JP2001008119A - Electronic program guide display control device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain an electronic(E) program guide display control device capable of preparing and displaying an E program table by integrating program information in plural information providing systems at a suitable ratio in each information providing system and improving the display function of the E program table. SOLUTION: The E program guide display control device provided with a storage means 13 for storing program information in each of plural information providing systems, an integration means 16 for selectively integrating program information stored in the means 13 and preparing an E program table and a display means 17 for displaying the E program table prepared by the means 16 is also provided with a number of display events determination means 18 for determining the number of program information events integrated by the means 16 on the basis of a prescribed integration condition.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic program guide display control device for creating and displaying an electronic program guide by integrating program information in a plurality of information providing systems.
The present invention relates to an electronic program guide display control device having an improved display function of an electronic program guide.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, CS digital broadcasting using satellites has been put to practical use as an information providing system using broadcasting media, and plans for digitizing BS broadcasting are also in progress. Although a user can view a program of about 100 channels even in one system, the number of available channels is expected to increase in the future. In such a multi-channel system, it is essential to provide an electronic program guide.

[0003] In the case of satellite digital broadcasting, a common receiving device is being developed for a plurality of services, but HAVi (Home Audio / Video in) is being used.
2. Description of the Related Art Digital networks of home electric appliances typified by teroperability have been developed, and if a plurality of receiving devices are arranged on a network without using a common receiving device, those signals can be easily used. It is possible to do.

[0004] Therefore, an electronic program guide (Electrical Pr) that integrates electronic programs of a plurality of receiving apparatuses.
The importance of program guide (hereinafter, referred to as EPG) is becoming very high.

[0005] For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-275077 discloses EPG data transmitted by terrestrial broadcasting and EPG data transmitted by satellite broadcasting.
And a method of receiving data and converting them into EPG data in an integrated format and displaying the EPG data as an integrated EPG.

FIGS. 14 and 15 are diagrams showing the configuration of an electronic program guide system described in the publication and a display example of an EPG integrated using the system.

This electronic program guide system has a VCR (Video Cassette Re
coders) 52, 53 and IRD (Integrat)
ed Receiver / Decoder) 54, a television (TV) receiver 55, and an EPG receiver 56
Are connected to each other by an AV line 61 and a control line 62. The AV line 61 is composed of three lines of a composite video signal line, an audio L signal line, and an audio R signal line, and the control line 62 is composed of a wired serial control line or the like.

In this case, while the TV receiver 55 receives the EPG data of the terrestrial broadcast system,
At 4, the EPG data of the satellite broadcasting system is received. The EPG data in each of the different systems is transmitted to the EPG receiver 56 via the control line 62, and is integrated as one electronic program guide in the EPG receiver 56.

EPG integrated by EPG receiver 56
Is displayed by the TV receiver 55 as shown in FIG. Here, the EPG data of the terrestrial broadcasting system obtained by the TV receiver 55 is shown in the upper half, and the IRD is shown in the lower half.
The EPG data of the satellite broadcasting system obtained by 54 is integrated and displayed.

On the other hand, as a method of scrolling a character string or the like on a displayed screen at high speed, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-342020 discloses a method in which a scroll range in which a user performs partial scrolling on a screen is set in advance and set by a scroll instruction. A technique is disclosed in which only the scroll range that has been scrolled is scrolled first, and the remaining portion other than the scroll range is drawn at the end of the scroll instruction to perform the scroll operation at high speed.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Hei 2-146519 discloses a method in which a plurality of different types of images are displayed at the same time, the images to be displayed in a divided manner and the dividing positions are set, an image to be key-operated is designated, and the divided image is displayed. A technique of scrolling each of the displayed images independently is disclosed.

[0012]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional electronic program guide system, when the EPG data of the terrestrial broadcasting system and the EPG data of the satellite broadcasting system are integrated, for example, the EPG data of the terrestrial broadcasting system is converted to the EPG data. When there are many items that satisfy the display conditions, the number of items that can be displayed at one time on the screen of the TV receiver 55 is limited to some extent. Therefore, the data displayed on the integrated electronic program guide is only EPG data of the terrestrial broadcasting system. There is a problem that the EPG data of the satellite broadcasting system cannot be displayed as it is without being displayed.

Such a situation will be described with reference to FIG. Here, it is assumed that 11 pieces of program information of the terrestrial broadcasting system have been extracted and three pieces of program information of the satellite broadcasting system have been extracted. As a result, here, the integrated electronic program guide includes a total of 14 programs. However,
The number of items that can be displayed on the screen of the TV receiver 55 is, for example, 8
Are limited to the number of cases, and all 14 cases cannot be displayed.

It is also conceivable to specify the conditions of the EPG to be displayed (for example, only those belonging to a specific category) or to specify not to display a specific one. Can occur. Alternatively, it is conceivable to display the program information of the satellite broadcasting system by scrolling the screen, but the user must scroll continuously through the program list of the terrestrial broadcasting system to the program list of the satellite broadcasting system. For example, the program information of the satellite broadcasting system connected below cannot be displayed on the screen.

[0015] Also, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-342020, a method of setting a scroll range in advance when a user performs partial scrolling on a screen, and in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-146619, are disclosed. In the method of setting the image to be divided and displayed and the division position, specifying the target image of the key operation, and scrolling each of the divided and displayed images independently, when the user first refers to the program guide, the program guide However, since it is not known how many programs are listed in the list, and what kind of programs are included, it is very troublesome for the user to determine the partial scrolling range and the division position itself.

Further, a DVD (Digital Ver.)
satellite Disc) -Video (hereinafter, DVD)
In the case where an information providing system using a disk medium such as a DVD is installed on a network, the DVD content cannot be handled in the same manner as a broadcast program, and the integrated EPG screen (electronic program guide) cannot be used. However, there is a problem that it is not possible to select a DVD program as well as a broadcast program.

In view of the above-mentioned various problems, the present invention integrates program information in a plurality of information providing systems using a broadcast medium, a recording medium, or the like at an appropriate ratio for each information providing system and displays the screen. The present invention provides an electronic program guide display control device that enables the user to easily and automatically switch the scroll range, and also appropriately and automatically limits the scroll range itself, so that a large number of program lists can be displayed. It is an object of the present invention to provide an electronic program guide display control device capable of efficiently selecting and displaying a desired program by scrolling.

