KR19990042395A - How to Search for Broadcast on TV - Google Patents

Abstract

According to the present invention, a broadcast type selected by a user (eg, general broadcasting, cable broadcasting, satellite broadcasting, and video broadcasting) selected by a user in a sub picture on a television having a PIP function, from the first channel to the last channel at a search interval set by the user. The present invention relates to a method for searching for a broadcast on a television that can be searched for and displayed. A text input screen for selecting a broadcast type, and a text screen for setting a search time interval, that is, the time to automatically switch to the next channel during the search, when a search key input is provided. Display and store the broadcast type selected by the user and the search time interval, change the PIP input to configure the stored broadcast type as a sub picture for the main screen, and to configure the stored broadcast type as a sub-screen for searching. While tuning from the channel to the last channel, By searching and displaying channel-tuned channel broadcasts, it is possible to provide a user with the convenience of navigating all channels to sub-screens regardless of the broadcast type without a separate key operation for changing the broadcast type and channel of the sub-screen. .

Description

How to Search for Broadcast on TV

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention [0001] The present invention relates to a method for searching for broadcasts on a television, and in particular, a user selects a broadcast type (eg, general broadcast, cable broadcasting, satellite broadcast, and video) selected by a user as a sub picture in a television having a PIP function. The present invention relates to a method for searching for a broadcast in a television such that the first channel to the last channel can be searched and displayed at a set search interval.

In general, a picture in picture (PIP) function of a television includes first and second tuners for receiving and tuning a broadcast signal transmitted from a broadcasting station, so that a screen can be divided into a main region and a sub region to simultaneously watch two broadcast signals. For example, the viewer may simultaneously search for or watch another broadcast signal of the sub picture displayed in the sub area while watching the broadcast of the main screen displayed in the main area.

In this case, the PIP process converts two broadcast signals or one broadcast signal (for a sub-screen) into a digital signal, performs image reduction processing for adjusting the screen size, and synthesizes the two broadcast signals to match the desired home screen position. Convert it back to a signal and process it.

Therefore, the PIP function allows a viewer to watch two broadcasts at the same time, thereby enabling a search function of searching for another broadcast on a sub-screen while watching a desired broadcast on a main screen.

However, in the conventional search function, if the broadcast type currently being viewed on the main screen is a general broadcast, only the general broadcast can be searched using the sub-screen, and other broadcasts such as cable broadcasting, satellite broadcasting, and video are sub-screens. Therefore, in order to search for other broadcasts as sub-screens, it is troublesome to search the sub-screens while watching a predetermined channel by switching the main screen to the desired broadcast by repeating predetermined key operations. There was this.

An object of the present invention is to allow a user to select the type of broadcast desired to be searched regardless of the type of broadcast viewed on the main screen in a television having a PIP function, so that all channels of the desired broadcast type are set in a predetermined time interval or a time interval set by the user The present invention provides a method for searching for a broadcast on a television.

A broadcast searching method in a television according to the present invention is a method for searching for a broadcast other than the broadcast being watched on a television equipped with a PIP function capable of simultaneous broadcasting, and displaying a text screen for selecting a broadcast type when a search key is input. A first step of storing the broadcast type selected by the user, a second step of switching PIP inputs to configure the broadcast type currently being watched as the main screen and the stored broadcast type as a sub-screen, and the stored broadcast type And a third step of searching for and displaying the channel broadcast tuned to the sub-screen while tuning from the first channel to the last channel at a predetermined search time interval.

On the other hand, the broadcast type is characterized by consisting of general television broadcasting, cable broadcasting, satellite broadcasting, line input broadcasting.

Meanwhile, the method may further include displaying a text screen for setting the search time interval and storing the search time interval selected by the user, in search of the stored search time interval.

The method may further include outputting a voice signal to the headphone terminal while displaying the channel broadcast tuned to the sub-screen in the third step.

On the other hand, if there is a search end key input in the third step, further comprising the step of releasing the sub-screen to stop the search.

