KR101248240B1 - Method for serving bookmark function of Personal Video Recorder system - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method of providing a bookmark function of a personal video recorder (PVR) system. The invention provides a bookmark function using a numeric key of a user interface without providing a separate key for the bookmark function.

According to the present invention, by inputting a bookmark designation command by using the '0' key among the numeric keys of the user interface, and specifying the bookmark by using the remaining number keys '1 ~ 9', a separate function for providing a bookmark function is provided. There is no need to provide a key, and since the bookmarks are specified using the '1 to 9' keys of the numeric keys of the user interface, up to nine bookmarks can be specified.

PVR, Bookmarks, Progress Bars, Remote Controls

Description

Method for serving bookmark function of Personal Video Recorder system}

1 is a view schematically showing a remote control for providing a bookmark function in a conventional PVR system.

2 is a diagram illustrating a progress bar for displaying a bookmarked portion in a conventional PVR system.

3 is a diagram illustrating a progress bar state in the case of reassigning a bookmark in a conventional PVR system.

4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a personal video recorder (PVR) system.

5 is a schematic view of a remote control for providing a bookmark function in the PVR system of the present invention.

6 is a view showing a progress bar for displaying a bookmarked portion in the PVR system of the present invention.

7 is a flow chart showing an embodiment of a bookmark function providing method of the PVR system of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols on the main parts of the drawings

100: tuner 110: demultiplexer

120: memory 130: control unit

140: HDD 150: video / audio processing unit

160: graphics unit 170: video / audio output unit

180: user interface

The present invention relates to a bookmark function providing method of a personal video recorder (PVR) system.

Generally, a personal video recorder (PVR) system is a new concept of digital recording device that records and plays back information on a hard disk driver (HDD), unlike a video cassette recorder (VCR) that stores a video signal on a magnetic tape.

The PVR system is a next-generation recording apparatus capable of recording a predetermined amount of broadcast programs without a VCR through an HDD built into a set-top box or a television main body.

The PVR system can record broadcast programs according to the capacity of the HDD, record various broadcast programs at the same time, and schedule recording through EPG (Electronic Program Guide) information.

The PVR system is provided with a time shift function, which refers to a function of converting a television program into a digital signal, storing it in the HDD, and delaying the output by delaying the required time shift period.

That is, when the user presses the time shift key (or stop key) to return to the original position and presses the key (or play key) when the user is away for a while, the program can be viewed again from the point where the user stopped when the user left the seat. .

In addition, the PVR system has a trick function of fast forward or rewind in a currently broadcast program, so that a boring broadcast program part may be skipped, and a user may find or edit a desired part.

In addition, program viewing schedules can be set according to personal choices and tastes, so that users can exercise a lot of control when watching television. Therefore, users can see the programs they want to see when they want to see them, regardless of the program schedule set by the broadcasters.

In addition, the PVR system provides a user with a bookmark function that allows the user to easily move to the designated location when the user watches the broadcast program in advance and stores and plays the main scenes in advance.

1 and 2 are views for explaining a bookmark function in a conventional PVR system, Figure 1 is a schematic view showing a remote control for providing a bookmark function in a conventional PVR system, Figure 2 is a conventional PVR system A diagram of a progress bar for displaying a bookmarked portion.

As shown in the figure, when the user presses the bookmark key 20 of the remote control 10 while watching a broadcast program, a red cover indicating that the first bookmark is designated at the corresponding point of the progress bar 30 is displayed. .

When the bookmark key 20 is pressed again, a green mark indicating that the second bookmark is assigned to the corresponding point of the progress bar 30 is displayed.

When the bookmark key 20 is pressed again, a blue mark indicating that the third bookmark is assigned to the corresponding point of the progress bar 30 is displayed, and when the bookmark key 20 is pressed again, the corresponding point of the progress bar 30 is displayed. Is displayed in yellow indicating that the fourth bookmark has been assigned.

When the bookmarked broadcast program is played as described above, when the user presses the red key 21 of the remote controller 10, the user jumps to the place where the red mark is displayed and plays from the corresponding part.

The green key 23, the blue key 25, and the yellow key 27 of the remote controller 10 operate in the same manner, and the user does not perform any operation when the user inputs a key that is not assigned a bookmark. .

That is, when the bookmark is designated to the blue cover in the broadcast program being played, if the user inputs the yellow key 27 of the remote controller 10, no operation is performed, and the currently played part is output as it is.