[0018]

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above problems, the present invention employs the following means.

A first means for storing program information in each of the plurality of information providing systems; an integrating means for selectively integrating program information stored in the storage means to create an electronic program guide; In an electronic program guide display control device having display means for displaying an electronic program guide created by the integration means, the number of pieces of program information integrated by the integration means is predetermined for each of the information providing systems. A display number determining means for determining based on predetermined integration conditions.

The second means is characterized in that, in the first means, a designation means for arbitrarily designating the integration condition is provided.

The third means is a program information requesting means for requesting program information in the information providing system via a communication network in any one of the first means and the second means; And a program information receiving means for receiving program information in the information providing system via the information providing system, wherein the program information received by the program information receiving means is updated and stored in the storage means.

A fourth means is the third means, wherein the program information requesting means requests program information in the information providing system when a bus reset in the communication network is performed. .

A fifth means is the third means, wherein the program information requesting means requests the program information in the information providing system when displaying the electronic program guide created by the integrating means. Features.

A sixth means is the third means, further comprising a change request determining means for receiving a request to change the contents of the program information in the information providing system, wherein the program information request means is provided by the change request determining means. When a change request is received, at least program information whose contents have been changed is requested.

According to a seventh aspect, in any one of the first to sixth aspects, the program information includes content information recorded on a recording medium mounted on the information providing system. It is characterized by.

According to an eighth aspect, in the seventh aspect, a conversion means for converting the content information into data which can be displayed as the electronic program guide is provided.

A ninth means is the information processing system according to any one of the first means to the eighth means, wherein the program information integrated by the integration means is matched / mismatched with the program information in the information providing system. A discriminating means for discriminating; and a correcting means for correcting the electronic program guide created by the integrating means in accordance with the program information in the information providing system when the discriminating means determines that they do not match. .

A tenth means is the cursor display means for designating a position on the screen of the display means in any one of the first to ninth means, and a display by the cursor display means. A moving instruction means for moving a cursor position, and a scroll means for scrolling a program information list for each of the information providing systems according to the cursor position are provided.

[0029] An eleventh means is the one of the first means to the tenth means, wherein start / end detection for detecting the start and end of a scroll range for each program information list of each information providing system. Means, and a system designating means for switching a scroll from one scrolled program information list to another program information list when the start or end is detected by the start / end detection means.

The twelfth means is a storage means for storing program information of each of the plurality of information providing systems, an integrating means for selectively integrating program information stored in the storage means to create an electronic program guide, A display for displaying an electronic program guide created by the integrating means, a display for displaying a program information list in which program information of each information providing system is sorted according to a predetermined display item. Item designation means; display number determination means for determining the number of pieces of program information sorted for each display item based on a predetermined integration condition for each display item; Cursor display means for designating the position of the cursor, movement instruction means for moving the cursor position displayed by the cursor display means, Characterized by providing a scroll means for scrolling the program information list sorted for each of the displayed items according to Le position.

A thirteenth means is a storage means for storing program information in the information providing system, a program guide creating means for selecting program information stored in the storage means to create an electronic program guide, A display unit for displaying the electronic program guide created by the creating unit; and a display item for displaying a program information list in which the program information of the information providing system is sorted according to a predetermined display item. Specifying means, display number determining means for determining the number of pieces of program information sorted for each of the display items based on a predetermined integration condition for each of the display items, and Cursor display means for designating a position; movement instruction means for moving a cursor position displayed by the cursor display means; Characterized by providing a scroll means for scrolling the sorted program information list for each of the display items according to the position.

The fourteenth means includes the twelfth to thirteenth means.
Means for detecting the start and end of the scroll range of each program information list sorted for each display item, and the start and end by the start and end detection means. And a system designating means for switching the scrolling from one scrolled program information list to the other program information list when the scrolling is detected.

In the fifteenth means, in any one of the twelfth means to the fourteenth means, the program information list sorted by the display item specified by the display item specifying means is included in the audience rating information. The program list is characterized by being a program list with a high audience rating or a program list that the user has frequently watched in the past.

[0034]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS First, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the electronic program guide display control device according to this embodiment.

In the figure, reference numeral 10 denotes a T with a built-in CS tuner.
V and 28 are communication networks, 29 is a BS digital tuner, and 35 is a DVD as an information providing system using a disk medium.

The TV 10 with a built-in CS tuner includes a broadcast receiving section 11, a program information separating section 12, a storage section 13, a discriminating section 14,
It comprises a correction unit 15, an integration unit 16, a display unit 17, a display number determination unit 18, a designation unit 19, a change request determination unit 23, a program information request unit 24, a program information reception unit 25, a conversion unit 26, and a communication interface 27. ing. The number-of-displays determining means 18 includes a number-of-displays counting section 20, a ratio determining section 21, and a display digit number determining section 22.

Further, C is transmitted via the communication network 28.
The BS digital tuner 29 connected to the TV 10 with a built-in S tuner includes a communication interface 30,
1. Broadcast receiving unit 32, program information separating unit 33, storage unit 3
4. It is composed of a change request unit 40.

Here, an example in which the BS digital tuner 29 is connected as the BS digital system is described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and is not limited to this. It may be a TV receiver or the like that can receive data (superimposed data).

Further, via the communication network 28,
The DVD 35 connected to the TV 10 with a built-in CS tuner
It is composed of a communication interface 36, a request determination unit 37, an information reading unit 38, a storage unit 41, a change request unit 42, and a disk 39 inserted into the DVD 35.

Here, the DVD 35 is provided as an information providing system using a disk medium. However, the present invention is not limited to the disk medium, and information about contents (eg, title, recording time, etc.) recorded on the recording medium is used. TOC (Table of Content)
As long as ts) information or the like is recorded on the recording medium itself, it may be a VCR or the like.

The communication network 28 is a conventional A
A V connection cable and a serial control line, or a wireless communication network using infrared rays, radio waves, or the like may be used. In this case, however, IEEE (Thee) capable of transmitting video signals and audio signals as digital signals is used.
Institute of Electrica
nd Electronic Engineers) 1
394 HighPerformance Seria
l Uses IEEE 1394 connection conforming to the Bus standard. Therefore, the communication interface 27, the communication interface 30, and the communication interface 36
It is an E1394 interface device. In the IEEE 1394 interface, when a new device is connected to the communication network 28,
Although the cable is connected, the bus reset is automatically performed when the power to the device is newly turned on.

