related to a specific service in the storage device unit 11 in the background using the sub-front end 2b, the remote controller 6 is operated, and the remote control receiving unit 7 transmits the signal to the front-end management unit. 15 to send. The front end management unit 15 instructs the sub front end unit 2b to receive the service desired by the user according to the user's instruction, and the received data broadcast data is decoded by the DSM-CC decoder unit 9. Thereafter, the data is transferred to the storage device management unit 10 and converted into a database, and then data is stored in the storage device unit 11 in the background.
[0022]
Database data stored in the storage unit 11 includes a service ID (channel number), a stored module version, a stored module CRC, and a DII version when transmitted in a carousel system. Module data etc. are assumed.
[0023]
Next, the operation of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus shown in FIG. 1 when viewing a data broadcast will be described. First, the data broadcast key on the remote control 6 in FIG. 1 is pressed, and the remote control receiving unit 7 in FIG. 1 receives this pressing signal, and notifies the data broadcast display browser unit 8 that the data broadcast key has been pressed. .
[0024]
The data broadcast display browser unit 8 requests the storage device management unit 10 for data necessary for displaying the data broadcast. The storage device management unit 10 checks whether the requested data exists in the storage device unit 11. If present, the DII version of the data or the CRC of the module data is compared with the DII version of the currently broadcast data broadcast or the CRC of the module data, and the same data as the currently broadcast data is stored. When it is determined that the data is stored in the device unit 11, the data is transmitted from the storage device unit 11 to the data broadcast display browser unit 8 through the storage device management unit 10.
[0025]
If the data does not exist or exists in the storage device unit 11 but the stored data is older than the data currently being broadcast, a data acquisition request is sent to the DSM-CC decoder unit 9. The DSM-CC decoder unit 9 selectively decodes necessary data from the data broadcast signal input from the digital television broadcast front end unit 2 and transmits the decoded signal to the storage device management unit 10. The storage device management unit 10 stores data in the storage device unit 11. When all necessary data is stored in the storage device unit 11, the data is transmitted to the data broadcast display browser unit 8 through the storage device management unit 10, interpreted by the data broadcast display browser unit 8, and the OSD display unit 12. The video / OSD signal synthesizer 5 synthesizes it with the video signal and outputs it to the video output 14.
[0026]
As described above, data broadcasting data of other services can be stored in the background using a front end that is not currently used for viewing, so there is no need to acquire data when necessary. The stored data can be used. Since the data in the database is preferentially used, the time until the data broadcast is presented can be shortened as compared to newly acquiring data after channel selection.
[0027]
In other words, by using the available front end that is not used for presenting the service being watched, and recording the data of some or all of the service data in a database, it is already converted into a database. With regard to existing services, it is possible to present data broadcasts without waiting for data acquisition in the carousel, so that the presentation time of data broadcast services can be greatly improved. In addition, in the case of an independent system (data broadcasting that is not related to television or radio broadcast video or audio and is not linked), the data can be indexed and called and presented at any time.
[0028]
Next, a description will be given of a processing mode in which channel selection and reception operations for data broadcasting database are continuously performed at regular intervals. It is assumed that the user is receiving and viewing the service at the main front end unit 2a. At this time, in the background, the front end management unit 15 issues a channel selection instruction to the sub front end unit 2b. The sub front end unit 2 b separates the data broadcast portion of the received signal and sends the data to the DSM-CC decoder unit 9. The data decoded by the DSM-CC decoder unit 9 is made into a database by the storage device management unit 10 and stored in the storage device unit 11.
[0029]
When the storage of the data broadcast data relating to this service is completed, the storage device management unit 10 notifies the front end management unit 15 that the storage has been completed, and the front end management unit 15 selects a new service and performs the same operation. Process. If these processes are performed for all services currently being broadcast, data broadcast data relating to all services is stored in the storage unit 11.
[0030]
If the channel selection is repeated sequentially, the data from the second broadcast onward is already stored unless the data being broadcast has been updated. It can also be assumed to determine whether the data being processed is different.
[0031]
As described above, since the database of data broadcasts related to various services being broadcast is continuously performed at regular intervals, the latest data broadcast data is always stored. In addition, even if there is only one front end that is not used for the service currently being viewed, data broadcast data relating to all services currently being broadcast is received in the background at regular intervals and converted into a database. Can be stored in internal or external storage.
[0032]
Further, as another embodiment of the present invention, a configuration in which the front end portion is removable is conceivable. As an example of the detachable front end unit, a card type tuner device (hereinafter referred to as a card type tuner) is taken up. Moreover, the form of the front end part which can be removed is not limited to the card type.
