JP2000350111A - Receiver and display device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To selectively output only required EPG information. SOLUTION: A user operates a remote controller 38 or an operation display panel 40 to select EPG contents desirably to be displayed. A control circuit 34 first allows a selector 15 to select an output of an RF processing circuit 14a, extracts BAT information, SDT information and EIT information from the output of the RF processing circuit 14a and writes them to an EEPROM 46 (S16). The control circuit 34 allows the selector 15 to select the output of an RF processing circuit 14b and similarly extracts the BAT information, SDT information and EIT information from the output of the RF processing circuit 14b and writes them to the EEPROM 46. An EPG configuration device 44 uses a RAM 48 to decode EIT EPG information written in an EEPROM 34 and customizes the information in a form in response to an instruction of the user. The control circuit 34 supplies the customized EPG information to a video display processing circuit 28 and/or a printer 42.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a digital broadcast receiving apparatus and display apparatus, and more particularly, to a receiving apparatus for dividing, decoding, reproducing and outputting a time-division multiplexed stream of transport packet data. And a display device used with the receiving device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, MPEG (Moving Pic)
2. Description of the Related Art A digital broadcasting system that encodes a video signal and an audio signal using a “Two Experts Group” method and broadcasts the data through a communication satellite or the like has begun to spread.

[0003] These broadcasting systems require dedicated receiving devices. This type of receiving apparatus includes a circuit for selecting a transport stream of a desired channel from a transport stream in which data of a plurality of channels is multiplexed, and video and audio data of a desired program from the transport stream of a desired channel. It includes a circuit for separating, a circuit for decoding the separated video data and audio data, and the like.

A multiplexed transport stream contains PSI (Program Specification Information: Program).
(Specific Information), SI
(Service Information: Service Information
n) and an EPG (Electronic Program Guide: EPG) that allows the user to easily select a program from a plurality of programs.
Electric Program Guide) is added. Thereby, the receiving device can extract the transport stream of the desired channel and separate the video data and the audio data of the desired program.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic block diagram of a conventional receiving apparatus. Reference numeral 110 denotes a receiving device, and 112 denotes a downconverter for downconverting a radio wave received by an antenna (not shown). An RF processing circuit (or tuner) 114 demodulates and corrects an RF signal from the down-converter 112.
A separation circuit 120 for separating MPEG video data, MPEG audio data and additional information from the transport stream output from the F processing circuit 114;
A video decoding circuit 124 for decoding the MPEG audio data from the separation circuit 116 using the memory 126;
Reference numeral 28 denotes a video display processing circuit for converting video data output from the video decoding circuit 120 into a predetermined display format (for example, NTSC format). / A
The converter 132 is a D / A converter that converts the output of the audio decoding circuit 124 into an analog signal.

Reference numeral 134 denotes a control circuit for controlling the whole.
A remote control device (so-called remote controller) 138 and an operation display panel 140 are connected via an external interface 136. The user operates the remote control device 138.
Alternatively, by operating the operation display panel 140, the control circuit 134
Therefore, various instructions (such as selection of a reception channel and display information) can be given to the receiving apparatus 110. Separation circuit 1
The additional information separated at 16 is supplied to the control circuit 134.

The operation of the conventional example shown in FIG. 2 will be described. RF
The processing circuit 114 includes a tuner, a demodulator such as QPSK, and an error correction circuit. The RF processing circuit 114 performs QPSK demodulation by selecting a transport stream of a channel specified by the user on the remote control device 138 or the operation display panel 140 from the multiplexed transport streams of a plurality of channels, and further detects an error. The output is corrected and output to the separation circuit 116.

FIG. 3 shows an example of a transport stream for one channel. In a transport stream of one channel, a plurality of programs (P1 to P1 in FIG. 3)
3-V, P1-3-A) are time-division multiplexed. The data of each program is packetized in units of 188 bytes. The header is 13 for identifying each packet.
It has a packet identification information (PID) of bits.

