JP2004297355A - Method of tuning digital broadcasting receiver and digital broadcasting receiver - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method of tuning a digital broadcasting receiver by which switching to a desired broadcasting channel is achieved by reducing an input frequency by a user while keeping the number of buttons prepared for a remote control operation means reduced, and to provide a digital broadcasting receiver. <P>SOLUTION: The method of tuning the digital broadcasting receiver 10 comprises: a tuning processing process conducting tuning processing by collecting tunable channels based on tuning information transmitted through a plurality of broadcasting media for digital broadcasting from a plurality of broadcasting stations to divide the tunable channels into some channel groups, applying the switching of the channel groups by means of the channel group switching button on a remote controller 100, and selecting one desired channel out of the channel groups by means of a commonly used channel switching button on the remote controller 100; and a turning information management process classifying tuning information divided for some channel groups for management. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method for selecting a digital broadcast receiver and a digital broadcast receiving apparatus, and more particularly, to a digital broadcast receiver having a function of receiving a plurality of broadcast media of a plurality of digital broadcasts such as satellite / cable digital / terrestrial digital broadcasts. And a digital broadcast receiving apparatus.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Some conventional digital broadcast receivers can receive a plurality of broadcast media such as BS (Broadcasting Satellite) digital broadcast / CS (Communications Satellite) communication digital broadcast.
To select a channel composed of video / audio or the like in such a digital broadcast receiver means to select one of these plurality of broadcast media, and to select a desired channel from the broadcast media. Is selected.
[0003]
Conventionally, this broadcast medium switching means includes a method using a desired broadcast service button (BS / CS1 / CS2) or the like described in Patent Document 1 or the like, and a toggle switch button (for example, BS → CS1 → CS2). → changes to BS).
[0004]
These methods are carried out by managing information called a network identifier (Network ID) included in a Network Information Table (NIT) of Service Information (SI) as channel selection information in a digital broadcast receiver, and appropriately referring to the information. ing.
[0005]
FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing transition of a broadcast service switching state in a conventional digital broadcast receiver.
For example, in the conventional method using a toggle switch button of a remote controller, as shown in FIG. 8, after selecting a desired broadcast service from BS / CS1 / CS2 using a broadcast service switch button, channel up (+ )-An operation of switching a channel in a broadcast service with a down (-) key to select a desired channel has been performed.
The conventional example shown in FIG. 8 shows an example in which separate broadcasting services CS1 and CS2 are performed using the same broadcasting medium CS.
[0006]
In addition, in a storage type digital broadcast receiver, a program is stored in units of programs while being classified into genres based on channel additional information such as genre information, and a selection menu is used as program selection means when reproducing the programs. There is a method in which a genre is selected by displaying the genre using the left and right keys of a menu, and then a program in the genre is selected.
However, this is based on the premise that channel additional information such as genre information can be stored in advance for each program, and that channel additional information such as genre information can be used.
Further, the classification is performed only on a program basis, and is not performed on a channel basis during live broadcasting.
[0007]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-2002-77748
[0008]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, in the future, in terrestrial digital broadcasting, broadband broadcasting, and the like, the number of broadcast media to be switched using the broadcast service switching function tends to increase, and the number of channels that can be selected by the user also increases. As the number of channels increases, it takes time to select a desired channel.
[0009]
In such a situation, in the case of using the conventional broadcast service switching method, when the number of broadcast media that can be received by the digital broadcast receiver increases, it is necessary to prepare many desired broadcast service buttons in the remote control. Or, the problem that it is necessary to press the toggle switch button of the remote controller many times to select the broadcast service that was viewed immediately before becomes a bigger problem.
[0010]
Furthermore, in terrestrial digital broadcasting, there is a high possibility that network identification is separately assigned to each broadcasting station, and the number of network identifications included in the broadcasting is larger than that of BS digital broadcasting or broadband CS digital broadcasting. Due to system differences, the conventional broadcast service switching method based on network identification reference cannot be used.
[0011]
The present invention has been made in view of the above situation, and collects selectable channels based on channel selection information transmitted from a plurality of broadcasting stations via a plurality of digital broadcast media. After dividing into several channel groups and switching between the divided several channel groups, a desired channel is taken out of the channel group by a normal channel switching operation of the remote control means. Can be tuned without any control, the tuning information divided into several channel groups can be classified and managed, and a large number of desired broadcast service buttons can be prepared in the remote control means as in the related art. There is no need to repeatedly press the toggle switch button of the remote control means to select the broadcast medium that was viewed immediately before, and there are few buttons to prepare for the remote control means. While maintaining Ku, and minimize the number of inputs of the user, and an object thereof is to provide a channel selection method and the digital broadcasting receiving apparatus of reliably switching is possible digital broadcast receiver to a desired broadcasting channel.
