JP2000269904A - Transmitting device and receiving device for electronic program guide - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the usability when a user select a program through the use of a program guide and views by encoding electronic program guide information, decoding an input code sequence to which music name list information corresponding to a program is added into guide information, and outputting it. SOLUTION: A decoder part 14 decodes the input code sequence of an inputted electronic program guide part into a video signal for displaying an electronic program guide picture and output it to a sub picture composition part 18. A format conversion part 15, on the other hand, decodes the input sequence of an inputted music name list part into a video signal for displaying music name list on the screen and outputs it to an external device. In parallel with this, the video signal is reduced to the size of a sub picture and outputted to a sub picture compositing part 18. The sub picture compositing part 18 superposes the video signal for music name list display which is inputted from the format conversion part 15 and reduced to the sub picture on the video signal for electronic program guide picture display inputted from the decoder part 14.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a transmission apparatus and a reception apparatus for an electronic program guide, which are means for providing electronic information for a user to select and watch a broadcast program.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the spread of cable TV and satellite broadcasting, the number of channels and programs receivable by a user has increased dramatically, and conventional means such as a program guide provided on a print medium have been used. It is becoming increasingly difficult for a user to quickly, reliably and easily select a desired program.

An electronic program guide has been proposed as a method for solving this problem. In this method, information about a program (program guide information) is transmitted from a broadcasting station to a user terminal separately or in parallel with a broadcasted program, and the user selects a desired program using the received and stored information about the program. It is assumed that.

[0004] The type of information included in the program-related information in the electronic program guide according to the prior art includes, for example, a title name, a program name, and a program name as shown in Fig. 12 of JP-A-8-289266. The start time, the outline of the program (synopsis), etc. were common.

However, the information used when a user selects a program he / she wants to watch is not limited to information such as a program title name, broadcast date and time, and an outline of a program as found in the prior art. It is.

For example, the music used in the program, that is, the theme song of the drama, the background music, or the music name list of the music performed in the music program is checked in advance, and the music that suits one's taste and the music that the user wants to listen to There is a need to select the viewing of a program in which is used. Furthermore, in addition to the purpose of selecting listening to music, guessing the image and atmosphere of the program from the song name of the music used in the program, using it to determine whether to watch the program, or finishing the program If you can check the name of the music used in the program later, it will be more convenient for users,
You can deepen the appreciation of the program.

[0007]

As described above, if the music name information of music used in a program can be used as a part of an electronic program guide, convenience when a user selects and watches a program increases. Despite this effect, conventional electronic program guides have not met such needs.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has an electronic program guide transmitting apparatus for transmitting electronic program guide information to which a music name list related to a program has been added, and a program selection. And an electronic program guide receiving device that receives the electronic program guide information to which a music title list is added and outputs a music title list, which is convenient when a user selects and watches a program using the electronic program guide. It is an object of the invention to improve the performance.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides
Encoding means (2) for encoding electronic program guide information corresponding to a program and outputting it as code strings (A), (B) and (C)
And the code string (A) output by the coding means (2).
(B) Addition means for adding music name list information (D) corresponding to the program to (C) and outputting as output code strings (A), (B), (C), and (D) to be output to the outside of the apparatus ( 3) An electronic program guide transmission device (1) having the following.

[0010] Further, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides music code list information corresponding to a program in code strings (A), (B), and (C) obtained by encoding electronic program guide information corresponding to the program. Input code string (A) (B) with (D) added
(C) From (D), electronic program guide information decoding means (13) (1) for decoding and outputting the electronic program guide information.
4) a song name list information decoding means (13) (15) for decoding and outputting song name list information corresponding to the program from the input code strings (A) (B) (C) (D). An electronic program guide receiving device (11) having the following.

