JPH0766785A - Broadcasting signal receiver and method time setting for its internal clock - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To remove complexity for user's time setting by automatically setting up the time of an internal clock. CONSTITUTION:This broadcasting signal receiver is provided with a cable box 1 for receiving a CATV signal and selecting its channel and a video cassette recorder(VCR) 2. When power for the VCR 2 is turned off, the box 1 is turned on by a remote control signal outputted from an infrared-ray light emitting part 4 under the control of a microcomputer 22 to select the channel of a broadcasting signal to which VBI data are multiplexed. A data decoder 21 extracts the VBI data by an output video signal from a tuner 20, decodes the signal and supplies the decoded signal to the microcomputer 22. The microcomputer 22 extracts time data from the VBI data and sets up the time of the internal clock of the VCR 2 included in itself to the time based upon the extracted time data. Consequently the internal clock of the VCR 2 is automatically set up in each power off of the VCR 2, so that complexity for user's time setting can be removed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a broadcast signal receiver such as a VCR (video cassette recorder) having a timer function and a time setting method for an internal clock thereof.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when a device having a timer function, such as a VCR, is used, the user internally checks the display on a commander (remote control transmitter) or the screen display on a monitor TV, etc. It was necessary to set the clock time.

[0003]

As described above, according to the conventional technique, V
The user himself / herself has to set the time of the internal clock such as CR, and the user who cannot set the time cannot use the function using the timer (for example, the timer reserved recording function of the VCR).

Even if the time of the internal clock is once set, if the power cord is unplugged and the time goes wrong, the time goes wrong with the passage of time, or even in a country with daylight saving time, the daylight saving time and the normal time are set. When the time is changed due to the change between the and, the user has to set the time of the internal clock again, which is troublesome.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to automatically set the time of the internal clock so as to eliminate the troublesomeness of the user's time setting.

[0006]

A broadcast signal receiver according to a first aspect of the present invention includes a time information extracting means for extracting time information contained in a received broadcast signal, and a time extracted by the time information extracting means. A time setting means for setting the time of the internal clock according to the information.

A broadcast signal receiver according to a second aspect of the present invention includes a video device and an external tuner, and the video device controls the external tuner to receive a broadcast signal including time information. A time information extracting means for extracting time information included in the broadcast signal received by the external tuner,
The time information extracting means is provided with time setting means for setting the time of the internal clock.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, a method for setting the time of an internal clock of a broadcast signal receiver extracts time information contained in a received broadcast signal and sets the time of the internal clock according to the extracted time information. It is a thing.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for setting a time of an internal clock of a broadcast signal receiver, wherein an external tuner is controlled by a video device to receive a broadcast signal including time information, and the video device receives the broadcast signal by the external tuner. The time information included in the extracted broadcast signal is extracted, and the time of the internal clock is set based on the extracted time information.

[0010]

In the first and third aspects of the invention, the time setting of the internal clock of the receiver main body is automatically performed by the time information extracted from the received broadcast signal, so that the user's time setting is bothersome. It can be resolved.

In the second and fourth aspects of the invention, since the time setting of the internal clock of the video equipment is automatically performed by the time information extracted from the broadcast signal received by the external tuner, the user's time setting is troublesome. It is possible to eliminate the problem.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG. This example is an example applied to a closed caption system.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 is a cable box for performing channel selection processing, descrambling processing, etc. for CATV signals. The CATV signals of a plurality of channels transmitted by a cable (not shown) are supplied to the tuner 12 via the input terminal 11. In the tuner 12, tuning is performed under the control of the tuner control microcomputer 13,
The tuner 12 outputs the video signal of the selected channel. The tuner 12 is provided with a descrambler, and descrambles the scrambled video signal.

Reference numeral 14 is a remote control signal receiving unit, and the remote control signal receiving unit 14 is supplied with a remote control signal (infrared signal) output from an infrared light emitting unit described later. Then, the remote control signal receiving unit 14 supplies the microcomputer 13 with information such as channel selection and power on / off.

The video signal output from the tuner 12 is supplied to the RF modulator 15, converted into a broadcast signal of a predetermined channel, and supplied to the tuner 20 of the VCR 2. In the tuner 20, the channel of the broadcast signal output from the RF modulator 15 of the cable box 1 is selected by the control of the tuner / clock control microcomputer 22.

