JP2004088682A - Program information display device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a program information display device in which a desired program is selected out of an electronic program guide by small user operations. <P>SOLUTION: The program information display device is provided with a CPU 30 wherein program information superimposed on video signals and audio signals is stored in a memory 31 and when a request of the electronic program guide under channel selection is received by a remote controller 11, numerals corresponding to numbers of channel buttons provided in the remote controller 11 are arrayed for each program within the electronic program guide composed of program information of channels to be displayed on a TV monitor 29. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a program information display device for displaying, on a TV monitor, program information superimposed on a broadcast program transmitted by digital broadcasting such as BS and CS.
[0002]
[Prior art]
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a screen of a conventional electronic program guide disclosed in, for example, JP-A-2000-354210. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes an electronic program guide screen displayed on a TV monitor, and 2 denotes an electronic program guide. For example, the program name and the broadcast date and time of the currently selected 120 ch are displayed in order of broadcast time. Reference numeral 3 denotes a cursor for designating a selected program, and reference numeral 4 denotes a program scroll instruction.
[0003]
FIG. 10 is a plan view schematically showing an operation surface of a conventional remote controller. In the figure, reference numeral 11 denotes a remote controller (hereinafter, simply referred to as "remote controller"), reference numeral 12 denotes a channel button, and reference numeral 13 denotes an electronic program guide screen 1. A program table button, a cursor button 14, and a decision button 15 are provided.
[0004]
Next, the operation will be described. When the program guide button 13 of the remote controller 11 is pressed, the electronic program guide screen 1 of the currently selected channel (120 ch) is displayed on the TV monitor as shown in FIG. Here, according to the program scroll instruction 4 displayed on the screen 1, the cursor 3 is moved to the “TV shopping” stage by the cursor button 14 of the remote controller 11. Each program information is shifted downward by one step, and new program information not displayed on the screen 1 is displayed in order. Conversely, the cursor 3 is moved to the step of “sports digest”. If the operation is continued, the program information for each broadcast time is shifted upward by one stage, and new program information not displayed on the screen 1 is displayed in order. When the user presses the enter button 15 after specifying one of the programs with the cursor button 14, the broadcast of the program is displayed on the TV monitor.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the above-described conventional program specifying method, when a program located far from the currently selected program in the electronic program guide 2 is selected (specified), the cursor button 14 must be frequently pressed, and the user must press the cursor button 14 frequently. The operation was complicated.
[0006]
The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a program information display device that can select a desired program from an electronic program guide with a small number of user operations.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
A program information display device according to claim 1 of the present invention electronically obtains program information of each channel from broadcast waves or wires, constructs an electronic program guide from program information of a specified channel, and displays the electronic program guide on a TV monitor. A program information display device for displaying, wherein when an electronic program guide is constructed, the electronic program guide includes identification setting means for attaching an identification unit for selecting a program, and the identification unit is provided in a remote controller. Corresponding to the operation button.
[0008]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the identification setting means is configured to select a reserved program in the electronic program guide when a reservation button provided on the remote controller is operated. Attach the identification part.
[0009]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the program information display device according to the first or second aspect, wherein when a cursor button provided on the remote controller is operated, an electronic program guide on the TV monitor is displayed for each page. Means.
[0010]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the program information display device according to any one of the first to third aspects, the number of a channel button provided on the remote controller is used as the identification unit.
[0011]
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the program information display device according to any one of the first to third aspects, a code assigned to an operation button other than the channel button is used as the identification unit.
[0012]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Embodiment 1 FIG.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a digital broadcast receiver provided with a program information display device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a screen of an electronic program guide in Embodiment 1, and FIG. FIG. 3 is a plan view schematically showing the operation surface of FIG. The same or corresponding parts as those in the conventional example described with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.
[0013]
In the figure, reference numeral 21 denotes an antenna for receiving a digital broadcast wave, and reference numeral 22 denotes a tuner. The digital broadcast wave of a channel selected by a viewer is fetched from the digital broadcast waves received by the antenna 21 and demodulated. Reference numeral 23 denotes a DEMUX that separates audio data and video data contained in the digital television signal demodulated by the tuner, and data such as program information superimposed thereon.
[0014]
Reference numeral 24 denotes an audio decoder that decodes the audio data separated by the DEMUX 23, and reference numeral 25 denotes an audio output processing unit that performs output processing so that the audio signal decoded by the audio decoder 24 is reproduced by the TV monitor 29. Reference numeral 26 denotes a video decoder that decodes the video data separated by the DEMUX 23, and reference numeral 27 denotes a video output processing unit that performs output processing so that the video signal decoded by the video decoder 26 is reproduced by the TV monitor 29. Reference numeral 28 denotes a graphic control unit that controls the electronic program guide screen 1 constructed by the CPU, which will be described later, to match the processed video of the video output processing unit 27.
