KR20080007837A - Broadcasting receiver and method for screen control thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

A broadcasting receiver and a screen control method thereof are provided to display a favorite channel in real time and in sequence according to priority set by a user, thereby easily and quickly providing a channel that the user wants. A video input unit receives and demodulates a video signal. A screen processor(151) processes the demodulated video for displaying on plural sub screens according to a set order and direction. A display unit(161) displays the processed video on a corresponding sub screen among a main screen and plural sub screens. A controller(100) controls the video input unit and the screen processor so that a favorite channel video can be demodulated and displayed on the sub screen according to set order and direction when a favorite channel service is selected.

Description

Broadcast receiver and method for screen control

1A and 1B are diagrams for explaining a sequence and a direction of displaying a main screen and a plurality of sub-screens in a broadcast receiver according to the present invention.

2A and 2B illustrate an example of displaying a preferred channel broadcast program image of a main screen and a plurality of subscreens in a broadcast receiver according to the present invention.

3 is a block diagram illustrating a broadcast receiver according to the present invention.

4 is a flowchart illustrating a screen control method in the broadcast receiver according to the present invention.

* Description of the symbols for the main parts of the drawings

100: control unit 111, 112: first, second tuner

113: memory unit 121: switching unit

131: main screen processing unit 132: sub-screen processing unit

141: synthesizer 151: OSD processing unit

161: display unit 171: remote control

The present invention relates to a screen display of a broadcast receiver, and more particularly, to a broadcast receiver and a screen display method thereof, which are adapted to easily identify the current broadcast contents of a preferred channel and to easily and quickly switch to a desired channel.

In modern people, electronic devices are used in various ways. Among them, broadcast receivers such as TVs are a necessity of modern people.

At present, analog TVs are being introduced to consumers in various forms, ranging from small models such as 14-inch to 60-inch projection TVs.

However, as the analog TV becomes larger and more functional, digital TV emerges as a part of complementing and revealing various problems such as deterioration of image quality, limitation of broadcasting channel, limitation of unidirectional media, and saturation of analog TV market. It became.

After color TV broadcasting, stereo sound, remote control device (hereinafter referred to as remote control), subtitle broadcasting, data broadcasting, etc. have accepted some digital technologies.In the 1990s, computer and network technologies became more rapidly spreading, Digital TV (TV) has been pursued as a broadcast receiver to realize high quality and multifunctionality.

Broadcasting is a mass media that targets an unspecified number, which is advantageous because it can be compressed like computer data compression because all elements (video, audio, data) are treated digitally.

Therefore, it is possible to transmit one program of HDTV class and three or more programs of SDTV class to one channel, and to enjoy a much clearer screen by digitally transmitting and processing signals.

In addition, the screen overlapping (ghost) phenomenon, in which radio waves are reflected on obstacles, can be solved on its own, and HDTV channels can enjoy realistic screens and stereoscopic sound that were only enjoyed in movie theaters at home.

Digital TV Image and audio signal processing allows the addition of additional data.

For example, multimedia related services such as information related to the program or real time information such as stocks, exchange rates, weather forecasts, and internet information can be enabled.

The digital TV that has emerged like this has undergone many technological developments, and has reached the stage where a test broadcast or a main broadcast can be performed.

In addition, digital TV is provided with an OSD (On Screen Display) menu screen that is improved compared to analog TV in terms of basic video and audio as well as graphics.

The process of setting and adjusting the functions of the DTV is performed through the OSD function, which is because the configuration and functions of the DTV have recently become complicated, so the description of the functions and the configuration is required.

Most of these functions are provided in the form of a manual. However, the OSD menu function makes the use of the OSD menu function more common because users can perform functions more conveniently. In other words, the user can view the help contents of the desired menu item along with the OSD menu on the screen without the hassle of browsing the manual.

In addition, the expected number of channels of digital television is tens of times higher than that of current analog television, and there are about 100 channels in the U.S. which actually broadcasts digital TV.

Therefore, in digital broadcasting, the provision of tens to hundreds of channels increases the viewer's choice and makes the program selection more complicated.

At present, there are also studies to use such digital TVs in various ways.

One of the results of this study is the preferred channel.

The preference channel is to set a channel preferred by the user for each channel and genre, and there may be a method of separately collecting only channels preferred by the user or collecting preference channels for each genre.

The user determines whether or not to set a preferred channel for the selected channel.

Therefore, when a user wants to switch channels on the current broadcast channel when watching not only digital broadcasting but also over-the-air broadcasting and cable broadcasting, when a user inputs a favorite channel key through a remote controller or a key panel, the channel is switched in the order of the channels.

