JP4565596B2 - Digital television broadcast receiver and image processing program update method thereof - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a digital TV broadcast receiver, and more particularly to the field of a digital TV broadcast receiver that can acquire various control programs by using received digital TV broadcast signals.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In general various electronic devices provided for consumers, when it is discovered after shipment of the device that various programs executed by the microcomputer inside the device contain bugs, or newly When the added function (image processing, image format, etc.) is realized in a device that has already been shipped (that is, a device that is being used in a general household, etc.), the program stored in the device is somehow processed It is necessary to change by.
[0003]
In various conventional electronic devices, the program is generally stored in a program storage ROM in the apparatus. For this reason, when exchanging programs as described above, it is necessary to manually replace the program storage ROM in the device with a new version of the ROM, both for the user and the manufacturer. This is a heavy burden in terms of cost and time.
[0004]
In recent years, with the practical application of digital television broadcasting, a receiver for receiving digital television broadcasting has been proposed.
[0005]
In digital television broadcasting, since various devices on the broadcasting station side that handle audio and video are digitized, the transmission of various types of produced content has also been digitized and has been performed since the era of conventional analog television broadcasting. In addition to broadcast audio and moving images, code data representing various types of information can be broadcast.
[0006]
Therefore, in digital television broadcasting, the advantage of being able to transmit code data in order to upgrade the control program for a receiver that has already been shipped is used, and the function of automatically switching the control program to that receiver. Have been proposed.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, at the present time, when receiving a digital television broadcast, a general consumer can use a digital television broadcast receiver such as a so-called set top box (hereinafter referred to as STB) and a television monitor (for example, a conventional analog television receiver). It is often viewed in combination with. In this case, since the STB and the television monitor are connected using an analog signal, the manufacturer name and model name of the connected television monitor cannot be determined from the STB side.
[0008]
For this reason, the image quality adjustment by the image processing program executed by the control unit (microcomputer) of the digital television broadcast receiver should be performed based on the characteristics of the television monitor on which the image is actually displayed. In the system in which the STB and the TV monitor are connected by analog signals as in the above, even if the receiver has a function of automatically switching the control program, the receiver should receive or receive a new version received. There is a problem that it is impossible to determine whether the control program is a program suitable for the connected TV monitor.
[0009]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to easily update an optimum image processing program in a digital television broadcast receiver that cannot acquire display characteristics of a connected monitor.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, a digital television broadcast receiver according to the present invention is characterized by the following configuration.
[0011]
That is, in the case of a digital television broadcast receiver that cannot acquire the display characteristics of the connected monitor and the first image processing program is included in the additional information of the received digital television broadcast signal, the same video information A first image subjected to image processing based on the first image processing program, and an image processing based on a second image processing program executed before the reception of the first image processing program When the first image is selected by the user from among the first and second images displayed by the display unit and the first and second images displayed by the display unit. Includes updating means for updating the image processing program from the second image processing program to the first image processing program. When the display means detects that the first image processing program is included in the additional information of the received digital television broadcast signal, the display means notifies the fact and updates the image processing program. When the notification means for informing the user and update to be performed in response to the notification by the notification means are selected, the same video information in the video signal included in the digital television broadcast signal received at that time is used. Display control means for displaying the first and second images. It is characterized by that.
[0014]
In addition, for example, it is preferable to further include notification means for notifying the external device of whether or not the update is performed by the update means, and acquisition means for acquiring information representing a result estimated for the monitor model from the external device.
[0016]
The purpose is to update an image processing program corresponding to a digital television broadcast receiver having the above-described configurations. To the law Therefore, it is also achieved.
[0017]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of a digital television broadcast receiver according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.
[0018]
[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a digital television broadcast receiver in the first embodiment.
[0019]
In the figure, a digital television broadcast signal (hereinafter, received signal) received by an antenna (not shown) is supplied to the tuner 1. In the tuner 1, a transponder that receives a reception signal is designated, and a predetermined frequency band is selected according to the designated transponder. The received signal selected by the tuner 1 is supplied to the demodulator 2.