The separation circuit 116 temporarily stores, in the memory 118, a packet containing additional information from the output of the RF processing circuit 114, that is, a transport stream of a desired channel selected by the RF processing circuit, and stores a packet of a desired program. MPEG video data and MPEG audio data are taken out, and the MPEG video data is decoded by a video decoding circuit 1.
20, the MPEG audio data is supplied to the audio decoding circuit 124. The separation circuit 116 refers to the packet identification information PID given to each packet,
Identify and separate each packet. For example, when the program 2 is selected in the transport stream illustrated in FIG. 3, the separating circuit 116 separates the video data packet of PID = XXX and the audio data packet of PID = XXY from the output of the RF processing circuit 114, The packet identification information PID is originally 13 bits and supplied to the decoding circuits 120 and 124, respectively.
For easy understanding, two pieces of packet identification information XXX and XXY are illustrated.

[0010] The video decoding circuit 120 is connected to the separating circuit 11.
6 is temporarily stored in the memory 122, and is appropriately read and decoded. The decoded video data is supplied to the video display processing circuit 128. The video display processing circuit 128 converts the video data from the video decoding circuit 120 into a predetermined video format such as the NTSC format. The output of the video display processing circuit 128 is converted into an analog signal by the D / A converter 130 and applied to an external image display device (not shown).

An audio decoding circuit 124 temporarily stores the MPEG audio data supplied from the separation circuit 116 in a memory 126, reads out the data appropriately, and decodes the data. The decoded audio data is supplied to a D / A converter 1
The signal is converted into an analog signal by 32 and supplied to an external amplifier or speaker.

A brief description will be given of the program specification information PSI and the service information SI, which are additional information contained in the time-division multiplexed bit stream. here,
Program specification information PSI defined by the MPEG system
And European digital broadcast DVB (Digita
1 Video Broadcasting) will be described.

The program specification information PSI includes a program association table (PAT), a program map table (PMT), a conditional access table (CAT), and a network information table (NI).
T).

The program association table (PAT) is special information transmitted in a packet with PID = “0”, and is a program map describing the configuration of the program for each program number (16 bits). -Indicates the packet identification information of the transport packet transmitting the table (PMT). That is, the main description contents of the program association table (PAT) are the packet identification information of the program map table (PMT) and the network information table (NIT).

Program map table (PMT)
Includes identification information of a program, packet identification information and ancillary information of a transport packet in which individual streams such as video and audio constituting the program are transmitted, and packet identification of scramble information (ECM) attached to the program. Information is described. The packet identification information of the program map table (PMT) is stored in the program association table (PA).
T).

The conditional access table (CAT) is
This is an attached table for a user who is permitted to decode and reproduce the scrambled stream, and describes packet identification information of a packet including actual decryption / decoding permission information.

The network information table (NIT) describes a network name (satellite name and terrestrial transmission station, etc.), and a modulation method and a frequency of a transport stream (physical channel) under the network.

The service information (SI) includes a bouquet association table (BAT), a service description table (SDT), an event information table (EIT), a date and time table (TDT), and an execution state table (RST).

Bouquet Association Table (B
AT) includes information on the name and destination country of a bouquet (Bouque: program supplier), the contents of services related to transport streams (physical channels), and the conditional access service scheme CASS (Condition).
nal Access Services System) is described.

In the service description table (SDT), regarding the transport stream (physical channel),
The service ID included therein and the name of the bouquet are described. The service ID is equivalent to a program number defined by the MPEG system.

The event information table (EIT) describes an event ID, its start time, broadcast time, program contents, and the like. A transport stream ID and a service ID are determined for each event ID. An event is a TV broadcast program (for example, news or the like).

The date and time table (TDT) describes information on universal time. Using this, the date and time of the clock built in the receiving device can be adjusted to the correct date and time.

The execution status table (RST) describes the execution status of the event. For example, before the start of a certain event, during execution, end, and the like are described.

The processing and display method of an electronic program guide (EPG) in a conventional receiving apparatus will be described.

The control circuit 134 sets constants and the like according to the system of each network. Since this information is described in the network information table (NIT), information such as a modulation method, a frequency, a bit rate, and an error correction method can be obtained for each transport stream. The control circuit 134 writes such information into a built-in rewritable storage medium (for example, an EEPROM or the like).