An NTSC video signal output from the tuner 20 is supplied to a data decoder 21. In the predetermined line of the vertical blanking period of this video signal,
Caption data (subtitle data) is inserted.
As shown in FIG. 2A, the caption data has 7 periods (5
03 KHz) clock run-in signal and 2 bits (S
1 bit (S3) logic level "0" followed by 1 bit (S3) logic level "1" start bit and 16 bit N
It is composed of RZ data (data code). The clock run-in signal is a synchronizing signal for decoding the data code, and the clock run-in signal and the data code are in phase with each other. The 16-bit NRZ data is composed of two sets of 7-bit ASCII codes b1 to b7 and 1-bit parity code. In FIG. 2A, HD is a horizontal sync signal and SC is a color burst signal.

When the caption data is multiplexed on a predetermined line of the vertical blanking period of the video signal output from the tuner 20, the data decoder 21 outputs 1
The 6-bit NRZ data is extracted, decoded from the hexa code to the BCD code, and then supplied to the microcomputer 22 as subtitle data. In this case, for example, subtitles are displayed on the screen in units of a predetermined frame for each break of a sentence, so that subtitle data is stored in a RAM (not shown) in the microcomputer 22 in units of a predetermined frame.

Then, the caption data is read from the RAM of the microcomputer 22, supplied to the display control circuit 23, and converted into character data (dot data). A control signal indicating the display position is also supplied from the microcomputer 22 to the display control circuit 23. The display control circuit 23 forms a superimpose signal according to the character data at the timing of the display position on the screen and superimposes it on the video signal supplied from the tuner 20 via the recording / reproducing signal processing circuit 24.

The video signal output from the display control circuit 23 is supplied to the RF modulator 25, converted into a broadcast signal of a predetermined channel, and then supplied to the TV monitor 3. As a result, when the caption data is multiplexed in the video signal output from the tuner 20, the TV monitor 3
The subtitle is displayed at a predetermined position on the screen.

Reference numeral 26 is a cable box control driver. The driver 22 is controlled by the microcomputer 22, and a predetermined remote control signal is supplied to the cable box 1 from the infrared ray emitting section 4 to control the power on / off of the cable box 1 and the tuning operation from the VCR 2 side.

Reference numeral 27 is a mechanical control microcomputer for controlling the operation of the head drive system, reel drive system, tape running system, and the like.

In the VCR 2, the video signal output from the tuner 20 is recorded in the signal processing circuit 2 during recording.
4 is processed to form a recording signal, and the recording signal is supplied to the magnetic head 28 and recorded on the magnetic tape 29. During reproduction, the signal reproduced by the magnetic head 28 from the magnetic tape 29 is processed by the signal processing circuit 24 to form a reproduced video signal, and the reproduced video signal is passed through the display control circuit 23 and the RF modulator 25. It is supplied to the TV monitor 3, and the reproduction screen is displayed on the TV monitor 3.

By the way, when the caption data is not multiplexed on a predetermined line in the vertical blanking period of the video signal, it is considered to use the line to transmit predetermined information (hereinafter referred to as "VBI data"). To be For example, the current time, information about whether it is summer time,
It includes various kinds of information about the program such as the start time, elapsed time, and contents of the program which is or will be sent from now, information on the broadcasting station sending the program, weather and disaster information, and the like.

As shown in FIG. 2B, VBI data may be defined with the same signal format as caption data, for example. A series of VBI data is transmitted using multiple lines. The VBI data of each line is 1 following the 1-bit start bit, like the caption data.
It is composed of 6-bit NRZ data (two combinations of 7-bit codes b1 to b7 and 1-bit parity code).

Here, in the first line of a plurality of lines in which a series of VBI data is transmitted, the start code for each class (type) of VBI data is transmitted using the first half 7-bit code, and the latter half 7 bits are transmitted. V using code
A code indicating the type of BI data is transmitted. Then, in the second and subsequent lines, the data of the class and type specified in the first line are sequentially transmitted by using the first and second 7-bit codes.

