JP2004165862A - Digital broadcast receiver - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a broadcast receiver superior in the operability of channel selection. <P>SOLUTION: A remote control transmitter 10 has fingertip operation keys marked with numerals 1 to 12 corresponding to broadcast carriers (a plurality of channels) one to one. Either a first process of selecting separate channels one after another from a channel group corresponding to the fingertip operation key, every time it is operated, or a second process of indicating a channel group corresponding to the fingertip operation key on a receiver tube 16a, every time it is operated to select a channel by a user's operation, is automatically selected according to the number of channels assigned to each fingertip operation key. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
[Industrial applications]
The present invention relates to a digital broadcast receiving device for receiving digital broadcast.
[0002]
[Prior art]
A digital broadcast receiving device that receives digital broadcasts using satellites or terrestrial waves selects an arbitrary broadcast wave from a plurality of broadcast waves received through a satellite antenna or a terrestrial antenna with a digital tuner, and selects the selected broadcast wave. , An arbitrary channel is selected from the plurality of channels included in the above by demultiplex processing, a digital signal of the selected channel is extracted, and a video / audio signal is output by decoding the digital signal.
[0003]
By the way, in such digital broadcasting, a key (one-touch key, preset key, etc.) is assigned to each broadcaster, and a desired broadcaster's channel can be directly selected by operating the assigned key. Is considered. As a related art related to this, there is a technique of selecting one channel from a plurality of channels of one broadcaster assigned to a predetermined button (see Patent Document 1).
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 10-149451 A
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in digital broadcasting, the same broadcaster (same broadcasting station), network, and the like can perform multi-channel broadcasting in various forms as one group. For example, standard-definition broadcasting, high-definition broadcasting, and radio broadcasting , And data broadcasting. Therefore, if one-touch keys are assigned to individual channels, the number of keys becomes enormous, and the remote control transmitter is enlarged. Also, as in the technique of the above-mentioned conventional publication, even if one channel can be selected from a plurality of channels of a broadcaster using a preset key, the user looks at another channel among the plurality of channels. If you want to change the channel by operating the channel up / down key, you have to change your fingertip from the preset key to the channel up / down key. bad. The channel selection by the channel up / down key is a channel selection process that does not consider the number of channels assigned to each preset key.
[0006]
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to provide a digital broadcast receiving apparatus in which channel operability is improved in consideration of the number of channels of an allocation key.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a digital broadcast receiving apparatus according to the present invention includes: means for associating a grouped channel group with an assignment key; means for storing tuning-related information of the channel group; Means for performing channel selection processing of one channel in the corresponding channel group when operated, and two or more channel selection operation processes for selecting a target channel after the assignment key is operated. A channel selection operation process is automatically selected according to whether or not the number of channels of each assigned key exceeds a predetermined number.
[0008]
With the above configuration, the channel selection operation process is automatically selected according to the number of channels of each assigned key. Therefore, when the number of channels is equal to or less than a predetermined number, the channel selection operation process that is preferable when the number of channels is small is performed. When automatic selection is performed and the number of channels exceeds a predetermined number, it is possible to automatically select a channel selection operation process that is advantageous when the number of channels is relatively low, thereby improving channel selection operability.
[0009]
The channel selection operation process corresponds to a first process of sequentially selecting another channel from a channel group corresponding to each time the assignment key is operated, and corresponds to a case where the assignment key is operated. A second process of displaying a channel group list on a screen and selecting a channel selected by a user operation is provided. When the number of channels is equal to or less than a predetermined number, the first process is automatically selected and exceeds the predetermined number. Sometimes, the second process may be automatically selected.
[0010]
The predetermined number may be stored in a memory in advance as data.In this case, data is prepared according to age as the predetermined number, and the predetermined number is selected based on age information input by a user. It may be. Further, the predetermined number may be set based on a result of a simulated tuning operation performed by a user.