[0012]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
A channel selection method for a digital broadcast receiver according to the present invention is a channel selection method for a digital broadcast receiver that receives a plurality of broadcast media of digital broadcasts from a plurality of broadcast stations. Based on channel selection information transmitted via a plurality of broadcast media of broadcasting, selectable channels are collected, divided into several channel groups, and the channel groups are configured from the selectable channels. The first up / down switching operation of the remote control means for moving forward or backward in order to sequentially switch the some of the divided channel groups performs switching of the some of the divided channel groups. After selecting a desired one channel group from the channel group, the remote control means for forward or reverse feed for sequentially switching selectable channels 2 up / down switching operation, a tuning process for selecting a desired one channel from the selected channel group, and classifying the tuning information divided into the several channel groups. And a step of managing channel selection information.
[0013]
The method for selecting a channel of a digital broadcast receiver according to the present invention may be arranged such that the switching of the divided several channel groups is orthogonal to the channel switching button of the remote control means for up / down the channel. This is performed using a group switching button.
[0014]
In the method for selecting a digital broadcast receiver according to the present invention, the classification method of the configuration of the channel group, which exists in several types, is displayed on the display screen of the display means by a menu that can be selected and designated by the user. I have.
[0015]
In the method of selecting a digital broadcast receiver according to the present invention, when switching some of the divided channel groups, a sentence or image representing an outline of a method of classifying the configuration of the corresponding channel group is displayed on the display screen of the display means. Is displayed.
[0016]
In the method of selecting a digital broadcast receiver according to the present invention, the channel group is configured for each broadcast medium according to the type of a broadcast identifier of a system management descriptor (System Management Descriptor).
[0017]
The channel selection method for a digital broadcast receiver according to the present invention comprises the steps of collecting only the channels provided by the same broadcaster and its affiliates from the channels obtained from the plurality of broadcast media of the digital broadcast, and It is made to be constituted as.
[0018]
In the method of selecting a digital broadcast receiver according to the present invention, the channel group is configured for each of the same program genres from currently broadcast programs of channels obtained from a plurality of broadcast media of the digital broadcast. I have.
[0019]
In the method of selecting a digital broadcast receiver according to the present invention, only pay channels are collected from channels obtained from a plurality of broadcast media of the digital broadcast and configured as the channel group.
[0020]
In the method of selecting a digital broadcast receiver according to the present invention, only the contract channels are collected from the pay channels obtained from the plurality of broadcast media of the digital broadcast and are configured as the channel group.
[0021]
The method of selecting a digital broadcast receiver according to the present invention is configured such that only channels provided by the same broadcaster and affiliates thereof are collected from channels obtained from a plurality of broadcast media of the digital broadcast. Channel groups can be switched in the order of the remote control keys of the remote control means.
[0022]
A digital broadcast receiving apparatus according to the present invention comprises: a digital broadcast receiver for receiving a plurality of broadcast media of digital broadcast from a plurality of broadcast stations; and remote control means for remotely controlling the digital broadcast receiver. The receiver collects selectable channels based on channel selection information transmitted from the plurality of broadcast stations via the plurality of broadcast media of the digital broadcast, divides the channels into several channel groups, and divides the channels. The channel group is composed of selectable channels, and the some divided by a first up / down switching operation of a remote control means for moving forward or backward in order to sequentially switch the several divided channel groups. After switching the channel groups, selecting one desired channel group from the several channel groups, and sequentially selecting the selectable channels. Channel selection processing means for performing a channel selection process of selecting a desired one channel from the selected channel group by a second up / down switching operation of the remote control means for performing forward or reverse feed for switching; Tuning information management means for classifying and managing the tuning information divided into several channel groups.
[0023]
The problem regarding the terrestrial digital broadcasting broadcast service switching method is that a channel group is classified for each broadcast medium using a broadcast identifier of a system management descriptor as a key, and then a desired channel is assigned. The problem is solved by tuning.
[0024]
Further, channels broadcast by a plurality of broadcast media are classified into broadcasters and their affiliated companies to form a channel group, and the broadcaster channel group is selected, and a desired channel is selected from the group. By selecting, it is also possible to adopt a channel selection method of reducing the number of times of input by the user.
