JPH07288712A - Remote controller and receiver - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily select the channel of the program of a desired category. CONSTITUTION:A judgement circuit 101 extracts a selection code indicating the category of the program included in the picture signals of the program of the channel tuned in a tuning circuit 111 and supplies it to a control circuit 82. In the meantime, when this remote controller 200 is operated and the selection code corresponding to the category of the program desired by a user is outputted from the remote controller 200, the selection code is received through a remote control signal reception circuit 112 in the control circuit 82. In the control circuit 82, the tuning circuit 111 is controlled so as to let the selection code supplied from the judgement circuit 101 coincide with the selection code from the remote controller 200.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a remote control device and a receiving device for remotely controlling a receiving device for receiving a television broadcast which is carried out via, for example, a satellite line or a ground line.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A recent receiving device (for example, a television receiver) for receiving, for example, television broadcasting.
In this case, for example, selection (channel selection) of a broadcast channel to be received, volume adjustment, and the like can be remotely operated by a remote control device.

[0003]

Therefore, according to the remote control device, the viewer (user) can change the receiving channel even if the viewer (user) is located away from the receiving device. However, even when the remote control device is used, the viewer has to select the channel on which the desired program is broadcast by referring to the program section published in, for example, newspapers, which is troublesome for the viewer. There was an issue that made me feel.

Therefore, there is a method of selecting a program to be viewed by viewing the image displayed on the screen while randomly changing the receiving channel by operating the remote control device. In this case, the receiving channel is changed. The remote control device has to be operated so as to change it one by one, which also causes a problem for the viewer.

The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and makes it possible to easily select a channel of a desired program.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a remote control device for remotely controlling a receiving device for receiving a television broadcast, which is a channel selecting means for selecting a receiving channel (for example, FIG. Channel buttons 141 and 142, etc.) and type code selection means (eg, genre button 143 and cursor keys 144 to 147 shown in FIG. 10) for selecting a type code representing the type of each television program to be broadcast. It is characterized by

The remote controller according to claim 2 further comprises display means for displaying the type code selected by the type code selecting means (for example, the display section 135 shown in FIG. 10 or FIG. 11), and the display means is When the type code selecting means is operated, different type codes are sequentially displayed.

A receiving device according to a third aspect receives a broadcast in which a type code representing a type of each television program is superimposed on a video signal or an audio signal and is transmitted, and the receiving device according to the first or second aspect. In a receiving device that is remotely controlled by a remote control device, a selecting unit (for example, a selecting circuit 11 shown in FIG. 9) for selecting a broadcast channel to be received.
1), detection means for detecting the type code of the channel selected by the channel selection means (for example, the determination circuit 101 shown in FIG. 9), the type code detected by the detection means, and the remote control device. Comparing means for comparing the selected type code (for example, processing step S3 of the program shown in FIG. 14 and the like), and control means for controlling the selecting means corresponding to the comparison result of the comparing means (for example, shown in FIG. Program processing step S4, etc.).

[0009] In the receiving device according to the fourth aspect, when there is no channel corresponding to the type code input from the remote control device among the channels currently being broadcast, a reservation means for making a display reservation (for example, FIG. 14). The processing step S8 of the program shown in FIG.

The receiving device according to claim 5 receives a broadcast transmitting a program guide of a program including a type code indicating the type of each television program to be broadcast, and the remote control according to claim 1 or 2. In a receiving device that is remotely controlled by the device, recording means for recording a program guide (for example, FIG. 9).
Hard disk 75 shown in FIG. 13) and a type code input from the remote control device to a type code included in the program guide recorded in the recording means (for example, processing step S22 of the program shown in FIG. 15). When,
A reservation unit that makes a recording reservation corresponding to the comparison result of the comparison unit (for example, processing step S2 of the program shown in FIG.
3) and the like.

[0011]

In the remote controller according to the first aspect of the present invention, in addition to selecting the channel to be received, it is possible to select the type code indicating the type of each television program to be broadcast. Therefore, it is possible to select the channel to be received depending on the type of program.

In the remote controller according to the second aspect, when the type code selecting means is operated, different type codes are sequentially displayed. Therefore, it is possible to easily find the type code of the type of the desired program.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the broadcasting channel to be received is selected by the channel selection means, and the type code of the channel is detected. Then, the detected type code is compared with the type code input from the remote control device, and the channel selection means is controlled according to the comparison result. Therefore, for example, since the channel selection means can be controlled so as to select the program of the type code selected by the remote control device, the desired type of program can be easily selected.

In the receiving device according to the fourth aspect, when the channel corresponding to the type code input from the remote control device does not exist among the channels currently being broadcast, the display reservation is made. Therefore, at the same time when the program broadcast of the type corresponding to the type code input from the remote control device is started, the channel of the program can be displayed.

In the receiving device according to the fifth aspect, a program guide is recorded, and a type code included in the program guide,
The type code input from the remote control device is compared,
A recording reservation is made according to the comparison result. Therefore, it is possible to easily make a recording reservation (recording reservation) of a desired type of program.

