DE102005021243A1 - Digital video broadcast recording controlling method, involves starting and/or stopping recording of digital video broadcast when actual program information refers and indicates recording digital video broadcast - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves receiving digital video broadcast (DVB) from an observation point and extracting actual program information. A determination is made whether the actual program information refers to a recording DVB by comparing the actual program information with stored temporary program information. Recording of the DVB is started and/or stopped when the actual program information refers and indicates to the recording DVB. An independent claim is also included for a device for receiving and recording digital video broadcast (DVB).

Description

The The invention relates to a method for controlling the recording a digitally transmitted television program and a device for receiving and recording a digitally transmitted Television program.

A important basic function for recording equipment for television programs, such as. VC (Video Cassette) Recorder, DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) Recorder, or hard disk recorder, is that the user broadcasts to automatic Select recording in advance can. A well-known, simple realization represents the timed The user is provided with the expected start and stop times of the program to be recorded as well as the transmission channel the recording device then, using a built-in clock recording starts and stops at the specified times. Due to frequent shift of airtime leads this timed recording often leads to unsatisfactory results, parts or even the entire program to be recorded is not in are included in the recording.

to Workaround this problem was for the analog broadcast television program called Video Programming System (VPS) introduced. In this system, each shipment is assigned a numeric code (VPS code) assigned, which is not visible with the picture information broadcast becomes. additionally status information is broadcast along with the numeric code, indicating whether the program is already running with this code, paused or already finished. Instead of start and stop times for a recording Broadcast, the user in this system gives him the TV magazines known VPS code of a recorded program before the recording device. The recorder then continuously reads in the transmitted VPS code and compares it with the stored code of the program to be recorded. With agreement becomes the associated one Status signal evaluated and the recording started accordingly and stopped.

At the digitally transmitted Television (Digital Video Broadcast, DVB) is a basically similar system known. The higher transmission capacity of the digital Television allows also the transmission more extensive additional information than was possible with the VPS system. This information, called the Event Information Table (EIT), includes the scheduled air time, the name of the broadcast, if applicable a brief description and status information in which indicated is, if the program is already running, shortly is running or not yet running. The content of the Event Information Table covers according to the DVB underlying standard EN 300 468 of the ETSI (European Telecommunications Standards Institute) the schedule for a maximum of 2 weeks in advance from. Actually transmit Most broadcasters have information for scheduled broadcasts in the EIT, however, only a few days to a week in advance.

Based on the data the Event Information Table can be used for the digitally transmitted A similar television Recording control, as it is known from the VPS system implemented become. The user gives the title of a program to be recorded the recording device which then sets the Event Information Table to a matching one Entry examined. If a match Entry is found, the associated status information for Control of recording begins. In addition, the relatively allow extensive information of the Event Information Table, an electronic Program Guide (Electronic Program Guide, EPG) for presentation to produce on the television screen. In this case, the user needs the title of a program to be recorded, for identification the shipment serves not to enter, but he can this shipment in a simple way select from the electronic program guide, whereupon taken over the title becomes.

Next the previously considered recording devices for radio-based television programs are equipment known, in addition provide access to internet-based services. Such devices will be often referred to as Multimedia Center, an example is the Activy Media Center of Fujitsu Siemens Computers. About a number of service providers are diverse on the internet and extensive information on the planned television program available, the creating a much larger and more comfortable one electronic program guide, as it was based on the sent Event information table possible is. For example, you can Additional and background information on certain shipments as well Picture and sound sequences as a preview (trailer) offered to the user become. So desirable this form of electronic program guide due to their higher Information content for however, the user proves to be an automatic user Recording control as unsuitable because it is not guaranteed that the specified transmission times actually correspond to the current transmission times.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a method of controlling a record of a digitally transmitted television program in which the user sends are scheduled to be recorded on the basis of provisional program information containing scheduled transmission times, but that the program is recorded at the actual time, possibly deviating from the scheduled transmission time. It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for receiving and recording a digitally transmitted television program, in which a program can be selected on the basis of preliminary program information comprising scheduled broadcasting times, and a record of the program is controlled at the actual broadcasting time.