Further, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides the above-mentioned electronic program guide receiving apparatus, wherein the input code string includes a plurality of music name list information (D1).
(D2) and (D3), and using the electronic program guide information output by the electronic program guide information decoding means (13) (14), the plurality of song name list information (D1)
(D2) Designating means (17) for designating specific music name list information from (D3), and the music name list decoding means for decoding and outputting the music name list information designated by the designating means (17) ( 15) An electronic program guide receiving device (19) characterized by having the following.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of an electronic program guide transmitting apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a schematic configuration of an embodiment of an electronic program guide transmission device (1) according to the present invention.

In FIG. 1, the encoder unit (2) has a function of converting the inputted program guide information into code strings (A), (B) and (C) and outputting it to a music name list information insertion unit (3). . The music name list information insertion unit (3) adds the input music name list information (D) to the code strings (A), (B), and (C) input from the encoder unit (2), and adds the transmission code string (A). And (B), (C) and (D).

Next, the operation of the electronic program guide transmitting apparatus (1) according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a data structure of a code string in which the electronic program guide transmitting device (1) is involved.

In FIG. 1, first, program guide information is input to an encoder unit (2). The program guide information is formed by collecting information such as a program title, a broadcast channel, a broadcast start / end time, a program type, and detailed information (performers, program descriptions, stories, etc.) for one program. Yes, it is operated as an electronic program guide system using a predetermined format.

The encoder unit (2) generates code strings (A), (B), and (C) from the input program guide information and outputs them to the music name list information insertion unit (3). Encoder part (2)
The code strings (A), (B), and (C) generated by the above have, for example, a structure shown in FIG. It comprises a start code (A) for declaring the beginning of the program guide information, information (B) indicating the type (genre) of the program by a 1-byte length code, and detailed information (C) including the title of the program and the like.

The music name list information insertion section (3) includes code strings (A) and (B) generated by the encoder section (2).
(C) and music name list information as inputs, generate and output transmission code strings (A), (B), (C), and (D).

The music name list information is information in which a music name list of music related to a program is encoded according to a predetermined format. It is, for example, a list of music names written in a text format, or a compressed video file in which a video signal of a display screen on which the list of music names is displayed is compressed and encoded.

The encoding method of the music name list information is predetermined as an electronic program guide system, and a plurality of methods are determined so that the information can be used. Music name list information.

In the configuration of the electronic program guide transmitting apparatus (1) shown in FIG. 1, a music name list information inserting section (3)
The transmission code strings (A), (B), (C), and (D) output by have a data structure as shown in FIG.

That is, a code string (D) of music name list information is added to the generated code strings (A), (B), and (C) output from the encoder section (2) shown in FIG. ing. At the beginning of the code string of the D part, an identification code for specifying the method and format for encoding the music title list used when decoding the music title list information part of the electronic program guide on the receiving side is added. .

The transmission code strings (A), (B), (C), and (D) output from the electronic program guide transmission device (1) are superimposed on a broadcast program signal using superimposition means and transmission means (not shown). The program broadcast added by the electronic program guide is broadcasted by radio waves or a wired transmission path.

As the electronic program guide added to the broadcast, in addition to the information on the individual programs as described above, programs broadcast on each channel in one week are summarized in one table. It is also possible to provide a so-called "program guide". The transmission apparatus (1) for an electronic program guide according to the present embodiment is configured to add an electronic program guide relating to a “program guide” to a broadcast program and broadcast it in the same manner as the apparatus according to the related art. ing.

The information of the electronic program guide relating to each program described with reference to FIG. 2 and the program table which is a list of programs broadcast for a certain period of time, such as one week or one day, are provided at the following timing, for example. It is transmitted to the receiving terminal of each home. At a regular timing, such as Monday morning at 6:00,
An electronic program guide and a program guide of individual programs for one week are superimposed on the broadcast and transmitted. On the receiver side, it is known in advance that the transmission is performed at that time, and the reception and accumulation of the electronic program guide are performed by timer control regardless of whether the user is watching the program or not.