Here, the bus reset is to initialize the connection information and the like that have been established by the communication network, and to individually recognize and define the connected devices. For example, when a BS digital tuner 29 is connected to the TV 10 with a built-in CS tuner via the communication network 28 and the BS digital tuner 29 is turned on, a bus reset is performed.

When this bus reset occurs, a TV with a built-in CS tuner is issued according to an instruction from the communication interface 27.
The ten program information request units 24 are devices newly connected on the communication network 28 (BS digital tuner 29).
Request transmission of a new EPG day.

In the above configuration, the Perfect TV
Radio waves of digital satellite multi-channel broadcasting such as (registered trademark) are received by the broadcast receiving unit 11 of the TV 10 with a built-in CS tuner via a parabolic antenna (not shown) or the like.

Here, the video signal and the audio signal are M
PEG (Moving Picture Expert)
s Group), and are multiplexed and transmitted as bit stream data together with additional information.

The EPG data is included in this additional information. Usually, the EPG data includes a program title, a start time, an end time (or a program length), a program price (for a pay program, ), Detailed program information (such as the names and stories of actors performing), rating information for the program (information indicating whether the program is for children or adults, the age at which the program can be viewed, etc.), and category information (Such as a sports program or a movie program).

[0048] The multiplexed data received by the broadcast receiving unit 11 is subjected to charging processing for pay broadcasting, descrambling, M
After being subjected to processing such as PEG decoding (not shown), it is displayed on the display unit 17. The EPG data is separated from the bit stream by the program information separation unit 12 and stored in the storage unit 13.

When the user instructs to check the EPG, the EPG data stored in storage
Here, only the program information in one CS digital broadcasting system is configured as an electronic program guide according to the conditions specified by the specifying unit 19. In the specifying unit 19, for example, a movie program or the like after the current time is specified by the user, and program information satisfying the conditions is configured as EPG screen data by the integrating unit 16.
The screen data created by the integration unit 16 is displayed on the display unit 17 by switching to a normal display screen, or by being superimposed or synthesized on the normal display screen.

When the BS digital broadcast radio wave is received by the broadcast receiving section 32 of the BS digital tuner 29, the program information separating section 33 separates the EPG data in the BS digital broadcasting system from the multiplexed bit stream data. Is done. The separated EPG data is stored by the storage unit 34.

When the above-mentioned bus reset occurs, the transmission request information from the program information request section 24 of the TV 10 with a built-in CS tuner is transmitted to the BS digital tuner 29 via the communication interface 27, the communication network 28 and the communication interface 30. Is recognized by the request determination unit 31 of
The EPG data in the BS digital broadcasting system stored in the storage unit 34 is transmitted from the communication interface 30 to the communication network 28 and the communication interface 27.
, And is received by the program information receiving unit 25 of the TV 10 with a built-in CS tuner, and further stored in the storage unit 13.

In this way, the TV 1 with the built-in CS tuner
The EPG data of the CS digital broadcasting system and the BS digital broadcasting system received by the digital tuner 29 and the BS digital tuner 29 are stored in the storage unit 13.

The storage section 13 may store the EPG data in each digital broadcasting system in separate storage areas, or store the EPG data from the BS digital tuner 29.
When the G data is stored in the storage unit 13, the G data may be stored together with the EPG data received by the TV 10 with a built-in CS tuner together with the identification information of the device (system).

Further, the storage unit 13 stores the EP in the CS digital broadcasting system and the BS digital broadcasting system.
At the stage when the G data is stored, when the user specifies the genre of the movie, for example, from the specifying unit 19, the number counting unit 20 of the display number determining unit 18 sets the E number in the storage unit 13.
A program that satisfies the specified condition is searched from the PG data,
The number of cases is totaled for each system. For example, if the number of movie programs in the CS digital broadcasting system is 10 and the number of movie programs in the BS digital broadcasting system is 5, the ratio determining unit 21 determines that the ratio of the number of movie programs in the two systems is 2 based on this number. : 1 is calculated.

Here, if the maximum number of lines of the electronic program guide that can be displayed on the display unit 17 is eight, the display digit number determination unit 22
Calculates the number of lines assigned to the CS digital broadcasting system to 5 lines (here, 8 lines ×
The result of 2/3 is rounded off), and the remaining three lines are allocated to the BS digital broadcasting system.
The number of display lines for each system in the G screen is determined.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of an electronic program guide integrated by the integration unit 16 and displayed on the display unit 17.

As shown in the figure, the program data in the CS digital broadcasting system in the upper five rows and the BS in the lower three rows are shown.
The program data in the digital broadcasting system is integrated, and eight lines of programs are displayed as one electronic program guide.

Here, the remaining five program data in the CS digital broadcasting system and the remaining two program data in the BS digital broadcasting system are not selected as the program data of the electronic program guide and are not displayed on the screen. However, these can be displayed on the screen by the user individually scrolling the page or turning the page.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the display number determination process in the display number determination section 18.