FIG. 5 shows a flowchart of an operation for displaying electronic program guide (EPG) information. The user operates the remote control device 138 or the operation display panel 140 to
When the user instructs to display the PG information (S1), the receiving device 1
10 is a bouquet association table (BA
T) and the service description table (SDT),
The presence or absence of the program guide is confirmed, and information on the service name is obtained (S2). Next, an event information table (EIT) is received, and EPG information is obtained (S3). The EGB information includes text data, icons, graphic data related to program information, and the like.

The control circuit 134 decodes the received EPG information (S4), and outputs the decoding result to the video display processing circuit 128.
To supply. The video display processing circuit 128 includes the control circuit 1
The information from 34 is imaged. The imaged EPG information is converted into an analog video signal by the D / A converter 130, and is displayed on a screen of an external image display device. Thereby, the program information is displayed on the screen. FIG.
Shows a display example of an EPG image. A bouquet name, date, time, service name, program name, and the like are displayed.

As described above, the conventional receiving apparatus receives and displays the EPG information, and the user can select a program to be auditioned by operating the remote control device 138 or the operation display panel 140.

[0029]

The existing EPG display has the following problems. When the EPG information is displayed, it occupies the entire TV screen, so that the original broadcast image cannot be observed. Also displayed are the program names and program contents of services that are rarely viewed. The name of the program and the contents of the program in a time zone where the user does not watch much are also displayed.

Although the conventional example shown in FIG. 2 has only one RF processing circuit, in order to receive digital broadcasting in different bands, a plurality of RF processing circuits corresponding to different bands will be used in the future.
It is necessary to provide processing circuits and switch them appropriately. In this case, it is necessary to switch and display different bouquets, that is, electronic program guides (EPGs) of the program providers, so that channel selection becomes more complicated.

An object of the present invention is to provide a receiving apparatus which can reduce such trouble and output necessary guidance for a user.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a receiving device and a display device which can easily use an electronic program guide while supporting a plurality of bouquets.

[0033]

A receiving apparatus according to the present invention comprises a receiving means for receiving a digital broadcast, an output designating means for designating electronic program information to be output, and an electronic program from information received by the receiving means. An electronic program constructing means for extracting the guide information, constructing and outputting the electronic program information designated by the output designating means, and an output means for outputting the electronic program information constituted by the electronic program constructing means. It is characterized by the following.

Further, the display device according to the present invention forms a display signal for displaying the electronic program information from only the designated desired electronic program information when displaying the electronic program information being digitally broadcast. It is characterized by the following.

[0035]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention. Reference numeral 10 denotes a receiving apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, and 12a and 12b denote downconverters for downconverting a radio wave received by an antenna not shown. 1
4a and 14b are down converters 12a and 1
RF processing circuit (or tuner) for demodulating and error-correcting the RF signal from 2b, 15 is RF processing circuits 14a, 14
b, a selector 16 for selecting an output of b, using a memory 18, from a selected output of the selector 15 (a transport stream output from the RF processing circuit 14 a or 14 b selected by the selector 15) to MPEG video data, MPEG A separation circuit for separating audio data and additional information, 20 is a video decoding circuit for decoding the MPEG video data from the separation circuit 16 using the memory 22, and 24 is a memory for storing the MPEG audio data from the separation circuit 16. An audio decoding circuit for decoding by using 26; a video display processing circuit for converting video data output from the video decoding circuit 20 into a predetermined display format (for example, NTSC format); D for converting output data of the processing circuit 28 into an analog signal
The / A converter 32 is a D / A converter for converting the output of the audio decoding circuit 24 into an analog signal.

Numeral 34 denotes a control circuit for controlling the whole, and a remote controller (so-called remote controller) 38 and an operation display panel 40 via an external interface 36.
And the printer 42 are connected. The user operates the remote control device 38 or the operation display panel 40 to control the control circuit 34.
Therefore, various instructions (such as selection of a reception channel and display information) can be instructed to the receiving apparatus 10. Separation circuit 16
The additional information separated by is supplied to the control circuit 34.