[0020]
The demodulator 2 performs QPSK demodulation processing on the supplied received signal. The error correction unit 3 performs error correction by decoding the Reed-Solomon code, whereby the digital television broadcast signal is restored to a transport packet. The restored transport packet is supplied to the demultiplexer 6.
[0021]
The demultiplexer 6 separates the packet of the desired channel selected by the user from the restored transport packet and descrambles the separated packet. Further, the demultiplexer 6 separates the descrambled packet as digital data into additional data including video data, audio data, program information, and the like based on the information of the header portion. Then, the video data is supplied to the video signal unit 7. The audio data is supplied to the audio decoding unit 4. The additional data is supplied to the device control unit 11.
[0022]
The video decoding unit 7 generates a received video signal by decoding the supplied video data. The decoded video signal is subjected to predetermined image quality adjustment in the image processing unit 8 and then supplied to the adder 9. The adder 9 supplies an output video signal obtained by adding the display signal supplied from the screen display generation unit 12 and the video signal after image quality adjustment to the monitor 10. The monitor 10 displays a video corresponding to the output video signal.
[0023]
The voice decoding unit 4 generates a received voice signal by decoding the supplied voice data. The decoded audio signal is amplified by an amplifier (not shown), for example, and then output from the speaker 5 as sound.
[0024]
The device control unit 11 includes a microcomputer that controls the operation of the entire digital television broadcast receiver. The device control unit 11 is connected to a flash memory 13, a RAM 14, a ROM 15, a remote control analysis unit 16, and a screen display generation unit 12. The remote control analyzer 16 determines which button (not shown) of the remote controller 18 is pressed by the user based on an infrared signal from a remote control terminal (hereinafter referred to as a remote controller) 18 received by the remote receiver 17. .
[0025]
In the present embodiment, the ROM 15 stores a download control program for downloading data from an external device using a received signal. The download control performed by the device control unit 11 is realized by executing a program stored in the ROM 15 by a microcomputer in the device control unit 11.
[0026]
The flash memory 13 stores a control program for general operations as a digital television broadcast receiver. That is, control of normal operation other than download control performed by the device control unit 11 is realized by executing a program stored in the flash memory 13 by a microcomputer in the device control unit 11.
[0027]
The RAM 14 serves as a program memory for executing a program read from the flash memory 13 by the microcomputer when the digital television broadcast receiver according to the present embodiment is turned on, and a temporary storage for storing the downloaded program. Also used as a part.
[0028]
The screen display generation unit 12 generates various display signals under the control of the device control unit 11. This display signal is supplied to the adder 9 and superimposed on the decoded video signal.
[0029]
Next, characteristic operations in the present embodiment that are realized in the above-described apparatus configuration will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
[0030]
FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing image processing program switching processing of the digital television broadcast receiver in the first embodiment, and is a software program for image processing program switching processing executed by the microcomputer of the device control unit 11. Indicates the instruction procedure.
[0031]
Step S1: As described above, a transport stream (a video signal, an audio signal, and additional data are multiplexed) transmitted as a digital television broadcast signal is received by an antenna (not shown), and then tuner 1 Is demultiplexed into a video signal, an audio signal, and additional data in the demultiplexer 11 after passing through the demodulator 2 and the error correction unit 3. At this time, the additional data is stored in the RAM 14.
[0032]
The additional data is determined by the device control unit 11 as to whether it is a program code (referred to as a load control section) based on the table ID included in the additional data. The load control section includes a manufacturer identification number (hereinafter, abbreviated as ID), model ID, program ID, and version for specifying a digital television broadcast receiver. Using it, it is determined whether the program code is for the digital television broadcast receiver as described below.
[0033]
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a format of the program code in the first embodiment, and the program code is configured in the format shown in the figure in a predetermined area of the flash memory 14.
[0034]
In the figure, reference numeral 101 denotes a manufacturer ID that manufactures the digital television broadcast receiver. Reference numeral 102 denotes a model ID of the digital television broadcast receiver. Reference numeral 103 denotes an address indicating an area in which a program for controlling the basic operation of the digital television broadcast receiver is stored. Reference numerals 104 to 106 denote addresses indicating areas in which option programs such as an image processing program and an audio program are stored.
