JP2003298963A - Digital broadcast receiver - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To facilitate a cumbersome selection operation of broadcast program by a user caused by need of much in time and effort because the names of many broadcast programs corresponding to a category are displayed as lists when the user selects a desired category of a genre in the case of displaying a channel list or a program list for each selected channel. <P>SOLUTION: Program information required for genre classification is provided in a form of a table, the program information belonging to the same genre as the selected genre is acquired from a plurality of transport streams during broadcast, series information of the program information is acquired at the same time and stored in a storage device 15 in link with the selected genre, and the series information and the program information are linked and recorded in the storage device 15. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a digital broadcast receiver.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In digital television broadcasting having a large number of channels, electronic program guide information (hereinafter referred to as EPG) information is multiplexed and transmitted to a television signal for the purpose of convenience in viewing and selecting broadcast programs. There is. This EP
Based on the G information, it is possible to select a broadcast program to be viewed from the reproduced and displayed broadcast program table and reserve a broadcast program desired to be viewed.

In a digital broadcasting receiver for receiving digital television broadcasting having a large number of channels, when a channel is selected and a program reservation is made, a "genre" as shown in FIG. On the screen of "other program list" 1, the desired channel is selected only by the broadcast program name displayed for each genre. Moreover, on the screen of the favorite channel, only the channel name and the broadcast program name that the user has watched in the past are displayed.

[0004]

However, in the conventional digital broadcast receiver, as shown in FIG.
If you select and display the "List of programs by genre" for each genre shown in 1 or your favorite channel list,
If the category of the genre is, for example, “baseball” 3 of “sports” 2 shown in FIG. 14, all baseball channel names such as “high school baseball”, “professional baseball” and “major league” or broadcast program names are listed. As a result, a large number of them are displayed side by side, and there is a problem that it takes time to find the receiving channel desired by the user.

Moreover, when making a reservation for a broadcast program by selection by genre, assuming that the categories of selectable genres are up to "baseball" 3, when "baseball" 3 is selected and the program is reserved, There was a problem that it was unclear whether a baseball program would be reserved.

When the favorite channel list is displayed, the channel or broadcast program that the user has watched in the past is the channel or broadcast program watched at an arbitrary time in the past and is currently being broadcast. It is unknown whether or not. Therefore, although a list of favorite channels by time zone is shown as an example, when a user selects and views a desired channel, a broadcast program different from a broadcast program previously broadcast may be broadcast. In other words, regarding the broadcast program information, the broadcast program name displayed on the screen and the broadcast time zone may be different from the current one, and the reserved broadcast program is actually the content that the user desires. Unlike a broadcast program, it causes confusion and there is a problem that a channel selection operation must be performed again, and it is necessary to further simplify the broadcast program selection operation.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems of the prior art, and an object thereof is to display a broadcast program according to a category of a genre at the time of displaying EPG information by selecting a genre. From the classification,
The purpose is to enable classification by a series list of broadcast programs and speedily perform selection operation of broadcast programs. Also, in the favorite channel list, instead of the names of the broadcast programs received in the past, the series name of the broadcast programs is displayed in a list so that the user's favorite series programs can be viewed for each favorite channel. Especially. Furthermore, by displaying the series name of the broadcast program that many users watch, making it easier to select channels, and by selecting a series program and making a program reservation, it is possible to change the broadcast time of the broadcast program. It is intended to provide a digital broadcast receiver that can be easily supported.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, in a digital broadcast receiver of the present invention, a digital broadcast configured to be received by using program guide information multiplexed and transmitted to a television signal. In the receiver, the broadcast program information necessary for genre classification is provided in a table, and broadcast program information belonging to the same genre as the selected genre is acquired from a plurality of transport streams being broadcast, and at the same time The series information is acquired and linked to the selected genre and stored, and the series information and the broadcast program information are linked and stored.

Further, when the acquisition of all the program information is completed, a list of the series names of broadcast programs belonging to the selected genre is displayed on the display screen, and an arbitrary series is selected from the series name list. It is effective to display a list of broadcast programs belonging to the series and select the program name from the list of broadcast programs again to decode the broadcast programs and display them on the display screen.

