JP5169198B2 - Broadcast receiver - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a broadcast receiving apparatus that receives a broadcast signal in which programs of a plurality of virtual channels are multiplexed.

In the field of digital television broadcasting, one broadcasting station divides one physical channel into a plurality of SD (Standard Definition) television services (hereinafter referred to as “multiple services included in one physical channel”). A virtual channel). When performing a channel switching operation using the channel up / down key, the user switches the virtual channel in order by repeatedly operating the channel up / down key to select a desired virtual channel.
However, at present, programs with the same contents are often provided on these multiple virtual channels. For this reason, there is a problem that the channel switching operation cannot be efficiently performed because the program is switched to the same program several times during the channel switching operation.

Therefore, for example, in Patent Document 1, for example, when a broadcast whose channel selection operation is duplicated at the time of scanning is detected, a method of associating a broadcast with a method with good reception signal quality among these with the channel selection operation Broadcast receiving apparatuses that perform the above have been proposed.
JP 2004-208186 A

  However, the technique of the above-mentioned Patent Document 1 is intended for broadcasting in an MFN (Multi Frequency Network) in which one broadcast station transmits broadcast signals from a plurality of transmission stations using different channels, and a plurality of transmissions in one physical channel are performed. This was not the case when a program with the same content was broadcast on a virtual channel.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a broadcast receiving apparatus capable of efficiently performing channel switching operation even when a program having the same content is broadcast on a plurality of virtual channels in one physical channel. It is.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention described in claim 1 is a broadcast receiving device, wherein a receiving means for receiving a broadcast signal in which programs of a plurality of virtual channels and program information related to the programs are multiplexed,
Scanning means for searching for virtual channels included in physical channels of broadcast signals receivable by the receiving means;
Determining means for determining whether or not a program having the same content is broadcast on a plurality of virtual channels included in each physical channel, based on program information acquired from the broadcast signal received by the receiving means;
With respect to the physical channel that has been determined by the determining means that the same content program is being broadcast on a plurality of virtual channels, one of the plurality of virtual channels related to the broadcast of the same content program is designated as the representative channel. Setting means to set as,
Of the plurality of virtual channels related to the broadcast of the same content in the physical channel for which the representative channel is set by the setting means, only the representative channel is switched to another virtual channel related to the broadcast of the same content as the representative channel. Is the channel switching means to skip,
With
Said discriminating means, matching degree of the predetermined information relating to each virtual channel obtained from the program information, in accordance with the determination of whether it is greater than the predetermined threshold value, the program is broadcast of the same content on multiple virtual channels It is determined whether or not it has been done.

The invention according to claim 2 is a broadcast receiving apparatus for receiving a broadcast signal in which a program of a plurality of virtual channels and program information related to the program are multiplexed,
Scanning means for searching for virtual channels included in physical channels of broadcast signals receivable by the receiving means;
Determining means for determining whether or not a program having the same content is broadcast on a plurality of virtual channels included in each physical channel, based on program information acquired from the broadcast signal received by the receiving means;
Information for identifying a plurality of virtual channels related to broadcasting of the same content program is displayed and skipped for the physical channel determined by the determination means that the same content program is broadcast on a plurality of virtual channels. Setting means for allowing a user to set a virtual channel to be
Channel switching means for performing channel switching by skipping virtual channels set to skip by the setting means;
With
Said discriminating means, matching degree of the predetermined information relating to each virtual channel obtained from the program information, in accordance with the determination of whether it is greater than the predetermined threshold value, the program is broadcast of the same content on multiple virtual channels It is determined whether or not it has been done.