[0035]
Reference numerals 110 to 116 denote formats of areas in which programs are stored. More specifically, 110 is the program identification ID, 111 is the program version, 112 is the program length, 113 is the load start address, 114 is the program execution address, 115 is the program code, and 116 is the program code check. Sam is included.
[0036]
Step S2: Next, the manufacturer ID, model (model) ID, and program ID of the received load control section are compared with the ID of the data of the same item stored in the flash memory.
[0037]
As a result of this comparison, if the manufacturer ID and model ID are equal, it indicates that the received program is valid for the digital television broadcast receiver.
[0038]
Similarly, by determining the program ID, it is determined what the program is. For example, the system of program IDs can be determined in advance so that the type of program can be determined in advance based on the ID, such as 0 for a basic program, 100 to 199 for an image processing program, and 200 to 299 for an audio program. It ’s fine.
[0039]
Step S3: If the program IDs including the basic program are the same in the determination at Step S2, the version is checked.
[0040]
Step S4: If the version already stored in the digital television broadcast receiver is larger (newer) as a result of the check in step S3, the new program is replaced with the program stored in the flash memory 14. Thus, when the digital television broadcast receiver is turned on next time, a new program is executed in the receiver. Details of the processing in step S4 will be described later.
[0041]
Step S5: On the other hand, if the program ID is 100 to 199 in the judgment of Step S2, and is different from the image processing program held by the digital television broadcast receiver (that is, the image processing program area 104) If it is different from the program ID 110 at the address indicated, the program is stored in the option program area of the RAM 14.
[0042]
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a format of the RAM 14 in the first embodiment, and shows a temporary storage state of various data stored in the RAM 14.
[0043]
In the figure, reference numeral 200 denotes an area in which a basic program for controlling the overall control of the digital television broadcast receiver is loaded. Reference numerals 201 (# 0) and 202 (# 1) denote areas where option programs are loaded. These two areas (banks) are switched based on data stored in the bank register 205.
[0044]
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a data configuration of the banks 201 and 202 in the RAM 14 in the first embodiment. In the areas 2011 and 2021, image processing predetermined in the positions of the banks # 0 and # 1 is performed. An optional program for each function such as voice processing is loaded. The same usage is performed for the areas 2012 and 2022 and the areas 2013 and 2014.
[0045]
In the present embodiment, the reason why the banks (option program memories) 201 and 202 are used while switching as described above is to set the load address to a predetermined fixed address when creating the option program. By adopting such a configuration, it is possible to avoid re-linking and re-creating all control programs such as the basic program when replacing programs having the same function.
[0046]
Reference numeral 203 denotes a work area such as a buffer. Reference numeral 204 denotes a program flag.
[0047]
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a data configuration of the program flag 204 in the RAM 14 in the first embodiment, and 2041, 2042, and 2043 correspond to 2011, 2021 and 2012, 2022 and 2013, and 2023, respectively. The status of the option program temporarily stored in the two banks (option program memory) 201 and 202 is shown.
[0048]
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the data structure of the area 2041 in the program flag 204 shown in FIG. 5. The area 2041 indicates whether an option program is loaded in 2011. When the area 2041 is set (= 1), it indicates that the program is loaded, and when it is not set (= 0), it indicates that it is not loaded. Reference numeral 20413 denotes an execution address of the option program. 2042 and 2043 have a similar structure.
[0049]
In order to call an option program from the basic program, for example, in the case of image processing, it is checked whether 20411 is set, and if it is set, the processing branches to an address represented by 20413. At this time, the work area 203 is used for parameters and the like. On the other hand, if 20411 is not set, 20412 is checked, and if it is set, the processing is the same as 20411.
[0050]
If both 20411 and 20412 are not set, this indicates that the digital television broadcast receiver does not need to perform image processing.
[0051]
When the digital television broadcast receiver receives a new image processing program, it checks in the order of 20411 and 20412. As a result of the check, the received image is stored in the option program memories 2011 and 2041 corresponding to the one not set. The processing program is stored and 20411 or 20412 is set.
[0052]
Here, in a normal state (a general use state as a receiver), the digital television broadcast receiver is not loaded with two option programs having the same function. In other words, the optimal processing program is only loaded, or is not loaded because it does not require processing, and is loaded only in 201, or both 201 and 202 are not loaded. Either.
