JP2001008124A - Program guide device for multi-channel television broadcast system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To display a list of a program with designated genres over a plurality of different networks by adding a program list of a network received after switching of the networks to a program list of a network having been received before the switching in the case of switching the networks. SOLUTION: When a subscriber-desires a program of a genre designated from a next network, the user uses a cursor to select and decide the network on a menu that is not retrieved. A CPU 33 selects a state of receiving of, e.g. a network B selected by the subscriber depending on the reception state of a network A and executes retrieval of the program of the genre designated from the network B. When the program is retrieved, the CPU 33 appends information of the program retrieved newly from the network B to a data memory 36 so as to generate a program list without deleting the information of the program retrieved from the network A before from the data memory.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a multi-channel television broadcasting system, for example, a digital broadcasting system using a communication satellite, and more particularly to an improvement in a program guide device for searching for a broadcast program.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As is well known, digital broadcasting as mentioned above can transmit a plurality of services from one transponder at the same time due to the advance of digital compression technology. Channels.

For example, in the current television broadcasting system using this digital broadcasting technology, one network (broadcast program provider) generally provides 100 channels or more.

[0004] Therefore, in this kind of multi-channel television broadcasting system, it is important to enable the subscriber to easily and quickly search for a program that suits his or her preference from among many programs. It has become.

In particular, as the number of channels increases,
Since the content of the broadcast program tends to be highly specialized for each channel, it is demanded to facilitate the program search work in view of such points.

A conventional program search means used in a multi-channel television broadcasting system is EPG.
A technique using an electronic program guide called (Electronic Program Guide) and a technique of searching for programs by genre have been realized.

[0007] The search means based on the electronic program guide uses, for each program, attribute information transmitted along with information such as images and sounds constituting the program, and uses a channel and date and time as parameters. A table is created and displayed on a television screen.

The genre-specific search means searches for only programs of the genre specified by the subscriber, for example, by specifying a date by using the above-mentioned attribute information, and displays a list on a television screen. is there.

In view of the fact that, as described above, the specialization of the content of a broadcast program is strongly expressed for each channel due to the increase in the number of channels, this genre-based search means will become the mainstream of program search in the future. You can think.

[0010]

In the current multi-channel television broadcasting system, one desired network is selected from a plurality of networks and received. For this reason, the genre-specific search means searches the received network for programs of the specified genre and displays them in a list.

In the genre-based search means, when the network to be received is changed, the list of programs searched from the network received before the change is all cleared, and the program is designated from among the networks received after the change. A new genre program is searched and displayed in a list.

In other words, the conventional genre-based search means can display a genre-based program list only for each network, and displays a list of programs of a specified genre over a plurality of different networks. Therefore, there is a problem that the program search work becomes inconvenient for the subscriber.

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances and makes it possible to display a list of programs of a specified genre over a plurality of different networks, thereby facilitating program search for a subscriber. It is an object of the present invention to provide a very good program guide device for a multi-channel television broadcasting system.

[0014]

According to the present invention, there is provided a program guide apparatus for a multi-channel television broadcasting system according to the present invention, comprising: receiving means for selectively switching and receiving a plurality of networks; so,
A program list creating means for creating a program list by searching for a program corresponding to a specified genre, and selectively reproducing or recording a desired program based on the program list created by the program list creating means. When switching the network to be received by the selection unit and the reception unit, the program list created by the program list creation unit from the network received before the switch to the program list created by the program list creation unit from the network received before the switch. Control means for adding a program list.

According to the above-mentioned configuration, even if the receiving network is switched, the program list searched on the newly received network can be replaced with the previous program list without deleting the program list searched on the previous network. Since the program is added to the list, the program of the designated genre can be displayed in a list over a plurality of different networks, so that the program search operation can be easily performed for the subscriber. .

[0016]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 11 denotes an antenna, which receives digital television broadcast waves transmitted from a communication satellite or the like (not shown).

The digital television broadcast wave received by the antenna 11 is supplied to a set-top box 12 and reproduced into an analog image and audio signal.
Provided for recording.

Here, the details of the set-top box 12 will be described. First, the antenna 11 converts a received digital television broadcast wave into a digital television signal of an intermediate frequency and outputs the digital television signal to the set-top box 12.

In this set-top box 12,
The digital television signal output from the antenna 11 is supplied to a tuner 21, where a signal of a desired channel is selected and converted to a baseband signal.

This baseband signal is QPSK (Quad
The signal is supplied to a demodulation circuit 22, subjected to demodulation processing, and output to an error correction circuit 23. The error correction circuit 23 performs error detection and error correction processing on the demodulated baseband signal, divides the packet into packets, and outputs the packet to the descrambler 24 as transport stream data.

