KR20010046457A - Television Receiver with Function of Notifying Message and Control Method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A television receiver having a message transmission function and a method for controlling thereof are provided for at least one member to transmit a message. CONSTITUTION: A television receiver comprises a tuner(10), a detection unit(12), a mixing unit(16) and a cathode ray tube(18). An antenna(ANT) receives a radio frequency signal and supplies the signal to the tuner(10). The tuner(10) detects only a television signal of a channel designated by a user out of the radio frequency signals and supplies the signal to the detection unit(12). The detection unit(12) detects the television signal and generates an image signal of a baseband. An image signal detected by the detection unit(12) is supplied to the CRT(18) through the mixing unit(16), and thus an image program is displayed on a screen of the CRT(18). A television receiver comprises a program memory(20) for storing the channel control information of the tuner(10), a data memory(22) for storing data temporary, a CPU(26) being connected between a remote receiver(24) and the mixing unit(16), and an on-screen controller(14). A ROM is used as the program memory(20). A non-volatile memory as an EEPROM, SRAM is used as the data memory(22). The remote receiver(24) inputs all sort of control commands and input information transmitted from a remote transmitting unit(28) and supplies the commands and information to the CPU(26).

Description

Television receiver with message transfer function and control method thereof {Television Receiver with Function of Notifying Message and Control Method}

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a television receiver (Television Receiver, hereinafter referred to as "TV") with an additional function for the convenience of the user. In particular, a television having a function of delivering a message desired by the current TV viewer to the next TV viewer. It relates to a receiver and a control method thereof.

In general, a TV is widely known as an image medium for receiving image information transmitted from a broadcasting station and transmitting the image information to a viewer. In addition, the TV is being watched by at least one of the members of the family during the evening or during the day of the holiday. In such TVs, various auxiliary service functions are continuously added to provide convenience to the user. These additional functions include the Picture In Picture function, which displays two video programs transmitted through two broadcasting channels at the same time, and automatically inputs the video information at that time. And an alarm function for receiving and sending.

In households that have at least one such TV, a member of the family frequently needs to inform other members or members of the family who were not in the house when they go out, and the place of departure and the date of return. In this case, it is customary for a family member to leave a message of their choice on a note. However, even if a member of a family leaves a memo with a message when they go out, other members of the family do not find or find the memo, and it is not frequently delivered.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a television receiver having a message delivery function suitable for delivering at least one member of a family a message desired by a member of the family and a control method thereof.

1 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a television receiver having a message transfer function according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a flowchart illustrating a step-by-step control method of a television receiver having a message transfer function according to an embodiment of the present invention.

<Brief description of symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

10: tuner 12: detector

14 on-screen controller 16 mixer

18: CRT 20: Program Memory

22: data memory 24: remote receiver

26: CPU 28: remote transmitter

ANT: Aerial

In order to achieve the above object, a television receiver having a message transfer function according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: a tuner for selecting a television signal of a designated channel frequency band from a high frequency signal received by an aerial; A detector for detecting a television signal selected by the tuner to generate a baseband video signal; An on-screen controller for generating an image signal for the on-screen information; A mixer for mixing the image signals from the on-screen controller and the detector to supply the display device with on-screen information displayed with the television image; Input means for inputting various control commands and information from the user, and a message input by the user when the user inputs a message input command specifying the input of the message from the input means is stored in the data memory, and the power is turned off. And a message control means for supplying a message stored in the data memory to the on-screen controller when the message is turned on and then on again, so that the message input by the user is displayed on the display device.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a method of controlling a television receiver for message transmission includes: waiting for a message mode command to be input from an input means, inputting a message desired by a user from the input means, and storing the message in a data memory; And waiting for power to be turned off and then on again, and supplying a message stored in a data memory to the on-screen controller so that the message is displayed on the display device.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention in addition to the above objects will become apparent from the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

1 is a block diagram schematically showing a television receiver having a message transfer function according to an embodiment of the present invention. The television receiver of FIG. 1 includes a tuner 10, a detector 12, a mixer 16, and a cathode ray tube (CRT) 18 connected in series with the aerial ANT. The aerial line ANT receives a radio frequency signal and supplies the radio frequency signal to the tuner 10. The tuner 10 detects only a television signal of a channel designated by a user (that is, a video information signal included in a predetermined frequency band) among the high frequency signals and supplies the detected television signal to the detector 12. The detector 12 detects (or demodulates) the television signal from the tuner 10 and generates a baseband video signal. The video signal detected by the detector 12 is supplied to the CRT 18 via the mixer 16 so that the video program is displayed on the screen of the CRT 18.

