JP4461440B2 - Video data recording / playback control device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a video for controlling a video data recording / reproducing apparatus (hereinafter also simply referred to as a recording / reproducing apparatus) that records and reproduces video data on a large-capacity recording medium such as an optical disk, hard disk, or semiconductor memory. The present invention relates to a data recording / playback control device, and more particularly to a video data recording / playback control device that controls a video data recording / playback device that records and plays back video data acquired through a broadcast program (television program) in TV (television) broadcasting.

  Conventionally, a VTR (Video Tape Recorder) using a video tape is known as a recording / reproducing apparatus for recording / reproducing video (and audio) content such as a broadcast program. Recording / reproducing apparatuses such as HDD recorders and DVD recorders that record and reproduce video data using a large-capacity recording medium such as (Digital Versatile Disc), HDD (Hard Disk Drive), and semiconductor memory are known. . In addition, there is a recording / reproducing apparatus using a randomly accessible recording medium such as a hard disk so that a viewer can reproduce (view) other recorded programs while recording a desired program. .

  As a function similar to time-shifted playback that enables playback of a recorded part of a program during recording of the program by using a random-accessible large-capacity recording medium such as a hard disk, A function called playback has also been proposed.

  In this cache reproduction, when a user wants to view a scene from a slightly previous scene again by always recording (cached) a viewing program currently being broadcast on a recording medium with a predetermined capacity (predetermined time) as a limit, This is a function that enables playback by going back in time within the range stored as the cache. Time shift reproduction and cache reproduction are also disclosed in the following Patent Documents 1 to 4, for example.

  Patent Document 1 below discloses a technique for setting a program break for a program to be played back by time shift playback or cache playback. According to the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, a user wants to re-view a scene that has been missed in a program that is being viewed casually or specially again by playing back data recorded in the cache. The scene can be viewed.

  In Patent Documents 2 and 3 below, when a viewer temporarily switches to another channel while viewing a program of a channel using a plurality of tuners, the channel is not changed. A technique for recording the program is disclosed. Patent Document 4 below discloses a remote controller (remote controller) for performing display switching between a parent screen and a child screen and a cache reproduction operation of a video displayed on each screen in a picture-in-picture viewing system. A technique for improving user convenience by combining them into one is disclosed. According to the techniques disclosed in these Patent Documents 2 to 4, by providing a plurality of tuners for receiving and selecting broadcast signals, a specific program is recorded while another program (the above-mentioned specific program is selected). It is possible to play / view the back program.

  9 to 11 schematically show temporal relationships of user requests, tuner status, target channel for temporary recording, playback status of temporary recording, and target channel (display status) displayed on the monitor. A timing chart is shown. Hereinafter, an example of the operation according to the conventional technique will be described with reference to FIGS.

  In the following, each operation performed at an arbitrary time tα or a state at an arbitrary time tα may be expressed by a function using the time as a parameter. That is, for example, when a channel switching request (Ch1 selection operation) to Ch1 is performed by the user at time t1, it may be expressed as U (t1) = Ch1, and at time t4, Ch4 is displayed on the monitor. When the channel display is started, it may be expressed as D (t4) = Ch4.

  First, a first example of the operation according to the conventional technique will be described with reference to FIG. In the timing chart shown in FIG. 9, basically, when the user switches channels, the tuner switches in conjunction with the channel switching, and the received signal from the tuner is recorded by the temporary recording device. An example of the case is shown. FIG. 9 shows the flow of time (t) from the left to the right of the drawing. In the vertical direction of the drawing, the user request: U, the tuner state: Tu, and the target channel for temporary recording: Items of C, temporarily recorded data reproduction state: P, and target channel (display state): D displayed on the monitor are arranged.

  In FIG. 9, after a user operation U (t70) = power on (PW ON) at time t70, the channel switching request U (t71) = Ch1, U (t72) = Ch3, U (t73) = instructed by the user. For Ch4, U (t74) = Ch1, the tuner responds to the request as needed: Tu (t71) = Ch1, Tu (t72) = Ch3, Tu (t73) = Ch4, Tu (t74) = Ch1 Switch the channel.

  Accordingly, the temporary recording target channel for recording the program of the channel tuned by this tuner is also C (t71) = Ch1, C (t72) = Ch3, C (t73) = Ch4, C (t74). = Ch1. Further, the monitor display follows the user request, and D (t71) = Ch1, D (t72) = Ch3, D (t73) = Ch4, and D (t74) = Ch1.

  Next, at time t75, when the user performs a request U (t75) = reproduction to reproduce the data recorded in the temporary recording device, the reproduction state of the temporary recording data is the program recorded in the temporary recording device. Output playback video P (t75) = playback (for example, Ch1 program temporarily recorded after time t74), display state D (t75) = playback (for example, temporarily recorded after time t74) Ch1 program).

  On the other hand, the temporary recording device continuously records the Ch1 program. That is, the temporary recording device records the video data of the tuner selected by the user as it is. When the user makes a channel switching request U (t77) = Ch4 for switching the channel to Ch4 at time t77, the tuner state Tu (t77) = Ch4, the temporary recording state C again in response to this user request. (T77) = Ch4, display state D (t77) = Ch4, and the temporarily recorded data reproduction state P (t77) = stop.

  Next, a second example of the operation according to the conventional technique will be described with reference to FIG. The timing chart shown in FIG. 10 also shows an example in which the channel selected by the user is recorded as it is, as in the timing chart shown in FIG. FIG. 10 shows the flow of time (t) from the left to the right of the drawing. In the vertical direction of the drawing, user request: U, tuner status: Tu, target channel for temporary recording: Items of C, recording state of a predetermined recording device: R, and target channel (display state) displayed on the monitor: D are arranged.