According to the present invention, in the broadcast receiving apparatus, a broadcast signal in which a program of a plurality of virtual channels and program information related to the program are multiplexed is received by the receiving means, and the broadcast signal receivable by the receiving means is received by the scanning means. A virtual channel included in the physical channel is searched, and a program having the same content is broadcasted by a plurality of virtual channels included in each physical channel based on program information acquired from the broadcast signal received by the receiving unit by the determining unit. It is determined whether or not.
Then, for the physical channel determined by the setting means by the determining means that the same content program is broadcast on the plurality of virtual channels, one of the plurality of virtual channels related to the broadcast of the same content program is selected. The virtual channel is set as the representative channel, and the channel switching means is switched to only the representative channel among the plurality of virtual channels related to the broadcast of the same content program in the physical channel for which the representative channel is set by the setting means. Other virtual channels related to the broadcasting of programs having the same contents as the channels are skipped.
Alternatively, information for identifying the plurality of virtual channels related to the broadcasting of the same content for the physical channel determined by the setting device by the determining means that the same content program is broadcast on the plurality of virtual channels. The virtual channel to be skipped is set by the user, and the channel switching unit performs channel switching by skipping the virtual channel for which skipping has been set by the setting unit.
Here, the determining means, matching degree of a given information about each virtual channel obtained from the program information, in accordance with the determination of whether it is greater than the predetermined threshold value, the program of the same content on multiple virtual channels It is determined whether or not it is being broadcast.
That is, when there are a plurality of virtual channels that broadcast the same content program in one physical channel, the representative channel among the plurality of virtual channels that broadcast the same content program during the channel switching operation. Is switched to only one virtual channel set as, and channels other than the virtual channel are skipped. Alternatively, the virtual channel set to be skipped by the user among the plurality of virtual channels that broadcast the program having the same content is skipped. Therefore, even when a program having the same content is broadcast on a plurality of virtual channels in one physical channel, the efficiency is reduced by switching to the program having the same content multiple times in the channel switching operation. Therefore, it is possible to provide a broadcast receiving apparatus that can efficiently perform channel switching operation.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The scope of the present invention is not limited to the illustrated example.
In the present embodiment, a broadcast receiver 100 that receives a broadcast signal of terrestrial digital television broadcast will be described as an example.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the main configuration of a television receiver 100 according to this embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 1, a television receiver 100 according to the present embodiment includes a remote control device 1 as a key operation unit that receives a key operation by a user, a remote control signal light receiving unit 2 that receives a remote control signal from the remote control device 1, and broadcasting. An antenna 3 for receiving a signal, a tuner 4 as a receiving means for selecting a broadcast signal of a desired channel from broadcast signals received by the antenna 3, a demodulator 5 for demodulating a broadcast signal selected by the tuner 4, and a demodulator 5, the broadcast signal demodulated by 5 is separated into a plurality of data and decoded. The video signal input from the decoder unit 6 is input from the video processing unit 7 that performs predetermined video processing on the video signal input from the decoder unit 6. The OSD data is added to the video signal processed by the audio processing unit 8 and the video processing unit 7 for performing predetermined audio processing on the audio signal SD circuit 9, display unit 10 for outputting the video signal processed by the video processing unit 7, audio output unit 11 for outputting the audio signal processed by the audio processing unit 8, and control for overall control of the television receiver 100 The unit 12 is provided, and each unit is connected by a control bus.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the remote control device 1.
As shown in FIG. 2, for example, the remote controller (key operation unit) 1 includes a plurality of keys for the user to input various instructions to the main unit. The plurality of keys provided in the remote control device 1 include, for example, a channel up / down key 1a for sequentially switching channels, a power key 1b, twelve number keys 1c each assigned a number 1 to 12, and a menu. A key 1d, an EPG (Electric Program Guide) display key 1e, a return key 1f, an audio switching key 1g, a cursor key 1h for instructing up / down / left / right, an enter key 1i, a volume up / down key 1j, and the like.
Identification information is assigned to each of these keys provided in the remote control device 1 and stored in a predetermined storage area. In this remote control device 1, when the user performs a key pressing operation, the identification information of the operated key is read, and a remote control signal corresponding to the identification information is generated. The generated remote control signal is transmitted from a transmission unit (not shown) and received by the remote control signal light receiving unit 2 provided on the front panel of the apparatus main body.

  The remote control signal light receiving unit 2 includes, for example, a photodiode, a SUBCPU, an amplifying unit, a demodulating unit, a decoder, etc., although not shown. When the remote control signal light receiving unit 2 receives the remote control signal transmitted from the remote control device 1 at a photodiode provided on the front panel or the like of the main body unit, it is amplified by the amplification unit and then demodulated by the demodulation unit under the control of the SUBCPU. Further, the decoder performs various processes such as waveform shaping and error correction, acquires identification information from the input remote control signal, and outputs the identification information to the control unit 12. Based on the identification information of the remote control signal input from the remote control signal light receiving unit 2, the control unit 12 determines the key operated on the remote control device 1 and executes control corresponding to the operation.

