JP2005217991A - Program, remote control method and mobile terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve user-friendliness by realizing relevance between minimum necessary information and simple button operation that permit TV programs of each broadcasting station to be checked. <P>SOLUTION: When a program contents PB has been operated by the user, a display screen image of each program title to be aired at designated time is changed over from display of broadcasting stations to that of channel buttons CB1 to CB 8. Therefore, a user can know the programs to be aired at the designated time. Then, the program contents PB is changed into the display of the broadcasting stations SB. As a result, this time, the program contents PB becomes possible to operate in order to know a station name and a channel button CB1 corresponds to a numeral key "1" of a dial key. There, when the numeral key "1" of the dial key has been pressed down, a remote control application detects that the channel button CB1 has been selected. Consequently, the program title "news 123" corresponding to the channel button CB1 is determined as a channel after channel switching. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a program, a remote control method, and a portable terminal.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, some television receivers that can receive a television broadcast have a function of extracting computerized program guide data superimposed on a broadcast wave and displaying it on a screen. In addition, a program table distribution server is provided on a network such as the Internet so that this function can be downloaded using a mobile terminal such as a mobile phone or PDA (Personal Digital Assistants) in addition to the remote control of the TV receiver. It has been proposed (Patent Document 1).

As a method for displaying a television program guide, there is known a method in which one of the vertical axis and the horizontal axis is set as a time axis and the other is set as a channel axis, and a plurality of programs are displayed in a matrix (Patent Document 2).
JP 2002-204413 A JP 2001-273690 A

  In the display mode of the television program guide according to the conventional example, the screen of the television device is effectively used and displayed in almost the same format as the television program guide published in magazines such as newspapers and television guides. That is, when the TV program guide is displayed on the TV screen, the display area is sufficiently secured, so that the program schedule for one day for all channels can be displayed.

  On the other hand, in a mobile terminal such as a mobile phone that cannot secure a sufficient display area, the display area is limited, and it is fully possible to display a part of the TV program guide. As an example of displaying a TV program guide on a portable terminal, there is a service of Airate Corporation. This service is a system for searching for TV programs using a mobile phone, and lists TV program titles of the day of one broadcasting station in the TV program table in the vertical direction.

  In addition, an application that enables remote control operation of a TV program using a mobile phone has appeared. As an example, there is one in which channel numbers are arranged in software on a display screen of a mobile phone. The channel number arrangement matches the button arrangement of the mobile phone itself. It is possible to send out an infrared signal for switching to a channel number corresponding to the operation button in accordance with the user's button operation.

  When a TV remote control operation is performed on a mobile terminal, it is only necessary to be able to check what program is being broadcast on each channel at the time of the operation or at an arbitrary time. The appearance of a simple mechanism was expected.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a program and remote control that can improve the convenience of the user by realizing the relationship between the minimum necessary information for confirming the TV program of each broadcasting station and a simple button operation. It is to provide a method and a portable terminal.

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the above object, a program according to the first aspect of the present invention is a program executed by a computer of a portable terminal having a button group, an infrared transmitter, and a display. Program information including a program title of a TV program that is associated with a TV channel number and broadcast on the computer and the broadcast time of the program title on the computer, and remote control information for performing TV channel control Are stored in a memory, and a first step of reading a program title broadcast at an arbitrary time from program information stored in the memory, and the program title read in the first step constitutes the program title A second step of displaying on the display unit in a direction crossing a direction in which characters are arranged; A third step of accepting any one of the program titles displayed on the display unit in two steps according to a user's selection operation; and remote control information corresponding to the channel number of the program title selected in the third step. A fourth step of reading from the memory and a fifth step of sending the remote control information read in the fourth step to the infrared transmission unit are executed.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, as in the second aspect, the first step reads a program title broadcast at an arbitrary time and a channel number corresponding to the program title from the program information stored in the memory. In the second step, the combination of the program title and the channel number read in the first step may be displayed on the display unit in a direction intersecting with a direction in which characters constituting the combination are arranged.

  Further, according to the first aspect of the present invention, as in the third aspect, the button group of the portable terminal includes numbered buttons, and in the second step, the horizontal direction of each program title displayed on the display unit is displayed. Are displayed in correspondence with the number of the numbered buttons of the button group, the third step accepts any one of the numbered buttons according to the user's selection operation, and the fourth step is the third step. The remote control information corresponding to the channel number of the program title corresponding to the number of the numbered button selected in (1) may be read from the memory.

  According to the first, second, or third aspect of the present invention, as in the fourth aspect, the program information is received from the server by accessing the server storing the program information in response to a user operation, and the received program information May be executed in the memory.

  According to the first, second, or third aspect of the present invention, as in the fifth aspect, the server for storing program information is accessed according to the user's operation, and the current time or an arbitrary period set according to the user's operation is set. The corresponding program information may be received from the server, and the received program information may be stored in the memory.

  The invention according to claim 4 or claim 5 may enable execution of processing for receiving program information corresponding to area information from the server.

  The program according to the invention of claim 7 is a program that can be executed by a computer of a server that can communicate with a mobile terminal, and in the direction that intersects the direction in which characters constituting the program title are arranged on the server. A remote control application having a function of displaying the program titles side by side on the display unit of the portable terminal, and associating the TV channel number, the program title of the TV program aired on the channel number, and the airing time of the program title When a request for a remote control application is received by access from the mobile terminal, the remote control application stored in the server is transmitted to the access source mobile terminal. By the first step and access from the mobile terminal A second step of determining whether or not a remote control application stored in the server has already been transmitted to the mobile terminal of the access source when a request for pair information has been received, and a determination of having been transmitted in the second step Is performed, the third step of transmitting the program information stored in the server to the mobile terminal of the access source is executed.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, as in the eighth aspect, the second step accepts a request for the program information from the portable terminal and accepts a current time or an arbitrary period set according to a user operation, In the third step, program information corresponding to the received current time or an arbitrary period set according to the user's operation may be read from the server and transmitted to the access source mobile terminal.