[0016]

1 shows the principle of the television broadcasting method of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the transmitter 1 on the broadcasting station side is provided with an antenna 2.
As a result, radio waves are sent to the satellite 11, such as a communication satellite or a broadcasting satellite. The satellite 11 receives the radio wave, performs a predetermined conversion process, and then transmits the radio wave to the receiving device 22 arranged in each home. The receiving device 22 receives this radio wave through the antenna 21 and demodulates it.

The transmitter 1 transmits a video signal and an audio signal to the satellite 11 on different channels.

FIG. 2 shows the transmission format of the audio signal. As shown in the figure, the channel for this audio data is 1.7 Mbps.
Of the audio data of 4 channels of “audio 1” to “audio 4” and data channels for other data. Then, for these "audio 1" to "audio 4" and the data channel, a header and a code for error correction (EC
C) is also assigned.

In "audio 1" and "audio 2", stereo (L and R channels) audio data associated with a broadcast video signal is arranged. Also, in audio 3 and audio 4, stereo audio data for music-only broadcasting is arranged.

On the other hand, the data channel having a bit rate of 480 kbps is composed of 15 packets of "packet 0" to "packet 14" as shown in FIG. 3, and transmits predetermined data in packet units. It is designed to be able to.

In this embodiment, the program table data is transmitted by using a predetermined number of packets among the 15 packets.

FIG. 4 shows an example of the structure of the program guide data. As shown in the figure, when a predetermined broadcasting station broadcasts, for example, 15 television programs per day, program guides 1 to 15 are formed for each program. Each program guide introduces (guides) the corresponding program. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, three still images of a predetermined scene for introducing the television program, for a maximum of 15 seconds of commentary. Audio signal, text data corresponding to display text data described below, and genre classification data corresponding to control text data described below, time information,
It is composed of other data including other program information.

As a still image, one image is 640 × 480.
If it is composed of pixels and is to be displayed in 256 colors, for example, according to the standard BMP format of Windows (trademark), the capacity of one image is 300 KBy.
te. Therefore, the capacity required to represent three still images is 900 KByte.

On the other hand, the audio signal is Windows
According to the standard WAV format of, one sample is represented by 8 bits and the sampling frequency is set to 2
When the frequency is 2.1 kHz and the sound is monaural, the capacity is 300 KByte.

If the capacity of other data (hereinafter, simply referred to as text data) represented by text data (display text data) is 2 KBytes, the capacity required to express the program table of one program is: About 1.2MB
yte.

As the program table data, the data of the next day is transmitted every day on the night of the previous day, and the collected data of one week, one month, etc. is freely transmitted.

When the number of programs for one day is 15, the total transfer data amount for one day in this program table is 18 MByte (=
Since it is 1.2 × 15), it can be transferred in about 16 minutes. In the case of transmission for one week or one month, it takes time correspondingly, so that transmission is performed in advance in consideration of the transfer time.

FIG. 6 shows a display example of a program guide of one program. In this embodiment, one still image is displayed in the upper left part of the screen. This still image is one of the three still images shown in FIG. Further, above the still image, the title "alien" of this program is displayed corresponding to the text data (display text data). Furthermore, below the still image, the original name of this program, the script, the name of the director, and the characters introducing this program are displayed in correspondence with the text data (display text data).

On the right side of the still image, a selection mark (genre mark) indicating the type (genre) of this program is displayed.
Are displayed corresponding to the text data (display text data).

The text data forming the program guide data includes not only the data displayed in the program guide (as a program guide) (hereinafter, referred to as display text data) as described above, but also the data of the program. A selection code as a unique code corresponding to the selection mark indicating the genre is included (hereinafter, text data not displayed in the program guide, such as the selection code, will be referred to as control text data). Further, in addition to such a selection code, the control text data includes time information regarding the broadcast time of the program (for example, broadcast start time and its end time, broadcast start time and its broadcast time), and the program broadcast. The channel (hereinafter referred to as channel information)
At least included.

Further, an advertisement display section for a sponsor who provides this program is provided on the lower right side of the screen. In this advertisement display unit, it is possible to display an advertisement of a sponsor who provides this program as well as a sponsor who provides this program. The data displayed on the advertisement display unit may be a still image or display text data.

The program table data is composed of the still image (video signal), voice (audio signal), and text data (display text data, control text data) as described above.

In the transmitting apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1, the selection code is included in the program guide data and can be superimposed (combined) with, for example, a video signal of the program corresponding to the program guide. . That is, the selection code indicating the type of program is, for example, as shown in FIG.
It is designed to be superimposed on at least 1H in the range of 1H.

In this case, the type (genre) of the program can be recognized by detecting the selection code superimposed on the video signal on the receiving device 22 (FIG. 1) side.

