JP2006109139A - Program on different channel information controller, television receiver - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a different channel information controller which controls display of the different channel information so that information of different channel information in which a viewer shows interest is surely displayed without futility and a television receiver equipped with the same. <P>SOLUTION: The other program information controller is characterized that one or more keywords set according to operation input and information about the different channel information is extracted from program information indicating program information regarding a broadcast starting time based on the stored keywords and the television receiver is equipped with the same. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a back program information control apparatus and a television receiver including the back program information control apparatus for displaying back program information during display of a broadcast program video of a channel other than the selected channel, and particularly to the viewer's preference. The present invention relates to a back program information control device that displays back program information that conforms to the above and a television receiver including the back program information control device.

In recent years, multi-channel broadcasting using digital signals, such as CATV broadcasting and satellite broadcasting, is rapidly spreading, and the number of channels that can be received in each home is dramatically increasing. Therefore, in order to assist viewers in channel selection, recent television receivers include information on the contents of programs broadcast from the present to the future on each of a plurality of channels (hereinafter referred to as EPG information). A so-called EPG (Electronic Program Guide) is adopted that extracts EPG information from a broadcast signal superimposed on the display and displays it on a display unit (display, etc.) of a television receiver. Yes.
The EPG is used, for example, in a program table (a table in which the contents of broadcast programs for each channel and broadcast time are displayed as a list), and the viewer desires to view the program based on the program table displayed on the display. It is possible to select a channel to be performed.

However, when the EPG is displayed as a program guide, the EPG display is usually deleted after a desired program (channel) is selected from the program guide. Accordingly, when the selected program (the program in the channel to be output) is displayed on the display, the viewer can know what program is being broadcast on a channel different from the channel of the selected program. Can not.
On the other hand, a channel selected as an output target by the display (hereinafter referred to as an output channel, a program broadcast on the output channel is referred to as a selected program) is displayed on the display, and the back program (other than the output channel) is displayed. For example, Patent Literature 1 and Patent Literature 2 disclose a television receiver that displays EPG information of a back program together with a video of a selected program on a display when the program is started). Yes.

In the television receiver disclosed in Patent Document 1, when the broadcast of any back program is started, the information of the back program is displayed in the PIP system (a system in which a sub screen is embedded in the main screen). Is displayed. However, in such a television receiver, all the information of the back program that is not of interest to the viewer is displayed in the PIP system, which is very troublesome.
On the other hand, in the television receiver disclosed in Patent Document 2, a keyword is extracted from EPG information of a program being broadcast on a channel (ie, output channel) currently selected by the viewer, and the extracted keyword is used as the extracted keyword. Related program information is displayed in PIP format.
JP 2000-270277 A JP 2001-136458 A

However, the television receiver disclosed in Patent Document 2 has a problem in that information on the back program desired by the viewer is not always displayed. For example, since only the back program related to the currently viewed program (selected program) is displayed, the information of the back program not related to the selected program is displayed even if the program is of interest to the viewer. However, there is a problem that the viewer may miss the program that he / she really wants to watch.
Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and the object of the present invention is to control the display of back program information so that the information of the back program that the viewer is interested in is displayed without waste. It is an object of the present invention to provide a back program information control device and a television receiver including the back program information control device.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a television broadcast signal including a program video signal for a plurality of channels, and a program information signal representing program information related to the content of the program broadcast by the television broadcast signal and the broadcast start time. When displaying on the display means the back program information extracted from the program information together with the program video of the selected program selected as an output target, the keyword set in accordance with the operation input is stored in advance. The back program information control apparatus is characterized by extracting back program information based on keywords.
As a result, the back program information is extracted based on the keyword obtained by the operation input of the viewer, so that the information of the back program that the viewer is interested in is reliably extracted and displayed without waste.

Here, it is conceivable to extract a part or all of the program information including the stored keyword or information related thereto as the back program information. As a result, even if the keyword itself is not included in the program information, the program information including information related to the keyword (for example, another word having the same meaning as the keyword set by the operation input of the viewer is used as the title). Since the information of the back program that the viewer is interested in is more reliably displayed, it is more desirable.
It is also conceivable to display the extracted back program information on the display means at the broadcast start time of the program or a predetermined time before the broadcast start time (for example, several seconds to several tens of seconds before). Thus, if the viewer switches the channel at the timing when the back program information is displayed, the viewer can watch the back program from the beginning without being overlooked.

It is also conceivable that one or a plurality of the back program information previously displayed on the display means is stored so that the stored information can be redisplayed.
Thereby, even if the viewer overlooks the display of the back program information for some reason, the back program information displayed in the past remains stored, so that the viewer re-outputs it if necessary, The back program information that has been overlooked can be confirmed.
It is also conceivable that the back program information is displayed in a format (flowing display or stream display) in which a part of the display information is sequentially moved within a predetermined area in the program video of the selected program. By using such a display, the occupied area of the program information display in the program video of the selected program can be reduced as much as possible, and the back program information can be displayed so as not to disturb the display of the program video. Can be displayed.

