JP2003333362A - Video audio reproducing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a system for easily controlling display contents of two screen by a remote controller by equipping the screen with the remote controller in addition to the screen of a television receiver. <P>SOLUTION: A user can control a GUI (graphical user interface) on the sub screen equipped with the remote controller. <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 an apparatus for reproducing video and audio of a television or the like, and more particularly to an apparatus for remote viewing by operating a user with a remote controller.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, television broadcasting has been provided with not only a moving image stream but also various kinds of information related to programs. Typical examples are EPG (Electronic Program Guide) services for analog terrestrial television broadcasting, BS (Broadcasting Satellite) digital television broadcasting,
There are CS (Communication Satellite) digital broadcasting and terrestrial digital broadcasting. Viewers can browse the program guide on the screen and search for programs from program genres and program performers. It is also possible to browse data broadcasts that are being simultaneously broadcast in sub-broadcasts such as sports game progress information, participate in interactive programs such as quiz programs, and purchase articles by shopping programs.

However, in such a television, the number of items operated by the user is dramatically increased as compared with the conventional television, and thus there is a problem that the usability of the television is poor.

As a technique for solving such a problem, conventionally, a remote controller is equipped with a relatively small number of buttons (information button, up / down / left / right direction moving button, enter button, function buttons of four colors of red, blue, yellow and green). GUI (Graphical User Interface) displayed on the screen by combining them with the user
By operating the, the usability of the digital TV has been improved.

[0005]

However, a large-screen television is generally enjoyed at a distance of several meters or more. In such a usage form, it is difficult to understand at a glance many items in the GUI displayed at a distance. In addition, when operating the GUI with the remote controller, it is necessary to operate the GUI while looking at a distant screen and checking the buttons on the remote controller at hand. Therefore, the movement of the line of sight and the matching of the focus of the eyes are physically and mentally burdened.

Further, when two or more people watch a television broadcast in a general home, while enjoying the main broadcast on a large screen, one user wishes to simultaneously display the GUI of other information on the screen. Reductions are often unwelcome by others. For example, when watching a relay image of a match on the main broadcast for watching sports, if you want to see the progress information of the match flowing as data on the sub-broadcast, reducing the size of the match screen is important It often spoils the mood of others who have been concentrated.

The present invention solves these problems by mounting a screen on the remote controller in addition to the screen of the television and providing a system for easily controlling the display contents of the two screens by the remote controller.

[0008]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a video / audio reproducing apparatus according to the present invention is a main body apparatus for converting information of an information source into video and audio and providing the user with the main body apparatus. And a remote control device for the user to remotely control the user.

The main unit decodes the information of the information source into a first video signal, a first audio signal and a first data signal and outputs the first information signal, a first video signal and a first video signal. A first information synthesizing device for selectively synthesizing one audio signal and a first data signal to output as a first video / audio signal, and displaying or reproducing the first video / audio signal to provide to a user Video / audio output device, a second information decoding device for decoding the information of the information source into a second video signal, a second audio signal and a second data signal, and outputting the second video signal and a second video signal. A second information synthesizer for selectively synthesizing the second audio signal and the second signal and outputting as a second video / audio signal, and a remote operation by modulating an electromagnetic wave or an optical signal with the second video / audio signal. The information transmission device to be transmitted to the device and the power transmitted from the remote control device. An information receiving device that demodulates a wave or an optical signal and outputs an original signal, a combining control device that controls the functions of the first information combining device and the second information combining device according to the contents of the original signal, and the original It is characterized by being constituted by a decoding control device for controlling the functions of the first information decoding device and the second information decoding device according to the contents of the signal.

The remote control device includes an information receiving device that demodulates an electromagnetic wave or an optical signal transmitted from the main body device and outputs a video / audio signal, and a video / audio output that displays or reproduces the video / audio signal and provides it to the user. Device, an operating device that receives a user's instruction to the main device and outputs it as an electric signal, an information transmitting device that modulates an electromagnetic wave or an optical signal with the electric signal and transmits it remotely, an information receiving device, and a video / audio output. It is characterized by being configured by a first power supply device that supplies power to the device, the information transmission device, and the operating device, and a second power supply device that supplies power to the first power supply device.

It is preferable that the operation device includes a video / audio output device and an operation interface that allows the user to easily change the contents of the video / audio output device to the same or additional or independent contents.