Next, FIG. 8 shows a detailed configuration of the transmitter 1 of FIG. The text data, video signal, or audio signal forming the program guide data described above is supplied to the synthesizing circuit 43, the A / D converter 41, or 44, respectively. A video signal or an audio signal for a television program (television broadcasting) is supplied to the synthesizing circuit 31 or the A / D converter 34, respectively.

The A / D converter 41 or 44 is adapted to respectively A / D convert the video signal or audio signal forming the inputted program table data and supply it to the synthesizing circuit 43. The synthesizing circuit 43 synthesizes the text data forming the program guide data with the video signal or audio signal of the program guide data supplied from the A / D converter 41 or 42, respectively, and synthesizes the synthesized data. It is designed to output to.

The A / D converter 34 is adapted to A / D convert the audio signal for the television program and output it to the synthesizing circuit 35. The synthesizing circuit 35 includes an A / D converter 34.
Alternatively, the output data of each synthesis circuit 43 is arranged in accordance with the format shown in FIG. 2 and output to the modulation circuit 33.

In addition to the video signal for the television program, the synthesis circuit 31 can be supplied with the selection code described in FIG. 7 which represents the genre of the television program. Is supplied,
As described above, the selection code is superimposed on a predetermined horizontal scanning line in the vertical blanking period of the video signal and is output to the scramble circuit 32. Also, when only the video signal for the television program is supplied thereto, the synthesizing circuit 31 outputs the video signal as it is to the scramble circuit 32.

In the scramble circuit 32, the combining circuit 31
The video signal from is subjected to scrambling by a predetermined scrambling method (for example, line permeation method (scan line replacement method), etc.), and the scrambled result is output to the modulation circuit 33. .

The modulation circuit 33 performs QPSK modulation of the output signal from the synthesizing circuit 35, FM modulation of the output signal from the scramble circuit 32, and outputs the output signal to a transmission circuit (not shown) in the subsequent stage. ing.

In the transmitting apparatus 1 configured as described above, text data (program data corresponding to programs to be broadcast during a predetermined period such as one day, one week, one month, etc. A selection code corresponding to the selection mark displayed on the television program guide screen shown in FIG. 6, control text data including time information and channel information of the television program, and characters and figures displayed in the program guide. , A display text data such as a symbol (including a selection mark), a video signal, or an audio signal is supplied to the synthesis circuit 43, the A / D converter 41, or 44, respectively. In the A / D converter 41 or 44, the video signal or audio signal of the program table data is converted into A / D signal, respectively.
Each of the video signal or audio signal of the program guide data which has been D-converted and converted into a digital signal,
It is output to the synthesis circuit 43.

In the synthesizing circuit 43, the text data of the program guide data and the video signal or audio signal of the program guide data sequentially supplied from the A / D converters 41 or 44 are synthesized, and as shown in FIG. The data structure is output to the synthesizing circuit 35.

On the other hand, a video signal or an audio signal for a television program (television broadcasting) is supplied to the synthesizing circuit 31 or the A / D converter 34, respectively. A / D
In the conversion circuit 34, the audio signal for the television program is
A / D converted into a digital signal, which is output to the synthesizing circuit 35.

Although not shown in FIG. 8, the audio signal has two systems of L and R channels,
In the A / D converter 34, the L and R channel audio signals are A / D converted and output to the synthesizing circuit 35.

In the synthesizing circuit 35, the L or R channel audio signal from the A / D converter 34 is arranged in the "audio 1" or "audio 2" portion of the format described with reference to FIG. The program guide data from the synthesizing circuit 43 is the same as the "data" (data channel) portion (however, of the "data" portion of the packet previously allocated to the program guide data (FIG. 3) described in FIG. 2). Part). Then, the synthesizing circuit 35 generates audio channel data in the format shown in FIG. 2 by adding a necessary header and a code for error correction (hereinafter referred to as ECC) to them, and the modulating circuit 33. Output to.

On the other hand, the synthesizing circuit 31 is supplied with the video signal for the television program and the selection code described in FIG. 7 that represents the genre of the television program. In the synthesizing circuit 31, the selection code is superimposed on a predetermined horizontal scanning line in the vertical blanking period of the video signal, and the scrambling circuit 3
2 is output.

In the scramble circuit 32, the combining circuit 31
The video signal output from the video signal on which the selection code is superimposed is scrambled and output to the modulation circuit 33.

In the modulation circuit 33, the data output from the synthesizing circuit 35 (hereinafter, appropriately referred to as audio system data) is QPSK modulated, and the signal output from the scramble circuit 32 (hereinafter appropriately referred to as video system data). The data) is FM-modulated and output to the transmission circuit in the subsequent stage. In the transmission circuit, the modulation signal from the modulation circuit 33 is up-converted to become a signal in a predetermined frequency band, further amplified to a required level and output. Then, the transmission signal output from the transmission circuit is supplied to the antenna (parabolic antenna) 2 (FIG. 1), and emitted from there to the satellite 11.