The control circuit 34 of this embodiment includes an EPG configuration device 44, an EEPROM 46, and a RAM 48.
Details of how to use these elements will be described later.

The processing of the received image information and audio information is performed by the selector 15 using the two RF processing circuits 14a and 14a.
4b is the same as the conventional example except that the output of FIG. 4b can be selected, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 7 shows a processing flowchart of the electronic program information according to the present embodiment. The user operates the remote control device 38.
Or, the EP to be displayed by operating the operation display panel 40
G content is selected (S11). The contents to be selected include only the bouquet name, service name, date, time, and text information. The user further instructs the control circuit 34 to display the EPG information (S12).

The control circuit 34 first supplies an RF signal to the selector 15.
The output of the processing circuit 14a is selected (S13), the bouquet association table (BAT) and the service description table (SDT) are extracted from the output of the RF processing circuit 14a (S14), and the event information table (EIT)
Is taken out (S15). The control circuit 34 outputs the extracted B
The AT, SDT, and EIT information are written to the EEPROM 46 (S16).

Next, the control circuit 34 sends an RF signal to the selector 15.
The output of the processing circuit 14b is selected (S17).
From the output of the RF processing circuit 14b, a bouquet association table (BAT) and a service description table (S
DT) (S18), the event information table (EIT) is retrieved (S19), and the retrieved BAT,
Each information of SDT and EIT is written in the EEPROM 46 (S20).

The EPG configuration device 44 of the control circuit 34
Using the AM 48, the EPG information of the EIT written in the EEPROM 34 is decoded (S21), and customized to a format according to the user's instruction (S22). The control circuit 34 supplies the customized EPG information to the video display processing circuit 28 (S23). The video display processing circuit 28 converts the information from the control circuit 34 into an image. The imaged EPG information is converted into an analog video signal by the D / A converter 130 and displayed on the screen of an external image display device. The control circuit 34 also supplies the customized EPG information to the printer 42 via the external interface 36, and prints out. Thereby, the user can confirm the program information customized for him / her on the screen and / or on paper.

FIG. 8 shows a display example of an EPG image. In this example, seven services for two bouquets are:
The broadcast time for a total of 5 hours is displayed every hour. However, this is a display example in which text information is prioritized, that is, when only the program name and the program content are selected for display, ignoring icons and graphic data.

As shown in FIG. 8, only bouquets and services desired by the user are displayed.
The display is lean, and as a result, simpler program selection is possible. EPG with priority on text information
In information, by deleting display items having a large display area such as icons and graphic displays, more text information such as program names and program contents can be displayed. Alternatively, such text information can be displayed in a larger font, so that an easy-to-view EPG display can be realized.

By also outputting to the printer 42, as if watching the TV column of a newspaper while watching the original broadcast contents,
You can select a program.

By setting beforehand only the output time, bouquet name, service name, date, time and text information, it is possible to automatically obtain only the information desired when desired.

FIG. 9 is a schematic block diagram showing the configuration of a second embodiment of the present invention. The same components as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals. The control circuit 34a in this embodiment includes a timer 50. The timer 50 is capable of adjusting the time according to the received TDT information as well as measuring the time.

The provision of the timer 50 makes it possible to automatically receive the EPG at an arbitrary time set by the user and automatically output the EPG to the printer 42 or the like. FIG.
Shows a flowchart of the operation.

The user operates the remote control device 38 or the operation display panel 40 to select the EPG content to be displayed (S31). The contents to be selected include only the bouquet name, service name, date, time, and text information. The user further instructs the control circuit 34a on the time to output (S32).

The control circuit 34a receives the TDT information, adjusts the time of the timer 50, and waits until the time set in S321 (S33, S34).

At the set time (S34), the control circuit 3
4a executes the same processing as S13 to S23 in FIG.
That is, the control circuit 34a first causes the selector 15 to select the output of the RF processing circuit 14a (S35), extracts BAT information and SDT information from the output of the RF processing circuit 14a (S36), and extracts EIT information (S37). The control circuit 34a writes the extracted BAT, SDT, and EIT information into the EEPROM 46 (S38).