The antenna 3 is, for example, arranged outdoors in a predetermined direction and receives a high-frequency broadcast signal.
The tuner (reception means) 4 extracts, for example, a signal in a specific frequency band from a high-frequency broadcast signal input from the antenna 3 by a BPF (bandpass filter) and amplifies it, and converts the frequency by a local oscillator and a mixer. To do. Further, a signal in a specific frequency band is extracted by the BPF, converted into a low frequency signal, subjected to AD conversion or the like via an LPF (low pass filter), and output to the demodulator 5.
For example, the demodulator 5 performs processing such as digital demodulation and error correction on the signal of the channel selected by the tuner 4 based on control from the controller 12 to generate a TS, To 61.

The decoder unit 6 includes, for example, a demultiplexer 61, a video decoder 62, an audio decoder 63, a data decoder 64, and the like.
The separation unit 61 converts the TS input from the demodulation unit 5 into a plurality of streams such as video data, audio data, and PSI (Program Specific Information) / SI (Service Information: Program Sequence Information) as program information. To separate.

Here, the PSI describes a PAT (Program Association Table) describing information on a service (virtual channel) included in the TS and a PID (Packet Identifier) of the PMT, data constituting each service, and information on the PID. It is a table of PMT (Program Map Table), NIT (Network Information Table) describing information related to a service being broadcast, and CAT (Conditional Access Table) describing information related to limited reception. The PSI is used when selecting a packet necessary for providing a selected program from the TS based on the PID of each packet. The NIT is used when scanning a physical channel of a receivable broadcast signal and searching for a virtual channel included in each physical channel when executing a scan program 125b described later.
SI is a service description table (SDT) that describes information about services, an event information table (EIT) that describes information about programs (events), a time offset table (TOT) that describes the current date and time, and broadcasters These are various tables such as BIT (Broadcaster Information Table) describing information on the information. EIT scheduled in EIT includes information on programs currently being broadcast and programs scheduled to be broadcast within 8 days (for example, title, channel, broadcast station, genre, broadcast start time / broadcast end time, performer, Program contents, etc.) are described. The SI is used when displaying the electronic program guide on the display unit 10.

  The control unit 12 acquires necessary TS packets based on the PSI and the PID included in each TS packet, and converts the video stream under the MPEG2 (Moving Picture Experts Group 2) standard to the video decoder 62 and the audio stream to the audio decoder. Further, the necessary program information extracted from the SI is output to the data decoder 64.

The video decoder 62 decodes the video stream input from the separation unit 61. Specifically, the video decoder 62 performs various processing such as variable length decoding, inverse quantization, inverse DCT, motion correction, and the like on the video stream, so that the timing corresponding to the DTS (Decoding Time Stamp) Are decoded and output to the video processing unit 7.
The audio decoder 63 decodes the audio stream input from the separation unit 61 and outputs the decoded audio stream to the audio processing unit 8.
The data decoder 64 decodes the program information, caption data, data for data broadcasting, etc. input from the separation unit 61 and outputs them to the control unit 12, the OSD circuit 9, and the like. The program information input to the control unit 12 is stored in the EPG memory 124a (described later).

The video processing unit 7 performs various video processes on the input video data to generate a video signal. The generated video signal is temporarily stored in a frame memory (not shown) and then output to the display unit 10 at a reproduction timing corresponding to PTS (Presentation Time Stamp).
The audio processing unit 8 performs various audio processing on the input audio data to generate an audio signal, and outputs the generated audio signal to the audio output unit 11 at a reproduction timing according to the PTS. .
When displaying the electronic program guide, the OSD circuit 9 reads necessary data from the program information stored in the EPG memory 124a, and generates electronic program guide display data based on the read data. Then, the generated electronic program guide display data is combined with a video signal output from the video processing unit 7, and an OSD screen such as an electronic program guide is displayed on the display unit 10.

The display unit 10 includes a display (not shown) such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), a PDP (Plasma Display Panel), and an organic EL (Electro Luminescence) display, and displays video based on the video signal input from the video processing unit 7. Display on this display.
The audio output unit 11 includes, for example, a speaker (not shown), and amplifies audio based on the audio signal input from the audio processing unit 8 and outputs the amplified audio from the speaker.

  The control unit 12 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 121, a time measuring unit 122 such as an STC (System Time Clock), a volatile memory such as a RAM (Random Access Memory) 123, an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable ROM) 124, a ROM (Read Only memory) 125 and the like.

  The CPU 121 executes various programs stored in the ROM 125 according to input signals input from the respective units, remote control signals input by pressing various keys in the remote control device 1, and the like, and based on the programs related to the execution. The overall operation of the television receiver 100 is comprehensively controlled by outputting an output signal to each unit.

