JP2002344868A - Video recording support system, and video recording controller and video recording device, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a video recording support system that facilitates designation of reservation of video recording by a user and can record a program intended by the user even on the when the broadcasting schedule of a program whose video recording setting is changed or cancelled. SOLUTION: When a user uses a PC terminal 3 or the like to access a Web page provide by a management server 501 (video recording controller) of a service provider 5 via an IP network 4 such as the Internet and designates a program on the Web page to make a video recording request, the management server 501 references program information DB 502, generates video recording reservation setting information with respect to the program, transmits the information to a VTR 2 in a user's home 1 via the IP network 4, and the VTR 2 makes video recording reservation settings on the basis of the received video recording reservation setting information. When a broadcasting time of the program whose video recording is set is suddenly revised or suddenly cancelled, the management server 501 revises a program list in the program information DB 502 and the management server 501 revises the video recording reservation setting in the VTR 2 on the basis of the revised program list.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a technique for making a scheduled recording of a television broadcast program and the like, and more particularly, to a video recording suitable for efficiently controlling a recording reservation setting in response to a change of a broadcast program and the like. The present invention relates to a support system, a video recording control device, a video recording device, and a program.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art There are two types of VTR (Video Tape Recorder): analog type and digital type. As a conventional technology for facilitating recording reservation setting of a television program in these VTRs, a technology using a G code and a technology disclosed in 3079
No. 93, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-152155, and various other techniques are disclosed.

For example, in a technology using a G code, VT
The user of R simply inputs a G code for each program described in a television program guide published on newspapers through a VTR operation device (a remote controller), and receives a broadcast channel number and a broadcast time of the program. Obi (start time to end time)
It is not necessary to input such information as a recording reservation setting operation.

The technique described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-307993 is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-307993. A search for an electronic program guide, a program reserved for recording, and a recorded program is performed, the search result is displayed on a client, and a recording reservation or reproduction of the recorded program is performed on the client side.

[0005] The technique described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-152155 is a technique in which an electronic program guide is received by a dedicated terminal via satellite data broadcasting, the Internet, or text broadcasting, displayed on a TV screen or the like, and displayed. With reference to the electronic program guide, a program to be reserved for recording is specified, and program recording is reserved for the VTR.

However, even if these conventional techniques are used, V
When the program whose recording reservation has been set for the TR is suddenly changed due to the extension of the baseball broadcast or the like before the program, or when the program is canceled due to the broadcast of an emergency program, etc. However, a program intended by the user cannot be recorded.

[0007] In the VTR reservation setting technique, recording of a plurality of programs can be reserved, but when the broadcasting time zone of each program overlaps, the recording reservation of a plurality of programs cannot be made. .

[0008]

The problem to be solved in the prior art is that, when the scheduled broadcast time of a program for which recording reservation is set is changed or the broadcast is stopped, the program intended by the user is recorded. It is not possible.

An object of the present invention is to provide a video recording support system, a video recording control device, a video recording device, and a program which can solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art and reliably record a program desired by a user. That is.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, for example, a user connects a computer terminal or a portable terminal in a user's home or a computer terminal outside the home via the Internet (IP network). hand,
When the user accesses a home page (Web page) provided by the Web server of the video recording control device and specifies a program for which recording reservation is desired on this homepage, the video recording control device refers to a program table stored in advance, The broadcast time zone and broadcast channel of the program are specified, information for setting the recording reservation of the program is generated, and the information is transmitted to the VTR in the user's home via the Internet (IP network).
The TR is configured to make a recording reservation setting based on the received recording reservation setting information. If there is a sudden change or stoppage of the program set as described above, the user issues a change instruction via a computer terminal or a portable terminal, or the program information DB 5
02, the recording setting of the program stored in the video recording control device is changed, and the recording reservation setting in the VTR 2 is changed from the management server 501 based on the change.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a video recording support system, a video recording control device, and a video recording device according to the present invention.
Is a block diagram showing an example of a network configuration of the video recording support system in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration of the management server and the PC terminal in FIG.