1 is a block diagram of a television employed in accordance with the present invention;

2 is a flowchart illustrating a broadcast searching process according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

<Explanation of symbols for main parts of the drawings>

10: key input unit 20: microcomputer

30,50: first and second tuner 40,60: first and second video / audio processing unit

70: Satellite Tuner 80: MPEG Decoder

90: satellite image / audio processing unit 100: switching unit

110: PIP processing unit 120: OSD unit

130: monitor 140: speaker

150: headphone jack

The above objects and various advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the preferred embodiments of the invention described below with reference to the accompanying drawings by those skilled in the art.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a block diagram of a television employed in accordance with the present invention, wherein the key input unit 10, the microcomputer 20, the first and second tuners 30 and 50, and the first and second video / audio processing units 40 and 60 are shown. ), Satellite tuner 70, MPEG decoder 80, satellite image / audio processing unit 90, switching unit 100, PIP processing unit 110, OSD unit 120, monitor 130, speaker 140 And a headphone terminal 150.

In this configuration, the key input unit 10 is provided as a means for performing the operation of the television, and includes a plurality of keys including a search key, a search end key, and the like, and outputs a key signal corresponding to a user's key operation. In general, by using a remote controller that can be input from a remote location, a key signal corresponding to a user's key operation is loaded on a predetermined infrared signal, and the received infrared signal is received, detected, amplified, and waveform-formed to output the received key signal. do.

The microcomputer 20 controls the overall operation of the television in response to the key signal from the key input unit 10, and controls the OSD unit 120 to search when the search key signal is applied from the key input unit 10. Based on a predetermined key signal applied from the key input unit 10 to display and control a text screen for selecting a broadcast type (for example, general broadcast, cable broadcasting, satellite broadcast, and video) and a text screen for setting a search time interval. Saves the broadcast type and the search time interval selected by the user in a memory not shown, and controls the switching unit 100 to apply the broadcast signal corresponding to the selected broadcast type to the PIP processing unit 110 as a sub-screen broadcast signal. The PIP processor 110 controls the broadcast signal being viewed as the main screen to configure the broadcast signal selected for the search as the sub picture.

In addition, the microcomputer 20 outputs and controls the audio signal corresponding to the sub-screen to the headphone terminal 150, and the first and second tuners 30 and 50 corresponding to the sub-screen broadcast signals at the searching time interval selected by the user. A broadcast search function is performed by sequentially tuning / selecting all channels of the satellite tuner 70 or the video AV1, AV2, and AV3.

The first and second tuners 30 and 50 respectively output broadcast signals received by being tuned to channels corresponding to the control of the microcomputer 20.

In addition, the first and second video / audio processing units 40 and 60 separately process broadcast signals from the first and second tuners 30 and 50 into video and audio signals, and output them.

Meanwhile, the satellite tuner 70 outputs a satellite broadcast signal tuned to a channel corresponding to the control of the microcomputer 20, and the MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group) decoder 80 is applied by the satellite tuner 70. A satellite broadcast signal encoded by MPEG, which is an information compression standard such as a moving picture and sound, is decoded into a video signal and an audio signal and output.

The satellite video / audio processor 90 separates and outputs the decoded satellite broadcast video signal and the audio signal applied from the MPEG decoder 80.

In addition, the switching unit 100 is selectively switched under the control of the microcomputer 20 to output a video / audio signal for main screen processing and a video / audio signal for sub-screen processing.

On the other hand, the PIP processing unit 110 is a means for processing the two video and audio signals from the switching unit 100 to the main (Sub) screen under the control of the microcomputer 20 to form a single screen Converts two video signals applied based on the preset size of the housewife screen into digital signals, synthesizes the two broadcast signals to match the size of the housewife screen, converts them into analog signals, and outputs the analog signals to the OSD unit 12; The audio signal corresponding to the main screen is output to the speaker 140, and the audio signal corresponding to the sub screen is output to the headphone terminal 150.

In addition, the OSD unit 120 synthesizes a corresponding text signal corresponding to the control from the microcomputer 20 to an image signal applied from the PIP processing unit 110 and outputs the corresponding text signal to the monitor 130.

Next, a detailed description will be given with reference to a flowchart of FIG. 2 attached to a broadcast searching process according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention in a television including the above-described configuration unit.

First, when a viewer watches a predetermined broadcast on a single screen or simultaneously watches two broadcasts on a main screen and a sub-screen using a PIP function and then operates a search key of the key input unit 10 to search for another broadcast, the key The search key signal is applied from the input unit 10 to the microcomputer 20.