The operation interface may be provided with one button for making the contents of the video and audio output device the same. Further, the operation interface may include a video / audio output device and one button for making the contents of the video / audio output device independent. Furthermore, the operation interface is
One button may be provided to add the contents of the video / audio output device to the video / audio output device.

The first power supply device may be incorporated in the remote control device, and the second power supply device may be removable when the user operates the remote control device.

Further, the second information synthesizing apparatus outputs the second video signal or the second audio signal or the second data signal in order to reduce the audiovisual difference between the video and audio output apparatus. It may be a correction process, a compression process, or a filtering process.

[0015]

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a video / audio reproducing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The information source 102 is a TV antenna, a cable for cable TV, an Internet line, a home video server, etc., and the main body device 101 is the information source 102.
Is reproduced as video and audio and provided to the user 103. When the main body device 101 is not within the reach of the user 103, the main body device 10 is operated using the remote control device 104.
Operate 1 remotely. Main device 101 and remote control device 10
4 performs bidirectional communication using light or electromagnetic waves.

Next, a detailed structure of the main body device 101 is shown in FIG.

The information of the information source is decoded by the information decoding device 201 into a video signal, an audio signal and a data signal. For example, if the information source 102 is BS digital broadcasting, the information decoding device 201 is configured by a BS digital tuner circuit, and the video signal to be output is the moving image stream of the currently selected channel, the audio signal is the audio stream, and the data signal is It is a data stream flowing in parallel with the program. These signals are selectively synthesized by the information synthesizing device 202 to become a video / audio signal, and the video / audio output device 2
It is reproduced in 03 and provided to the user. The video / audio output device 203 is, for example, a CRT or LCD (Liquid Crystal D).
Display device such as isplay) and PDP (Plasma Display Panel) and its driver circuit, speaker and audio amplifier.

The main body device 101 is provided with another information decoding device 204, the function of which is the information decoding device 201.
Is the same as. The information synthesizing device 205 selectively synthesizes the video signal, the audio signal, and the data signal output from the information decoding device 201, and outputs them as a video / audio signal. The information transmitting device 206 modulates light or electromagnetic waves using this video / audio signal, and transmits it to the remote control device 104. The information transmission device 206 is realized by, for example, an infrared light emitting element and its control circuit, a wireless digital data transmission circuit conforming to IEEE 802.11, and the like. The information synthesizing device 205 performs a correction process, a compression process, or a filtering process on the video signal, the audio signal, and the data signal so as not to exceed the transmission capability of the information transmitting device 206. For example, if the video signal is MPEG4
Audio signal compressed by ADPCM (Adaptive Differential
It also performs media conversion processing such as compression with Pulse Code Modulation) and omission of some character strings contained in the data signal.

The information receiving device 207 is the remote control device 10.
The user's instruction to the main body device 102 is converted into light or an electromagnetic wave and transmitted from 4, and these are received and output as an electric signal. The information receiving device 207 is
For example, it is realized by an infrared light receiving element and its demodulation circuit, a wireless digital data receiving circuit compliant with IEEE 802.11, and the like.
The synthesis control device 208 controls the processing of the information synthesis device 202 and the information synthesis device 205 based on this electric signal. In addition, the decoding control device 209, based on this digital signal, the information decoding device 201 and the information decoding device 204.
Control the processing of.

Next, a detailed structure of the remote control device 104 is shown in FIG.

The light or electromagnetic wave transmitted from the main body device 101 is demodulated into a video / audio signal by the information receiving device 301 and reproduced by the video / audio output device 302. The information receiving device 301 is realized by, for example, an infrared light receiving element and its demodulation circuit, a wireless digital data receiving circuit compliant with IEEE 802.11, and the like. The video / audio output device 302 is, for example,
It consists of a display device such as LCD and its driver circuit, a small speaker and a small output audio amplifier. The operation device 303 includes input devices such as switches and buttons, and converts, for example, a user's channel change request, volume increase / decrease request, display content change request, etc., into an electric signal.
The user's request converted into an electric signal is the information transmission device 30.
The light or the electromagnetic wave is modulated by 4 and transmitted to the main body device 101. The power supply device 305 supplies power to the information receiving device 301, the video / audio output device 302, the operating device 303, and the information transmitting device 304. The power supply device 305 is composed of, for example, a lithium ion rechargeable battery or a nickel hydrogen rechargeable battery.
The power supply device 306 supplies power to the power supply device 305. The power supply device 306 is composed of, for example, a charging circuit for the power supply device 305. Further, the power supply device 306 has a structure that can be easily removed when the user holds the remote control device 104 in his hand.