[0053]
Here, details of the processing in step S4 will be described.
[0054]
Step S4-1: First, the user is notified that a new image processing program has been acquired, and the screen display generation unit 12 generates predetermined characters and icon backgrounds so that the user can select an image processing program. And displayed on the monitor 10.
[0055]
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a display screen for notifying that the image processing program has been downloaded in the first embodiment.
[0056]
In the figure, 300 is a display screen, 301 is a digital TV broadcast screen, 302 is a background, 303 is a message for the user to select a process, 304 and 305 are “red” buttons and “blue” buttons on the remote control 18. Indicates whether to select a process with an icon corresponding to. Displaying such a screen prompts the user to perform an operation.
[0057]
When the user operates a button on the remote control 18 according to the displayed message, a signal light having a wavelength corresponding to the operated button is emitted from an infrared light emitting unit (not shown) of the remote control 18, and this signal light is transmitted from the remote control receiver. 17 receives light. The received signal is analyzed by the remote control analysis unit 16 so that a button operated by the remote control 18 is detected. As the remote controller 18, for example, a remote controller recommended by ARIB (Radio Industry Association) may be used.
[0058]
If it is detected as a result of the analysis by the remote control analysis unit 16 that the “blue” button has been pressed, the user does not want to replace the image processing program, so the user deletes it from the received new image processing program option program memory. At the same time, 20411 or 20412 is changed to reset (= 0).
[0059]
On the other hand, when it is detected that the “red” button has been pressed, processing for selecting an image processing program is started. Here, for convenience of explanation, it is assumed that the image processing program held in advance by the digital television broadcast receiver is stored in 2011 and the received new image processing program is stored in 2021.
[0060]
Step S4-2: Next, the user is allowed to select which of the image processing program held in advance and the image processing program newly acquired is properly displayed.
[0061]
FIG. 8 is a diagram exemplifying a monitor display screen when the user desires to replace the image processing program in the first embodiment.
[0062]
When the user wants to replace the image processing program, the video signal of the digital television broadcast signal is transmitted via the antenna through the tuner 1, demodulator 2, error corrector 3, demultiplexer 6, and video decoder 7. Converted to data. This video data is subjected to image processing by the 2011 image processing program (bank 0 is specified in the bank register 205), and is output as an area 311 in the display area 300 of the monitor 10 via the adder 9.
[0063]
Next, the above video data is subjected to image processing by an image processing program 2021 (bank 1 is designated in the bank register 205), and is output as an area 312 in the display area 300 of the monitor 10 via the adder 9. Is done.
[0064]
Further, in order to allow the user to determine which image is properly displayed, the screen display generation unit 12 includes a “red” button icon 313, a “blue” button icon 314, and a selection message 315 on the selection screen 300. It is created and displayed on the monitor 10 in a state of being synthesized with the two images processed by the adder 9 as described above.
[0065]
FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining the relationship between the partial image areas displayed on the same display screen by two types of image processing programs and the original whole image represented by the digital television broadcast signal in the first embodiment. .
[0066]
When displaying a video as illustrated in FIG. 8, it is necessary to divide the screen with respect to the video to be displayed on the entire screen and display it on two screens. Since the purpose is to determine the superiority or inferiority of image processing, in normal digital broadcasting, the screen is often reduced and displayed. In order to prevent image deterioration due to reduction, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. Display when all video data corresponding to the received signal is displayed for one screen (one frame) so that a plurality of images can be displayed at the same time as shown in FIG. 8 (corresponding to the lower display screen in FIG. 9). A partial area cut out from the area (corresponding to the broken line frame in the upper display screen of FIG. 9) is displayed.
[0067]
According to the screen illustrated in FIG. 8, the image processing program corresponding to the button selected by the user in step S4-2 is held as an image processing program of the digital television broadcast receiver as described below. Become.