However, TV or STB, which is used frequently in homes, simply registers favorite channels and manages them as channel numbers, and shows the list of registered channel numbers when the favorite channel key is pressed on the remote control. You don't know what you're doing, so you have to make a choice. Therefore, there is a need for a method of showing the current broadcasting contents of the currently registered preferred channel at a glance and selecting a desired channel easily.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a broadcast receiver and a screen control method thereof that can easily check the current broadcast content in the preferred channel, and to quickly and easily switch to the desired channel The purpose is to.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an image input unit for receiving and demodulating a video signal, a screen processing unit for processing the demodulated image to be displayed according to an order and a direction set on a main screen and a plurality of sub-screens, and in the screen processing unit. A display unit for displaying the processed image on the corresponding sub-screen among the main screen and the plurality of sub-screens, and when the preferred channel service is selected, the preferred channel video is demodulated and processed according to the order and direction set in the sub-screen. Provided is a broadcast receiver comprising a control unit for controlling the input unit and the screen processing unit.

The image input unit may be at least one analog tuner or digital tuner, or may include at least one analog tuner and a digital tuner.

The screen processor may further include a switching unit for switching the demodulated image signal from the image input unit to a main screen processing unit or a sub-screen processing unit, and a main screen for processing and outputting the image signal switched by the switching unit according to the size of the main screen. A sub-screen processing unit which processes and outputs a switching video signal according to the size of the sub-screen by the switching unit, a main screen video signal processed by the main screen processing unit, and a sub-screen video signal processed by the sub-screen processing unit It may be configured to include a synthesis unit for synthesizing the output to the display unit.

In addition, the memory unit for storing the preference channel and the priority and preference of the preferred channel, the display of the activated screen, the display of the menu button when the sub-screen is activated, the display of the selection screen according to the selected menu button, The apparatus may further include an on-screen display processing unit for processing a focus display for emphasizing one sub-screen among a plurality of sub-screens in the form of an on-screen display (OSD).

The controller controls an operation according to a direction key and a selection key of a remote controller for remotely controlling the broadcast receiver in a state in which a preferred channel is displayed on the main screen and a sub-screen, and a priority is selected when the preferred channel service is selected by the remote controller. The on-screen display processor controls the on-screen display to display a focus for emphasizing the sub-screen on a sub-screen corresponding to a preferred channel of one of the sub-screens, and one of the direction keys of the remote controller is displayed when the plurality of sub-screens are displayed. When input, the focus movement can be controlled or the focus movement can be controlled between the main screen and the sub-screen or between the sub-screen and the menu button, and the corresponding function can be executed by detecting an input of a confirmation key for executing the currently selected function on the remote controller. Can be controlled.

According to the present invention for achieving the above object, if the preferred channel service is selected, dividing the screen of the broadcast receiver into a main screen area and a plurality of sub-screen areas surrounding the main screen area, and the currently displayed broadcast And displaying a program image in the main screen region and sequentially displaying broadcast program images corresponding to the preferred channel in the favorite channel list according to the order and direction set in the plurality of sub-screen regions. A screen control method of a broadcast receiver is provided.

Here, after the displaying of the plurality of sub-screens, the method may further include converting a selected sub-screen broadcast program image among the plurality of sub-screens into the main screen broadcast program image and displaying the entire screen.

And if the number of the preferred channels is less than the number of the plurality of sub-screen areas, sequentially displaying the preferred broadcast program genre or a broadcast program of a channel adjacent to the main screen broadcast program in the remaining sub-screen areas. Can be lost.

Controlling focus movement between a main screen and a sub-screen or between a sub-screen or a sub-screen and a menu screen according to input of a direction key of a remote controller for remotely controlling the broadcast receiver; and a selection key of the remote controller is input. The method may further include switching the broadcast program image of the sub-screen and the broadcast program image of the main screen, activating the broadcast program of the selected screen as a video on the entire screen, or performing a selected menu function. have.

Therefore, the present invention broadcast receiver and its screen control method can provide a channel desired by a user easily and quickly by displaying the preferred channel in real time and sequentially according to the priority set by the user in the broadcast receiver.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Hereinafter, a broadcast receiver and a screen control method thereof according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1A and 1B are diagrams for describing a display order of a main screen and a plurality of subscreens in the broadcast receiver according to the present invention.