[0011]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a digital broadcast receiving apparatus 30 of this embodiment for receiving terrestrial digital broadcasts, FIG. 2 is a plan view of a remote control transmitter, and FIG. 3 is an explanation showing an example of a list display screen. FIG. 4 is an explanatory view exemplifying a screen transition at the time of a tuning process, FIG. 5 is an explanatory view exemplifying a tuning operation required time measurement screen by one-touch key operation, and FIG. 6 is a display list. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram exemplifying a tuning operation required time measurement screen, and FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a tuning operation required time measurement result.
[0012]
In FIG. 1, a terrestrial antenna 1 is arranged outdoors in a predetermined direction, and receives a terrestrial digital broadcast signal. The terrestrial antenna 1 supplies a received signal to a terrestrial digital tuner 2.
[0013]
The terrestrial digital tuner 2 extracts a signal of a specific frequency from high-frequency digital modulation signals including video and audio data. The terrestrial digital tuner 2 includes a demodulation circuit, a deinterleave circuit, an error correction circuit, and the like, and demodulates a selected digital modulation signal to output a transport stream.
[0014]
The demultiplexer (DEMUX) 3 separates the transport stream into a video stream of MPEG2 (Moving Picture Experts Group 2), an audio stream, a PSI / SI (Program Specific Information / Service Information), and the like. The demultiplexer 3 supplies a video stream and an audio stream to the AV decoder 4, and supplies program information and the like included in PSI / SI to the CPU 13. Note that a plurality of channels are multiplexed in the transport stream, and a process for selecting an arbitrary channel from among these is performed by selecting a packet ID in the transport stream from the PSI / SI. This is possible by extracting data such as whether the data is multiplexed. Also, the selection of the transport stream can be performed based on the PSI / SI information.
[0015]
The AV decoder 4 includes a video decoder that decodes a video stream and an audio decoder that decodes an audio stream. The video decoder obtains a quantization coefficient and a motion vector by decoding the input variable-length code, and performs inverse DCT transform, motion compensation control based on the motion vector, and the like. The audio decoder decodes the input coded signal to generate audio data. The video data generated by the decoding is output to the video processing circuit 5, and the audio data is output to the audio processing circuit 6.
[0016]
The video processing circuit 5 receives the video data from the AV decoder 4, performs D / A conversion, and converts the data into, for example, a composite video signal. The audio processing circuit 6 receives the audio data output from the AV decoder 4 and performs D / A conversion to generate, for example, a right (R) sound analog signal and a left (L) sound analog signal.
[0017]
The video output circuit 7 and the audio output circuit 8 include an output resistor, an amplifier, and the like. The AV output terminal 9 is provided with an output unit (a set of left and right audio output terminals, a video output terminal, and the like). The output unit is provided with a video / audio code 17 and a monitor including a picture tube 16a and a speaker 16b. 16 are connected.
[0018]
The OSD (on-screen display) circuit 12 outputs to the adder 20 video data based on character information and color information instructed by the CPU 13 to output. The adder 20 performs a process of incorporating the video data into the received video data output from the AV decoder 4. The OSD circuit 12 can display a menu screen, various setting screens, and the like.
[0019]
As shown in FIG. 2, the remote control transmitter 10 includes various keys and sends various commands to the broadcast receiving device 30. When the keys are operated, the commands corresponding to the keys mean. Signal light (remote control signal) is transmitted from the light emitting unit. The remote control light receiver 11 receives the signal light, converts the signal light into an electric signal, and supplies the electric signal to the CPU 13. In this embodiment, the keys provided on the remote control transmitter 10 and denoted by numerals “1” to “12” are assigned keys (hereinafter, referred to as one-touch keys). Here, it is assumed that one broadcaster is broadcasting with one transport stream, and one one-touch key is associated with one broadcaster.
[0020]
In a memory (for example, RAM, EEPROM, flash memory, etc.) 14, in addition to information for displaying an EPG screen, channel information (frequency information, information such as a channel list corresponding to a remote control key ID, a broadcast station name, etc.) And various setting information are stored.
