JP2002033970A - Station-selecting device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a station-selecting device for displaying the number of all the programs that can be received by the same channel in a plurality of tuners, and hence easily selecting a program to be listened to seamlessly by key means, based on the displayed number of programs. SOLUTION: The station-selecting device is provided with a station-selecting means 8 for setting a plurality of turners 2 and 4 to a specific channel number, a means 9 for detecting the number of programs that can be received by a channel which is selected by the station-selecting means 8, on-screen display means (6) and (7) for performing the on-screen display of the number of programs being detected by the means 9 for detecting the number of programs, and a key means (10) for selecting a program that has been subjected to on- screen display.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a channel selecting device, and more particularly to a channel selecting device used for a receiving device such as a television receiver equipped with a plurality of tuners.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, when selecting a program to be viewed on a television receiver equipped with a plurality of tuners, in addition to inputting a channel number to be viewed, which tuner selects the channel number is selected. Enter a number key or tuner switching key to specify the channel, and the receiver selects the channel specified by the specified tuner according to the input key, and displays the number of programs that can be received on that channel. Was displayed.

However, in practice, other tuners can often receive the same channel as the above-mentioned channel, and a program included in the tuner may include a program different from the above-mentioned program. When it is desired to know another program of the same channel that is being received by a tuner other than the displayed tuner, the tuner is sequentially switched to re-select a channel, and its existence is confirmed.

[0004]

However, in such a configuration, the user is asked once whether there is a program of the same channel that can be received by a plurality of tuners, and if so, what kind of program there is. However, there is a problem in that a complicated operation is required to confirm the existence of the tuner, and seamless tuning between a plurality of tuners cannot be performed.

An electronic program guide (Select)
sonic Program Guide: Hereinafter, "E
PG ") to select a program, but the EPG displays the information on all the programs of any one tuner mounted on the receiver on the screen at a time, so that the user can select the desired program. The program assigned to the same channel of a plurality of tuners mounted on the receiver cannot be displayed / selected as an EPG at the same time.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned conventional problem, and it is possible to display the number of all programs receivable on the same channel in a plurality of tuners. It is an object of the present invention to provide a channel selection device that can be easily performed by means.

[0007]

According to the present invention, there is provided a channel selecting device for selecting a plurality of tuners to a specific channel number, and receiving signals on a channel selected by the channel selecting device. Program number detecting means for detecting the number of programs, on-screen display means for displaying on-screen the number of programs detected by the program number detecting means, and key means for selecting the program displayed on-screen. Things.

According to the present invention, not only can the user be notified of the total number of programs of the same channel receivable by a plurality of tuners on a single screen, but also the seamless display of programs desired to be viewed by operating only the key means. Tuning can be easily performed.

[0009]

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

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a tuning apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an example of an on-screen display in Embodiment 1 of the tuning apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of program selection by a selection key in the first embodiment of the tuning apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a channel up key and a channel down key in the first embodiment of the tuning apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of program selection by the user.

In FIG. 1, a first tuner 2 serving as a channel selecting means receives a broadcast signal received through a first antenna 1 and selects a specific channel under the control of a channel selecting means 8. The frequency conversion and amplification of the selected channel are performed, and a first video signal and an audio signal (hereinafter, referred to as a first television signal) are output. A second tuner 4 serving as another channel selection unit inputs a broadcast signal received through the second antenna 3, selects a specific channel under the control of the channel selection unit 8, and performs frequency conversion of the selected channel. And a second video signal and an audio signal (hereinafter, referred to as a second television signal). The switching circuit 5 receives the first television signal and the second television signal, and performs switching based on the control of the microprocessor 11 so as to output either one of the television signals. On-screen display signal creation device (hereinafter referred to as OSD) constituting on-screen display means
The generation device 6 generates an on-screen display signal such as a channel number based on the control of the microprocessor 11, combines the signal with a television signal output from the switching circuit 5, and displays this on a television monitor 7. The tuning unit 8 causes the first tuner 2 or the second tuner 4 to tune to a specific channel based on the control of the microprocessor 11. The program (program) number detecting means 9 detects the number of programs that can be received on the channel selected by the first tuner 2 or the second tuner 4. The number of programs detected by the program number detecting means 9 can be referred to by the microprocessor 11. Input means 1
In the case of 0, the user inputs a channel number to be tuned or inputs a selection key 12 for switching a program.