The processing in the number-of-displays determination unit 18 is performed by the storage unit 1
3 starts when EPG data in the CS digital broadcasting system and EPG data in the BS digital broadcasting system are stored. First, it is confirmed whether or not a genre condition is designated by the user's designation section 19 (step 1). If a genre is designated, the designated genre is set as a condition for counting the number of records (step 2). In particular, when there is no condition specification by the user, it is confirmed whether or not the number of rows is specified by the user's specification unit 19 without setting any conditions for counting the number of records (step 3). This is specified, for example, when the user wants to display the EPG data in the CS digital broadcasting system on all eight lines of the maximum number of display lines, regardless of the total number. If the number of lines is designated by the user, the designated number of lines is fetched (step 4), and the process proceeds to step 12 described later. If the number of lines has not been specified, it is similarly confirmed whether or not the user has specified the ratio of the number of displayed items (step 5). This is specified, for example, when the user wants to roughly set the ratio of the EPG information in the CS digital broadcasting system to about 70%. Even if the user does not directly set the ratio numerical value, Statistical data based on the user's tuning preference may be used automatically. If the ratio of the number of displayed items is specified, the specified ratio or automatically measured statistical data is taken in as a set numerical value (step 9).
Proceed to step 10 described below. Then, the above step 2
The number of EPG data stored in the storage unit 13 is totaled in accordance with the search condition set in (6). Also, the number of systems (in this case, the CS digital broadcasting system and the BS digital broadcasting system) is totaled (step 7), and the E totaled in step 6 is calculated.
According to the number of PG data (in this case, 10 for the CS digital broadcasting system and 5 for the BS digital broadcasting system), the ratio of the number of displayed items (in this case, 2: 1) is determined for each system (step 8). ). Further, the number of display lines for each system is determined from the maximum number of display lines on the integrated EPG screen and the display number ratio obtained in step 8 (step 10). In this case, the number of displayed EPG data in the CS digital broadcasting system is eight.
It can be obtained by (row x 2/3), but data after the decimal point may be rounded off or truncated. In any case, the total number of display lines of the EPG data in each system needs to match the maximum number of display lines on the integrated screen. Even if the number of display lines obtained in this way is less than one line in a specific system, the minimum number of display lines for each system is set to one line (step 11). This is because, because the ratio of the number of displays obtained in the step 8 is low, the program data in the specific system is not displayed at all on the integrated EPG screen unless an operation such as screen scrolling or page feed is performed. This is a process for avoiding the problem. As a result, if the number of EPG display lines in a specific system is modified from zero to one, the number of EPs in other systems that occupy the majority is changed.
It is necessary to reduce the number of displayed G by one. In this case, any EPG data may be deleted by a user's designation or the like. When the number of EPG display lines for each system on the integrated EPG screen is determined in step 11 or step 4, the determined number of display lines for each system is instructed to the integration unit 16 (step 12). Integration unit 16
Selects the EPG data corresponding to the indicated number of display lines for each system from the EPG data stored in the storage unit 13 and creates display data of the integrated EPG screen (step 13). Then, the integrated EPG screen created by the integrating unit 16 is displayed on the display unit 17 (step 14). Alternatively, after the display data of the integrated EPG screen is transmitted through the communication interface 27 and the communication network 28 and displayed on another TV receiver (not shown) or the like on the network, the process ends.

The EPG screen data integrated by the integration unit 16 is transmitted to another device on the network via the communication interface 27, and the EPG screen data is integrated on the other device.
A screen may be displayed and an operation on the integrated EPG screen may be accepted. In this case, a large-capacity storage unit, an integration unit, and the like are not required on other devices, and even a small-scale device can use the integrated EPG screen.

The DVD 35 is stored in the communication network 28
Is connected to the communication network 2 as described above.
8, a program information requesting unit 24 of the TV 10 with a built-in CS tuner sends a
When the request discriminator 37 receives this request via the communication interface 36, the TOC information read out from the disc 39 by the information reader 38 is used as program information, and the communication interface 36 And transmits to the TV 10 with a built-in CS tuner. The TOC information from the DVD 35 is input to the conversion unit 26 of the TV 10 with a built-in CS tuner via the communication network 28 and the communication interface 27. Conversion unit 26
Extracts necessary data from the received TOC information,
It is converted into content data that can be incorporated into an electronic program guide, and stored in the storage unit 13 in the same manner as EPG data in other systems.

FIG. 4 shows a flowchart of the conversion process from the TOC information to the EPG data in the conversion unit 26.

First, after the conversion unit 26 reads the TOC information of the DVD 35 from the communication interface 27 (step 1), even if the DVD 35 is connected to the communication network 28, the disk 39 is not mounted (inserted). This is confirmed (step 2). When the disc 39 is not inserted, that is, when the number of contents is zero, it is confirmed whether or not the user designates whether to delete the display line for the DVD 35 from the electronic program guide (step 6). If the user specifies that the display line for the DVD 35 may be deleted, the process ends. Even when the number of contents is zero, if the user specifies to leave a display line for the DVD 35 in the electronic program guide, the user knows what device is connected to the communication network 28. For this purpose, device data is read from the DVD 35 (step 7). This corresponds to “CS”, “B” in the leftmost column in the electronic program guide as shown in FIG.
It is necessary to display information indicating the name of the information providing system such as "S". In this case, it is read that the information providing system is a DVD. Next, after setting the connection device name “DVD” in the system name column of the electronic program guide (step 8), data such as “no disc is inserted” is set in the title column of the electronic program guide. (Step 9). On the other hand, if it is confirmed in step 2 that the disk 39 is inserted, the type of the disk is extracted from the TOC information read in step 1 and set as data in the system name column in the electronic program guide ( Step 3). For example, if the connected device is DV4D and the inserted disc is also a DVD disc, the system name and disc type match, but the DVD3
If a music CD is inserted in 5 and it can be played back in the same manner as a DVD disc, the system name and the disc type do not match. Therefore, here
Although the disk type is set as data in the system name column, the connected device name may be set as data in the system name column. Also, a title name is extracted from the TOC information and set as program name data in the electronic program guide (step 4), and similarly, a recording time for each content is extracted from the TOC information and set as program time data in the electronic program guide. (Step 5). Each data extracted from the TOC information in the above steps 3 to 5 is stored in the storage unit 13 together with EPG data in another system as content data constituting the electronic program guide (step 10), and the process is terminated. .

It is to be noted that the TOC information usually requires the above-described conversion processing. However, it is assumed that the TOC information is integrated with a device such as a CS tuner in advance in a disk medium or the like, and the EPG data in the broadcast media is integrated with the information. By creating / recording the TOC information having the consistency of the TOG information, the TOC information read from the disk medium or the like is directly stored in the storage unit 13 in the same manner as the EPG data in another system without performing the conversion process. Remember, electronic program guide (integrated E
(PG screen) can also be created.

The integrating unit 16 of the TV 10 with a built-in CS tuner reads out the program information stored in the storage unit 13 and integrates EPG data or content data in each of the CS digital broadcasting system, BS digital broadcasting system, and DVD system. Created integrated EPG screen data.

FIGS. 5 to 7 show display examples of the electronic program guide created by the integration section 16 and displayed on the display section 17. FIG.

As shown in FIG. 5, four programs for the CS digital broadcasting system, three programs for the BS digital broadcasting system, and one program for the contents of the DVD 35 are integrated into one electronic program table, as shown in FIG. The program data for the line is displayed.