FIG. 1A illustrates a main screen display of a full screen of the present invention and a general broadcast receiver. In FIG. 1A, a broadcast program image of a channel tuned through a tuner in a broadcast receiver is displayed as a video on the entire screen of the broadcast receiver. It shows the state which becomes.

FIG. 1B shows one main screen and a plurality of preferred channels when a preferred channel is serviced by inputting a favorite channel key (a preferred channel key of a remote control or a local key attached to a broadcast receiver) while the main screen is displayed as shown in FIG. 1A. An example of the positions of the subscreens and the order and direction in which the subscreens are displayed are shown.

In FIG. 1B, the positions of one main screen and a plurality of subscreens are basically located at the center of the screen, and the plurality of subscreens are formed in a shape surrounding the main screen around the main screen.

In this case, the sub-screen order and direction of the present invention are displayed in the order of the leftmost highest, and then in the clockwise order, except for the broadcast currently being displayed in the center of the screen according to the priority of the plurality of preferred channels. It may be determined that a plurality of sub-screens are displayed. Of course, the sub-screen order and direction is an embodiment, and the order and direction of displaying the sub-screen may vary according to the system designer. In other words, the sub-screen display order and direction for the plurality of preferred channels may be set in the order of the most rightmost from the top of the counterclockwise order. In addition, the order and direction of the sub-screen display for the plurality of preferred channels may be set in the counterclockwise direction from the leftmost top or clockwise from the topmost right.

2A and 2B illustrate an example of displaying a preferred channel broadcast program image of a main screen and a plurality of subscreens in a broadcast receiver according to the present invention.

An example of displaying a broadcast program image for a main screen and a plurality of sub-screens of a broadcast receiver according to the present invention is shown in FIG. 1A when a user inputs a preferred channel key while the broadcast program video is displayed on the entire screen. As in 2a, the screen is divided into a main screen area and a plurality of sub-screen areas M. FIG. The broadcast program image being displayed is displayed in the central main screen area, and the plurality of M1 broadcast program images are sequentially displayed in the set order and direction in the sub-screen area surrounding the main screen area.

FIG. 2B illustrates that all of the broadcast program images corresponding to the preferred channel set by the user are displayed in the plurality of sub-screen areas as many as the number of sub-screens (M).

On the other hand, the number of preferred channels may also be a plurality (N). As shown in FIG. 2A, the number of preferred channels does not matter when the number of preferred channels set by the user is less than or equal to the number of sub-screens, but the number of preferred channels N is negative. If the number of screens (M) is larger, the display can be performed in two ways.

One is to display and display only M sub-screens sequentially according to a predetermined direction. On the other hand, for the broadcast program image of the lower priority channel which was not displayed by the priority, the broadcast program image of the lower priority channel is displayed again from the sub-screen where the highest priority broadcast program image was displayed.

Subsequently, after the display is completed up to the broadcast program of the preferred channel corresponding to the lowest priority on the sub picture, when the set time elapses, the lowest priority is given to the broadcast program of the highest priority except for the broadcast program displayed on the main picture. The channel broadcast program is displayed again in a loop manner from the sub-screen corresponding to the next order and direction of the displayed sub-screen. In this case, after the broadcast program displayed on the highest priority channel that was first displayed is terminated, a new broadcast program may be displayed again, thereby increasing the user's selection.

The broadcast program displayed on the main screen may be a moving picture or a still picture according to the type and number of tuners built in the broadcast receiver. If there is only one tuner, the main picture is displayed as a still image. If there are two tuners, the main picture is displayed as a movie using one tuner, and the remaining tuners are sequentially tuned from the highest priority channel. Can be displayed on the sub-screen of the location.

3 is a block diagram illustrating a broadcast receiver according to the present invention.

3 shows an example of a broadcast receiver according to the present invention, wherein the control unit 100, the first and second tuners 111 and 112, the memory unit 113, the switching unit 121, the main screen processing unit 131, The sub picture processing unit 132, the combining unit 141, the OSD processing unit 151, the screen display unit 161, and a remote controller 171 as an input device.

Here, the first and second tuners 111 and 112 may be analog tuners and digital tuners, respectively, both may be analog tuners, or both may be digital tuners, and basically used to receive different channels, but the same channel is used. It can also be received.

It is assumed that the first and second tuners 111 and 112 have tuning and demodulation functions. The signals of the channels tuned and demodulated by the first and second tuners 111 and 112 are output to the switching unit 121. At this time, the channel of the main screen image can be tuned and demodulated by the first tuner 111, and the channel of the sub-screen image can be output to the switching unit 121 by the second tuner 112. On the contrary, the first tuner 111 The channel of the sub-screen image may be tuned and demodulated by the second tuner 112 and output to the switching unit 121.

