JP4832360B2 - Mobile terminal device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a mobile terminal device and a recording communication system that are connected to a recording device such as a recording PC (Personal Computer) or a recording server via a communication network such as an IP (Internet Protocol) network. .

  In-vehicle information devices in recent years are required to be equipped with a TV broadcast receiving function, and in particular, a person other than the driver often spends watching the TV while moving in a car. However, the reception status of TV broadcasts varies greatly depending on the topography, direction of travel, ambient conditions, weather environment, etc., and the program being viewed is interrupted by noise, etc., and in the worst case, TV viewing must be interrupted halfway. In some cases, this is a cause of dissatisfaction with in-vehicle information devices. Furthermore, digital terrestrial broadcasting has started today, and the expectation for reception quality in television viewing in a car is increasing. Therefore, there is room for improvement in convenience.

  On the other hand, since the driver cannot view the video while driving, if the driver needs to drive from a stationary state, he / she has to give up watching the TV after that point, and the convenience is similarly lost. The solution is expected to be provided.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, it is conceivable to record a program after the point of interruption and view it at another time, for example, when returning home. Many proposals related to these have been filed in the past. For example, a description of setting a program to be received and recorded by remotely operating a digital broadcast receiving device at home using a mobile phone or the like from outside is known. (See Patent Document 1). In addition, there is also known a technique for obtaining recorded contents by a recording agent service using a mobile phone having a Web (World Wide Web) function (see Patent Document 2).

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-199082 JP 2003-158733 A

According to the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1 described above, a recording instruction is given from a mobile phone to a home recording device using a public line, but an electronic program is made using a Web (World Wide Web) connection function of the mobile phone. Recording is instructed with reference to the table, and recording control of a program viewed in real time in the vehicle is not performed. In addition, a complicated operation is required for recording, and it is very inconvenient for a driver who is about to start driving.
The technique disclosed in Patent Document 2 is for making a recording reservation to a data center managed and operated by a third party. However, the technique is only applicable when a recording reservation is made in advance. Similarly, a program that cannot be viewed while running cannot be recorded.

  The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described problems, and provides convenience and usability by enabling real-time recording reservation of a program after the interruption of the program being viewed while moving. It is an object of the present invention to provide a good mobile terminal device and video recording communication system.

The mobile terminal device according to the present invention transmits the program information being viewed to the recording device in response to detection of a tuner unit that receives a television broadcast, a recording button, and pressing of the recording button, and the recording device A control unit that starts recording of the program content after the recording button is pressed by a device, and a storage unit that stores a program information list that can be viewed in a fixed station in which the recording device is installed. When the pressing of the recording button is detected, the program information list is read from the storage unit, the program information list is compared with the program information being viewed, and the program information being viewed is transmitted if they match. To do .

According to the present invention, by enabling real-time recording of the subsequent time of interruption program being watched in the mobile program, a user-friendly as well as providing the convenience, to provide a mobile terminal equipment Can do.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the system configuration of a recording communication system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, and the flow of commands and data.
As shown in FIG. 1, a recording communication system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention includes a recording device such as a recording PC 1 and a recording server 2 installed in a fixed station such as a home or a service provider, and these recording devices. Is connected via a communication network 3 such as an IP network, and the mobile phone 4 as a communication device in which the destination of the fixed station is registered, and the mobile phone 4 are connected by wire (dedicated cable) or wirelessly (Bluetooth, etc.) When the press of the record button 51 is detected while watching the TV broadcast, the program information being watched on the TV broadcast is transmitted to the above-described destination via the mobile phone 4, and the record button 51 is pressed by the recording device. It is constructed by a car navigation device (hereinafter simply referred to as “car navigation 5”) as a rear-end terminal device that activates recording of program contents to be broadcast thereafter.

  The front panel of the car navigation 5 is provided with a panel for performing various operations, and a liquid crystal display and a touch panel sensor that can be operated by touching with a finger are disposed on the panel. In addition to the above, a plurality of hard buttons for performing user operations are arranged around the periphery. Here, the recording button 51 is implemented as one of the hard buttons. Of course, it may be assigned to a part of the touch panel.