When the DVD 35 is provided on the communication network 28, when the disc 39 is inserted or the disc 39 is replaced with another disc 39 from a state where no disc is inserted into the DVD 35, the disc 35 is not inserted. The TOC information of the disc 39 previously stored in the storage unit 41 is compared with the TOC information of the newly inserted disc 39, and if they are different, the change request unit 42
Requests the TV with built-in CS tuner to change the display content of the integrated EPG screen. This change request is received by the change request determination unit 23 via the communication network 28 and the communication interface 27, and then the program information request unit 24 requests the DVD 35 to transmit new content information. Upon receiving the request, the DVD 35 read from the disc 39 by the information reading unit 38
The OC information is transmitted to the TV 10 with a built-in CS tuner. C
The conversion unit 26 of the TV 10 with a built-in S tuner converts the transmitted TOC information into content data having consistency with the EPG data in the broadcast system, and updates and stores the content data in the storage unit 13. At this time, when the content data that has been obtained so far is integrated by the integration unit 16 and displayed on the display unit 17, the determination unit 14 determines the data of the displayed electronic program guide and the data of the electronic program guide. Corresponding storage unit 1
3 is compared with the data stored therein. If the data stored in the storage unit 13 is different from the data being displayed, the correction unit 15 corrects the display data integrated by the integration unit 16 to the latest data stored in the storage unit 13. Thereby, for example, in the initial state, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 6, even if it is displayed that no disc is inserted in the DVD 35, if the disc 39 is inserted in the DVD 35, as shown in FIG. Thus, the display of the content information is updated.

This is not limited to the DVD 35.
For example, when the EPG data received by the BS digital tuner 29 is changed, the BS digital tuner 2
The change of the integrated EPG screen data is started by the change request unit 40 of No. 9. When the EPG data obtained by the program information separation unit 12 of the TV 10 with a built-in CS tuner is changed, the change request unit 43 starts to change the integrated EPG screen data.

As described above, once the integrated EPG screen is displayed based on the program information stored in the storage unit 13 up to that time, the display data is corrected because the user is required to display the integrated EPG screen. This is to make it possible to reduce the time from when the display request is made to when the screen is actually displayed on the display unit 17.

Further, for example, BS digital tuner 2
Even if the EPG data received in step 9 is changed, the changed data portion is not necessarily displayed on the integrated EPG screen, so the changed EPG data is displayed when the integrated EPG screen is displayed. In many cases, there is no need to wait for the completion of reception. In fact, if the contents are not displayed on the integrated EPG screen, there is no problem even if it takes some time to transmit and receive the electronic program guide data through the communication network 28.

The program information requesting unit 24 periodically requests program information from each system so as not to impose a burden on the communication network and each information providing system.
Day and evening updates may be performed. However, also in this case, EP
If the update cycle of G data is long, even if the EPG data has already been changed when the integrated EPG screen is displayed,
Since the display content cannot be modified until the next data update time, it is desirable to use a method of requesting program information when displaying the integrated EPG screen.

As described above, the determination unit 14 and the correction unit 1
When the display content is corrected by the step 5, a mark or the like indicating that the correction has been made may be simultaneously displayed on a portion corresponding to the correction portion on the integrated EPG screen, so as to clearly indicate to the user what has been corrected. .

Alternatively, when the user uses the integrated EPG screen to change the program information for which the timer recording of the VTR is reserved, for example, even if the user is watching the TV program, the program information is corrected. Integration E
The whole or a part of the PG screen may be displayed.

In the present embodiment, the electronic program guide display control device has been described as a TV 10 with a built-in CS tuner integrally having a display unit 17. Of course, it may be constituted by. In that case,
The integrated EPG screen data is displayed on a screen of a TV receiver (display unit) externally connected through a network, an AV connection, or the like.

Further, as the electronic program guide display control device, a digital CS tuner, a BS digital tuner and the like may be incorporated so that a plurality of different information providing systems can be received. For example, the electronic program guide display control device may be configured by a digital CS tuner, a BS digital tuner, a home server provided with a DVD or a hard disk in a TV receiver, or the like.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the electronic program guide display control device according to this embodiment.

In the figure, a TV 10 with a built-in CS tuner
Includes a cursor display unit 50, a movement instruction unit 51, a scroll unit 52, and a start / end detection unit 5 in addition to the configuration shown in FIG.
3, a system designating unit 54 is provided, and the other configuration corresponds to the configuration of the same reference numeral shown in FIG.

In the first embodiment, the remaining five program data in the CS digital broadcasting system and the remaining two program data in the BS digital broadcasting system are not selected as the program data in the electronic program guide. Therefore, in order to display program data that is not displayed on the screen, the user can individually display the screen by scrolling the page or turning the page, etc., but either program list is scrolled. This operation is required, and this embodiment is different in that a scroll function is provided to improve this point.

The scroll function of the electronic program guide display control device according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

Here, a case will be described in which 50 items are extracted by the designating section 19 on the CS digital broadcasting system side and 20 items are extracted on the BS digital broadcasting system side. "10
"0 program 19:00" and the like respectively indicate data of a channel number, a program name, and a start time. However, the data is not limited to this, and related information such as a story and a cast can be handled in a similar manner. . According to the above description, as the program list, five items on the CS digital broadcasting system side and three items on the BS digital broadcasting system side are displayed as shown on the right side. At this time, the data on the left side of the figure is stored in the number counting section 20 of the display number determination section 18, and the scroll section 52 controls scrolling based on this data. That is, the cursor display unit 50 displays a cursor mark, a color-coded display, and the like at the program information designated by the user on the program list. In this case, the movement instruction unit 51 issues an instruction to move the cursor position up and down. At this time, for example, it is assumed that the program is moved from the CS program 1 to the program 2 and the program 3 to be in the program 5. When the user further instructs the downward movement by the movement instructing unit 51, the scroll unit 52 executes the scroll while holding the number of display lines determined by the display digit number determining unit 22, and passes through the integrating unit 16 and the display unit 17. This time, programs 2 to 6 are displayed on the program list. At this time, the start / end detection unit 53 detects whether the scroll unit 52 has reached the end of the scroll range of the display number determination unit 18 as a result of the scroll operation. In this case, C is added to the bottom line of the program list column of CS.
When it is detected that the program 50 of S has arrived, and the user instructs the scrolling unit 51 to scroll further downward,
The system designation unit 54 changes the system designation to scroll on the BS digital broadcast system side based on the detection result of the start / end detection unit 53. The scroll unit 52 moves the cursor to the program 51 of the BS in the program list in accordance with the system specification of the system specification unit 54. Similarly BS
After the cursor advances to the bottom line of the program list (the program 53 in FIG. 9), the scroll unit 52 performs a scrolling operation, and the display number determination unit 1 is placed at the bottom line of the BS program list.
When the scrolling is advanced to the point where the program 70 stored in 8 is displayed, the scrolling system is switched to the CS digital broadcasting system by the start / end detection unit 53 and the system designation unit 54.