Next, FIG. 4 shows an example in which the present invention is implemented as a television for receiving BS digital broadcasting.

The main body device 101 is realized as a television receiver 401, and the main screen 402 is a video / audio output device 203.
Is part of. The remote control device 104 is realized as the remote controller 403. The sub-screen 414 is the audio / video output device 3
It is a part of 02. A power switch 404 for turning on the power of the television receiver 401, an input switch 405 for switching the information source 101 to another input source such as a video, and an information switch for viewing a data broadcast flowing in parallel. 406, an independent switch 407 described later,
A synchronization switch 408, which will be described later, an up / down / left / right determination stick 409 for operating a GUI displayed on the main screen 402 or the sub screen 414, a direct channel selection button 410 for determining the reception channel of the main screen 402, and the main screen 402. Channel up / down switch 411 for sequentially changing the reception channel of the TV receiver, and volume up / down switch 412 for adjusting the sound volume of the television receiver 401.
Are part of the operating device 303. Power supply 3
06 is mounted inside the charging stand 413, and the remote control body 4
03 can be easily attached and detached.

FIG. 5, FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 show an example of the operation during GUI operation of the present invention.

It is assumed that the user is watching a baseball broadcast (ch1) on the main screen 402 as shown in FIG. Also,
It is assumed that a data broadcast is running in parallel with this broadcast. At this time, the information decoding device 201 is receiving ch1, and the information synthesizing device 202 synthesizes the video signal and the audio signal and outputs them to the video / audio output device 203. In this state, from the charging stand 413 to the remote controller main body 403
, And press the information button 404, the operation device 30
3 outputs to the information transmitting device 304 a display command for displaying the data broadcast on the sub-screen 414. The command received by the information receiving device 207 of the main body device 101 is transmitted to the decoding control device 209, and the reception channel of the information decoding device 204 is changed to c.
Set to h1. At the same time, the synthesizing control device 208 selects only data from the video signal, audio signal, and data signal output by the information decoding device 204 to the information synthesizing device 205, converts the display layout into media, and outputs the result. Control. The screen of the output data is shown in Fig. 6.
Is displayed on the sub-screen 414 as shown in FIG. The user can operate the GUI displayed on the sub-screen 414 at hand by using the up / down / left / right decision stick 409. Therefore, it is not necessary to operate while viewing the distant main screen 402, and the operation load on the GUI is reduced. Also, the main screen 40
Don't bother other viewers who are focusing on 2.

When the user wants to share the information displayed on the sub-screen 414 with other viewers in the state of FIG. 6, the sync button 404 is pressed. The operation device 303 is the information transmission device 3
A command to display the data broadcast on the main screen 402 is output to 04. According to the command received by the information receiving device 207, the synthesis control device 208 controls the information synthesis device 202 to synthesize and output the video signal, the audio signal, and the data signal output from the information decoding device 201. Since the output combined screen is displayed on the main screen 402 as shown in FIG. 7, the GUI can be shared by a plurality of viewers.

In the state shown in FIG. 7, the GUI information is displayed again on the sub screen 4
When it is desired to display only on 14, the independent button 404 is pressed. The operation device 303 displays the main screen 40 on the information transmission device 304.
The data broadcast removal command from 2 is output. According to the command received by the information receiving device 207, the synthesis control device 208
Is the information decoding device 20 with respect to the information synthesis device 202.
Among the video signal, the audio signal, and the data signal output by 1, the control unit 1 controls so that only the video and audio are combined and output. The output combined screen is displayed on the main screen 402 as shown in FIG.

In the state of FIG. 6 or 7, the remote controller 403
Do not operate for a certain period of time, or charge stand 40
Returning to 4, the information transmitting device 304 transmits a command to stop the remote control function to the main body device 102, the transmission from the information transmitting device 206 is stopped, and the display of the sub-screen 414 disappears.

An example of the operation of the back program zapping according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 5, 8 and 9.

