JP2002369093A - Electronic program chart processing program and electronic program chart processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electronic program chart(EPG) processing program and an electronic program chart processor capable of converting the display configuration of the electronic program chart according to a condition provided by a viewer. SOLUTION: This electronic program chart processor is provided with an electronic program chart(EPG) extracting part 201 for extracting a signal related with the EPG from a signal transmitted from a receiving part 103, an EPG display processing part 203 for data-converting the EPG data into a data format displayable or printable by an outputting part 109, and for processing the display of the electronic program chart in a display configuration instructed by an EPG control part 205, a retrieval keyword accepting part 207 for selecting or inputting a retrieval keyword, and the EPG control part 205 for retrieving the EPG data by using the retrieval keyword, and for instructing the EPG display processing part 203 to display or print the broadcasting time zone or channel of a program matched with the retrieval keyword as an electronic program chart by the output part 109.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an electronic program guide (EP)
The present invention relates to an electronic program guide processing program and an electronic program guide processing device for processing to display G) in a predetermined display form according to conditions provided by a viewer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A viewer of a digital BS broadcast or a CS broadcast wants to know a program being broadcast or a program scheduled to be broadcast.
Electronic Program Guide (Electronic Program Guide) distributed from broadcasting stations and displayed on TV without using paper media such as newspapers and magazines
Guide: EPG). The display control of the electronic program guide and the processing of the program data distributed from the broadcasting station are mainly performed by a set top box (STB) having a decoding function.
By operating the STB main unit or its remote controller, a program table of a desired date and time or a channel is displayed.

In an electronic program guide, program information such as program titles is sorted in time order and channel order, and is generally displayed in a time and channel matrix format.
Examples of the display form include a form in which a program currently being broadcast is displayed in order of channel number, a form in which programs to be broadcast are displayed in time order and channel order, and the like, which can be changed according to selection of a viewer. it can.

[0004]

In the above-mentioned conventional electronic program guide display mode, especially when the number of channels or programs is large, the display area of the television screen is limited.
, Only a part of the program guide is displayed on the television screen. Therefore, when trying to display a program table that is not displayed, as described above, the program table of a desired date and time or channel is displayed by operating the STB main body or its remote controller that controls the display of the electronic program table. I have to do it.

[0005] At this time, when the broadcast time or channel of the program desired to be watched is not known, the viewer must patiently search the electronic program guide to find the desired program. In addition, the electronic program guide usually displays only the program name, but it is not possible to know detailed information such as performers from the program name alone. Therefore, for example, when a viewer wants to see a program in which a favorite actor is appearing, the viewer must perform a task of displaying and confirming detailed information for each program.

As described above, merely displaying the electronic program guide has a problem in that it is necessary to search for a broadcast time and a channel of the program and to check detailed information of the program for each program. The time and operations required for this place a heavy burden on the viewer, and there is room for improvement in terms of effective use of the electronic program guide.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and has been made in consideration of the above-described problems. An electronic program guide (EPG) which can be processed to output a predetermined display form in accordance with a condition provided by a viewer. It is an object to provide a table processing program and an electronic program guide processing device.

[0008]

In order to solve the above problems, an electronic program guide program according to the present invention stores an electronic program guide having a channel axis indicating a channel and a time axis indicating a time zone as information on a program. An electronic program guide processing program for displaying from a program information, a search condition receiving procedure for receiving a search condition in a computer, and a program information detection for detecting program information matching the search condition received in the search condition receiving procedure. And an output instruction procedure for instructing to output the program information by arranging the program information for each channel axis or for each time axis based on the detection result of the program information detection procedure.

[0009] Therefore, the viewer can use the electronic program guide (EP
G), and time zones or channels including programs that match the search conditions are displayed on the electronic program guide in a desired display form without having to search for detailed information of the programs for each program. The broadcast time and channel of the program can be easily confirmed. As a result, the viewer can effectively utilize the electronic program guide. Further, since the program guide is displayed while the time axis and the channel axis are displayed, it is possible to provide an electronic program guide that is easy for the viewer to see.

Further, in the electronic program guide processing program according to the present invention, the output instruction procedure may be such that the program information detected in the program information detection procedure is in descending order of channel information, channel axis, time axis, or time axis and channel axis. It is instructed to arrange the program information and output the program information.

