JP2005348313A - Data broadcast controller - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce a waiting time from a display request from a user to the display of data by shortening a step of displaying data for data broadcasting one by one after reception. <P>SOLUTION: There are included a channel history storage means 11a for storing a history of a selected channel as a history table 12a; an access channel updating means 11b for extracting one or more channels which are frequently requested to display, stored in the history table 12a and updating its memory as an access channel storage table 11b; a channel comparison means 11c for comparatively judging whether or not a channel stored in the access channel storage table 11b is contained in data; a data storage means 11d for storing data of a data broadcast as a data broadcast management table 12c; and a data display means 11e for performing control to read and display data of a corresponding data broadcast from the data broadcast management table 12c. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a data broadcast control apparatus that performs an access operation when receiving a data broadcast.

  In recent years, data broadcasting has been used as a digital television broadcasting service. According to data broadcasting, the user can arbitrarily view information such as news, weather forecasts, and stock price information.

  Generally, when displaying a data broadcast, it waits for the reception of data such as still image data or character data for data broadcast transmitted in the gap between normal program broadcasts. it's shown.

  For this reason, in the data broadcast display in such a conventional digital television broadcast, if the user selects and displays a desired data broadcast, it takes a long time to obtain the data to be displayed. The problem is that it takes a long time to wait until it is displayed after the display operation.

  Therefore, it is conceivable that the received data for data broadcasting is stored in advance in a memory and necessary data is displayed from the stored data in response to a display request from the user. As a result, it takes less time to receive data for displaying the requested data after the display operation is performed by the user.

  However, in this case, if all the received data is stored, data to be displayed must be generated from a large amount of data when a display request is made, and the burden on memory access increases.

In order to solve such a problem, there is a technique for controlling writing to a memory (for example, Patent Document 1). Specifically, the moving image data and still image data are stored separately, and only when the still image data of the next frame changes, the changed still image data is written into the display data storage memory to The number of accesses to is reduced.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-271751

  However, the above-described technology for controlling memory access described in Patent Document 1 has a problem in that the process of sequentially displaying desired still image data after receiving it during data broadcast access cannot be shortened.

  In view of the above problems, the present invention reduces the waiting time from when a display request is received from the user until the data is displayed by shortening the process of sequentially displaying the data for data broadcasting after receiving it. An object of the present invention is to provide a data broadcast control device that enables the above.

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 is characterized in that the selected channel is based on the display request signal of the selected channel input from the data broadcast receiving apparatus (2) for receiving and displaying the data broadcast. The channel history storage means (11a) for storing the history of the above as a history table (12a), and one or more channels with a large number of display requests stored in the history table (12a) are extracted each time a certain time elapses. When an access channel update means (11b) for storing and updating as an access channel storage table (11b) and data broadcast data received by the data broadcast receiver (2) are input, the access channel is added to the data. Channel comparison for determining whether or not the channel stored in the storage table (11b) is included When it is determined that the channel of the input data broadcast is included in the channel stored in the access channel storage table (12b) by the stage (11c) and the channel comparison means (11c), the input Data storage means (11d) for storing the data broadcast data as a data broadcast management table (12c), and the selected channel based on the input display request signal is stored in the access channel storage table (12b). Data display means (11e) for controlling data broadcast data corresponding to the same channel to be read from the data broadcast management table (12c) and displayed when it is the same as one of the stored channels. It is characterized by that.

  According to the present invention having the above-described configuration, data broadcasting data of channels often seen by users are stored in the storage unit in advance. Therefore, by reading out from the storage unit and displaying it, it is possible to display without waiting for reception from the broadcasting station, and it is possible to reduce the waiting time for the display of the frequently seen channel. Also, instead of storing data broadcasting data for all channels, only data broadcasting data for frequently seen channels is stored, compared to searching and displaying from a vast amount of data. For channels, the search time can be reduced and the time to display can be reduced.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to obtain an effect that high-speed access is possible because it is not necessary to have data reception when accessing a desired data broadcast by manipulating a request for viewing a data broadcast.

  Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the data broadcast control device 1 according to the present invention will be described. As shown in the block diagram of FIG. 1, the data broadcast control device 1 according to the present invention includes an input / output unit 10, a control unit 11, and a storage unit 12. As shown in FIG. 2, the data broadcast control device 1 is connected to a data broadcast receiving device 2 such as a television device.