As described above, in addition to the video signal and audio signal for the program on which the selection code is superimposed, the program for a predetermined number of days (hereinafter, for example, one month) is transmitted from the transmitter 1. Table data is sent. In addition,
Either of sending the program guide data and superimposing the selection code representing the genre on the video signal for the program can be performed.

Next, the radio wave from the antenna 2 (FIG. 1) is
It is received by the satellite 11, amplified by a transponder (not shown) incorporated therein, and emitted toward the ground. The radio wave from the satellite 11 is received by the receiving antenna 21, and the received signal is supplied to the receiving device 22.

FIG. 9 shows the detailed structure of the receiving device 22. The reception signal from the antenna 21 is output to a reception circuit (not shown), where it is down-converted into a signal in a predetermined frequency band to be an IF signal (intermediate frequency signal) and supplied to the channel selection circuit 111. It is designed to be. The tuning circuit 11 is controlled by the control circuit 82,
A signal of a predetermined channel is selected (tuned) from the IF signal from the reception circuit and supplied to the demodulation circuit 51.

The demodulation circuit 51 demodulates the IF signal selected by the channel selection circuit 111 into video system data or audio system data, and descrambles the respective signals.
Alternatively, the signal is output to the separation circuit 56. The demodulation circuit 51 is also configured to perform error correction processing on the demodulated audio data (FIG. 2) according to the ECC added thereto.

The descramble circuit 52 is a demodulation circuit 51.
Of the video data from the device is descrambled, that is, the scramble circuit 32 of the transmitter 1 descrambles the video data, and the resulting signal, that is, for the TV program (with the selection code superimposed) Is output to the synthesizing circuit 54 and the judging circuit 101.

The synthesizing circuit 54 selects the output of the descramble circuit 52, the D / A converter 76, or the VTR 92 in response to the operation of the input section 81, and CR
It is designed to output to T55. When the output of the D / A converter 76 is selected, the synthesizing circuit 54 synthesizes the outputs of the D / A converter 76 and the character generator 78 when the text data is output from the character generator 78 (for example, , The output of the character generator 78 is superimposed on the output of the D / A converter 76, and the result is output to the CRT 55. C
The RT 55 is adapted to display the output of the synthesis circuit 54 on its screen.

The decision circuit 101 is the descramble circuit 5
When the selection code is superimposed on the video signal for the television program which is the output of No. 2, the selection code is extracted and output to the control circuit 82.

The separation circuit 56 uses the audio data from the demodulation circuit 51 to extract "audio 1" shown in FIG.
And the data arranged in the "audio 2" portion, that is, the L and R channel audio signals for television programs are extracted and output to the D / A conversion circuit 57. Further, the separation circuit 56 uses the audio data from the demodulation circuit 51 to convert the “data” shown in FIG.
The data arranged in the portion (data channel), that is, the program guide data is extracted and output to the separation circuit 71.

The D / A conversion circuit 57 converts the audio signal for the television program from the separation circuit 56 into an analog signal by D / A conversion and outputs the analog signal to the synthesis circuit 58. The synthesizing circuit 58 includes the D / A converter 5
Any one of the audio signals output from the VTR 92 and the audio signal 7 or 77 is selected and supplied to the speaker 59. The speaker 59 outputs the signal from the synthesizing circuit 58 as voice.

The separating circuit 71 separates the program guide data from the separating circuit 56 into text data (T), video signal (V), and audio signal (A), and outputs them to the hard disk 75. There is. The hard disk 75 is controlled by the control circuit 82, and the separation circuit 7
The data output from 5 is stored (recorded). Then, the data recorded on the hard disk 75 is read therefrom under the control of the control circuit 82, and the character generator 78, the D / A converter 76,
Alternatively, it is output to 77.

The character generator 78 generates a character (for example, a character, a symbol, a figure, etc.) corresponding to the data from the hard disk 75 (display text data of the program table data) and outputs it to the synthesizing circuit 54. Has been done. The D / A converter 76 is adapted to D / A convert the data from the hard disk 75 (a video signal of the data forming the program guide data) and output it to the synthesizing circuit 54. The D / A converter 77 D / A converts the data from the hard disk 75 (the audio signal of the data forming the program guide data), and outputs it to the synthesizing circuit 58.

The input section 81 is operated by a viewer as needed, and outputs an operation signal corresponding to the operation to the control circuit 82.

The control circuit 82 responds to the operation signal from the input section 81 or the remote control signal from the remote control signal receiving circuit 112, to the hard disk 75, VTR 92,
Alternatively, the tuning circuit 111 is controlled.
The memory 91 is adapted to store data (a selection code, as will be described later) output by the control circuit 82.

Although not shown, the VTR 92 is supplied with the output of the descramble circuit 52 or the D / A converter 57, that is, the video signal or the audio signal for the television program. VTR92 is
Under the control of the control circuit 82, the video signal or audio signal for the television program supplied from the descramble circuit 52 or the D / A converter 57 is recorded (recorded).
The recorded video or audio signal,
The data is output to the synthesis circuit 54 or 58, respectively. Further, for the VTR 92, the control circuit 82
You can make a recording reservation by.