Next, the operation of the tuning apparatus will be described. First, the user uses the input means 10 to input a channel number. Then, the microprocessor 11 instructs the tuning means 8 to tune the first tuner 2 to the channel number. The first tuner 2 is a tuning means 8
When the channel selection is completed, the number of programs receivable on the channel selected by the first tuner 2 is detected by the program number detecting means 9. The microprocessor 11 refers to and holds the number of programs detected by the program number detecting means 9. Next, the microprocessor 11 instructs the tuning means 8 to tune the second tuner 4 to the channel number. The second tuner 4 selects a channel based on a command from the channel selection means 8, and when the channel selection is completed,
The number of programs receivable on the channel selected by the second tuner 4 is detected by the number-of-programs detecting means 9. The microprocessor 11 refers to and holds the number of programs detected by the program number detecting means 9. FIG. 2 shows a display example of the on-screen display created by the OSD creation device 6 using the number of programs receivable by the first tuner 2 and the second tuner 4 detected as described above. In this display example, the channel being selected is 1
This is assuming that there are five channels.

FIG. 2 (a) shows a program 1 and a program 2 by the first tuner 2 when channel 15 is selected.
Is a display example when the two programs can be received and one program of the program 1 can be received by the second tuner 4. The upper row shows the receivable programs, and the lower row shows the channel being selected. I have. FIG. 2 (b)
Is the first tuner 2 when channel 15 is selected.
Is a display example when one program of program 1 can be received by the second tuner 4 and one program of program 1 can be received by the second tuner 4. FIG. 2C shows that, when channel 15 is selected, the first tuner 2 can receive two programs, Program 1 and Program 2, and the second tuner 2
This is a display example when the tuner 4 cannot receive a program. FIG. 2 (d) shows that when channel 15 is selected,
This is a display example when the first tuner 2 and the second tuner 4 cannot receive a program. Since there is no program that can be received by the first tuner 2 and the second tuner 4, only the currently selected channel is displayed.

Next, key means for selecting a program while utilizing the on-screen display will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3 shows an example in which one program of program 1 can be received by the first tuner when channel 15 is selected, and one program of program 1 can be received by the second tuner.
The program that is currently being viewed is shaded to identify the program that is not being viewed. FIG. 3A shows an on-screen display after the selection of the 15 channels is completed, in which the program 1 of the first tuner is being viewed. At this time, when the user inputs a selection key 12 serving as a key means provided on the input means 10, the second tuner 4 selects the program 1 and then selects the second television signal. While the switching circuit 5 is switched, the on-screen display shown in FIG.
It is displayed that the viewing program has been switched to the program 1 of the second tuner. In the state of FIG. 3 (b), when the user further inputs the selection key 12, the first tuner 2 selects the program 1 and then selects the first television signal. 5 is switched, and the on-screen display shown in FIG. 3A is performed to return to the original state, and it is displayed that the viewing program has been switched to the program 1 of the first tuner.

As described above, it is possible to seamlessly switch the program to be watched between a plurality of tuners by inputting a selection key while a program receivable on the same channel in a plurality of tuners is displayed on a screen.

FIG. 4 shows an example of key means using a channel up key and a channel down key which are usually provided instead of the selection key. FIG. 4 shows an example in which one program can be received by the first tuner and the second tuner when channel 15 is selected. The program currently being viewed is shaded, and the program which is not being viewed is displayed. The identification of. FIG. 4A is an on-screen display after the selection of the channel 15 is completed.
The program 1 of the first tuner is the program being viewed. At this time, when the user inputs the channel up key, the second
The tuning of the program 1 is performed by the tuner 4, the switching circuit 5 is switched to select the second television signal, and the on-screen display shown in FIG. 4B is performed. Indicates that the viewing program has been switched. FIG. 4 (a)
In this state, when the user inputs the channel down key, channel selection of 14 channels is performed. Further, FIG.
In the state of (b), when the user inputs a channel down key, channel selection of the program 1 is performed by the first tuner 2, and the switching circuit 5 is switched so as to select the first television signal. The on-screen display shown in FIG. 4A is performed, and the program 1 of the first tuner is displayed.
Indicates that the viewing program has been switched.
Furthermore, in the state of FIG. 4B, when the user inputs a channel up key, channel selection of 16 channels is performed.

As described above, it is also possible to switch the program to be viewed by using the channel up key and the channel down key instead of the selection key. When selecting a specific channel with the tuner mounted on the receiver, if it is clear that there is no program on that channel as a result of previously selecting that channel, or trying to select a channel If the channel number exceeds the upper and lower limits of the channel numbers selectable by the tuner, the tuner need not be selected.

As described above, according to the first embodiment,
Not only can the user be notified of the total number of programs on the same channel that can be received by a plurality of tuners, but also the program to be viewed can be easily switched by using the select key or the channel up key and the channel down key. . It should be noted that a channel up key and a channel down key are usually provided in this type of device, and when these are used, it is not necessary to add a new selection key.

(Embodiment 2) FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a channel selection apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is an example of an on-screen display in Embodiment 2 of the channel selection apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of program selection by a selection key in the second embodiment of the tuning apparatus of the present invention.