  In the invention of claim 7 or claim 8, as in claim 9, the second step accepts a request for the program information from the portable terminal and accepts location information, and the third step accepts the accepted location. The program information corresponding to the information may be read from the server and transmitted to the access source mobile terminal.

  According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for remote-controlling a television using a portable terminal having a button group, an infrared transmission unit, and a display unit, which is associated with the channel number of the television and is broadcast on the channel number. The program information including the program title of the TV program to be played and the airing time of the program title, and remote control information for performing TV channel control are stored in the memory, and arbitrary from the program information stored in the memory A first step of reading a program title aired at the time, and a second step of displaying the program title read in the first step on the display unit in a direction crossing a direction in which characters constituting the program title are arranged And the user selects one of the program titles displayed on the display unit in the second step. A third step that is accepted according to the work; a fourth step that reads from the memory remote control information corresponding to the channel number of the program title selected in the third step; and the remote control information read in the fourth step. And a fifth step of sending to the infrared transmitter.

  According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, as in the eleventh aspect, the first step reads a program title broadcast at an arbitrary time and a channel number corresponding to the program title from the program information stored in the memory, In the second step, the combination of the program title and the channel number read in the first step may be displayed on the display unit in a direction intersecting with a direction in which characters constituting the combination are arranged.

  According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, as in the twelfth aspect, the button group of the mobile terminal includes numbered buttons, and the second step is performed next to each program title displayed on the display unit. The number of buttons with numbers in the button group is displayed in correspondence with each other, the third step accepts any one of the numbered buttons according to the user's selection operation, and the fourth step is selected in the third step. The remote control information corresponding to the channel number of the program title corresponding to the number of the numbered button may be read from the memory.

  The invention of claim 10, 11 or 12, as in claim 13, accesses a server storing the program information in response to a user operation, receives the program information from the server, and receives the received program information. May be executed in the memory.

  The invention of claim 10, 11 or 12 accesses a server storing program information according to a user's operation as in claim 14, and at a current time or an arbitrary period set according to the user's operation. The corresponding program information may be received from the server, and the received program information may be stored in the memory.

  In the invention of claim 13 or claim 14, as in claim 15, processing for receiving program information corresponding to area information from the server may be executable.

  A remote control operation method according to the invention of claim 16 is a remote control operation method provided to a mobile terminal by a server capable of communicating with a mobile terminal, wherein characters constituting a program title are arranged in the server. Remote control application having a function of displaying the program title on the display unit of the mobile terminal in a direction intersecting with the TV, and the TV channel number, the program title of the TV program broadcast on the channel number, and the program title Program information associated with time is stored, and when a request for a remote control application is received by access from the mobile terminal, the remote control application stored in the server is transmitted to the mobile terminal of the access source The first step of the program information and the program information required by access from the portable terminal. When the second step of determining whether or not the remote control application stored in the server has already been transmitted to the mobile terminal of the access source, and when the determination of transmission has been made in the second step is made And a third step of transmitting program information stored in the server to the mobile terminal of the access source.

  According to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention, as in the seventeenth aspect, the second step accepts a request for the program information from the portable terminal and accepts a current time or an arbitrary period set according to a user operation, In the third step, program information corresponding to the received current time or an arbitrary period set according to the user's operation may be read from the server and transmitted to the access source mobile terminal.

  According to a sixteenth or seventeenth aspect of the present invention, as in the eighteenth aspect, the second step receives a request for the program information from the portable terminal and receives position information, and the third step receives the received position. The program information corresponding to the information may be read from the server and transmitted to the access source mobile terminal.

  According to a nineteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a portable terminal comprising: an operating means for operating a button; a program title of a television program that is associated with a television channel number and is broadcast with the channel number; and a broadcast time of the program title; And storage means for storing remote control information for channel control of the television, and a program title that is broadcast at an arbitrary time with reference to the storage means according to the operation of the operation means by the user Program information reading means, display means for displaying the program title read by the program information reading means in a direction intersecting with the direction in which the characters constituting the program title are arranged, and display by the display means Determining means for determining any one of the program titles according to a selection operation of the operating means by a user; Remote control information reading means for reading remote control information corresponding to the channel number of the program title determined by the above-mentioned storage means, and infrared transmission means for converting the remote control information read by the remote control information reading means into an infrared signal and sending it out It is characterized by comprising.

  According to a nineteenth aspect of the present invention, as in the twentieth aspect, the program information reading means reads a program title broadcast at an arbitrary time and a channel number corresponding to the program title from the program information stored in the storage means. The display unit may display the combination of the program title and channel number read by the program information reading unit in a direction crossing the direction in which the characters constituting the combination are arranged.

  According to a twentieth aspect of the invention, as in the twenty-first aspect, the operation means includes a numbered button, and the display means displays the number of the numbered button of the operation means in correspondence with each program title. The determining means determines a program title by a user's selection operation of any one of the numbered buttons, and the remote control information reading means stores remote control information corresponding to the channel number of the program title determined by the determining means. You may make it read from the said memory | storage means.

  According to a twenty-first, twenty-first or twenty-second aspect of the present invention, as in the twenty-second aspect, the portable terminal includes communication control means capable of communicating with a server via a network. In response to an operation, a server that stores the program information may be accessed to receive the program information from the server, and the storage unit may store the received program information.