As described above, the VBI data is sent when the caption data is not sent, and the VBI data is sent when the transmission of the caption data is started before the entire series of VBI data is sent. The transmission is interrupted, the transmission of the VBI data is resumed after waiting for the transmission of the caption data to finish (see FIG. 2B). In the first line after the transmission is restarted, a continuation code for each VBI data class (type) is transmitted using the first half 7-bit code, and a code indicating the VBI data type is transmitted using the latter half 7-bit code. Is transmitted.

On the last line of the plurality of lines for transmitting a series of VBI data, the end code is transmitted by using the first half 7-bit code and the checksum is transmitted by using the latter half 7-bit code. It

Here, examples of classes (types) and types will be described.

When the class (type) is "explanation of program currently sent" or "description of program sent later", type is "start time of program", "scheduled length of program / “Elapsed time of program”, “program title”, “type of program”, “target audience of program”, and the like. When the class is "special information that is not a program related to the currently transmitted channel", the type is "network name associated with the selected local station", "station I"
D "," number of hours and minutes of regular tape delay of network program of local station "and the like. When the class is "Description of other information", the type is "Greenwich Mean Time", "Time difference from standard time and information on whether or not it is summer time", and the like. Class is "transfer of public service messages and data such as weather forecasts and messages"
, The type is “weather forecast service” or the like.

In this example, the VCR 2 microcomputer 22
As described above, the time information transmitted as VBI data is extracted, and the time of the internal clock is automatically set based on the time information.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the microcomputer 22 when the time setting operation of the internal clock is performed at the power-off timing of the VCR 2.

When the VCR 2 is powered off, in step ST1, the driver 26 is controlled to generate a remote control signal for turning on the cable box 1 from the infrared ray emitting section 4 to turn on the cable box 1.

Next, in step ST2, the driver 26 is controlled to generate a remote control signal for selecting the channel of the broadcast signal in which the VBI data is multiplexed from the infrared light emitting unit 4, and the cable box 1 The tuner 12 selects the channel of the broadcast signal in which the VBI data is multiplexed.

Next, in step ST3, the video signal output from the tuner 20 of the VCR 2 corresponding to the broadcast signal of the channel selected by the tuner 12 of the cable box 1 is multiplexed on a predetermined line in the vertical blanking period. Time data is extracted from the stored VBI data. Here, the VBI data from which the time data can be extracted has the class “description of other information” and the types “greenwich standard time”, “time difference from standard time and information on whether or not summer time” as described above. It will be. In other words, if the data of the Greenwich Mean Time and the data of the time difference with respect to this are known, the time data of the region can be obtained.

Next, in step ST4, the time of the internal clock of the VCR 2 provided in the microcomputer 22 is set to the time (extraction time) based on the extracted time data, and step ST4
At 5 the cable box 1 is turned off and the time setting operation is completed.

Although not described above, the microcomputer 22 of the VCR 2 is always on, but during this time setting operation,
Tuner 20, data decoder 21 and driver 26
Is turned on. For example, it is turned on before step ST1 and turned off after step ST5.

When setting the time of the internal clock when the VCR 2 is turned on, the tuner 2 of the cable box 1 is used.
Although there is a possibility that the channel selected in step 2 may change, which may adversely affect the recording operation of the video signal, for example, as shown in the example of FIG. 3, the setting operation of the internal clock is performed at the power-off timing of the VCR 2. By doing so, such an inconvenience can be avoided.

FIG. 4 is also a flow chart showing the operation of the microcomputer 22 when the time setting operation of the internal clock is performed at the power-off timing of the VCR 2. In this example, when the difference between the extraction time and the time of the internal clock exceeds a predetermined time, as a general rule, the time setting operation of the internal clock is not performed. In the steps of the flowchart of FIG. 4, the parts corresponding to the steps of the flowchart of FIG. 3 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

In this example, after the time data is extracted in step ST3, it is determined in step ST6 whether or not it is the first setting. If it is the first setting, the time of the internal clock of the VCR 2 is extracted in step ST4. After setting the time, the cable box 1 is turned off in step ST5, and the time setting operation ends.

If it is not the first setting in step ST6, the process proceeds to step ST7 and it is determined whether or not the difference between the extraction time and the current time (time of the internal clock) is less than a predetermined time T, for example, 10 minutes. If the difference is smaller than the predetermined time T, the process proceeds to step ST4 to set the time of the internal clock of the VCR 2 to the extraction time, and then the cable box 1 is turned off in step ST5 to end the time setting operation.