Further, the content of the broadcast program is changed as the broadcast date approaches, or the broadcast time of the sports broadcast program is extended in accordance with the development of the game, and the programs broadcast thereafter are all broadcasted for a predetermined time. In order to cope with such a situation, only data to be changed is transmitted at a regular time, such as 6:00 am every day, or when a program starts to be broadcast, the broadcast time, etc. The electronic program guide information stored on the receiving side is updated by transmitting changed data if there is a change, and the system is operated so that there is no difference between the stored electronic program guide and the actual broadcast. I have.

A transmission code string for transmitting the electronic program guide information to each home may be configured as follows. "Journal of the Institute of Image Information and Television Engineers, Vol. 52, No. 11, p.
p. 1551-1553 ", an example of a data broadcast transmission protocol stack is introduced.

In the above example, a service related to a television program is provided by a data encoding system, and digital broadcasting is based on MPEG2 which is an image compression system,
(Transport stream) and PES
(Packetized Elementary St
The data carousel and the object carousel can be considered as transmission protocols for the storage service in which data is carried in the form of a “ream” or a section. The data carousel transmission method is based on ISO 13818.
It describes that a DSM-CC data carousel specified in -6 is being considered, and a method capable of transmitting a file name, a directory structure, an expiration date, and the like to this by adding an extension, a descriptor, and the like.

With the transmission / reception system using the transmission protocol stack as discussed above, a user receives a data broadcast service in addition to a broadcast program from a receiver installed in each home, and performs interactive operation. It is possible to reproduce and use detailed information including images and sounds.

In such a system, an electronic program guide that transmits music name list information, which is information added by the apparatus according to the present invention described above, together with an identifier indicating the information, using the data broadcast transmission protocol stack. A transmission device may be configured.

A transmission method in which data is transmitted to each home using the above-described interactive method, or a transmission method in which data is unilaterally transmitted as part of a broadcast as described in the embodiment above. The present invention is embodied in a system. In the following embodiment, description will be made on the latter one-side transmission system in which data is transmitted as part of a broadcast.

By the way, the apparatus according to the present embodiment has been described as adding the music title list relating to the program to the electronic program guide, but the convenience when the user selects the program using the electronic program guide is improved. In order to achieve the purpose, the following information may be added separately from the example described above.

That is, it is conceivable to add a product image relating to a program to the electronic program guide. In broadcast programs such as dramas, various products such as automobiles, telephones, and personal computers appear as props and the like. There are users who select to listen to a program because a product that they like and a product that they want are appearing.
For example, you can look at the product you are considering purchasing, look at the scene where the product is actually used,
The purpose is to check the atmosphere.

Furthermore, there is also a need of a user who likes a product appearing in a program just watched and wants to know product information such as a product maker name and a product name after broadcasting.
Alternatively, in addition to the needs of the user as described above, the broadcaster of the program or the manufacturer of the product can use the product image information added to the electronic program guide as an advertisement medium for promoting the product. For the above purpose, it is desirable that merchandise image information related to a program can be added to the electronic program guide, but such an apparatus has not been realized.

Therefore, in order to provide an electronic program guide transmitting apparatus for adding an image of a product related to a program to the electronic program guide, instead of the music name list information inserting section (3) in the configuration diagram of FIG. A product image information insertion unit is provided, and information obtained by coding the product image is added to a code sequence obtained by coding the electronic program guide, and (a) in the schematic diagram illustrating the data structure of FIG. A configuration may be made in which a transmission code string to which product image information is added is output instead of the music name list information (D). This is shown in FIG. The product image list includes a product name and a start time and an end time of a scene where the product is used in the program.

Next, a first embodiment of the electronic program guide receiving apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 5 and FIG. FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of an electronic program guide receiving apparatus (11) according to the present embodiment.

In FIG. 3, the separating unit (13) outputs the input electronic program guide code strings (A), (B), (C), and (D) to the buffer memory (12) and temporarily stores them. An input code string (A) read from the buffer memory (12) in response to a selection control signal input using operation means such as a remote controller attached to the television receiver (40)
(B), (C) and (D) are converted to electronic program guide portions (A) (B
(C) and a music title list information part (D), and the input code strings (A), (B), and (C) of the electronic program guide part are input to a decoder part (14). It has a function of outputting the code string (D) to the format conversion unit (15).