[0015]
Reference numeral 30 denotes the CPU which stores data such as program information separated by the DEMUX 23 in the memory 31 and, when the program guide button 13 is turned on by the operation of the remote controller 11 through the light receiving unit 32, the selected channel is selected. The electronic program guide screen 1 is constructed by reading the program information data corresponding to the program information from the memory 31 and is output to the graphic control unit 28. When the cursor button 14 of the remote controller 11 is operated, the electronic program guide 2 shown in FIG. 2 is controlled through the graphic control unit 28 so as to be displayed on the TV monitor 29 page by page.
[0016]
On the electronic program guide screen 1 constructed by the CPU 30, as shown in FIG. 2, between the program name of the electronic program guide 2 and the broadcast date and time, the number of the identification part corresponding to the number of the channel button 12 is selected. Is provided as a selection button 41 for the user.
[0017]
Next, the operation of the first embodiment will be described. FIGS. 4 and 5 are flowcharts showing the operation of the first embodiment.
For example, during digital broadcast wave reception, the CPU 30 determines whether or not the remote controller 11 has been operated (S1). When a signal (far-infrared signal) by the operation of the remote controller 11 is input via the light receiving unit 32, It is determined whether the program guide button 13 has been pressed (S2). When it is determined from the input signal that the button is another button, the process is started in accordance with the operation button (S4). The electronic program guide screen 1 shown in FIG. 2 is constructed and displayed on the TV monitor 29 via the graphic control unit 28 (S3).
[0018]
Thereafter, the CPU 30 determines whether or not the remote controller 11 has been operated (S11). When the operation of the remote controller 11 has been detected, the CPU 30 determines whether or not the channel button 12 or the cursor button 14 has been operated (S12 to S16). When the channel button of (1) is detected, the program name of "TV shopping" is selected from the number (S17), and when the channel button of (2) is detected, the program name of "local news" is selected (S17). (S18) When the channel button of (9) is detected, the program name of "sports digest" is selected (S19), and the selection of the program in the digital broadcast is ended.
[0019]
Further, when the operation of the cursor button 14 of "↓" is detected, the electronic program guide 2 of the next page is displayed on the TV monitor 29 via the graphic control unit 28 (S20), and the cursor button 14 of "↑" is displayed. When the operation is detected, the electronic program guide 2 of the previous page is displayed on the TV monitor 29 (S21). Then, returning to S11, the above-described operation is repeated.
[0020]
When the CPU 30 confirms the program selected by the channel button 12 of the remote controller 1, the CPU 30 displays detailed information of the program on the TV monitor 29.
[0021]
As described above, according to the first embodiment, when the electronic program guide screen 1 is displayed on the TV monitor 29, the number corresponding to the number of the channel button 12 of the remote controller 11 is displayed for each program name, and the corresponding channel is displayed. Since the program can be selected from the button 12 and the electronic program guide 2 on the TV monitor 29 can be displayed for each page, there is an effect that a desired program can be easily selected with a small number of user operations.
[0022]
Embodiment 2 FIG.
In the first embodiment described above, a program can be selected from the channel button 12 of the remote controller 11. However, in the second embodiment, a separate operation button is provided on the remote controller 11 to select a desired program from the electronic program guide. It is one that can be selected. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a screen of the electronic program guide according to the second embodiment, and FIG. 7 is a plan view schematically showing an operation surface of the remote controller. Note that the same or corresponding parts as those of the first embodiment described with reference to FIGS.
[0023]
In the second embodiment, a selection button 51 for selecting a program currently receiving a digital broadcast is provided on the operation surface of the remote controller 11 in addition to the channel button 12 (see FIG. 7). In this case, codes “F1” to “F9” corresponding to the selection buttons 51 of the remote controller 11 are stored in the memory 31 as data, and when the CPU 30 detects the operation of the program table button 13, When the electronic program guide screen 1 is constructed, the above data is read from the memory 31 and the selection button 51 of the remote control 11 is provided between the program name and the broadcast date and time of the electronic program guide 2 as shown in FIG. The symbols "F1" to "F9" are attached as selection buttons 41 for selecting a program name.