[0068]
Step S4-3: That is, if the video of 311 is selected, it indicates that the previously held image processing program has been selected, so the received new image processing program resets 20412 and is discarded. The
[0069]
Step S4-4: On the other hand, if the image of 312 is selected, it indicates that the received new image processing program has been selected, so that 20411 is reset and the image processing program stored in 2021 is stored in the flash memory. 13 is written in the predetermined area 13 and discarded from the flash memory 13 in which the previously stored image processing program is stored.
[0070]
As described above, according to the present embodiment described above, the video processed by the image processing program provided in advance in the digital TV broadcast receiver and the image processing program newly received by the digital TV broadcast signal, respectively. Are displayed on the TV monitor at the same time, so that even a general user who does not have specialized knowledge can select an optimum video from a plurality of displayed videos by using a remote controller. Can be easily upgraded.
[0071]
<Modification of First Embodiment>
In the present modification, the digital television broadcast receiver shown in FIG. 1 receives an audio processing program by a digital television broadcast signal, and similarly to the case where the above-described image processing program is received, according to a user's selection operation. Configure to be interchangeable.
[0072]
FIG. 11 is a diagram exemplifying a display screen for notifying that the voice processing program has been downloaded in the modification of the first embodiment. In this modification, the voice processing is sent to the user by a message on the display screen. Prompt to decide whether to replace the program.
[0073]
In the figure, 400 is a display screen, 401 is a display example of a video that was selected at that time, 402 is a background, 403 is a “red” button icon, 404 is a “blue” button icon, and 405 is a replacement process selection. It is a prompt message. The video signal for displaying the display screen includes various display signals such as icons 403 and 404 and a message 405 generated by the screen display generation unit 12 under the control of the device control unit 11 and a decoded video signal ( In this case, it is obtained by superimposing by the adder 9 on the basis of the video data included in the received signal currently received from the antenna.
[0074]
In this modified example, unlike the case where the user determines whether or not the video is appropriate, it is necessary to determine whether or not the audio processing program that handles audio is appropriate. I can't. For this reason, the user sequentially listens to the sound as a result of reproducing the same audio data by different types of audio processing programs, and determines which is better.
[0075]
FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a monitor display screen when the user desires to replace the voice processing program in the modification of the first embodiment.
[0076]
The display example shown in the figure is displayed when the user desires to replace the voice processing program (when the button icon 403 is selected in FIG. 11). When the button icon 411 is selected on this display screen, the sound processing program used at that time is adopted as the sound processing program of the digital television broadcast receiver. On the other hand, when the button icon 412 is selected, the same audio data is used to switch to the other audio processing program to output the sound and display again as shown in FIG. In the display example shown in FIG. 12, when the button icon 412 is selected, the user can select better audio processing by repeatedly listening to audio that has been subjected to two types of audio processing. The procedure for storing the voice processing program selected by the selection operation by the user in the RAM 14 and the flash memory 13 is the same as the procedure for replacing the image processing program described above.
[0077]
Furthermore, as another modification, special audio data (audio data whose processing difference is easy to distinguish) is received as a digital television broadcast signal and used as audio processing data according to a selection operation by the user. It is done. In this case, the audio data is temporarily stored in the work area 203 and then subjected to audio processing. Similarly, for video, it is effective to receive video data that can be easily determined for image processing and use it for selection.
[0078]
[Second Embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment based on the digital television broadcast receiver according to the first embodiment described above will be described. In the following description, the description similar to that of the first embodiment will be omitted, and the description will focus on the characteristic part of the present embodiment.
[0079]
In the present embodiment, a system comprising a plurality of digital television broadcast receivers and a management center for managing them is configured. The management center analyzes the history of the image processing program selected in the digital television broadcast receiver, estimates the monitor 10 used with the digital television broadcast receiver based on the analysis result, and performs image processing. Narrow down the program selection.
[0080]
FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the digital television broadcast receiver and the configuration of the management center in the second embodiment.
[0081]
In the figure, the apparatus configuration of the digital television broadcast receiver is the same as that of the first embodiment, but the modem 19 is further connected to perform data communication with the management center 26 via the public line network 20. Prepare.