In the above configuration, while watching a TV broadcast in the car, if the radio wave condition deteriorates and the screen becomes unbearable, or the driver needs to stop watching the TV to start driving In this case, the recording button 51 arranged on the front panel of the car navigation 5 is pressed. Upon detecting this, the car navigation 5 transmits a recording instruction to the recording PC 1 or the recording server 2 having the Internet connection environment which is a fixed station via the mobile phone 4 (a or b), and the recording device (HDD) at home. The recording is started by the recording server 2 managed by the recorder or the provider. Then, the driver or the passenger returns to the home, starts the recording PC 1 at home, and plays back (views) the program contents recorded after the recording button 51 is pressed, or downloads the recorded program from the recording server 2. Thus, it becomes possible to view the subsequent program viewed in the car by playing (c).
Of course, the above-mentioned recording button 51 is arranged in front of the front panel of the car navigation 5 and can be operated in an instant manner.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the mobile terminal apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. The mobile terminal device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention includes a set of a car navigation 5 mounted on a vehicle and a mobile phone 4 connected to the car navigation 5 via a dedicated cable 40 (USB: Universal Serial Bus). A communication module 10 is illustrated.
In FIG. 2, the communication module 10 includes a TV tuner unit 11, a decoder unit 12, a control unit 13, a car navigation monitor unit 50, and a communication unit 41 of the mobile phone 4.

  The TV tuner unit 11 has a function of receiving a television broadcast. Here, it is assumed that the TV tuner unit 11 receives a terrestrial digital broadcast for a mobile object. The decoder unit 12 demodulates the broadcast wave, separates the multiplexed TS, decodes it into an audio signal and a video signal, and supplies the audio signal and video signal to the car navigation monitor unit 50. It is assumed that the above-described recording button 51 is installed at an arbitrary position of the casing in which the car navigation monitor unit 50 is mounted. When the control unit 13 detects that the recording button 51 has been pressed, the control unit 13 transmits the program information being viewed to the recording device such as the recording PC 1 or the recording server 2 via the communication unit 41 of the mobile phone 4. The apparatus has a function of starting recording of program contents after the recording button is pressed. The control unit 13 also realizes functions inherent in the car navigation 5 such as current location display, destination guidance, and guidance. However, since these functions are not directly related to the present invention, description thereof is omitted.

  The control unit 13 includes a storage unit 136 (to be described later) in which a program information list (EPG) that can be viewed in a fixed station is stored. When the control unit 13 detects that the recording button 51 is pressed, the control unit 13 reads the EPG from the storage unit 136. And the program information being viewed are compared, and if they match, the program information being viewed is transmitted. In addition to the program information, the control unit 13 transmits the current position information of the vehicle to the recording device such as the recording PC 1 or the recording server 2 via the communication unit 41 when the pressing of the recording button 51 is detected. May be. In this case, whether or not recording is performed is determined on the recording device side referring to the EPG based on the current position information.

As shown in FIG. 2, the control unit 13 includes a main control unit 130, a recording button press detection unit 131, a comparison unit 133, a program information transmission unit 134, and a communication interface. The unit 135 and the storage unit 136 are configured.
The storage unit 136 stores the viewing program information, the EPG of the fixed station, and the destination (transmission destination) of the fixed station. Note that the EPG is an electronic program guide, and is data that is superimposed and distributed on TV broadcast radio waves.

The main control unit 130 transmits the program information being viewed to the recording device such as the recording PC 1 or the recording server 2 via the communication unit 41 of the mobile phone 4 when the pressing of the recording button 51 is detected. The recording device serves as a control center as the control unit 13 that activates recording of a program broadcasted after detection of the recording button 51 being pressed, and performs sequence control of each functional block 131 to 135 described later.
The recording button press detection unit 131 detects the pressing of the recording button 51 provided in the car navigation monitor unit 50 and validates the comparison operation by the comparison unit 133 described later.

The comparison unit 133 receives from the storage unit 136 program information that is updated each time a channel is changed during viewing, and an EPG in a fixed station. The signal output from the recording button press detection unit 131 is used as a trigger. Both inputs are compared, and the program information transmission unit 134 is activated.
The program information transmission unit 134 records the program information stored in the storage unit 136 via the communication interface unit 135, the dedicated cable 40, the communication unit 41 of the mobile phone 4, and the communication network 3 based on the destination information of the fixed station. Transmit to PC 1 or recording server 2.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the mobile terminal apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. Hereinafter, the operation of the mobile terminal apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention shown in FIG. 2 will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

In the flowchart of FIG. 3, it is assumed that the user has registered the transmission destination of the fixed station in advance (step ST301). In order to register the transmission destination of the fixed station, a GUI (Graphical User Interface) screen at the time of setting the operating environment is used. Here, either the recording PC 1 installed at home or the recording server 2 managed and operated by the provider is selected as the fixed station, and the destination (IP address) is registered.
After the above preparatory work, while the user is watching the TV broadcast program (step ST302 “Yes”), the main control unit 130 updates the program information (channel number, broadcast station name, and program name) every time the channel is switched, The data is stored in a predetermined area of the storage unit 136 (step ST303).

  Subsequently, when the user presses the recording button 51, the recording button pressing detection unit 131 detects this by key scanning (step ST304 "Yes"), and the comparison operation by the comparison unit 133 is validated. At this time, the main control unit 130 reads the program information being viewed immediately before the recording button 51 is pressed from the storage unit 136, and supplies the information to one input terminal of the comparison unit 133 (step ST305). At this time, the EPG of the fixed station that has been read from the storage unit 136 and registered as the destination is input to the other input terminal of the comparison unit 133.