  The RAM 123 is used as a work area for the CPU 121 and temporarily stores programs read from the ROM 125. In addition, the RAM 123 temporarily stores processing results generated when these programs are executed by the CPU 121, input data, and the like. To remember.

  The EEPROM 124 includes, for example, an EPG memory 124a and a channel memory 124b.

  The EPG memory 124a stores program information extracted from the received broadcast signal.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the channel memory 124b stores the searched physical channel and the virtual channel included in the physical channel in association with each other based on the channel search performed by executing the scan program 125b described later. . The channel memory 124b stores a setting by a first setting program 125e described later and a setting by a second setting program 125f. A detailed description of the channel memory 124b will be given together with the description of the storage program 125c, the first setting program 125e, and the second setting program 125f described later.

  The ROM 125 has a program storage area. Specifically, the reception program 125a, the scan program 125b, the storage program 125c, the determination program 125d, the first setting program 125e, the second setting program 125f, the channel switching program 125g, etc. Is stored.

The reception program 125a is a program for causing the CPU 121 to realize a function of receiving a broadcast signal in which programs of a plurality of virtual channels and program information related to the programs are multiplexed, for example.
Specifically, the CPU 121 outputs an instruction signal to the tuner 4 based on a channel switching operation in the remote controller 1, and associates it with a physical channel instructed in the remote controller 1 from a broadcast signal input to the antenna 3. The broadcast signal in the specified frequency band is received. In addition, when executing a scan program 125b described later, the CPU 121 outputs an instruction signal to the tuner 4 to sequentially receive broadcast signals in frequency bands associated with each physical channel.
The CPU 121 functions as a receiving unit together with the tuner 4 by executing the receiving program 125a.

The scan program 125b is, for example, a program for causing the CPU 121 to realize a function of searching for a virtual channel included in a physical channel of a broadcast signal that can be received by executing the reception program 125a.
Specifically, the CPU 121 allows the tuner 4 to sequentially receive broadcast signals transmitted at the frequency of each physical channel by executing the above-described reception program 125a at a predetermined timing, and can receive the broadcast signal on each physical channel. It is determined whether or not. Then, for a physical channel capable of receiving a broadcast signal, a virtual channel included in the physical channel is searched by analyzing the NIT included in the PSI as program information multiplexed and transmitted with the broadcast signal.
The predetermined timing at which the scan program 125b is executed is, for example, when the apparatus is first activated after purchase, when the installation area is changed due to moving or the like, or when the user is instructed to execute the scan process.
The CPU 121 functions as a scanning unit by executing the scan program 125b.

The storage program 125c is, for example, a program for causing the CPU 121 to realize a function of storing, in the channel memory 124b, a physical channel of a receivable broadcast signal searched by executing the scan program 125b and a virtual channel included in the physical channel. It is.
Specifically, when the CPU 121 searches for a virtual channel included in a receivable physical channel by executing the scan program 125b, the CPU 121 stores the searched virtual channel in the channel memory 124b in association with the physical channel. .
FIG. 3 shows the correspondence between the physical channels receivable by the television receiver 100 retrieved by the execution of the scan program 125b and the virtual channels included in each of these physical channels by the execution of the storage program 125c. It is a figure which illustrates the channel memory 124b memorize | stored. In addition, the channel memory 124b determines whether or not the user has selected the channel in the execution of the second setting program 125f, which will be described later, and whether the user has selected the channel in the execution of the first setting program 125e, which will be described later. The representative channel set for the physical channel that is not set is stored.
The CPU 121 functions as a storage unit together with the channel memory 124b by executing the storage program 125c.

For example, the determination program 125d determines whether a program having the same content is broadcast on the plurality of virtual channels included in each physical channel based on the program information acquired from the broadcast signal received by the execution of the reception program 125a. This is a program for realizing the function of determining whether or not.
Specifically, when the CPU 121 acquires program information from a broadcast signal received by the tuner 4, the CPU 121 analyzes the acquired program information, and a plurality of virtual channels included in each physical channel provide a program having the same content. It is determined whether it is a thing. Whether or not a program having the same content is broadcast on a plurality of virtual channels is determined by, for example, predetermined information (for example, title, channel, broadcast station, genre, broadcast time) regarding each virtual channel acquired from the program information. (Broadcast start time / broadcast end time, performer, program content, etc.) is determined according to whether or not the degree of coincidence is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold. For example, when there are a plurality of virtual channels in which the degree of coincidence of a title, a channel, a broadcast station, a genre, a broadcast start time / broadcast end time as a broadcast time, a performer, program content, and the like is a predetermined threshold or more Further, it is determined that these virtual channels are channels for broadcasting the same program. Further, when the program information includes an identifier indicating whether or not a program having the same content is broadcast, the determination may be performed based on the identifier.
The CPU 121 functions as a determination unit by executing the determination program 125d.

