JPH10191221A - Digital broadcast reception device and its program reservation control system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To set the reproduction/recording reservation of a broadcast program without the aid of the display of a program list. SOLUTION: A digital broadcast reception device is provided at least with a means 100 for receiving/reproducing programs to be broadcast in digital signal mode, a means 120 for generating/displaying the program list based on broadcast information and a means 140 for reserving reproducing/recording of the broadcast programs. A reservation means for reproduction/recording of the next program 150 for reproducing/recording-reserving the program which is scheduled to be broadcast following program that is viewed at present by using a means for receiving/reproducing the broadcast from the program display during reproduction is provided.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a digital broadcast receiving apparatus for receiving broadcast program information broadcast in a digital system, and more particularly to a reservation control of the broadcast program.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, two-way communication type multimedia services such as a VOD (Video On Demand) service for providing video information and the like according to a user's request, user participation type programs, online shopping, etc., have been attracting attention. Has begun to spread. This two-way communication system can be broadly divided into
According to an information transmission medium between a broadcasting station transmitting a broadcast program and a home where a broadcast receiving device is installed, CATV (Cab) is used.
le Television / Community Antenna Television),
It is classified into three systems, satellite system and terrestrial wave system.

A broadcast receiving apparatus in such a multimedia service system receives program information sent from a broadcasting station so that a user can view the program information on a general home television receiver. To convert audio / visual information, a set-top box (ST) is generally used.
B). Conventionally, these service systems are based on an analog system. For example, a set-top box for analog CATV is a broadcast channel for broadcasting a program to be viewed when selecting a program to be viewed from a large number of broadcast programs. And plays the role of a tuner for selecting and receiving a message.

Recently, research and development of a digital broadcasting system replacing the analog system have been advanced, and a digital multimedia service system has started to be put into practical use. In this digital multimedia service system, MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Gr.) Encoded as digital information is encoded.
oup) It is necessary to have a function of decoding (decoding) audio / image information in a format and delivering the information to a general television receiver. In addition, the above-described system also requires a function for controlling selection menu screen display for environment setting, program selection, and the like, transmission and reception of network mail, and the like. Since this digital system has many advantages such as the frequency band required for information transmission can be used more effectively than the analog system, it has been developed especially for satellite broadcasting systems that do not require a physical transmission medium. A digital stream application system is disclosed, for example, in the Journal of the Institute of Television Engineers of Japan, Vol. 49, No. 4, 1995, pp. 480-489.

[0005] The hardware configuration of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. A digital multimedia service system basically converts audio / video information in the form of a digital signal into MPEG (Moving Pictur).
e Experts Group) 2 compression / decompression. As shown in FIG. 6, a digital broadcast receiving apparatus 100 includes an antenna 1, a tuner 2, a descrambler 3, an MPEG2 demultiplexer 4, an MPEG2 demultiplexer 4 for receiving a digital broadcast signal transmitted from a broadcast station.
EG2 audio decoder 5 and MPEG2 image decoder 6
A reception control microprocessor 7, a speaker 8, a display control circuit 9, an image display 10, a VTR 11, a main control microprocessor 12, an input operation device 13,
It comprises a mail transceiver 14 and the like.

[0006] The digital broadcast receiving apparatus 100 receives a digital broadcast signal transmitted from a broadcast station by an antenna 1. In general, the antenna 1 includes a frequency converter, and inputs a received / converted received signal to the tuner 2. The tuner 2 selects a reception channel, and inputs a reception signal of the selected broadcast channel to the descrambler 3. The descrambler 3 cancels the scramble applied to the pay broadcast channel. Scramble is a process in which a broadcast station encrypts transmission information by rearranging a data string or the like in order to prevent unauthorized viewing of a pay broadcast channel. The descrambler 3 inputs the descrambled received signal to the MPEG2 demultiplexer 4.
The MPEG2 demultiplexer 4 separates information of the multiplexed received signal. The audio information in the separated information signal is decoded by the MPEG2 audio decoder 5 into audio data, and the separated image information is
The image data is decoded by the G2 image decoder 6 to obtain image data. Also, the MPEG2 demultiplexer 4 separates additional information (additional data) sent from a broadcasting station in addition to audio information and image information.