  In FIG. 10, after a user operation U (t80) = power on (PW ON) at time t80, the channel switching request U (t81) = Ch1, U (t82) = Ch3, U (t83) = instructed by the user. For Ch4, U (t84) = Ch1, the tuner responds to the request as needed: Tu (t81) = Ch1, Tu (t82) = Ch3, Tu (t83) = Ch4, Tu (t84) = Ch1 Switch the channel.

  Accordingly, the temporary recording target channel for recording the program of the channel tuned by this tuner is also C (t81) = Ch1, C (t82) = Ch3, C (t83) = Ch4, C (t84). = Ch1. Further, the display state follows the user request, and D (t81) = Ch1, D (t82) = Ch3, D (t83) = Ch4, and D (t84) = Ch1.

  Next, at time t85, a request U (t85) for recording (recording) data recorded in the temporary recording device on another recording medium = when recording is performed, the program recorded in the temporary recording device is recorded. Recording starts. That is, when a recording request is made by the user, the recording state R (t85) of the predetermined recording device becomes recording (for example, Ch1 program temporarily recorded after time t84), and the data recorded in the temporary recording device is predetermined. Are recorded on a recording medium.

  Thereafter, for example, in conjunction with the channel switching request U (t86) = Ch4 and U (t87) = Ch1 instructed by the user, the tuner state Tu (t86) = Ch4, Tu (t87) = Ch1 and the display state While D (t86) = Ch4 and D (t87) = Ch1, the predetermined recording device continuously performs the operation of recording the data recorded in the temporary recording device on another recording medium, and as a result, The state of the predetermined recording device is R (t88) = Ch4 corresponding to the channel switching at time t86, and R (t89) = Ch1 corresponding to the channel switching at time t87.

  Next, a third example of the operation according to the conventional technique will be described with reference to FIG. The timing chart shown in FIG. 11 shows an example in which a tuner channel switching operation and a temporary recording operation are performed using two tuners. FIG. 11 shows the flow of time (t) from the left to the right of the drawing. In the vertical direction of the drawing, the user request: U, the tuner status of tuner 1, Tu1, and the tuner of tuner 2 are shown. The items of status: Tu2, temporary recording operation corresponding to tuner 1, C1, reproduction status P1 of data recorded by the temporary recording device, and target channel (display status) displayed on the monitor: D are arranged.

  In FIG. 11, when the user makes a channel switching request U (t90) = Ch6 at time t90, the state of one tuner (tuner 1) becomes Tu1 (t90) = Ch6 in response to this request, and the user Adjust the channel according to the instructions. Further, the display state is D (t90) = Ch6 in accordance with the user's instruction. Similarly, when the user makes a channel switching request U (t91) = Ch1 at time t91, Tu1 (t91) = Ch1 and D (t91) = Ch1.

  Here, it is assumed that at time t92, the user wants to record this channel (Ch1) for the time being, and has made a temporary recording request U (t92) = recording. In this case, the temporary recording device starts the temporary recording operation C1 (t92) = Ch1 of the channel (Ch1) program of the tuner 1.

  In this state, if the user makes a channel switching request U (t93) = Ch3 and U (t94) = Ch4, the tuning of the tuner 1 and the temporary recording operation of the temporary recording device are continued as they are. In the other tuner 2, channel selection is performed such that Tu2 (t93) = Ch3 and Tu2 (t94) = Ch1, and the display state is linked to this user operation, and D (t93) = Ch3, D ( t94) = Ch4.

  As a result, when the user instructs the temporary recording of the program of a specific channel, the channel selection and monitor display after that are performed by another tuner, even while the program is being recorded (temporary recording). Other programs can be viewed.

  In addition, when the user performs a request U (t95) = reproduction to reproduce the data recorded in the temporary recording device at time t95, the reproduction state of the temporary recording data is the reproduction of the program recorded in the temporary recording device. Video output P1 (t95) = reproduction (for example, Ch1 program temporarily recorded after time t93), display state D (t95) = reproduction (for example, temporary recording after time t93) Ch1 program).

The subsequent operation varies depending on the setting of the user or manufacturer. For example, when the user requests to stop playback of the temporarily recorded data at time t96 (U (t97) = stop playback), the temporarily recorded data Playback state P1 (t97) = stopped (for example, stopped at the program of Ch1 at time t97) and display state D (t97) = Ch4. Further, for another channel selection U (t98) = Ch8 by the user, the tuner 2 becomes Tu2 (t98) = Ch8 and D (t98) = Ch8. Further, when the user selects Ch1, as in U (t99) = Ch1, P1 (t99) = reproduction (reproduction of Ch1 program (temporary recording data) after time t97) is resumed. , D (t99) = reproduction (temporary recording data of Ch1).
JP 2002-1000016 (paragraphs 0003-0006, 0035-0037) JP 2002-51290 A (FIGS. 2 to 4) JP 2003-52001 (paragraph 0028, FIG. 1) JP 2004-72449 A (paragraphs 0082 to 0084, FIG. 1)

  However, in the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, since the cache recording that enables the cache playback is to record the program being viewed, the video being viewed depends on the viewing channel selected by the user. Data will be cached. For this reason, in order to fully utilize the cache function, it is desirable for the user not to change the channel. That is, there is a problem that the cache function cannot be fully utilized for a user whose channel switching is intense.

  Further, in the techniques disclosed in Patent Documents 2 and 3, it is necessary to select a channel broadcasted from among a plurality of channels as a target program for cache recording according to the intention of the user. is there. Therefore, the user needs to be aware of the program to be cached, and it is by no means sufficient in terms of “cache recording for a program that is casually viewed” that is originally required for the cache recording function. There is a problem that it cannot be said.