[0082]
In the management center 26, the modem 21 is an interface that performs data communication with a digital television broadcast receiver via a public line network (in this embodiment, a public telephone line network) 20. The device control unit 22 includes a CPU (not shown) and performs management processing of an image processing program to be described later. The ROM 23 stores a program for managing the program of the management center 26. The RAM 24 is used as a work area such as a program memory or a buffer. The storage device 25 is, for example, a hard disk, and stores a database for storing a selection history of image processing programs acquired from each digital television broadcast receiver, and a plurality of types of image processing programs.
[0083]
In the preferred embodiment, a general server computer may be employed as each component of the device control unit 22, the ROM 23, the RAM 24, and the storage device 25 in the management center 26.
[0084]
FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a format of a program code in the second embodiment.
[0085]
Also in this embodiment, the program code (load control section) separated from the transport stream in step S1 of the image processing program switching process executed by the digital television broadcast receiver is similar to the first embodiment. The manufacturer ID, model ID, program ID, and version for specifying the digital television broadcast receiver are included. However, in this embodiment, in addition to the format of FIG. 2 in the first embodiment, data items described below are further included.
[0086]
That is, 107 is a serial number representing the individual digital television broadcast receiver. Reference numeral 108 denotes a telephone number for performing data communication with the management center 26 via the modem 19. Reference numeral 128 denotes a telephone number used by the digital television broadcast receiver.
[0087]
Reference numeral 120 denotes a pointer to the ID tables 122 and 123 of monitors that may be connected to the digital broadcast receiver. Reference numeral 121 denotes a pointer to the ID tables 124 and 125 of the monitor that may not be connected to the digital broadcast receiver.
[0088]
In these two ID tables, monitor IDs are stored in areas 123 and 125, and numerical values (numbers) of monitor IDs 123 and 125 are stored in areas 122 and 124, respectively. The data stored in the two ID tables is received from the management center 26 (details will be described later), and is 0 in the initial state (for example, when shipped from the manufacturer of the digital television broadcast receiver). Is stored.
[0089]
As described above, in the present embodiment, since a plurality of monitor IDs are stored in the load control section stored in the flash memory 13, the monitor ID of the monitor that conforms to the image processing program 104 is not compatible. And the monitor ID of the monitor. Therefore, in step S3 of the image processing program switching process by the digital television broadcast receiver (FIG. 13) according to the present embodiment, in addition to the comparison of the manufacturer ID and the model ID, the digital television broadcast receiver is further connected to the digital television broadcast receiver. The monitor ID 123 that may be connected is compared with the monitor ID 125 that may not be connected.
[0090]
As a result of the comparison, if the monitor ID that matches the image processing program included in the load control section matches the unconnected monitor ID, the subsequent processing is stopped.
[0091]
If the monitor ID that may be connected matches the monitor ID that is incompatible with the image processing program included in the load control section, the subsequent processing is stopped. On the other hand, when the monitor IDs 123 and 125 are in the initial state (= 0), the subsequent processing is performed.
[0092]
Next, the image processing program newly received this time is stored in the option program area of the RAM 14 in order to perform replacement processing of the image processing program. Subsequent image processing program replacement processing is the same as in the first embodiment described above.
[0093]
In the present embodiment, when any image processing program is selected by the user, the result is transmitted as “image program selection information” to the management center 26 via the public network 20 by the modem 19. For the telephone number used at that time, the management center telephone number 108 in the flash memory 13 is referred to.
[0094]
The image program selection information transmitted to the management center 26 includes manufacturer ID 101, model ID 102, serial number 107, telephone number 128 used by the digital TV broadcast receiver, and images previously held by the digital TV broadcast receiver. It includes a program ID of the processing program, a program ID of the image processing program newly received by the digital television broadcast receiver, and an identification flag (OK = 1 / NG = 0) indicating the comparison result of these two types of programs.
[0095]
In the management center 26, the image program selection information is received by the modem 21 and stored in the RAM 24.
[0096]
The device control unit 22 calls a matching data record from the database in the storage device 25 using the manufacturer ID, model ID, and serial number included in the received image program selection information as search keys.
[0097]
FIG. 15 is a diagram showing the format of the database that the management center 26 refers to based on the image program selection information in the second embodiment, and the database in such a format is under the management of the management center 26. One digital TV broadcast receiver is assigned.
