JP2002125160A - Digital television broadcast receiver - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a digital television broadcast receiver that can display an electronic program guide by which a viewer can easily view a program that is being viewed. SOLUTION: The digital television broadcast receiver having a function to display an electronic program guide on the basis of program information, is provided with a channel designation section that designates a channel of the electronic program guide, a time zone designation section that designates a time zone, and a program list display section that displays a list of programs broadcast for the time zone designated by the time band designation section among programs broadcast through the channel designated by the channel designation section.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a digital television broadcast receiver.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a digital television broadcasting system, for example, a large number of channels of 100 or more are prepared.
Numerous programs are provided. In such a broadcast, a new function, for example, information on a currently broadcasted program and a program to be broadcasted in the future (hereinafter referred to as program information) is transmitted at predetermined time intervals together with original program data. .

A digital television broadcast receiver creates and displays an electronic program guide based on received program information.
Generally, in an electronic program guide, as shown in FIG. 4, one of a vertical axis and a horizontal axis is set to a time axis and the other is set to a channel axis, and a plurality of programs are displayed in a matrix.
Further, on the upper side of the electronic program guide, detailed information on the program selected by the cursor key on the electronic program guide is displayed. After the user selects a program to view or reserve using the up, down, left, and right cursor keys, and presses the enter key, a channel selection or reservation operation is performed.

[0004] In the conventional electronic program guide, since a large number of programs are displayed at once, there is a problem that a large area is required and it is difficult to view the program currently being viewed. In addition, in the conventional electronic program guide, there is a problem that it is difficult to execute a service that can be provided for a program because a service that can be provided for a program, such as recording and displaying detailed information, is not specified, only a program name or the like is presented.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a digital television broadcast receiver capable of displaying an electronic program guide which makes it easier to view a program currently being viewed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a digital television broadcast receiver that makes it easier to view a program currently being viewed and to easily execute a service that can be provided for the program.

[0007]

A digital television broadcast receiver according to the present invention is a digital television broadcast receiver having a function of displaying an electronic program guide based on program information, wherein the electronic program guide specifies a channel. For specifying a time zone, a time zone specifying section for specifying a time zone, and a program broadcast on a channel specified by the channel specifying section, which is broadcast in a time zone specified by the time zone specifying section A program list display unit for displaying a list of programs is provided.

[0008] It is preferable that the electronic program guide includes an icon display section for displaying an icon corresponding to a program designated by the user in the program list displayed on the program list display section.

As an icon displayed on the icon display unit, for example, an icon that specifies a service that can be provided for a program specified by the user and that is a button for executing the service is used. More specifically, the icons displayed on the icon display unit include, for example, an icon for displaying detailed information of a program specified by the user, an icon for recording a program specified by the user, If the designated program is compatible with data broadcasting, there is an icon or the like for displaying the data broadcasting.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

[1] Description of configuration of digital television broadcast receiver

FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a digital television broadcast receiver having a function of receiving a digital broadcast.

The digital television broadcast receiver has a system controller 20. System controller 2
0 has a storage device 21 for storing the program, necessary data and the like.

A broadcast wave is transmitted via an antenna 1 to a tuner 2.
To be subjected to high-frequency processing and demodulation. The output from the tuner 2 is sent to the DEMUX circuit 3, where the packet is decoded.

In the DEMUX circuit 3, the packet is
It is separated into MPEG data and auxiliary information such as program information. The MPEG data separated by the DEMUX circuit 3 is sent to the AV decoder 4. The auxiliary information separated by the DEMUX circuit 3 is transmitted to the system controller 2
Sent to 0.

The system controller 20 has a DEMUX
The auxiliary information sent from the circuit 3 is stored in the storage device 21. A remote controller signal from the remote controller transmitter 12 is input to the system controller 20 via the remote controller light receiver 13. The remote control transmitter 12 is provided with a plurality of keys including up / down / left / right cursor keys and an enter key.