  Further, in the technique disclosed in Patent Document 4, the channel of a specific program (program displayed on the parent screen) is fixed by subjecting the recording of the program being played back on the parent screen to fixed channel recording. While recording, the other channels can be selected and played back. However, as in Patent Documents 2 and 3, the user needs to determine the target program for cache recording according to the relationship between the parent screen and the child screen. There is. Furthermore, the technique disclosed in Patent Document 4 does not support program viewing by full-screen display (one-screen display) that does not use a main screen and a sub-screen. Similar to the techniques disclosed in Documents 2 and 3, there is a problem that the user must select a target program for cache recording by some method.

  In view of the above problems, the present invention misses an important scene when a viewing channel is returned to a program that was initially viewed casually after switching the viewing channel from a program that the user is casually viewing to another program. In such a case, an object of the present invention is to provide a video data recording / playback control apparatus that continuously cache-records a program that has been casually viewed even during the viewing period of other programs.

In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, there are provided a plurality of tuners and temporary recording means for temporarily recording video data of channels selected in each of the plurality of tuners. A video data recording / playback control device for controlling the operation of the video data recording / playback device provided,
A channel switching request detecting means for detecting a channel switching request for designating a channel on which a user views;
Based on the channel switching request detected by the channel switching request detecting means, the channel selection control of any one of the plurality of tuners is performed, and the video data received by the tuner subjected to the channel selection control is received. Tuner control means for performing control to output to a predetermined display device;
When a new channel switching request is detected by the channel switching request detecting means, another tuner different from the tuner used for receiving the channel being viewed immediately before the new channel switching request is used. The channel being viewed immediately before the new channel switching request is controlled to be received, and a tuner used for receiving the channel being viewed immediately before the new channel switching request is used. And tuner selection control means for controlling the reception of the channel designated by the new channel switching request.
A video data recording / reproducing control apparatus.

In order to achieve the above object, according to the second aspect of the present invention, a plurality of tuners and a temporary recording means for temporarily recording video data of channels selected in each of the plurality of tuners. A video data recording / playback control device for controlling the operation of the video data recording / playback device having
A channel switching request detecting means for detecting a channel switching request for designating a channel on which a user views;
Based on the channel switching request detected by the channel switching request detecting means, the channel selection control of any one of the plurality of tuners is performed, and the video data received by the tuner subjected to the channel selection control is received. Tuner control means for performing control to output to a predetermined display device;
When a new channel switching request is detected by the channel switching request detecting means, another tuner different from the tuner used for receiving the channel being viewed immediately before the new channel switching request is being used. Tuner selection control means for determining whether or not the other tuner is unused and using the other tuner to control reception of the channel designated by the new channel switching request And
A video data recording / reproducing control apparatus.

In order to achieve the above object, according to the third aspect of the present invention, a plurality of tuners and a temporary recording means for temporarily recording video data of channels selected in each of the plurality of tuners. A video data recording / playback control device for controlling the operation of the video data recording / playback device having
A channel switching request detecting means for detecting a channel switching request for designating a channel on which a user views;
Based on the channel switching request detected by the channel switching request detecting means, the channel selection control of any one of the plurality of tuners is performed, and the video data received by the tuner subjected to the channel selection control is received. Tuner control means for performing control to output to a predetermined display device;
When a new channel switching request is detected by the channel switching request detecting means, program viewing for measuring the program viewing time from the time when the previous channel switching request was detected to the time when the new channel switching request was detected Time measuring means;
When the program viewing time measured by the program viewing time measuring means is equal to or longer than a predetermined time, it is different from the tuner used for receiving the channel being viewed immediately before the new channel switching request. A video data recording / playback control device is provided that includes tuner selection control means for controlling the reception of the channel designated by the new channel switching request.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention described above, when the user switches the channel, the tuner used for viewing performs channel selection according to the channel switching request by the user and is used for viewing. The tuner that does not receive data allows the user to receive and temporarily record the channel that the user was watching immediately before making a channel switching request.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention described above, when the user switches channels, a plurality of tuners (excluding tuners in use by recording or the like) alternately respond to the channel switching request, and the user Reception and temporary recording of the channel that was viewed immediately before the channel switching request is made.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention described above, the program of the channel that the user has watched for a predetermined time or more immediately before the channel switching is set as the most appropriate program as the target of temporary recording, and this program is temporarily recorded. The operation can be performed automatically.

  Hereinafter, first to third embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. First, an example of the configuration of the recording / reproducing apparatus used in the first to third embodiments of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an outline of the configuration of a recording / reproducing apparatus used in the first to third embodiments of the present invention. FIG. 2 shows the structure of the first to third embodiments of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows an example of the function implement | achieved by the recording process part and control part of the recording / reproducing apparatus used.

  A recording / reproducing apparatus 50 shown in FIG. 1 receives an input signal supplied from an antenna or an external device (another reproducing apparatus) and records data (video data) included in the signal on a recording medium. It has a function and a function of reading data recorded on a recording medium and reproducing and outputting the data to a display device such as a TV or another recording device. Note that the recording / reproducing apparatus 50 also has a function of recording a broadcast program based on a reserved time and channel, a temporary recording function for temporarily recording and reproducing a program, and a cache reproduction function.

  In order to realize the above function, the recording / reproducing apparatus 50 shown in FIG. 1 includes an external device input unit 1 that receives an input signal supplied from the outside (such as an antenna or another reproducing apparatus), and a channel selection function. Input signals supplied from the first broadcast receiving unit (tuner 1) 2 and the second broadcast receiving unit (tuner 2) 3 provided, the external device input unit 1, the first and second broadcast receiving units 2, 3 and the like are provided. A recording processing unit 4 having a recording medium for recording, a display unit 5 such as a display panel for displaying an operation state of the recording / reproducing device 50 and an operation state by a user, and a user interface such as a remote controller for the recording / reproducing device 50 The user control unit 6 for enabling operation through the external device input unit 1, the first and second broadcast receiving units 2, 3, etc. (display It has an external device output section 7 to be output to the location, such as or other recording device), and a control unit 8 for controlling the operation of each component.

