JPH1065983A - Program guiding display controller and television receiver - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve usability by selecting to leave restricting conditions of the previous mode when a user mode is switched and also utilizing these conditions in a mode after the change. SOLUTION: A program guiding image generating circuit 4 creates menu information, various setting screen information and program guiding information which are stored in a storage device 9 in an internal display memory and shows them on a display device 8 through a multiplexer. When a user mode is switched from a single mode to a multi-user mode, a 1st copy screen is shown. When the copying processing in which restricting conditions that are set at the time of the single mode remain for one or plural users is desired, the restricting conditions are left for desiring users on the 1st copy screen by operating cursor shift keys 12 and a select key 13, and then they are stored as restricting conditions in accordance with the users. When the multi-user mode is switched to the single mode, restriction conditions are processed by the same operations on a 2nd copy screen shown at this time.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a program guide display control device and a television receiver.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a digital satellite broadcasting system,
For example, a large number of channels of 150 or more are prepared, and a large number of programs are provided. In this system, guide information of a currently broadcasted program and a program to be broadcasted in the future is transmitted at predetermined time intervals together with original program data. The user terminal has a function of displaying a program guide screen (program guide table) based on the program guide information.

[0003] As shown in FIG.
A part of the program guide table e of the entire program guide table E corresponding to the received all program guide information is displayed as a program guide screen.
On the program guide screen, a plurality of program guides are displayed in a matrix with the vertical axis as the channel number axis and the horizontal axis as the time axis. In this example, the program guide screen displays programs for five channels, that is, two and a half hours of programs. At the left end, channel numbers are displayed vertically. In the row corresponding to each channel, a frame indicating the time zone of each program broadcast by that channel is displayed, and the title names (A to P) are displayed in each frame.

On the program guide screen, a program can be specified,
A cursor for scrolling the program guide screen is displayed. This cursor movement is performed by operating four cursor movement keys provided for each of the left, right, up, and down directions. Each time a cursor movement key for moving up or down is operated, the cursor moves in units of one channel. Each time a cursor movement key for moving left or right is operated, the cursor moves in a predetermined time unit.

[0005]

By the way, it is convenient if the program guide displayed on the program guide screen can be limited according to the user's preference. Therefore, it is conceivable to provide the user terminal with a function of limiting the category of the program guide displayed on the program guide screen or limiting the channel of the program guide displayed on the program guide screen.

[0006] Further, such a setting of the limiting condition for the program guide is performed for each of a plurality of users, and a function for making the limiting condition set for any user effective according to the situation is provided on the user side terminal. It is conceivable to have

[0007] However, depending on the user who uses the user terminal, it may be sufficient to set such limiting conditions for only one user. Therefore, it is conceivable to selectively switch between a single user mode in which the limiting condition setting can be performed for only one user and a multi-user mode in which the limiting condition setting can be performed for a plurality of users.

As described above, when the single user mode and the multi-user mode can be set as the user mode for the setting of the limiting condition, when the user mode is switched, the user mode which has been set up to that time is already set. It is convenient if the set limiting conditions can be used in the changed user mode.

For example, when the user mode is switched from the single mode to the multi-user mode, there may be a case where the limiting condition set in the single mode is desired to be set as the limiting condition for one user in the multi-user mode. . When the user mode is switched from the multi-user mode to the single user mode, the limiting condition set for any user in the multi-user mode is:
In some cases, it is set as it is in the single mode.

[0010]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, when the user mode is switched, the limitation condition already set in the user mode that has been set up to that time is set as follows.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a program guide display control device and a television receiver that can be used even in the changed user mode.

[0011]

A program guide display control device according to the present invention displays a plurality of program guides on a display device in a matrix form, using one of a vertical axis and a horizontal axis as a channel number axis and the other as a time axis. A single user mode in which a restriction condition for a displayed program guide can be set for only one user, and a multi-user mode in which a restriction condition for a displayed program guide can be set for a plurality of users. A user mode switching means for switching a user mode between a single user mode and a multi user mode by a user mode switching means. In the multi-user mode, the limited conditions set at the time Among a plurality of users, at least 1
When the user mode is switched from the multi-user mode to the single-user mode by the first copying means for storing the limitation conditions for one user and the user mode switching means, the multi-user mode And a second copying unit for storing the limiting condition set for the predetermined user as the limiting condition for the user in the single mode.

The limiting conditions for the displayed program guide are as follows:
For example, for categories. The limitation condition for the displayed program guide relates to, for example, a channel number.