The state of FIG. 5 is as described above. When the remote controller main body 403 is picked up from the charging stand 413 in this state and the independent button 407 is pressed, the operation device 303 outputs a command to the information transmission device 304 to shift to the dual screen mode to the sub screen 414. The decoding control device 209 causes the information decoding device 20 to receive the instruction received by the information receiving device 207.
4 is a broadcast other than the information decoding device 201, that is, c
Set to receive channels other than h1 (assuming that ch2 in which the weather forecast is flowing is set). At the same time, according to the command received by the information receiving device 207, the synthesizing control device 208 synthesizes the image and the sound from the video, the sound and the data output by the information decoding device 204 to the information synthesizing device 205 and outputs them. To control. As shown in FIG. 8, the output video / audio screen is a sub-screen 41.
4 is displayed.

In the state of FIG. 8, the user can freely change the channel and volume of the sub-screen 414 by using the up / down / left / right decision stick 409. For example, when the operation device 303 outputs a channel change command of the sub screen 414 to the information transmission device 304, the decoding control device 209 causes the channel of the information decoding device 204 to be displayed on the current main screen 402 according to the command received by the information reception device 207. Change and set to a channel other than the channel ch1. The video, audio, and data output by the information decoding device 204 are combined by the information combining device 205, and finally the sub-screen 4 is displayed.
14 is displayed. FIG. 10 shows the function definition of the up / down / left / right decision stick. Therefore, it does not disturb other viewers who are concentrated on the program on the main screen 402.

In the state of FIG. 8, the user selects the channel displayed on the sub screen 414 together with other viewers on the main screen 4
If you want to view it with 02, press the sync button 408. The operation device 303 includes a main screen 402 and a sub-screen 4 on the information transmission device 304.
It outputs 14 synchronization commands. The decoding control device 209 sets the reception channel ch2 of the information decoding device 204 in the information decoding device 201 according to the command received by the information receiving device 207, and as shown in FIG.
The weather forecast is displayed on 2.

Even in the state of FIG. 9, the channel of the sub-screen 414 can be freely changed by using the up / down / left / right decision stick 409. Also, the sync button 40
Similarly, when 8 is pressed, the channels of the main screen 402 and the sub screen 414 become the same.

In the state of FIG. 8 or FIG. 9, if the remote controller 403 is not operated for a certain period of time or if it is returned to the charging stand 404, the information transmitting device 304 transmits a command to stop the remote controller function to the main body device 102 and the information transmitting device. 20
The transmission from 6 stops, and the display of the sub-screen 414 disappears.

The information transmission device 20 of the main body device 101
6 and the information receiving device 207 are configured by devices conforming to standardized specifications such as IEEE 802.11, and TCP / IP (Transmission Control Protocol / Internet) is used as a communication protocol.
Protocol), HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol) and other standard protocols
l Area Network), a small personal computer equipped with Bluetooth, PDA (Personal Digital Assistant),
It is also possible to temporarily use a small information device such as a mobile phone as a remote controller for the TV.

Information decoding device 201, information synthesizing device 202, information decoding device 204, information synthesizing device 2
05, the composition control device 208, and the decoding control device 209 are described as a software program, and by implementing them in hardware, it is possible to give one device an equivalent function.

The present invention is not limited to BS digital broadcasting,
It can be widely applied to video / audio reproduction devices that require complicated operations such as CS digital broadcasting and Internet broadcasting receiving terminals. Further, the remote controller 403 shown in FIG. 4 is an example of the present invention, and it is possible to change the arrangement of buttons, change the buttons to touch panel switches on the sub-screen 414, and change the shape of the remote controller 403. is there.

[0039]

As is clear from the above description, since the GUI can be operated on the sub-screen mounted on the remote controller, it is not necessary to operate the GUI while watching the distant main screen. The operation load is reduced.