[0025]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a digital broadcast receiving apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
The digital broadcast receiving apparatus according to the present invention includes a digital broadcast receiver 10 for receiving a plurality of broadcast media of digital broadcasts from a plurality of broadcast stations, and a remote control 100 that is a remote control unit that remotely controls the digital broadcast receiver 10. The digital broadcast receiver 10 collects selectable channels based on channel selection information transmitted from a plurality of broadcasting stations via a plurality of digital broadcast media and divides the channels into several channel groups. The first remote control 100 performs a first up / down switching operation of the remote controller 100 to advance or rewind in order to sequentially switch some of the divided channel groups. After switching the channel group and selecting one desired channel group from several channel groups, the selectable channels are changed. An MPU (Micro) which is a channel selection processing means for performing a channel selection process of selecting a desired one channel from a selected channel group by a second up / down switching operation of the remote controller 100 which performs forward or reverse feed for next switching. (Processing Unit) 44 and a tuning information management database 60 as tuning information management means for classifying and managing tuning information divided into several channel groups.
[0026]
A channel selection method for a digital broadcast receiver according to the present invention is a channel selection method in a digital broadcast receiver that receives a plurality of broadcast media of digital broadcast from a plurality of broadcast stations.
The channel selection method of the digital broadcast receiver according to the present invention collects selectable channels based on channel selection information transmitted from a plurality of broadcast stations via a plurality of broadcast media of digital broadcasting, and selects several channels. The remote control 100 is divided into channel groups to form a channel group from selectable channels, and the number of divided channels is changed by a first up / down switching operation of the remote controller 100, which forwards or returns to sequentially switch some of the divided channel groups. The second up / down switching of the remote controller 100 that switches between the channel groups, selects a desired one of the several channel groups, and then forwards or backwards to sequentially switch selectable channels. A channel selection processing step of performing a channel selection process of selecting a desired one channel from the selected channel group by an operation; And a channel selection information management step of classifying and managing channel selection information divided into Kano channel group.
[0027]
An example of an embodiment according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.
In the following embodiments, in particular, digital terrestrial television broadcasting (terrestrial digital broadcasting), BS digital broadcasting using a BS (broadcast satellite), and CS110 digital broadcasting using a 110 ° east longitude CS (communication satellite) A case will be described in which a channel group is formed for each broadcast service from channels receivable from the above and a desired channel is selected (tuned in) from the channel group (the case where the broadcast service shown in FIG. 7 is a category). .
[0028]
As shown in FIG. 1, the digital broadcast receiving apparatus includes a digital broadcast receiver 10, a BS / CS110 antenna 20 for receiving satellite radio waves of BS / CS110 satellite digital broadcast from a broadcast station, and a terrestrial digital broadcast from a broadcast station. It comprises a terrestrial antenna 30 for receiving a terrestrial broadcast wave and a remote controller 100 for remotely operating the digital broadcast receiver 10.
[0029]
As shown in FIG. 1, the digital broadcast receiver 10 includes a BS / CS110 tuner 21, a satellite demodulator 22, a descrambler 23, a demultiplexer 24, an AV decoder 25, a terrestrial tuner 31, a terrestrial demodulator 32, a RAM (Random). An access memory (41), a flash memory (42), a read only memory (ROM) 43, a micro processing unit (MPU) 44, a graphic drawing / display processing unit 45, an adder 46, a monitor 47, and a remote control light receiving unit 48 are provided.
The MPU 44 controls the entire digital broadcast receiver 10.
[0030]
The digital broadcast receiver 10 has a BS / CS110 antenna 20 and a terrestrial antenna 30 connected to a BS / CS110 tuner 21 and a terrestrial tuner 31, respectively. Is received by the BS / CS110 antenna 20 and the terrestrial antenna 30.
The radio waves of the digital broadcast from the broadcasting station received by the BS / CS110 antenna 20 and the terrestrial antenna 30 are provided to the BS / CS110 tuner 21 and the terrestrial tuner 31, respectively.
[0031]
The BS / CS110 tuner 21 and the terrestrial tuner 31 select a desired one physical channel by being given information such as the frequency of digital broadcasting.
The selected physical channel is demodulated by the satellite demodulator 22 and the terrestrial demodulator 32, respectively, and becomes one transport stream (Transport Stream; TS) composed of transport packets.
[0032]
In this embodiment, since the digital broadcast receiver 10 has two tuners, the BS / CS110 tuner 21 and the terrestrial tuner 31, two TSs can be acquired and processed at the same time. Since it does not matter to the gist of the present invention even if it is handled one by one, a procedure for processing one TS will be described.
Similarly, even if the TSs obtained by the satellite demodulator 22 and the terrestrial demodulator 32 are treated as the same, it is not related to the gist of the present invention.
Also, the present invention is applicable to another embodiment in which the BS / CS110 / terrestrial digital broadcast receiving tuner is integrated.
[0033]
When the TS is not scrambled, the descrambler 23 supplies the transport packet to the demultiplexer 24 as it is.
If the descrambler 23 finds that the program or data (download data or data broadcast) to be selected is scrambled from the information obtained from the SDT (Service Description Table) in the TS, It obtains an Entrance Control Message, obtains a key for descrambling, descrambles the scrambled program or data, and supplies the data to the demultiplexer 24.