[0013] A television receiver according to the present invention includes the above-described program guide display control device. [Detailed description of the invention]

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a digital satellite broadcasting system will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0015] The programs provided in the digital satellite broadcasting system include a free program which can be viewed for free by paying a system usage fee such as a fee for subscribing to the digital satellite broadcasting system and a basic fee, and a system usage fee. Some pay programs are charged separately. In addition, pay programs are purchased in advance in units of channels and those that are charged only when viewed (PPV: pay per view).
). In order to view a PPV program, it is necessary to perform a purchase procedure on a television screen before the program starts or when the program is being broadcast.

[1] Description of Configuration of User Terminal

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of the user terminal.

As the user terminal, a combination of a television receiver and a program guide display control device, or a television receiver incorporating a program guide display control circuit is used. The user terminal includes a CPU 6 for controlling the entire user terminal. CPU6
Is provided with a storage device 9 for storing the program and necessary data. The operation unit 5 including a remote controller and the like is connected to the CPU 6. CPU6
Controls the tuner 2 to display the program selected by the operation unit 5 and the program guide image generation circuit 4 for generating a program guide image.

A high frequency signal from a parabolic antenna (not shown) is input to the input terminal 1. The signal input to the input terminal 1 is sent to the tuner 2. In the tuner, processes such as frequency conversion and QPSK demodulation are performed, and a digital video signal stream is generated. The output of the tuner 2 is sent to the video processing circuit 3.

In the video processing circuit 3, the stream output from the tuner 2 is MPEG-decoded, and an analog video signal, such as an NTSC signal, to be displayed on a display 8 such as a CRT is generated. This video signal is sent to the display 8 via the multiplexer 7 to be displayed on the display 8.

Further, the video processing circuit 3 extracts program guide information and time information indicating the current time from the output of the tuner 2 and supplies them to the CPU 6. The program guide information and the time information supplied to the CPU 6 are stored in the storage device 9. The storage device 9 further stores in advance menu screen information for displaying a menu screen and setting screen information for displaying various setting screens, as well as information on a purchased PPV program,
Information about the PV program and the like are stored.

The program guide image generation circuit 4 has a display memory (not shown). The program guide image generation circuit 4 creates a menu image, various setting images, and a program guide image on the display memory based on the menu screen information, various setting screen information, program guide information, and the like stored in the storage device 9. You. Then, the images created on the display memory are sequentially read out, and are displayed via the multiplexer 7 on the display 8.
Is displayed on the display 8 by being sent. The multiplexer 7 is based on a control signal from the CPU 6
One of the output of the video processing circuit 3 and the output of the program guide image generation circuit 4 is selected and supplied to the display 8.

The operation unit 5 includes a menu key 11 for displaying a menu screen, and four cursor movement keys 12 for moving a cursor in the left-right direction and the up-down direction.
L, 12R, 12U, 12D, a select key 13 for performing a selection input, a channel UP / DOWN key 14U for changing a channel upward or downward,
14D and the like are provided.

[2] Explanation of menu screen

FIG. 2 shows an example of the menu screen.

On the menu screen, a selection item “USER MODE” for setting a user mode, a selection item “USER” for selecting an arbitrary user from a plurality of users when a multi-user mode is set, A selection item "CHANNEL" for limiting the channel of the program guide displayed on the program guide screen, a selection item "CATEGORY" for limiting the category of the program guide displayed on the program guide screen, and a display item on the program guide screen are displayed. Item "HISTORY" for limiting the program guide to a predetermined number of recently viewed channels, "GUIDE" for displaying a program guide screen, and the like are displayed.

The selection of a selection item is performed by using the cursor movement keys 12
After the cursor is moved to the selected item by L, 12R, 12U, and 12D, the selection key 13 is pressed.

Selectable items "CHANNEL", "CATE"
"GORY" and "HISTORY" are selected when setting the limitation condition of the program guide screen.
When "ANNEL" is selected, a screen for setting whether or not the program guide is required is displayed for every channel on which broadcasting is provided, and channel setting is performed on this screen. If the program guide screen is displayed when the settings have been made,
A program guide screen including a program guide for only the channel for which the program guide is required is displayed.

When the selection item "CATEGORY" is selected, a screen for selecting a category such as music and sports is displayed, and the category is set on this screen. When a program guide screen is displayed when such a category setting is performed, a program guide screen including program guides for only channels including programs matching the set category is displayed.