  In the invention of claim 20, 21 or 22, as in claim 23, the mobile terminal includes a communication control means capable of communicating with a server via a network, and the communication control means is a user's A server that stores program information according to an operation is accessed to receive program information corresponding to a current time or an arbitrary period set according to a user operation from the server, and the storage means receives the received program information. May be stored.

  In the invention of claim 22 or claim 23, as in claim 24, the communication control means may receive program information corresponding to area information from the server.

  The server according to the invention of claim 25 provides a remote control application having a function of displaying a program title on the display unit of the portable terminal in a direction crossing a direction in which characters constituting the program title are arranged, and a channel number of the television And a storage means for storing program information in which a program title of a TV program broadcast on the channel number and a broadcast time of the program title are associated with each other, and a request for a remote control application by access from the mobile terminal, When a request for program information is received by an access from the mobile terminal and an application supply unit that supplies a remote control application stored in the storage unit to the mobile terminal of the access source, the mobile terminal of the access source Remote control app stored in the server And a program for supplying program information stored in the storage means to the mobile terminal of the access source when the determination means determines whether or not the transmission has already been transmitted And an information supply means.

  According to a twenty-fifth aspect of the present invention, as in the twenty-sixth aspect, when the determination unit receives a request for the program information from the portable terminal, the determination unit determines a current time or an arbitrary period set according to a user operation. The program information providing means may read the program information corresponding to the current time determined by the determining means or an arbitrary period set according to a user operation from the storage means and supply the program information.

  According to a twenty-fifth or twenty-sixth aspect of the present invention, as in the twenty-seventh aspect, the determination unit determines the position information when receiving a request for the program information from the portable terminal, and the program information providing unit determines the determination. The program information corresponding to the position information determined by the means may be read from the storage means and supplied.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the program which can improve a user's convenience by implement | achieving the relationship between the minimum required information which can confirm the television program of each broadcasting station, and simple button operation, remote control The method and the mobile terminal can be provided.

  Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment, a mobile terminal is used as a mobile computer terminal of a television device by downloading a remote control application for switching the channel of the television device from a server to a mobile terminal such as a mobile phone via a mobile phone network and the Internet. An example for this is shown.

  First, the overall configuration will be described. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram schematically illustrating a system according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this system, for example, as shown in FIG. 1, a mobile terminal (for example, a mobile phone 3) and a server 1 can communicate with each other between a mobile phone network 4 and the Internet 5. The mobile phone network 4 includes a packet network 41 that is connected to a base station (not shown) and manages packet processing, and a gateway server 42 that is connected to the Internet 5 and controls communication with various terminals connected to the Internet 5. In this configuration, communication connection from the mobile terminal side to the Internet 5 is made possible.

  The mobile phone 3 includes, for example, a web browser 31 that enables web browsing by HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol), a remote control application 32 for switching channels of the television device 6 including the infrared light receiving unit 61, and a TV broadcast program. For example, a program information table 33 for displaying. The mobile phone 3 can access services on the Internet 5 by using the web browser 31 and enjoy services such as web browsing. The mobile phone 3 includes an infrared transmission unit 34, and by starting the remote control application 32, information on a television program based on the program information table 33 is displayed, or the infrared transmission unit 34 sends information to the television device 6. It is possible to transmit an infrared signal for channel switching.

  The server 1 connects the database 2 and communicates with other terminals via the Internet 14, and also stores the remote controller stored in the database 2 in response to access from the portable terminal via the mobile phone network 13 and the Internet 14. Processing for downloading application information and TV broadcast program information is entirely controlled by the program 11. The database 2 is a large-scale storage device connected to the server 1, and stores a download remote control application 21, a TV broadcast program information table 22, and the like and provides the server 1 under the control of the server 1. It is.

  Next, the server 12 and the mobile phone 3 will be described in detail. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration example of the server 1 according to the present embodiment, FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration example of the mobile phone 3 according to the present embodiment, and FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the external appearance shape of the mobile telephone 3 by.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the server 1 is connected to the Internet 5 and communicates with another device such as a portable terminal via the Internet 5 by using a communication control unit 101, a CPU, a ROM, A control unit 102 including a RAM and the like that controls the entire server, a clock unit 103 that measures time, a web browser display for other terminals, a program 11 for processing the server itself, various parameters, and the like A storage unit 104 that stores data and a unit such as a database interface 105 that is connected to the database 2 and exchanges data with the database 2, and each unit is connected to an internal bus line 106 to provide data, address signals, and control signals. Etc. can be transmitted.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the mobile phone 3 includes a communication control unit 302, a control unit 303, an operation unit 304, an infrared transmission unit 34, a display unit 306, a storage unit 307, and voice / sound control to which an antenna 301 is connected. A unit such as a unit 308 is provided, and each unit is connected to the bus line 311 so that data, an address signal, a control signal, etc. can be transmitted.

  The communication control unit 302 performs wireless communication with the mobile phone network 4 via the antenna 301. With this communication control unit 302, a voice call can be realized with another terminal with a telephone function, and data communication with the server 1 can be realized.

  The control unit 303 includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like, and controls the entire mobile phone 11 according to various programs stored in the ROM and the storage unit 307. The control unit 303 controls web browsing by the web browser 31 (for example, JAVA (registered trademark) application), and controls the television program display on the display unit 306 and the channel switching control using the infrared transmission unit 34 by the remote control application 32. Do. Further, the control unit 303 executes various processes in accordance with operation inputs from the operation unit 304 and controls display according to the various processes.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the operation unit 304 includes a dial key 3041 for inputting a telephone number and characters, a select key 3042 used for calling a main menu and determining a selected item, a dial key A confirmation key 3043 for confirming an item selected by the button 3041 or the select key 3042, and a key used for inputting a symbol during mail input or not shown, etc. (not shown). The select key 3042 is configured to be able to indicate four directions, up, down, left, and right.