The television receiver is provided in series between a program memory 20 in which channel control information of the tuner 10 and various control programs are stored, a data memory 22 temporarily storing data, and a remote receiver 24 and a mixer 16. A central processing unit (hereinafter referred to as "CPU") 26 and an on-screen controller 14 connected are provided. As the program memory 20, a read-only memory (ROM) which is prevented from updating so that various control variables and control programs stored therein are not changed is used, and data and messages stored in the data memory 22 are used. Nonvolatile memories such as EEPROM, SRAM, etc., which are not erased even during this power-off, are used. The remote receiver 24 inputs various control commands and input information transmitted from the remote transmitter 28 in the form of an infrared signal, and supplies the various control commands and input information input thereto to the CPU 26. In addition to the input means consisting of such a remote transmitter 28 and a remote receiver 24, a key matrix or key switch panel may be connected to the CPU 26 or a key matrix or key switch panel may be connected instead of the remote receiver 24. It may be.

The CPU 26 sets the message mode when a message input command from which the user specifies input of a message is input from the remote receiver 24, and then the user inputs via the remote transmitter 28 and the remote receiver 24. The message to be stored in the data memory 22. In addition, the CPU 26 checks whether the message mode is set at power-on and supplies the on-screen controller 14 with the message stored in the data memory 22 when the message mode is set. By controlling the operation period of the on-screen controller 14, the message entered by the user is displayed on the screen of the CRT 18 for a certain period. The message display period may be set by the producer at the time of manufacture of the television receiver or until a message release command is input by the user (ie, the viewer) to request the release of the message mode. In addition to the messages entered by the user, the CPU 26 supplies the on-screen controller 14 with various control variables including the channel number stored in the program memory 20 and data information about the character board and the cursors, so that they can be accessed by the CRT. Display on the screen at (18). The on-screen controller 14 converts the message, control variables, dial and cursor from the CPU 26 into an image signal and supplies the converted image signal to the mixer 16. The mixer 16 mixes the image signal for the image program from the detector 12 and the image signal for the control variables, messages, dials and cursors from the on-screen controller 14 and converts the mixed image signal into a CRT ( 18), control variables, messages or dials and cursors are displayed on the screen of the CRT 18 together with the image program.

Fig. 2 is a flowchart for explaining step by step a method of controlling a television receiver having a message transfer function (or a message transfer method applied to a television receiver), which is performed by the CPU 26 shown in Fig. 1. The flowchart of FIG. 2 will be described in conjunction with the block diagram of FIG.

The CPU 26 waits until a message input command is input from the remote receiver 24 (step 30). The message input command is generated by the selection of a dedicated key switch for it provided on the remote transmitter 28 or other function key switches (e.g., channel already provided on the remote transmitter 28). Up / down key switch, volume up / down key switch, power-on / off key switch, screen control key switch, channel number key switches) are generated by simultaneous operation by the user, or Either of which may be generated by operating two or more times in succession. When the message input command is input, the CPU 26 sets the message mode by setting the message mode flag assigned to any one of the registers in itself to " 1 " (step 32). The CPU 26 reads the data on the dial and cursor stored in the program memory 20 and supplies the data on the read dial and the cursor to the on-screen controller 14 so that the dial and the cursor are CRT 18. Display on the screen (step 34). At this time, the on-screen controller 14 converts data on the dial and cursor into a video signal and supplies the converted video signal to the mixer 16 so that the video signal on the dial and the cursor is a video signal for the television program. To be supplied to the CRT 18 in a mixed state.

Then, the CPU 26 checks whether key data for the character selection key switch has been input from the remote receiver 24 (step 36). As the character select key switch, the volume up / down key switch or the channel up / down key switch may be used. If it is determined that key data for the character selection key switch has been input, the CPU 26 supplies the cursor movement data to the on-screen controller 14 which causes the cursor to be used in the direction corresponding to the key data (38th). step).

After the character selection key switch is not operated or the cursor is moved, the CPU 26 checks whether a character storage command has been input from the remote receiver 24 (step 40). The text storage command is generated for this by operating a newly provided key switch on the remote transmitter 24, or other function key switches already provided on the remote transmitter 28 (e.g., channel up / down keys). Switch, volume up / down key switch, power-on / off key switch, screen adjustment key switch, channel number key switches) are generated by simultaneous operation by the user, or any one of them It may also be generated by operating two or more times in succession. When a character storage command is input, the CPU 26 stores the character data for the character where the cursor is located in the message area of the data memory 22. In addition, the CPU 26 supplies the character data to the on-screen controller 14 to indicate that the character that the user has requested to store has been stored in the memory (step 42). At this time, the stored characters are displayed on the lower end or the upper end of the dial together with the previously stored characters.