  The input / output unit 10 inputs data for data broadcast from the data broadcast receiver 2. In addition, when a data broadcast display request signal is input from the data broadcast receiving apparatus 2 in accordance with a user instruction, data broadcast data stored in the data broadcast control apparatus 1 to be described later is received in accordance with the display request signal. Output.

  The control unit 11 controls the recording of the history of the channel selected by the user when the display operation of the data broadcast of a certain channel is performed by the user and the display request signal is input by the input / output unit 10. In addition, when data for data broadcasting is input, the control unit 11 controls storage of the data as necessary. In order to perform these controls, the control unit 11 includes a history storage unit 11a, an access channel update unit 11b, a comparison unit 11c, a storage unit 11d, and a display unit 11e.

  The storage unit 12 stores data necessary for displaying a data broadcast. That is, the storage unit 12 includes a history table 12a, an access channel storage table 12b, and a data broadcast management table 12c generated by control from the control unit 11.

  When the history storage unit 11a receives data broadcast data of a channel specified by a display request signal input by a user operation, the history storage unit 11a stores the channel in the history table 12a.

  The access channel updating unit 11b has a timer function, and when it is confirmed that a certain time has elapsed since the history storage is started, the number of display operations is increased from the channel stored in the history table 12a. The channel is stored as an access channel in the access channel storage table 12b. In other words, the access channel updating unit 11b generates an access channel storage table 12b using a channel that the user often sees as an access channel, and updates the access channel storage table 12b at regular intervals. The number of access channels can be arbitrarily determined by the data broadcast control device 1.

  When data for data broadcasting is input via the input / output unit 10, the comparison unit 11c refers to the access channel storage table 12b and compares the channel of the input data with the access channel. That is, by determining whether the channel of the input data broadcasting data matches the access channel, it is possible to determine whether the input data broadcasting data is a channel that the user often sees.

  Further, the comparison unit 11c compares the channel requested to be displayed with the access channel when the user requests display of the data broadcast.

  When the comparison unit 11c determines that the input data broadcast data is access channel data, the storage unit 11d stores the data in the data broadcast management table 12c. That is, data of frequently viewed data broadcast channels is stored in the data broadcast management table 12c.

  When the display means 11e is requested to display a data broadcast by the user and the channel requested to be displayed by the comparison means 11c is determined to be an access channel, the display means 11e reads the corresponding data from the data broadcast management table 12c, It is output for display on the display of the connected data broadcasting receiver 2. On the other hand, if the comparison means 11c determines that the channel requested to be displayed is not an access channel, it waits for the corresponding data to be input as usual, and when this data is input, this data is transmitted to the data broadcast. Output for display on the display of the receiver 2.

  Next, the data broadcast receiving apparatus 2 to which the data broadcast control apparatus 1 according to the present invention is connected will be described. As shown in the block diagram of FIG. 2, the data broadcast receiving apparatus 2 includes an antenna 20, a demodulator 21, a demultiplexer 22, an audio decoder 23, a speaker 24, a video decoder 25, a data decoder 26, and a video data synthesis processor. 27, a graphic controller 28, a display 29, a digital television control unit 30, an operation instruction input unit 31, and an external device input terminal 32.

  The antenna 20 receives a broadcast wave transmitted from a broadcast station (not shown).

  The demodulator 21 demodulates the modulated data received as a broadcast wave via the antenna 20 into digital data before the modulation process.

  When the digital data demodulated by the demodulating unit 21 is input, the demultiplexing unit 22 separates the digital data for each broadcasting material of various data of audio information, video information and additional information, and outputs the separated data. To do. Here, the additional information is data for data broadcasting, program information, program configuration information, and the like.

  The audio decoder 23 receives audio information among the broadcast materials separated by the demultiplexing unit 22, decodes the audio signal before encoding, and generates an audio signal that can be output by the speaker 24.

  The speaker 24 outputs the audio signal generated by the audio decoder 23.

  When video information is input from the broadcast materials separated by the demultiplexing unit 22, the video decoder 25 decodes the video information before encoding to generate video data that can be output.