In FIG. 5, an analog tuner 52 serving as a channel selecting means receives an analog broadcast signal received through the analog broadcasting antenna 51, and selects a specific channel under the control of the channel selecting means 60. The frequency conversion and amplification of the selected channel are performed, and a video signal and an audio signal (hereinafter, referred to as a first television signal) are output. Digital tuner 54 serving as another tuning means
Inputs a digital multi-channel broadcast signal received through the digital broadcast antenna 53. In digital multi-channel broadcast, the bit rate required for the required service can be flexibly assigned when required, and Since a plurality of programs can be transmitted in a limited transmission bandwidth, for example, in a program composition, a plurality of SDTV (Standa
rd Definition Television)
Program on one channel, H during certain hours
DTV programs can be organized on one channel. As such an example, the US ATSC (Un
ited States Advanced Tele
Vision System Committee) standard. According to the ATSC standard, the maximum number of programs received through one channel is 999.

In such a digital multi-channel broadcast signal, a specific channel is selected under the control of the channel selecting means 60, and a data bit string of the selected channel is reproduced. The reproduced data bit string is TS (Trans
A port stream (decoder) 55 separates the data into video data, audio data, and additional data. At this time, when a large number of programs are received on the currently selected channel, the TS decoder 55 selects one of them based on the control of the microprocessor 63 and outputs video data and audio data of the program. . The video data and audio data output from the TS decoder 55 are
6 and converted into an NTSC video signal and audio signal (hereinafter referred to as a second television signal) and output. The switching circuit 57 receives the first television signal and the second television signal, and controls the microprocessor 63 to output either one of the television signals.
Switching is performed based on the control of. On-screen display signal generation device (hereinafter referred to as O
The SD generating device 58 generates an on-screen display signal such as a channel number based on the control of the microprocessor 63, combines the signal with a television signal output from the switching circuit 57, and displays this on a television monitor 59. The tuning means 60 causes the analog tuner 52 or the digital tuner 54 to tune to a specific channel under the control of the microprocessor 63. The number-of-programs detecting means 61 detects the number of programs that can be received on the channel selected by the analog tuner 52 or the digital tuner 54. The number of programs detected by the program number detecting means 61 can be referred to by the microprocessor 63. The input means 62 inputs a channel number to be selected or a selection key 64 for switching programs. The input command is decoded and executed by the microprocessor 63.

Next, the operation of the channel selection device will be described. First, the user uses the input means 62 to input a channel number. Then, the microprocessor 63 issues a command to the tuning means 60 to tune the analog tuner 52 to the above channel number.
2 performs channel selection based on a command from the channel selection means 60. When the tuning of the analog tuner 52 is completed, the number of programs receivable on the channel selected by the analog tuner 52 is detected by the program number detecting means 61. The microprocessor 63 is a program number detecting means 6
The number of programs detected in step 1 is referred to and held. Next, the microprocessor 63 instructs the tuning means 60 to tune the digital tuner 54 to the channel number. The digital tuner 54 is a tuning means 6
Channel selection is performed based on the instruction of 0, and when the selection is completed, the number of programs receivable on the channel selected by the digital tuner 54 is detected by the program number detection means 61. The microprocessor 63 refers to and holds the number of programs detected by the program number detecting means 61. Using the number of programs receivable by the analog tuner 52 and the number of programs receivable by the digital tuner 54 detected as described above,
FIG. 6 shows an example of the on-screen display created by the SD creating device 58.

In this example, when channel 15 is selected, one program of program 1 can be received by analog tuner 52, and three programs of program 1, program 2 and program 3 can be received by digital tuner 54. It is a display example at the time. The upper part displays a program that can be received by the analog tuner 52 and the digital tuner 54, and the lower part displays the currently selected channel.

Next, a means for switching the program by using the selection key while utilizing the on-screen display will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 shows a program 1 in the analog tuner 52 when channel 15 is selected.
This is a display example when one program can be received, and three programs of program 1, program 2 and program 3 can be received by the digital tuner 54. The program currently being viewed is shaded, and the program being viewed is displayed. Is distinguished from a non-program. FIG.
This is an on-screen display after the selection of five channels is completed, and the program 1 received by the analog tuner is the program being viewed. At this time, when the user inputs the selection key 64, channel selection of 15 channels is performed by the digital tuner 54, and after the program 1 is selected by the TS decoder 55, the switching circuit is so selected as to select the second television signal. 57 is switched and the on-screen display shown in FIG.
4 indicates that the viewing program has been switched to the program 1 received. When the user inputs the selection key 64 during the on-screen display of FIG. 7B, the program 2 is selected by the TS decoder 55, and then the on-screen display shown in FIG.
4 indicates that the viewing program has been switched to the program 2 received. When the user inputs the selection key 64 during the on-screen display of FIG. 7C, the program 3 is selected by the TS decoder 55, and then the on-screen display of FIG. It is displayed that the viewing program has been switched to the selected program 3. When the user inputs the selection key 64 during the on-screen display of FIG. 7D, the switching circuit 57 selects the first television signal after channel selection of 15 channels is performed by the analog tuner 52. At the same time as the switching, the on-screen display of FIG.