For example, the first setting program 125e is related to the broadcast of the program having the same content on the physical channel that is determined by the execution of the determination program 125d to the CPU 121 on the plurality of virtual channels. Among the plurality of virtual channels, one virtual channel is set as the representative channel. The first setting program 125e is set for the physical channels excluding the physical channels for which channel selection is set for each virtual channel by the second setting program 125f (described later) among the channels stored by the execution of the storage program 125c. I do.
The representative channel setting by the above-described determination program 125d and first setting program 125e is performed, for example, together with a scan process by executing the scan program 125b. Further, for example, it may be performed every predetermined time, when program information including NIT having new contents is acquired, or when a user gives an instruction. In addition, when program information for a predetermined number of days (for example, for eight days) can be acquired, the program information may be executed every predetermined number of days.
The CPU 121 functions as first setting means (setting means) by executing the first setting program 125e.

The second setting program 125f is, for example, a program for causing the CPU 121 to realize a function for allowing the user to set whether or not each virtual channel is selected.
The CPU 121 functions as a second setting unit by executing the second setting program 125f.

  Here, the channel switching setting process performed by executing the first setting program 125e and the second setting program 125f will be specifically described.

First, the channel switching setting process performed by executing the second setting program 125f will be described. The channel switching setting process by executing the second setting program 125f is a process for setting the presence / absence of channel selection for each virtual channel based on the user's setting operation.
When the CPU 121 is instructed to start channel switching setting for setting the presence / absence of channel selection for each virtual channel by an operation using the remote controller 1, the CPU 121 displays the channel switching setting screen illustrated in FIG. 4 on the display unit 10. . As shown in FIG. 4, on the channel switching setting screen, virtual channels included in each physical channel are listed, and the presence / absence of channel selection of each virtual channel can be set.
The presence / absence of channel selection is set by selecting that the skip setting (the presence / absence of channel selection) is set in the skip setting box corresponding to each virtual channel, and further selecting ON / OFF of the skip setting. . For example, a channel whose skip setting is “on” is a channel skipped without being selected in the channel switching process, and a channel whose skip setting is “off” is selected in the channel switching process. Is a channel.
Although not shown in FIG. 4, a plurality of virtual channels related to the broadcast of the same content contained in one physical channel are displayed on the channel switching setting screen for setting whether or not each virtual channel is selected. Information for identification may be displayed. Thus, the user can more suitably set the presence / absence of channel selection based on whether or not a program having the same content is broadcast on a plurality of virtual channels.

In the channel switching setting screen illustrated in FIG. 4, for example, the user sets the skip setting of “031” among the virtual channels “031”, “032”, and “033” included in the physical channel “5” to “ON ( The skip setting of “no channel selection”, “032”, and “033” is set to “off (with channel selection)”. Further, the skip setting of all virtual channels “051”, “052”, and “053” included in the physical channel “7” is set to “on (no channel selection)”. Further, the skip setting of all virtual channels “061”, “062”, and “063” included in the physical channel “8” is set to “off (channel selection)”.
The CPU 121 associates the skip setting on / off (presence / absence of channel selection) set by the user on the channel switching setting screen of FIG. 4 with the physical channel and each virtual channel in the channel memory 124b illustrated in FIG. Remember me.

Next, channel switching setting processing that is automatically performed by executing the first setting program 125e will be described. The channel switching setting process by the execution of the first setting program 125e is executed for the virtual channel included in the physical channel in which channel selection is not set by the user in the channel switching setting process by the execution of the second setting program 125f. .
In the execution of the second setting program 125f, the CPU 121 is a virtual channel included in a physical channel in which the presence / absence of tuning of each virtual channel is not set by the user, and a plurality of the virtual channels are obtained by executing the determination program 125d. A virtual channel that is determined to be broadcast with the same content on the virtual channel is detected. That is, for example, in the channel memory 124b of FIG. 3, the virtual channels “031” to “033” included in the physical channel “5”, the virtual channels “051” to “053” included in the physical channel “7”, the physical channel Virtual channels “061” to “063” included in “8” are virtual channels for which the presence / absence of channel selection is set by the user. On the other hand, the virtual channels “041” to “043” included in the physical channel “6” and the virtual channels “071” to “072” included in the physical channel “9” are virtual channels for which channel selection is not set. It is.
In the execution of the determination program 125d, among these virtual channels “041” to “043”, “071”, “072” in which the presence / absence of channel selection is not set, for example, the CPU 121 uses the physical channel “6”. It is determined that programs with the same content are broadcast on the virtual channels “041” and “042” included in.