Further, it is preferable to provide a reserved program setting means so that the broadcast program of the selected series is preferentially decoded or recorded from the time of reservation setting to the end of the selected series.

Further, when storing the information of the channel to be watched a lot, the series information of the broadcast program being watched is acquired, the viewing time is measured, and the channel information is linked and stored as the favorite channel information. When the display request for the list of favorite channels is made, the channel names can be arranged and displayed in order from the channel having the history that has been watched a lot in the past.

Further, when a broadcast program is recorded, the series information of the broadcast program is linked and stored in a recording medium, and when the broadcast program content stored in the recording medium is displayed on a display screen, the stored series is stored. It is effective to search for the same series from the information, arrange them in the order of the number of series, and display the series name and the number of series.

[0013]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of a digital broadcasting receiver according to the present invention will be described based on embodiments with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a digital broadcast receiver adopting a program selection function. The digital broadcast receiver of FIG. 1 includes an antenna 4, a tuner 5, a demodulation unit 6,
A demultiplexer 7, a video decoder 8, an audio decoder 9, a main controller 10, an on-screen display (OSD) control unit 11, a mixing unit 12, a video output device 13, an audio output device 14, The storage device 15 and the input device 38 for performing channel selection, program selection, and the like are included.

Here, these configurations will be described together with the operation. First, the reception of the broadcast program selected by the input device 38 will be described. First, the broadcast wave received by the antenna 4 is input to the tuner 5 that selects a predetermined channel, and demodulated by the demodulation unit 6 to a baseband. Then, after correcting the data error, the demultiplexer 7 separates the video data and the audio data from the bit stream. The separated video data and audio data are decoded by the video decoder 8 and the audio decoder 9, respectively. The decoded video data is converted by a video encoder provided in the video output device 13 into a standard television system, for example, the NTSC system, and output.
An image is displayed on the cathode ray tube of No. 3, etc. On the other hand, the audio data is digital / analog / audio data provided in the audio output device 14.
Audio output device 1 as analog signal by converter
4 is reproduced by the speaker device.

The relationship between the channel to be received and the broadcast program is stored in the table RAM of the storage device 15, and the stored content is updated as needed. The time interval between updates is whether this digital broadcast receiver is mobile,
It depends on whether it is a fixed type. For fixed receivers,
For example, the broadcast program information of the selected genre and the series information generated based on the EPG information when the power switch (not shown) is operated and the reception is started are stored in the table RAM of the storage device 15, and thereafter, a predetermined amount is stored. The broadcast program information and its series information are updated at intervals.

In the case of mobile reception, it is necessary to update the reception channel, broadcast program information and its series information according to the movement of the digital broadcast receiver, and the contents stored in the table RAM of the storage device 15 are updated as appropriate. The content stored in the table RAM is updated, for example, at a time interval generated by a timer provided in the storage device 15, or when an error output signal is output when the digital broadcast receiver moves out of the broadcast service area. When the broadcast is received in the new broadcast area, the program information and the series information are acquired to detect the deviation from the broadcast service area according to the increase in the error signal, and the program information and the series information are stored in the storage device 15. Table RAM
Is configured to update the stored contents of the.

As described above, the digital broadcast receiver shown in FIG. 1 stores the program information and the series information necessary for categorizing the program content in the table RAM of the storage device 15, and the same genre as the genre selected by the user. A broadcast program belonging to is acquired from a plurality of transport streams being broadcast. At the same time, the series information of the program is also acquired and stored by linking with the selected genre, and further linked with the series information and program information and stored.

When the program information of all the selected genres and the series information thereof have been acquired, all the acquired genres are displayed in a list on the screen of the video output device 13 as shown in FIG. 1 "16 is displayed.
When the user selects a desired genre from the list of "genre selection 1" 16, for example, "sports" 17,
The display is switched to the screen of "genre selection 2" 18 shown in FIG. Further, when the user selects, for example, "baseball" 19 in the genre, the "series selection" 20 screen shown in FIG. 4 is displayed. Here, when the user selects, for example, "giant battle" 21 from the series information list, a list of "program selection" 22 belonging to the series shown in FIG. 5 is displayed.