Further, the storage content of the keyword is updated based on the history of selecting the program corresponding to the program guide information as the selected program, the program selection history regarding the history of not being selected, and the program information corresponding to the back program information. Cases are also conceivable.
As a result, for the keyword stored by the operation input, when the back program information based on the keyword is displayed and the history that the back program is not selected is accumulated, A keyword that is commonly included in the program information is newly stored, and the back program including the keyword in the program information is controlled not to display the back program information or a program corresponding to the back program information is selected. When the recorded history is accumulated, the keyword storage content is automatically or semi-automatically updated, such as newly storing a keyword that is commonly included in the selected program information. The corresponding back program information is displayed accordingly.

  According to the present invention, since the keyword set by the operation input of the viewer is stored and the back program information is displayed based on the keyword, the back program information of the program that the viewer is interested in can be surely used without waste. Extracted and displayed.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings so that the present invention can be understood. The following embodiment is an example embodying the present invention, and does not limit the technical scope of the present invention.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a television receiver X provided with a back program information control apparatus A according to the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a composite video generation unit 10 provided in the back program information control apparatus A. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the procedure of back program information display processing by the back program information control apparatus A, and FIG. 4 is a view showing an example of a back program information display screen on the television receiver X. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a related phrase table used by the back program information control apparatus A.

A television receiver X shown in FIG. 1 includes a back program information control apparatus A (composite video generation unit 10 and video synthesis circuit 11), a tuner 2, an EPG extraction circuit 3, and a detection circuit 4 according to an embodiment of the present invention. , Input unit 5, control unit 6, audio processing circuit 7, audio output unit 8, video processing circuit 9, video output unit 12 and the like.
The television receiver X is connected to a receiving antenna 1, and by this receiving antenna 1, a television broadcast signal broadcast (transmitted) from each of a plurality of broadcasting stations, that is, a program video signal for a plurality of channels and its video, A signal on which the synchronized audio signal is superimposed is received.
Television broadcast signals for a plurality of channels (a plurality of stations) received by the receiving antenna 1 are input to the tuner 2, and one channel output by the television receiver A among the plurality of channels by the tuner 2. A TV broadcast signal of an output channel (hereinafter referred to as an output channel and a program currently broadcast on the output channel is referred to as a selected program) is selected (extracted), and only the TV broadcast signal of the output channel (selected program) is extracted from the EPG. The signal is transmitted to the circuit 3 and the detection circuit 4. The TV broadcast signal is information (hereinafter referred to as program content) such as the title, genre, and performer name of each program broadcast from the present to the future in each of the plurality of channels received by the receiving antenna 1. , A program information signal (hereinafter referred to as an EPG signal) representing program information including time information related to the broadcast time zone of each program and channel information related to the broadcast channel. However, it is known that the EPG signal may be transmitted and received from a broadcast station separately from the television broadcast signal every other day besides the one superimposed on the television broadcast signal. Even when such an EPG signal is received, the back program information control apparatus A according to this embodiment and the television receiver X including the same can be applied without any problem.

The EPG extraction circuit 3 receives a signal of one output channel selected by the tuner 2 (a signal for one channel extracted from the television broadcast signal), extracts the EPG signal from the signal, and extracts the backside signal. It is transmitted to the program information control device A.
The detection circuit 4 performs video detection and audio detection (extraction of program video signal and audio signal) on the TV broadcast signal of the output channel, and the audio signal obtained by the detection is sent to the audio processing circuit 7. The video signals are transmitted to the video processing circuit 9, respectively.

The input unit 5 is a general term for a receiving unit for receiving a signal (operation signal) related to an operation on the television receiver X by a remote controller or operation switches provided on the outer surface of the television receiver X, for example.
The control unit 6 includes an MPU and its peripheral devices such as a ROM and a RAM, and executes a control program stored in advance in the ROM, thereby setting the output channel according to an operation input by the remote controller or the like. The overall control of the television receiver X including the above is performed.
The output channel selected by the tuner 2 is specified as follows. That is, information on channel selection operation by the remote controller or the like is input through the input unit 5, and one channel (to be selected) from the tuner 2 is selected (selected) by the control unit 4 according to the information on the channel selection operation. That is, an output channel is designated (instructed).

In the audio processing circuit 7, various types of signal processing (for example, the audio output unit 8) including adjustment of output volume (processing for amplifying or attenuating the audio signal) is performed on the audio signal transmitted from the detection circuit 4. (Equalization processing, surround processing, noise removal processing, etc.) is performed, and the processed audio signal is output from the audio output unit 8 including a speaker or the like.
When an operation input for adjusting the output volume through the input unit 5 such as an operation input from a remote controller is performed, the control unit 6 controls the audio processing circuit 7 in accordance with the operation, thereby controlling the output volume. Adjustments are made.
The video processing circuit 9 performs various signal processing (for example, horizontal and vertical synchronization signals from the video signal) on the video signal transmitted from the detection circuit 4 (hereinafter referred to as a selected program video signal). Separation, generation of a clock signal phase-synchronized with the synchronization signal, separation of a luminance signal and a color signal from the video signal, predetermined image quality improvement processing, and the like.