In addition, when the user presses the bookmark key 20 again while all the bookmarks are assigned, the red cover previously assigned is erased and the bookmark is reassigned at the point where the user pressed the bookmark key 20.

That is, as shown in FIG. 3, when the user presses the bookmark key 20 while all four bookmarks are specified, the red cover of the point where the first bookmark is assigned is erased, and when the user presses the bookmark key 20. The bookmark is reassigned with a red mark at that point.

As described above, in the conventional PVR system, since there are separate keys for providing a bookmark function to the remote controller, the number of the remote controller keys is relatively large, thereby increasing the volume and complexity of the remote controller.

In addition, since there are separate keys for providing a bookmark function, a point that can be designated as a bookmark in a broadcast program is also limited in the number of separate keys for providing a bookmark function.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to implement a bookmark function using the numeric keys of the user interface, without having a separate key for the bookmark function, bookmark function of the PVR (Personal Video Recorder) system that can increase the number of bookmark designation To provide a method of providing.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a method of providing a bookmark function of a personal video recorder (PVR) system includes playing a broadcast program selected by a user from among broadcast programs stored in a storage unit, and bookmarks through a numeric key of a user interface. If a setting command is input, displaying a progress bar displaying a bookmarked portion of the played broadcast program on a screen, and if a bookmark command is input through another numeric key of the user interface. And displaying a mark indicating that a bookmark is designated at a corresponding point of the progress bar.

Here, the bookmark setting command is input using the '0' key among the numeric keys of the user interface, and the bookmark command is input using the '1' to '9' keys among the numeric keys of the user interface. It is characterized by.

In addition, the cover indicating that the bookmark is designated, characterized in that sequentially displayed corresponding to the '1' to '9' key of the numeric keys of the user interface.

Hereinafter, a method of providing a bookmark function of a personal video recorder (PVR) system according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 4 to 7. In the following description, a detailed description of known functions and configurations incorporated herein will be omitted when it may make the subject matter of the present invention rather unclear.

First, the configuration of the PVR system and its operation method will be described to help understanding of the present invention.

4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a personal video recorder (PVR) system.

As shown therein, a tuner 100 for tuning a broadcast signal input through an antenna or a cable, a demultiplexer 110 for separating the broadcast signal into a video / audio stream and an EPG (Electronic Program Guide), and the The program information is displayed on the screen using the memory 120 storing the separated EPG by the demultiplexer 110 and the EPG stored in the memory 330, and the program is stored in accordance with the user's recording and scheduled recording commands. And a video / audio separated by the control unit 130 for controlling bookmark designation according to a user's input command and the demultiplexer 110 under the control of the control unit 130 when the recorded program is reproduced. The HDD 140 storing the stream and the video / audio stream output from the HDD 140 under the control of the controller 130 and the video / audio stream separated by the demultiplexer 110 are stored. The program information is displayed on the screen using the video / audio processor 150 output as an image / audio signal and the EPG stored in the memory 120 under the control of the controller 130, and according to the bookmark designation. A graphic unit 160 displaying a progress bar on a screen, an image / audio output unit 170 outputting a video / audio signal output from the video / audio processor 150 to a screen and a speaker; The user interface 180 generates a signal corresponding to the control unit 130 by a user's manipulation.

In the personal video recorder (PVR) system configured as described above, when an EPG display command is input through the user interface 180, the controller 130 extracts EPG information stored in the memory 120 and the graphic unit 160. Program information is displayed on the screen.

When the user selects a program to be reserved and inputs a reserved recording command, the controller 130 detects information about the corresponding program in the EPG stored in the memory 120 and registers the reserved recording.

When the broadcast start time of the program for which the reserved recording is registered, the controller 130 controls the tuner 110 to select a channel on which the program for which the reserved recording is registered is broadcast, and the video / audio stream of the input broadcast signal. After the file name is generated, reservation recording is performed by storing the video / audio stream in the HDD 140 using the generated file name.

In addition, when a recording command is input through the user interface 180, the controller 130 generates a file name of a video / audio stream separated from the current demultiplexer 110, and then uses the generated file name as the demultiplexer 110. The recording is performed by storing the video / audio stream separated by) in the HDD 140.

Thereafter, when a user inputs a file name display command through the user interface 180, the controller 130 extracts a file name of a program stored in the HDD 140 and displays the file name on the screen.