By selecting a program name, for example, "Giant vs. Yakult" 23 from the list of "program selection" 22 shown in FIG. 5, the broadcast program is decoded and the video output device 13 is selected.
Can be displayed on the screen. Further, the reserved programs can be set, and the series programs can be preferentially decoded or recorded from the time of setting the broadcast program of the selected series to the end of the series.

Further, when the information of the channel that the user often views is stored in the storage device 15, it is stored as the favorite channel information by linking with the series information of the broadcast program being viewed. Then, when the user selects the “favorite channel” 24 shown in FIG. 6 and requests a list of the “favorite channel” 24, the channels are arranged and listed in order from the channel having the history that the user has watched a lot, A series list of “favorite channels” 25 shown in FIG. 7 is displayed on the screen of the video output device 13.

When a desired channel, for example, "channel 2" 26 is selected from the series list of "favorite channels" 25 shown in FIG. 7 on the screen, the series name of the program watched in the past on that channel is displayed. As shown in FIG. 8, the series of “favorite channels” 27 are listed and displayed on the screen of the video output device 13. Then, when the user requests, for example, a "giant battle" 28 to watch a channel from the screen, the channel is decoded and a "program selection" 29 on the air is displayed on the screen of the video output device 13. It is displayed as shown in FIG. FIG. 9 shows a state in which the user has selected “Giant vs. Yakult” 30.

Also, as shown in FIG. 10, a series of programs watched in the past is listed and a "favorite series" 31
Is displayed on the screen of the video output device 13. Then, by selecting a series desired by the user from the list of "favorite series" 31, for example, "giant battle" 32, "program selection" of the broadcast program name belonging to the selected series
A list of 33 is displayed as shown in FIG. 11, and by selecting a broadcast program desired by the user from the list of “program selection” 33, for example, “Giant vs. Yakult” 34, detailed program information is displayed or selected. The program is decoded and displayed on the screen of the video output device 13.

Next, the operation procedure of the program selection function in the digital broadcast receiver according to the present invention will be described based on the flowchart shown in FIG. In FIG. 13, during the normal reception operation, a screen request from the user is accepted in step S1, and it is confirmed in the next step S2 whether or not to request the display of the screen for selecting the genre shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. If "YES" here, the process proceeds to step S3, and the genre list is displayed in the order of FIG. 2 and FIG. In step S4, the user selects a desired genre from the displayed genres. In FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, “sports” 17 and “baseball” 19 are included in the genre.
Shows an example in which is selected.

Based on this user's selection, step S
In step 5, all digital broadcasts are searched and received, and the channels of each broadcast wave are demodulated. In the next step S6, the program information of the selected genre and its series information are acquired from this demodulated signal, and the series selection list screen shown in FIG. 4 is displayed in step S7. Further, in step S8, the user looks at the screen of FIG. 4 and selects a desired series, for example, "giant battle" 21. In step S9, the list screen of "program selection" 22 of the selected series shown in FIG. 5 is displayed by the user's series selection. In this way, the user can decode the broadcast program and display it on the screen by selecting the desired program name from the list of the “program guide” 22 in FIG.

When the request confirmation of the genre selection screen in step S2 is made, in the case of "NO", step S10
Proceed to and the user will select "Favorite channel" shown in Fig. 2
Check if you are requesting screen 4 If "YES" here, in step S11, the list of "favorite channels" 24 and 25 shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 is sequentially displayed. When the user selects "favorite channel" in the next step S12, the process proceeds to step S13 to search for the series watched a lot on the selected channel, and in step S7, the series screen shown in FIG. 8 is displayed. In the next step S8, when the user selects a series from the screen based on this display, step S9
Then, as shown in FIG. 9, a program list screen during broadcasting can be displayed.

Further, in the case of "NO" in "Request for favorite channel screen" in step S10, the process proceeds to step S14, and in "YES", in the next step S15, the series watched by many users is searched. Based on this search, a list screen of "favorite series" 31 as shown in FIG. 10 is displayed in step S7. In the next step S8, when the user selects a desired series based on this display, the list screen of "program selection" 33 shown in FIG. 11 can be displayed in step S9, and the detailed program information can be displayed and selected. The broadcast program can be decoded and displayed on the screen of the video output device 13.