[0034]
The demultiplexer 24 determines whether the data supplied from the descrambler 23 is related to video / audio of digital television broadcast, data broadcast, download data, or section data.
When the data supplied from the descrambler 23 relates to video / audio of digital television broadcast, the demultiplexer 24 supplies video / audio data of digital television broadcast to the AV decoder 25.
Further, when the data supplied from the descrambler 23 is related to data broadcasting, download data, and section data, the demultiplexer 24 selects channel selection information such as data broadcasting data, download data, and NIT (Network Information Table). The supplied section data is supplied to the RAM 41 via the MPU 44.
[0035]
The video / audio data of the digital television broadcast supplied to the AV decoder 25 is supplied to an adder 46.
[0036]
The adder 46 receives graphics such as display of subtitles, a GUI (Graphical User Interface), and data broadcast output from the graphic drawing / display processing unit 45 controlled by the MPU 44.
The output from the adder 46 is supplied to the monitor 47 and presented to the user.
The user operates the remote controller 100 while watching the monitor 47 and sends a remote control signal from the remote controller 100 toward the remote control light-receiving unit 48, thereby controlling the digital broadcast receiver 10 and watching a channel including video / audio and the like. .
[0037]
By the way, section data including channel selection information such as data broadcast data, download data, and NIT supplied from the descrambler 23 to the RAM 41 are processed by a program controlled by the MPU 44. The data is stored in the flash memory 42.
[0038]
The ROM 43 stores software necessary for operating the MPU 44.
The software stored in the ROM 43 is loaded into the RAM 41 via the MPU 44 as necessary, and the processing is performed.
[0039]
In the channel selection method of the digital broadcast receiver according to the present invention, switching of some of the divided channel groups is performed by a channel up (▲) button 101, which is a channel switching button of the remote controller 100 for raising and lowering the channel, and a channel down ( ▼) This is performed using a forward category button 103 and a forward category button 104, which are channel group switching buttons arranged orthogonal to the button 102.
[0040]
In the method of selecting a digital broadcast receiver according to the present invention, a method of classifying the configuration of several types of channel groups is displayed on a display screen 47a of a monitor 47, which is a display means, by a menu that can be selected and designated by a user. It has become.
[0041]
According to the channel selection method of the digital broadcast receiver of the present invention, when switching some of the divided channel groups, a sentence or image representing an outline of the method of classifying the configuration of the corresponding channel group is displayed on the display screen 47a of the monitor 47. It is designed to be displayed.
[0042]
In the method for selecting a digital broadcast receiver according to the present invention, a channel group is configured for each broadcast medium according to the type of a broadcast identifier of a system management descriptor.
[0043]
The channel selection method for a digital broadcast receiver according to the present invention collects only channels provided by the same broadcaster and its affiliated companies from channels obtained from a plurality of broadcast media of digital broadcast and configures a channel group. It is made to let.
[0044]
In the method of selecting a digital broadcast receiver according to the present invention, a channel group is configured for each of the same program genres from currently broadcast programs of channels obtained from a plurality of digital broadcast media.
[0045]
In the method of selecting a digital broadcast receiver according to the present invention, only pay channels are collected from channels obtained from a plurality of broadcast media of digital broadcasting to form a channel group.
[0046]
In the method of selecting a digital broadcast receiver according to the present invention, only contract channels are collected from pay channels obtained from a plurality of broadcast media for digital broadcasting, and are configured as a channel group.
[0047]
A channel selection method for a digital broadcast receiver according to the present invention is directed to a channel group configured by collecting only channels provided by the same broadcaster and affiliates thereof from channels obtained from a plurality of digital broadcast media. Can be switched in the order of the remote controller keys of the remote controller 100.
[0048]
FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing a RAM of the digital broadcast receiving device according to one embodiment of the present invention.
Next, components of the RAM 41 of the digital broadcast receiver 10 will be described in detail with reference to FIG.
As described above, the RAM 41 has the program execution area 70 which is an area where software is developed and executed.
[0049]
In the RAM 41, a tuning information management database 60 for realizing the tuning information management means of the present invention, a last channel information recording area 61, and a current category information recording area 62 are arranged.
[0050]
FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram showing a tuning information management database that realizes tuning information management means of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention.
The tuning information management database 60 stores a network identifier (Network ID), an original network identifier (Original Network ID), a service identifier (Service ID), a broadcaster identifier (Broadcaster ID), a frequency (Frequency), and the like as tuning information. Classification and management are performed for each broadcast identifier (broadcasting_identifier) such as terrestrial digital, BS, CS1, CS2, etc., which are channel groups.