The system controller 20 includes a tuner 2
And information for channel selection to the DEMUX circuit 3.
Further, the system controller 20 displays various operation screens as C
An OSD control signal for causing the RT 8 to perform on-screen display is sent to the OSD display circuit 14. OSD display circuit 14
Generates display data such as an electronic program guide and menu, and sends it to the multiplexer (synthesis circuit) 6 as an OSD signal.

The AV decoder 4 demodulates the MPEG data sent from the DEMUX circuit 3. AV decoder 4
The video signal obtained by the above is sent to the multiplexer 6 via the video processing circuit 5. The multiplexer 6 superimposes the display data sent from the OSD display circuit 14 on the video data output from the video processing circuit 5 and sends it to the video output circuit 7. The video signal output from the video output circuit 7 is sent to the CRT 8.

The audio signal obtained by the AV decoder 4 is sent to a speaker 11 via an audio processing circuit 9 and an audio output circuit 10.

[2] Description of Electronic Program Guide FIG. 2 shows an example of the electronic program guide.

This electronic program guide is roughly divided into a multi-window section 100 and a program guide section. The multi-window section 100 mainly displays the video of the currently received program.

The program guide section is a multi-window section 100.
, A program list display section 201 disposed on the left side of the program list, an icon window (icon display section) 202 disposed on the left side of the program list display section 201, and a channel designation section disposed on the upper right side of the program list display section 201 203, schematic time information (program name, channel) of a program which is arranged on the upper left of the upper left corner of the multi-window section 100 and which is arranged on the upper side of the multi-window section 100 and selected by the program list display section 201 And the like.

The program list display section 201 lists program names of programs broadcast on the channel specified by the channel specifying section 203 and broadcast in the time zone specified by the time zone specifying section 204. Is displayed. The user can select a predetermined program from the programs displayed on the program list display unit 201 by operating the cursor keys.

The icon window 202 displays icons corresponding to the program selected in the program list display section 201. It should be noted that the icon window 202 changes to a shape that indicates the program selected in the program list display unit 201.

The types of icons displayed in the icon window 202 include the detailed information of the program selected in the program list display section 201 and the multi-window section 100.
The program selected on the program list display unit 1 corresponds to a data broadcast, in addition to the detailed icon 221 for displaying on the program list, the recording icon 222 for recording or recording reservation of the program selected on the program list display unit 201. If there is, there is a data icon for displaying a data broadcast.

These icons are displayed in the program list display section 2
Displayed when a service is available for the program selected in 01. In the example of FIG. 2, the program list display unit 20
1 shows an example in which detailed information display and recording of the program selected in 1 are possible, but the program is not compatible with data broadcasting. Therefore, the detail icon 221 and the recording icon 222 are displayed, but the data icon is not displayed.

Starting from the program selected in the program list display section 201, the cursor can be moved to the icon window 202 by operating the left cursor key. When the cursor is in the icon window 202, operating the up cursor key and the down cursor key causes the icon window 2 to operate.
02 can be selected. When the user presses the enter key after selecting an uncon, the service corresponding to the icon is executed.

When the cursor is in the icon window 202, the cursor can be moved to the time zone designation section 204 by operating the up cursor key. By operating the left cursor key and the right cursor key when the cursor is in the time zone designation unit 204, the time zone of the program displayed in the program list display unit 201 (start time and end time of the time zone) Can be specified.

To return the cursor to the inside of the program list display section 201, the above operation may be performed. When the cursor is in the program list display section 201, the user can select a program by operating the up cursor key or the down cursor key. After selecting a program with the cursor, by pressing the enter key, it is possible to select or reserve the selected program.

When the cursor is in the program list display section 201, the cursor can be moved to the channel designation section 203 by operating the right cursor key. By operating the up cursor key or the down cursor key while the cursor is in the channel designation section 203, the channel can be moved up / down.

With the above-described screen configuration of the electronic program guide, the user can use the up, down, left, and right cursor keys and the enter key to search for a program and select a service related to the searched and selected program while viewing the received video. Will be able to do it.