  When the data decoder 26 receives additional information among the broadcast materials separated by the demultiplexing unit 22, the data decoder 26 decodes the additional information before encoding to generate additional data.

  The additional data generated by the data decoder 26 is input to the digital television control unit 30, and the data broadcast data is input to the data broadcast control device 1 according to the present invention and processed. Detailed description of specific processing contents in the data broadcast control device 1 will be described later. Of the additional data, data such as program information and program configuration information other than data broadcasting data is processed by the CPU 30b.

  The video data composition processing unit 27 receives the video data output from the video decoder 25 and graphic data output from a graphic controller 28 described later. When video data and graphic data are input, they are stored in the connected RAM 27a and synthesized to generate display data.

  The graphic controller 28 receives additional data output from the digital television control unit 30. The graphic controller 28 stores the additional data in the RAM 28a in accordance with the graphic data generation command, and converts the graphic data based on the input additional data by processing such as line drawing, rectangle drawing, and data movement in units of rectangles. Generate.

  The display 29 is a cathode ray tube display, a liquid crystal display, or the like, and the video data synthesized by the video data synthesis processing unit 27 is output.

  The digital television control unit 30 includes input / output control means 30a, a CPU 30b, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 30c, and a ROM (Read Only Memory) 30d.

  The digital television controller 30 outputs control signals to the demodulator 21, demultiplexer 22, audio decoder 23, video decoder 25, data decoder 26, video data composition processor 27, and graphic controller 28. Further, the digital television control unit 30 performs control according to additional data input from the data decoder 26. When data such as program information and program configuration information is input, additional data necessary for generating an image is output to the graphic controller 28. At the same time, an image data generation command is output to generate image data.

  The operation instruction input unit 31 inputs an operation instructed by the user. For example, the operation instruction input unit 31 is an input panel provided in an infrared light receiving sensor or a television device that receives an operation from a remote controller (not shown).

  The external device input terminal 32 inputs data from an external AV device.

  Below, the concrete processing method in the data broadcast control apparatus 1 which concerns on this invention is demonstrated.

<Generation of access channel storage table>
First, the process of generating the access channel storage table 12b in the control unit 11 of the data broadcast control apparatus 1 according to the best embodiment of the present invention will be described using the flowchart shown in FIG.

  The control unit 11 of the data broadcast control device 1 waits for an input of a display request signal generated by selecting a data broadcast channel (S01). When the history storage unit 11a detects the display request signal, the history storage unit 11a stores the selected data broadcast channel in the storage unit 12 as the history table 12a (S02). As described above, when the user selects a data broadcast channel, the history of the data broadcast channel is accumulated in the history table 12a.

  In the control unit 11, it is confirmed by the access channel updating unit 11b whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed since the storage unit 12 started storing the history as the history table 12a (S03). When the access channel updating unit 11b determines that a predetermined time has elapsed, the access channel updating unit 11b determines that a channel having a high frequency is used as an access channel from the data broadcast channel selection history stored as the history table 12a. And stored in the access channel storage table 12b (S04).

  That is, the access channel updating unit 11b extracts a frequently-received data broadcast channel selected by the user from the history table 12a, and uses this as an access channel, so that frequently viewed data broadcast channels are stored in the access channel storage table 12b. Remembered.

<Storage and display of data broadcasting>
Next, processing of the storage unit 11d when receiving a data broadcast and the display unit 11e when detecting a display request signal will be described using the flowchart shown in FIG.

  The control unit 11 of the data broadcast control device 1 waits for reception of data for data broadcast transmitted from a broadcast station (not shown) (S11). When data broadcasting data is received by the control unit 11, the comparison unit 11c subsequently determines whether or not the received data includes data broadcasting data of a channel that the user often sees. (S12). Specifically, the comparison unit 11c compares whether or not the channel of the received data broadcast matches the channel stored in the access channel storage table 12b. If the channel matches, the received data is received by the user. It ’s a channel you watch often.

  In step S12, when the comparison unit 11c determines that the selected channel is a channel that the user often sees, the storage unit 11d stores the received data in the storage unit 12 as the data broadcast management table 12c ( S13).