Further, in the electronic program guide processing program of the present invention, the output instruction step instructs to output only a channel or a time zone to which the program information detected in the program information detection step belongs. Therefore, the electronic program guide can be displayed or printed by effectively utilizing the display area or print area of the program information.

Also, in the electronic program guide processing program according to the present invention, the output instruction step may include a step of matching a program column indicated by program information matching the search condition as a result of the detection in the program information detection step. It is instructed to output in a form that can be visually identified from the program column indicated by the program information that did not match. Therefore, it can be easily determined where the program column that matches the search condition is located in the electronic program guide.

Further, the electronic program guide processing apparatus of the present invention displays an electronic program guide having a channel axis indicating a channel and a time axis indicating a time zone from program information which is information about a program. A search condition receiving means for receiving a search condition, a program information detecting means for detecting program information matching the search condition received by the search condition receiving means, and a detection result of the program information detecting means, Output instructing means for instructing to output program information by arranging program information for each channel axis or for each time axis.

Further, in the electronic program guide processing apparatus of the present invention, the output instructing means may include, for each channel axis, for each time axis, or for each time axis and channel axis, in descending order of program information detected by the program information detecting means. This is an instruction to arrange the program information and output the program information.

Further, in the electronic program guide processing device of the present invention, the output instructing means instructs to output only a channel or a time zone to which the program information detected by the program information detecting means belongs.

Further, the electronic program guide processing device of the present invention provides
As a result of the detection by the program information detecting means, the output instructing means can visually distinguish a program column indicated by program information matching the search condition from a program column indicated by program information not matching the search condition. It is instructed to output in the form.

[0017]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an embodiment of an electronic program guide processing apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the electronic program guide processing device according to the present invention will be described in detail, but since the electronic program guide processing program according to the present invention is a program for operating the electronic program guide processing device, The description is included in the following description. The same applies to a computer-readable recording medium that stores an electronic program guide processing program.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an STB including an electronic program guide processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. S used for digital BS broadcasting and CS broadcasting shown in FIG.
TB (set top box) 101 is a receiving unit 1
03, a decoder unit 105, and the electronic program guide processing apparatus 200 of the present embodiment.
Are an EPG extraction unit 201, an EPG output processing unit 203 corresponding to an output instruction unit in claims, an EPG control unit 205 corresponding to a program information detection unit, and a search keyword reception unit corresponding to a search condition reception unit. 207. The receiving section 103 is connected to the parabolic antenna 107, and the decoder section 105 and the E
The PG output processing unit 203 is an output unit 1 such as a monitor or a printer.
09.

In STB 101, when a signal received by parabolic antenna 107 is sent to receiving section 103, receiving section 103 performs processing such as frequency conversion so that decoder section 105 can process the signal. The decoder unit 105 decodes the signal sent from the receiving unit 103 and makes the signal displayable or printable on the output unit 109.
The decoded signal is sent to output section 109, and output section 1
At 09, the program is displayed or printed.

On the other hand, signals received by the parabolic antenna 107 and sent to the receiving section 103 include electronic program guides (Electr
onic Program Guide (EPG) is multiplexed. The electronic program guide processing device 200 of the present embodiment includes:
An electronic program guide (EP) to be displayed or printed by the output unit 109
The display form of G) is converted according to the conditions provided by the viewer (user). Hereinafter, each component of the electronic program guide processing device 200 of the present embodiment will be described.

First, the EPG extraction unit 201
A signal relating to an electronic program guide (EPG) is extracted from the signals sent to the third program. The signal indicating the EPG data extracted by the EPG extraction unit 201 is sent to the EPG output processing unit 203. The EPG data includes, in addition to basic data such as program titles and subtitles, broadcast time, channel numbers, billing information, age restriction information, etc., category information indicating genres such as dramas, sports, music, etc., performer information, and related information. It contains program attribute search data such as keywords, information on target user demographics, information on copy cards, information on the presence or absence of trailers, and information on interlocking with other stations and stored broadcasts.

Further, the EPG output processing unit 203
The output unit 109 converts the basic data of the EPG data sent from the extraction unit 201 into a displayable or printable data format, and outputs an electronic program guide (EPG) in a display format instructed by the EPG control unit 205. Is used to display or print. Further, the EPG output processing unit 203 sends all of the EPG data, that is, basic data and program attribute search data to the EPG control unit 205.