These The object is achieved by a method for controlling a recording a digitally transmitted Television program according to claim 1 and a device for receiving and recording a digitally transmitted Television program according to claim 22 solved.

According to the invention to a user selected program to be recorded, the preliminary program information, a title and a planned start time and a planned one Include end time, stored and from an observation time, the under consideration of the scheduled start time, current program information read in and with the stored preliminary program information compared to determine if the current program information refer to the program to be recorded. If that's the case, becomes the record based on the current program information the program to be recorded started or stopped. As a result of that the current program information with the stored preliminary program information can be related the current program information for controlling the recording times be used.

In An advantageous development of the method is a Hilfsstartzeitpunkt considering the scheduled start time and start the recorder, if no current program information is available and the one to be recorded Shipment calculated auxiliary start time is reached. In another advantageous embodiment the process of the invention is analog calculated an auxiliary end time and the recording stopped, if no current program information is available and the one to be recorded Shipment calculated auxiliary end time is reached.

In a further preferred embodiment of the method include the current program information Title of a broadcast and it will be based on a comparison of this Title with the stored title of the program to be recorded, whether the current program information is to be recorded Refer to shipment. It is preferred to semantic equality the title is tested and most preferably on semantic similarity tested the title.

In another embodiment of the method according to the invention include Current program information the start or end time of a program and it is based on a comparison of start or end time with the stored start or end time of the recorded Broadcast determines if the current program information is up refer to the program to be recorded. It can in one embodiment Precise equality of start and end times tested be and preferably tested in a further embodiment be whether start or end times match up to a specified tolerance period.

advantageously, become the preliminary program information taken from an electronic program guide, wherein in one particularly preferred embodiment the electronic program guide is obtained via the Internet.

Further Embodiments of the method according to the invention are the subject the dependent claims.

The Invention will be described below with reference to an embodiment using a Figure explained in more detail.

The FIG. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment the method according to the invention in a flowchart.

In step A of the method, preliminary program information vPI is provided. Such provisional program information vPI comprise at least the scheduled transmission times, ie start time and end time or alternatively start time and duration of the program, a title designating the program and information about the transmission channel, such as channel number of the transmitter, frequency of the transmitter or an abbreviation designating the transmitter. The preliminary program information vPI can come from different data sources, such as Internet or terrestrial or satellite-based radio transmission. The provisional program information vPI are advantageously collected for all receivable broadcasters for the scheduled broadcasts of the next few days or weeks and presented in a clear form as an electronic program guide EPG. This eig For example, there is a table or a graphic representation in which the individual programs are displayed as blocks on a timeline. To display the preliminary program information vPI, the screen (TV, monitor) used for reproducing the programs to be recorded can be used. Alternatively, a display unit specially provided for displaying the preliminary program information vPI, such as a liquid crystal display, may be used. In order to be able to provide the user with as much information as possible about the planned programs, Internet-based services are preferably used as the data source for the preliminary program information. However, if such services are temporarily or generally unavailable, for example due to a lack of technical prerequisites for certain users, program information can alternatively be used which is transmitted to the television signal in a radio-based manner. Such information is contained, for example, for digitally transmitted television DVB in the Event Information Table EIT explained in more detail below. Furthermore, in step A, a variable rec is defined in which the current state of the recording (eg "started" or "not started") is stored. At the beginning of the procedure, rec is set to the "not started" state.

In Step B of the process becomes a transmission to be recorded by the user selected. This can be done in different ways using known input methods (Device keys, Remote control buttons, mouse or trackball pointer, etc.). The inventive method is for simplicity only for a selected one Shipment shown. It is self-evident, of course, that by the user at the same time or in several selection steps at several times several programs for recording can be marked. After selection, the preliminary program information vPI or relevant parts of the preliminary program information vPI saved. They are below as stored program information designated gPI. Relevant parts of the vPI that are stored in gPI In particular, such information will be included in the course the further method used to identify a shipment become. In this embodiment are the title of the program as well as the planned start time and the planned end time. However, the inventive method can in easily transfer or extend to other information as long as this information helps identify a shipment are suitable.