[0021]
The CPU 13 performs overall control of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 30. In particular, the processing according to the present invention includes channel search processing, remote control key ID acquisition processing, one-touch key assignment processing, and one-touch key operation. Perform processing and the like.
[0022]
(Channel search processing)
For example, a channel search is automatically executed when the power is turned on for the first time. That is, the CPU 13 makes the tuner 2 select the lowest frequency in the UHF band in which the terrestrial digital broadcast is transmitted, and makes the station determination. If it is determined to be a station, the frequency information, station information (broadcasting station series name, etc.) and channel list data are extracted and stored in the memory 14. This process is sequentially increased to the highest frequency (for example, from 12 ch to 61 ch).
[0023]
(Remote control key ID acquisition processing)
At the time of the above-described channel search, PSI is separated from the transport stream at the frequency of a local station, and a remote control key ID (TS number descriptor) of a NIT (Network Information Table) is obtained from the PSI. It is stored in the memory 14 in association with it.
[0024]
(One-touch key assignment processing)
The frequency information or the like for receiving the broadcast station is made to correspond to the one-touch key of the number indicated by the obtained remote control key ID. That is, XX broadcast station adds "8" as a remote control key ID to the TS number descriptor and transmits the same. The receiving apparatus receives this information and obtains the remote control key ID. XX broadcasting station is set to the one-touch key “8” of the. Thereafter, when the key “8” of the remote control transmitter 10 is pressed by the user, the channel of the XX broadcasting station is selected.
[0025]
(Initial tuning by one-touch key operation)
As described above, when the user presses the one-touch key "8" of the remote control transmitter 10, the process of selecting the channel of the XX broadcasting station is performed. In digital broadcasting, a plurality of channels are prepared for each broadcasting station. Since it is possible, a process of selecting one channel from the channel list is performed. Here, since it is considered that each broadcasting station tends to reduce the number of a representative channel among the provided channel groups (younger), a channel to be selected first is included in the channel group. The channel with the lowest number is set.
[0026]
(Next operation for changing channels)
{Circle around (1)} When the one-touch key “8” is successively pressed by the user sequentially selected by the one-touch key continuous operation, the channel with the next smallest number is selected from the channel list. Similarly, every time the one-touch key is pressed, the channel with the next smallest number is selected, and pressing the key several times returns to the first channel.
[0027]
(2) In the case where the channel with the smallest number is selected by pressing the one-touch key "8" sequentially by operating the direction keys on the display list, and then the one-touch key "8" is pressed subsequently As shown in FIG. 3, a list indicating the contents of the channel group is displayed on the screen by the OSD display function. The receiving device 30 detects the presence or absence of a key operation of the remote control transmitter 10, and changes the cursor position on the display list when detecting the signal of the direction key. When the operation of the enter key of the remote control transmitter 10 is detected, a process for selecting a channel where the cursor is located at that time is performed.
[0028]
As described above, in this embodiment, a method of sequentially changing and selecting a channel by continuous operation of one-touch keys (hereinafter referred to as “one-touch key continuous operation selection”) and moving a cursor on a channel list displayed on a screen There is provided a method of changing the channel by selecting the channel (hereinafter, referred to as cursor selection on the display list).
[0029]
(Tuning operation required time measurement processing)
FIG. 4 shows screen transitions until the channel 743 in the channel group assigned to the one-touch key “8” is selected using the above-described one-touch key continuous operation channel selection and the cursor movement channel selection on the display list. It is a thing. FIG. 4A illustrates the one-touch key continuous operation channel selection, in which the one-touch key “8” is pressed five times in total from the state where the first channel 141 is displayed in the channel list to the time when the channel 743 is received. . On the other hand, FIG. 4B illustrates the cursor selection on the display list. Similarly, when the channel 141 is displayed, the one-touch key is pressed once, the down key is pressed five times, and the enter key is pressed once. The channel 743 is received by a total of seven key operations.