  Further, the recording processing unit 4 and the control unit 8 of the recording / reproducing apparatus 50 illustrated in FIG. 1 realize the functions illustrated in FIG. In FIG. 2, the input signal supplied from the external device input unit 1 or the first and second broadcast receiving units 2 and 3 is a signal selection unit 9 for selecting at least one signal to be processed thereafter. To select a signal. The recording signal processing unit 10 performs recording signal processing such as compression processing (for example, MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group) system) on the signal selected as the processing target.

  The data after the recording signal processing by the recording signal processing unit 10 is mainly broadcast signals received by the first and second broadcast receiving units 2 and 3 under the control of the recording control unit 11 and the recording medium management unit 12. Are temporarily sent to the temporary recording units 13 and 14 for recording the cache, and the recording medium 15 for storing the video for a long time. The temporary recording units 13 and 14 are realized by, for example, an HDD, and the recording medium 15 is realized by, for example, an HDD or a DVD.

  In FIG. 2, the temporary recording units 13 and 14 and the recording medium 15 are illustrated independently, but may be realized by a single piece of hardware. That is, each of the temporary recording units 13 and 14 and the recording medium 15 may be realized by individual hardware, or may be assigned a recording area of a large-capacity recording device (for example, HDD) that can be accessed at high speed, It may be realized by one large capacity recording device by storing it as a file.

  Further, when data recorded in the temporary recording units 13 and 14 and the recording medium 15 is reproduced, for example, video data instructed by the user control unit 6 (see FIG. 1) is appropriately controlled under the control of the recording medium management unit 12. The temporary recording units 13 and 14 and the recording medium 15 are read out. Then, the data read by the recording medium management unit 12 is sent to the reproduction signal processing unit 17 under the control of the reproduction control unit 16 and subjected to reproduction signal processing such as expansion processing (for example, MPEG expansion). The data after the reproduction signal processing by the reproduction signal processing unit 17 is processed by the display display processing unit 19 under the control of the display control unit 18 (for example, on-screen display processing) and then output as an output signal to the external device. It is output to the output unit 7 (see FIG. 1).

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2, a scheduled recording control unit 20 that performs management of a scheduled recording setting table in which a schedule for scheduled recording and the like are described, and instructions for starting / ending scheduled recording, etc., date and time management and timekeeping functions A system timer unit 21 having the above is also realized.

  FIG. 2 also shows a system control unit 22 that controls each functional block in order to realize the functions of the entire system. Various functions of the present invention to be described later are also controlled by the system control unit 22.

  In FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, each function of the recording / reproducing apparatus 50 is represented by blocks, but these functions can be realized by software and / or hardware. In particular, the function of a block for processing information can be realized by executing a program by a CPU (Central Processing Unit) mounted on the computer.

  Next, various functions that can be realized by the recording / reproducing apparatus 50 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 will be described.

<First Embodiment>
First, the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3 is a timing chart showing an example of the operation of the recording / reproducing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  3 includes two first and second broadcast receivers (tuners 1 and 2) 2 and 3 as shown in FIG. 1, and signals from the tuners 1 and 2 are automatically transmitted. The operation of a recording / reproducing apparatus equipped with a temporary recording function (cache function) for temporary recording is illustrated. FIG. 3 shows the flow of time (t) from the left to the right of the drawing. In the vertical direction of the drawing, the user request: U, the tuner 1 state: Tu1, the tuner 2 state: The items Tu 2, Temporary recording operation of tuner 1: C 1, Temporary recording operation of tuner 2: C 2, and target channel (display state) displayed on the monitor: D are arranged.

  In FIG. 3, the recording / playback apparatus is configured such that the temporary recording function operates from when the power is turned on, for example. That is, the user's operation U (t0) at time t0 = power on (PW ON) and the temporary recording operations of the tuner 1 and the tuner 2 are started.

  Subsequent user channel switching requests U (t1) = Ch1, U (t2) = Ch3, U (t3) = Ch4, U (t4) = Ch6, U (t5) = Ch4, U (t6) = Ch1 , U (t7) = Ch6, Tuner 1 may request Tu1 (t1) = Ch1, Tu1 (t2) = Ch3, Tu1 (t3) = Ch4, Tu1 (t4) = Ch6, Tu1 as needed. Channel switching is performed such that (t5) = Ch4, Tu1 (t6) = Ch1, Tu1 (t7) = Ch6. Also, the temporary recording target channel of the tuner 1 is linked to the user's channel switching request, C1 (t1) = Ch1, C1 (t2) = Ch3, C1 (t3) = Ch4, C1 (t4) = Ch6, C1 (t5) = Ch4, C1 (t6) = Ch1, C1 (t7) = Ch6, and the monitor display follows the user's channel switching request, and D (t1) = Ch1, D (t2) = Ch3, D (T3) = Ch4, D (t4) = Ch6, D (t5) = Ch4, D (t6) = Ch1, and D (t7) = Ch6. That is, it can be said that the tuner 1 is a viewing tuner that receives a channel viewed by the user in response to the user's channel switching request.

  On the other hand, the tuner 2 selects a channel that was viewed immediately before the user issues a channel switching request instruction, and operates so that the program of this channel is temporarily recorded. That is, as indicated by arrows in FIG. 3, the tuner 2 takes over the channel that the user was watching immediately before switching the channel, Tu2 (t2) = Ch1, Tu2 (t3) = Ch3, Tu2 (T4) = Ch4, Tu2 (t5) = Ch6, Tu2 (t6) = Ch4, Tu2 (t7) = Ch1. Following this operation, the temporary recording operation of the tuner 2 is also C2 (t2) = Ch1, C2 (t3) = Ch3, C2 (t4) = Ch4, C2 (t5) = Ch6, C2 (t6) = Ch4, C2 (t7) = Ch1. That is, it can be said that the tuner 2 is a temporary recording tuner that receives the channel that the user was watching until immediately before the channel switching request.