The memory unit 113 selectively stores a plurality of preference channels set by the user, and priorities and preference genres (movies, dramas, sports, etc.) of the preference channels.

The switching unit 121 outputs the main screen image and the sub-screen image selected and demodulated through the first tuner 111 or the second tuner 112 to the main screen processor 131 or the sub-screen processor 132.

According to the present invention, when a preferred channel service key is input, the broadcast program image being watched is continuously displayed on the main screen area through the first tuner 111 (or the second tuner 112), and the second tuner 112 (or the first tuner) is displayed. Through the first tuner 111, a plurality of sub-screens are sequentially tuned and displayed according to the order and direction of the priority registered as the preferred channel.

At this time, the control unit 100 detects the input of the service key and outputs the main screen image to the main screen processing unit 131, and outputs the sub screen image to the sub screen processing unit 132.

Here, the main screen processing unit 131 processes the input video signal according to the main screen size and outputs it to the synthesis unit 141, and the sub-screen processing unit 132 processes the input video signal according to the sub screen size and synthesizes it. Output to (141).

The synthesizer 141 synthesizes and outputs the main screen video signal and the sub-screen video signal to be displayed on the screen of the display unit 161.

The controller 100 controls each unit according to a key input of an input device, for example, the remote controller 171, but a part of the control line is omitted.

When the preferred channel service key is selected by the remote controller 171, the controller 100 displays the broadcast program image being displayed through the first tuner 111 on the main screen area, and displays the preferred channel stored in the memory unit 114. Control to output sub-picture still images according to priority.

In addition, the controller 100 controls an operation according to a direction key and a selection key of the remote controller 171 while the preferred channel is displayed on the main screen and the sub-screen. At this time, the control unit 100 displays a focus for emphasizing the sub-screen on the sub-screen corresponding to the preferred channel of the highest priority, and an example of the direction keys of the remote controller 171 in a state where a plurality of sub-screens are displayed. For example, as the left and right keys are input, the focus movement between the sub-screens and the main screen is controlled. In addition, when the up and down keys are input, the focus screen is controlled to move the focus between the sub screen and the menu button, and when the left and right keys are input, the focus screen is controlled between the menu buttons. In addition, if the remote controller 171 selects a confirmation key for executing the currently selected function, the selected function is executed. Of course, the operation of the up and down keys or the left and right keys of the remote control can be variously modified by those skilled in the art.

The operation of the controller 100 may be performed by hardware, firmware, middleware or software, or a combination of at least two of them.

On the other hand, the OSD processing unit 151 processes the display of the activated screen, the display of the menu button when the sub-screen is activated, the selection screen display according to the selected menu button, the focus display for emphasizing the sub-screen, etc. in the form of OSD. The graphic or OSD character is output to the synthesis unit 141 under the control of the controller 100.

4 is a flowchart for explaining an embodiment of a screen control method of a broadcast receiver according to the present invention.

An operation flowchart showing an embodiment of a screen control method of a broadcast receiver according to the present invention is operated by the control of the controller 100 according to a key input of a remote controller.

Referring to FIG. 4, when the user selects a command for a favorite channel among keys of a remote controller while viewing a broadcast program through a main screen as shown in FIG. M preference channels are sequentially tuned and sequentially displayed on the N sub-screens as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B (step 402). On the other hand, since the number of preferred channels stored in the memory unit is smaller than the number of sub-screens, a broadcast program other than the broadcast program displayed on the main screen and sub-screens may be displayed in the sub-screen area where no image is displayed as shown in FIG. 2A. Can be. For example, a broadcast program of a channel corresponding to the user's favorite broadcast program genre (sports, movie, drama, education, etc.) or a broadcast program of a channel adjacent to the current main screen broadcast program may be sequentially (upper or lower channel). ) Can be displayed.

Here, the user controls the focus movement between the sub-screens and the main screen as the left and right keys, for example, among the direction keys of the remote controller 171 are input. The focus shift between the sub-screens, the main screen, and the sub-screens is performed by the user selecting a preferred broadcast among the main screens and the sub-screens, and it is determined whether a confirmation command is input after the focus shifts (step 403).

As a result of the determination (step 403), when a confirmation command (confirmation key) is input, the focused subscreen is switched to the main screen through the switching unit, the main screen processing unit, and the subscreen processing unit, and the main screen is switched to the subscreen (step 404). . Here, the main screen can be switched in two ways.