When a user selects a file name of a program to be played and inputs a playback command through the user interface 180, the controller 130 extracts a video / audio stream having a file name selected by the user from the HDD 140. And output to the video / audio processor 150.

The video / audio processor 150 decodes the video / audio stream output from the HDD 140 into a video signal and an audio signal under the control of the controller 130.

The video signal and the audio signal decoded by the video / audio processor 150 are output by the video / audio output unit 170 on the screen, and the audio signal is output from the speaker so that the user can watch.

Here, when the user generates a signal by pressing a predetermined key as a 'bookmark setting' key among a plurality of keys of the user interface 180 while playing the broadcast program, the controller 130 controls the graphic unit 160 to program the program. Display the Progress Bar on the screen.

Thereafter, when a user presses a predetermined key as a 'bookmark' key among a plurality of keys of the user interface 180 in a portion of the broadcast program to be designated as a bookmark, the controller 130 generates the progress bar. Display a sign indicating that a bookmark has been placed at that point in the Progress Bar.

For example, when a key '0' is designated as a 'bookmark setting' key among a plurality of keys of the user interface 180, and the remaining number keys, that is, '1 to 9' keys are designated as 'bookmark' keys, broadcasting is performed. If the user presses a key '0' of the user interface 180 while playing a program, the controller 130 recognizes this as a bookmark designation command and displays a progress bar on the screen.

In addition, when the user presses the '1' key of the user interface 180 in the portion of the broadcast program to be designated as the bookmark, the controller 130 controls the graphic unit 160 to control the corresponding point of the progress bar. Mark the cover with 'bookmark 1' to indicate that the first bookmark has been assigned.

Next, when the user presses the '2' key of the user interface 180, the controller 130 displays a 'bookmark 2' mark at the corresponding point of the progress bar to inform that the second bookmark is designated.

As such, the user may input a bookmark setting command using the '0' key among the numeric keys of the user interface 180, and may input the bookmark command using the remaining number keys '1 to 9'. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide a separate key for providing a bookmark function, and up to nine bookmarks can be designated.

In general, a numeric key of a user interface (ie, a remote controller) is used when a user directly moves a channel while watching a broadcast program, and is not used for inputting a channel number to be changed.

In addition, if a numeric key of the user interface is entered while playing a broadcast program stored in the HDD (Hard Disk Driver) of the PVR system, a guide display of 'unsupported function' appears. This is to prevent this from happening.

In order to switch channels while playing a broadcast program stored in a hard disk driver (HDD), a channel switch can be performed after ending a broadcast program to be played using the playback end key.

Accordingly, a feature of the present invention is to implement a bookmark function by using ten numeric keys of a user interface which is not used while playing a broadcast program stored in the HDD.

5 is a view schematically showing a remote controller for providing a bookmark function in the PVR system of the present invention.

As shown therein, the remote controller 200 of the present invention does not have a separate key for providing a bookmark function, and implements a bookmark function by using an existing numeric key.

That is, bookmark function is implemented by using '0' key among the number keys as 'bookmark setting' key and using '1 ~ 9' key as 'bookmark' key.

6 is a diagram illustrating a progress bar for displaying a bookmarked portion in the PVR system of the present invention.

As shown in the drawing, when the user plays a broadcast program stored in the HDD of the PVR system, pressing the '0' key on the remote control 200 displays a progress bar 250 displaying a bookmarked portion. Is displayed.

Then, when the user presses the '1' key of the remote control 200, a cover 'bookmark 1' is displayed at the corresponding point of the progress bar 250, the user the '2' key of the remote control 200 Pressing, the cover 'bookmark 2' is displayed at the corresponding point of the progress bar 250, and in this way the cover from 'bookmark 3' to 'bookmark 9' is the corresponding point of the progress bar 250 Is displayed.

As described above, when the broadcast program designated by bookmark is played, when the user presses the '1' key on the remote control 200, the user jumps to the place where the 'bookmark 1' mark is displayed and plays from the corresponding part. Do it.

In addition, even when the user presses the '2 to 9' key of the remote controller 200, the corresponding cover, that is, the 'bookmark 2 to bookmark 9' is jumped to the place where the cover is displayed and played from the corresponding portion.

If the user presses a numeric key that is not designated by the bookmark in the remote controller 200, no operation is performed, and the currently played part is output as it is.

7 is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of a bookmark function providing method of a PVR system according to the present invention.