In FIG. 3, reference numeral 31 denotes a CRT (Cathode Ra).
y, a display device such as a LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), an input device 32 such as a keyboard and a mouse, an external storage device 33 such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), and a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 34.
34a, main memory 34b and input / output interface 3
And an information processing apparatus 35 for performing computer processing, including a 4c or the like, and a CD-ROM (Compact Disc-Read Only Memory) or a DVD (Digital Video Disc / Digital Versatile) on which programs and data according to the present invention are recorded.
Disc), etc., and 36 is an optical disc 35
And a communication device 37 including a LAN (Local Area Network) card, a modem, and the like.

After the programs and data stored on the optical disk 35 are installed in the external storage device 33 by the information processing device 34 via the drive device 36, the programs and data are read from the external storage device 33 into the main memory 34b and read from the CPU 34a.
The functions of the management server 501, the PC terminal 3, and the VTR 2 shown in FIG.

In FIG. 2, 1 is a user's home, 4 is an IP network such as the Internet, 5 is a service provider, 6 is a portable terminal, 7 is a PC terminal (personal computer). (TV) 101, VTR
2, a PC terminal (personal computer) 3 is provided, and the service provider 5 is provided with a management server 50.
1 and a program information database (DB) 502, and a plurality of VTRs 503a to 503b.

The VTR 2 in the user's home 1 is always connected to the IP network, like the management server 501 on the service provider 5 side, and the output video from the VTR 2 is T
It is projected on V101. In the user's home 1, the user accesses the management server 501 of the service provider 5 via the IP network 4 using the PC terminal 3.

The service provider 5 operates a management server 501 having a home page for recording settings, a program information DB 502 incorporating an electronic program guide, and VTRs 503a to 503b used for proxy recording. A program recording reservation setting service is provided to the user.

In order to provide such a program recording reservation setting service, the VTR 2 and the management server 501 are provided with the respective functions shown in FIG.

In FIG. 1, a VTR 2 includes a recording device 2a for recording a TV broadcast program and the like, and a setting information input / management unit for receiving and storing recording reservation setting information transmitted via the IP network 4. 2b and a recording control unit 2c for controlling the recording operation of the recording device 2a based on the recording reservation setting information received and stored by the setting information input / management unit 2b.

The management server 501 includes an IP network connection control unit 501a, a LAN connection control unit 501b, a DB control unit 501c, a setting control unit 501d, and a setting list table 5
01e, a number change information input section 501f, and a program change management section 501g, and each processing section has the following processing functions.

The IP network connection control unit 501a receives program identification information and setting destination specifying information from the PC terminal 3 and transmits video recording reservation setting information (instruction information) to the VTR 2 via the IP network 4. And the LAN connection control unit 501b
Are a plurality of VTRs 503a-503 connected through a LAN.
503b, and the DB control unit 501c
Read / write control of information with the program information DB 502 is performed.
Note that the program information DB 502 stores a broadcast schedule program table for a predetermined period in advance.

When the IP network connection control unit 501a receives the program identification information and the setting destination specifying information via the IP network 4, the setting control unit 501d stores the program identification information and the setting destination specifying information in the program information DB 502 via the DB control unit 501c. The broadcast time of the program corresponding to the program identification information is specified with reference to the scheduled broadcast program table, the video recording reservation setting information of the program is generated based on the specified broadcast time, and the generated video recording reservation setting is generated. The information is transmitted as instruction information from the IP network connection control unit 501a to, for example, the VTR 2 specified by the setting destination specifying information via the IP network 4.

The setting control unit 501d registers the generated video recording reservation setting information in the setting list table 501e, and this information is used when a program for which recording reservation has been set is changed.

That is, when the broadcast time of a program that is broadcast before the program for which recording reservation is set, for example, a baseball broadcast is prolonged or an emergency broadcast program enters, the broadcast time of the program is delayed, or the recording reservation is set. When the broadcast of the broadcasted program is stopped, the operator of the service provider who has received the notification of the change in the program schedule is input to the input device 32.
By operating a, the change information is input.

Based on this change information, the number change information input unit 501f transmits the program information D via the DB control unit 501c.
The content of the broadcast schedule program table in B502 is changed, and the program change management unit 501g is notified.

The program change management unit 501g, which has received the notification of the change in the contents of the broadcast schedule program table in the program information DB 502 from the number change information input unit 501f, sets the setting list table 501
e, it is determined whether there is a VTR for which the recording reservation setting of the changed program has been performed, and if so, the target VTR is specified;
The setting controller 501d is instructed to change the recording reservation setting of the program for the specified VTR.