The buffer memory (12) includes a separating unit (13).
The input code strings (A), (B), (C), and (D) input from the storage unit are stored, and the stored input code strings (A), (B), (C), and (D) are stored in response to a command from the separation unit (13). And a function of reading out and outputting to the separation unit (13). Decoder section (14)
Has a function of decoding the input code strings (A), (B), and (C) of the electronic program guide portion input from the separation unit (13), and outputting the decoded signal as a video signal to the small-screen synthesis unit (18).

The format conversion section (15) decodes the input code string (D) of the music name list information part input from the separation section (13) and outputs the decoded signal as a video signal to the outside of the electronic program guide receiving apparatus (11). The output and decoded video signal is reduced so as to enter a sub-screen which is a partial area of the screen, and the reduced sub-screen video signal is converted into a sub-screen combining unit (1).
8) has the function of outputting to

The sub-picture synthesizing section (18) includes a decoder section (1).
A function of superimposing an image displaying a reduced song name list on a small screen input from the format converter (15) on a video signal displaying an electronic program guide input from 4) and outputting the image to the outside of the apparatus (11) Having.

The television receiver (40) displays an electronic program guide screen in which a music title list is displayed on a sub-screen according to a video signal output from the electronic program guide receiving apparatus (11), and a remote controller attached to the television receiver. A selection control signal is generated in accordance with a user operation of the operation means such as
3) a function of inputting to 3) and operating display of the electronic program guide screen.

Next, the operation of the electronic program guide receiving apparatus (11) according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 5 and FIG. First, a broadcast receiving means (not shown) in which a program broadcast on which the transmission code strings (A), (B), (C), and (D) shown in FIG. , And the code strings (A), (B), (C), and (D) of the electronic program guide are separated from the broadcast program and input to the electronic program guide receiving device (11).

The separation unit (13) receives the input code string (A)
(B) (C) and (D) are displayed immediately in response to a command of a selection control signal corresponding to a display / non-display selection command of an electronic program guide input by a user, or are output to a buffer memory (12). To make temporary storage.

The electronic program guide to be input to the electronic program guide receiving device (11) further includes input code strings (A) and (B).
(C) In addition to data for storing information on individual programs as in (D), for example, a so-called “program table” in which programs broadcast on each channel during one week are put together in one list As described above, it is also possible to provide the data described above.

A user who is receiving a broadcast on the television receiver (40) selects whether or not to display the electronic program guide by operating means such as an attached remote controller. The user
When a command to display the electronic program guide is input using the operation means, a selection control signal is generated in accordance with the command, and the separation unit (1) of the electronic program guide receiving device (11) is generated.
Enter in 3).

The separation unit (13) responds to the selection control signal by
First, the program guide of the electronic program guide is displayed on the screen. For this purpose, the separation unit (13) reads out data related to the program guide from the buffer memory (12) and outputs it to the decoder unit (14), and the decoder unit (14) converts the input data into a video signal for displaying the program guide on the screen. Then, the data is output to the child screen combining unit (18).

The small picture synthesizing section (18) outputs the input video signal as it is to the outside of the apparatus, and the user views the program guide of the electronic program guide by the television receiver (40) connected to the apparatus (11). I can do it. FIG. 4 shows an example of the display of the program guide. In the example shown in FIG. 4, the information of the electronic program guide relating to two programs, Program 1 and Program 2, in one week of a certain channel is stored in the buffer memory (13).
Has been shown to be stored and can be displayed,
The user has just selected program 2 from the selectable programs using a remote controller or the like.