[0098]
In the figure, 501 is a manufacturer ID, 502 is a model ID, 503 is a serial number, and 511 is a telephone number of a digital television broadcast receiver.
[0099]
Reference numeral 504 denotes a possibility of being connected to a certain digital television broadcast receiver specified by the data items of manufacturer ID 101, model ID 102, and serial number 107 included in the image program selection information. It is a certain number of monitors. Reference numeral 505 denotes a monitor ID representing the type of monitor that may be connected. Reference numerals 512 and 513 denote IDs of monitors that may not be connected and their quantities.
[0100]
In 508, 509, and 510, an image processing program is received by the digital television broadcast receiver, and a history of comparison results by a user's selection operation is stored. That is, reference numerals 508 and 509 denote image processing program IDs, and a result obtained by comparing two types of image processing programs corresponding to these two image processing program IDs is set in an area 510.
[0101]
In the comparison result stored in the area 510, when 1 is set, it indicates that the program represented by the image processing program ID 508 is more suitable than the program represented by the image processing program ID 509. If 0 is set, it indicates that the program represented by the image processing program ID 508 is more inappropriate than the program represented by the image processing program ID 509. A plurality of data records of such comparison results are set as history as indicated by 507. Reference numeral 506 denotes the number of such histories.
[0102]
A plurality of databases shown in FIG. 15 are stored in the storage device 25. As a result of searching the plurality of databases, there is a database whose search key matches with respect to one digital TV broadcast receiver of interest this time. If not, a new database having the format shown in FIG. 15 is created using the manufacturer ID, model ID, and serial number included in the received image program selection information as keys. The initial value 0 is set in the telephone number 511 and the monitor ID numbers 504 and 512.
[0103]
Next, a database for the image processing program corresponding to the monitor is searched.
[0104]
FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating a comparison database of image processing programs according to the second embodiment.
[0105]
In the figure, a column 600 is a monitor ID, and a range indicated by 604 represents a monitor ID of 1. Reference numerals 601 and 602 denote image processing program IDs. A column 603 is a comparison result between the image processing program indicated by the image processing program ID 601 and the image processing program indicated by the image processing program ID 602, and is set to 1 (suitable) or 0 (not suitable). .
[0106]
Now, if the image processing program IDs 601 and 602 are 103 and 104 and the comparison result is 1, they are included in the image program selection information by referring to the monitor ID column 600 that matches the monitor ID 505 shown in FIG. A search is made for a matching image program ID and the image processing program IDs 601 and 602 shown in FIG.
[0107]
In this case, when the comparison result included in the image program selection information is compared with the comparison result stored in the column 603, the records indicated by the number 606 in FIG. As a result, the monitor 10 connected to the digital television broadcast receiver that has previously sent the image program selection information to the management center 26 may be a monitor with monitor ID = 1 in the range indicated by 604. Can be estimated.
[0108]
Further, the same comparison is performed by paying attention to the next data record among the plurality of monitor IDs 505 shown in FIG. As a result, if they do not match, the monitor ID 505 of interest is deleted, and the monitor ID number 504 indicating the number of monitors that may be connected is decremented by one. Further, the monitor ID 513 is added as a monitor ID 513 of a monitor that may not be connected, and 1 is added to the monitor ID number 512 representing the quantity.
[0109]
By performing such comparison processing for all monitor IDs of the database shown in FIG. 15, the database is updated. Then, the monitor IDs 505 and 513 in the updated database are transmitted to the digital television broadcast receiver via the modem 21 and the public line network 20.
[0110]
At this time, in the digital television broadcast receiver that has received the data, in the data format shown in FIG. 14, the monitor ID tables 122 and 123 that may be connected and the monitor ID table 124 that may not be connected. , 125 are replaced according to the monitor ID received from the management center 26, respectively.
[0111]
According to the present embodiment described above, in addition to the same effects as those of the first embodiment, the management center 26 can estimate the monitor 10 connected to the digital television broadcast receiver. In addition, by using data representing the estimation result in the digital television broadcast receiver, even a user without specialized knowledge can more easily select an image processing program to be selected.