  As a result, the program of the channel that the user was watching immediately before switching the channel is set as the most appropriate program as the target of temporary recording, and the temporary recording operation of this program can be automatically performed.

  Next, processing performed by the recording / reproducing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of processing of the recording / reproducing apparatus in the first embodiment of the present invention. In the following description, only processing related to channel switching and temporary recording operations will be described in order to simplify the description.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the recording / reproducing apparatus sequentially activates the system when the power is turned on. As part of this, the tuners 1 and 2 are activated in step S101, the reception data (program) selected by the tuner 1 is automatically recorded in step S102, and the channel selected in step S103 is automatically started. The program (or video recorded on the recording medium) is output to a display monitor such as a TV.

  In step S104, the recording / reproducing apparatus checks the input of the channel switching request from the user. If a channel switching request is not detected in step S104, the process returns to step S103 to enter a channel switching request input monitoring state while displaying an image on the monitor. On the other hand, if a channel switching request from the user is detected, the process proceeds to step S105.

  If a channel switching request is detected in step S104, in step S105, tuner 2 that is not used for viewing is selected as the same channel as the channel being viewed (that is, the channel selected by tuner 1). Switch stations. Through this process, the channel that was selected by the tuner 1 and was temporarily recorded is transferred to the tuner 2.

  In step S106, the tuner 1 currently used for viewing selects the channel designated by the channel switching request in step S104, and returns to step S103 to display the program selected by the tuner 1 on the display monitor. Output and repeat the above operation. Through this process, the tuner 1 responds to a channel switching request by the user.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment of the present invention, when the user switches the channel, the tuner 1 used for viewing performs channel selection according to the channel switching request from the user. At the same time, the tuner 2 that is not used for viewing allows reception and temporary recording of the channel that was viewed immediately before the user made a channel switching request.

<Second Embodiment>
First, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 5 is a timing chart showing an example of the operation of the recording / reproducing apparatus in the second embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 5 includes two first and second broadcast receiving units (tuners 1 and 2) 2 and 3, and signals from the tuners 1 and 2 are automatically transmitted. The operation of a recording / reproducing apparatus equipped with a temporary recording function (cache function) for temporary recording is illustrated. FIG. 5 shows the flow of time (t) from the left to the right of the drawing. In the vertical direction of the drawing, user request: U, tuner 1 state: Tu1, tuner 2 state: The items Tu 2, Temporary recording operation of tuner 1: C 1, Temporary recording operation of tuner 2: C 2, and target channel (display state) displayed on the monitor: D are arranged.

  In FIG. 5, the recording / reproducing apparatus is configured such that the temporary recording function operates from when the power is turned on, for example. That is, simultaneously with the user operation U (t10) = power on (PW ON) at time t10, the temporary recording operations of the tuner 1 and the tuner 2 are started.

  In response to the subsequent user channel switching request U (t11) = Ch1, the tuner 1 performs channel switching in response to the request, such as Tu1 (t11) = Ch1. In addition, the target channel for temporary recording of the tuner 1 is also C1 (t11) = Ch1 in conjunction with the user's channel switching request, and the monitor display also follows the user's channel switching request and D (t11) = Ch1. Become.

  Further, when the user makes the next channel switching request U (t12) = Ch3, the tuner 2 switches the channel so that Tu2 (t12) = Ch3 in response to the request. In addition, the target channel for temporary recording of the tuner 2 is also C2 (t12) = Ch3 in conjunction with the channel switching request of the user, and the monitor display follows D (t12) = Ch3 in accordance with the user's channel switching request. Become.

  Thereafter, similarly to the above-described operation, the tuner 1 and the tuner 2 respond to the channel switching request by the user alternately. That is, in response to the channel switching request made by the user from time t13 to t17, the channel selection request is performed by the tuner 1 for the channel switching request at times t13, t15, and t17, and the channel switching request at times t14 and t16 is made. On the other hand, tuning by the tuner 2 is performed.

  That is, for the channel switching request U (t13) = Ch4, U (t15) = Ch4, and U (t17) = Ch6 by the user, the tuner 1 status is Tu1 (t13) = Ch4, Tu1 (t15) = Ch4, Tu1 (t17) = Ch6, the temporary recording operation of tuner 1 is C1 (t13) = Ch4, C1 (t15) = Ch4, C1 (t17) = Ch6, and the monitor display is D (t13) = Ch4, D (T15) = Ch4 and D (t17) = Ch6. Before and after time t15, the tuner 1 switches the channel to the same channel, and the tuning of the tuner 1 is substantially maintained as it is.

  Further, for the channel switching requests U (t14) = Ch6 and U (t16) = Ch1 by the user, the status of the tuner 2 is Tu2 (t14) = Ch6 and Tu2 (t16) = Ch1, and the tuner 2 temporarily The recording operation is C2 (t14) = Ch6 and C2 (t16) = Ch1, and the monitor display is D (t14) = Ch6 and D (t16) = Ch1.

  As a result, as in the first embodiment described above, the program of the channel that the user was watching immediately before switching the channel is set as the most appropriate program for temporary recording, and the temporary recording operation of this program is automatically performed. Can be performed.

  Next, processing performed by the recording / reproducing apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of processing of the recording / reproducing apparatus in the second embodiment of the present invention. In the following description, only processing related to channel switching and temporary recording operations will be described in order to simplify the description.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the recording / reproducing apparatus sequentially activates the system when the power is turned on. As part of this, the tuners 1 and 2 are activated in step S201, the reception data (program) selected by the tuner 1 is automatically recorded in step S202, and the channel selected in step S203 is automatically started. The program (or video recorded on the recording medium) is output to a display monitor such as a TV.

  In step S204, the recording / reproducing apparatus checks the input of the channel switching request from the user. If a channel switching request is not detected in step S204, the process returns to step S203 to enter a channel switching request input monitoring state while displaying an image on the monitor. On the other hand, if a channel switching request from the user is detected, the process proceeds to step S207.