The remote control signal receiving circuit 112 receives light (for example, infrared rays) as a remote control signal from the remote control device 200, and photoelectrically converts it.
The electric signal is output to the control circuit 82.

The remote control device 200 comprises an input section 131 and a display section 135 as shown in FIG. 10, for example. The input section 131 has channel buttons 141, 1
42, genre button 143, cursor keys 144 to 147, search button 148, and reservation button 149.
It consists of Channel button 141 or 1
42 is operated when selecting a channel for television broadcasting by a terrestrial line or a satellite line.
Genre button 143, cursor keys 144 to 14
7, the search button 148, and the reservation button 149 will be described later.

In addition to the above buttons (keys), the input section 131 is also provided with a power button (not shown) for turning on / off the power of the receiving device 22.

Information corresponding to the operation of the input section 131 is displayed on the display section 135.

Next, FIG. 11 shows an electrical configuration example of the remote control device 200. The detection circuit 132 detects which button (key) of the above-mentioned input unit 131 is operated and outputs the detection signal to the control circuit 133. The control circuit 133 has a detection circuit 132.
The information corresponding to the detection signal from is displayed on the display unit 135. Further, the control circuit 133
Indicates the type (genre) of the program stored in advance in the memory 134 in response to the detection signal from the detection circuit 132.
Is also read out and output to the display unit 135 for display. In addition, the control circuit 13
3 also drives the remote control signal generation circuit 136 in response to the detection signal from the detection circuit 133. The remote control signal generation circuit 136 is driven by the control circuit 133 and emits light corresponding to the operation of the input unit 131.
It is designed to be emitted as a remote control signal.

Next, the operation will be described. The radio wave transmitted from the transmitter 1 (FIG. 1) as described above is received by the antenna 21 via the satellite 11, and the received signal is supplied to the channel selection circuit 111 (FIG. 9) via the reception circuit. To be done.

On the other hand, when the channel buttons 141 and 142 of the input section 131 of the remote control device 200 (FIG. 10) are operated, the operated buttons are detected by the detection circuit 132.
(FIG. 11), the detection signal is detected by the control circuit 13
3 is output. In the control circuit 133, the detection circuit 132
In response to the detection signal from the remote control signal generation circuit 136
Is driven, and thereby a remote control signal is output.

This remote control signal is received by the remote control signal receiving circuit 112 of the receiving device 22 (FIG. 9),
It is photoelectrically converted and output to the control circuit 82. The control circuit 82 controls the tuning circuit 111 in response to the remote control signal. As a result, in the tuning circuit 111,
Of the channels that make up the received signal from the receiving circuit,
The operated channel button (channel button 141
And any of the buttons constituting 142) are selected.

The received signal of the channel selected by the channel selection circuit 111 is supplied to the demodulation circuit 51. Demodulation circuit 51
Then, the reception signal (IF signal) from the reception circuit is demodulated into video data or audio data, and each is output to the descramble circuit 52 or the separation circuit 56.

In the descramble circuit 52, the video data from the demodulation circuit 51 are descrambled and output to the CRT 55 via the synthesizing circuit 54 for display.

On the other hand, in the separation circuit 56, the audio signals of the L and R channels for the television program are extracted from the audio data from the demodulation circuit 51 and output to the D / A conversion circuit 57. In the D / A conversion circuit 57, the audio signal for the television program from the separation circuit 56 is D / A.
It is A-converted, supplied to the speaker 59 via the synthesis circuit 58, and output.

As described above, by operating the remote control device 220, the image and sound of the TV program of the selected channel are output.

On the other hand, if the audio system data from the demodulation circuit 51 includes program table data, the separation circuit 56 extracts (separates) the data and outputs it to the separation circuit 71.

In the separation circuit 71, the program table data from the separation circuit 56 is separated into text data (both display text data and control text data), video signal and audio signal, which are output to the hard disk 75 and recorded. It Then, when the input unit 81 is operated, the control circuit 82 controls the hard disk 75, from which the display text data forming the program guide data,
The video signal or the audio signal is supplied to the character generator 78, the D / A converter 76 or 77, respectively.
Control to be supplied to.

The character generator 78 generates a character corresponding to the display text data from the hard disk 75 and outputs it to the synthesizing circuit 54. At the same time, in the D / A converter 76, the video signal of the program guide data from the hard disk 75 is D / A converted and output to the synthesizing circuit 54.

In the synthesizing circuit 54, the character from the character generator 78 and the video signal from the D / A converter 76 are synthesized and output to the CRT 55.

As a result, the program guide as described with reference to FIG. 6 is displayed.

In the D / A converter 77, the audio signal of the program guide data from the hard disk 75 is D / A converted, if necessary, and supplied to the speaker 59 through the synthesizing circuit 58 and output. .