Here, CS digital broadcasting system and BS
Although the case where two systems of the digital broadcasting system are switched has been described, the present invention is not limited to the two systems.
It is also possible to prepare the maximum number of lines to be displayed on the display unit 13 at nine or more, and scroll three or more systems sequentially.

The upward movement key and the downward movement key are scrolled by the system designation section 54 when a specific key operation such as a double click is performed instead of a normal upward or downward movement key operation in the movement instruction section 51. If the system is switched, even when the number of programs is large and scrolling is required for a long time, it is possible to shift to the scrolling of the program list of a different system on the way, further improving the operability.

When it is expected that there are a large number of programs of the genre specified by the specifying unit 19, the specifying unit 19 further selects the top 10 programs (best 10) of the programs extracted for each system. It may be specified. In this case, the scroll target by the scroll unit 52 is the program enclosed as the best 10 of each of the CS digital broadcasting system and the BS digital broadcasting system in FIG.
When scrolling through the program list, the CS side program 1
, The program 10 and the program 60 from the BS-side program 51 are scrolled. This way, the user is CS,
It is possible to check the best 10 programs of each system of the BS very easily and in a short time.

Next, the processing procedure of the scroll function according to this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

Here, it is assumed that the program list on the right side of FIG. 9 has been displayed by the processing for creating the above-described integrated EPG screen. It is checked whether or not there is an instruction to scroll down by a user operation (step 15). Although a flowchart for processing a downward scroll instruction is shown here, the same applies to a process for an upward scroll instruction. If there is no downward scroll instruction, the system waits for input, but if there is a downward scroll instruction, it is normal for the downward scroll instruction or special operation such as double-clicking key input. Check (step 16). Here, the double click is determined to be a special operation, and when it is determined to be a downward scroll instruction by the double click, the scroll range designation is switched to another scroll range (step 21). That is, the cursor on the CS side in the display example of FIG. 9 is moved to the BS side. In this case, for example, when the user instructs to scroll down using the down arrow key or the like of the remote control, the cursor is moved down or scrolled in the case of a normal single push, and the down arrow key or the like is double-clicked. The cursor position can be immediately moved to the next system in the integrated EPG screen, and required program information can be easily found.
If the user instructs the user to scroll downward, the process corresponding to the downward movement or scrolling of the cursor is performed (step 17). In step 17, it is determined whether or not the current cursor position is at the bottom of the display line allocated to the CS side, for example. If not, the cursor position is moved down from program 1 to program 2 (step 18). The cursor position is CS
If it is the bottom row of the display row assigned to the side, it is checked whether it is the bottom row data of the designated scroll range (step 19). Here, as shown in FIG. 9, the bottom data of the scroll range corresponds to the program 50 on the CS digital broadcasting system side, and it is confirmed whether the fifth line of the CS column in the display example of the program list is the program 50. are doing. If the fifth line of the CS column is not the program 50,
The program information in the second line of the currently displayed program list is moved to the first line, and the program information up to the fifth line is sequentially updated. If the fifth line of the CS column is the program 50, the scroll range is switched to another scroll range, in this case, the BS side (step 21), and the cursor position is moved to the first line of the list on the BS side (step 21). Step 22). After the cursor position is moved to the BS side and the scroll range is switched, the process returns to the start and executes the same processing.

As described above, scrolling on the integrated EPG screen is executed, and the user can freely execute scrolling from CS to BS or from BS to CS simply by operating the scroll key, which is necessary. A program can be easily selected.

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the electronic program guide display control device according to the present embodiment.

The electronic program guide display control device of the present embodiment is applied to a device having a single EPG system, whereas the above-described other embodiment is applied to a device having a plurality of EPG systems. Although different in the point, the invention of the present embodiment can also be applied to an electronic program guide display control device including a plurality of EPG systems.

In the figure, reference numeral 55 denotes a display item designating section;
Reference numeral 6 denotes a program guide creating unit, and the other configuration corresponds to the configuration of the same reference numeral shown in FIG.

The program table creating unit 56 creates a single EPG screen instead of integrating a plurality of EPGs as in the integrating unit 16 in FIG. Storage unit 1
3 or the program information obtained from the program guide creating unit 56, the scroll range designating unit 55 designates display items, and the number counting unit 20 determines a plurality of scroll ranges based on the designated display items. For example, based on the audience rating data sent as program information or the audience rating data obtained from the Internet or the like, a viewer whose audience rating is larger than a specific ratio is designated, and the user further selects the broadcast receiving unit 1.
The program which is tuned by 1 and which has been watched many times in the past, and which is more than the specified number of times in a specific period, is designated.

The scroll function of the electronic program guide display control device according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

Here, two scroll ranges of program 1 to program 50 and program 51 to program 70 are determined as scroll ranges. It is also an effective method to specify a genre as a common extraction condition in the specifying unit 19 for the display item specified by the scroll range specifying unit 55.

In this example, the programs 1 to 50 are used as the audience rating ranking, and the program 51 is used as the personal preference ranking.
The program 70 is designated by the scroll range designation unit 55. Here, the program 1 to the program 50 and the program 51 to the program 70 are described as being divided. However, the contents of the program 1 to the program 50 and the contents of the program 51 to the program 70 usually have overlapping parts. These may overlap. In addition, here, the scroll range is specified based on the audience rating and personal preference, but these contents are genre and personal preference, genre and audience rating, janyanru, personal preference and audience rating, and so on. The user can select a necessary display method from among them by setting a number of criteria in the scroll range designating section 55 in advance in the scroll range designating section 55 in order to make a determination.

As described above, the program selection information is simultaneously displayed from several viewpoints, and even if the number of displayed contents is large, scrolling between items is automatically performed. Can be selected.