When the input transport stream data is encrypted, the descrambler 24 decrypts the encrypted transport stream data to restore the original data, and outputs the original data to the packet separation circuit 25.

The packet separation circuit 25 performs processing based on the packet separation procedure stored in the packet separation memory 26, such as image data and audio data of a program input in the form of transport stream data and various information accompanying the program. Data is separated for each packet.

Each packet data separated by the packet separation circuit 25 is a moving picture expert (MPEG).
Group) is supplied to the decoder 27, and the MPEG memory 28
Is decrypted based on the procedure stored in.

Here, the image data subjected to the MPEG decoding processing is converted into a video D / A (Digital / Analogue) conversion circuit 2.
9 and converted into an analog image signal, which is supplied to the television receiver 13 and the video deck 14, respectively.

The audio data subjected to the MPEG decoding is supplied to an audio D / A conversion circuit 30 to be converted into an analog audio signal, and is supplied to the television receiver 13 and the video deck 14, respectively.

Further, the image data decoded by the MPEG decoder 27 is supplied to a display control circuit 31,
After the control according to the display format requested by the subscriber is performed,
It is output to the video D / A conversion circuit 29.

More specifically, for example, when displaying an electronic program on the screen of the television receiver 13, the display control circuit 31 obtains not only the data in the electronic program display format but also various information data accompanying the program. Output data, or superimpose image data with information data accompanying the program.

On the other hand, the tuner 21, the QPSK demodulation circuit 22, the error correction circuit 23, the descrambler 24, the packet separation circuit 25, the MPEG decoder 27 and the display control circuit 31 are connected by a bus line 32, respectively. CPU (Centra) connected to the bus line 32
l Processing Unit) 33.

The CPU 33 includes a real-time OS (Operating System) (not shown) mounted therein,
Based on the processing procedure stored in the program memory 34 connected to the bus line 32, each of the above-described circuit portions is efficiently controlled to perform an electronic program display or a program image display required by the subscriber. Things.

The work memory 35 connected to the bus line 32 stores a display format generation procedure for each display mode of an image displayed on the screen of the television receiver 13.

Further, the data memory 36 connected to the bus line 32 stores data corresponding to the display form of the work memory 35. A program reservation memory 36a, which is a part of the memory area of the data memory 36, stores data such as a channel number, a program name, a broadcast date and time, a program start time and an end time of a program reserved for recording by a subscriber.

A kanji ROM (Read Only Memory) 37 connected to the bus line 32 generates characters and numerals to be displayed on the screen from information data accompanying the program together with the image and audio signal of the digital television signal. Character data to be stored.

The input / output control circuit 38 connected to the bus line 32 controls the remote control / display panel 4
1 to transfer data operated by the subscriber through the remote control input means (not shown) to the CPU 33;
It has a function of supplying display data to a display panel (not shown).

Further, when the television signal selected by the tuner 21 is encrypted, an IC (Integr
ated Circuit) The card control circuit 39 reads the subscriber number and the decryption key stored in the IC card 39a, collates decryption permission conditions, and supplies the decrypted key to the descrambler 24.

The modem 40 connected to the bus line 32 is for transmitting billing information to the broadcast program provider via the telephone line 42 when receiving a pay broadcast.

The operation of the above configuration will be described below. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the most basic genre-based program search operation. First, when started (step S11), the subscriber proceeds to step S12.
The program genre is designated via the remote control input means.

Then, the CPU 33 proceeds to step S13
Then, a search for a program corresponding to the specified genre is executed from the currently received network. And
In step S14, the CPU 33 determines whether or not this program search operation has been continuously performed for a predetermined time or more.

In this case, if the program search operation has not been continued for a predetermined time or longer (NO), the CPU 33 determines in step S15 whether a program corresponding to the specified genre has been searched. If the program corresponding to the specified genre has not been searched (NO), the CPU
33 shifts to the process of step S13.

If a program corresponding to the specified genre is found (YES), the CPU 33 stores information of the found program in the data memory 3 in step S16.
6 to create a program list, display it on the television receiver 13 on the screen, and then proceed to step S13.

FIG. 3 shows an example of a program list displayed on the screen of the television receiver 13 in step S16. In this example, at 12:00 pm on Tuesday, May 18, a search for programs of the sports genre on the night of Wednesday, May 19, in the network A, the result of the search by channel number, program title and broadcast time List is displayed.