The first method is to allow the selected and confirmed sub-screen to be displayed as a video in full screen. In this case, all subscreens disappear.

In the second method, the selected and confirmed sub-screen is displayed as a video in the main screen area, and the main screen converted to the sub-screen is displayed as a still image in the sub-screen area moved to the main screen area. Subsequently, when the confirmation key is input again, the video of the main screen area is displayed on the full screen, and all the sub screens disappear.

However, if the determination result (step 403) is entered (step 405), the video currently displayed in the main screen area is returned to the full screen, and all the sub-screens disappear (step 406).

As described above, in the broadcast receiver and the screen control method of the present invention, the user can easily and quickly provide a desired channel by displaying the preferred channel in real time and sequentially according to the priority set by the user.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

Therefore, the technical scope of the present invention should not be limited to the contents described in the embodiments, but should be defined by the claims.

Claims (9)

An image input unit which receives and demodulates an image signal; A screen processor for processing the demodulated image to be displayed in the order and direction set on the main screen and the plurality of sub-screens; A display unit configured to display an image processed by the screen processor on a corresponding subscreen among a main screen and a plurality of subscreens; And, And a controller for controlling the image input unit and the screen processor to demodulate and screen the preferred channel image according to the order and direction set in the sub-screen when the preferred channel service is selected. The method of claim 1, The image input unit is at least one or more analog tuners or digital tuners, broadcast receiver, characterized in that composed of at least one or more analog tuners and digital tuners. The method of claim 1, The screen processor may include a switching unit for switching the image signal demodulated by the image input unit to a main screen processor or a sub picture processor; A main screen processor for processing and outputting the image signal switched by the switching unit according to the size of the main screen; A sub-screen processing unit which processes and outputs a switching video signal according to the size of the sub-screen by the switching unit; And a synthesizing unit for synthesizing the main screen image signal processed by the main screen processing unit and the sub screen image signal processed by the sub screen processing unit and outputting the synthesized sub image signal to the display unit. The method of claim 1, A memory unit for storing the preference channel and the priority and preference genre of the preferred channel; On-Screen Display (OSD) form displays the activated screen, the display of the menu button when the sub-screen is activated, the selection screen display according to the selected menu button, and the focus display for emphasizing one sub-screen among the plurality of sub-screens. The broadcast receiver further comprises an on-screen display processing unit for processing. The method of claim 4, wherein The controller controls an operation according to a direction key and a selection key of a remote controller for remotely controlling the broadcast receiver while a preferred channel is displayed on the main screen and a sub-screen, and the highest priority is selected when the preferred channel service is selected by the remote controller. The on-screen display processor controls the on-screen display processor to display a focus for emphasizing the sub-screen on the sub-screen corresponding to the preferred channel, and one of the direction keys of the remote controller is input while the plurality of sub-screens are displayed. Control the focus shift or control the focus shift between the main screen and the sub-screen or between the sub-screen and the menu button, and detect the input of a confirmation key for executing the currently selected function on the remote controller so that the corresponding function can be executed. Broadcast receiver, characterized in that for controlling. Setting a screen of a broadcast receiver to a main screen area and a plurality of sub-screen areas surrounding the main screen area when a preferred channel service is selected; And, And displaying the currently displayed broadcast program image in the main screen region, and sequentially displaying the broadcast program images corresponding to the preferred channel in the preferred channel list according to the order and direction set in the plurality of subscreen regions. Screen control method of a broadcast receiver, characterized in that made. The method of claim 6, After displaying the plurality of sub-screens, And converting the selected sub-screen broadcast program image among the plurality of sub-screens into the main screen broadcast program image and displaying the entire sub-screen broadcast program image on the entire screen. The method of claim 6, If the number of the preferred channels is less than the number of the sub-screen areas, the method further comprises sequentially displaying a preferred broadcast program genre or a broadcast program of a channel adjacent to the main screen broadcast program in the remaining sub-screen areas. Screen control method of a broadcast receiver characterized in that. The method of claim 7, wherein Controlling focus movement between a main screen and a sub-screen or a sub-screen or between a sub-screen and a menu screen according to input of a direction key of a remote controller for remotely controlling the broadcast receiver; As the selection key of the remote controller is input, the broadcast program image of the sub-screen and the broadcast program image of the main screen are switched, the broadcast program of the selected screen is activated as a video on the entire screen, or the selected menu function is performed. And controlling the screen of the broadcast receiver.

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