Next, the processing procedure of the scroll function according to this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

Here, it is assumed that the program list on the right side of FIG. 12 is displayed by the processing for creating the above-described integrated EPG screen.

It is checked whether or not the user has designated a rating as a display item (step 23), and if so, the rating is set for the display item (step 24). Similarly, it is checked whether the user has designated personal preference as a display item (step 25), and if so, personal preference is set for the display item (step 26).
Here, the flowchart is for processing two types of criteria, but other than that, it may be possible to process janles and the like. The program information is extracted according to the display items (step 27). These extractions are performed by the number counting unit 20 shown in FIG. Here, since two types of display items are set, as shown on the left side of FIG. 12, 50 programs from program 1 to program 50 are shown as the audience rating ranking, and 20 programs from program 51 to program 70 are shown as the personal preference ranking. Has been extracted. The number of cases actually displayed on the display unit 17 is determined in accordance with the number of cases of the extracted program information (step 28). These processes are performed by the ratio determination unit 21 and the number-of-display-lines determination unit 22. As a result, as shown on the right side of FIG. The program will be displayed. When the display number is determined, a program list is displayed on the display unit 17 (step 29). After the program list is displayed, steps 15 to 22 are executed as in the case of FIG. In this case, the program list is a list of two types of ratings and a favorite, and becomes the lowermost data of the scroll range in step 21. However, when a jump of the scroll range is instructed by an operation such as a double click by the user. Can be freely scrolled from a list of ratings to a favorite list, or from a favorite list to a list of ratings.

[0102]

The electronic program guide display control device according to the first aspect of the present invention has the above-described configuration, and by integrating each program information in a plurality of information providing systems, a single When displaying as an electronic program guide, even if there is a lot of program information in a specific information providing system among them, without sacrificing program information in other information providing systems, The electronic program guide can be configured and displayed at an appropriate ratio.

The electronic program guide display control device according to the second aspect of the present invention integrates each program information in a plurality of information providing systems, thereby displaying a desired electronic program guide. Genre, the display ratio for each information providing system, or the number of display items for each information providing system can be directly specified. Even if the number is limited, it is possible to easily confirm the program contents of each information providing system.

The electronic program guide display control device according to the third aspect of the present invention is not limited to the program information in the information providing system which can be directly obtained, but can be obtained by a device connected to a communication network. Since the program information in any of the information providing systems can be treated equally, and the respective program information can be integrated, an electronic program guide can be created / displayed for the program information in any of the information providing systems. .

The electronic program guide display control device according to the invention described in claim 4 of the present application is configured such that, when a new device is connected on the communication network, the latest information in each information providing system automatically obtained by each device. , The latest program information in each information providing system can be automatically updated / added without the user having to make any troublesome settings.

The electronic program guide display control device according to the invention described in claim 5 of the present invention, when a user requests display of an electronic program guide, if there is already stored program information, it is immediately displayed. In addition, if there is program information that has been changed during that time, it can be taken in.

In the electronic program guide display control device according to the invention described in claim 6 of the present invention, the program information in each information providing system is changed or the content information is changed by replacing the recording medium of the recording medium. When this occurs, it is possible to automatically detect this and fetch the changed program information.

[0108] The electronic program guide display control device according to the invention described in claim 7 of the present invention handles content information and the like on a recording medium connected to a communication network in the same manner as program information in a broadcast system.
An electronic program guide can be created / displayed by integrating each information.

An electronic program guide display control device according to the invention described in claim 8 of the present application is adapted for a case where the content information on the recording medium medium on the communication network does not have consistency with the program information in the broadcast system. However, since the content information is converted into appropriate data that can be displayed as an electronic program guide and can be handled in the same manner as the program information in the broadcasting system, the respective information is integrated to create the electronic program guide / Can be displayed.

The electronic program guide display control device according to the ninth aspect of the present invention displays the electronic program guide even if the latest program information is changed or the disc is replaced even while the electronic program guide is being displayed. It becomes possible to modify the electronic program guide in the middle. In addition, since it is not determined whether or not the program information is coincident with all the program information stored in the storage means, it is determined whether the program information is currently coincident with the currently displayed program information.
It is possible to determine the match / mismatch in a short time.

In the electronic program guide display control device according to the tenth aspect of the present invention, the user performs a scroll operation on each program display in a plurality of integrated information providing systems so that one of the information supply systems can be operated. Scrolling can be freely performed from the program information list to the program information list of the other information supply system, and a desired program can be easily selected.

The electronic program guide display control device according to the invention of claim 11 automatically provides one of the information when the position of the cursor reaches the start or end of the scroll range during the scroll operation by the user. It is possible to easily move from scrolling in the program information list of the system to scrolling the program information list in the other information providing system.

The electronic program guide display control device according to the twelfth aspect of the present invention integrates each program information in a plurality of information providing systems, so that when displaying as one electronic program guide, a user can select a desired program. By specifying display items such as genres and the display ratio of each display item, even if the number of pieces of program information that can be displayed at one time as an electronic program guide is limited, the desired display items can be formed. In addition to displaying an electronic program, it is possible to freely scroll from a program information list sorted by one display item to a program information list sorted by another display item, and to display a program of a required display item. It becomes possible to select easily.

According to the electronic program guide display control device of the present invention, when displaying the electronic program guide, the user specifies display items of a desired genre, and further sets the display ratio for each display item. By specifying, even if the number of pieces of program information that can be displayed at one time as an electronic program guide is limited, the program information list sorted by the desired display item is displayed, and the programs sorted by one of the display items are displayed. It is possible to freely scroll from the information list to the program information list sorted by the other display items, and it is possible to easily select a program of a required display item.

According to the electronic program guide display control device of the present invention, when the position of the cursor reaches the start or end of the scroll range during the scroll operation of the user, one of the display items is automatically performed. Can be easily moved from the scroll in the program information list sorted by the item to the scroll of the program information list sorted by the other display item.

The electronic program guide display control device according to the invention of claim 15 allows a user to designate a program list having a high audience rating or a program list frequently viewed by the user as a display item. Can be.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an electronic program guide display control device according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of an electronic program guide integrated by an integration unit 16 shown in FIG. 1 and displayed on a display unit 17;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of a display number determination process in a display number determination unit 18 shown in FIG. 1;

4 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of a conversion process from TOC information to EPG data in a conversion unit 26 shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 shows a display unit 1 created by the integration unit 16 shown in FIG.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a display example of an electronic program guide displayed in 7.