If the difference is equal to or greater than the predetermined time T in step ST7, the process proceeds to step ST8 to determine whether or not there is a change from summer time to normal time or from normal time to summer time. For example, step ST
Similarly, when the time data of 3 is extracted, information on whether or not it is summer time is also extracted, and the change between summer time and normal time is determined based on that information.

If there is a change in step ST8,
After proceeding to step ST4 and setting the time of the internal clock of the VCR 2 to the extraction time, the cable box 1 is turned off at step ST5 and the time setting operation ends. On the other hand, if there is no change in step ST8, step ST5
Then, the cable box 1 is turned off to complete the time setting operation.

In the example of FIG. 4, when the difference between the extraction time and the time of the internal clock exceeds the predetermined time T, as a general rule, the time setting operation of the internal clock is not performed, so the extraction time is incorrect due to noise or the like. In this case, it is possible to prevent incorrect time setting. Even if the difference is equal to or more than the predetermined time T, the time setting operation is performed when there is a change between the summer time and the normal time, so that there is a change between the summer time and the normal time. When you can deal with it well.

FIG. 5 is also a flow chart showing the operation of the microcomputer 22 when the time setting operation of the internal clock is performed at the power-off timing of the VCR 2. In this example, V
If the CR2 does not set the time of the internal clock before the start of the recording operation by timer reservation and skips the start time of the reserved event by setting the time of the internal clock, the recording of the reserved event will not be performed. Is to prevent. In the steps of the flowchart of FIG. 5, parts corresponding to the steps of the flowchart of FIG. 4 are designated by the same reference numerals.

In this example, before proceeding to step ST1, it is judged at step ST9 whether or not it is within t ₀ before the start of the recording operation by timer reservation, for example, within 5 minutes.
If it is within t ₀ , the operation is ended without performing the time setting operation of the internal clock. On the other hand, if it is not within t ₀ , step S
Proceeding to T1, the same operation as in the example of FIG. 4 is performed.

In the example of FIG. 5, the recording operation based on the timer reservation is focused on. However, when other operations are performed by the timer function, the same determination step as step ST9 is inserted to insert the internal clock. It is possible to prevent the timer operation from being adversely affected by the time setting operation.

In the above embodiment, the time setting operation of the internal clock is performed at the power-off timing of the VCR 2, but the time setting operation is performed at a predetermined time regardless of whether the VCR 2 is powered on or off. Alternatively, the VCR 2 may be powered off and the time setting operation may be performed at a predetermined time.

In the above-described embodiment, the broadcast signal of the channel selected by the tuner 12 of the cable box 1 is supplied to the tuner 20 of the VCR 2, but the tuner 20 of the VCR 2 has an antenna. The present invention can be similarly applied to a configuration in which a broadcast signal is directly supplied from a cable 5 (shown by a broken line in FIG. 1) or a cable (not shown), that is, a VCR 2 alone. In that case, when setting the time of the internal clock, the microcomputer 2
2 controls the tuner 20 to select the channel of the broadcast signal in which the VBI data is multiplexed.

In the above embodiment, the time data is extracted from the VBI data multiplexed in the vertical blanking period of the video signal. However, the time information is extracted in a portion other than the vertical blanking period of the video signal. If is inserted, the time information may be used.

Further, the above-mentioned embodiment has shown the example applied to the closed caption system having the VCR 2, but if the time information is multiplexed in the broadcast signal such as the video signal or the audio signal, the receiver main body is obtained. It goes without saying that the present invention can be similarly applied to a television receiver, a radio receiver, a satellite music broadcast receiver, etc. instead of the VCR.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the VBI data has the same format as the caption data, but the present invention is not limited to this, and a separate format may be used.

[0052]

According to the present invention, since the time setting of the internal clock of the receiver main body is automatically performed by the time information extracted from the received broadcast signal, the troublesomeness of the user's time setting can be eliminated. . Thereby, for example, even a user who cannot set the time can properly use the function using the timer.

When an external tuner is used,
By controlling the external tuner by the receiver body as in the case of using the internal tuner, the time of the internal clock can be set in the same manner.

Further, by performing the time setting operation of the internal clock at the power-off timing of the receiver main body or at a predetermined time, it is possible to prevent normal use from being disturbed.