In Step C of the procedure will be based on the stored scheduled Start time and the scheduled end time other times calculated for control in the further course of the procedure be used. These are an observation time tBZ, a Auxiliary start time tHS and an auxiliary end time tHE. The observation time tBZ marks the point in time, from when in the course of the procedure read current program information and stored with the be compared (see below). In the simplest case will be tBZ calculated in the from the planned start time of the recorded Shipment is deducted a fixed period of time. This time span should be like this be measured that they are possible Transmission shifts of a program earlier than planned Transmission time includes, so for example of the order of magnitude be an hour.

If, for example, due to transmission errors or due to omissions the broadcaster in the course of the procedure no current program information aPI available should be, is provided according to the invention, to switch to a timed recording control. To this Purpose the auxiliary start and end times tHS, tHE are needed. in the In the simplest case, they calculate themselves from the planned start and end dates End times by subtracting (at start time) or Add (at the end time) of a fixed period of time. This is useful in the range of minutes, so at least for minor airtime shifts neither the start nor the end of a program in the recording is missing. The time span should not be too large to avoid unnecessary storage capacity Recording the program. In addition to the described simplest cases where tBZ, tHS, tHE use fixed time periods be calculated, the time periods in a changeable, non-volatile Store and use a procedure that matches the length of the Time periods to actually observed transmission time shifts adapts. This can for example happen in the for each program to be recorded the planned start time or planned End time with the actual Start and end times of the program, which later in the Method to be determined, compare and average the so specific actual To include transmission time shifts in these periods. It is also conceivable that the time intervals are determined in a transmitter-specific manner, saved and used.

Step D of the procedure shows a loop waiting until the observation time tBZ is reached. In this case, t indicates the current time which is provided by a clock in a device for carrying out the method according to the invention. The use of a holding pattern to determine the observation time tBZ is merely an example. Of course, in another embodiment of the method tBZ and the over to the next step E differently, eg event-driven.

From At the observation time tBZ, the method is continued with step E. In step E, the channel of the digitally transmitted television program DVB on which the selected Transmit broadcast is received, and the sent program information aPI extracted from the Event Information Table EIT.

In Step F of the method become the read current program information aPI compared with the stored program information gPI. This comparison can include several sub-steps. In the case of Event Information Table EIT of DVB are entries not only to one, but contain too many shipments, so it is required each Entry of the table with the stored program information compare gPI to identify the entry of the table, which refers to the program to be recorded or in all probability refers.

For the comparison stands for the title stored in gPI and the planned start and end dates End times of the program to be recorded available. A Difficulty in this comparison arises from the fact that the stored program information gPI and the current Program information aPI in the inventive method in the normal case come from different data sources, which is why aPI and gPI can be slightly different, although they refer to the same broadcast.

A Method to still get the latest program information aPI the chosen To identify a consignment offers a multi - stage comparison procedure, in which the comparison criteria of Be softened step by step. For example, in one first step as criterion the absolute semantic match the title is set and, if no match is found, in the second step, the comparison criterion be softened by just an approximate match the title is required. Tests for an approximate match of semantic expressions are known. For example, you can for one approximate Compare items except Be left out or it will be due to the frequency of syllables used on probable agreement closed. If there is no current program information on the second level aPI can be found where the title meets the criterion can be in a third Stage as a criterion the exactness of the minute from the stored Start or end time with start and end time from the current Program information aPI be used. Even with mismatched Title according to the previous one Criteria is the likelihood that this is the recorded program is acting, big, if exactly the same transmission times are available. As a fourth stage can a comparison of the airtime not on an exact minute basis, but with a certain tolerance period, which is a few minutes can be set. Without departing from the basic idea of the invention, can a comparison of the current program information aPI with the stored program information gPI based both on other criteria, as well as on the basis of other identification features as title and send time.