The reception control microprocessor 7 includes a tuner 2, a descrambler 3, and an MPEG2 demultiplexer 4.
And performs control for selecting a reception channel, correcting error in input data, and separating MPEG2 information into audio information, image information, and additional information (additional data).

The audio data generated by decoding by the MPEG2 audio decoder 5 is converted into audio by a speaker 8 and output.
The image data decoded by the MPEG2 image decoder 6 is displayed on an image display 10 via a display control circuit 9. Also,
The received data to be recorded is recorded by, for example, the VTR 11.

Further, the main control microprocessor 12 includes:
The reception control microprocessor 7, the display control circuit 9,
It is connected to the VTR 11 and the mail transmitter / receiver 14 and, based on the additional data, the input instruction from the input operation device 13 and the mail communication information, makes settings such as creation / display of a program list / broadcast reception (playback) / playback reservation / recording reservation. It controls processing and its execution processing.

[0010] In such a multimedia service system, a broadcast signal transmitted from a broadcast station includes information (additional data) necessary for separating and decoding a multiplexed information signal by a broadcast receiver. ) Are multiplexed in the form of a table. Furthermore, the broadcast signal also includes a table (additional data) describing events and programs. From this table, for example, information such as a broadcast program name, a program-specific ID, a program genre, and program contents, and a program Information such as the broadcast start time and the length of the program broadcast time can be obtained. The digital broadcast receiving apparatus refers to these pieces of information and performs screen display for supporting operations such as program selection, reproduction reservation, and recording reservation. For this reason, digital broadcast receiving apparatuses are required to have an interface for easily selecting a broadcast program desired to be viewed from a large number of programs broadcasted on a large number of broadcast channels and performing operations such as recording easily. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-284035 discloses a program guide screen for displaying information on a broadcast program.

FIG. 7 shows an example of a program list display screen created with reference to the program information in the received table. The program list 200 includes a selected program detail column 20,
A time display field 21 on the horizontal axis, a channel display field 22 on the vertical axis, and a broadcast program list display field 23 are provided. The broadcast channel number (channel name), program name, and broadcast time (time zone) are provided.
And the like, the broadcast start time of the selected program, the program name, the broadcast time, and the like are displayed so that they can be visually confirmed. Further, on this display screen, a selection (instruction) cursor 24, a program selection function icon 25, a program details display function icon 26, a program reproduction reservation function icon 27, and a recording reservation function icon 28 are displayed.

The user operates the input operation device 13 and its remote control transmitter (hereinafter, referred to as a remote controller) on the screen on which the program list 200 is displayed to move the cursor 24 to give an instruction. Thus, setting operations such as program selection and program reproduction reservation / program recording reservation can be performed. For example, by pointing and selecting the name of a broadcast program desired to be viewed on the screen with the cursor 24 and pointing and activating the program selection function icon 25, the program can be reproduced and the viewing can be started. At this time, the broadcast start time, the program name, and the length of the program broadcast time of the selected broadcast program are displayed in the selected program details column 20. Also, by instructing and activating the program detailed content display function icon 26, the detailed content of the program can be displayed and known.

The playback reservation function icon 27 and the recording reservation function icon 28 are used for activating the program reproduction reservation function and the recording reservation function, respectively, to perform a reservation operation. Reservation settings can be made from the table screen. As described above, in the digital broadcast receiving apparatus, by displaying the program list using the information on each program transmitted from the broadcasting station and the program-specific ID, the reproduction of the program from the program list screen is reserved. / Recording reservation can be made.

[0014]

As described above, in the digital broadcast receiving apparatus, by selecting a program to be reserved on the screen of the program list, it is possible to set the reproduction reservation / recording reservation of the broadcast program. However, in displaying the program list, information such as a broadcast program name, a program-specific ID, a program genre, and program contents, a broadcast start time of a program, a program Information such as the length of broadcast time must be selected, and this display process takes a long time. For this reason, there is a problem that it takes time to set the reproduction / recording reservation of the broadcast program via the program list screen.