As shown in the search keyword reception screen of FIG. 2A, the search keyword reception unit 207 selects or inputs a search keyword of a program that the viewer (user) desires to view, and thereby the search keyword is received. And the received search keyword is E
It is sent to the PG control unit 205. The search keyword is a performer name, a program title or a genre such as drama, sports, and music. Note that a search expression (SELECT statement) described in a language such as SQL shown in FIG. 2B may be input instead of the search keyword. The search condition in the claims corresponds to a search keyword and a search expression.

The search keyword and the search formula are STB1
01 may be selected or input using a remote controller, a personal computer, or the like attached to 01. Also, the search keyword receiving unit 207
Is also used to select a display form of an electronic program guide (EPG) described later.

The EPG control unit 205 generates a search formula based on the search keyword sent from the search keyword receiving unit 207, and uses the search formula to generate a search formula.
The EPG data transmitted from the EPG 03 is searched, and the EPG output processing unit 203 is instructed to display or print the broadcast time zone and the channel of the program matching the search keyword in the form of an electronic program guide (EPG) on the output unit 109. Things.

In particular, if a plurality of programs matching the search keyword are obtained in a plurality of channels and time zones as a result of the search by the EPG control unit 205, the EPG control unit 205 determines that the number of programs matching the search keyword is the largest. The EPG output processing unit 203 is instructed so that the included channel becomes the head on the channel axis. If the program matching the search keyword is not in any channel in a certain time zone, the EPG output processing unit 203 is instructed to display the time zone omitted. The form instructed and displayed or printed by the output unit 109 in this manner is
Hereinafter, this is referred to as a “first display mode”.

For example, as a result of performing a search in the EPG control unit 205, it is found that the channels 8:00 to 9:00,
14:00 to 15:00 for the channel, 8:00 to 9:00 for the channel, 10:00 to 1 for the channel
1:00 and channel 14:00 to 15:00
When the six programs match, the output unit 109 normally indicates that the channels are arranged in order from the top, as shown in FIG. To the channel, channel, channel, channel in the order of the electronic program guide (E
PG) is displayed.

That is, the channel is arranged at the top because the number of matched programs is the largest, and the matched program is arranged on one channel and the channel is successively arranged. As for the channel and the channel, the channel is arranged at the higher position because the channel is earlier than the channel of the matched program than the channel. Also,
Since there is no program matching the search keyword in any channel from 11:00 to 14:00, the EPG control unit 20
5 instructs the EPG output processing unit 203 to omit the program table from 11:00 to 14:00 and display it on the output unit 109.

As described above, in the first display mode, E
The PG control unit 205 outputs the EPG so as to display the channel at the top as the number of matched programs is larger and the time period of the matched program is earlier, in consideration of the number and time zone of the searched programs. The processing unit 203 is instructed. At this time, in the electronic program guide (EPG) displayed or printed by the output unit 109, a color or shading is added to a program column that has been searched and matched, or the title of the program is bolded or darkened. EPs that match the search keywords, such as making the program section larger than other program sections,
It is desirable that the G output processing unit 203 performs the processing.

Further, the EPG control unit 205 may instruct the EPG output processing unit 203 so that the broadcast time zone of the program that matches the search keyword is first on the time axis. The form instructed and displayed or printed by the output unit 109 in this manner is hereinafter referred to as a “second display form”. For example, E
As a result of the search performed by the PG control unit 205, the channel 20:00 to 21:00 and the channel 2
When the two programs of 1:00 to 22:00 match, the output section 109 normally displays the program columns arranged in chronological order from the current broadcast time as shown in FIG. In the second display mode, 20:00 to 22:00
Place the program column broadcast at the time on the top of the time axis,
Subsequently, the program columns after the current time (17:00) are arranged in chronological order.

At this time, similarly to the first display mode, an electronic program guide (EPG) displayed or printed by the output unit 109 is displayed.
In the search keywords that match the search keywords, such as adding a color or shading to the program column that matches the search, bolding or darkening the title of the program, making the program column larger than other program columns It is desirable that the EPG output processing unit 203 processes the program so that the program stands out.