When the selection item "HISTORY" is selected, history setting is performed. When such a history setting is performed, when a program guide screen is displayed, a program including program guides for a predetermined number of recently viewed channels, for example, only the 10 recently viewed channels, A guidance screen is displayed.

In the user mode, one user (USE
A single-user mode in which the limitation condition of the program guide screen can be set only for R1), and a multi-user mode in which the limitation condition of the program guide screen can be set for four users (USER1 to USER4). There is.

When the multi-user mode has been set, selecting the selection item "USER" allows
A screen for selecting one user from SER1 to USER4 as a user whose setting contents should be validated is displayed. In this screen, when a predetermined user is selected, if a limitation condition of the program guide screen is set, the set content is stored as a limitation condition for the currently selected user.

[3] Description of switching of user mode

On the menu screen, select item "US"
When "ER MODE" is selected, a user mode switching screen as shown in FIG. 3 is displayed.

The character "SI" is displayed on the user mode switching screen.
A check box 21 for selecting a single user mode arranged next to "NGLE USER", a check box 22 for selecting a multi user mode arranged next to the character "MULTI USER",
An OK button 23 and a CANCEL button 24 are displayed. By default, as shown in FIG. 3, a check mark is displayed in the check box 21 for setting the single user mode.

While the check mark is displayed in the check box 21 for selecting the single user mode, the cursor is moved to the check box 22 for selecting the multi user mode, and then the select key 13 is pressed. Then, as shown in FIG. 4, the check mark in the check box 21 for setting the single user mode is deleted, and the check mark is displayed in the check box 22 for selecting the multi user mode. Then, when the OK button 23 is selected,
The user mode is switched from the single user mode to the multi user mode.

In a state where a check mark is displayed in the check box 22 for selecting the multi-user mode, the cursor is moved to the check box 21 for selecting the single user mode, and then the select key 13 is pressed. Then, as shown in FIG. 3, the check mark in the check box 22 for setting the multi-user mode is deleted, and the check mark is displayed in the check box 21 for selecting the single-user mode. Then, when the OK button 23 is selected,
The user mode is switched from the multi-user mode to the single user mode.

When the user mode is switched from the single user mode to the multi user mode, a first copy screen is displayed as shown in FIG.

On the first copy screen, a check box 3 arranged next to the character string "Which user should the registration information be copied to?" And the character "USER1" are displayed.
1. A check box 32 arranged next to the character "USER2", a check box 33 arranged next to the character "USER3", a check box 34 arranged next to the character "USER4", an OK button 35 and CANC.
The EL button 36 is displayed.

When the limited conditions set in the single user mode are copied to one or more users, the cursor movement keys 12L, 12R, 12U,
By operating the 12D and the select key 13, a check mark is displayed in a check box next to the user whose limitation condition is to be copied. Then, the OK button 35 is selected. Then, the limiting condition set in the single user mode is stored as setting contents for the user whose check box is displayed with a check mark.
That is, copy processing is performed. Then, the display screen returns to the menu screen.

The limiting conditions set in the single user mode are applied to the first to fourth users (USER1 to USE).
If the user does not want to copy any of the settings for R4), the user presses the CANCEL button 36. Then, the display screen returns to the menu screen without performing the copy processing.

When the user mode is switched from the multi-user mode to the single user mode, a second copy screen is displayed as shown in FIG.

On the second copy screen, a character string "Which registration information should be left?"
A check box 41 next to “1” and the letter “U”
A check box 42 arranged next to “SER2” and a check box 4 arranged next to the characters “USER3”
3. Check box 44, OK button 45, and CANCEL button 4 arranged next to the characters "USER4"
6 is displayed.

When the user wants to copy any of the limiting conditions set for each user (USER1 to USER4) in the multi-user mode as the setting contents for the user (USER1) in the single user mode, First to fourth users (USER1 to USER)
In 4), a check mark is displayed in a check box next to the user who wants to retain the setting content as the setting content for the user in the single mode. And OK
Button 45 is selected. Then, the setting content for the user whose check mark is displayed in the check box is
It is stored as the setting content for the user in the single mode. That is, copy processing is performed. Then, the display screen returns to the menu screen.

In the multi-user mode, any of the limiting conditions set for each of the users (USER1 to USER4) applies to the user (U
If the user does not want to copy the settings for SER1), the user presses the CANCEL button 46. Then, the display screen returns to the menu screen without performing the copy processing.

FIG. 7 shows the CPU when the selection item "USER MODE" is selected on the menu screen.
6 shows the processing procedure.

When the selection item "USER MODE" is selected, a user mode switching screen shown in FIG. 3 or FIG. 4 is displayed (step 101).