  Then, the CPU 121 is included in physical channels (physical channels “6” and “9”) in which the presence / absence of channel selection is not set by the user, and the virtual channels “041”, “041”, “ 042 ”, one virtual channel (for example, the virtual channel“ 041 ”with the smallest virtual channel number) is set as the representative channel. Then, as shown in FIG. 3, the determined representative channel is stored in the channel memory 124b in association with the physical channel and each virtual channel.

  The representative channel may be determined based on an element other than the channel number. For example, the channel with the longest viewing time or the channel with the largest number of switching times may be set as the representative channel.

The channel switching program 125g is a program for causing the CPU 121 to realize a function of sequentially switching to the virtual channel stored by executing the storage program 125c based on the operation of the channel up / down key 1a in the remote control device 1, for example. . In addition, the channel switching program 125g switches to only the representative channel among the plurality of virtual channels related to the broadcast of the same content in the physical channel for which the representative channel is set by the first setting program 125e, and is the same as the representative channel. The function of skipping other virtual channels related to the broadcast of the content program is realized.
Specifically, the CPU 121 accesses the channel memory 124b when a remote control signal instructing sequential switching of channels is input by operating the channel up / down key 1a of the remote control device 1. Based on the operation of the channel up / down key 1a, among the channels stored in the channel memory 124b, the skip setting is set to “ON” for the virtual channels included in the physical channels for which channel selection is set by the user. The virtual channel designated as “no channel selection” is skipped, and the virtual channel is switched to the virtual channel whose skip setting is “off (with channel selection)”. In addition, for a physical channel for which a representative channel is set, switching to only the set representative channel among a plurality of virtual channels for broadcasting the same content program on the physical channel, and broadcasting a program having the same content as the representative channel. The other virtual channel related to is skipped. Furthermore, when a virtual channel that broadcasts a program different from a plurality of virtual channels related to the broadcast of the same content exists in the physical channel for which the representative channel is set, the virtual channel is switched to the virtual channel.
The CPU 121 functions as a channel switching unit by executing the channel switching program 125g.

For example, when channel switching is performed on the basis of the channel memory 124b of FIG. 3, “031” in which the skip setting is set to “on (no channel selection)” for the physical channel for which the presence / absence of channel selection is set by the user. , “051” to “053” are skipped. Further, regarding the physical channel for which the representative channel is set, the virtual channel “042” other than the representative channel (“041”) included in the plurality of virtual channels related to the broadcast of the program having the same content is skipped.
Then, with respect to the physical channel for which the presence / absence of channel selection is set by the user, the virtual channel is switched to “032”, “033”, “061” to “063” whose skip setting is “off (channel selection)”. . In addition, with respect to the physical channel for which the representative channel is set, the representative channel “041” included in the plurality of virtual channels related to the broadcast of the same content program and the virtual channel other than the plurality of virtual channels related to the broadcast of the same content program It is switched to “043”. Further, regarding the physical channel “9” in which neither the skip setting nor the representative channel is set, the virtual channel “071” and “072” included in the physical channel are switched.
Therefore, every time the channel up / down key 1a is operated, the virtual channel “032” → “033” → “041” → “043” → “061” → “062” → “063” → “071” → “072” "→ ... sequentially.

  Next, channel switching processing by execution of the channel switching program 125g will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.

First, in step S1 of FIG. 5, the CPU 121 determines whether or not the channel up / down key 1a is operated based on a remote control signal input from the remote control device 1. If the CPU 121 determines in step S1 that the channel up / down key 1a has been operated (step S1; Yes), the process proceeds to step S2.
In step S2, the CPU 121 increments or decrements N, and in step S3, selects the virtual channel N (initial value of N = 1). In step S <b> 4, the CPU 121 determines whether a skip setting (the presence / absence of channel selection) or a representative channel is set for the physical channel including the virtual channel N. When the CPU 121 determines in step S4 that either the skip setting or the representative channel is set for the physical channel including the virtual channel N (step S4; Yes), the process proceeds to step S5, while the skip setting or the representative channel is set. If it is determined that none of the channels are set (step S4; No), the process proceeds to step S7.