When two or more people watch a television broadcast in an ordinary home, the GUI can be operated on the sub screen of the remote controller and the back program can be searched. Does not spoil.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a video / audio reproduction device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of a main body device 101.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of a remote control device 104.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example in which the present invention is implemented as a television for receiving BS digital broadcasting.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of an operation during GUI operation according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of an operation during GUI operation according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of an operation during GUI operation according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of an operation during back program zapping according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of an operation during back program zapping according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of the function definition of the up / down / left / right decision stick 409 during back program zapping according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

101 Main unit 102 information sources 103 users 104 Remote control device 201 information decoding device 202 Information synthesizer 203 Video and audio output device 204 information decoding device 205 Information synthesizer 206 Information transmitter 207 Information receiver 208 Synthesis control device 209 Decoding control device 301 Information receiver 302 Video / audio output device 303 Operation device 304 information transmitter 305 power supply 306 power supply 401 TV receiver 402 Main screen 403 remote control 404 power button 405 Input switching button 406 Information button 407 Independent button 408 Sync button 409 Up / Down / Left / Right stick 410 Direct tuning button 411 Channel up / down button 412 Volume up / down buttons 413 charging stand 414 Sub screen

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) H04N 7/025 H04Q 9/00 301E 7/03 H04N 7/08 A 7/035 H04Q 9/00 301 F term (Reference) 5C025 AA03 AA23 AA25 AA27 AA28 AA29 BA25 BA27 BA30 DA01 DA04 DA05 5C026 DA00 EA10 5C056 AA01 AA05 BA01 CA06 CA08 CA11 CA13 CA17 DA11 DA20 EA06 EA09 5C01 DA03 DB01 DA03 DA01 DA05 DB15 DA01 DA05 DA01 DA05 DA15 DA01 DA05 DA15 DA01 DA05 DA15 DA01 HA01 HA02 HA36

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A video / audio reproduction constituted by a main body device for converting information of an information source into video and audio and providing it to a user, and a remote control device for the user to remotely operate the main body device. apparatus. 2. A first information decoding device for decoding information of an information source into a first video signal, a first audio signal and a first data signal, and outputting the information, the first video device. A first information synthesizing device for selectively synthesizing a signal, the first audio signal, and the first data signal to output as a first video / audio signal; and displaying or reproducing the first video / audio signal. And a video / audio output device for providing to a user, a second information decoding device for decoding information of an information source into a second video signal, a second audio signal and a second data signal, and outputting the decoded information. A second information synthesizing device for selectively synthesizing a second video signal, the second audio signal, and the second signal to output as a second video / audio signal; and the second video / audio signal. Information transmission device that modulates electromagnetic waves or optical signals and transmits them to a remote control device An information receiving device for demodulating an electromagnetic wave or an optical signal transmitted from the remote control device to output an original signal, and the first information synthesizing device and the second information synthesizing device according to the contents of the original signal. And a decoding control device that controls the functions of the first information decoding device and the second information decoding device according to the contents of the original signal. Item 1. The video / audio reproduction device according to Item 1. 3. The remote control device, an information receiving device that demodulates an electromagnetic wave or an optical signal transmitted from the main body device and outputs a video / audio signal, and displays or reproduces the video / audio signal to provide to the user. A video / audio output device, an operating device that receives a user's instruction to the main body device and outputs it as an electric signal, an information transmitting device that modulates an electromagnetic wave or an optical signal with the electric signal and transmits the modulated signal remotely, and the information. A first power supply device that supplies power to the receiving device, the video / audio output device, the information transmission device, the operation device, and a second power supply device that supplies power to the first power supply device. The video / audio reproduction device according to claim 1 or 2. 4. The operating device comprises a video / audio output device and an operation interface by which a user can easily change the contents of the video / audio output device to the same or additional or independent contents. 3. The video / audio reproduction device according to item 3. 5. The video / audio reproduction device according to claim 4, wherein the operation interface includes one button for making the contents of the video / audio output device and the video / audio output device the same. 6. The video / audio reproduction device according to claim 4, wherein the operation interface includes one button for making the contents of the video / audio output device and the video / audio output device independent. 7. The video / audio reproduction apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the operation interface includes one button for adding the contents of the video / audio output apparatus to the video / audio output apparatus. 8. The first power supply device is built in the remote control device, and the second power supply device can be removed when a user operates the remote control device. 3. The video / audio reproduction device according to item 3. 9. A second information synthesizing device outputs a second video signal, a second audio signal, or a second data signal in order to reduce an audiovisual difference between the video / audio output device and the video / audio output device. The video / audio reproduction device according to claim 3, wherein the video / audio reproduction device performs correction processing, compression processing, or filtering processing.