FIG. 6 shows a display unit 1 created by the integration unit 16 shown in FIG.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a display example of an electronic program guide displayed in 7.

FIG. 7 is a display unit 1 created by the integration unit 16 shown in FIG.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a display example of an electronic program guide displayed in 7.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an electronic program guide display control device according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining a scroll function of the electronic program guide display control device according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of a scroll function of the electronic program guide display control device according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an electronic program guide display control device according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining a scroll function of the electronic program guide display control device according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of a scroll function of the electronic program guide display control device according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a configuration of an electronic program guide system according to the related art.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a display example of an EPG integrated by using an electronic program guide system according to the related art.

FIG. 16 is a diagram for explaining display of an EPG in an electronic program guide system according to the related art.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 TV with built-in CS tuner 11 Broadcast reception unit 12 Program information separation unit 13 Storage unit 14 Discrimination unit 15 Correction unit 16 Integration unit 17 Display unit 18 Display number determination unit 19 Designation unit 20 Number count unit 21 Ratio determination unit 22 Display digit determination Unit 23 change request determination unit 24 program information request unit 25 program information reception unit 26 conversion unit 27 communication interface 28 communication network 29 BS digital tuner 30 communication interface 31 request determination unit 32 broadcast reception unit 33 program information separation unit 34 storage unit 35 DVD 36 Communication Interface 37 Request Judgment Unit 38 Information Reading Unit 39 Disk 40 Change Request Unit 41 Storage Unit 42 Change Request Unit 43 Change Request Unit 50 Cursor Display Unit 51 Move Instruction Unit 52 Scroll Unit 53 Start / End Detector 54 System Designator 55 table Display item designation section 56 Program table creation section

Claims (15)

[Claims] A storage unit for storing program information of each of a plurality of information providing systems; an integration unit for selectively integrating program information stored in the storage unit to create an electronic program guide; An electronic program guide display control device comprising: a display unit for displaying the created electronic program guide. The display control device according to claim 1, wherein the number of pieces of program information integrated by the integration unit is determined by a predetermined integration An electronic program guide display control device, further comprising a display number determining means for determining based on a condition. 2. The electronic program guide display control device according to claim 1, further comprising a designation unit for arbitrarily designating the integration condition. 3. The electronic program guide display control device according to claim 1, wherein the program information requesting means requests program information in the information providing system via a communication network. And a program information receiving means for receiving program information in the information providing system via a communication network, wherein the program information received by the program information receiving means is updated and stored in the storage means. Electronic program guide display control device. 4. The electronic program guide display control device according to claim 3, wherein the program information requesting unit requests program information in the information providing system when a bus reset in the communication network is performed. An electronic program guide display control device characterized by the above-mentioned. 5. The electronic program guide display control device according to claim 3, wherein the program information requesting unit displays program information in the information providing system when displaying the electronic program guide created by the integrating unit. An electronic program guide display control device characterized by making a request. 6. The electronic program guide display control device according to claim 3, further comprising: a change request determining unit that receives a request to change a content of the program information in the information providing system, wherein the program information requesting unit includes the change request. An electronic program guide display control device, wherein when a change request is received by a request determination unit, at least program information whose contents have been changed is requested. 7. The electronic program guide display control device according to claim 1, wherein the program information is recorded on a recording medium mounted on an information providing system. An electronic program guide display control device comprising information. 8. The electronic program guide display control device according to claim 7, further comprising a conversion unit for converting the content information into data that can be displayed as the electronic program guide. Control device. 9. The electronic program guide display control device according to claim 1, wherein the program information integrated by the integrating means and the program information in the information providing system are combined. Determining means for determining match / mismatch; and correcting means for correcting the electronic program guide created by the integrating means in accordance with the program information in the information providing system when the determining means determines that there is no match. An electronic program guide display control device characterized by the above-mentioned. 10. The electronic program guide display control device according to claim 1, wherein: a cursor display unit for designating a position on a screen of the display unit; and the cursor display unit. An electronic program guide display comprising: moving instruction means for moving a cursor position to be displayed; and scroll means for scrolling a program information list for each of the information providing systems according to the cursor position. Control device. 11. The method according to claim 1, wherein:
In the electronic program guide display control device according to any one of claims, a start / end detection unit that detects a start end and an end of a scroll range for each program information list of each of the information providing systems, and a start / end by the start / end detection unit. An electronic program guide display control device, comprising: a system designation unit for switching a scroll from one scrolled program information list to another program information list when the end is detected. 12. A storage means for storing each program information in a plurality of information providing systems; an integration means for selectively integrating program information stored in the storage means to create an electronic program guide; An electronic program guide display control device comprising display means for displaying the created electronic program guide; display item designation means for displaying a program information list in which program information of each information providing system is sorted according to predetermined display items; A display number determining means for determining the number of pieces of program information sorted for each display item based on a predetermined integration condition for each display item; and specifying a position on the screen in the display means. Cursor display means, a movement instruction means for moving a cursor position displayed by the cursor display means, and the cursor position In response the electronic program guide display control apparatus characterized by comprising a scroll means for scrolling the program information list sorted for each of the displayed items. 13. A storage means for storing program information in an information providing system; a program table creation means for selecting program information stored in said storage means to create an electronic program guide; An electronic program guide display control device comprising display means for displaying the obtained electronic program guide, display item designation means for displaying a program information list in which the program information of the information providing system is sorted according to predetermined display items, Display number determining means for determining the number of pieces of program information sorted for each display item based on a predetermined integration condition for each display item; and designating a position on the screen in the display means. Cursor display means; movement instructing means for moving a cursor position displayed by the cursor display means; And a scrolling means for scrolling the program information list sorted for each of the display items. 14. The electronic program guide display control device according to claim 12, wherein a start and an end of a scroll range of each program information list sorted for each of the display items. And a system designating means for switching the scroll from one scrolled program information list to the other program information list when the start or end is detected by the start or end detection means. An electronic program guide display control device, characterized in that: 15. The electronic program guide display control device according to claim 12, wherein the program information list sorted by the display item specified by the display item specifying means is: An electronic program guide display control device, which is a program list having a high rating based on the rating information or a program list having a high frequency of viewing by a user in the past.