[0033]
FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a receiver to which a card type tuner 16 can be connected. When the card-type tuner 16 is not connected with a receiver to which the card-type tuner 16 can be connected, the receiver has only one front end unit 2. Therefore, since there is no free front end unit 2 while the user is viewing, the data broadcasting data cannot be received to create a database. In this case, the operation is the same as that of a receiver having only one front end unit 2.
[0034]
On the other hand, when the card-type tuner 16 is connected, a plurality of front-end units 2 are provided, and thus a database is created in the receiver as described in the previous embodiments. When the receiver recognizes that the card-type tuner 16 is connected, a channel selection instruction is sent from the front-end management unit 15 to the card-type tuner 16. When receiving the channel selection instruction, the card-type tuner 16 sequentially performs channel selection and separates the data broadcast portion of the received signal. The separated data is decoded by the DSM-CC decoder unit 9 and stored in the storage device unit 11 of the receiver by the storage device management unit 10 as a database.
[0035]
Further, when viewing data broadcasting, it is confirmed whether or not data is present in the storage device unit 11 as in the receiver having the plurality of front end units 2 described so far. If it exists, the DII version of the data or the CRC of the module data is compared with the DII version of the currently broadcast data broadcast or the CRC of the module data, and the same data as the currently broadcast data is stored. If it is determined that the data is stored in the device unit 11, the data stored in the storage device unit 11 is displayed. On the other hand, if the data does not exist in the storage device unit 11 or exists but the stored data is older than the currently broadcast data, the data acquired from the broadcast wave is displayed.
[0036]
FIG. 6 is a block diagram when the storage unit 11 is provided inside the card-type tuner 16. In this case, the storage device unit 11 and the storage device management unit 10 built in the card-type tuner 16 are controlled by the front end management unit 15. When the data broadcast portion of the signal received by the card type tuner 16 is decoded by the DSM-CC decoder unit 9, it is sent to the storage device management unit 10 through the front end management unit 15. The storage device management unit 10 stores the data in the storage device unit 11 built in the card-type tuner 16 as a database.
[0037]
When a database is stored in the storage unit 11 built in the card tuner, this database can be used by a receiver to which another card tuner 16 can be connected. When the card-type tuner 16 in which the data broadcast database is stored is connected to another receiver, when the data broadcast is viewed with the receiver, the storage unit 11 built in the card-type tuner 16 is requested. Check whether the existing data exists. If it exists, it is compared with the currently broadcasted data. If it is determined that the data is the same as the currently broadcasted data, the data of the storage unit 11 is displayed. If the data does not exist or is old even if it exists, the data is acquired from the broadcast wave and displayed.
[0038]
Next, a mode of data presentation related to a digital broadcast receiving device having a plurality of front end units when a storage device for storing data broadcast data is not used will be described below.
[0039]
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a processing flow example 1 in a digital broadcast receiving apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention. When a currently viewed service is received by one front end unit, a new one from the user is shown. In response to process 1 which is an instruction for service selection, reception of a new service is started (process 3) by another front end unit which is not currently used. Based on the SI information in the transport stream acquired at this time, it is possible to determine whether or not the newly selected service includes data broadcasting (process 4).
[0040]
If the new service includes data broadcasting, data acquisition (process 5) and process (process 6) are performed in another front end unit. In this way, the non-display period in the data broadcast can be reduced by simultaneously operating the digital broadcast receiver with a plurality of front end units.
[0041]
On the other hand, one front-end unit continues to select the service selected so far (Process 2) and presents it on the screen. On the other hand, when the data processing is completed in the other front-end units and the preparation for screen presentation is completed (Process 7), the two-screen display is performed, and the previously presented service and the newly selected service are presented simultaneously. (Process 8).
[0042]
At this time, the user can select whether the screen that can be operated by the user moves to the newly selected service or the previously selected service. When a new service and a conventional service are displayed on two screens, the service can be switched by a user operation. Thereby, the user can select and operate the service he desires.
[0043]
FIG. 3 is a diagram comparing data presentation in the prior art with another embodiment of the present invention. In the prior art presentation mode, a black screen (screen 2) is presented after selecting a new service, and then data is presented (screen 3).
[0044]
On the other hand, in another embodiment of the present invention, after the new service is selected, the previous service continues to be presented (screen 1). When the preparation for the new service presentation is completed, the two-screen display is used. The previous service and the newly selected service are displayed (screen 4).