If the user mode cannot be switched on the user mode switching screen (step 10
(NO at 2), return to the menu screen. If the user mode is switched on the user mode switching screen (YES in step 102), it is determined whether switching from the single user mode to the multi user mode or switching from the multi user mode to the single user mode is performed ( Step 103).

If the switching of the user mode is the switching from the single user mode to the multi-user mode (YES in step 103), the first copy screen shown in FIG. 5 is displayed (step 104). When a copy request is made on the first copy screen (step 1
05 (YES), a copy process is performed (step 10).
6). Then, the screen returns to the menu screen.

If no copy request is made on the first copy screen (NO in step 105), the screen returns to the menu screen without performing the copy processing.

If the switching of the user mode is the switching from the multi-user mode to the single user mode (NO in step 103), the second copy screen shown in FIG. 6 is displayed (step 107). If a copy request is made on the second copy screen (step 10
8, a copy process is performed (step 10).
9). Then, the screen returns to the menu screen.

If no copy request is made on the second copy screen (NO in step 108), the process returns to the menu screen without performing the copy processing.

[4] Description of display processing of program guide screen

A process for displaying the program guide screen will be described.

The program guide information sent to the user side terminal includes, for example, guide information of each program for all channels from the current time to a time 24 hours ahead. The program guide information of one program includes a title name, a fee for a PPV program, a category (sports, music, drama, news, etc.), start and end times, and the like.

The CPU 6 regards the guide information of each program for all channels as two-dimensional array information in which the vertical direction is the channel number and the horizontal direction is the time, as shown in the upper part of FIG. And an index table that can be accessed using the slot number indicating the time. The slot number is, for example, a number assigned every 30 minutes. The two-dimensional array area E corresponding to all the program guide information shown in the upper part of FIG.
Is referred to as the entire program guide area.

When the program guide screen limitation condition is set for the currently set user, the entire program guide area E conforms to the limitation condition of all the channels. This is an area composed of guide information of each program for all the channels. In this case, an index table is generated that corresponds to an area composed of guide information of each program for all of the channels that meet the limiting conditions among all the channels.

In the menu screen, select item "GUID"
When "E" is selected, the CPU 6 generates a display table as shown in Fig. 8 based on the channel number, the current time, and the index table selected immediately before. The program guide display information is stored in each small area (hereinafter, referred to as a cell) in the area excluding one column of (5) × 5 channels × 5 in this example.
A display table corresponding to the program guide for the cell (corresponding to two and a half hours) is created. Each cell in the leftmost column stores a channel number (absolute channel number) or data of a station name corresponding to the channel number.

In FIG. 8, x of (x, y) described as an index for each cell is a channel relative number (a relative channel number between cells in the display table, and an absolute channel number). Not a number)
y indicates a slot relative number (a relative slot number between cells in the display table, not an absolute slot number). The second cell S from the left in the top row
Let o be the reference cell.

The program guide display information stored in each cell is
It consists of a title name, the number of exclusive cells, a rating, information indicating whether or not purchased, a category, and the like. The number of exclusive cells is
The number of cells included from the cell to the cell where the program ends. Therefore, when the program ends in the cell, the number of exclusive cells becomes one. Based on the display table created in this way, the program guide image generation circuit 4 generates, for example, an image corresponding to the program guide screen as shown in FIG. 9 on the display memory. Then, the image generated on the display memory is sent to the display 8, so that a program guide screen as shown in FIG. 9 is displayed on the display 8. If multi-user mode is selected,
As shown in FIG. 9, the currently selected user name "US
ER1 to USER4 "are displayed on the program guide screen.

FIG. 10 shows the procedure of a program guide screen display process executed by the CPU 6 and the program guide image generation circuit 4.

From the menu screen, select the item “GUIDE”
Is selected, the channel number and the current time selected immediately before are read, and the reference cell So is set from the entire program guide area E (step 1). That is, the program guide information corresponding to the channel number and the current time selected immediately before is stored in the reference cell So.

The display table of FIG. 8 is created based on the set reference cell and index table (step 2).

The information in the display table is sent from the CPU 6 to the program guide image generation circuit 4. The program guide image generation circuit 4 performs a program guide image generation process based on the transmitted information (step 3). That is, a program guide image is generated on the display memory. The program guide images generated on the display memory are sequentially read out and sent to the display 8, whereby a program guide screen corresponding to the set user is displayed on the display 8. After that, a key input waiting state is set.