When the user further performs an operation of confirming the selection in the state of FIG. 4, the operating means of the television receiver (40) separates the selection control signal for displaying the electronic program guide for the program 2 by the separation unit (13). ). The separation unit (13)
In response to the selection control signal, the input code strings (A) (B) (C) (D) corresponding to the program 2 are read from the buffer memory (12), and the electronic program guide portions (A) (B) (C) And outputs it to the decoder unit (14), and separates the music name list information part (D) to format converter (15).
Output to

The decoder section (14) decodes the input code strings (A), (B), and (C) of the input electronic program guide portion, and outputs the decoded video signal to the sub-screen combining section (18) as a video signal for displaying the electronic program guide screen. Output. On the other hand, the format conversion unit (15) decodes the input code string (D) of the input music name list portion, generates a video signal for displaying the music name list on the screen, and outputs the video signal to the outside of the apparatus, and in parallel therewith The video signal is reduced to a size of a sub-screen occupying a part of the screen, and the video signal of the sub-screen is converted into a sub-screen combining unit (18).
Output to

The sub-picture synthesizing section (18) includes a decoder section (1).
The video signal for displaying the electronic program guide screen input from step 4) and displaying the reduced music name list on the sub-screen input from the format converter (15) are superimposed on the video signal for displaying the music name list. It is output to the outside of the electronic program guide receiving device (11) as a video signal for displaying an electronic program guide screen having a child screen. The user is the device (11)
Is displayed on the screen of the television receiver (40). FIG. 5 shows a display example of the screen.

FIG. 5A is a display example of an electronic program guide screen having a child screen for displaying a music title list. FIG.
In (A), on the electronic program guide display screen (20), character information about a program such as a program title and a broadcast date and time is displayed. Further, a music name list relating to the program is displayed in the music name list display sub-screen (22) in the display screen (20). The song name list includes a song name and a start time and an end time of a scene where the song is used in the program. The time display format is, for example, PTS
(Presentation time stamp)
It is represented by "hour: minute: second: frame".

The user can select a song name list display child screen (22)
Can be deleted from the electronic program guide display screen (20) by performing the following operation. The user selects the song name list delete button (2) displayed on the screen (20).
When 1) is selected by operating means such as a remote controller, a selection control signal generated by the operating means to delete the song name list sub-screen is input to the separating section (13) and further input to the format converting section (15). I do.

According to the input selection control signal, the format conversion unit (15) controls the music name list display screen reduced to the small screen so as not to be output to the small screen combining unit (18). As shown in FIG. 5B, the display screen of the electronic program guide displayed on the television receiver in response to the video signal output by (18) does not include the song name list display screen (22). Program guide display screen (2
0).

On the other hand, a video signal (not reduced to a small screen) for displaying a music name list separately output by the format conversion unit (15) is provided by the electronic program guide displaying the music name list on the small screen. The video signal is input to the television receiver (40) through a system different from the video signal to be displayed, or is connected to an electronic program guide receiver (11) different from the television receiver (40) described above. Do not input to another TV set.

In the connection example of the video signal for displaying the music title list described above, the former TV receiver (4
In the case of inputting a video signal for displaying a music name list to another system of 0), the user switches the signal input system to be displayed on the screen using a remote control or the like of the television receiver (40), and the electronic program shown in FIG. Either the guide display screen (20) or the music title list display screen (23) is displayed on the screen and used for program selection. FIG. 9 shows a display example of the music title list display screen (23).

In the latter case, when a video signal for displaying a music name list is input to another television receiver, the television receiver (4
0), the display screen of the electronic program guide shown in FIG. 5 is displayed as described above, and at the same time, the song name list display screen (23) shown in FIG. Is displayed.

In this case, there is an advantage that an operation for selectively switching between two display screens using the operation means is not required. As described above, the format conversion section (15) outputs a video signal for displaying a reduced music title list on a child screen and a similar video signal that is not reduced, but the two video signals display the same contents. Therefore, the user can select a program using only the music name list display sub-screen (22) displayed on the electronic program guide display screen (20).

Next, a second embodiment of the electronic program guide receiving apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the following description, the same components as those already described are denoted by the same reference numerals and names, and the same content will be partially omitted in order to avoid duplication.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram for explaining the data structure of the code string of the electronic program guide input to the electronic program guide receiving device (19) according to the present embodiment. In the present embodiment, the display of the electronic program guide to which the music name list information is added is performed in the same manner as in the first embodiment described above. Is a characteristic.