Further, when the difference between the extraction time and the time of the internal clock is a predetermined time or more, the time setting operation is not performed so that the wrong time setting can be prevented. However, even if the difference is equal to or more than the predetermined time, by setting the time when there is a change between the summer time and the normal time, it is possible to satisfactorily cope with the daylight saving time.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a broadcast signal receiver according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining VBI data multiplexed on a broadcast signal.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of a time setting operation of an internal clock.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing another example of the time setting operation of the internal clock.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing another example of the time setting operation of the internal clock.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Cable Box 2 VCR (Video Cassette Recorder) 3 TV Monitor 4 Infrared Light Emitting Unit 12, 20 Tuner 13 Tuner Control Microcomputer 14 Remote Control Signal Receiving Unit 15, 25 RF Modulator 21 Data Decoder 22 Tuner / Clock Control Microcomputer 23 Display Control Circuit 24 Recording / reproducing signal processing circuit 26 Cable box control driver 28 Magnetic head 29 Magnetic tape

Claims (17)

[Claims] 1. A time information extracting means for extracting time information included in a received broadcast signal, and a time setting means for setting a time of an internal clock according to the time information extracted by the time information extracting means. Broadcast signal receiver characterized by. 2. The broadcast signal receiver according to claim 1, wherein the time setting operation of the internal clock by the time setting means is performed at a power-off timing of the receiver main body. 3. The broadcast signal receiver according to claim 1, wherein the time setting operation of the internal clock by the time setting means is performed at a predetermined time. 4. The broadcast signal receiver according to claim 1, wherein the time setting operation of the internal clock by the time setting means is performed at a predetermined time when the receiver main body is in a power-off state. 5. The time setting means does not perform the time setting operation of the internal clock when the time according to the extracted time information and the time of the internal clock deviate by a predetermined time or more. The broadcast signal receiver according to claim 1. 6. The time setting means sets the internal time when the time according to the extracted time information and the time of the internal clock are different from each other by a predetermined time or more and there is no change between the summer time and the normal time. 2. The broadcast signal receiver according to claim 1, wherein the time setting operation of the clock is not performed. 7. The receiver main body has a timer function, and the time setting operation of the internal clock by the time setting means is not performed within a predetermined time before the start of the operation by the timer function. Broadcast signal receiver. 8. A video device and an external tuner, wherein the video device controls the external tuner to receive a broadcast signal including time information, and a tuning control means for receiving the broadcast signal. A broadcast signal receiver comprising: time information extraction means for extracting time information included in a broadcast signal; and time setting means for setting the time of an internal clock by the time information extraction means. 9. The broadcast signal receiver according to claim 8, wherein the time setting operation of the internal clock by the time setting means is performed at a power-off timing of the video device. 10. The broadcast signal receiver according to claim 8, wherein the time setting operation of the internal clock by the time setting means is performed at a predetermined time. 11. The broadcast signal receiver according to claim 8, wherein the time setting operation of the internal clock by the time setting means is performed at a predetermined time when the video equipment is in a power-off state. 12. The time setting means does not perform the time setting operation of the internal clock when the time according to the extracted time information and the time of the internal clock deviate from each other by a predetermined time or more. The broadcast signal receiver according to claim 8. 13. The time setting means sets the internal time when the time according to the extracted time information and the time of the internal clock are different from each other by a predetermined time or more and there is no change between the summer time and the normal time. 9. The broadcast signal receiver according to claim 8, wherein the time is not set. 14. The video device according to claim 8, wherein the video device has a timer function, and the time setting operation of the internal clock by the time setting means is not performed within a predetermined time period before the start of the operation by the timer function. Broadcast signal receiver. 15. The broadcast signal receiver according to claim 8, wherein the tuning tuner controls the external tuner by remote control. 16. A time setting method for an internal clock of a broadcast signal receiver, characterized in that time information included in a received broadcast signal is extracted, and the time of the internal clock is set according to the extracted time information. 17. A video device controlling an external tuner to receive a broadcast signal including time information, wherein the video device extracts time information included in the broadcast signal received by the external tuner, and extracts the time information. A method for setting the time of the internal clock of a broadcast signal receiver, characterized in that the time of the internal clock is set by the received time information.