The comparison unit 133 compares the two pieces of input data supplied to the input terminal (whether or not the program information to be recorded is included in the EPG of the fixed station), thereby allowing the user to watch immediately before the recording button 51 is pressed. It is determined whether or not the program information can be viewed on a fixed station (step ST306).
The comparison result by the comparison unit 133 controls the program information transmission unit 134, and when the program information transmission unit 134 determines that viewing is possible even at a fixed station according to the comparison result (step ST306 "match"), the storage is performed. Based on the destination information of the fixed station stored in the unit 136, the program information is recorded via the communication interface unit 135, the dedicated cable 40, the communication unit 41 of the mobile phone 4, and the communication network 3 in the recording PC 1 or the recording server 2 in the fixed station. To start recording of a TV broadcast program broadcast after the recording button 51 is pressed (step ST307). If program information to be recorded is not included in the EPG of the fixed station (“No match” at step S306), for example, a message indicating that recording is not possible is displayed on the car navigation monitor unit 50.

  According to Embodiment 1 of the present invention described above, the program information being viewed is transmitted to the recording device (recording PC 1, recording server 2) when the pressing of the recording button 51 is detected, and recording by the recording device is performed. Real-time recording reservation is enabled by starting recording of the program content broadcast after the button 51 is pressed. Accordingly, it is possible to provide a user-friendly mobile terminal device while providing convenience to the user.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
4 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of a mobile terminal apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing its operation.
In the mobile terminal device according to the second embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 4, the difference from the first embodiment shown in FIG. 2 is that the first embodiment shown in FIG. On the other hand, in the second embodiment, the recording apparatus starts the recording, and the reception state monitoring unit 132 is provided to monitor the reception state of the TV broadcast by the reception state monitoring unit 132 as shown in FIG. ST509), the point that the reception state is below a predetermined threshold level (step ST510 “Yes”) is that the recording device starts recording.

  The reception state monitoring unit 132 acquires the reception level of the TV broadcast radio wave received by the TV tuner unit 11 and monitors the radio wave state by comparing it with a reception level set in advance as a threshold value. In the case of the following (step ST510 “≦”), the comparison operation by the comparison unit 133 is validated. The comparison unit 133 determines whether or not the program information viewed by the user immediately before the radio wave condition deteriorates can be viewed even at the fixed station by referring to the EPG, and can also view the program information at the fixed station according to the comparison result. When it is determined to be acceptable (step ST506 “matched”), program information is obtained based on the fixed station destination information stored in the storage unit 136, the communication interface unit 135, the dedicated cable 40, the communication unit 41 of the mobile phone 4, Via the communication network 3, transmission to the recording PC 1 or the recording server 2 in the fixed station is performed to start recording of a TV broadcast program broadcast after the radio wave condition deteriorates (step ST507).

According to the second embodiment described above, the program information being viewed is transmitted to the recording device when the reception state monitored by the reception state monitoring unit 132 is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value. Real-time recording reservation is made possible by starting recording of the program content after the reception intensity falls below the threshold. Accordingly, it is possible to provide a user-friendly mobile terminal device while providing convenience to the user. Further, the recording button 51 arranged in the car navigation device 50, which is necessary in the first embodiment, is no longer necessary, and it is possible to automatically make a subsequent recording reservation when the reception environment deteriorates. Can be reduced, further improving the convenience and convenience.
According to the second embodiment described above, recording by the recording device is automatically started by monitoring the reception state. However, instead of monitoring the reception state, the decoding state by the decoder unit 12 is changed. Similar effects can be obtained by monitoring.

6 and 7 are diagrams for explaining scenes of use of the recording communication system according to Embodiments 1 and 2 of the present invention.
FIG. 6 shows a case where a recording device such as a recording PC 1 or HDD recorder equipped with an external communication means (Internet connection environment) is installed in the home, and FIG. 7 shows a recording equipped with an external communication means. Each is shown when the device is not owned in the home.

As shown in FIG. 6 (a), when watching a TV broadcast in the car, if the car navigation 5 screen becomes unbearable due to the deterioration of the reception state, or if the driver starts driving, When it is necessary to interrupt the viewing of the video, the recording button 51 arranged on the front panel of the car navigation 5 is pushed. Upon detecting this, the car navigation 5 issues a recording instruction to the home recording PC 1 which is a fixed station via the mobile phone 4 and the IP network 3, and as a result, the recording PC 1 is broadcasted after the recording button 51 is pressed. Start recording the program.
As shown in FIG. 6B, the driver or passenger can return to his / her home, start the recording PC 1, and reproduce (view) the program content recorded after the recording button 51 is pressed.