[0045]
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a processing flow example 2 in another embodiment of the present invention. In this processing, data is acquired, and only the newly selected service is displayed when the screen is displayed after processing. At this time, for the service selected in one front end unit, the display of the screen is terminated (process 8) after the preparation of screen presentation is completed in the other front end unit (process 7). At the same time, the presentation of the service selected by the other front end unit is started (process 9), and the new service is automatically presented. Here, instead of switching the presentation after the completion of the presentation preparation, the presentation may be switched by the initial presentation of the newly selected service. Further, convenience of the user can be improved by switching the service according to a user instruction.
[0046]
The new service displayed at this time and the previously displayed service can be switched instantaneously according to a user instruction. In this method, a data broadcast memory area is separately allocated to the front end unit, and the presentation is switched by changing the memory area to be accessed in response to a switching instruction from the user. As a result, the user can present the old service, the new service, and the service desired by the user, so that the operability is improved.
[0047]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, by having a plurality of front end units, data broadcasts of other services can be stored in the background using a front end that is not currently used for viewing. In addition, the accumulated data can be used immediately without the need for data acquisition. Furthermore, since the data in the database is preferentially used, it is possible to shorten the time until the data broadcast is presented as compared to newly acquiring data after channel selection.
[0048]
In addition, since the database of data broadcasts relating to various services being broadcast is continuously performed at regular intervals, the latest data broadcast data can always be accumulated and used.
[0049]
Further, by making some of the plurality of front end units removable, it becomes possible to newly cope with a different broadcasting service started in the future.
[0050]
In addition, by having a data broadcast storage device section in the removable front end section, it becomes possible to speed up the display of data broadcast even with a receiver other than the receiver that stored the data of the data broadcast, It is possible to reduce the storage memory in the main body.
[0051]
Further, by providing a plurality of front end units in the digital broadcast receiver, it is possible to reduce the non-display period in the data broadcast and to reduce the waiting time until the user who has selected the service including the data broadcast is displayed.
[0052]
Further, even after displaying a new service, it is possible to switch to the previous service and use it, so that the operability can be improved.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a digital broadcast receiving apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a processing flow example 1 in a digital broadcast receiving apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a mode of data presentation in another embodiment of the present invention and the prior art.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a processing flow example 2 in the digital broadcast receiving device according to another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a digital broadcast receiving apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a digital broadcast receiving apparatus according to still another embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Digital broadcast receiving antenna 2 Digital broadcast front end part 2a Main front end part 2b Sub front end part 3 Video / audio signal decoder part 4 Audio signal synthesis part 5 Video / OSD signal synthesis part 6 Remote control 7 Remote control reception part 8 Data broadcast display Browser unit 9 DSM-CC decoder unit 10 Storage device management unit 11 Storage device unit 12 OSD display unit 13 Audio output 14 Video output 15 Front-end management unit 16 Card type tuner device

Claims (4)

A digital broadcast receiving apparatus having a plurality of front end units composed of a tuner for receiving digital broadcasts and a digital demodulation unit, and having a function of simultaneously receiving and presenting a plurality of digital broadcast services,
Receiving data broadcast data within the broadcast service using the front end that is not used for the broadcast service currently being viewed,
The received data is recorded in a database in an internal or external storage device together with information for identifying a broadcast service,
When presenting a broadcasting service including data broadcasting, check whether the data broadcasting data in the presented broadcasting service is in a database,
If it is databased, it is confirmed whether or not the databased data is the same as the data currently being broadcast. If the data is the same, the databased data is used preferentially. A digital broadcast receiver characterized by presenting a broadcast. The digital broadcast receiver according to claim 1,
A digital broadcast receiver characterized in that tuning and reception of a data broadcast database is performed at regular intervals. A digital broadcast receiving apparatus having a front end unit composed of a tuner for receiving digital broadcast and a digital demodulating unit, and having a removable front end unit connected via an external bus of an arbitrary form different from the front end unit Because
When the detachable front end unit is not used for a broadcast service being viewed, the detachable front end unit is used to receive data broadcast data in the broadcast service,
Record the received data as a database in an internal or external storage device,
When presenting a broadcasting service including data broadcasting, check whether the data broadcasting data in the presented broadcasting service is in a database,
If it is databased, it is confirmed whether or not the databased data is the same as the data currently being broadcast. If the data is the same, the databased data is used preferentially. A digital broadcast receiver characterized by presenting a broadcast. The digital broadcast receiver according to claim 3, wherein
A digital broadcast receiving apparatus, wherein a storage device is provided inside the removable front end section.

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