If in step F, no current match to the recording to be recorded Program information aPI can be found in the steps G and H of the method, the current time t with that in step C. certain auxiliary start time tHS and auxiliary end time tHE compared. If neither of these two times is reached, the procedure becomes repeated from step E. If, however, the auxiliary start time tHS is reached and the recording has not yet started, branches the process from step H to step J, in which the recording is started and this is noted in the variable rec. Subsequently, will the procedure also repeated from step E. In an analogous way is branched from step G to step I, if the auxiliary end time reached and the recording was already started. In step I In this case, the recording is stopped, after which the process is ended.

If in step F current program information for the selected program could be identified, the process branches to the steps K or L. In steps K and L, the one to be recorded Broadcast assigned status information from the current program information evaluated. According to the DVB standard becomes the send state of a broadcast in the Event Information Table EIT by one in five potential states described. These states are "undefined", "not running "," starting soon "," interrupted "and" running ". Other standards can however, use a smaller or larger number of possible states here. Furthermore, not all of the possible states of the appropriate broadcasters also used. To be favoured of the method according to the invention therefore only the states which relates to whether a program is running or not running, evaluated. Including other states but may well be considered to be pulled.

If the state "running" is detected for a program to be recorded in step L and the recording has not been started yet, the process branches from step L to step J to start the recording of the program the process is then repeated from step E.

is however, the recording has already been started, and will be in step K found that the current program information for the recorded Shipment will display the status "does not run", becomes Step I branches, the recording stopped and the process completed.

Furthermore It is conceivable that the current program information continues aPI be evaluated. If e.g. the program to be recorded aPI, e.g. due to negligence the broadcaster is not provided with status information, probably but the following on the record to be recorded, can the record will be toppled if the aPI indicate that the the following program has already started. Another evaluation the current program information aPI is the duration a shipment as a difference of the final and Start time to determine. If this duration including a lower Tolerance of a few seconds exactly the specified and typical Duration rounded to full minutes according to the preliminary program information vPI, this can be taken as an indication that the current program information issued by the broadcaster not really indicate the current send status, but only reflect the expected schedule. In such cases can be provided be, contrary to the status information of the aPI to stop, but for safety's sake until the auxiliary end time to continue.

by the broadcasters will be the EIT in typically at a distance of Transfer seconds, the standard of the DVB provides a maximum of 20 seconds. Adapted to it may be the alternate extraction of current program information in step E as well as the evaluation of this information in the steps F, K and L can be at a repetition rate of several passes per Second happen, so starting and stopping recordings by the method according to the invention Can be done to the second.

By the repeated execution From step E, you can take a shot timed by step J was initiated because current program information aPI, e.g. were temporarily unavailable due to bad reception conditions at the start of the broadcast, in certain circumstances nevertheless initiated at the correct time by step G and due current program information aPI be ended.

Also when the inventive method is described with reference to a flowchart, an implementation This method in its temporal and structural process nict correspond exactly to the flowchart. As already mentioned, is for example, it is possible in a device according to the invention for receiving and recording the digitally transmitted television program to provide a timer which, when the times tBZ, tHE, tHS corresponding process steps starts event-driven.

Also a so-called state machine provides a suitable implementation for the inventive method The states, which can take this state machine, correspond to different Procedural situations. A condition would be waiting, for example For example, at the time of observation, another condition would be characterized in that the recording has already started and receive current program information about the selected program become. The change from one to another state of the machine In turn, it can be event-controlled, ie initiated, for example from the timer or even in response to a change in status information the program to be recorded or due to user input (e.g. premature termination of the proceedings or deliberate change of the records to be recorded Broadcast during a recording) using appropriate rules.

VPI

preliminary program information

GPI

saved provisional program information

TBZ

Observation time

tHS

Auxiliary starting time

tHE

Auxiliary end time

aPI

current program information

rec

status recording (started / not started)

Claims (22)