[0030]
Comparing these two channel selection processes, the number of key operations is smaller for the one-touch key continuous operation channel selection, but if the cursor is selected by moving the cursor on the display list, the target channel (this In the example, ch 743) can be confirmed. For this reason, when the number of assigned channels of the one-touch key is equal to or more than a predetermined number, it is generally considered that the channel selection by moving the cursor on the display list is more excellent in tuning operation. When the number is smaller, it is considered that the one-touch key continuous operation tuning is superior in the tuning operation. Therefore, in one embodiment of the present invention, based on whether or not the number of assigned channels of the one-touch key is equal to or more than a predetermined number, one of the channel selection by moving the cursor on the display list and the channel selection by one-touch key continuous operation is automatically selected. Make up. It should be noted that the predetermined number can be obtained experimentally, and it is considered that the predetermined number may be different for each age if experiments are performed by dividing the age of the user. When a predetermined number of data is stored in the memory 14 for each age, the predetermined number can be selected by having the user input an age.
[0031]
In the above example, the predetermined number is fixedly set. However, it is preferable that the predetermined number is actually set according to each user. Hereinafter, such a processing example will be described.
[0032]
The user measures the time required for the channel selection operation by, for example, selecting the item “measurement time required for channel selection” from the menu screen and performing an operation according to the screen instructions. The CPU 13 selects a one-touch key having the largest number of allocated channels as a one-touch key to be measured for the required time. Then, for the cursor movement channel selection on the display list and the one-touch key continuous operation channel selection, the time required for the user to perform the channel selection operation is measured for each channel movement amount. Here, when the one-touch key “8” to which six channels of ch141, ch142, ch441, ch741, ch742, and ch743 are assigned is selected, for example, the channel movement amount from ch141 to ch441 is 2, and ch141 to ch741. The channel movement amount is 3.
[0033]
(Measurement time required for one-touch key continuous operation tuning)
FIG. 5 shows an example of a screen for measuring the required time in one-touch key continuous operation channel selection. Here, the user is instructed to select ch441 as the first measurement content. As shown in the screen transition diagram of FIG. 4A, the user can select channel 441 by pressing the one-touch key “8” twice. The CPU 13 measures the time required to select the channel 441, and stores, for example, “3 seconds” as the measurement result in the memory 14 as the operation time of the movement amount 2 in the one-touch key continuous operation selection. By the same processing, the time required for tuning from the movement amount 3 to the movement amount 5 is sequentially measured.
[0034]
(Measurement of time required for channel selection by moving the cursor on the display list)
FIG. 6 illustrates a measurement screen of the movement amount 2 for the cursor movement channel selection on the display list, and the user is instructed to select channel 441. As shown in the screen transition diagram of FIG. 4B, the user presses the one-touch key “8” once to display the list, and further selects the ch 441 by pressing the down key twice and the enter key. I do. The CPU 13 measures the time required to select the channel 441 and stores, for example, “3.5 seconds” as the measurement result in the memory 14 as the operation time of the movement amount 2 in the cursor movement channel selection on the display list. By the same processing, the time required for tuning from the movement amount 3 to the movement amount 5 is sequentially measured.
[0035]
(Tuning process switching channel number determination process)
FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram exemplifying a result of the channel selection processing time measurement processing. According to this, when the movement amount of the channel is 2, the operation time by the one-touch key continuous operation channel selection is shorter, and when the movement amount is 3 or more, the operation time by the cursor movement channel selection on the display list is shorter. Is short. That is, the movement amount 3 becomes the threshold value of the user, and if the channel movement amount is less than 3, the one-touch key continuous operation channel selection is used. If the channel movement amount is 3 or more, the cursor movement on the display list is used to perform the channel selection operation. The time required can be reduced.