[0015] Further, even when a simple reservation setting is desired, for example, for making a reservation for reproduction / recording of a program to be broadcast next while viewing a broadcast program, a program list screen is displayed and the screen is displayed. Since it is necessary to perform the reservation setting process, not only does it take time, but also the processing required for the reservation becomes complicated, for example, a plurality of operations are required. As described above, in the configuration in which the program reservation is always made via the screen of the program list, there is a problem that unnecessary setting operation and processing time are required.

[0016]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a digital broadcast receiving apparatus for making a reservation for reproduction / recording of a broadcast program based on a program list of programs broadcast in digital signal form. , For a program on the same channel that will be broadcast next to the program currently being viewed,
A next program reproduction / recording reservation function for setting reproduction / recording reservation without displaying a program list is provided. That is,
The present invention comprises at least means for receiving / reproducing a broadcast program broadcast in the form of a digital signal, means for creating / displaying a program list based on broadcast program information, and means for making a reproduction / recording reservation of a broadcast program. The digital broadcast receiving apparatus includes a next program reproduction / recording reservation unit for making a reproduction / recording reservation of a program scheduled to be broadcast next to the program currently being viewed.

By providing a next program reservation function comprising the next program reproduction / recording reservation means, the program list can be displayed directly on the currently viewed (selected) program screen without displaying the program list.
It is possible to set reproduction / recording reservation of a program of the same channel to be broadcast next.

Further, the present invention provides a means for receiving / reproducing a broadcast program broadcast in the form of a digital signal, a means for preparing / displaying a program list based on broadcast program information, and a method for reserving / recording a broadcast program. In a program reservation control method in a digital broadcast receiving apparatus having at least a means for performing the following, a reproduction / recording reservation of a program scheduled to be broadcast next to a currently viewed program is performed by using the means for receiving / reproducing the broadcast program. From the screen of the program being played.

In the above-mentioned program reservation control method, the next program reproduction / recording reservation can be performed by displaying the next program information without displaying the broadcast program list on the currently reproduced screen and displaying the next program information on the currently reproduced program screen. I did it.

Specifically, the reproduction / recording reservation of the next program is
The next program reservation function icon is displayed on the screen of the image display 10 during the reproduction of the broadcast program, or the next program reservation key is provided on the remote controller, and this is used. By activating the next program reservation function during reproduction of the broadcast program, the reproduction / recording reservation of the program of the same channel to be broadcast next is immediately set.

[0021]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a digital broadcast receiving apparatus and a program reservation control system according to the present invention. FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram schematically showing main functions of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus. The digital broadcast receiving apparatus 100 according to the present invention is the same as the conventional digital broadcast receiving apparatus shown in FIG.
Since the configuration is made using the same hardware as the hardware up to the input operation device 13, the hardware will be described with reference to the block diagram shown in FIG. A part of the processing function is the same as the processing function in the conventional digital broadcast receiving apparatus, and the other part is added in the present invention. Each of these processing functions
It is realized mainly by executing a control processing program (software) according to the present invention incorporated in the main control microprocessor 12.

The digital broadcast receiving apparatus 100 mainly includes:
Audio / image information reproduction function 11 by MPEG2 decoder
0, a program list creation / display function 120 by the main control microprocessor 12, a program reservation control function (program reservation function) 140, a message display function 130, and the like. Further, the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 100 according to the present invention is characterized in that it has a next program selection function 150.

The audio / image information reproducing function 110 is an MPE
The audio information is decoded by the G2 decoder 5 and the speaker 8 is decoded.
This is a processing function of reproducing the image information by the MPEG2 decoder 6 and reproducing the image information by the image display device 10. The program display function (program list creation / display function) 120 is a function for creating / displaying the program list shown in FIG. 7 with reference to data transmitted from a broadcasting station. The message display function 130 is a function for displaying information such as a reserved program name, a processing confirmation message for the user, and an error message on the screen. The digital broadcast receiving apparatus 100 uses the display screen of the program list displayed by the program display function 120, for example, to make program playback reservation and recording reservation setting registration. Program reservation function 140
Confirms the reservation registration / deletion of program reproduction / recording reservation, and confirms the reservation time based on the reservation information of the registered broadcast program,
The audio / image information broadcast in the corresponding reserved program is reproduced / recorded by the reproduction / recording function. Next program selection function 150
Is a function newly added in the present invention. For a program scheduled to be broadcast next to a program currently being broadcast, a program reservation function 140 is directly provided without displaying a program list.
To perform playback / recording.