In this case, only seven programs are displayed in a list on one screen at a time. However, the list screen is scrolled up and down by the up / down scroll operation by the remote control input means, so that all the searched programs are displayed. It is possible to display.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S14 that the program search operation has been continued for a predetermined time or more (YE
S), in step S17, the CPU 33 determines whether or not a program corresponding to the specified genre exists by the program search operation within the predetermined time.

If the program corresponding to the specified genre does not exist (NO), the CPU 33 sends a message to the effect that no program corresponding to the specified genre exists to the display panel in step S18. Then, the process is terminated (step S19).

If it is determined in step S17 that a program corresponding to the genre specified exists (YES), the subscriber in step S20 selects a desired program from the program list displayed on the screen. Search for shows. This search operation is performed by selecting a desired program from the list screen with a cursor and determining it.

Thereafter, the CPU 33 proceeds to step S21.
Then, it is determined whether or not the selected program is a program currently being broadcast. If the program is currently being broadcast (YES), in step S22, the program is immediately selected and reproduced, and the process ends (step S22). Step S19) is performed.

If the selected program is not currently being broadcast (NO), the CPU 33 proceeds to step S
At 23, a recording reservation is made for the program, and the process is terminated (step S19).

An example of a characteristic operation of the present invention will be described below on the premise of the above-described basic genre-based program search operation. 4, the same steps as those in FIG. 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

That is, when it is determined in step S14 that the program search operation has been continued for a predetermined time or more (YE
S) In step S24, the subscriber determines whether to search for a program of the specified genre from the next network.

In this case, the CPU 33 responds to a switching operation to receive the next network by the subscriber, or
When YES is determined in step S14, a menu screen for selecting a network is displayed on the television receiver 13 as shown in FIG.

When the subscriber wants to search for a program of the specified genre from the next network (Y
ES), Network B not searched from this menu screen
Or, select and determine C with the cursor.

Then, the CPU 33 determines, for example, the network B selected by the subscriber from the reception state of the network A.
Is received, and the process proceeds to step S13 to search the network B for a program corresponding to the specified genre.

In this case, if a program corresponding to the genre specified in step S15 is searched (YES), the CP
In step S16, the U33 additionally records, in the data memory 36, the information of the program newly searched in the network B without deleting the information of the program previously searched in the network A from the data memory 36. Then, a program list is created, the screen is displayed on the television receiver 13, and the process proceeds to step S13.

FIG. 6 shows an example of the program list displayed on the screen of the television receiver 13 in step S16. In this example, at 12:00 pm on Tuesday, May 18, a program of the sports genre on the night of Wednesday, May 19 was searched in network B, following the result of searching in network A. The results are listed.

If the program of the specified genre is not searched for in the next network in step S24 (NO), the program proceeds to step S17 through all the networks in which the genre-specific program search has been performed. It is determined whether or not the corresponding program exists, and the processes in steps S18 to S23 described above are executed.

According to the operation as shown in FIG. 4, in the state where the program search in the currently receiving network has been completed,
Even if you switch to the reception state of another network, the program list searched on the previous network will not be deleted,
A program search in the newly received network is enabled, and the search result is added to the previous program list and displayed.

That is, a program corresponding to the specified genre is searched from a plurality of networks, respectively.
Since all search results for each network can be displayed in a list, the program search operation can be facilitated for the subscriber.

Next, FIG. 7 illustrates another example of the characteristic operation of the present invention, and the same steps as those in FIG. 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals. That is, when it is determined in step S14 that the program search operation in one network A has been continued for a predetermined time or longer (YES),
In step S25, the subscriber scrolls up and down from the program list screen displayed in step S16 to search for a desired program.

Then, the CPU 33 proceeds to step S26.
To determine whether the program has been selected by the subscriber,
If a program is found (YES), the above-described processes of steps S21 to S23 are executed.

If the program is not selected by the subscriber in step S26 (NO), the CPU 33 determines in step S27 whether or not the end of the program list has been reached, for example, by scrolling down, and If has not reached (NO), the process proceeds to step S25.

If it is determined in step S27 that the end of the program list has been reached (YES), the CPU 33
In step S28, it is determined whether or not a further downward scroll operation has been performed. If the downward scroll operation has not been performed (NO), the process proceeds to step S25.

If it is determined in step S28 that a downward scroll operation has been performed (YES), the CPU
33 is automatically switched to the reception state of the next network B based on a preset order in step S29, and then the process proceeds to step S13, which corresponds to the genre designated from the network B Program to be searched for.

That is, according to the operation shown in FIG.
When the program search in one network is completed and the subscriber selects the desired program by scrolling from the program list, the scroll operation is further performed even if the end of the program list is reached. Then, the state is switched to the reception state of the next network, and the program search is started in that network.