[0036]
However, when the user presses the one-touch key for the first time, it is impossible for the user to determine which channel in the channel group assigned to the one-touch key is desired to tune to, so that the amount of channel movement is I can't know in advance. Therefore, by considering “the number of assigned channels of the one-touch key / 2” as the average movement amount of the one-touch key, “the threshold value of the movement amount obtained by measurement (3 in the above example) × 2” is selected. It is preferable to set the number of processing switching channels. If the number of channel selection processing switching channels is "6", in the subsequent channel selection operation by the user, when the one-touch key "2" having five channels is pressed, the one-touch key continuous operation channel selection is automatically performed. When the one-touch key “8” having six channels and being used is pressed, the cursor selection on the display list is automatically adopted. This makes it possible to provide a channel selection process suitable for each user according to the number of channels assigned to the one-touch keys.
[0037]
Further, in the above example, the channel search is performed for all channels from channel 12 to channel 61. However, a table in which the area code is associated with a list of channels that can be received at that location is stored in the memory, and the user performs the channel search. By inputting the area code, information may be received and received only for the channels in the list. In addition, one-touch keys are associated with each other based on the obtained remote control key ID. However, the channel group (group) of each broadcaster can be made to correspond to a one-touch key of a user's favorite number regardless of the remote control key ID. It may be. Further, the case where the channel selected first in the operation of the one-touch key is the channel with the smallest number in the channel group has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the so-called last channel is selected first. You may make it. Further, in the above example, it is assumed that one broadcaster is broadcasting with one transport stream, and one one-touch key is associated with one broadcaster. Considering a case where a broadcaster (broadcasting station) broadcasts using a plurality of transport streams, or conversely, a case where a plurality of broadcasters (broadcasting stations) exist in one transport stream. However, the present invention is not necessarily limited to selecting a broadcasting company with one-touch keys, and a channel group in one or more transport streams may be set as one group. That is, what kind of group the one-touch keys are set to may be arbitrarily determined according to the form of broadcasting. Further, in the above-described embodiment, two of the cursor selection on the display list and the one-touch key continuous operation selection are prepared and either one is automatically selected, but other selections may be provided. Good thing.
[0038]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, in the present invention, a plurality of tuning operation methods are prepared, and an optimal tuning operation method is automatically selected according to the number of channels of each assigned key, and the tuning operation method is automatically selected. Allows the user to perform a channel selection operation.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a digital broadcast receiving apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a remote control transmitter.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which a channel list is displayed.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram exemplifying a screen transition at the time of a channel selection process.
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram exemplifying a required time measurement screen by one-touch key operation.
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram exemplifying a required time measurement screen based on a display list.
FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a measurement result of a required time of a tuning operation.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 antenna 2 tuner 3 demultiplexer (DEMUX)
4 AV decoder 12 OSD circuit 13 CPU
14 memory

Claims (5)

Means for associating a grouped channel group with an allocation key; means for storing channel selection related information of the channel group; and channel selection of one of the channels corresponding to when the allocation key is operated. Means for performing a process, two or more channel selection operation processes for selecting a target channel after the assignment key is operated are prepared, and whether the number of channels of each assignment key exceeds a predetermined number or not. A digital broadcast receiving apparatus characterized in that a tuning operation process is automatically selected in accordance with the following. 2. The digital broadcast receiving apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the channel selection operation process includes a first process of sequentially selecting another channel from a group of channels corresponding to each time the assignment key is operated. A second process of displaying a list of channel groups corresponding to when the allocation key is operated and selecting a channel selected by a user operation, and when the number of channels is equal to or less than a predetermined number, A digital broadcast receiving apparatus, wherein the first processing is automatically selected and the second processing is automatically selected when the number exceeds a predetermined number. 3. The digital broadcast receiving apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined number is stored in a memory in advance as data. 4. The digital broadcast receiving apparatus according to claim 3, wherein data is prepared for each age as said predetermined number, and said predetermined number is selected based on age information input by a user. apparatus. 3. The digital broadcast receiving apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined number is set based on a result of a simulated tuning operation performed by a user.

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