[0051]
The configuration / update procedure of the tuning information management database 60 will be described later in detail with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
[0052]
The last channel information recording area 61 of the RAM 41 stores, for each channel group, the last channel of the channel that the user has watched last (or the channel that has been initially set if a channel group that has never been viewed before is selected). This is an area for recording information.
[0053]
In a current category information recording area 62 of the RAM 41, current category information such as a broadcast identifier, a network identifier, and a currently viewed channel of a group of channels currently being viewed by the user is recorded.
[0054]
The last channel information recording area 61 and the current category information recording area 62 of the RAM 41 will be described in detail in the procedure for switching and selecting a broadcasting service shown in FIG.
[0055]
FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram showing a remote controller of the digital broadcast receiving device according to one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 shows an appearance of a remote controller 100 used for a user to control the digital broadcast receiver 10.
Unlike the conventional remote controller, according to the present invention, the remote controller 100 switches the channel group so as to be orthogonal to the upper and lower channel up (+) button 101 and the channel down (-) button 102 for switching channels as shown in FIG. Left and right forward category (+) buttons 103 and forward category (-) buttons 104 are arranged.
By pressing the forward category button 103 and the forward category button 104 of the remote controller 100 with a finger, the channel group can be forward or forward and sequentially switched.
[0056]
In the present embodiment, a case where a broadcast service is defined as a category as a configuration of a channel group will be mainly described, and a procedure of broadcast service switching and subsequent channel selection will be described later in detail with reference to a flowchart of FIG. State.
[0057]
FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a method of updating the channel selection information management means in the digital broadcast receiving device according to one embodiment of the present invention.
Next, the configuration and update procedure of the tuning information management database 60 in the RAM 41 of the digital broadcast receiver 10 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.
Here, a procedure when a channel is selected for viewing a channel and a TS is acquired according to a user request will be described.
In the case of terrestrial digital broadcasting, when a receiving channel is set or when program information used in an EPG (Electronic Program Guide) or the like is updated, a procedure for acquiring some TSs may be taken. Can be updated in the same procedure.
[0058]
First, in order to extract channel selection information of a channel that the user wants to select, in step S200, channel selection information pre-recorded in the channel selection information management database 60 of the RAM 41 of the digital broadcast receiver 10 is read.
At the time of initial startup of the digital broadcast receiver 10, channel selection information prepared in advance in the ROM 43 or the like is read.
Otherwise, the information at the time of the previous channel selection recorded in the ROM 43 or the like is read.
[0059]
Next, in step S201, the MPU 44 controls and tunes the BS / CS110 tuner 21 or the terrestrial tuner 31 using the frequency or the like, which is the channel selection information acquired in step S200, to obtain a TS.
[0060]
In step S202, it is determined whether the TS acquisition has succeeded or failed.
If the TS acquisition is successful (“Y” in step S202), the process proceeds to the next step S203.
If the TS acquisition has failed (“N” in step S202), the procedure ends without updating the tuning information management database 60 in the RAM 41 of the digital broadcast receiver 10.
[0061]
In step S203, in order to acquire section data, a PID (Packet ID; packet identifier) of the demultiplexer 24 of the digital broadcast receiver 10 is set for each section to be acquired.
[0062]
In step S204, it is determined whether the NIT has been acquired or not.
After setting the PID, if the NIT can be obtained (“Y” in step S204), the process proceeds to step S205.
If the acquisition of the NIT fails (“N” in step S204), the procedure ends without updating the tuning information management database 60 in the RAM 41 of the digital broadcast receiver 10.
[0063]
In step S205, a network identifier (Network ID), an original network identifier (Original Network ID), a service identifier (Service ID), a system management descriptor (System Management Descriptor), and a distribution system description are described in the acquired NIT. Analyze the validity of information such as children.
[0064]
In step S206, a broadcast identifier of a system management descriptor (System Management Descriptor) is acquired.
[0065]
In step S207, it is determined whether or not the value of the broadcast identifier of the obtained system management descriptor corresponds to a terrestrial wave.
If the acquired broadcast identifier value of the system management descriptor corresponds to the terrestrial wave (“Y” in step S207), the information acquired in step S203 is regarded as information belonging to the terrestrial digital by the digital broadcast receiver 10. It is stored in the RAM 41 (step S208).
If the acquired broadcast identifier value of the system management descriptor does not correspond to a terrestrial wave (“N” in step S207), the process proceeds to step S209.
[0066]
In step S209, it is determined whether the value of the broadcast identifier of the obtained system management descriptor corresponds to the BS.
If the acquired broadcast identifier value of the system management descriptor corresponds to the BS (“Y” in step S209), the information acquired in step S203 is stored in the RAM 41 of the digital broadcast receiver 10 as information belonging to the BS. (Step S210).