As shown in the drawing, first, the controller 130 checks whether a file name display command is input through the user interface 180 (step S100), and when the file name display command is input as a result of the check, the control unit 130 stores the HDD 140. The file name of the programmed program is extracted and displayed on the screen (step S 110).

Next, the controller 130 checks whether a user inputs a playback command to the user interface 180 by selecting a file name of a program to be played (step S 120).

When the playback command is input as a result of checking in step S 120, the controller 130 extracts the video / audio stream having the file name selected by the user from the HDD 140 and processes the video / audio to display the video signal as a screen. The signal is output to the speaker (step S 130).

Subsequently, the controller 130 checks whether a bookmark setting command is input through the user interface 180 (step S 140).

The bookmark setting command is generated when a user presses a key previously designated as a 'bookmark setting' key, that is, a '0' key among numeric keys, among a plurality of keys of the user interface 180.

As a result of the checking of step S 140, when a bookmark setting command is input, the controller 130 displays a progress bar displaying a bookmarked portion on the screen (step S 150).

Subsequently, the controller 130 checks whether a bookmark command is input through the user interface 180 (step S 160).

The bookmark command is generated when the user presses a key previously designated as a 'bookmark' key among the plurality of keys of the user interface 180, that is, the '1' to '9' keys among the numeric keys.

Here, when a scene to be designated as a bookmark is displayed among the broadcast programs being played, the user sequentially presses '1' to '9' keys from the numeric keys of the user interface 180 to generate a bookmark command.

When the bookmark command is input as a result of checking in step S 160, the controller 130 displays a mark indicating that a bookmark is designated at a corresponding point of the progress bar (step S 170).

In this case, the controller 130 displays a cover page of 'bookmark 1' to 'bookmark 9' at the corresponding point of the progress bar according to the bookmark command due to the numeric key of the user interface 180.

That is, when the user presses the '1' key among the numeric keys of the user interface 180 to generate a bookmark command, the cover page 'Bookmark 1' is displayed at the corresponding point, and the user displays the 'among the numeric keys of the user interface 180'. Press the '2' key to generate a bookmark command and the cover 'bookmark 2' is displayed at the point.

Next, the controller 130 stores the image information and the position information on the HDD 140 for the bookmarked image through the bookmark command (step S 180).

Subsequently, the controller 130 checks whether the broadcast program to be played is terminated (step S 190), and ends the playback operation.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it is clearly understood that the same is by way of illustration and example only and is not to be construed as limiting the scope of the present invention. I will understand.

Therefore, the scope of the present invention should not be limited to the described embodiments, but should be defined by the claims below and equivalents thereof.

As described above, according to the present invention, a bookmark designation command may be input by using the '0' key among the numeric keys of the user interface, and bookmarks may be specified by using the remaining number keys '1 to 9' keys. As a result, it is not necessary to provide a separate key for providing a bookmark function.

In addition, since bookmarks are designated using the '1 to 9' keys of the numeric keys of the user interface, up to nine bookmarks can be specified.

Claims (5)

Reproducing a broadcast program selected by a user among broadcast programs stored in a storage unit; Displaying a progress bar indicating a playback state of the broadcast program to be played when receiving a bookmark setting command by selecting a key designated as a bookmark setting key among numeric keys of a user interface; And If a bookmark command is input by selecting a key other than the bookmark setting key among the numeric keys of the user interface, displaying a mark indicating that a bookmark is assigned to a corresponding playback point of the broadcast program in the progress bar; How to provide bookmark function of PVR system. The method of claim 1, Reproducing the broadcast program, If a file name display command is input through the user interface, extracting a file name of a broadcast program stored in the storage unit and displaying the file name on the screen; And If a playback command for any one of the file names displayed on the screen is input through the user interface, extracting and playing the broadcast program corresponding to the selected file name from the storage unit. The method of claim 1, wherein the bookmark setting key, Method of providing a bookmark function of the PVR system which is the '0' key among the numeric keys of the user interface. The method of claim 1, wherein the bookmark command, Method of providing a bookmark function of the PVR system for receiving a signal selected through any one of the '1' to '9' key of the numeric key of the user interface. The method of claim 4, wherein the sign indicating that the bookmark is designated, Method of providing a bookmark function of the PVR system sequentially displayed in the progress bar corresponding to the '1' to '9' key among the numeric keys of the user interface.

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