In this case, when the search key signal is applied (step 200), the microcomputer 20 controls the OSD unit 120 to display a text screen for selecting a broadcast type to be searched (step 202).

On the other hand, the user manipulates a predetermined key of the key input unit 10 for one of the broadcast types to be searched, for example, general broadcast, cable broadcast, satellite broadcast, and video, while looking at the broadcast type selection screen displayed on the screen. The microcomputer 20 stores the selected broadcast type in a memory (not shown) (step 204).

Next, the microcomputer 20 controls the OSD unit 120 to display a text screen for setting the search time interval, which is the time until the channel is changed for the next channel search (step 206).

At this time, the user looks at the displayed character screen for setting the search time interval, and selects one of the desired search time intervals, for example, 5 seconds, 10 seconds, 30 seconds, 1 minute, 2 minutes, and the predetermined key of the key input unit 10. The microcomputer 20 stores the set search time interval in the memory (step 208).

On the other hand, the character screen for selecting the broadcast type and search time interval can be configured as a single screen, and it is possible to configure the broadcast type frequently searched and the desired search time interval as a basis so that they can be used easily without changing settings. .

Next, the microcomputer 20 controls the output to the PIP processing unit 110 to control the switching unit 100 to process the selected broadcast type as a sub picture (step 210).

Then, the microcomputer 20 tunes and controls the first channel of the selected broadcast type to be output to the sub-screen for viewing by the viewer (step 212). For example, if the selected broadcast type is satellite broadcast, the microcomputer 20 tunes and controls the satellite tuner 70 to receive a broadcast signal of the first channel, and sends a voice signal corresponding to the selected channel to the headphone terminal 150. Output it to be listened to (step 214).

Next, it is determined whether the set search time interval has elapsed (step 216). If it has not elapsed, it is determined whether a search end key signal is applied from the key input unit 10 (step 218), and the search end key When a signal is applied, the sub picture and voice processing are controlled by controlling the switching unit 100 and the PIP processing unit 110 (step 220), and the routine ends.

On the other hand, if the search end key signal is not applied in step 218 described above, the process returns to step 216 described above to determine whether the set search time interval has elapsed.

On the other hand, if the search time interval set in the above-described step 216 has elapsed, it is determined whether the channel currently being tuned is the last channel (step 222), and if it is the last channel, the process proceeds to the above-described step 220 to perform sub-screen and voice processing. Release to end broadcast search.

On the contrary, if the channel currently being tuned in step 222 is not the last channel, the channel is tuned to the next channel to continue the sub-screen and voice processing so that the user can search the next channel to the sub-screen (step 224). In step 216, it is determined whether the set search time interval has elapsed.

On the other hand, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

As described above, according to the present invention, a TV that has a PIP function and a general broadcast can be configured as a main screen, and all channel broadcasts of the selected broadcast type are selected by selecting a broadcast type that the user wants to search. By sequentially configuring and displaying the screen, there is an effect that the user can conveniently search all the channels to the sub screen regardless of the broadcast type without a separate key manipulation for changing the broadcast type and channel of the sub screen. .

Claims (5)

A method for searching for a broadcast other than the broadcast being watched on a television having a PIP function capable of simultaneous broadcast viewing, If there is a search key input, displaying a text screen for selecting a broadcast type and storing the broadcast type selected by the user; A second step of switching a PIP input to use the currently viewed broadcast as a main screen and configure the stored broadcast type as a sub-picture for searching; And searching for and displaying the channel broadcast tuned to the sub-screen while tuning from the first channel to the last channel of the stored broadcast type at a predetermined search time interval. The method of claim 1, wherein the broadcast type comprises general television broadcasting, cable broadcasting, satellite broadcasting, and line input broadcasting. The television set as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step of displaying a text screen for setting the searching time interval and storing the searching time interval selected by the user in the first step. How to search for a broadcast. The method of claim 1, wherein the third step further comprises outputting an audio signal to the headphone terminal while displaying the channel broadcast tuned to the sub picture. The method of claim 1, wherein the third step further comprises the step of halting the search by releasing the sub-screen when there is a search end key input.