The setting control unit 501d, which has received the change instruction from the program change management unit 501g, refers to the broadcast schedule program table via the DB control unit 501c and reads out the broadcast time after the change of the notified change target program. In accordance with the read content, information (reservation setting change information) for changing the previously set reservation setting state is generated, and is changed via the IP network 4 via the IP network connection control unit 501a. The program is transmitted to, for example, a VTR 2 for which a reservation has been set.

In this way, the management server 501
The video recording reservation setting information transmitted to the P network 4 is
2 is received by the setting information input / management unit 2b, stored in a storage device, and stored with the contents changed based on the received reservation setting change information, and the stored video recording reservation setting information is stored. With reference to the recording time, the recording control unit 2c activates the recording device 2a to start recording the program.

The PC terminal 3 in the user's home 1, the portable terminal 6 that the user carries when going out, or the PC terminal 7 in the office (the PC terminal 7 does not need to be constantly connected to the IP network). ), The management server 501 receives the reservation setting change request through the IP network connection control unit 501a, and registers it in the setting list table 501e in the setting control unit 501d. The set information that has already been set is changed based on the reservation setting change request, and information (user reservation setting change information) that changes the set contents of the reservation set in the VTR 2 is generated.
VTR2 via the IP network 4 via the network connection control unit 501a
Send to

In response to such a reservation setting change request from a user or a program change on the program providing side, the already set change to the program has been performed.
If the broadcast (recording) time period of another program already set overlaps with the broadcast (recording) time zone, the setting control unit 501d transmits the VTRs connected via the LAN in advance via the LAN connection control unit 501b.
Select one of 503a and 503b and select the selected VT
R is set for recording reservation.

The management server 501 distributes, for example, a home page having a Web page used by the user on the PC terminal 3 to input program recording reservation setting request information.
The PC terminal 3 captures and displays the Web page by using a browser, and transmits the information since the recording reservation input by the user via the Web page via the IP network 4 to the management server 5.
01.

The operation of such a video recording support system will be described below with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a video recording reservation setting operation in the video recording support system of FIG. 1. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a video recording reservation setting changing operation in the video recording support system of FIG. FIG.

FIG. 4 shows an operation example when the user makes a reservation setting for a normal video recording. The user can use the PC terminal 3 or the portable terminal 6 in the user's home 1 or a PC terminal outside the user's home. In 7, access the homepage of the management server 501 of the service provider 5 via the IP network 4,
Select a recorded program (steps S401 to S4
03).

The management server 501 includes a program information DB 502
In the program information DB 502, an electronic program guide is configured based on the broadcast date and time and the channel number of the program to be broadcast. The management server 501 stores the start time and end time of the recorded program specified by the user. And the recording channel and the like are obtained from the electronic program guide of the program information DB 502, and the setting of the video recording reservation is instructed to the VTR 2 of the user home 1 via the IP network 4 (step S404).

FIG. 5 shows an operation example when the setting of the VTR 2 of the user's home 1 is changed when a sudden program extension, a program change, or a program stop occurs. For example, upon receiving a recording request, When a program is extended by a baseball broadcast or the like in a channel in which the program is extended, the service provider 5 monitors and, when the extension of the program is known, the service management provider 5 uses the management server 501 to change the program according to the program information. D
The IP network 4 is reflected to the VTR 2 of the user's home 1 where the extended program is set to be recorded and reflected in the B502.
The setting is changed via (step S501). The same applies to the change of a video recording reservation of the VTR 2 in the case of a program stop or the like due to an emergency special program.

If an overlap with another program occurs during the recording set time period of the user due to the extension of the program, the service provider 5 transfers one program to the service provider 5 side. The VTRs 503a and 503b perform recording on behalf of the user and send the recorded media to the user's home 1 so that all the recording requests can be accurately performed.

As described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5, in the video recording support system, the video recording control device and the video recording device of the present embodiment, the user
PC terminal 3 or mobile terminal 6 inside, or PC when going out
Home page (Web page) provided by the management server 501 (video recording control device) of the service provider 5 by the terminal 7 or the like via the IP network 4 such as the Internet.
Is accessed, and a program for which recording reservation is desired is designated on this homepage.
Referring to a program table stored in advance in the program information DB 502,
The broadcast time zone and broadcast channel of the program are specified, information for setting the recording reservation of the program is generated, and the information is transmitted to the VTR 2 in the user home 1 via the IP network 4. The recording reservation setting is performed based on the received recording reservation setting information.