[0112]
[Other Embodiments]
It is to be noted that an object of the present invention is to supply a storage medium (or recording medium) that records a program code of software that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments to an apparatus that operates as the above-described image search apparatus. The computer (or CPU or MPU) reads and executes the program code stored in the storage medium. In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiment, and is acquired as a computer program product via the storage medium storing the program code and the telecommunication line. The program code constitutes the present invention.
[0113]
Further, by executing the program code read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also an operating system (OS) or the like running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. A case where part or all of the actual processing is performed and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing is also included.
[0114]
Furthermore, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided in a function expansion card inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function is based on the instruction of the program code. This includes a case where the CPU or the like provided in the expansion card or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.
[0115]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention described above, it is possible to easily update to an optimal image processing program in a digital television broadcast receiver that cannot acquire the display characteristics of the connected monitor.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a digital television broadcast receiver according to a first embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a format of a program code in the first embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a format of a RAM 14 in the first embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a data configuration of banks 201 and 202 in a RAM 14 according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a data configuration of a program flag 204 in a RAM 14 according to the first embodiment.
6 is a diagram showing a data configuration of an area 2041 in the program flag 204 shown in FIG.
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a display screen for notifying that an image processing program has been downloaded in the first embodiment.
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a monitor display screen when the user desires to replace the image processing program in the first embodiment.
FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining a relationship between a partial image area displayed on the same display screen by two types of image processing programs and an original whole image represented by a digital television broadcast signal in the first embodiment. .
FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing image processing program switching processing of the digital television broadcast receiver in the first embodiment.
FIG. 11 is a diagram exemplifying a display screen for notifying that a voice processing program has been downloaded in a modification of the first embodiment.
FIG. 12 is a diagram exemplifying a monitor display screen when the user desires to replace the voice processing program in the modified example of the first embodiment.
FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a digital television broadcast receiver and a configuration of a management center in the second embodiment.
FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a format of a program code in the second embodiment.
FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a format of a database referred to by the management center 26 based on image program selection information in the second embodiment.
FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a comparison database of image processing programs in the second embodiment.

Claims (4)

A digital TV broadcast receiver that cannot acquire the display characteristics of the connected monitor,
When the first image processing program is included in the additional information of the received digital television broadcast signal, the first image processing is performed based on the first image processing program using the same video information. Display means for displaying, on the same screen, an image and a second image subjected to image processing based on a second image processing program executed before reception of the first image processing program;
Of the first and second images displayed by the display means, when the first image is selected by the user, the second image processing program changes the first image processing program to Updating means for updating the image processing program;
Equipped with a,
The display means includes
Informing means for informing whether or not to update the image processing program when notifying that the first image processing program is included in the additional information of the received digital television broadcast signal When,
When it is selected to update in accordance with the notification by the notification means, the first and second information are obtained by using the same video information in the video signal included in the digital television broadcast signal received at that time. Display control means for displaying the image of
including
A digital television broadcast receiver characterized by that. A notification means for notifying an external device of the presence or absence of update by the update means;
Obtaining means for obtaining information representing a result inferred from the external device for the model of the monitor;
The digital television broadcast receiver according to claim 1, further comprising: An update method of an image processing program of a digital television broadcast receiver that cannot acquire display characteristics of a connected monitor,
When the first image processing program is included in the additional information of the received digital television broadcast signal, the first image processing is performed based on the first image processing program using the same video information. A display step of displaying an image and a second image subjected to image processing based on a second image processing program executed before reception of the first image processing program on the same screen;
Of the first and second images displayed in the display step, when the first image is selected by the user, the second image processing program changes to the first image processing program. , it possesses an updating step of updating the program for image processing, and
The display step includes
When detecting that the additional information of the received digital television broadcast signal includes the first image processing program, a notification step for notifying the fact and notifying whether or not to update the image processing program When,
When it is selected to update in accordance with the notification in the notification step, the first and second information are obtained using the same video information in the video signal included in the digital TV broadcast signal received at that time. Display control process for displaying images of
including
A method for updating an image processing program. A notification step of notifying the external device of the presence or absence of update by the update step;
An acquisition step of acquiring information representing a result inferred about the model of the monitor from the external device;
The image processing program update method according to claim 3 , further comprising:

Images