The control circuit 82 is adapted to change the program table data read from the hard disk 75 in response to the operation of the input section 81, whereby all the program table data stored in the hard disk 75 is stored in the CRT 55. The corresponding program guide can be displayed. The program guide recorded on the hard disk 75 is read out at a predetermined time interval (for example, 30 seconds) and output to the CRT 55.
At RT55, the program guide may be sequentially displayed at predetermined time intervals.

On the other hand, in the judging circuit 101, the selection code of the TV program of the channel currently being received (selected) is
It is extracted from the output of the descramble circuit 52 and output to the control circuit 82. In the control circuit 82, the determination circuit 101
The genre of the program of the channel currently selected by the channel selection circuit 111 is recognized from the selection code from.

Next, in the receiving device 22, the channel buttons 141 and 142 of the remote control device 200 (FIG. 10) can be operated as described above to select the receiving channel, and the program type ( (Genre) is specified, and the channel of the program of the specified genre can be selected.

That is, when the genre button 143 of the remote control device 200 (FIG. 10) is operated, the control circuit 1
33 (FIG. 11) reads the selection code stored in the memory 134 and causes the display unit 135 to display the genre of the program corresponding to the selection code.

Here, in the memory 134, selection codes corresponding to various program genres are hierarchized, listed, and stored in advance. That is, memory 1
As selection codes of genres belonging to the highest hierarchy, 34 are stored in 34, for example, 9 kinds shown in FIG. 12 are stored, and the genres (hereinafter, appropriately referred to as upper hierarchy genres) corresponding to the respective selection codes are If the genre can be classified into a more detailed genre, the detailed genre is stored so as to belong to the lower hierarchy of the upper hierarchy genre.

For example, the upper hierarchy genre "movie" shown in FIG. 12 is classified into, for example, nine kinds of detailed genres shown in FIG.

When the genre button 143 is operated,
The control unit 133 first reads the selection code of, for example, the genre “movie” among the genres belonging to the highest hierarchy stored in the memory 134, and causes the display unit 135 to display the selection code. Then, when, for example, the downward cursor key 145 is operated, the control unit 132 causes the control unit 132 to select another (different) stored in the memory 134 and belonging to the same layer as the genre “movie” every time the operation is performed. ) The genre selection code is read and the genre of the program corresponding to the selection code is displayed on the display unit 135. Thus, after operating the genre button 143, the cursor key 14
When 5 is sequentially operated, the genre displayed on the display unit 135 changes, for example, as shown in FIG.

When the upward cursor key 144 is operated, the genre displayed on the display unit 135 is changed in the direction opposite to that when the cursor key 145 is operated.

Further, for example, when the genre “movie” is displayed on the display unit 135 and the right cursor key 147 is operated, the control circuit 133 causes the memory 134 to display the genre “movie”. Of the genres belonging to the lower hierarchy, for example, the selection code of the genre “love romance” is read and displayed on the display unit 135. Then, after that, for example, when the downward cursor key 145 is operated, the control unit 132, every time the operation is performed, causes the control unit 132 to store another genre in the lower hierarchy of the genre “movie” stored in the memory 134. The selection code is read, and the genre of the program corresponding to the selection code is displayed on the display unit 135. As a result, when the cursor keys 145 are sequentially operated after the cursor keys 147 are operated, as shown in FIG.
The genre displayed in 35 changes.

When the upward cursor key 144 is operated, the genre displayed on the display unit 135 is changed in the opposite direction to that when the cursor key 145 is operated, as in the case described above. Has been done.

When any of the lower genres shown in FIG. 13 is displayed on the display unit 135, for example, when the left cursor key 146 is operated, the display state of the upper genre is displayed. That is, the genre "movie" is returned to the displayed state.

Further, when the genre of the lower hierarchy shown in FIG. 13 is displayed on the display unit 135 and there is a genre of the lower hierarchy, for example, when the right cursor key 147 is operated, The lower genres are displayed.

As described above, by operating the cursor keys 144 to 147, the genre desired by the viewer is displayed on the display unit 135, and when the search button 148 is operated, that genre is displayed. The selection code corresponding to is output from the remote control generation circuit 136 as a remote control signal. The remote control signal is received by the remote control signal receiving circuit 112 of the receiving device 22 (FIG. 9) and output to the control circuit 82.

When the control circuit 82 receives the remote control signal corresponding to the selection code, it carries out the processing according to the flow chart shown in FIG.

That is, in the control circuit 82, first, in step S
1, in addition to the selection code represented by the remote control signal,
The start channel described later is transferred to and stored in the memory 91. Then, in step S2, the selection code supplied from the determination circuit 101 is read (decoded), and the process proceeds to step S3 to determine whether or not the selection code matches the selection code stored in the memory 91. Is determined.

When it is determined in step S3 that the selection code supplied from the determination circuit 101 matches the selection code stored in the memory 91, that is, the genre of the program of the currently selected channel is viewed. If the genre is desired by the person, the process ends.