A method of controlling a recording of a digitally transmitted television program (DVB) comprising the steps of providing preliminary program information (vPI) including a title, a scheduled start time and a scheduled end time, selecting a program to be recorded by a user, and storing the preliminary program information (vPI) of the program to be recorded, - Determination of an observation time (tBZ) taking into account the planned start time, - Receiving the digitally transmitted television program from the observation time (tBZ) and extracting current program information (aPI), - by comparing the read current program information (aPI) with the stored preliminary program information (vPI) determine whether the current program information (aPI) refer to the program to be recorded, - start the recording when the current program information (aPI ) to indicate the program to be recorded begins, - Stop the recording if the current program information (aPI) refer to the program to be recorded and indicate that the program to be recorded is finished. The method of claim 1, with the additional steps - Calculation an auxiliary start time (tHS) taking into account the planned Start time, - Start the recording device, if no current program information (aPI) to be recorded Shipment available are and the auxiliary start time (tHS) is reached. Method according to one of claims 1 or 2, with the additional steps - Calculation an auxiliary end time (tHE) taking into account the planned End time, - To stop the recording device, if no current program information about the program to be recorded available and reached at the auxiliary end time (tHE). Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the recording device alternatively is stopped when displaying the current program information (aPI), that the program following the program to be recorded has begun Has. Method according to one of claims 3 or 4, with the additional ones steps - Determine a current duration of a program to be recorded as a difference between the times at which the current program information (aPI) indicate that the program to be recorded starts or ends, - Continue the Record over the time at which the current program information (aPI) is displayed, that the program to be recorded ends, until the auxiliary end time (tHE) if the current duration is within a specified tolerance period equal to a duration rounded to full minutes according to the preliminary program information (vPI) is. The method of claim 5, wherein the predetermined Tolerance period is a few seconds. Method according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the observation time (tBZ) a predetermined period of time before the scheduled start time the record to be recorded is. Method according to one of claims 2 to 7, wherein the auxiliary start time (tHS) a predetermined period of time before the scheduled start time the record to be recorded is. Method according to one of claims 3 to 8, wherein the auxiliary end time (tHE) a predetermined period of time after the scheduled end time the record to be recorded is. Method according to one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the time periods are fixed. Method according to one of claims 7 or 8, wherein the time periods are variable and for each program to be recorded the scheduled start time with the actual Time of starting the recording is compared and the mean the differences affect the value of the time periods. The method of claim 9, wherein the period of time is variable and for each program to be recorded the planned end time with the actual time the stopping of the recording is compared and the mean of the Differences affect the value of the time periods. Method according to one of claims 11 or 12, wherein the digitally transmitted Television program includes programs of various stations and in which for each Sender specific values for the the individual time periods are determined, stored and used. Method according to one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the current Program information (aPI) includes the title of a program and based on a comparison of this title with the saved title the recorded program is determined, whether the current Program information (aPI) refer to the program to be recorded. The method of claim 14, wherein semantic Equality of title is being tested. The method of claim 14, wherein semantic similarity the title is being tested. Method according to one of Claims 1 to 16, in which the current program information (aPI) comprises the start or end time of a transmission and is determined on the basis of a comparison of start or end time with the stored start or end time of the transmission to be recorded, whether the current program information refer to the consignment to be recorded (aPI). A method according to claim 17, wherein to the minute Equality of start and end times is tested. The method of claim 18, wherein testing is performed whether start or end times match up to a specified tolerance period. Method according to one of Claims 1 to 19, in which the provisional program information (vPI) taken from an Internet-based service. Method according to one of claims 1 to 20, wherein the current Program information (aPI) the digitally transmitted television program (DVB) be removed. Device for receiving and recording a digitally transmitted TV program (DVB) with - Means for providing from preliminary Program information (vPI), - Means a user on the basis of the preliminary program information (vPI) dialing allow a program to be recorded, - one Memory for the preliminary ones Program information of the selected consignment to be recorded, - one receiver for a digitally transmitted TV program and - one Aufzeichengerät for recording the digitally transmitted TV program characterized in that one with the recipient and the recorder Control unit is provided which is adapted to - current Program information (aPI) from the digitally transmitted television program to extract and - by Comparison with the stored preliminary program information (vPI) to determine if the current program information (aPI) refer to the program to be recorded and - to instruct the recording device to start a recording when the current program information (aPI) refer to the program to be recorded and indicate that a program to be recorded begins, and - stop the recording, if the current program information (aPI) is to be recorded Refer to the consignment and indicate that the consignment to be recorded finished.