Next, the control circuit 34a supplies the selector 15 with R
The output of the F processing circuit 14b is selected (S39), and the BAT information and SD
The T information is extracted (S40), the EIT information is extracted (S41), and the extracted BAT, SDT, and EIT information are written to the EEPROM 46 (S42).

The EPG configuration device 44 of the control circuit 34a
By using the RAM 48, the EIT information of the EIT written in the EEPROM 34 is decoded (S43), and the EIT is customized into a format according to the user's instruction (S44). The control circuit 34a supplies the customized EPG information to the video display processing circuit 28 and / or the printer 42 (S
45). The video display processing circuit 28 converts the information from the control circuit 34 into an image. The imaged EPG information is D /
A is converted into an analog video signal by the A converter 130,
The image is displayed on the screen of the external image display device. The printer 42 prints out the EPG information from the control circuit 34a on paper.

It is checked whether or not there is a next set time (S46). If not, the process is terminated. If there is, the process waits until the next set time is reached (S33).

As described above, if only the output time, the bouquet name, the service name, the date, the time, and the text information are set in advance, it is possible to automatically obtain only the information desired when desired.

[0057]

As can be easily understood from the above description, according to the present invention, it becomes possible to output only desired program information, and the program information becomes untitled.
Simpler program selection becomes possible. By providing the text information priority mode, display items having a large display occupation area such as icons and graphic displays can be deleted, so that more text information such as a program name and program contents can be displayed. Since the text information can be displayed in a larger font, the program information can be easily viewed. By causing the printer to automatically output the obtained program information, it is possible to select a program while watching the original broadcast contents, as if watching a TV column of a newspaper.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of a conventional example.

FIG. 3 is an example of a transport stream for one channel.

FIG. 4 shows table names and packet IDs of PSI information and SI information.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a conventional example of EPG processing and display.

FIG. 6 is an example of a conventional EPG display.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of EPG processing and display in the embodiment shown in FIG.

FIG. 8 is an example of an EPG display in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a schematic configuration block diagram of a second embodiment of the present invention.

10 is a flowchart of EPG processing and display in the embodiment shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10: Receiving device 12a, 12b: Down converter 14a, 14b: RF processing circuit or tuner 15: Selector 16: Separation circuit 18: Memory 20: Video decoding circuit 22: Memory 24: Audio decoding circuit 26: Memory 28: Video Display processing circuits 30, 32: D / A converters 34, 34a: control circuit 36: external interface 38: remote control device 40: operation display panel 42: printer 44: EPG component device 46: EEPROM 48: RAM 50: timer 110 : Receiving device 112: Down converter 114: RF processing circuit 116: Separation circuit 118: Memory 120: Video decoding circuit 122: Memory 124: Audio decoding circuit 126: Memory 128: Video display processing circuit 130, 132: D / A Transducer 134: Control Road 136: external interface 138: Remote operation apparatus 140: Operation panel

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A receiving means for receiving a digital broadcast, an output designating means for designating electronic program information to be output, and electronic program guide information extracted from information received by the receiving means, and designated by the output designating means. A receiving apparatus comprising: electronic program configuration means for configuring and outputting the obtained electronic program information; and output means for outputting the electronic program information configured by the electronic program configuration means. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said receiving means includes a receiving circuit for receiving a plurality of digital broadcasts, and a selecting means for selecting one of the plurality of digital broadcasts received by said receiving circuit. Receiver. 3. The output specifying means can specify at least one of bouquet information, service information, event information, broadcast time information, and output mode information indicating whether text information or graphic information is prioritized. The receiving device according to claim 1, wherein: 4. The receiving device according to claim 1, wherein said output means is an image signal output device. 5. The printer according to claim 1, wherein said output means is a printer.
3. The receiving device according to claim 1. 6. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a time designating means for designating a start time of the electronic program composition means; and a control means for activating the electronic program composition means at a time designated by the time designating means. 3. The receiving device according to claim 1. 7. A display device for displaying electronic program information during digital broadcasting, wherein a display signal for displaying the electronic program information is formed only from designated desired electronic program information. 8. The display device according to claim 7, wherein the desired electronic program information is displayed only for a designated time.