If the value of the broadcast identifier of the acquired system management descriptor does not correspond to the BS (“N” in step S209), the process proceeds to step S211.
[0067]
In step S211, it is determined whether or not the value of the broadcast identifier of the obtained system management descriptor corresponds to CS110.
If the value of the broadcast identifier of the acquired system management descriptor corresponds to CS110 (“Y” in step S211), the process proceeds to the next step S212.
If the value of the broadcast identifier of the acquired system management descriptor does not correspond to CS110 (“N” in step S211), the procedure is performed without updating the tuning information management database 60 in the RAM 41 of the digital broadcast receiver 10. To end.
[0068]
In step S212, it is determined whether or not the value of the network identifier corresponds to CS1.
If the value of the network identifier corresponds to CS1 (“Y” in step S212), if the value belongs to CS, the information acquired in step S203 is stored in the RAM 41 of the digital broadcast receiver 10 as information belonging to CS1. It is stored (step S213).
If the value of the network identifier does not correspond to CS1 (“N” in step S212), the information acquired in step S203 is stored in the RAM 41 of the digital broadcast receiver 10 as information belonging to CS2 (step S214). .
[0069]
As described above, the update of the tuning information management database 60 of the RAM 41 of the digital broadcast receiver 10 regarding the TS specified by the tuning is completed by the steps S201 to S214.
[0070]
In addition, broadcasting is performed by classifying the step S203 and subsequent steps using a broadcaster identifier (broadcaster_id), a terrestrial digital television broadcaster identifier (terrestrial_broadcaster_id), a sequence identifier (affiliation_id), and the like included in a BIT (Broadcaster Information Table). It is also possible to replace with a procedure of categorizing and storing each business operator and its affiliated businesses.
[0071]
FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a screen display of a menu for changing the method of classifying the configuration of the channel group in the digital broadcast receiving apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.
Further, for example, the “Category button setting” screen 47 b on the display screen 47 a of the monitor 47 of the digital broadcast receiver 10 includes “Broadcast service” as a method of classifying the configuration of several types of channel groups that can be selected and designated by the user. Change menus such as "Classification by broadcast station", "Classification by broadcast station", and "Classification by genre of current program" are displayed, and the change menu is used to notify the user of the category classification method that can be selected and specified, and the user can select and specify. It is also possible to categorize them.
[0072]
By the way, even if the same TS is being received, each time the NIT is updated, steps S205 to S214 are performed, and the tuning information management database 60 in the RAM 41 of the digital broadcast receiver 10 is updated.
[0073]
Further, when the reception TS is switched, steps S201 to S214 are performed.
For example, when a plurality of TSs are acquired at the time of setting the reception channel of the terrestrial digital broadcasting or updating the program information used in the EPG or the like, steps S201 to S214 are performed for each acquired TS, and the digital broadcasting is performed. The tuning information management database 60 in the RAM 41 of the receiver 10 is updated.
[0074]
FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a broadcast service switching / tuning method in the digital receiving device according to the embodiment of the present invention.
Next, a method for actually switching and selecting a broadcasting service using the tuning information management database 60 acquired in this way will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.
First, when the user presses the forward category button 104 of the remote controller 100 (step S300), the broadcast identifier and the network identifier, which are the current category identification information, are read from the current category information recording area 62 in the RAM 41 of the digital broadcast receiver 10. Obtain (step S301).
[0075]
Next, by looking at the current category identification information acquired in step S301, the previous category is identified, and the last channel information recording area 61 in the RAM 41 of the digital broadcast receiver 10 is used to determine the last category among the channels constituting the previous category. In step S302, channel selection information such as a service identifier (Service ID) and a frequency (Frequency) of the channel being viewed is acquired.
[0076]
According to the procedure of steps S300 to S302, information necessary for selecting a channel related to the previous category is collected.
Next, in step S303, the MPU 44 controls the BS / CS110 tuner 21, the satellite demodulator 22, or the terrestrial wave tuner 31, and the terrestrial demodulator 32 of the digital broadcast receiver 10 to perform a tuning process and obtain a TS.
[0077]
Next, in step S304, by setting the demultiplexer 24 of the digital broadcast receiver 10, a PAT (Program Association Table) / PMT (Program Map Table) is obtained from the TS obtained in step S303, and the video / audio ES (Elementary) is obtained. Stream) PID information is obtained.
[0078]
Next, in step S305, the video / audio ES is set in the AV decoder 25 of the digital broadcast receiver 10, and the video / audio is output to the monitor 47 of the digital broadcast receiver 10 to complete the channel selection.
[0079]
As described above, the processing of the broadcast service switching and the subsequent channel selection are completed by steps S300 to S305.
[0080]
The same procedure can be applied to the case where the advance category button 103 of the remote controller 100 is pressed.
[0081]
In this example, a method of switching a channel group using a broadcast identifier has been described. However, a broadcaster identifier (Broadcaster ID), a terrestrial digital television broadcaster identifier (Terrestrial Broadcaster_ID), and a sequence identifier included in the BIT are described. (Affiliation ID) and the like, and a correlation table of various identifiers between BS / CS / terrestrial waves previously provided in the digital broadcast receiver 10 are used to configure a channel group for each operator, and the method is switched to a method of switching the channel group. You can also.
[0082]
In the case of terrestrial broadcasting, a remote control key can be designated according to a broadcaster called a remote control key ID, and thus it is possible to switch the channel group in this order.
[0083]
Similarly, the channel group can be configured for each of the same program genres by referring to an EIT (Event Information Table) from the programs currently being broadcast.
The EIT (EIT p / f) of the current program may not be stored in the digital broadcast receiver 10 due to terrestrial digital broadcasting or the like. In this case, the EIT (schedule) obtained in advance is used. This can be handled by referring to information on the current program.
[0084]
Further, similarly, it is possible to configure the channel group from pay channels by judging whether or not the channel is a pay channel from the conditional access descriptor of the PMT acquired in advance.
[0085]
By referring to the registration information of the IC card of the digital broadcast receiver 10, it is possible to further configure a channel group from only the contracted channels.
[0086]
FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a screen display when the method of classifying the configuration of the channel group is changed in the digital broadcast receiving device according to the embodiment of the present invention.
As described above, it is possible to select from several types of channel group classification / switching methods.
Therefore, as shown in FIG. 10, when the channel group is switched by using the “return category button 104 / forward category button 103” of the remote controller 100, the category in which the channel group is switched is digitally determined. It is also possible to display on the display screen 47a of the monitor 47 of the broadcast receiver 10 to notify the user of the confirmation.
[0087]
FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing transition of a broadcast service switching / tuning state in the digital receiving device according to the embodiment of the present invention.
As described above, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, the channel group is sequentially switched back and forth using the “return category button 104 / forward category button 103” of the remote controller 100 as a channel for each broadcast service or broadcaster. After that, a desired channel can be selected by sequentially switching up and down using the “channel up button 101 / channel down button 102” of the remote controller 100, which is a normal channel switching method.
[0088]
Also, the case of a digital broadcast receiver having a terrestrial digital / BS / CS110 broadcast receiving function is described as an example. However, if it is a broadcasting service that transmits channel selection information in accordance with SI, other services will be described. It is also applicable to broadcasting.
[0089]
Furthermore, even when the receiving function unit is a detachable digital broadcast receiver (for example, when a terrestrial digital receiving unit is detachable from an existing BS / CS110 receiver, etc.), the channel selection procedure of the present invention The channel selection information management means is applicable.
[0090]
The present invention has the following effects.
Only two remote control buttons need to be installed without depending on the increase or decrease in the number of broadcast services that can be viewed. For example, switching between a terrestrial digital broadcast service and other broadcast services can be smoothly performed.
[0091]
Also, the channel of the broadcast service that was viewed immediately before can be viewed again with a single button input.
[0092]
Furthermore, the concept of switching the broadcast service has been difficult for the user to understand in the past. However, by arranging the broadcast switching button adjacent to the “channel up / down button” of a remote control that has already become widespread, It is possible to easily inform the user of two things, that there are a plurality of channels for each "service" and that a channel can be selected up and down and that there are a plurality of "broadcast services" that can be received by the digital receiver.
Further, by providing the user with a channel group switching unit that can switch channel groups in a category classification other than “broadcast service”, it is also possible to reduce a procedure for selecting a desired channel.
[0093]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, selectable channels are collected and divided into several channel groups based on channel selection information transmitted from a plurality of broadcast stations via a plurality of digital broadcast media. After switching some of the divided channel groups, a desired channel can be selected from the channel group without time by a normal channel switching operation of the remote control means. Channel selection information divided into channel groups can be classified and managed, and a large number of desired broadcast service buttons can be prepared in the remote control means as in the past, or the broadcast medium that the user has watched immediately before can be set. There is no need to press the toggle switch button of the remote control means many times to make a selection, and the number of user inputs while keeping the buttons to be prepared for the remote control means small And as low as possible, it is possible to obtain a tuning method and a digital broadcast receiving apparatus surely can switch over to a digital broadcast receiver to a desired broadcasting channel.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a digital broadcast receiving device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing a RAM of the digital broadcast receiving device according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram showing a remote controller of the digital broadcast receiving device according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram showing a tuning information management database that realizes tuning information management means of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a method of updating the channel selection information management means in the digital broadcast receiving device according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a broadcast service switching / tuning method in the digital receiving apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing transition of a broadcast service switching / tuning state in the digital receiving device according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a transition of a broadcast service switching state in a conventional digital broadcast receiver.