  The control unit 303 generates a command signal for controlling electric / electronic devices such as a television apparatus, a light, an air conditioner, an audio player, and a DVD player according to the application. In the present embodiment, because of the environment in which the remote control application 32 is installed, the control unit 303 generates at least a “channel selection signal”, a “volume adjustment signal”, and a “lamp power on / off signal” as command signals.

  The infrared transmission unit 34 converts various command signals generated by the control unit 303 into infrared signals and transmits them to the outside. Note that the specification of the command signal differs depending on the manufacturer / seller. Therefore, the remote control application 32 includes a channel-command conversion table for converting channel numbers into command signals according to the specifications of each company. As a means for transmitting the command signal, infrared is used as an example of electromagnetic waves.

  The display unit 306 includes a display such as a liquid crystal display, and displays, for example, a web browser on the display, an operation screen when using a telephone or mail function, or information related to a television program. As described above, the storage unit 307 stores the web browser 31, the remote control application 32, the program information table 33, and the like. Here, the program information table 33 includes data of “broadcast date”, “broadcast station code”, “channel number”, “start time”, “end time”, and “program title”. The broadcast station information includes data of “broadcast station code”, “key station code”, “channel number”, and “broadcast station name”. The program information table 33 is a part of the program information table 22 and is data in a range obtained by the user in the program information table 22.

  The voice / sound control unit 308 is connected to a speaker 309 and a microphone 310, and controls the sound output of the incoming melody and Chaku-Uta (registered trademark) and the voice output during a call to the speaker 309. Controls voice input during calls.

  Next, the program information table 22 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining an example of the program information table according to the present embodiment, FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining an example of the area information table according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 7 is a broadcasting station information table according to the present embodiment. It is a figure explaining an example.

The program information table 33 is provided for each region, and a region code is assigned according to each region. FIG. 5 shows the area code A-No. 1 is a program information table of 1; The program information table includes “broadcast date”, “broadcast station code”, “channel number”, “start time”, “end time”, “genre code”, “broadcast mode”, “program title”, “subtitle”, It consists of data such as “program content”, “performer”, “detailed program explanation”, “preliminary”, and the like. This program information table may be updated every week, for example, or may be updated in a short time or a long time.
The area information table is used to specify an area, and is configured from data in which an area name is associated with an area code as shown in FIG. For example, the region code A-No. 1 is “Tokyo” and the area code A-No. 2 is “Osaka” and the area code A-No. 3 is “Nagoya”.

  The broadcast station information table is used to identify broadcast stations that exist in each region. Each of the broadcast station codes, key station codes, channel numbers, broadcast station names, etc. Consists of data. Since this broadcast station information table is fixed, it is not updated unless a new broadcast station is created. For example, as shown in FIG. In “Tokyo” of 1, the station A with the station code “031”, the station B “041”, the station C “004”, the station D “005”, the station E “006”, “007” Station F and station G “008” are recorded.

  Also, the channel number of station A is “1”, the channel number of station B is “2”, the channel number of station C is “4”, the channel number of station D is “6”, and the channel number of station E is “8”. ”, The channel number of the F station is“ 10 ”, and the channel number of the G station is“ 12 ”. In addition, the key station code of the C station is “001”, the key station code of the D station is “002”, the key station code of the E station is “003”, the key station code of the F station is “004”, and the key of the G station The station code is “005”. Note that the A station and the B station are common throughout the country, so there is no key station code.

  In addition, the area code A-No. “Osaka” of No. 2 has an A station with a broadcasting station code “031”, a B station of “041”, an H station of “0507”, an I station of “0504”, a J station of “0506”, and “0505”. K station and L station “0513” are recorded. Also, the channel number of station A is “2”, the channel number of station B is “12”, the channel number of station H is “10”, the channel number of station I is “4”, and the channel number of station J is “8”. The channel number of the K station is “6”, and the channel number of the L station is “19”. Also, the key station code of the H station is “001”, the key station code of the I station is “002”, the key station code of the J station is “003”, the key station code of the K station is “004”, and the key of the L station The station code is “005”. Note that the A station and the B station are common throughout the country, so there is no key station code.

  Here, the key station code of each station from the H station to the L station in Osaka is the same as the key station code of each station from the C station to the G station in Tokyo. This shows the partnership relationship in the broadcasting network. ing. In other words, the H station in Osaka and the C station in Tokyo are affiliated to relay each other's programs. In addition, the I station in Osaka and the D station in Tokyo have partnered to relay each other's programs. In addition, the J station in Osaka and the E station in Tokyo have partnered to relay each other's programs.

  Also, the K station in Osaka and the F station in Tokyo have partnered to relay each other's programs. In addition, the L station in Osaka and the G station in Tokyo have partnered to relay each other's programs. That is, for example, a program of station C in “Tokyo” can be viewed at station H in “Osaka”. In other words, you can watch 4 channels of “Tokyo” on 10 channels of “Osaka”. And vice versa, you can watch 10 channels of “Osaka” on 4 channels of “Tokyo”.

  Now, these program information table, broadcast station information table, and area information table are used between the server 1 and the mobile phone 3 as follows. When an access request is sent from the mobile phone 3, the server 1 starts communication using HTTP. Then, the server 1 reads the region information table from the database 2 and transmits it to the mobile phone 3 in order to allow the user of the mobile phone 3 to select a region code. When the mobile phone 3 receives this region information table, a screen for allowing the user to select a region code is displayed on the display unit 306 of the mobile phone 3. The user of the mobile phone 3 views the selection screen and operates a dial key of the mobile phone 3 or a key that can be moved vertically and horizontally (referred to as a select key) to designate a desired area code.