As described above, according to the second embodiment,
Even if it is a combination of digital multi-channel broadcasting that can transmit many programs to one channel and analog broadcasting that can transmit only one program to one channel, if the program is assigned to the same channel, analog broadcasting and digital Seamless channel selection between broadcasts can be easily performed.

(Embodiment 3) The basic configuration of a channel selection apparatus according to Embodiment 3 is the same as that shown in FIG. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a channel conversion table according to the third embodiment of the tuning apparatus of the present invention, and FIG. 9 is a flowchart relating to acquisition of a tuning channel number in the third embodiment of the tuning apparatus of the present invention.

The channel conversion table has a function of assigning different channel numbers to an input channel number (hereinafter referred to as an input channel number) and a channel number selected by a tuner (hereinafter referred to as a selected channel number). This is used to obtain the channel selection channel number corresponding to the input channel number in the John receiver. By using this function, the user can set and change the correspondence between the input channel number and the selected channel number, and the broadcast station can specify the correspondence between the input channel number and the selected channel number. . For example, if “15” is input as the input channel number while the channel conversion table is set as shown in FIG. 8, the input channel number “15” is referred to by referring to the channel conversion table.
Is required to be "14".

Next, a method of obtaining a channel selection channel number when the channel conversion table is used and when it is not used will be described with reference to FIG. Microprocessor 63
In FIG. 5, if the input channel number exists in step S1, it is determined in step S2 whether to use the channel conversion table. At this time, if it is determined that the channel conversion table is not used, the selected channel number is set to the same channel number as the input channel number in step S3. On the other hand, step S
If it is determined in step 2 that the channel conversion table is to be used, in step S4, the channel conversion table of FIG. 8 is referred to and the channel selection channel number is obtained from the input channel number. The microprocessor 63 uses the channel selection channel number obtained in this manner to cause the microprocessor 63 to select the channel.
Command to select a tuner, the channel number assigned to the same input channel number can be changed even if different channel numbers are assigned to the input channel number and the selected channel number. It is possible to select the same channel. Even if different channel numbers are assigned to the input channel number and the selected channel number,
The input channel number is used for the currently selected channel number displayed on the on-screen display or the like. Also, a plurality of tuners mounted on the receiver may have a channel conversion table, respectively, or a plurality of tuners mounted on the receiver may have a common channel conversion table.

As described above, according to the third embodiment,
Even if different channel numbers are assigned to the input channel number and the channel number selected by the tuner, the user can be notified as the number of programs that can be received on the same channel, and seamless channel selection can be performed. Can be easily performed.

[0030]

As described above, according to the present invention, in a receiving apparatus equipped with a plurality of tuners, the total number of programs that can be received on the same channel is displayed on-screen.
Based on this, an advantageous effect is obtained in that seamless channel selection of the same channel program desired to be viewed can be easily performed by the key means.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a channel selection device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of an on-screen display according to the first embodiment of the tuning apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of program selection using a selection key in the first embodiment of the tuning apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of program selection by a channel up key and a channel down key in the first embodiment of the tuning apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a channel selection device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of an on-screen display according to a second embodiment of the tuning apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a program selection by a selection key in the second embodiment of the tuning device of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a channel conversion table according to a third embodiment of the tuning apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart for acquiring a channel selection channel number in Embodiment 3 of the channel selection device of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 1st antenna 2 1st tuner 3 2nd antenna 4 2nd tuner 5,57 switching circuit 6,58 OSD creation device 7,59 TV monitor 8,60 channel selection means 9,61 program number detection means 10,62 input means 11, 63 Microprocessor 12, 64 Selection key 51 Analog broadcasting antenna 52 Analog tuner 53 Digital broadcasting antenna 54 Digital tuner 55 TS decoder 56 Format converter

Claims (4)

[Claims] A channel selecting unit for selecting a plurality of tuners to a specific channel number; a program number detecting unit detecting a number of programs receivable on a channel selected by the channel selecting unit; A channel selection device comprising: on-screen display means for displaying on-screen the number of programs detected by the program number detection means; and key means for selecting the program displayed on-screen. 2. The tuning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of tuners are a tuner capable of receiving digital broadcasting and a tuner capable of receiving analog broadcasting. 3. The channel selection device according to claim 1, wherein the key means is a channel up key and a channel down key. 4. The channel selection device according to claim 1, wherein the channel number is obtained from a channel conversion table.