An embodiment of a program reservation control processing function according to the present invention in a digital broadcast receiving apparatus having the above-described processing functions will be described with reference to FIG. The next program selection processing 150 in FIG. 2 corresponds to the function of the next program selection processing 150 described with reference to FIG. Similarly, the program reproduction processing 110, the program list display processing 120, and the program reservation function 140 in FIG. 2 are the audio / image reproduction function 110, the program list display function 120, and the program reservation function 140 described in FIG. Corresponding to each function. The program reservation function 140 performs the viewing confirmation processing 40, the reservation setting / confirmation processing 41, and the program reservation deletion processing 42.

The user who is viewing the program can read the program list 120
By activating the program selection function, program playback /
Various functions such as a recording reservation function and a function of displaying detailed information of a program can be used. Program list display function 120
When a program list 200 shown in FIG. 7 is displayed and selected, and a program desired to be viewed on the screen is selected, when no viewing limitation condition such as age or insufficient viewing fee occurs, the program reproduction process 110 is immediately executed. Done. When the viewing restriction condition exists in the selected program, the procedure of viewing confirmation 40 is performed, and the program reproduction 110 is performed only when the condition is satisfied. On the other hand, when a program reproduction reservation or a recording reservation is selected on the program list screen, processing according to the presence / absence of the viewing restriction condition is performed as in the case of the program reproduction processing. That is, when the viewing limitation condition exists, after the viewing limitation condition is confirmed in the viewing confirmation 40, the processing of the reservation setting and the reservation confirmation 41 is executed. In the case where there is no viewing restriction condition, the processing of program reservation setting and reservation confirmation 41 is executed without going through the viewing confirmation 40. In addition, by executing the function of the program reservation deletion 42, the program for which the reproduction reservation or the recording reservation has been set is deleted (reservation cancellation).

FIG. 3 is a display example of a reservation confirmation / deletion screen 300 used for confirming and deleting a reservation. By displaying this screen in the reservation confirmation 41 and the program reservation deletion 42, the user can confirm the broadcast program reserved for reproduction / recording. The reservation setting function icon 30 is for activating the function of program reproduction / recording reservation. By pointing the reservation setting function icon 30 with the cursor (24) and activating the function, the program list is displayed. A screen shown in Table 200 is displayed, and a program can be reserved for reproduction / recording on this screen. Further, by instructing the reservation deletion function icon 31 with the cursor (24) and activating the function, it is possible to delete a reserved program (reservation cancellation).

In a conventional broadcast receiving apparatus, a reservation control process is performed by selecting a target program from the program list screen as described above. The embodiment of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus according to the present invention has a function of next program selection 150, and activates the next program selection function 150 during program playback 110 to broadcast the next program currently being broadcast. The reservation setting / confirmation 41 is executed for the scheduled program. In this case, the display processing 120 of the program list 200 is not performed.

FIG. 4 shows a processing procedure of a program reproduction reservation or a recording reservation in the embodiment of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus according to the present invention. Step S0 is a state in which the user is watching the program.
It corresponds to. When the user selects a reservation function in the input operation device 13 or its remote control device while watching a program (S1), a display process 120 of the program list 200 is executed (S2), and the screen of the program list 200 is viewed. Displayed on the screen. Next, it is determined whether or not the user has selected the setting of the program reproduction / recording reservation (S3). If the user has not selected the program reservation setting, processing other than the reservation is executed (step S3). S9). Here, the processing other than reservation is
For example, it means display of a detailed description of a program.
After the processing other than the reservation in step S9, it is determined whether or not the program list is to be displayed again (S10). If it is to be displayed, the process proceeds to the program list display processing 120 in step S2. If the display of the program list 200 is not required in step S10, the program reservation process ends, and the broadcast program is reproduced (S0).