[0024]
Next, the operation of the second embodiment will be described. For example, when the CPU 30 detects the operation of the program guide button 13 of the remote controller 11 when the program broadcast of 120 ch is displayed on the TV monitor, the CPU 30 reads the data of the program information for 120 ch and the data from the memory 31. The electronic program guide screen 1 is constructed and displayed on the TV monitor 29 via the graphic control unit 28 (see FIG. 6). Thereafter, when the operation of the selection button 51 of the remote controller 11 is detected, the program name is selected based on the operation. For example, when the selection button 51 of “F9” is detected, “Sports Digest” of the program name with the code is selected.
[0025]
When detecting the operation of the “↓” cursor button 14, the CPU 30 displays the next page of the electronic program guide 2 on the TV monitor 29, as in the first embodiment, and the “↑” cursor button 14. Is detected, the electronic program guide 2 of the previous page is displayed on the TV monitor 29.
[0026]
As described above, in the second embodiment, when the electronic program guide screen 1 is displayed on the TV monitor 29, the same code as the code of the selection button 51 of the remote controller 11 is displayed for each program name. Since a program can be selected, there is an effect that a desired program can be easily selected with a small number of user operations.
[0027]
Embodiment 3 FIG.
In the third embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, a reservation button 52 for reserving a desired program from the electronic program guide 2 is provided in addition to the program table button 13. When the reservation button 52 is pressed, the CPU 30 during reception of the digital broadcast stores the data of the program information for the currently selected channel in the memory as shown in FIG. The electronic program guide screen 1 is constructed by reading from the program 31 and displayed on the TV monitor 29 via the graphic control unit 28. Thereafter, a reserved program name is selected based on the operation number of the channel button 12.
[0028]
As described above, when the reservation button 52 is pressed to display the electronic program guide screen 1 on the TV monitor 29, the number corresponding to the number of the channel button 12 of the remote control 11 is displayed for each program name, and the channel button 12 Since a program can be reserved from a user, there is an effect that a desired program can be easily reserved with a small number of user operations.
[0029]
In the third embodiment, when the electronic program guide screen 1 is displayed on the TV monitor 29 by pressing the reservation button 52 as described above, a number corresponding to the number of the channel button 12 of the remote controller 11 is displayed for each program name. Thus, the program can be reserved from the channel button 12. However, the same code as the code of the selection button 51 of the remote controller 11 is displayed for each program name on the electronic program guide screen 1 as in the second embodiment. Alternatively, a program may be reserved from the remote controller 11.
[0030]
In each of the above-described embodiments, a program can be easily selected for an electronic program guide in digital broadcasting such as BS and CS. However, an electronic program guide for digital broadcasting distributed over a cable such as CATV and the Internet is used. May also be applied.
[0031]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, when constructing an electronic program guide from program information of a specified channel, an identification unit corresponding to an operation button provided on a remote controller is attached to the electronic program guide, Since the information is displayed on the TV monitor, there is an effect that a desired program can be easily selected with a small number of user operations.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a digital broadcast receiver provided with a program information display device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a screen of an electronic program guide according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a plan view schematically showing an operation surface of a remote controller.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation of the first embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart following FIG. 4;
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a screen of an electronic program guide according to the second embodiment.
FIG. 7 is a plan view schematically showing an operation surface of the remote controller.
FIG. 8 is a plan view schematically showing an operation surface of a remote controller according to the second embodiment.
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a screen of a conventional electronic program guide.
FIG. 10 is a plan view schematically showing an operation surface of a conventional remote controller.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 electronic program guide screen, 2 electronic program guide, 11 remote control, 12 channel button, 13 program guide button, 14 cursor button, 15 enter button, 21 antenna, 22 tuner, 23 DEMUX, 24 audio decoder, 25 audio output processing unit, 26 video decoder, 27 video output processing unit, 28 graphic control unit, 29 TV monitor, 30 CPU, 31 memory, 32 light receiving unit, 41 selection button, 42 program scroll instruction, 51 selection button,
52 Reserve button.

Claims (5)

A program information display device for electronically acquiring program information of each channel from broadcast waves or cable, constructing an electronic program guide from program information of a specified channel, and displaying the guide on a TV monitor,
When constructing an electronic program guide, the electronic program guide includes identification setting means for attaching an identification unit for selecting a program in the electronic program guide,
The program information display device, wherein the identification unit corresponds to an operation button provided on a remote controller. 2. The program information display according to claim 1, wherein said identification setting means attaches an identification unit for selecting a reserved program in an electronic program guide when a reservation button provided on a remote controller is operated. apparatus. 3. The program information display device according to claim 1, further comprising a page switching unit for displaying an electronic program guide on the TV monitor for each page when a cursor button provided on the remote controller is operated. The program information display device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a number of a channel button provided on a remote controller is used as the identification unit. The program information display device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a code assigned to an operation button other than the channel button is used as the identification unit.

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