  For example, when the area code “A-No. 1” is designated, the area code “A-No. 1” is transmitted from the mobile phone 3 to the server 1. When the server 1 receives the area code transmitted from the mobile phone 3, the server 1 refers to the broadcast station information table in the database 2 and identifies the broadcast station. In the area specified by the area code of “A-No. 1”, there are seven stations of A station, B station, C station, D station, E station, F station, and G station. After the broadcast station is specified, the current time is acquired from the clock unit 103. Then, from the program information table on the database 2, program information currently being broadcast by the specified broadcast station is acquired.

  The program information acquired in this way and the broadcast station information corresponding to the area code “A-No. 1” are transmitted from the server 1 to the mobile phone 3. At that time, not all program information in the database 2 is transmitted, but information necessary and sufficient to inform the user of the program contents is arbitrarily selected and transmitted in response to the user's operation. Here, each data of “broadcast date”, “broadcast station code”, “channel number”, “start time”, “end time”, and “program title” is selected and transmitted.

  Further, it is assumed that there is only one broadcast station information, but there are as many pieces of program information as the number of broadcast stations. The order of transmitting the program information may be arbitrary.

  Next, screen transition of the mobile phone 3 will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9. FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining a basic screen according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining an example of a program display according to the present embodiment.

  The remote control application of the mobile phone 3 first displays a basic screen as shown in FIG. Using the program information and broadcast station information sent from the server 1, a channel screen is created and displayed on the display unit 306. At that time, a channel number and a broadcast station name are assigned to the channel buttons CB1 to CB8 based on the key station code of the broadcast station information. For broadcast stations that do not have a key station code, the broadcast station code is common throughout the country. For example, the broadcast station code “0031” is assigned to the channel button CB1, and the broadcast station code “0041” is assigned to the channel button CB2. It ’s fine. By assigning the key station code to the channel buttons CB3 to CB8 in advance, the same program can be viewed with the channel button at the same position even if the area code changes.

  That is, if a program is memorized in the position of the channel buttons CB3 to CB8 customarily, the same program can be viewed with the channel button at the same position wherever it is performed. The application of the mobile phone 11 holds the information acquired this time until new information is acquired next time.

  In the present embodiment, time specification by the user is also possible, and information on a program broadcast at the time specified by the user is sent from the server 12 to the mobile phone 11. In addition, the “region code” can be generated based on position information obtained from a base station (not shown) that currently controls the remote control application of the mobile phone 3.

  In addition, the user does not necessarily desire a program of a broadcasting station that can be received at the current location, but may desire information on a program that can be viewed on a business trip, for example. Therefore, a method other than generating the “region code” based on the position information obtained from the base station can be considered. In this case, a mode in which “region code” is generated based on position information obtained from the base station (for example, automatic acquisition mode) and a mode to be selected based on “region information” from server 12 (for example, manual acquisition mode). Two modes may be prepared so that the user can select as appropriate.

  The basic screen structure constituted by the remote control application is composed of channel buttons CB1 to CB8 (soft keys for confirming Tokyo program information as an example) indicating pairs of actual channel numbers and stations or program contents, and channel buttons CB1 to CB1. Numerical information BTN indicating dial keys of the operation unit 304 corresponding to each CB8, program content button PB for switching from the station display to the program content arbitrarily designated by the user in the channel buttons CB1 to CB8, power on / off The button PWB, the volume adjustment button VOB, a designated time TM when the user acquires program information, and the like.

  In the above basic screen configuration, when the program content PB is operated by a user operation, as shown in FIG. 9, the program titles that are broadcast on the channel buttons CB1 to CB8 at the designated time are switched from the station display. Thereby, the user can know the program aired at the designated time. At this time, the program content PB is switched to the station display SB. This makes it possible to operate the station display PB this time to know the station name.

  In FIG. 9, the channel button CB1 corresponds to the numeric key “1” of the dial key 3041 (see FIG. 4). Therefore, when the numeric key “1” of the dial key 3041 is pressed, the remote control application detects the selection of the channel button CB1. As a result, the program title “News 123” corresponding to the channel button CB1 is determined as the channel switching destination. The channel button CB 2 corresponds to the numeric key “2” of the dial key 3041. Therefore, when the numeric key “2” of the dial key 3041 is pressed, the remote control application detects selection of the channel button CB2. As a result, the program title “Comedy Theater” corresponding to the channel button CB2 is determined as the channel switching destination. Hereinafter, the same processing is performed.

  The channel buttons CB1 to CB8 can also be selected using the select key 3042 and the enter key 3043. That is, since the cursor position can be moved on the button by operating the select key 3042, when the cursor position reaches any one of the channel buttons CB1 to CB8, the cursor position is moved by the select key 3042 there. If the enter key 3043 is pressed at a desired position, channel switching can be realized in the same manner as when the dial key 3041 is operated directly.

  When a button operation for channel switching is performed in this way, a command signal corresponding to the operated channel button is converted into an infrared signal and transmitted from the infrared transmission unit 34, and the infrared light reception unit 61 of the television device 6. Channel switching is achieved by receiving the light.

  Hereinafter, specific processing will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining an example of processing for a database according to the present embodiment, FIG. 11 is a flowchart for explaining an example of remote control application download processing according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 12 is a program information download according to the present embodiment. FIG. 13 is a flowchart for explaining an example of remote control processing according to this embodiment.