On the other hand, when the user selects the setting of the program reservation in the program reservation setting judgment in step S3, a process of selecting a program to be reserved is performed (S4), and then there is a program corresponding to the selected program. Is checked (S
5). If there is no such program, the process ends, and the process returns to the broadcast program reproduction S0. If a program corresponding to the program selected in step S4 is found, it is checked whether or not the selected program has a viewing restriction condition (S6).
If the selected program does not have viewing restrictions such as age restrictions, program purchase, recording purchase, etc.,
A final confirmation is made to the user as to whether or not to execute the reservation (S7). Here, if the user selects the cancellation of the program reservation, the program returns to the broadcast program reproduction S0 without executing the program reservation, and if the user selects the reservation execution, the reproduction of the selected program is performed. A recording reservation setting process 140 is executed (S8).

In the viewing limitation condition checking process in step S6, if the viewing limitation condition exists in the program to be reserved, the user performs a setting process necessary for viewing or recording the program ( S11). Step S
In the process of step 11, specifically, a password input for confirming a user, a program purchase / recording purchase procedure, and the like are required. Next, the validity of the condition set by the user is judged (S12), and only when the viewing condition is satisfied, the process shifts to the reservation execution judging process of step S7. On the other hand, if the viewing conditions are not satisfied, the program returns to step S0 without performing the reservation setting processing and reproduces the program again.

In the conventional broadcast receiving apparatus, the reproduction / recording reservation of a program is performed by the above-described processing flow including the program list display processing S2. The present invention is further characterized in that the following program reservation processing is executed. That is, the broadcast program reproduction 1 represented in step S0
At 10:00, when the user selects a next program reservation function for requesting reservation of a program scheduled to be broadcast next to the currently broadcast program (S13), the program list 200 in step S2 is selected.
Is displayed on the screen, and an icon for confirming whether or not to execute the next program reservation is displayed on the viewing screen to urge the user to make a selection. Based on the operation of the user, it is determined whether or not the user wants to reserve the next program (S14). If the user wants to reserve the next program, it is determined whether there is a viewing restriction condition in step S6 and the next program is determined. The reservation processing 140 is executed. If the next program reservation is not desired, the process returns to the program reproduction process S0 without executing the next program reservation process. In the next program reservation processing 140, specifically, the user designates, using the cursor 24, an icon having a next program reservation function displayed on a part of the screen during reproduction of a broadcast program, and activates the function. Alternatively, by operating (pressing) a button having a next program reservation function provided on the remote controller, the process shifts to step S14 via step S13 to execute the next program reservation process.

That is, the next program reproduction / recording reservation function of the present invention is used for a program scheduled to be broadcast next to a currently viewed program, a broadcast program name, a program-specific ID, a program genre, a program content, and a broadcast start. Various kinds of information such as program information such as time and program broadcast time, qualification information such as viewing restrictions, and viewing contract information for pay broadcasting are stored in the digital broadcast receiving apparatus.

Further, in the digital broadcast receiving apparatus of the present invention, an input means for user operation for executing a next program reproducing / reserving function is provided in its housing or a remote control transmitter.

FIG. 5 shows an example of the structure of a screen 400 for displaying the name of the next program and confirming the execution of the reservation in step S14. On the next program reservation display screen 400, in addition to the next program name 32, "Yes" button 33 and "No" button 3 which are input locations for the user to select whether or not to execute reservation.
4 is provided. The user can select and input a "Yes" button 33 or a "No" button 34 to confirm the reservation execution. If there is no selection input before the elapse of the predetermined time, it is regarded as "No" and the process is terminated. When the user selects the "No" button 34, that is, when the reservation of the next program is not performed, the process returns to step S0 to reproduce the broadcast program again. When the "Yes" button 33 is selected and input, the process moves from step S14 to step S6, and it is determined whether or not the next program to be reserved has a viewing restriction condition. Here, by storing information on the viewing restriction condition of the next program in the broadcast receiving device in advance,
It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the determination processing in step S6 is not performed. Subsequent processing is performed in the same manner as normal program reproduction / recording reservation processing.

The display screen of the next program name shown in FIG.
Instead of the input location where the user selects whether to execute the reservation, a screen having a configuration in which, for example, one of the reproduction reservation and the recording reservation is selected may be used.