As another display form, as shown in the example shown in FIG. 4, when a plurality of programs having different broadcast times match on different channels as a result of the search, as shown in the second display form, At the same time as arranging the matched program column at the beginning on the time axis, the channel of the program with a shorter broadcast time may be arranged at the beginning on the channel axis as in the first display mode. Further, in the first display mode, the second display mode, and other display modes, when there is no program in any channel in a channel that matches the search keyword, the channel may be omitted and displayed. . Further, when displaying the electronic program guide (EPG), even if the viewer uses the search keyword accepting unit 207 to display the electronic program guide in the designated display format every time the viewer displays the electronic program guide, a preset display format is used. It may be displayed in a form.

Hereinafter, an EPG control unit 205 for rearranging the electronic program guide for each channel axis will be described with reference to FIGS.
Will be described. First, step S shown in FIG.
In 401, the search keyword is received by the search keyword receiving unit 207, and the process proceeds to step S403. In step S403, the search keyword receiving unit 207 generates a search expression from the search keyword in SQL or the like, and interprets this. When a search expression is directly input in step S401, step S403 only needs to interpret this search expression. Next, in step S405, E
The PG control unit 205 executes a search based on the interpreted search formula.

Next, in step S407, a variable $ CH corresponding to each channel is set to 0. In the block of step S407 shown in FIG.
It is assumed that there are 8, 10, and 12 channels (CH). Next, in step S409, the variable i of the search record is set to 1. Next, in step S411,
It is determined whether there is an i-th search record. If so, the process proceeds to step S413; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S501 shown in FIG.

In step S413, the attribute value (CH) of the i-th search record is obtained. Next, step S4
At 15, the variable $ CH corresponding to the attribute value (CH) is increased by one. Next, in step S417, the variable i of the search record is incremented by 1, and the process returns to step S411.

As described above, if there is no i-th search record in step S411, the flow advances to step S501. In step S501, the channels are sorted in descending order of the number of variables $ CH. Next, in step 503, the channel columns are arranged from the left in the order sorted in step S501. Next, in step S505, a frame of the program guide is displayed. Next, in step S507, the variable j is set to 1, and in step S509, it is determined whether there is a j-th program. Here, if there is a j-th program, step S51
Proceed to step 1; otherwise, end the process. Step S511
Then, the j-th program record is taken out. Next, in step S513, program information such as a program name and performers is displayed based on the time zone and the channel attribute value of the j-th program record. Next, in step S515, the variable j is increased by 1, and the process returns to step S509.

According to the above flow, the electronic program guide can be rearranged for each channel axis.
Assuming that the search keyword is, for example, "drama" for the normal program table shown in (a), as shown in FIG. It is displayed in the state sorted from. It should be noted that the program information of the programs making up the program table includes a program I as shown in the program record shown in FIG.
D is attached, and program information (program name, genre, channel (CH), time zone, cast, etc.) is associated with each program ID.

Although the electronic program guide is rearranged for each channel axis in the flowchart shown in FIG. 6, the electronic program guide may be rearranged for each time using the same flowchart.

As described above, in the STB 101 for digital BS broadcast, CS broadcast, or the like having the electronic program guide processing apparatus 200 of the present embodiment, the search keyword accepted by the viewer (user) by selection or input is used. An electronic program guide (EPG) is displayed or printed on the output unit 109 in a predetermined display form so that matching programs are arranged at a higher position on the time axis and / or the channel axis. Further, as a result of the search, programs matching the search keyword are displayed prominently, for example, by adding a color or shading to the program column matching the search keyword or by making the program title bold.

Therefore, the viewer does not need to search around the electronic program guide (EPG) or check detailed information of each program for each program, as in the related art. Can be easily confirmed on an electronic program guide (EPG). As a result, the viewer can effectively utilize the electronic program guide. Further, since the program guide is displayed while the time axis and the channel axis are displayed, it is possible to provide an electronic program guide that is easy for the viewer to see.

The electronic program guide processing device 2 of the present embodiment
At 00, a preference profile of the viewer (user) is stored in a storage unit (not shown) in the apparatus, and the EPG output processing unit 203 automatically displays a program that matches the preference of the viewer on the output unit 109. Or you may print. STB10
The viewing history is stored in step 1, and a genre or a keyword having a high ratio of viewing by the viewer is extracted, and the extracted genre or keyword is compared with the preference data to determine whether the preference data reflects the preference of the viewer. May be. If the preference data does not reflect the viewer's preference, the preference data may be changed to an optimal one.