  If a channel switching request is detected in step S204, it is checked in step S207 whether a tuner that is not used for viewing is in use or unused. For example, when the tuner to be checked is being used for recording, it is determined that this tuner is in use, and in the case of simply selecting and receiving an arbitrary channel, This tuner is determined to be unused.

  If it is determined in step S207 that a tuner that is not used for viewing is unused, in step S208, the tuner selects a channel for the channel switching request target input in step S204 (and further, Temporary recording operation and display) are performed. Note that the tuner used for viewing before the channel switching request receives and temporarily records the channel selected before the channel switching request. Thereby, the temporary recording of the program of the channel that the user was watching immediately before the channel switching is continued.

  In step S209, the output selection switch is switched so that the tuner channel corresponding to the channel switching request is the output channel to the display monitor, and the process returns to step S203 to output the program selected by the tuner 2 to the display monitor. Then, the above operation is repeated.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S207 that a tuner that is not used for viewing is in use, in step S210, the tuner 1 that is currently used for viewing is instructed by a channel switching request in step S204. The selected channel is selected, the process returns to step S203, the program selected by the tuner 1 is output to the display monitor, and the above operation is repeated.

  As described above, according to the second embodiment of the present invention, when a user switches channels, a plurality of tuners (excluding tuners in use by recording or the like) alternately respond to channel switching requests. By doing so, reception and temporary recording of the channel that the user was watching immediately before making a channel switching request are performed.

<Third Embodiment>
First, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 7 is a timing chart showing an example of the operation of the recording / reproducing apparatus in the second embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 7 includes two first and second broadcast receiving units (tuners 1 and 2) 2 and 3, and signals from the tuners 1 and 2 are automatically transmitted. The operation of a recording / reproducing apparatus equipped with a temporary recording function (cache function) for temporary recording is illustrated. FIG. 7 shows the flow of time (t) from the left to the right of the drawing. In the vertical direction of the drawing, user request: U, tuner 1 state: Tu1, tuner 2 state: The items Tu 2, Temporary recording operation of tuner 1: C 1, Temporary recording operation of tuner 2: C 2, and target channel (display state) displayed on the monitor: D are arranged.

  In FIG. 7, time T1 from time t21 to time t22, time T2 from time t22 to time t23, time T3 from time t23 to time t24, time T4 from time t24 to time t25, time from time t25 Time T5 from time t26, time T6 from time t26 to time t27, time T7 from time t27 to time t28, time T8 from time t28 to time t29, time T9 from time t29 to time t30, time from time t30 The time T10 up to t31 is illustrated. Regarding the relationship between the lengths of these times T1 to T10, T5 and T7 to T10 are shorter than T0 and T1 to T4 and T6 are longer than T0 with respect to a predetermined time T0 serving as a reference.

  In FIG. 7, the recording / reproducing apparatus is configured such that the temporary recording function operates from when the power is turned on, for example. That is, at the time t20, the user's operation U (t20) = power on (PW ON) and the temporary recording operations of the tuner 1 and the tuner 2 are started.

  First, in response to the channel switching request U (t21) = Ch1 by the user at time t21, the tuner 1 performs channel switching such that Tu1 (t21) = Ch1 in response to the request. In addition, the target channel for temporary recording of the tuner 1 is also C1 (t21) = Ch1 in conjunction with the channel switching request of the user, and the monitor display follows D (t21) = Ch1 in accordance with the channel switching request of the user. Become.

  In addition, when a channel switching request is made, the recording / reproducing apparatus measures the time from the previous channel switching request to the current channel switching request and compares the measured time with a predetermined time T0. The tuner is selected according to the comparison result.

  For example, when the user makes a channel switching request U (t22) = Ch3 at time t22, the time T1 between the previous channel switching request time t21 and the current channel switching request t22 is a predetermined time. It is understood that it is longer than T0. Then, in the channel that has been viewed for a predetermined time T0 or more, it is determined that the program that the user is interested in is broadcast, and as a result, regarding the channel that the user was viewing before the channel switching request, In order to continue the temporary recording operation, a channel selection and temporary recording operation by another tuner is performed in response to the current channel switching request.

  That is, for the channel switching request U (t22) = Ch3 by the user at time t22, the tuner 2 performs channel switching such that Tu2 (t22) = Ch3 in response to the request. In addition, the target channel for temporary recording of the tuner 2 is also C2 (t22) = Ch3 in conjunction with the user's channel switching request, and the monitor display follows the user's channel switching request, and D (t22) = Ch3. Become.

  Similarly, the viewing times T2, T3, and T4 of each channel are predetermined for user channel switching requests U (t23) = Ch4, U (t24) = Ch6, and U (t25) = Ch3 at times t23 to t25. Since the time T0 is longer than the time T0, the reception and temporary recording operation of the channel being watched are continued, and the response to the channel switching request is performed by another tuner. That is, at time t23, Tu1 (t23) = Ch4, C1 (t23) = Ch4, and D (t23) = Ch4. At time t24, Tu2 (t24) = Ch6, C2 (t24) = Ch6, D (t24). = Ch6, and at time t25, Tu1 (t25) = Ch3, C1 (t25) = Ch3, and D (t25) = Ch3.

  On the other hand, for example, when the channel switching request U (t26) = Ch4 is made by the user at time t26, the time T5 between the time t25 of the previous channel switching request and the current channel switching request t26 is It is understood that the time is shorter than the predetermined time T0. In this case, it is determined that a channel that has only been viewed for a shorter time than the predetermined time T0 is broadcast a program that the user was not interested in, and as a result, the tuner that is used for viewing by the user is the channel. Channel selection and temporary recording are performed in response to the switching request.