  If the data received in step S13 is stored in the storage unit 12 or if the data received in step S12 does not include data of a channel that is frequently seen, the comparison unit 11c then It is determined whether the selected channel is a channel often viewed by the user (S14). Specifically, the comparison unit 11c compares the selected channel with the access channel stored in the access channel storage table 12b. When the selected channel matches the access channel by the comparison unit 11c, the selected channel is determined to be a channel that the user often sees.

  In step S13 described above, the storage unit 11d stores the newly received data broadcast data in the storage unit 12 as the data broadcast management table 12c if the data broadcast data is frequently viewed channel data. For this reason, when it is determined in step S14 that the data broadcasting channel of the channel that the comparison unit 11c often views has been selected, the control unit 11 reads the corresponding data information from the data broadcasting management table 12c of the storage unit 12. Subsequently, the graphic controller 28 is controlled so as to generate graphic data.

  The graphic data generated by the graphic controller 28 is combined with the video information output from the video decoder 25 by the video data synthesis processing unit 27 and then displayed on the display 29 (S15).

  On the other hand, in step S14, when the comparison unit 11c determines that the selected channel does not match the channel stored in the access channel storage table 12b, the received image is captured and the captured image is displayed by normal processing. (S16).

  Thereafter, when the control unit 11 detects that the power is turned off, the process ends. When the power is not turned off, the process returns to step S11 and the same operation is repeated (S17).

  As described above, when the data broadcast data is input to the data broadcast receiving apparatus 2 such as a television receiver, the data broadcast data of the channel that is often viewed by the user is stored in the storage unit 12 of the data broadcast control apparatus 1. When the data broadcast display operation is performed by the user, if the channel data is stored in the storage unit 12, the data stored in the storage unit 12 is used for display. In this way, it is possible to display without requiring a waiting time until display as compared with a method of waiting and displaying received data.

  Further, instead of the method described in steps S11 to S13 shown in FIG. 4, a method may be used in which a data broadcast channel that the user often sees is selected and set as the access channel storage table 12b.

  In the above-described example, as an example, the access channel updating unit 11b having a timer function is provided, and the channel stored in the access channel storage table 12b is updated when a predetermined time has elapsed. It is not limited to this. For example, there may be a method of having a count function for counting the number of accesses and updating this access channel every time a certain number of accesses are made.

  Further, although the access channel is automatically updated at regular intervals, the user can select and input it.

The block diagram explaining the structure of the data broadcast control apparatus which concerns on this invention. The block diagram explaining the structure of the digital television broadcast receiver connected with the data broadcast control apparatus which concerns on this invention. The flowchart explaining the process which produces | generates the access channel storage table in the data broadcast control apparatus which concerns on this invention. The flowchart explaining the process which concerns on the storage and display of data broadcasting in the data broadcasting control apparatus which concerns on this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Data broadcast control part 2 ... Data broadcast receiving apparatus 10 ... Input / output part 11 ... Control part 11a ... Timer means 11b ... Comparison means 12 ... Storage part 12a ... History table 12b ... Access channel storage table 12c ... Data broadcast management table 20 ... Antenna 21 ... Demodulator 22 ... Demultiplexer 23 ... Audio decoder 24 ... Speaker 25 ... Video decoder 26 ... Data decoder 27 ... Video data synthesis processor 28 ... Graphic controller 29 ... Display 30 ... Control unit 30a ... Input / output control means 30b ... CPU
31 ... Operation instruction input unit 32 ... External device input terminal

Claims (1)

Channel history storage means for storing the history of the selected channel as a history table based on the display request signal of the selected channel input from the data broadcast receiving device that receives and displays the data broadcast;
Access channel updating means for extracting one or more channels having a large number of display requests stored in the history table each time a predetermined time elapses, and storing and updating as an access channel storage table;
Channel comparison means for comparing whether or not the data stored in the access channel storage table is included in the data when data broadcast data received by the data broadcast receiving device is input;
When it is determined by the channel comparison means that the input data broadcast channel is included in the channel stored in the access channel storage table, the input data broadcast data is used as a data broadcast management table. Data storage means for storing;
Based on the input display request signal, if the selected channel is the same as one of the channels stored in the access channel storage table, the data broadcast data corresponding to the same channel is transmitted to the data broadcast. Data display means for controlling to read and display from the management table;
A data broadcast control device comprising:

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