Therefore, in this case, the program of the genre desired by the viewer is displayed.

When it is determined in step S3 that the selection code supplied from the determination circuit 101 does not match the selection code stored in the memory 91, that is, the genre of the program of the currently selected channel is If the genre is not desired by the viewer, the process proceeds to step S4, the tuning circuit 111 is controlled, and the channel selected by the tuning circuit 111 is changed.

Then, the process proceeds to step S5, where the channel currently selected by the channel selection circuit 111 (the channel after the change in step S4) is supplied from the selection code stored in the memory 91 and the determination circuit 101. It is determined whether or not it is the channel (hereinafter, referred to as the start channel) at the time when the comparison with the selected code that has started is started. When it is determined in step S5 that the channel currently selected by the channel selection circuit 111 is not the start channel, the process returns to step S2 and step S2.
Repeat the process from.

If it is determined in step S5 that the channel currently selected by the channel selection circuit 111 is the start channel, that is, in the program being broadcast, the genre desired by the viewer. If there is no such program, the process proceeds to step S6, and out of the program table data recorded in the hard disk 75 as described above, the program table data related to the program of the present day (hereinafter referred to as program table data of the day) is read out, and step S7 Proceed to.

In step S7, the selection code stored in the memory 91 among the selection codes (hereinafter, referred to as the current day selection code) of the control text data constituting the current day program guide data read from the hard disk 75. It is determined whether there is a match with. Step S
7, when it is determined that there is a selection code that matches the selection code stored in the memory 91 among the selection code on the day, that is, the program broadcast today is of a genre desired by the viewer. If there is, go to step S8,
Display reservation processing is performed.

That is, the control text data including the current day selection code that matches the selection code stored in the memory 91 is read from the hard disk 75, and the time information and channel information therein are transferred to the memory 91. Remembered.

Thereafter, when the time corresponding to the time information stored in the memory 91 is reached, the control circuit 82 controls the channel selection circuit 111 so as to select the channel also stored in the memory 91.

Therefore, in this case, when the broadcast of the program of the genre desired by the viewer is started, the channel of the program is selected and displayed. Therefore, it is possible to prevent missing of the program scheduled to be viewed.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S7 that none of the selection codes stored on the memory 91 matches the selection code of the day, that is, if the viewer is in the program broadcast today, If there is no desired genre, the process ends.

As described above, the channel of the desired program is selected only by specifying (selecting) the genre of the desired program, so that it is possible to prevent the viewer from feeling annoyed.

In the memory 91, the remote control device 20
It is possible to store selection codes corresponding to a plurality of genres desired by the viewer by repeating the operation of 0 as described above. in this case,
The process shown in FIG. 14 is performed on the plurality of selection codes.

Next, in the receiving device 22, as described above, the channel of the program is selected by designating (selecting) the genre of the desired program, and the recording reservation of the program is stored in the VTR 92. It is designed so that you can do it.

That is, by operating remote control device 200 in the same manner as described above, the genre of the program that the viewer desires to record is displayed on display unit 135, and remote control device 200 (FIG. 10) is displayed. Reservation button 14
When 9 is operated, the remote control signal (selection code) corresponding to the displayed genre is changed to the remote control generation circuit 13
It is output from 0. This remote control signal is received by the receiving device 22.
Is received by the remote control signal receiving circuit 112 of the control circuit 8
2 is output.

When the control circuit 82 receives the remote control signal corresponding to the selection code based on the operation of the reservation button 149, the control code is transferred to the memory 91 and stored therein, and then according to the flowchart shown in FIG. Perform processing.

That is, in the control circuit 82, first, in step S
In 21, the first (today's) program guide data (control text data of the program guide data) of the program guide data for one month from today, which is recorded in the hard disk 75, is read out. Then, the process proceeds to step S22, and the selection code associated (included) with the read program guide data is the selection code stored in the memory 91 (when a plurality of selection codes are stored in the memory 91). Is determined to match any one of the plurality). In step S22, the selection code attached to the read program guide data is stored in the memory 91.
If it is determined that the selection code matches the selection code stored in step S23, the process proceeds to step S23, and while referring to the time information and the channel information in the control text data including the selection code, the recording reservation (recording) of the TV program to the VTR 92 is performed. Reservation) is made.

On the other hand, in step S22, the selection code associated with the read program guide data is stored in the memory 91.
If it is determined that the selection code does not match the selection code stored in step S23, step S23 is skipped and step S24 is performed.
Then, it is determined whether or not the reading of the program guide data for one month from the hard disk 75 is completed. If it is determined in step S24 that the program guide data for one month has not been read from the hard disk 75, that is, if there is still program guide data to be read from the hard disk 75, the process proceeds to step S25 and the next step is performed. (For the next day) is read from the hard disk 75, the process returns to step S22, and the process from step S22 is repeated.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S24 that the program guide data for one month has been read from the hard disk 75, the process is ended.