  That is, for the channel switching request U (t26) = Ch4 by the user at time t26, the tuner 1 used for viewing performs channel switching such that Tu1 (t26) = Ch4 in response to the request. In addition, the target channel for temporary recording of the tuner 1 is also C1 (t26) = Ch4 in conjunction with the channel switching request of the user, and the monitor display follows D (t26) = Ch4 in accordance with the channel switching request of the user. Become.

  Further, at time t27, channel viewing request U (t27) = Ch6 is made after viewing at time T6 (predetermined time T0 or more), and tuner 2 responds to this channel switching request. As a result, Tu2 (t27) = Ch6 (however, tuner 2 has already selected Ch6), C2 (t27) = Ch6, and D (t27) = Ch6.

  Thereafter, the channel switching request U (t28) = Ch1, U (t29) = Ch6, U (t30) = Ch4, and U (t31) = Ch8 from the time t28 to t31 are all viewed only for a shorter time than the predetermined time T0. This is what is done after not being done. Therefore, basically, the tuner 2 receiving the channel being viewed responds to the channel switching request.

  However, as shown in FIG. 7, for channel change request U (t30) = Ch4 by the user at time t30, tuner 1 has selected Ch4, so tuner 1 and tuner 2 It is desirable to use the tuner 1 without changing the channel selection. In addition, at time t31, the user should originally be determined not to be interested in the Ch4 program, but at the time t26 when the continuous viewing time last exceeds a predetermined time T0 as a reference before that time. The channel is selected at time t27. Therefore, in tuner 1, the Ch4 temporary recording operation is continued during time T11 after time t26. That is, it is determined that the channel switching request at time t27, t28, t29, t30, t31 is traveling around other channels when the user is viewing the channel (Ch4) selected at time t26. The viewing of Ch4 at tuner 1 between time t30 and time t31 is less than or equal to predetermined time T0, but it is desirable to use tuner 2 for a channel switching request at time t31.

  That is, from time t28 to t31, at time t28, Tu2 (t28) = Ch1, C2 (t28) = Ch1, D (t28) = Ch1, and at time t29, Tu2 (t29) = Ch6, C2 (t29) = Ch6, D (t29) = Ch6, and at time t30, tuner 1 is selected and D (t30) = Ch4. At time t31, Tu2 (t31) = Ch8, C2 (t31) = Ch8, D ( t31) = Ch8.

  As a result, the program of the channel that the user has been watching for a predetermined time T0 or more immediately before the channel switching is set as the most appropriate program for temporary recording, and the temporary recording operation of this program can be automatically performed. .

  Next, processing performed by the recording / reproducing apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of processing of the recording / reproducing apparatus in the third embodiment of the present invention. In the following description, only processing related to channel switching and temporary recording operations will be described in order to simplify the description.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the recording / reproducing apparatus sequentially activates the system when the power is turned on. As part of this, tuners 1 and 2 are activated in step S301, and a temporary recording operation of received data (program) selected by tuner 1 is automatically started in step S302, and the viewing time is measured in step S311. For resetting and starting the timer for the channel, and outputting the program of the channel selected in step S303 (or the video recorded on the recording medium) to a display monitor such as a TV.

  In step S304, the recording / reproducing apparatus checks the input of the channel switching request from the user. If a channel switching request is not detected in step S304, the process returns to step S303 to enter a channel switching request input monitoring state while displaying an image on the monitor. On the other hand, if a channel switching request from the user is detected, the process proceeds to step S307.

  If a channel switching request is detected in step S304, it is checked in step S307 whether a tuner that is not used for viewing is in use or unused. For example, when the tuner to be checked is used for recording (the recording here is recording intended by the user such as reserved recording), this tuner is in use. In a case where the channel is simply selected and receiving an arbitrary channel, the tuner is determined to be unused.

  If it is determined in step S307 that a tuner that is not used for viewing is unused, in step S312, the viewing time of the channel being viewed immediately before the channel switching request is checked. In this check, it is checked whether each of the times T1 to T10 in FIG. 7 is longer than the predetermined time T0. If the viewing time of the channel being viewed immediately before the channel switching request is longer than the predetermined time T0, the process proceeds to step S308.

  On the other hand, if the viewing time of the channel being viewed immediately before the channel switching request in step S312 is less than or equal to the predetermined time T0, the process proceeds to step S313, and in step S313, the tuner channels and requested channels that are not used for viewing. Are checked to see if they are the same.

  If the tuner channel that is not used for viewing and the requested channel are the same, this corresponds to, for example, a channel switching request at time t30 in FIG. 7. In this case, the process proceeds to step S309, and in step S309, the channel The output selection switch is switched so that the channel of the tuner corresponding to the switching request (the tuner that is not used for viewing) becomes the output channel to the display monitor, and the process returns to step S311 to repeat the above operation.

  If the channel of the tuner not used for viewing and the requested channel are not the same in step S313, in step S314, the tuner when the last continuous viewing time exceeds the predetermined time T0 before that It is checked whether or not the current viewing and receiving tuner is the same. Here, when these tuners are the same (for example, when a channel change request is made at time t31 in FIG. 7, Ch4 has been viewed by the tuner 1 so far, and continuous viewing exceeding the predetermined time T0 before that is the last. When it occurs (when the tuner is the same between time t26 and time t27), the process proceeds to step S308, and when the tuner is different, the process proceeds to step S310.

  In step S308, channel selection (and temporary recording operation and display) for the channel switching request input in step S304 is performed by a tuner that is not used for viewing. Note that the tuner used for viewing before the channel switching request receives and temporarily records the channel selected before the channel switching request. In step S309, the output selection switch is switched so that the channel of the tuner corresponding to the channel switching request (the tuner not used for viewing) is the output channel to the display monitor, and the process returns to step S311 to perform the above-described operation. repeat. Thereby, the temporary recording of the program of the channel that the user was watching immediately before the channel switching is continued.