That is, a plurality of music name list information, for example, music name list information 1 and music name list information 2 are added to the code strings (A), (B) and (C) shown in FIG. , And three code strings (D1) (D1) obtained by encoding three pieces of music name list information called music name list information 3.
2) (D3) is added, and the transmission code strings (A) (B) (C) (D1) (D2) (D3) shown in FIG. The signal is separated by the receiver and input to the receiving device (19) according to the present embodiment.

Code strings of three music name list information, D1,
At the head of each of D2 and D3, an identification code for specifying a method and format of encoding and compressing the music name list information used when decoding the code string on the receiving side is added.

Incidentally, the following information can be selected from the plurality of music name list information. That is,
The music name list information 1 is composed of a single image in which the music names used in the program and the still images related to the music (performance scenes, performer images, music image images, etc.) are formed into one image. It is assumed that one still image is created for each song, and still images of each song are put together. The music name list information 2 includes information (product number, release maker, price, package design, etc.) on a content product such as a CD (Compact Disk) in which individual songs included in the music name list information 1 are stored. It is assumed that each music piece is composed of one still image, and the still images of each music piece are put together.

Further, in the music name list information 3, similarly, the copyright information (copyright holder, right period, etc.) of each music included in the music name list information 1 is one for each music. It is composed of still images, and the still images of each music piece are collected. By selecting the music name list information and configuring the apparatus as described later, the user can easily know the music title of the music related to the program, and can also easily obtain the content containing the music. Since even information on products and copyrights can be easily obtained, user convenience can be further improved.

Next, the configuration of the present embodiment will be described. FIG.
Is the electronic program guide receiving apparatus according to the present embodiment (19)
FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of FIG.

In the configuration diagram of FIG. 6, the selector (17)
A command (a page turning command) for switching one display screen of the electronic program guide screen displayed on the screen to the next display screen, which is input by the user using an operation means attached to the television receiver (40), As explained later,
According to a command (song name list information selection command) for selecting one to be played from a plurality of song name list information displayed on the display screen (30) of the electronic program guide, information of a specific electronic program guide or a song Display name list information,
To the separation unit (13).

The separating unit (13) is provided with code strings (A) and (B) relating to the electronic program guide input from outside the device (19).
(C) (D1) (D2) (D3) are stored in the buffer memory (1
2) and input code strings (A) (B) (C) (D
1) (D2) (D3) is the electronic program guide part (A)
(B) (C) and music name list information part (D1) (D2)
(D3) and the electronic program guide part (A) (B)
(C) is output to the decoder section (14).

Further, the separating section (13) instructs the selecting section (17) to output specific music name list information in the music name list information portions (D1), (D2) and (D3) of the input code string. Has a function of separating a specific music name list information portion in accordance with the information and outputting it to the memory section (16).

The memory unit (16) stores an input code string (D1, D2, or D3) relating to the music name list information selected by the user, output from the separation unit (13) in response to a command from the selection unit (17). Then, in response to the instruction of the reproduction instruction signal, normal reproduction (still images included in the music name list information are sequentially displayed one by one like frame-by-frame transmission at a fixed time interval), and fast-forward reproduction (shorter) The format conversion unit (1) converts the data included in the input code string (D1, D2, or D3) relating to the music name list information by a method according to a mode such as a still image is displayed at time intervals.
5) output function.

Next, the operation of the apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. First, when the user inputs a command to display the electronic program guide from the operation means, a program guide is displayed on the screen of the television receiver (40). FIG. 7 is an example of a display screen of the program guide. FIG.
In the one-week program displayed in the program table,
And the program 2 can display the electronic program guide, and the “song name” in the display of the programs 1 and 2 indicates that the respective electronic program guides include the song name list information.