  First, in the server 1 (see FIG. 10), registration or update of a remote control application for download to a mobile phone by using another terminal connected to the Internet 5 with respect to the database 2 or an operation unit of the server 1 (not shown) or an external interface. Is executed (step SS11). Similarly, in the server 1, registration or update of program information for the mobile phone is executed with respect to the database 2 by another terminal connected to the Internet 5 or an operation unit of the server 1 (not shown) or an external interface. (Step SS12). The processes in steps SS11 and SS12 described above are executed regularly or irregularly.

  Here, it is assumed that the download remote control application is already registered in the database 2 (see FIG. 11). When there is an access from the mobile phone 3 to the server 1 (step MS21), the access is accepted by the server 1 (step SS21). In the server 1, a web page screen is first created in response to an access from the mobile phone 3, and the web page screen is transmitted (step SS22). At this time, as an example, it is assumed that communication is performed between the mobile phone 3 and the server 1 using http.

  In the mobile phone 3, when the web page screen transmitted from the server 1 is received, the web page is displayed on the display unit 306 (step MS22). At this time, the page of the site provided by the server 1 is switched to the page according to the request by the user's operation.

  Although not shown, when the page transition proceeds to the download page of the remote control application by the user's operation and a download request for the download remote control application is further transmitted to the server 1 by the user's operation (step MS23), the server 1 First, the request is accepted and it is determined whether or not the user of the mobile phone 3 is a member (step SS23).

  This member determination is executed on the assumption that member information is registered in the database 2 (not shown). This is an example of the case where the provision of the remote control application to the user is a service to the member. Of course, it is needless to say that the present invention can be applied to a system that provides a remote control app regardless of the presence or absence of a member.

  When the determination result that the user of the mobile phone 3 is not a member is obtained (non-member), a member registration process is executed with the mobile phone 3, and the process proceeds to step SS25 (step SS24). On the other hand, if not (member), the process proceeds to step SS25 as it is.

  In step SS25, the download remote control application 22 is read from the database 2 in response to the download request already accepted in step SS23, and is transmitted (download process) to the mobile phone 3. In the mobile phone 3, the download remote control application 22 transmitted from the server 1 is downloaded and registered as the remote control application 32 in the storage unit 307 (step MS24). The remote control application 32 includes a table for converting a user-specified channel number into a command signal for transmission by infrared rays. When the remote control application is downloaded to the mobile phone 3 in this manner, program information can be downloaded from the server 1 and remote control operations can be performed thereafter.

  Next, download of program information will be described with reference to FIG. In the mobile phone 3, in order to download the program information, first, the remote control application 32 is activated in response to a user operation (step MS31). When there is an access from the mobile phone 3 to the server 1 (step MS32), the access is accepted by the server 1 (step SS31). In the server 1, first, a web page screen is created in response to an access from the mobile phone 3, and the web page screen is transmitted (step SS32).

  In the mobile phone 3, when the web page screen transmitted from the server 1 is received, the web page is displayed on the display unit 306 (step MS33). At this time, the page of the site provided by the server 1 is switched to the page according to the request by the user's operation.

  Although not shown, when the page transition proceeds to the program information download page by the user's operation and a program information download request is further transmitted to the server 1 by the user's operation (step MS34), The request is accepted, and it is determined whether the user of the mobile phone 3 has downloaded the remote control application (step SS33).

  Here, in steps MS33 and MS34, processing for specifying program information corresponding to an arbitrary period is executed on the server 1 by a user operation. This arbitrary period is a time when a program such as 7:00 or 19:00 is aired, a time zone such as 17:00 to 19:00, a day such as January 21, 2004, 2004 A period such as January 21 to February 25 of the same year.

  In step SS33, if a determination result indicating that the application has been downloaded is obtained, the process proceeds to step S35. However, if a determination result indicating that download is incomplete is obtained, the application download process in step SS34 is executed. Then, the process proceeds to step SS35.

  When the application download state of the mobile phone 3 is confirmed in this way and the program information for the specified period is confirmed, the program information corresponding to the specified period and region is extracted from the program information 22 of the database 2 and read out. It is. The read program information is transmitted (download process) to the mobile phone 3 (step SS35).

  Here, as a method for the server 1 to know the regional information, the position of the mobile phone 3 is specified by the user operation from the mobile phone 3 or the mobile phone 3 has a GPS function at the time of communication in Step MS33 and Step SS32. A method of capturing as information is conceivable. The server 1 may determine the area of the program information from position information such as GPS or area information directly designated by the user.

  In the mobile phone 3, when program information is transmitted from the server 1, download processing is started, and the downloaded program information 33 is stored in the storage unit 307 (step MS35). In this way, the mobile phone 3 has a system capable of switching TV programs.

  Next, the remote control operation will be described with reference to FIG. In the mobile phone 3, first, the remote control application 32 is activated by a user operation (step MS41). By this activation, the program information 33 is read from the storage unit 307 (step MS42), and a screen for remote control operation is formed with a predetermined screen configuration (see FIG. 8) (step MS43).

  Then, by displaying as shown in FIG. 8, the actual dial key 3041 corresponding to, for example, the channel buttons CB1 to CB8 on the screen is in a detection state for accepting the user's operation (step MS44).

  After detection of the button operation on the operation unit 304 is started in this manner (step MS45), the corresponding processing function is determined from the button according to the button operation. That is, when the end operation is confirmed (YES route of step MS46), the processing of this remote control application ends here.

  If the volume operation is confirmed among the cursor operations (NO route of step MS47), the volume parameter is adjusted according to the amount of operation, and is output to the infrared transmitter 34 as a volume signal (step MS50). ). As a result, an infrared signal for adjusting the volume is transmitted from the infrared transmission unit 34 to the television apparatus 6. Thereafter, the process returns to step MS45.