After the character storage command has not been entered or after the character storage, the CPU 26 checks whether key data for the power on / off key switch has been input from the remote receiver 24 (step 44). If the key data for the power on / off key switch has not been input, the CPU 26 returns to the thirty-second step. On the contrary, if it is determined that the power on / off key switch is operated (or selected) by the user, the CPU 26 cuts the power voltage supplied to each circuit block of the television receiver and enters the power-off mode. (Step 46).

Next, the CPU 26 waits until the key data for the power on / off key switch is input again from the remote receiver 24 (step 48). When the power on / off key switch is input again, the CPU 26 enters the power-on mode by supplying a power voltage to various circuit blocks in the television receiver (step 50). Next, the CPU 26 checks whether the message mode flag in itself is set to " 1 " to determine whether the message mode is set (step 52). Alternatively, the CPU 26 may search whether data is stored in the message storage area of the data memory and determine whether to set the memory mode based on the search result. In this case, since the 32nd step is omitted, the program load of the CPU 26 is reduced. If the message mode is set in the 52nd step, the CPU 26 goes out by reading the data stored in the message storage area of the data memory 22 and supplying the read message data to the on-screen controller 14. The message left by the member of is displayed on the screen of the CRT 18 (step 54).

After the display of the message, the CPU 26 sets the timer included in itself to count the display period of the set message (step 56). Further, the CPU 26 judges whether or not the message display period that has been set has elapsed by continuously checking whether the timer is off in step 58. When the timer is off, the CPU 26 supplies the channel number or the volume indication data stored in the program memory 20 to the on-screen controller 14 instead of the message data so that the channel information or the volume information is displayed instead of the message. Step 60). At this time, the CPU 26 may perform the reset operation of the message mode flag and / or the message data erase operation in the message storage area of the data memory 22.

Steps 56 through 60 may be replaced by determining whether a message mode release command is input, stopping display of a message, and performing message mode release. In this case, the message mode release command may be generated by operating a newly provided key switch for the remote transmitter 24 for this purpose, or other function key switches (e.g., a channel already provided on the remote transmitter 28). Up / down key switch, volume up / down key switch, power-on / off key switch, screen control key switch, channel number key switches) are generated by simultaneous operation by the user, or Either of which may be generated by operating two or more times in succession. Message mode release is accomplished by the CPU 26 initializing the message mode flag to " 0 ". The message mode flag may be provided in a specific area (eg, a lead-in area or a lead-out area) of the data memory 22.

As described above, a television receiver having a message transfer function and a control method thereof according to the present invention input and store a message that a family member wants to leave and then display the stored message on the screen of the CRT upon power-on. This allows you to deliver a message to at least one of the other members of your family. Accordingly, the television receiver having a message transfer function and the control method thereof according to the present invention can provide additional convenience to the user and increase the added value of the television receiver.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the technical spirit of the present invention. Therefore, the technical scope of the present invention should not be limited to the contents described in the detailed description of the specification but should be defined by the claims.

Claims (6)

A tuner for selecting a television signal of a specified channel frequency band from a high frequency signal received by an aerial line; A detector for detecting a television signal selected by the tuner and generating a baseband video signal; An on-screen controller for generating a video signal for the on-screen information; A mixer for mixing the image signals from the on-screen controller and the detector to supply the display device with on-screen information displayed together with the television image; Input means for inputting various control commands and information from a user; When a user inputs a message input command for inputting a message from the input means, a message input by the user is stored in the data memory, and the message stored in the data memory is on-screen when the power is turned off and on again. And a message control means for supplying a controller to display a message input by a user on the display device. The method of claim 1, The input means includes a remote transmitter for transmitting key data of a key switch selected by a user in the form of an infrared signal, and a remote receiver for converting an infrared signal from the remote transmitter into an electrical signal and supplying the message to the message control means. A television receiver having a message transfer function. The method of claim 1, And the data memory is an inactive memory for storing stored data even at power-off. Image processing means for displaying a television signal received by an aerial on a display device, an on-screen controller for converting the information into a video signal form so that on-screen information is displayed on the display device, and data for storing data. A method of controlling a television receiver comprising a memory and input means for inputting various control commands and user information, the method comprising: Waiting for a message mode command from an input means; Inputting a message that the user wants to leave from the input means and storing the message in the data memory; Waiting for power to turn off and back on, Supplying a message stored in a data memory to the on-screen controller to cause the message to be displayed on a display device. The method of claim 4, wherein And said message mode command is generated by simultaneously operating at least two or more key switches provided on said input means for specifying different functions. The method of claim 4, wherein And the message mode command is generated by operating one or more of the key switches provided in the input means to designate other functions.