In step S5, the CPU 121 determines whether or not skip setting is set. In step S5, when the CPU 121 determines that the skip setting is set (step S5; Yes), the process proceeds to step S6. When it is determined that the skip setting is not set (step S5; No), the process proceeds to step S8 in FIG. .
In step S6, the CPU 121 determines whether or not the skip setting is “off”. If the CPU 121 determines that the skip setting is “off” in step S6 (step S6; Yes), the CPU 121 proceeds to step S7, while determining that the step setting is not “off” but “on” (step S6). Step S6; No), it proceeds to step S2.

  In step S <b> 7, the CPU 121 causes the tuner 4 to receive a broadcast signal having a frequency of a physical channel including the virtual channel N, and causes the decoder unit 6 to extract the element signal of the virtual channel N from the received broadcast signal. Tune in.

  Next, in step S8 of FIG. 6, the CPU 121 determines whether or not the virtual channel N is one of a plurality of virtual channels related to broadcasting of the same program. If the CPU 121 determines in step S8 that the virtual channel N is one of a plurality of virtual channels related to broadcasting of the same program (step S8; Yes), the CPU 121 proceeds to step S9, while the virtual channel N is the same. If it is determined that it is not one of a plurality of virtual channels related to the broadcast of the program (step S8; No), the process proceeds to step S7.

  In step S9, the CPU 121 determines whether or not the virtual channel N is a virtual channel for which a representative channel is set. In step S9, when the CPU 121 determines that a representative channel is set for the virtual channel N (step S9; Yes), the CPU 121 proceeds to step S7. On the other hand, if the CPU 121 determines that no representative channel is set (step S9; No). ), Go to step S2.

According to the television receiver 100 (broadcast receiving apparatus) in the present embodiment described above, a broadcast signal in which a plurality of virtual channels and program information are multiplexed is received by the execution of the reception program 125a (reception means) by the CPU 121. Then, by executing the scan program 125b (scanning means), a virtual channel included in the physical channel of the broadcast signal that can be received by executing the reception program 125a is searched, and by executing the storage program 125c (storage means), the scan program 125b. The physical channel of the receivable broadcast signal and the virtual channel included in the physical channel retrieved by the execution of the physical channel are stored, and from the broadcast signal received by the execution of the reception program 125a by the execution of the determination program 125d (determination means). Take Based on the program information, it is determined whether or not a program having the same content is broadcast on a plurality of virtual channels included in each physical channel, and a determination program is executed by executing the first setting program 125e (first setting means). With regard to the physical channel that has been determined that the same content program is being broadcast on a plurality of virtual channels by executing 125d, one of the plurality of virtual channels related to the broadcast of the same content program is the representative channel. As a result of the execution of the second setting program 125f (second setting means), the presence / absence of channel selection for each virtual channel is set by the user, and the remote control device 1 (key operation unit) is provided with a channel up / down key 1a. At the same time, a key operation by the user is accepted and the channel switching program 125 is received. The execution of the (channel switching means), based on the operation of the channel up / down key 1a in the remote control device 1, sequentially switched to the stored virtual channel by the execution of the storage program 125c. In addition, by executing the first setting program 125e, among the channels stored by the storage program 125c, settings are made for the physical channels excluding the physical channels for which the channel selection of each virtual channel is set by the second setting program 125f. By executing the channel switching program 125g, the virtual channel is switched to only the representative channel among a plurality of virtual channels related to the broadcast of the same content program in the physical channel for which the representative channel is set by executing the first setting program 125e. Other virtual channels related to the broadcast of programs having the same contents as the representative channel are skipped.
That is, if there are a plurality of virtual channels that broadcast the same content program in one physical channel, the plurality of the same content broadcast programs when the channel switching operation is performed by the channel up / down key 1a. Of the virtual channels, only one virtual channel set as the representative channel is switched, and channels other than the virtual channel are skipped. Therefore, even when a program having the same content is broadcast on a plurality of virtual channels in one physical channel, the efficiency is reduced by switching to the program having the same content multiple times in the channel switching operation. Therefore, it is possible to provide a broadcast receiving apparatus that can efficiently perform channel switching operation.