  If the operation of the dial key 3041 (numeric key (button)) is confirmed (YES route of step MS49), the channel number corresponding to the numeric key (button) is determined (step MS51), and further the channel The command conversion table is referred to convert the determined channel number into a command signal corresponding to the number (step MS52). The command signal obtained in this way is output to the infrared transmitter 34. As a result, the command signal is converted into an infrared signal from the infrared transmitter 34 and output to the outside (step MS53). Accordingly, an infrared signal for switching the channel of the television program is transmitted from the infrared transmission unit 34 to the television device 6.

  When it is confirmed in step MS49 that the operation of other keys (buttons) is confirmed instead of the operation of the numeric keys (buttons), the process proceeds to step MS50 and the process corresponding to the key operation is executed. . Then, the process returns to step MS45. For example, the cursor operation may be performed regardless of the volume operation, and the cursor position may be moved on the channel buttons CB1 to CB8. Further, when the operation of the confirmation key 3043 on any channel button is confirmed, an infrared signal is transmitted from the infrared transmission unit 34 by a command signal of the corresponding channel as in the case of the direct button operation.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, since the program information at the time when the user wants to watch TV is displayed on the display unit in correspondence with the channel number, the minimum necessary program that can confirm the TV program is displayed. All you have to do is get the information. The minimum necessary program information is related to the cursor movement of the select key and the determination operation and the simple button operation by direct input to the numbered button. Therefore, it is possible to improve the convenience for the user.

  In addition, since only the program information at the specified time is captured from the server to the mobile phone, the amount of packets can be kept to a minimum, and it is not necessary to capture even the program information in a time zone that does not require confirmation, saving communication costs. Is possible.

  In addition, since the screen size of mobile phones is small and there are display restrictions, program titles for the same channel are not displayed simultaneously in time series, but only program titles for all channels that are broadcast at an arbitrary time are displayed. Therefore, the display screen can be used effectively.

Further, according to the server system 10 according to the present embodiment, the mobile phone 11 receives the broadcast station information corresponding to the area code sent from the server 12 and the program information currently being broadcast, and then receives the broadcast station information. If there is no key station code or key station code included in, the broadcasting station code is associated with the channel buttons CB1 to CB8, and on the channel screen, the channel number and broadcasting station name are displayed on the channel buttons CB1 to CB8. In the title screen, the channel number and the program title are displayed on the channel buttons CB1 to CB8.

  Therefore, if you always press the same channel button customarily, the key station code of the target key station is selected, so if you remember even the position of the channel button, broadcast stations with the same key station code can share the same program. , It is possible to view the same program wherever it is, and it is possible to realize a very convenient remote control.

  In the present embodiment, the area information table is provided in the server 12, but it may be provided in the mobile terminal 11. Of course, the broadcast station information table may be updated in the program information table, and the amount of data is large, so the server 12 can be said to be preferable.

  In the present embodiment, a mobile phone has been described. However, as long as it is a mobile terminal, a PDA or a PHS (Personal Handy-Phone System) can of course be used. Further, it can be realized by a remote controller attached to the television receiver.

  In the embodiment described above, an arbitrary period specified by the user is displayed as an arbitrary time on the display unit of the mobile phone together with the program display. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and any arbitrary period is displayed. The display column of program titles corresponding to the time zone may be displayed so as to be switched like a page in a direction (horizontal direction) intersecting the display column of program titles arranged in the vertical direction with the period as the time zone.

  In the above-described embodiment, a mobile phone has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a portable terminal such as a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) or a communication function that can be connected to a network is provided. A remote control terminal may be used.

The present invention is used in industries for manufacturing programs, remote control methods, and portable terminals.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram schematically illustrating a system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the example of 1 internal structure of the server 1 by this Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the example of 1 internal structure of the mobile telephone 3 by this Embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the external appearance shape of the mobile telephone 3 by this Embodiment. It is a figure explaining an example of the program information table by this Embodiment. It is a figure explaining an example of the area information table by this Embodiment. It is a figure explaining an example of the broadcast station information table by this Embodiment. It is a figure explaining the basic screen by this Embodiment. It is a figure explaining an example of the program display by this Embodiment. It is a flowchart explaining an example of the process with respect to the database by this Embodiment. It is a flowchart explaining an example of the download process of the remote control application by this Embodiment. It is a flowchart explaining an example of the download process of the program information by this Embodiment. It is a flowchart explaining an example of the remote control process by this Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Server 2 Database 3 Mobile phone 11 Program 21 Remote control application for download 22 Program information 31 Web browser 32 Remote control application 33 Program information 34 Infrared transmission part 101 Communication control part 102 Control part 103 Clock part 104 Storage part 105 Database interface 301 Communication control part 303 Control Unit 304 Operation Unit 306 Display Unit 307 Storage Unit CB1 to CB8 Channel Button PB Program Content SB Station Display BTN Numeric Information

Claims (27)