According to the above processing, the viewer simply designates the genre of the television program desired to be recorded, and the recording reservation of the television program of the designated genre is made by the VTR9.
It is done for 2. Therefore, it is possible to easily make a recording reservation.

In this embodiment, the transmitter 1
Then, the selection code indicating the genre of the program is superimposed on the video signal of the program, but the selection code may be other than this, for example, the "data" portion (data channel) of the audio data shown in FIG. ) Can be arranged.

Further, in the present embodiment, the scramble circuit 32 is provided in the transmitter 1. However, if it is not necessary to scramble the program, the transmitter 1 is configured without the scramble circuit 32. You can In this case, the receiving device 22 can be configured without the descrambling device 52.

Further, in this embodiment, the remote control device 200 is provided with the display section 135, and by operating the cursor keys 144 to 147, the genre is displayed on the display section 135, and the desired genre is displayed to the viewer. Although the selection is made, in addition to this, as shown in FIG. 16, for example, a remote control device is provided with a genre-specific button for designating a genre, and by operating this button, the viewer
You may make it select a desired genre.

Further, in this embodiment, the remote control device 200
In addition, although the memory 134 in which the selection code is stored in advance is provided, the memory 134 may be provided in the receiving device 22 instead of the remote control device 200. In this case, the genre corresponding to the selection code stored in the memory 134 is displayed on the CRT 55, and the remote control device 200 is operated while observing the display to select the desired genre.

[0119]

As described above, according to the present invention,
A channel of a program of a desired genre can be selected. Further, it becomes possible to easily make a recording reservation.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of a satellite broadcasting system to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a format of audio data (audio channel) in the embodiment of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a format of a data channel in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the structure of program guide data according to the present invention.

5 is a diagram illustrating a data structure of a program guide in the embodiment of FIG.

6 is a diagram showing a display example of one program guide shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a video signal on which a selection code is superimposed.

8 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of a transmission device 1 of FIG.

9 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of a reception device 22 of FIG.

10 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a remote control device 200 in FIG.

11 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration example of the remote control device 200 of FIG.

12 is a diagram illustrating genres of programs displayed on display unit 135 of remote control device 200 in FIG.

13 is a diagram illustrating genres of programs displayed on display unit 135 of remote control device 200 in FIG.

14 is a flowchart illustrating a channel selection control process of the control circuit 82 of FIG.

15 is a flowchart illustrating a recording reservation control process of the control circuit 82 of FIG.

16 is a diagram showing another configuration example of the remote control device 200. FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 transmitter 2 parabolic antenna 11 satellite 21 parabolic antenna 22 receiver 31 combining circuit 32 scramble circuit 33 modulation circuit 34 A / D converter 35 combining circuit 41 A / D converter 43 combining circuit 44 A / D converter 51 demodulating circuit 52 descramble circuit 54 synthesis circuit 55 CRT 56 separation circuit 57 D / A converter 58 synthesis circuit 59 speaker 71 separation circuit 75 hard disk 76, 77 D / A converter 78 character generator 81 input unit 82 control circuit 91 memory 92 VTR ( Video tape recorder) 101 Judgment circuit 111 Channel selection circuit 112 Remote control signal reception circuit 131 Input section 132 Detection circuit 133 Control circuit 134 Memory 135 Display section 136 Remote control signal generation circuit 141, 142 Channel button 14 Or 147 cursor key 148 search button 149 reservation button 200 remote control device

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Taku Tanaka 6-35 Kita-Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo Sony Corporation

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A remote control device for remotely controlling a receiving device for receiving a television broadcast, a channel selecting means for selecting a receiving channel, and a type code selection for selecting a type code representing a type of each television program to be broadcast. A remote control device comprising: 2. The display device further comprises display means for displaying the type code selected by the type code selection means, wherein the display means sequentially displays the different type codes when the type code selection means is operated. The remote control device according to claim 1, wherein: 3. A reception in which a type code representing a type of each television program is superimposed on a video signal or an audio signal and is transmitted, and which is remotely controlled by the remote control device according to claim 1 or 2. In the device, a channel selection unit that selects a broadcast channel to be received, a detection unit that detects the type code of the channel selected by the channel selection unit, the type code detected by the detection unit, and the remote control device. A receiving apparatus comprising: a comparing unit that compares the type code that has been input, and a control unit that controls the tuning unit according to a comparison result of the comparing unit. 4. A reservation means for making a display reservation when a channel corresponding to the type code input from the remote control device does not exist among the channels currently being broadcast. The receiving device according to 1. 5. A remote control device according to claim 1, wherein the remote control device according to claim 1 receives a broadcast that transmits a program guide of the program including a type code indicating a type of each television program to be broadcast. In the apparatus, recording means for recording the program guide, comparing means for comparing the type code input from the remote control device with type code included in the program guide recorded in the recording means, and the comparing means. And a reservation unit that makes a recording reservation according to the comparison result of 1.