  In step S310, the tuner 1 currently used for viewing selects the channel designated by the channel switching request in step S304, and returns to step S311 to repeat the above-described operation.

  As described above, according to the third embodiment of the present invention, the program of the channel that the user has watched for a predetermined time T0 or more immediately before the channel switching is set as the most appropriate program as the target of temporary recording. The temporary recording operation of this program can be automatically performed.

  In addition, the process of each step of the flowchart in the above-described embodiments is an example, and the present invention is not limited to the method according to the flowchart in each of the above-described embodiments, and may be realized by other methods. In addition, the processing of each step of the flowchart in each of the above-described embodiments is an example, and the recording processing unit 4 and the control unit 8 illustrated in FIG. 1, the system control unit 22 illustrated in FIG. The arbitrary function realization unit can be realized by executing a program. Further, as described above, the configuration illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 is realized by hardware and / or software, and the processing of each step of the flowchart in each of the above-described embodiments is executed. It is desirable to change to a process suitable for the hardware and / or software to be performed. In this specification, the case where the recording / reproducing apparatus has two tuners is described as an example. However, the present invention can be realized even when the recording / reproducing apparatus has three or more tuners.

  The video data recording / playback control device according to the present invention is an important scene when the user switches the viewing channel from a program that is casually viewed to another program and then returns the viewing channel to the program that was originally casually viewed. In the case of missing a program, even during the viewing period of other programs, it is possible to continuously record the program that was being viewed casually and to record video data (especially through broadcast programs in TV broadcasting). The present invention can be applied to a technology related to a recording function of video data) and a cache function using a plurality of tuners.

It is a block diagram which shows the outline of a structure of the recording / reproducing apparatus used in the 1st-3rd embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows an example of the function implement | achieved by the recording process part and control part of the recording / reproducing apparatus used in the 1st-3rd embodiment of this invention. It is a timing chart which shows an example of operation | movement of the recording / reproducing apparatus in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows an example of a process of the recording / reproducing apparatus in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a timing chart which shows an example of operation | movement of the recording / reproducing apparatus in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows an example of a process of the recording / reproducing apparatus in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a timing chart which shows an example of operation | movement of the recording / reproducing apparatus in the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the process of the recording / reproducing apparatus in the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a timing chart which shows the 1st example of the operation | movement which concerns on a prior art. It is a timing chart which shows the 2nd example of the operation | movement which concerns on a prior art. It is a timing chart which shows the 3rd example of the operation | movement which concerns on a prior art.

Explanation of symbols

1 External device input unit 2 First broadcast receiving unit (tuner 1)
3 Second broadcast receiver (tuner 2)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 4 Recording processing part 5 Display part 6 User control part 7 External apparatus output part 8 Control part 9 Signal selection part 10 Recording signal processing part 11 Recording control part 12 Recording medium management part 13, 14 Temporary recording part 15 Recording medium 16 Reproduction control part DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 17 Reproduction | regeneration signal process part 18 Display control part 19 Display display process part 20 Reserved recording control part 21 System timer part 22 System control part 50 Recording / reproducing apparatus

Claims (3)

A video data recording / reproducing control apparatus for controlling the operation of a video data recording / reproducing apparatus having a plurality of tuners and a temporary recording means for temporarily recording video data of a channel selected by each of the plurality of tuners. There,
A channel switching request detecting means for detecting a channel switching request for designating a channel on which a user views;
Based on the channel switching request detected by the channel switching request detecting means, the channel selection control of any one of the plurality of tuners is performed, and the video data received by the tuner subjected to the channel selection control is received. Tuner control means for performing control to output to a predetermined display device;
When a new channel switching request is detected by the channel switching request detecting means, another tuner different from the tuner used for receiving the channel being viewed immediately before the new channel switching request is used. The channel being viewed immediately before the new channel switching request is controlled to be received, and a tuner used for receiving the channel being viewed immediately before the new channel switching request is used. And tuner selection control means for controlling the reception of the channel designated by the new channel switching request.
A video data recording / reproducing control apparatus. A video data recording / reproducing control apparatus for controlling the operation of a video data recording / reproducing apparatus having a plurality of tuners and a temporary recording means for temporarily recording video data of a channel selected by each of the plurality of tuners. There,
A channel switching request detecting means for detecting a channel switching request for designating a channel on which a user views;
Based on the channel switching request detected by the channel switching request detecting means, the channel selection control of any one of the plurality of tuners is performed, and the video data received by the tuner subjected to the channel selection control is received. Tuner control means for performing control to output to a predetermined display device;
When a new channel switching request is detected by the channel switching request detecting means, another tuner different from the tuner used for receiving the channel being viewed immediately before the new channel switching request is being used. Tuner selection control means for determining whether or not the other tuner is unused and using the other tuner to control reception of the channel designated by the new channel switching request And
A video data recording / reproducing control apparatus. A video data recording / reproducing control apparatus for controlling the operation of a video data recording / reproducing apparatus having a plurality of tuners and a temporary recording means for temporarily recording video data of a channel selected by each of the plurality of tuners. There,
A channel switching request detecting means for detecting a channel switching request for designating a channel on which a user views;
Based on the channel switching request detected by the channel switching request detecting means, the channel selection control of any one of the plurality of tuners is performed, and the video data received by the tuner subjected to the channel selection control is received. Tuner control means for performing control to output to a predetermined display device;
When a new channel switching request is detected by the channel switching request detecting means, program viewing for measuring the program viewing time from the time when the previous channel switching request was detected to the time when the new channel switching request was detected Time measuring means;
When the program viewing time measured by the program viewing time measuring means is equal to or longer than a predetermined time, it is different from the tuner used for receiving the channel being viewed immediately before the new channel switching request. Tuner selection control means for controlling the reception of the channel designated by the new channel switching request using the tuner of
A video data recording / reproducing control apparatus.

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