The digital broadcast receiving apparatus according to the present invention comprises:
The present invention is not limited to receiving digital satellite broadcasts, but can be implemented in a form of receiving broadcasts via CATV, terrestrial broadcasts, optical cables, or the like. Further, the signal compression / expansion method used for digital broadcasting is the MPEG2
However, any method can be used.

In the above-described embodiment, immediately after the next program reservation function is selected, the next program name is displayed and whether or not the next program reservation is to be executed is confirmed. The present invention is not limited to this mode. For example, in the reservation process execution determination process in step S7, either the display of the next program name or the confirmation of the next program reservation execution or both may be performed.

Further, in the present embodiment, the program list is displayed immediately when the user selects the reservation function in the reservation function selection processing in step S1, but the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment. For example, a screen for confirming / deleting a reserved program shown in FIG. 3 may be displayed, and a program list may be displayed according to activation of the reservation setting function from this screen.

[0039]

According to the present invention, when a reproduction / recording reservation is made for a program of the same channel scheduled to be broadcast next to a program currently being viewed (selected), the program list is not displayed. Since the setting of the program reproduction / recording reservation is made directly on the screen of the program currently being broadcast, the user can easily and quickly set the program reproduction / recording reservation. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram schematically showing main functions of a digital broadcast receiving apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing a form of a program reservation control process in the digital broadcast receiving apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a display screen of reservation confirmation / deletion in a program reservation control process of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of program reproduction / recording reservation in the digital broadcast receiving apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a screen for displaying a next program name and confirming execution of reservation in the embodiment of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a part of hardware constituting the digital broadcast receiving apparatus.

FIG. 7 is a display screen of a program list in a program reservation control process of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 40 Viewing Confirmation Function 41 Reservation Setting / Confirmation Function 42 Program Reservation Deletion Function 110 Program (Audio / Image) Reproduction Function 120 Program List Display Function 130 Message Display Function 140 Program Reservation Function 150 Next Program Reservation Function 200 Program List Screen 300 Reservation confirmation / deletion screen 400 Next program reservation display screen

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification symbol FI H04N 5/445 H04N 5/64 551B 5/64 551 7/00 Z // H04N 7/00

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A means for receiving / reproducing a broadcast program broadcast in the form of a digital signal, a means for creating / displaying a program list based on broadcast program information, and a means for making a reproduction / recording reservation of a broadcast program. In the digital broadcast receiving apparatus provided at least, the reproduction / recording reservation of the program scheduled to be broadcast next to the program currently being viewed is performed on the screen of the program being reproduced using the means for receiving / reproducing the broadcast program. A digital broadcast receiving apparatus provided with a next program reproduction / recording reservation means. 2. The digital broadcast receiving apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said next program reproduction / recording reservation means has a function of storing information relating to a program scheduled to be broadcast next to a currently viewed program in said digital broadcast receiving apparatus. The digital broadcast receiving device according to claim 1, wherein: 3. The digital broadcast according to claim 1, wherein an input operation device for user operation having a function for executing a next program reproduction / recording reservation is provided in a housing of the digital broadcast receiving device. Receiver. 4. The digital broadcast receiving apparatus according to claim 3, wherein an input operation device for user operation having a function for executing the next program reproduction / recording reservation is provided in the remote control transmitter. apparatus. 5. A display for user operation for executing the next program reproduction / recording reservation is displayed on a part of a screen of a program being reproduced by using a means for receiving / reproducing the broadcast program. 5. The digital broadcast receiving apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the digital broadcast receiving apparatus is configured as described above. 6. A means for receiving / reproducing a broadcast program broadcast in the form of a digital signal, a means for creating / displaying a program list based on broadcast program information, and a means for making a reproduction / recording reservation of a broadcast program. In a program reservation control method in at least the provided digital broadcast receiving apparatus, a reproduction / recording reservation of a program scheduled to be broadcast next to a currently viewed program is performed by using a means for receiving / reproducing the broadcast program. A program reservation control method in a digital broadcast receiving apparatus, wherein the program reservation control is performed from a program screen. 7. The next program reproduction / recording reservation is performed from the screen of the currently reproduced program by displaying the next program information without displaying the broadcast program list on the currently reproduced screen. 7. A program reservation control method in a digital broadcast receiving apparatus according to claim 6, wherein