In this embodiment, the EPG data is obtained by receiving the parabola antenna 107. However, the EPG data may be obtained via the Internet.
It may be obtained from a storage medium such as OM.

[0043]

As described above, according to the electronic program guide processing program and the electronic program guide processing apparatus of the present invention,
The viewer does not need to search around the electronic program guide (EPG) or check detailed information of each program for each program, and the time zone or channel including the program that matches the search condition can be displayed on the electronic program guide in a desired display form. Is displayed or printed, the broadcast time and channel of the desired program can be easily confirmed. As a result, the viewer can effectively utilize the electronic program guide. Further, since the program guide is output while the time axis and the channel axis are displayed, it is possible to provide an electronic program guide that is easy for the viewer to see.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an STB including an electronic program guide processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a search keyword reception screen.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an electronic program guide (EPG) according to a first display mode.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an electronic program guide (EPG) according to a second display mode.

FIG. 5 E for rearranging the electronic program guide for each channel axis
Flowchart for explaining the operation of the PG control unit

FIG. 6 is a diagram E for rearranging the electronic program guide for each channel axis.
Flowchart for explaining the operation of the PG control unit

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing an electronic program guide (a) before sorting and an electronic program guide (b) after sorting.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a program record of a program constituting an electronic program guide;

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a conventional electronic program guide (EPG).

[Explanation of symbols]

 101 STB 103 receiving unit 105 decoder unit 107 parabolic antenna 109 output unit 200 electronic program guide processing unit 201 EPG extraction unit 203 EPG output processing unit 205 EPG control unit 207 search keyword receiving unit

Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI Theme coat II (reference) // H04H 1/00 F term (reference) 5C025 AA30 BA25 BA27 BA28 BA30 CA02 CA09 CB09 CB10 DA01 DA05 5C063 AA01 AB03 AB07 CA23 CA29 CA36 DA03 DA07 DA13 DB10 EA01 EB33 EB37 EB39 EB50 5E501 AB06 AB08 AB10 AB11 AC12 AC18 AC33 BA05 BA12 CC02 EA15 EA34 EB05 FA08 FA24

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. An electronic program guide processing program for displaying an electronic program guide having a channel axis indicating a channel and a time axis indicating a time zone from program information which is information about a program. A search condition receiving procedure to be received; a program information detecting procedure to detect program information matching the search condition received in the search condition receiving procedure; and a channel axis or a time axis based on a detection result of the program information detecting procedure. And an output instruction procedure for instructing to output the program information by arranging the program information in the electronic program guide processing program. 2. The output instruction procedure includes: for each channel axis, in descending order of program information detected in the program information detection procedure;
2. The electronic program guide processing program according to claim 1, wherein an instruction is given to output the program information by arranging the program information for each time axis or for each time axis and channel axis. 3. The electronic program guide processing according to claim 1, wherein the output instruction step instructs to output only a channel or a time zone to which the program information detected in the program information detection step belongs. program. 4. The output instruction procedure includes, as a result of the detection in the program information detection procedure, a program column indicated by program information matching the search condition and a program column indicated by program information not matching the search condition. 4. The electronic program guide processing program according to claim 1, wherein an instruction is issued to output the information in a visually recognizable form. 5. An electronic program guide processing apparatus for displaying an electronic program guide having a channel axis indicating a channel and a time axis indicating a time zone from program information which is information about a program, wherein the search condition accepts a search condition. Receiving means; program information detecting means for detecting program information matching the search condition received by the search condition receiving means; and program information for each channel axis or for each time axis based on the detection result of the program information detecting means. Output instruction means for instructing to output program information in a row. 6. The output instruction means includes: for each channel axis, in descending order of program information detected by the program information detection means;
6. The electronic program guide processing device according to claim 5, wherein an instruction is issued to output program information by arranging program information for each time axis or for each time axis and channel axis. 7. The electronic program guide processing according to claim 5, wherein the output instruction means instructs to output only a channel or a time zone to which the program information detected by the program information detection means belongs. apparatus. 8. The output instruction means, as a result of the detection by the program information detection means, sets a program column indicated by program information matching the search condition as a program column indicated by program information not matched to the search condition. 8. The electronic program guide processing device according to claim 5, wherein an instruction is issued to output the information in a visually recognizable form.