If there is a sudden change or stoppage of the program set as described above, the user issues a change instruction through the PC terminals 3, 7 or the portable terminal 6, or the service provider 5 side Changes the program table in the program information DB 502, changes the recording setting of the program stored in the management server 501, and changes the recording reservation setting in the VTR 2 from the management server 501 based on the change.

Thus, the user can easily set a new program recording reservation, change the setting, delete the setting, etc. in the VTR from the user's house or outside the user's house, and can quickly extend the program or reduce the time. Even if there is a change or cancellation, the VTR automatically follows the service provider
Is changed, the user can continue to record the desired program, and when the broadcast time zone of the program to be scheduled for recording overlaps with another program to be scheduled for recording, the service Since recording is performed on behalf of the VTR on the provider side, all programs desired by the user can be recorded.

The present invention is not limited to the examples described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5, and can be variously modified without departing from the gist thereof. For example, in this example,
Although the Internet has been described as an example of the IP network, an intranet, a dedicated line, or the like may be used.

In the user's home 1 of this example, the IP network 4
The (digital) VTR 2 as a video recording device that is always connected to the server may be a DVD recorder or an HDD recorder. Alternatively, the VTR 2 may be connected to the IP network 4 at all times, the PC terminal 3 may be connected to the IP network 4 at all times, and the connection between the management server 501 and the VTR 2 may be controlled via the PC terminal 3. Alternatively, the management server 501 sends the VT
A dial-up connection to R2 may be used.

In this example, the computer configuration example of FIG. 3 is shown as the configuration of the PC terminals 3 and 7 and the management server 501. However, a computer configuration without a keyboard or an optical disk drive may be used. In this example, the optical disk is used as a recording medium, but the FD (Felxible Dis
k) may be used as a recording medium. As for the installation of the program, the program may be downloaded and installed via a network via a communication device.

[0043]

According to the present invention, a user can easily specify a recording reservation via a Web page, and can change the scheduled broadcast time of a program for which recording reservation has been set or stop broadcasting. Thus, a program intended by the user can be recorded, and a program desired by the user can be reliably recorded.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a video recording support system, a video recording control device, and a video recording device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a network configuration example of the video recording support system in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration example of a management server and a PC terminal in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a video recording reservation setting operation in the video recording support system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a video recording reservation setting change operation in the video recording support system of FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

1: User home, 2: VTR (digital), 3, 7: PC
Terminal, 4: IP network, 5: service provider, 6: portable terminal, 101: TV (television), 501: management server,
502: Program information DB (database), 503a to 503
03b: VTR, 31: display device, 32: input device, 3
3: external storage device, 34: information processing device, 34a: CP
U, 34b: main memory, 34c: input / output interface, 35: optical disk, 36: drive device, 37: communication device.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Tsuyoshi Kubota 2-3-1 Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (72) Inventor Kazuhiro Kikuma 2-chome Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo No. 1 Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation F term (reference) 5C018 FA04 HA08 HA10 5C052 AA01 AB04 DD10 5D044 AB05 AB07 BC01 CC03 HL11

Claims (13)