When the user selects the program 2 with the remote controller and the selection is confirmed, an electronic program guide relating to the program 2 is displayed on the screen of the television receiver (40). FIG. 8A shows an example of the electronic program guide display screen at that time.

In FIG. 8A, on the electronic program guide display screen (30), a plurality of character information such as a program title, broadcast date and time, and a music name list information selection button (31) are displayed. . In the present embodiment, as described above, the electronic program guide of one program is configured to include a plurality of pieces of music name list information, and program 2 is selected from the program table shown in FIG. At the time when the electronic program guide display screen (30) shown in FIG. 8 (A) is displayed, none of the music name list information has been output and displayed yet.

If there is music name list information that the user wants to output, one of the music name list information selection buttons (31) is selected with a remote controller or the like and confirmed. The selection control signal according to the selection and confirmation by the remote controller is selected by the selection unit (17).
And the selection unit (17) instructs the separation unit (13) to output specific music name list information corresponding to the signal.
The separation unit (13) reads out the data of the specific music name list information, that is, for example, D1 in FIG. 10 (A) from the buffer memory (12) and outputs it to the memory unit (16) in response to the command.

The memory unit (13) stores the input data therein, and then sends the data to the format conversion unit (15) at a data transfer speed according to the sequentially set playback speed (frame feed display speed of a still image). The format conversion unit (15) converts the data into a video signal for displaying a music title list (frame advance screen) and outputs the video signal to the outside of the apparatus. Since the image is output to the synthesizing unit (18), the television receiver (40) pops up a song name list information display child screen (24) in the electronic program guide display screen (30) shown in FIG. 8B. Is displayed.

At the same time, the format converter (1)
The image signal which is output to 5) and which is not reduced to the small screen is output to another television receiver or the television receiver (4) by system switching operation in the same manner as described in the first embodiment.
0) can be displayed as a parent screen, and the display content is a song name list information (frame advance image) display child screen (2).
4) is enlarged to the size of the parent screen (not shown).

Further, in the electronic program guide display screen (30), a plurality of music name list information reproduction instruction buttons (32) are arranged, each of which rewinds (displays a still image frame by frame in the reverse direction) and normal reproduction. (Frame display at standard time intervals), fast forward (frame display at shorter time intervals), pause (continue to display still image currently displayed), stop (return to first still image display) ) Is provided.

When a user selects a music name list information reproduction instruction button (32) in a desired mode with a remote controller or the like,
A reproduction instruction signal corresponding to the selection is input to the memory unit (16). The memory unit (16) changes the data transfer speed and the transfer order in accordance with the input reproduction instruction signal, and sequentially outputs the data to the format conversion unit (15). The format conversion unit (15) sequentially outputs still images to the outside of the small-screen synthesis unit (18) and the device (19) according to the data output from the memory unit (16), so that the user can display in a desired mode. You can see the music list information that has been done.

By the way, in the description of the embodiment of the transmission apparatus (1) of the electronic program guide, an example in which image information of a product relating to a program is added as information to be added to the electronic program guide will be described. did. With such a configuration, an effect is exerted in a point different from the case where the music name list information is added, and it is possible to assist in the selection and appreciation of the program.

In response to this, in the first and second embodiments of the electronic program guide receiving apparatus (11) and (19) described above, a code string obtained by adding product image information to the electronic program guide is used. It is possible to adopt a configuration in which a product image is separated and decoded as an input code string and output as a video signal.

That is, as shown in the schematic diagram of the data structure shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the data structure is such that D, D1, D2, and D3 are replaced with product image information, and the electronic program shown in FIGS. In the configuration diagram of the guide receiving apparatuses (11) and (19), a separating unit (13), a memory unit (16), and a format converting unit (15) separate and decode a code sequence relating to product image information from an input code sequence. , And output it as a product image. Each component is configured to output a signal or the like in response to a command from the operation unit, similarly to the case of handling the music name list information described above.