  Here, the recording is started by pressing the recording button 51. However, the recording can be automatically started when the reception state deteriorates. Further, when the mobile terminal device (car navigation system 5) does not have an EPG in a fixed station, the recording PC 1 corresponds to the position information by transmitting the current position information of the vehicle in addition to the program information being viewed. The obtained EPG may be acquired, the acquired EPG may be compared with the received program information desired to be recorded, and whether or not the desired program information is recorded may be returned.

In the example shown in FIG. 7, on the provider side that provides a recording service, a server center equipped with a TV broadcast receiving facility and a recording facility is installed, and a user concludes a recording contract with the provider in advance. It is necessary.
Here, as in the example shown in FIG. 6, as shown in FIG. 7A, when a video recording request occurs while watching a TV broadcast in the car, the driver or the passenger rides on the front panel of the car navigation 5. The arranged recording button 51 is pressed. As a result, as shown in FIG. 7B, a recording instruction is sent to the server center managed by the provider via the car navigation 5 (via the mobile phone 4), and recording by the recording server 2 is executed. Then, as shown in FIG. 7C, the recorded data is transmitted from the server center to the home PC 6 via the IP network 3 at a later date so that it can be viewed at home. In addition to distributing a recorded program via the IP network 3, a recording medium such as a disk or a tape can be used as a data transfer means.

  In addition, as described in the mobile terminal device according to the second embodiment described above, it is also possible to set an “automatic recording instruction function” for instructing recording in advance when the reception state deteriorates in the car navigation 5 It is. That is, when the reception state of the TV broadcast deteriorates during traveling, a recording instruction is automatically transmitted according to the situation. For this purpose, for example, a voltage proportional to the received radio wave intensity is output from the TV tuner unit 11, and a mechanism in which the control unit 13 monitors the voltage value is constructed. Here, for example, when the voltage detected by the microcomputer incorporated in the control unit 13 is 1.5 V or more, it is determined that the reception level is sufficient, and when the voltage is 1.5 V or less, the reception level is weak. Is determined. That is, when the voltage is lower than the threshold voltage of 1.5 V, the control unit 13 automatically issues a recording instruction. This also provides a safety effect that allows the driver to concentrate on driving without worrying about the viewing situation in the car.

As described above, according to the mobile terminal device and the recording communication system according to Embodiments 1 and 2 of the present invention, it is possible to make a real-time recording reservation for a program after the interruption point of the program being viewed while moving. This provides convenience to the user and improves usability.
In addition, according to the mobile terminal device according to the first and second embodiments described above, the mobile phone 4 is used as the communication means, but a more compact mobile terminal device can be obtained by using a built-in communication module. Can be provided. The present invention is particularly effective when used for digital broadcast reception, but can also be applied to analog broadcasting.

  2 and 4 may be realized entirely by software, or at least a part of the functions may be realized by hardware. For example, data processing in the main control unit 130 may be realized on a computer by one or a plurality of programs, and at least a part thereof may be realized by hardware.

It is a figure which shows an example of the system configuration | structure of the video recording communication system which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention, and the flow of instruction | command and data. It is a block diagram which shows the internal structure of the mobile terminal device which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the mobile terminal device which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the internal structure of the mobile terminal device which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the mobile terminal device which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is the figure which showed an example of the usage scene of the video recording communication system which concerns on Embodiment 1, 2 of this invention. It is the figure which showed the other example of the usage scene of the video recording communication system which concerns on Embodiment 1, 2 of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

  1 recording PC (recording device), 2 recording server 2 (recording device), 3 communication network, 4 mobile phone, 10 communication module (mobile terminal device), 11 TV tuner unit, 12 decoder unit, 13 control unit, 40 dedicated Cable, 41 Communication unit, 50 Car navigation monitor unit, 51 Recording button, 130 Main control unit, 131 Recording button press detection unit, 132 Reception state monitoring unit, 133 Comparison unit, 134 Program information transmission unit, 135 Communication interface unit, 136 Storage Department.

Claims (2)

A mobile terminal device connected to a recording device via a communication network,
A tuner for receiving TV broadcasts;
A record button,
A control unit that transmits information about a program being viewed to the recording device when the pressing of the recording button is detected, and starts recording of the program content after the recording button is pressed by the recording device;
A storage unit for storing a program information list that can be viewed at a fixed station where the recording apparatus is installed;
The controller is
When the pressing of the recording button is detected, the program information list is read from the storage unit, the program information list is compared with the program information being viewed, and the program information being viewed is transmitted if they match. A mobile terminal device. The controller is
When detecting the depression of said record button, in addition to the program information, the mobile terminal apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transmitting the location information.

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