[Claims] 1. A video recording apparatus having means for making reservation settings for video recording based on instruction information input via an IP network, means for storing a broadcast schedule program table for a predetermined period in advance, and When the program identification information and the setting destination specifying information are received via the program, the broadcast time of the program is specified by referring to the broadcast schedule program table, and the video recording reservation setting information of the program is generated based on the specified broadcast time. Means,
A recording reservation management server having means for transmitting the generated video recording reservation setting information as the instruction information to the video recording device specified by the setting destination specifying information via the IP network; And a terminal device for transmitting the program identification information and the setting destination specifying information via an IP network. 2. The video recording support system according to claim 1, wherein the recording reservation management server detects a change of the broadcast schedule program table stored in advance, and the broadcast schedule management server uses the unit to detect the change of the broadcast schedule. When we detect a change in the program listings,
Automatic change setting information is generated for identifying the video recording device for which the changed program has been reserved and for changing the reservation setting content already set for the specified video recording device with the change contents of the broadcast schedule program table. Means for transmitting the changed program to the reserved video recording device via the IP network using the generated automatic reservation setting change information as the instruction information, and A video recording support system, wherein the contents of a reservation setting are changed according to the change of the broadcast schedule program table. 3. The video recording support system according to claim 1, wherein the recording reservation management server is configured to determine the program identification information and the setting destination via the IP network. Means for generating user reservation setting change information for changing the reservation setting content already set in the video recording device with the content corresponding to the recording reservation change user request information upon receiving the recording reservation change user request information of the program together with the information. Transmitting the generated user reservation setting change information as the instruction information to the video recording device specified by the setting destination specifying information via the IP network;
A video recording support system, wherein the video recording device changes the preset reservation content. 4. The video recording support system according to claim 1, wherein the recording reservation management server sets a video recording reservation in the video recording device based on the instruction information. Means for detecting whether or not the video recording device overlaps with a time zone of a program already set for reservation, and if it overlaps, the video recording reservation setting for a new program is performed by a predetermined video recording device. A video recording support system, comprising: 5. The video recording support system according to claim 1, wherein the recording reservation management server is a Web page used for inputting the program identification information and the setting destination specifying information. Has means for distributing
The terminal device transmits the Web reservation from the recording reservation management server to the Web server.
means for fetching and displaying page b, and means for transmitting the program identification information and the setting destination specifying information input via the Web page to the recording reservation management server via the IP network. A video recording support system, characterized in that: 6. The video recording support system according to claim 1, further comprising means for constantly connecting said video recording device and said recording reservation management server to said IP network. And video recording support system. 7. The computer according to claim 1, wherein:
A program for functioning as each means in the video recording support system according to any one of the above. 8. A means for storing a broadcast schedule program table for a predetermined period in advance, and, when receiving program identification information and setting destination specifying information via an IP network, referring to the broadcast schedule program table and corresponding to the program identification information. Means for specifying a broadcast time of a program to be recorded, and generating video recording reservation setting information of the program based on the specified broadcast time; and transmitting the generated video recording reservation setting information to the video recording reservation setting via the IP network. Means for transmitting to a video recording device specified by the setting destination specifying information capable of setting a video recording reservation based on the information. 9. A video recording control apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said means for detecting whether or not said pre-stored broadcast schedule program table has been changed, and said means for detecting said change in said broadcast schedule program table, Generating the automatic reservation setting change information for identifying the video recording device for which the changed program has been reserved and for changing the reservation setting content already set for the specified video recording device with the change content of the broadcast schedule program table. Means for transmitting the generated automatic reservation setting change information via the IP network to the video recording device which has set the reservation of the changed program, and sets the reservation setting which has been set in the video recording device. A video recording control device, wherein the content is changed according to the change of the broadcast schedule program table. 10. The video recording control device according to claim 8, wherein the video recording control device transmits the program identification information together with the program identification information and the setting destination identification information via the IP network. Means for generating, when receiving the recording reservation change user request information for the specified program, user reservation setting change information for changing the reservation setting contents already set in the video recording apparatus with the contents corresponding to the recording reservation change user request information And sends the generated user reservation setting change information as the instruction information to the video recording device specified by the setting destination specifying information via the IP network, and sets the reservation setting contents set in the video recording device. The video recording control device characterized by changing the video recording. 11. The video recording control device according to claim 8, wherein: a means for distributing a Web page used for inputting the program identification information and the setting destination specifying information; A video recording control device, comprising: means for receiving the program identification information and the setting destination specifying information input and transmitted via the Web page. 12. A video recording apparatus having a reservation setting function of video recording of a broadcast program, comprising: means for constantly controlling connection to an IP network; and a video of the broadcast program transmitted via the IP network. A video recording apparatus comprising: means for receiving recording setting information; and means for setting video recording for a broadcast program based on the setting information received via an IP network. 13. The video recording apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the reservation setting information includes at least new reservation setting information, reservation change information, and reservation release information, and based on the respective information, the reservation setting information of the broadcast program. New recording settings for video recording,
A video recording device for changing the setting of a set reservation and canceling the setting of a set reservation.