With this configuration, the user can use the product image display relating to the program added to the electronic program guide, so that the user can use the electronic program guide more simply, reliably and easily. The effect that the program can be selected and the program can be watched more deeply occurs as in the case of adding the music name list information described above.

[0080]

As described in detail above, the device according to the present invention has the following effects. That is, the electronic program guide transmitting apparatus of the present invention is configured to transmit electronic program guide information to which music name list information for assisting program selection and viewing is added. Further, in the first embodiment of the electronic program guide receiving apparatus of the present invention, the music name list information is separated and output from the electronic program guide information to which the music name list information is added.

Accordingly, by using the above two devices, the user can use the music title list information on the program in addition to the screen display information of the electronic program guide to select the program, which is faster, simpler, and easier. There is an effect that a desired program can be reliably selected.

Further, the apparatus according to the second embodiment of the electronic program guide of the present invention uses the electronic program guide display screen to obtain desired music name list information from the electronic program guide information to which a plurality of music name lists are added. Is selected and output. Therefore, by using the above-described device and the transmission device of the electronic program guide according to the present invention, in addition to the effects of the above-described invention, the user can select a plurality of music name list information when selecting a program. Since the program can be viewed and the amount of information for selection increases, there is an effect that a program can be selected more reliably.

Also, the apparatus according to the present invention provides information on music related to various programs that meet diversifying needs in a composite form with the electronic program guide information. Is obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an electronic program guide transmission device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram for explaining a data structure of a transmission code string output by the electronic program guide transmission device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of a first embodiment of an electronic program guide receiving apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an example of a screen display of the electronic program guide output by the electronic program guide receiving apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is an example of a screen display of the electronic program guide output by the electronic program guide receiving apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram of a second embodiment of an electronic program guide receiving apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an example of an electronic program guide screen display output by the second embodiment of the electronic program guide receiving apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an example of a screen display of the electronic program guide output by the second embodiment of the electronic program guide receiving apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an example of a screen display of a music title list output by the electronic program guide receiving apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating a data structure of an input code string input to a second embodiment of the electronic program guide receiving apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram for explaining the data structure of an input code string input to the electronic program guide receiving apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram for explaining a data structure of an input code string input to the electronic program guide receiving apparatus of the present invention.

[Description of Signs] 1 Electronic program guide transmitting device 2 Encoder unit 3 Music name list information inserting unit 11 Electronic program guide receiving device 12 Buffer memory 13 Separation unit 14 Decoder unit 15 Format conversion unit 16 Memory unit 17 Selection unit 18 Child screen synthesis Part 19 Electronic Program Guide Receiving Device 20 Electronic Program Guide Display Screen 21 Music Name List Delete Button 22 Music Name List Display Sub Screen 23 Music Name List Display Screen 24 Music Name List Display Sub Screen 30 Electronic Program Guide Display Screen 31 Music Name List Information Select button 32 Music name list information playback instruction button 40 TV receiver A Start code B Information on program type C Detailed information D Music name list information D1 Music name list information 1 D2 Music name list information 2 D3 Music name list information 3

Claims (3)

[Claims] An encoding means for encoding electronic program guide information corresponding to a program and outputting the encoded information as a code string; adding music name list information corresponding to the program to the code string output by the encoding means; An electronic program guide transmitting device having an output unit that outputs the output code string to the outside of the device. 2. An electronic program for decoding and outputting the electronic program guide information from an input code string obtained by adding music name list information corresponding to the program to a code string obtained by encoding electronic program guide information corresponding to the program. An electronic program guide receiving device, comprising: guide information decoding means; and music name list information decoding means for decoding music name list information corresponding to the program from the input code string and outputting the decoded music name list information. 3. The electronic program guide receiving device according to claim 2, wherein the input code string is added with a plurality of pieces of music name list information, and the electronic program guide information decoding means outputs the electronic program guide. Specifying means for specifying specific music name list information from the plurality of music name list information using information; andthe music name list decoding means for decoding and outputting the music name list information specified by the specifying means. An electronic program guide receiving device, comprising: