JP2005012412A - Program information display device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a program information display device enabling a user to easily and rapidly check the detailed information of a program, even if a display screen is small like an on-vehicle terminal device. <P>SOLUTION: The number and name (a) of a service are displayed on the top of a display screen, a starting time (b), number (c), name (d) and detailed information (e) of the program are displayed at the center; and a starting time (b), number (c) and name (d) of a program before and after the present time are also displayed at the center. The detailed information of a desired program is displayed by pressing any one of a pair of detailed information scrolling buttons (f, f) displayed at the top and bottom of the right side in a program detailed information display column, program switching buttons (g, g) displayed at the top and bottom of right side of the program detailed information display column, display service switching buttons (h, h) displayed on both sides of the bottom of the program detailed information display column, a day designating button (i) displayed at the bottom of the screen for designating "a week before", "previous day", "next day", "a week after", a "program designating" button (j) for designating a program number, and a "skip" button (k) for designating the number of program skips. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a program information display apparatus that receives television program information multiplexed and transmitted on a television signal and displays the television program information.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Analog broadcasting can only allocate one channel within one frequency band, but digital broadcasting can allocate multiple channels to one frequency band, so digital broadcasting can be easily multi-channeled compared to analog broadcasting. It is. Currently, digital broadcasting includes CS (communication satellite) broadcasting, cable broadcasting, Internet broadcasting, and the like. In these digital broadcasting, data such as video, audio, and computer programs are converted into MPEG (Moving Picture Expert Group) 2 format. The data is transmitted in the MPEG2-TS (Transport stream) format in which the data is compressed and mixed.
[0003]
In such a multi-channel television system, since the number of channels and the number of programs are large, for the purpose of improving the convenience of selecting viewing of programs, television program information (hereinafter referred to as EPG data) is multiplexed and transmitted to a television signal. The program to be viewed is selected from the television program table reproduced and displayed based on the EPG data, and the viewing program can be reserved.
When program information is displayed using the EPG data, conventionally, a multi-matrix program menu including a broadcast date, a broadcast time zone, a broadcast channel number, a broadcast program name, and the like is displayed on a television screen. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-215444
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
A conventional program information display device is configured as described above. However, in a digital broadcast receiver that does not have a large screen like an in-vehicle terminal device, each of the program information display devices includes a multi-matrix program table like a home receiver. It is difficult to display program information of a program, and in particular, there is a problem that details of the program cannot be known.
In addition, since the display screen is small, the number of programs to be displayed is limited, and it takes time to display a desired channel and time zone. For example, the program to be displayed is largely separated from the channel and time zone of the currently displayed program. In the case of a program of only a channel or a time zone, there has been a problem that the channel selection button and the time zone switching button have to be operated many times, and the operation is complicated.
[0006]
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems. Even when the display screen is small like an in-vehicle terminal device, the detailed information of the program can be easily confirmed and the detailed information of the desired program can be quickly obtained. It is an object of the present invention to provide a program information display device that can be browsed.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, a program information display device (1) according to the present invention includes:
Receiving means for receiving a television broadcast signal;
Program information extracting means for extracting program information multiplexed on the television broadcast signal received by the receiving means;
Program information storage means for storing the extracted program information;
Data generation means for generating program information display data based on the information stored in the program information storage means;
In a program information display device having display means for displaying the generated program information display data as an image,
The data generation means generates program information display data having detailed information of at least one program,
It has a switching means which switches the program which displays the said detailed information.
[0008]
According to the program information display device (1) according to the present invention, detailed information of one program is displayed and can be switched by the switching means. Therefore, even if the receiver has only a small screen, Detailed information can be browsed easily.
[0009]
The program information display device (2) according to the present invention is characterized in that the program information display device (1) has switching means for switching the service to be displayed. According to this program information display device (2), it is possible to view detailed information of programs on channels other than the channel selected on the program display screen.
[0010]
The program information display device (3) according to the present invention is characterized in that in the program information display device (1) or (2), there is provided means for scrolling the detailed information of the program displayed on the display means. To do. According to this program information display device (3), even if it is not possible to display all of the detailed program information on the small screen, it is possible to browse the entire detailed information by scrolling the detailed information.
[0011]
The program information display device (4) according to the present invention is characterized in that in the program information display device (3), means for scrolling the detailed information of the program is provided in the display means. According to the program information display device (4), the detailed information can be scrolled while browsing the detailed information of the program, and the operation becomes easy.
[0012]
In the program information display device (5) according to the present invention, in the program information display device (3), the means for scrolling the detailed information of the program is also used as the switching means for switching the program for displaying the detailed information. When the scrolling of information is completed, the program for displaying the detailed information is switched. According to the program information display device (5), since the means for scrolling the detailed information of the program and the switching means for switching the program for displaying the detailed information can be used together, the operation screen or the operation device can be simplified.
[0013]
The program information display device (6) according to the present invention comprises any one of the program information display devices (1) to (5), comprising date designating means for designating the date of the program for displaying the detailed information. The data generating means generates program information display data having detailed information of the program specified by the day specifying means. According to this program information display device (6), it is possible to display detailed information of a program on a desired day simply by designating the day, and it is possible to quickly change the program displaying the detailed information.
[0014]
Moreover, the program information display device (7) according to the present invention comprises any one of the program information display devices (1) to (6), comprising number designation means for designating a program number for displaying the detailed information. The data generation means generates program information display data having detailed information of the program with the number designated by the number designation means. According to this program information display device (7), it is possible to display detailed information of a program that is desired to be browsed only by designating the program number, and it is possible to quickly change the program that displays the detailed information.
[0015]
Further, the program information display device (8) according to the present invention includes a skip means for designating the number of programs to be skipped from the program displaying the detailed information in the program information display devices (1) to (7), The data generation means generates program information display data having detailed information of a program skipped by the number of programs specified by the skip means from a program currently displaying detailed information. According to this program information display device (8), it is possible to skip to a desired program only by designating the number of program skips, so that a program for displaying detailed information can be quickly changed.
[0016]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of a program information display apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a multi-channel television system to which the program information display device of the present invention is applied.
A digital broadcast receiver 1 receives a signal from an antenna 2 and selects a tuner 3, a demodulator 4 that demodulates a digital broadcast signal from the tuner 3, and video data, audio data, EPG data, and the like are multiplexed. A demultiplexer 5 as program information extracting means for separating and extracting each data from the broadcast signal, an audio decoder 6 for decoding the compressed digital audio data into an analog audio signal, and decoding the compressed video data A video decoder 7, an image processing unit 8 that processes the output of the video decoder 7 and outputs an image signal, a CPU 9 that performs overall control of the digital broadcast receiver 1, and a ROM 10 that stores various programs , A RAM 11 serving as a storage means serving as a storage area for the EPG data or a work area for the CPU 9, and signals from the remote controller 14. The a remote control I / F12 to send to CPU 9, and is configured to signal from the touch panel of the display 16 from the touch panel I / F13 Metropolitan sent to CPU 9.
[0017]
When a channel is selected by operating the remote controller 14 while a tuner 3 selects a broadcast signal from a desired broadcast station and receives the broadcast signal, the CPU 9 outputs a control signal to the demultiplexer 5. Since the signal of the selected channel is extracted from the demultiplexer 5 based on the signal, the signal of the selected channel is decoded by the audio decoder 6 and the video decoder 7, and the audio signal and video signal of this channel are converted to the speaker 15 and the display. 16 and the program of the desired channel can be viewed.
[0018]
Further, when a program information display / non-display button (not shown) of the remote controller 14 is pressed in a state where the program guide is not displayed, the CPU 9 performs separation output by the demultiplexer 5 and is based on the EPG data stored in the RAM 11. Generates program information data, and this data is displayed on the display 16 via the image processing unit 8. When it is desired to return from the program information display to the normal video output, the program information display is ended by pressing the program information display / non-display button of the remote control again.
[0019]
Next, the program information creation unit for creating the above-described program information will be described with reference to the functional block diagram of FIG. 2 showing the respective units that execute the program information display function of the digital broadcast receiver 1 by function.
2 includes a control unit 21, a program information storage unit 22, a program data generation unit 23, and a numerical value storage unit 24. The control unit 21 includes a demultiplexer 5, a remote control I / F 12, and a touch panel I / F 13. The program information storage unit 22, the program data generation unit 23, and the numerical value storage unit 24 are controlled, and the program information data generated by the program data generation unit 23 is output to the image processing unit 8. The program information storage unit 22 stores the EPG data separated and output by the demultiplexer 5, and the program data generation unit 23 stores the program information data of a desired program based on the EPG data stored in the program information storage unit 22. The numerical value storage unit 24 stores the numerical value input on the numerical value input screen.
Each of these units includes the CPU 9, the ROM 10, and the RAM 11 of FIG. 1, and the functions of the units are executed by a software program.
[0020]
Next, the operation when program information is stored and displayed will be described with reference to the functional block diagram of FIG. 2, the flowchart of FIG. 3, and the display screens of FIGS. The process shown in the flowchart of FIG. 3 is executed when program information is also displayed.
Broadcasting of EPG data is defined such that program information for a predetermined number of days on all channels is collected into one block, and this one block of data is repeatedly sent at predetermined intervals (about 5 seconds). Each time data is received, the EPG data separated and output by the demultiplexer 5 is stored in the program information storage unit 22 by the control unit 21. This EPG data includes information on broadcast programs such as channel numbers, channel names, program names, broadcast dates, broadcast start times, program identification numbers, and program descriptions.
[0021]
When the user presses the program guide display / non-display button of the remote controller 14 in a state where the program guide is not displayed, the information is sent to the control unit 21 via the remote control I / F 12, and the control unit 21 3, the program data generation unit 23 is instructed to generate program data at that time for the currently selected channel, and the program data generation unit 23 stores the EPG data stored in the program information storage unit 22. The program information display data including the detailed information of the designated program is generated based on this, and the control unit 21 sends this program information display data to the image processing unit 8, so that the program information as shown in FIG. (Step 101).
[0022]
On this program information display screen, as shown in FIG. 4, the service number and service name a are displayed at the top, and the program start time b, program number c, program name d and program contents of the program at the current time are displayed at the center. Detailed program information e such as performers is displayed, and program start times b, program numbers c, and program names d of programs before and after the program displaying the detailed information are displayed. A set of detailed information scroll buttons f and f are displayed on the upper right and lower sides of the program detailed information display column, and program switching buttons g and g are displayed on the upper and lower sides of the program information display column. In addition, display service switching buttons h and h are displayed on both sides at the bottom of the program display column, and “one week ago”, “previous day”, “next day”, “one week ahead” are displayed at the bottom of the screen. "Date designation button i", a "program designation" button j for designating a program number, and a "skip" button k for designating the number of program skips. The display surface of the display 16 is a touch panel as described above, and the information is input to the control unit 21 via the touch panel I / F 13 by pressing each button.
[0023]
When the program information is displayed, the control unit 21 determines whether or not the detailed information scroll button f has been pressed (step 102). If it is determined that the detailed information scroll button f has been pressed, the control unit 21 instructs the program data generation unit 23 to scroll the detailed program information according to the direction of the pressed scroll button, and the program data generation unit 23 displays the detailed information. Since the program information display data moved upward or downward is generated, the detailed information display on the display 16 is scrolled (step 101).
[0024]
On the other hand, when the detailed information scroll button f is not pressed, the control unit 21 determines whether or not the program switching button g is pressed (step 103). If it is determined that the program switching button g has been pressed, the control unit 21 instructs the program data generating unit 23 to create detailed information of the previous program or the next program in accordance with the direction of the program switching button. The unit 23 reads the detailed information of the program from the program information storage unit 22, creates program information display data similar to the above, and displays the created data on the display 16 via the image processing unit 8. (Step 101).
[0025]
If the program switching button g is not pressed, the control unit 21 determines whether or not the display service switching button h is pressed (step 104). When it is determined that the display service switching button h has been pressed, the control unit 21 creates detailed program information in the currently displayed time zone of the next channel or the previous channel according to the direction of the display service switching button. The generation unit 23 is instructed, the program data generation unit 23 reads the detailed information of the program from the program information storage unit 22, generates program information display data similar to the above, and the control unit 21 performs image processing on the generated data. The data is displayed on the display 16 via the unit 8 (step 101).
[0026]
Furthermore, when the service switching button h has not been pressed, the control unit 21 determines whether or not the date designation button i has been pressed (step 105). If it is determined that the day designation button i has been pressed, the control unit 21 designates according to which of the buttons “one week ago”, “previous day”, “next day”, or “one week ahead” is pressed. The program data generation unit 23 is instructed to create detailed information of the currently displayed channel and time zone program on the date of the program, and the program data generation unit 23 reads the detailed information of the program from the program information storage unit 22 Then, program information display data similar to the above is created and transmitted to the control unit 21, and the control unit 21 displays the created data on the display 16 via the image processing unit 8 (step 101).
[0027]
Further, if the day designation button i has not been pressed, the control unit 21 determines whether or not the program number designation button j has been pressed (step 106). If it is determined that the program number designation button j has been pressed, the control unit 21 proceeds to step 109 and sets the numerical value stored in the numerical value storage unit 24 to 0 (step 109). Next, the control unit 21 displays the numerical value input screen shown in FIG. 5 on the display 16 via the image processing unit 8 (step 110). On this numerical value input screen, an input number display frame m is displayed at the top, a number button n of “0” to “9” and a +/− designation button p are displayed at the center, and an input decision button r is input at the bottom A cancel button q is displayed. When these buttons are pressed by the user, information on the pressed buttons is input to the control unit 21 via the touch panel I / F 13.
[0028]
Next, the control unit 21 determines whether or not the numeric button n on the display screen has been pressed (step 111). If it is determined that the numeric button n has been pressed, the control unit 21 adds the numeric value of the pressed button to the value obtained by multiplying the numeric value stored in the numeric value storage unit 24 by 10 and stores the value in the numeric value storage unit 24 (step). 112).
[0029]
On the other hand, when the numeric button n is not pressed, the control unit 21 determines whether or not the +/− designating button p is pressed (step 113). If it is determined that the +/− designation button p has been pressed, the control unit 21 changes the sign of the numerical value stored in the numerical value storage unit 24 and stores it in the numerical value storage unit 24 (step 114). Thereby, the sign of the numerical value displayed in the input numerical value display frame m is changed.
[0030]
If the +/− designation button p is not pressed, the control unit 21 determines whether or not the input cancel button q is pressed (step 115). If it is determined that the input cancel button q has been pressed, the control unit 21 stores a value obtained by deleting the last digit of the numerical value stored in the numerical value storage unit 24 in the numerical value storage unit 24 (step 116). Thereby, the numerical value input immediately before is canceled.
[0031]
If it is determined that the input cancel button q has not been pressed, the control unit 21 determines whether the input determination button r has been pressed (step 117). If it is determined that the input determination button r has been pressed, the control unit 21 determines that the numerical value stored in the numerical value storage unit 24 is the number of the designated program, and creates detailed information of the program with the designated number as program data. Instructing the generation unit 23, the program data generation unit 23 reads the detailed information of the program of the designated number from the program information storage unit 22, creates program information display data similar to the above, and transmits it to the control unit 21, The control unit 21 displays the created data on the display 16 via the image processing unit 8 (step 101). When it is determined in step 117 that the enter button r has not been pressed, the control unit 21 returns to step 111.
[0032]
On the other hand, if it is determined in step 106 that the program number designation button j has not been pressed, the control unit 21 determines whether or not the program skip number designation button k has been pressed (step 107). If it is determined that the program skip number designation button k has been pressed, the control unit 21 proceeds to step 109 and creates detailed information of the program skipped from the current program by the numerical value input on the numerical value input screen in the same manner as described above. The program data generation unit 23 instructs the program data generation unit 23 to read out detailed information of the program from the program information storage unit 22, creates program information display data similar to the above, and transmits it to the control unit 21. The data in which 21 is created is displayed on the display 16 via the image processing unit 8 (step 101). Thereby, for example, when “−30” is input on the numerical value input screen, the detailed information of the program 30 times before the program displaying the current detailed information of the current channel is displayed.
[0033]
Further, when it is determined in step 107 that the program skip number designation button k has not been pressed, the control unit 21 determines whether or not the program information display / non-display button of the remote controller has been pressed. When it is determined that the program information display / non-display button of the remote control has been pressed, the control unit 21 ends the program information display, and when it is determined that the program information display / non-display button of the remote control has not been pressed, the process returns to step 102.
[0034]
As described above, since the detailed program information can be scrolled by the detailed information scroll button, the entire detailed information can be browsed even when the display screen is small like the in-vehicle terminal device. Further, detailed information of a desired program can be easily displayed by a program switching button, a display service switching button, a day designation button, a program number designation button, and a program skip number designation button. It can be changed quickly.
[0035]
In the above embodiment, the program for displaying the detailed information is switched using the touch panel of the display. However, the program for scrolling the detailed information using the scroll key of the remote control or displaying the detailed information. And display services, and use the function keys on the receiver's control panel to specify the date of “one week ago”, “previous day”, “next day”, “one week ahead”, program number, It is also possible to specify the number of program skips.
In the above embodiment, the means for scrolling the detailed information of the program and the switching means for switching the program for displaying the detailed information are provided separately. However, the means for scrolling the detailed information of the program and the detailed information are displayed. It can also be used as a switching means for switching programs, and when detailed information scrolling is completed, it is possible to switch the program for displaying the detailed information. In this way, the operation screen or the operation device can be simplified. Can be
[0036]
Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the program information display screen displayed on the display also displays the program names before and after the program displaying the detailed information. However, when the display screen is small, one program Only detailed information may be displayed.
In the numerical value input screen, each time a numerical button is pressed, the numerical value stored in the numerical value storage unit is multiplied by 10 and the numerical value of the pressed button is added and stored in the numerical value storage unit. However, the input numerical value can be stored as a character string and converted into a numerical value when the enter button is pressed.
Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, “one week ago”, “previous day”, “next day”, or “one week ahead” is designated by the day designation button. Can also be input, and it is also possible to skip a predetermined number of days with a skip button.
[0037]
【The invention's effect】
As described above in detail, according to the program information display device according to the present invention, since the detailed information of one program is displayed and can be switched by the switching means, the receiver has only a small screen. In addition, it is possible to easily browse the detailed information of the program.
[0038]
Further, if a switching means for switching the service to be displayed is provided, it is possible to view detailed information of programs of services other than the service selected on the program information display screen, and detailed information of programs displayed on the display means If the means for scrolling is provided, even if it is not possible to display all of the detailed information of the program on the small screen, it is possible to browse the entire detailed information by scrolling the detailed information.
[0039]
Further, if the display means is provided with means for scrolling the detailed information of the program, the detailed information can be scrolled while browsing the detailed information of the program, so that the operation can be facilitated, and the detailed information of the program can be displayed. If the scrolling means and the switching means for switching the program displaying the detailed information are combined, the operation screen or the operation device can be simplified.
[0040]
Also, a day designating unit for designating the date of the program for displaying the detailed information, a number designating unit for designating the number of the program for displaying the detailed information, or a skip for designating the number of programs to be skipped from the program currently displaying the detailed information. If means are provided, it is possible to display the detailed information of the desired program simply by operating these, and it is possible to quickly change the program displaying the detailed information.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a multi-channel television system in which a program information display device of the present invention is implemented.
FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of a program information creation unit that stores and creates program information.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the program information creation unit in FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a program information display screen.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a numerical value input screen.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Broadcast Receiver 2 Antenna 3 Tuner 4 Demodulator 5 Demultiplexer 6 Audio Decoder 7 Image Decoder 8 Image Processing Unit 9 CPU
10 ROM
11 RAM
12 Remote control I / F
13 Touch panel I / F
14 Remote controller 15 Speaker 16 Display 20 Program information creation unit 21 Control unit 22 Program information storage unit 23 Program data generation unit 24 Numerical storage unit

Claims (8)

Receiving means for receiving a television broadcast signal;
Program information extracting means for extracting program information multiplexed on the television broadcast signal received by the receiving means;
Program information storage means for storing the extracted program information;
Data generation means for generating program information display data based on the information stored in the program information storage means;
In a program information display device having display means for displaying the generated program information display data as an image,
The data generation means generates program information display data having detailed information of at least one program,
A program information display device comprising switching means for switching a program for displaying the detailed information. 2. The program information display apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising switching means for switching a service to be displayed. 3. The program information display apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for scrolling detailed information of the program displayed on the display means. 4. The program information display apparatus according to claim 3, wherein means for scrolling detailed information of the program is provided in the display means. The means for scrolling the detailed information of the program is also used as a switching means for switching the program for displaying the detailed information, and when the scrolling of the detailed information is completed, the program for displaying the detailed information is switched. Item 4. The program information display device according to Item 3. A date designating unit for designating a date of a program for displaying the detailed information is provided, and the data generating unit generates program information display data having detailed information on the program specified by the date designating unit. The program information display device according to any one of claims 1 to 5. Characterized by comprising number designation means for designating the number of the program for displaying the detailed information, wherein the data generation means generates program information display data having detailed information of the program of the number designated by the number designation means. The program information display device according to any one of claims 1 to 6. Skip means for designating the number of programs to be skipped from the program currently displaying detailed information, and the data generation means skips the number of programs specified by the skip means from the program currently displaying detailed information 8. The program information display device according to claim 1, wherein program information display data having detailed program information is generated.

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