Further, the execution of the second setting program 125f sets the presence / absence of channel selection for each virtual channel, and the execution of the first setting program 125e sets the second setting program 125f among the channels stored by the storage program 125c. Thus, settings are made for physical channels excluding the physical channel for which the presence / absence of tuning of each virtual channel is set.
That is, the setting of whether or not each virtual channel is selected by executing the second setting program 125f has priority over the setting of the representative channel by the first setting program 125e. Therefore, efficiency can be improved in the channel switching operation, and at the same time, whether or not each virtual channel is selected (that is, each virtual channel can be switched as a virtual channel in the channel switching operation, or It is possible to sufficiently reflect the user's setting regarding whether to set a virtual channel to be skipped.
In addition, the user can set whether or not to select each virtual channel regardless of whether or not a program having the same content is broadcast on a plurality of virtual channels included in one physical channel. It will be easy to use.
In addition, since a representative channel is automatically set for a physical channel that is not set to be selected by the user, channel switching in the broadcast receiving device can be performed only by the user setting the presence or absence of channel selection for any physical channel. Operation efficiency is improved, and user operability can be improved.

  The scope of the present invention is not limited to the form exemplified in the above embodiment, and various improvements and design changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

For example, as a representative channel determination method by the first setting unit (setting unit), for example, a method of setting a virtual channel or the like having the longest viewing time as the representative channel may be employed.
Also, for example, based on the acquired program information, the timing at which the same program is broadcast on a plurality of virtual channels is stored in advance in a predetermined storage area, and the representative channel is selected at the timing stored in the storage area. It may be configured to be set / released. According to this, even when the program organization changes variously, it is possible to always realize optimum channel switching according to the program organization at that time.

It is a block diagram which illustrates the principal part structure of the television receiver in embodiment. It is a top view of a remote control device. It is a figure which illustrates the channel memory which matches and memorize | stores the physical channel which can be received, and the virtual channel contained in the said physical channel. It is a figure which illustrates the channel setting screen for setting the presence or absence of channel selection of each virtual channel. It is a flowchart which shows a channel switching process. It is a flowchart which shows a channel switching process.

Explanation of symbols

100 Television receiver (broadcast receiver)
1 Remote control device (key operation unit)
1a Channel Up / Down Key 4 Tuner (Receiving means)
121 CPU (receiving means, scanning means, storage means, discrimination means, first setting means, setting means, second setting means, channel switching means)
124b Channel memory (storage means)
125a receiving program (receiving means)
125b Scan program (scanning means)
125c storage program (storage means)
125d discrimination program (discrimination means)
125e first setting program (first setting means, setting means)
125f Second setting program (second setting means)
125g Channel switching program (Channel switching means)

Claims (2)

Receiving means for receiving a broadcast signal in which programs of a plurality of virtual channels and program information related to the programs are multiplexed;
Scanning means for searching for virtual channels included in physical channels of broadcast signals receivable by the receiving means;
Determining means for determining whether or not a program having the same content is broadcast on a plurality of virtual channels included in each physical channel, based on program information acquired from the broadcast signal received by the receiving means;
With respect to the physical channel that has been determined by the determining means that the same content program is being broadcast on a plurality of virtual channels, one of the plurality of virtual channels related to the broadcast of the same content program is designated as the representative channel. Setting means to set as,
Of the plurality of virtual channels related to the broadcast of the same content in the physical channel for which the representative channel is set by the setting means, only the representative channel is switched to another virtual channel related to the broadcast of the same content as the representative channel. Is the channel switching means to skip,
With
Said discriminating means, matching degree of the predetermined information relating to each virtual channel obtained from the program information, in accordance with the determination of whether it is greater than the predetermined threshold value, the program is broadcast of the same content on multiple virtual channels Broadcast receiving device that determines whether or not Receiving means for receiving a broadcast signal in which programs of a plurality of virtual channels and program information related to the programs are multiplexed;
Scanning means for searching for virtual channels included in physical channels of broadcast signals receivable by the receiving means;
Determining means for determining whether or not a program having the same content is broadcast on a plurality of virtual channels included in each physical channel, based on program information acquired from the broadcast signal received by the receiving means;
Information for identifying a plurality of virtual channels related to broadcasting of the same content program is displayed and skipped for the physical channel determined by the determination means that the same content program is broadcast on a plurality of virtual channels. Setting means for allowing a user to set a virtual channel to be
Channel switching means for performing channel switching by skipping virtual channels set to skip by the setting means;
With
Said discriminating means, matching degree of the predetermined information relating to each virtual channel obtained from the program information, in accordance with the determination of whether it is greater than the predetermined threshold value, the program is broadcast of the same content on multiple virtual channels Broadcast receiving device that determines whether or not

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