Also in this case, in step S16, the program list searched from the newly received network is added to the program list searched from the network and displayed on the television receiver 13 on the screen. Therefore, the program search operation can be facilitated for the subscriber.

Next, FIG. 8 illustrates still another example of the characteristic operation of the present invention, and the same steps as those in FIG. 7 are denoted by the same reference numerals. That is, if it is determined in step S28 that a downward scroll operation has been performed (YES), the CPU 33 proceeds to step S3.
At 0, a network list that can be switched to the reception state is displayed on the television receiver 13. This network list is a menu screen as shown in FIG.

When the subscriber selects a desired network from this menu screen in step S31,
In step S32, the CPU 33 switches to the reception state of the selected network, and proceeds to the process in step S13.

That is, according to the operation shown in FIG.
When the program search in one network is completed, and the subscriber selects a desired program by scrolling from the program list, and the scroll operation is performed even after reaching the end of the program list, Next, a menu screen for searching for a network to be received is displayed, and a new program search is performed in the network selected by the subscriber from the menu screen.

In this case as well, in step S16, the program list searched from the new network is added to the program list searched from the network, and the screen is displayed on the television receiver 13 on the screen. The program search operation can be facilitated for the subscriber.

Here, in each of the above-described operation examples, the program list recorded in the data memory 36 is stored when the subscriber selects a desired program from the list or when the subscriber exits the program selection mode. Is maintained until a certain time elapses.

When a program of the same genre as before is selected within this fixed time, the CPU 33
Operates to read a program list from the data memory 36, select a program therefrom, and then receive a network including the selected program.

[0070] However, a program whose broadcasting has been completed during this fixed time is deleted from the data memory 36 every time the program list is displayed by the subscriber.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but can be implemented with various modifications without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0072]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention,
To provide a very good program guide device of a multi-channel television broadcasting system which allows a list of programs of a specified genre to be displayed in a list over a plurality of different networks and which makes it easy for a subscriber to search for programs. Can be.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a program guide device of a multi-channel television broadcasting system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exemplary flowchart for explaining a basic genre-based program search operation according to the embodiment;

FIG. 3 is an exemplary view showing an example of a program list displayed on a screen of a television receiver in the genre-based program search operation.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a characteristic genre-based program search operation of the present invention in the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an exemplary view showing an example of a menu screen for network selection displayed on the television receiver in the genre-based program search operation;

FIG. 6 is an exemplary view showing an example of a program list displayed on the screen of the television receiver in the genre-based program search operation.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart shown to explain another example of the characteristic genre-based program search operation of the present invention in the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart shown to explain still another example of the characteristic genre-based program search operation of the present invention in the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 antenna, 12 set-top box, 13 television receiver, 14 video deck, 21 tuner, 22 QPSK demodulation circuit, 23 error correction circuit, 24 descrambler, 25 packet separation circuit, 26 ... Packet separation memory, 27 ... MPEG decoder, 28 ... MPEG memory, 29 ... Video D / A conversion circuit, 30 ... Audio D / A conversion circuit, 31 ... Display control circuit, 32 ... Bus line, 33 ... CPU, 34 ... Program memory, 35: Work memory, 36: Data memory, 37: Kanji ROM, 38: Input / output control circuit, 39: IC card control circuit, 40: Modem, 41: Remote control / display panel, 42: Telephone line.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A receiving means for selectively switching and receiving a plurality of networks, and a program for creating a program list by searching for a program corresponding to a specified genre in the networks received by the receiving means. List creation means, selection means for selectively reproducing or recording reservation of a desired program based on the program list created by the program list creation means, and when switching a network to be received by the reception means,
Control means for adding a program list created by the program list creating means from the network received after the switching to a program list created by the program list creating means from the network received before the switching. A program guide device for a multi-channel television broadcasting system. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the selecting unit displays a program list created by the program list creating unit on a screen, and scrolls the program list displayed on the screen to select a desired program. A program guide device for a multi-channel television broadcasting system according to claim 1. 3. A state in which the control means scrolls the program list displayed on the screen by the selection means in one direction, and further performs a scroll operation in the same direction after reaching the end of the program list. 3. The program guide according to claim 2, wherein said receiving means is controlled to automatically switch to a next network receiving state based on a preset order. apparatus. 4. The control means displays a list of a plurality of networks receivable by the receiving means on a screen, and controls the receiving means to receive a network selected from the network list displayed on the screen. 3. The program guide device for a multi-channel television broadcasting system according to claim 1, wherein