In another embodiment of the present invention, when recording a broadcast program, series information of the broadcast program is linked and stored in a recording medium. Then, the same series are searched from the recording medium, and the series names and the number of series are arranged in order of the number of series of the series programs, and the list of the "reproduced program selection" 35 is displayed as shown in FIG. When the user selects this series, for example, "Love drama 1st episode" 37 of "Love drama 1" 36, it becomes possible to play the broadcast program stored by linking.

[0028]

Since the present invention is constructed as described above, it becomes convenient and quick as a means for selecting a broadcast program when EPG information is displayed by selecting by genre. Also, in the display of the list of favorite channels, the series name of the broadcast program is displayed instead of the name of the broadcast program received in the past, so that the user can watch the series broadcast program of the user for each favorite channel. Therefore, it is not necessary to force the user to perform a troublesome operation. Further, the series name of the broadcast program that many users watch is displayed, which has an effect that the channel selection operation is easy and the broadcast program can be quickly selected. Also, by selecting a series broadcast program and making a reservation for the broadcast program, it becomes possible to easily cope with the broadcast time of the broadcast program.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a digital broadcast receiver adopting a program selection function according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a genre selection table displayed on the screen.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a genre selection table displayed on the screen.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a series selection table displayed on the screen.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a program selection table displayed on the screen.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a favorite channel table displayed on the screen.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a favorite channel table displayed on the screen.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a favorite channel table displayed on the screen.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a program selection table displayed on the screen.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a favorite series table displayed on the screen.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a program selection table displayed on the screen.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing a reproduction program selection table displayed on the screen.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of the digital broadcast receiver according to the present invention.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing a conventional genre-based program list displayed on the screen.

[Explanation of symbols]

4 antenna 5 Tuner section 6 Demodulator 7 Demultiplexer 8 video decoder 9 Audio decoder 10 Main controller 11 OSD controller 12 mixing unit 13 Video output device 14 Audio output device 15 Memory device

Front page continuation (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) H04N 7/03 7/035 F term (reference) 5C025 AA23 BA25 BA27 BA28 BA30 CA09 CB08 CB09 DA01 DA05 5C052 AB04 DD04 DD10 5C063 AB03 AB05 AC01 DA03 DA07 DA13 EB32 EB33 5K061 AA09 BB07 DD12 GG16

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A digital broadcast receiver configured to receive by using electronic program guide information that is multiplexed and transmitted to a television signal, has a table of broadcast program information necessary for genre classification, and selects a selected genre. At the same time as acquiring broadcast program information belonging to the same genre from a plurality of transport streams being broadcast, the series information of the broadcast program information is acquired and stored by linking with the selected genre, and the series information and the broadcast program are stored. A digital broadcast receiver characterized in that it is configured to link and store information. 2. When acquisition of all program information is completed,
A series name of broadcast programs belonging to the selected genre is displayed on the display screen as a list, and by selecting an arbitrary series from the series name list, a list of broadcast programs belonging to the series is displayed, and the broadcast program is again displayed. The digital broadcast receiver according to claim 1, wherein the broadcast program is decoded and displayed on the display screen by selecting a program name from the list. 3. A reserved program setting means is provided, and the program of the selected series is preferentially decoded or recorded from the time of reservation setting until the end of the selected series. The digital broadcast receiver according to claim 1. 4. When storing the information of a channel that is watched a lot, the series information of the broadcast program being watched is acquired, the watching time is measured, and the channel information is linked and stored as favorite channel information, 2. The digital broadcast according to claim 1, wherein when a request for displaying the list of favorite channels is made, the channel names are arranged and displayed in order from the channel having a history of being watched a lot in the past. Receiving machine. 5. When recording a broadcast program, the series information of the broadcast program is linked and stored in a recording medium, and when the broadcast program content stored in the recording medium is displayed on a display screen, it is stored. The same series is searched from the series information, arranged in order of the number of series, and the series name and the number of series are displayed.
The described digital broadcast receiver.