A program executed by a computer of a portable terminal having a button group, an infrared transmission unit and a display unit,
In the computer,
Program information including a title of a television program that is associated with a television channel number and broadcast at least in an arbitrary period and remote control information for performing television channel control are stored in a memory, and stored in the memory. A first step of displaying the titles of TV programs based on program information of an arbitrary period in a vertical direction corresponding to channel numbers, respectively,
A second step of determining any one of the television programs displayed in the first step according to a button operation;
A third step of reading from the memory remote control information of a channel number corresponding to the television program determined in accordance with the button operation of the second step;
A sixth step of sending the remote control information read in the fourth step to an infrared transmitter;
A program characterized by having executed. The program according to claim 1, wherein the second step determines a television program by moving a cursor by button operation. The button group includes numbered buttons, wherein the first step displays numbers of numbered buttons corresponding to the displayed channel numbers in parallel, and the second step includes The program according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a television program is determined by a direct button operation of the numbered buttons. The program according to claim 1, wherein the first step displays the arbitrary period. A program executed by a computer of a mobile terminal having a communication unit, a button group, an infrared transmission unit, and a display unit,
In the computer,
In response to a user operation, a first step of inputting program information including a title of a television program that is associated with a television channel number and broadcast at least in an arbitrary period;
A second step of storing in the memory the program information input in the first step;
Remote control information for performing TV channel control is stored in the memory, and the titles of the TV programs based on the program information of an arbitrary period stored in the second step are respectively associated with the channel numbers in the vertical direction. A third step of displaying side by side;
A fourth step of determining any one of the television programs displayed in the third step according to a button operation;
A fifth step of reading out the remote control information of the channel number corresponding to the television program determined according to the button operation of the fourth step from the memory;
A sixth step of sending the remote control information read in the fifth step to an infrared transmitter;
A program characterized by having executed. 6. The program according to claim 5, wherein the mobile terminal can communicate with a server via a network, and the first step accesses the server and inputs the program information. The program according to claim 6, wherein the first step inputs program information at a time when the server is accessed. The program according to claim 6, wherein the first step inputs the program information of an arbitrary period by accessing the server. The program according to any one of claims 5 to 8, wherein the third step displays the arbitrary period. A method of remote-controlling a television using a portable terminal having a button group, an infrared transmitter and a display,
Program information including a title of a television program that is associated with a television channel number and broadcast at least in an arbitrary period and remote control information for performing television channel control are stored in the memory, and stored in the memory. A first step of displaying the titles of TV programs based on program information of an arbitrary period in a vertical direction corresponding to channel numbers, respectively,
A second step of determining any one of the television programs displayed in the first step according to a button operation;
A third step of reading from the memory remote control information of a channel number corresponding to the television program determined in accordance with the button operation of the second step;
A fourth step of sending the remote control information read out in the third step via the infrared transmitter;
A remote control operation method comprising: The remote control operation method according to claim 10, wherein the second step determines a television program by moving a cursor for button operation. The button group includes numbered buttons, wherein the first step displays numbers of numbered buttons corresponding to the displayed channel numbers in parallel, and the second step includes 12. The remote control operation method according to claim 10, wherein a television program is determined by direct button operation of the numbered buttons. The remote control method according to claim 10, 11 or 12, wherein the first step displays the arbitrary period. A method of remote-controlling a television using a portable terminal having a communication unit, a button group, an infrared transmission unit and a display unit,
In response to a user operation, a first step of inputting program information including a title of a television program that is associated with a television channel number and broadcast at least in an arbitrary period;
A second step of storing in the memory the program information input in the first step;
Remote control information for performing TV channel control is stored in the memory, and the titles of the TV programs based on the program information of an arbitrary period stored in the second step are respectively associated with the channel numbers in the vertical direction. A third step of displaying side by side;
A fourth step of determining any one of the television programs displayed in the third step according to a button operation;
A fifth step of reading out the remote control information of the channel number corresponding to the television program determined according to the button operation of the fourth step from the memory;
A sixth step of sending the remote control information read out in the fifth step via the infrared transmitter;
A remote control operation method comprising: 15. The remote control operation according to claim 14, wherein the portable terminal can communicate with a server via a network, and the first step accesses the server and inputs the program information. Method. The remote control operation method according to claim 15, wherein the first step inputs program information at a time when the server is accessed. 16. The remote control operation method according to claim 15, wherein in the first step, program information for an arbitrary period is input by accessing the server. The program according to any one of claims 14 to 17, wherein the third step displays the arbitrary period. A mobile device,
Operation means for operating buttons;
Storage means for storing program information including a title of a TV program that is associated with a TV channel number and broadcast at least in an arbitrary period, and remote control information for performing TV channel control;
Display means for displaying TV program titles based on program information of an arbitrary period stored in the storage means, arranged in a vertical direction corresponding to channel numbers, respectively;
Determining means for determining any one of the television programs displayed by the display means according to a button operation of the operating means;
Reading means for reading out the remote control information of the channel number corresponding to the television program determined by the determining means from the memory;
Sending means for converting the remote control information read by the reading means into an infrared signal and sending it;
A portable terminal characterized by comprising: The mobile terminal according to claim 19, wherein the determining means determines a television program by moving a cursor by button operation. The operation means includes numbered buttons, the display means displays numbers of numbered buttons corresponding to the displayed channel numbers in parallel, and the determination means includes the numbered buttons. The mobile terminal according to claim 19 or 20, wherein a television program is determined by direct button operation. The mobile terminal according to claim 19, 20 or 21, wherein the display means displays the arbitrary period. A mobile device,
In response to a user operation, input means for inputting program information including a title of a TV program that is associated with a TV channel number and aired at least in an arbitrary period;
Remote control information for performing TV channel control is stored in advance, and storage means for further storing program information input by the input means;
Display means for displaying TV program titles based on program information of an arbitrary period stored in the storage means, arranged in a vertical direction corresponding to channel numbers, respectively;
Determining means for determining any one of the television programs displayed by the display means according to a button operation;
Reading means for reading out the remote control information of the channel number corresponding to the television program determined by the determining means from the storage means;
Sending means for converting the remote control information read by the reading means into an infrared signal and sending it;
A portable terminal characterized by comprising: The portable terminal according to claim 23, wherein the portable terminal can communicate with a server via a network, and the input means accesses the server and inputs the program information. 25. The portable terminal according to claim 24, wherein the input means inputs program information at a time when the server is accessed. The mobile terminal according to claim 24, wherein the input means accesses the server and inputs program information for an arbitrary period. The mobile terminal according to any one of claims 23 to 26, wherein the display means displays the arbitrary period.

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