FIG. 9 is an explanatory view showing a screen display example of a change menu of a method of classifying the configuration of a channel group in the digital broadcast receiving apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a screen display when the classification method of the configuration of the channel group is changed in the digital broadcast receiving device according to the embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
10 Digital broadcast receiver
20 BS / CS110 antenna
21 BS / CS110 tuner
22 satellite demodulator
23 descrambler
24 Demultiplexer
25 AV decoder
30 terrestrial antenna
31 Terrestrial Tuner
32 terrestrial demodulator
41 RAM
42 flash memory
43 ROM
44 MPU
45 Graphic drawing / display processing unit
46 Adder
47 monitor (display means)
47a Display screen
47b “Category button setting” screen
48 Remote control receiver
60 tuning information management database (tuning information management means)
61 Last channel information recording area
62 Current category information recording area
70 Program execution area
100 Remote control (remote control means)
101 Channel up button (channel switching button)
102 Channel down button (channel switching button)
103 Forward category button (channel group switching button)
104 Back category button (Channel group switch button)

Claims (11)

A method for selecting a digital broadcast receiver for receiving a plurality of broadcast media of digital broadcast from a plurality of broadcast stations,
Based on channel selection information transmitted from the plurality of broadcasting stations via the plurality of broadcast media of the digital broadcasting, a channel group is formed by collecting selectable channels and dividing them into several groups. The first up / down switching operation of the remote control means for advancing or reversing the several channel groups in order to sequentially switch the some channel groups; After a desired one channel group is selected from the group, the second up / down switching operation of the remote control means for performing forward or reverse feed for sequentially switching selectable channels from among the selected channel groups. A tuning process for performing a tuning process for selecting one desired channel; and the tuning information divided into the several channel groups. Tuning method for a digital broadcast receiver which comprises a tuning information management step of classifying and managing. The switching of some of the divided channel groups is performed by using a channel group switching button arranged to be orthogonal to a channel switching button of the remote control unit for raising and lowering the channel. The channel selection method of the digital broadcast receiver described. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of types of channel group configurations are displayed on a display screen of a display unit by a menu that can be selected and designated by a user. 4. The display according to claim 1, wherein a text or an image representing an outline of a method of classifying the configuration of the corresponding channel group is displayed on the display screen of the display unit when the some of the divided channel groups are switched. How to select a digital broadcast receiver. 5. The method of selecting a digital receiver according to claim 1, wherein the channel group is configured for each broadcast medium according to a type of a broadcast identifier of a system management descriptor. 5. The channel group according to claim 1, wherein only channels provided by the same broadcaster and its affiliates are collected from channels obtained from a plurality of broadcast media of the digital broadcast and configured as the channel group. 6. How to select a digital broadcast receiver. The digital broadcast receiver according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the channel group is configured for each of the same program genres from currently broadcast programs on channels obtained from a plurality of broadcast media of the digital broadcast. Bureau method. The method of selecting a digital broadcast receiver according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein only pay channels are collected from channels obtained from a plurality of broadcast media of the digital broadcast and configured as the channel group. 9. The method for selecting a digital broadcast receiver according to claim 8, wherein only the contract channels are collected from the pay channels obtained from the plurality of broadcast media of the digital broadcast to form the channel group. The channel group formed by collecting only the channels provided by the same broadcaster and its affiliates from the channels obtained from the plurality of broadcast media of the digital broadcast is arranged in the order of the remote control keys of the remote control means. 7. The method for selecting a digital broadcast receiver according to claim 6, wherein the switching is performed by: A digital broadcast receiver for receiving a plurality of broadcast media of digital broadcasts from a plurality of broadcast stations, and remote control means for remotely controlling the digital broadcast receiver, wherein the digital broadcast receiver includes the plurality of broadcast stations. Based on channel selection information transmitted through a plurality of broadcast media of the digital broadcast, a channel group is formed by collecting selectable channels and dividing the group into several groups. By the first up / down switching operation of the remote control means for moving forward or backward in order to sequentially switch the channel groups, the divided channel groups are switched, and the desired one channel group is switched from the channel groups. After selecting one group of channels, a second uploader of the remote control means for performing forward or reverse feed to sequentially switch selectable channels Channel selection processing means for performing channel selection processing for selecting a desired one of the selected channel groups by a channel switching operation, and classifying and managing the channel selection information divided into the several channel groups. A digital broadcast receiving device, comprising: tuning information management means.

Images