If there is a select key input by the select key 13 (YES in step 4), program selection
A predetermined selection process such as program reservation is executed.

Cursor movement keys 12L, 12R, 12
If there is a cursor key input by U, 12D (YES in step 5), the processing of steps 6, 7, 8, or 9 is performed according to the operated cursor movement keys 12L, 12R, 12U, 12D.

That is, the operated key is the left movement key 12
If it is L, the process proceeds to step 6 and it is determined whether or not movement from the left end of the entire program guide area E to the left has been commanded. If the operated key is the right movement key 12R, the process proceeds to step 7, where it is determined whether or not movement from the right end of the entire program guide area E to the right has been commanded. If the operated key is the upward movement key 12U, the process proceeds to step 8, where it is determined whether or not an upward movement from the upper end of the entire program guide area E has been instructed. If the operated key is the down key 12D, the process proceeds to step 9;
It is determined whether a downward movement has been commanded from the lower end of the entire program guide area E.

When a command to move leftward from the left end of all program guide areas E is issued (YES in step 6), a command to move rightward from right ends of all program guide areas E is issued (step 7). If YES, a command is issued to move upward from the upper end of all program guide areas E (YE in step 8).
S) Or, if a command to move downward from the lower end of the entire program guide area E is issued (YES in step 9), that is, if it is a command to move outside the entire program guide area E, the cursor Cannot be moved, and the process returns to step 4 to wait for key input.

If the cursor movement command by the cursor key input is a movement command within the entire program guide area, the position to which the cursor is moved is calculated (step 10).
If the cursor movement command is a movement command in the left and right direction, the movement amount is set to one cell (one slot) in the left and right direction, and the position of the cursor movement destination is calculated. When the cursor movement command is a vertical movement command, the movement amount is calculated as one cell (one slot) in the vertical direction, and the destination position of the cursor is calculated. Then, it is determined whether or not the position of the cursor movement destination is within the program guide screen displayed on the display 8 (step 11).

When the position of the cursor movement destination is within the program guide screen displayed on the display 8, the cursor image in the display memory is moved so that the cursor is displayed at the movement destination position. (Step 12).

If the position to which the cursor is moved is outside the program guide screen displayed on the display 8, the reference cell is changed in order to change (scroll) the program guide screen (scroll). Step 13). In this reference cell changing process, a position in the entire program guide area E that is away from the current reference cell by the amount of cursor movement in the cursor movement direction is set as a new reference cell. When a new reference cell is set by the reference cell changing process, the process returns to step 2. Therefore, the display table of FIG. 8 is created based on the newly set reference cell, and a new program guide screen is displayed on the display 8. That is, the program guide screen is updated.

[0072]

According to the present invention, when the user mode is switched, the limitation condition already set in the user mode that has been set can be used in the changed user mode. A program guide display control device and a television receiver are obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a user terminal.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a menu screen.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a user mode switching screen.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a user mode switching screen.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a first copy screen displayed when a user mode is switched from a single user mode to a multi user mode.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a second copy screen displayed when a user mode is switched from a multi-user mode to a single user mode.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a user mode switching processing procedure;

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing a display table.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing a program guide screen.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a display processing procedure of a program guide screen.

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing a program guide screen displayed on a user terminal in the digital satellite broadcasting system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Tuner 3 Video processing circuit 4 Program guide image generation circuit 5 Operation unit 6 CPU 7 Multiplexer 8 Display 9 Storage device

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A program guide display control device for displaying a plurality of program guides in a matrix on a display device using one of a vertical axis and a horizontal axis as a channel number axis and the other as a time axis. User mode switching means for switching a user mode between a single user mode in which a limitation condition can be set for only one user and a multi-user mode in which a limitation condition for a displayed program guide can be set for a plurality of users. When the user mode is switched from the single user mode to the multi-user mode by the user mode switching means, the limiting condition set in the single user mode is changed based on the instruction from the operator in the multi-user mode. At least one user among a plurality of users The stores as a constant condition 1
When the user mode is switched from the multi-user mode to the single user mode by the copying unit and the user mode switching unit, the setting is made for a predetermined user in the multi-user mode based on an instruction from the operator. Stored as the limiting condition for the user in the single mode.
A program guide display control device, comprising: copying means. 2. The program guide display control device according to claim 1, wherein the limitation condition for the displayed program guide is related to a category. 3. The program guide display control device according to claim 1, wherein the limitation condition for the displayed program guide is related to a channel number. 4. A television receiver comprising the program guide display control device according to claim 1.