[3] Description of the operation of the digital television broadcast receiver when the recording icon 222 is selected and the enter key is pressed

FIG. 3 shows the operation of the digital television broadcast receiver when the recording icon 222 is selected and the enter key is pressed.

When the recording icon 22 is selected and the enter key is pressed (YES in step 1), the program selected on the program list display section 1 (hereinafter referred to as a recording target program).
It is confirmed whether or not is a program that can be recorded (step 2). If the program to be recorded is not a program that can be recorded,
This processing ends.

If it is determined in step 2 that the program to be recorded is a program that can be recorded, the parental control age set for the program to be recorded is changed to the viewable age set in advance by the main user. Is determined (step 3). If the parental control age set for the recording target program exceeds the viewable age set in advance by the main user, the password is input by the user who is currently operating. If a password has been input (YES in step 4), it is determined whether the input password matches a password preset by the main user (step 5).

If the password has not been entered within the predetermined period (NO in step 4), and if the entered password does not match the password preset by the main user even if the password has been entered, (NO in step 5), the current process ends.

In step 3 above, if the parental control age set for the program to be recorded does not exceed the viewable age set in advance by the main user (NO in step 3) or in step 5 When the entered password matches the password set in advance by the main user (step 5).
In step S6, the process proceeds to step S6, where it is determined whether or not the recording target program is a currently broadcasted program.

If the program to be recorded is a program currently being broadcast, it is determined whether the program to be recorded is a program that needs to be purchased (PPV (pay-per-view) program) (step 7). If the program to be recorded is a program that needs to be purchased, the user is required to perform a purchase procedure on the purchase screen (step 8), and then the program to be recorded is
A recording control process for recording by the TR is performed (step 9).

In step 6, if the program to be recorded is not the program currently being broadcast but a program to be broadcast in the future, it is determined whether the program to be recorded is a program that needs to be purchased. A determination is made (step 10). If the program to be recorded is a program that needs to be purchased,
The reservation purchase and recording reservation settings for the recording target program are registered on the reservation purchase and reservation recording setting screen (step 11).

If it is determined in step 10 that the program to be recorded is not a program that needs to be purchased,
The recording reservation setting for the recording target program is registered on the reservation recording setting screen (step 12).

[0041]

According to the present invention, it is possible to display an electronic program guide which makes it easier to view a program currently being viewed. Further, according to the present invention, the program currently being viewed can be easily viewed and a service that can be provided for the program can be easily executed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a digital television broadcast receiver.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an example of an electronic program guide.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation of the digital television broadcast receiver when a recording icon 222 is selected and an enter key is pressed.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a conventional electronic program guide.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 20 system controller 21 storage device 100 multi-window unit 201 program list display unit 202 icon window 203 channel designation unit 204 time zone designation unit 205 program summary information display unit 221 detailed icon 222 recording icon

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A digital television broadcast receiver having a function of displaying an electronic program guide based on program information, wherein the electronic program guide has a channel designating section for designating a channel and a time for designating a time zone. A band designation unit; and a program list display unit for displaying a list of programs broadcasted on the channel designated by the channel designation unit and broadcast in the time period designated by the time period designation unit. A digital television broadcast receiver, characterized in that: 2. The electronic program guide according to claim 1, further comprising an icon display unit for displaying an icon corresponding to a program specified by the user in the program list displayed on the program list display unit. 2. The digital television broadcast receiver according to 1. 3. The icon displayed on the icon display unit is an icon that clearly indicates a service that can be provided for a program specified by the user and is a button for executing the service. A digital television broadcast receiver according to claim 1. 4. An icon displayed on the icon display unit includes an icon for displaying detailed information of a program specified by the user, an icon for recording a program specified by the user, and a program specified by the user. 4. The digital television broadcast reception according to claim 3, wherein when is compatible with a data broadcast, it is any combination or any one selected from icons for displaying the data broadcast. Machine.