The back program control apparatus A according to the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 is roughly configured by the composite video generation unit 10, the video synthesis circuit 11, and the like.
In the back program information display mode, which will be described later, the composite video generation unit 10 extracts from the EPG signal extracted and input by the EPG extraction circuit 3 (information on the content of the program broadcast by the TV broadcast signal and its broadcast time). Based on the keyword set in accordance with the operation input by the viewer, the back program information (information related to the program other than the selected program among the information represented by the EPG signal) is extracted and displayed on the video output unit 12 A video signal to be displayed (hereinafter referred to as a back program information video signal in distinction from the selected program video signal) and a video signal to be displayed on the video output unit 12 together with a video based on the selected program video signal To do.
The video synthesizing circuit 11 includes a video signal such as the back program information video signal generated by the synthesized video generating unit 10 and the selected program video signal (part of a television broadcast signal) transmitted from the video processing circuit 9. An example) and synthesizing those video signals, and together with the program video of the selected program, video such as the back program information (information based on program information other than the selected program) is output to the video output unit. 12 is output (displayed).

The television receiver X has a switching function between a normal mode and a back program information display mode, and these modes are switched (set) by inputting predetermined mode switching information through the input unit 5. Is made.
In the back program information display mode, the composite video generation unit 10 generates the back program information video signal and displays it together with the selected program video signal (that is, the video screen of the selected program).
On the other hand, in the normal mode, only the selected program video signal is displayed and the back program information is not displayed.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of the composite video generation unit 10. As shown in FIG. 2, the composite video generation unit 10 is roughly configured by a storage unit 10a, a timer 10b, an extraction circuit 10c, a video signal generation circuit 10d, the back program information output history storage unit 10e, and the like. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the display process of the back program information based on the keyword set and inputted in the composite video generation unit 10. Hereinafter, the procedure of the back program information display process in the composite video generation unit 10 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.
S1, S2,... Shown below represent identification codes of processing procedures (steps), and are started from the processing of step S1.

In step S1, it is determined by the extraction circuit 10c whether or not it is the back program information display mode. This determination is made based on whether or not a back program information display mode signal indicating the back program information display mode is transmitted from the control unit 6. If it is in the back program information display mode (YES in S1), the following steps S2 and subsequent steps are sequentially repeated, while not in the back program information display mode (that is, the back program information display by the viewer). No operation input for shifting to the mode has been made, or an operation input for shifting to the normal mode has been made, and the control unit 6 no longer inputs the back program information display mode signal to the composite video generation unit 10). While being determined, the standby state is set (NO in S1).
In step S2, the extraction circuit 10c determines whether or not a keyword used for extracting back program information is stored in the storage unit 10a. If it is determined that the keyword is stored (YES in S2). Proceed to step S3. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S2 that no keyword is stored (S2 NO), the process returns to step S1.

Here, the keyword is registered (set) in advance by a viewer's operation input (that is, according to the viewer's preference), and the one or more registered keywords are stored in the storage unit 10a (keywords). Stored in an example of storage means).
The keyword registration process is performed as follows, for example.
First, when the control unit 6 detects that a predetermined keyword registration start operation has been performed through the input unit 5, a video signal of a keyword registration screen is generated by the synthesized video generation unit 10, and the video is It is displayed on the video display unit 12. In the keyword registration screen, a plurality of keywords (words related to the title and genre of a program) that are preliminarily recorded in a storage means such as a ROM of the control unit 6 (at the time of product manufacture, etc.) are considered as registration (setting) targets. (Baseball, news, drama, sports, etc.)) are displayed as a list.
Then, the control unit 6 selects one or a plurality of keywords from the plurality of keyword candidates displayed on the keyword registration screen according to a predetermined keyword selection operation, and the selected keyword is stored in the storage unit 10a. Is remembered. As a result, one or more keywords are registered in the storage unit 10a.

The extraction circuit 10c receives the EPG signal from the EPG extraction circuit 3. From the EPG signal, a plurality of programs received by the reception antenna 1 by the extraction circuit 10c from the present to the future. Information representing the program contents such as the title, genre, and performer name of each broadcast program (hereinafter referred to as program content information), time information related to the broadcast time zone of each program, and channel information related to the broadcast channel are read. . The current time is measured by the timer 10b. The current time is input to the extraction circuit 10c, and the timing at which the extraction circuit 10c transmits back program information to the video signal generation circuit, in other words, the back program information is displayed on the video output unit 12 (display). This is used to synchronize the timing of display on one example) with the broadcast start time of the program corresponding to the back program information. The timer 10b and the extraction circuit 10c are examples of back program information display timing control means.
In step S3, the extraction circuit 10c compares the current time measured by the timer 10b with the broadcast start time read from the time information related to the broadcast time zone of each program, and proceeds to step S4.
In step S4, as a result of the comparison in step S3, it is determined whether or not there is a back program that has started broadcasting, that is, a program in which the current time matches the broadcast start time. If it is determined that there is no matching program (S4 NO), the process returns to step S1. On the other hand, if it is determined that there is a matching program (hereinafter referred to as a broadcast start back program) (S4 YES), the process proceeds to step S5, where the extraction circuit 10c uses the program content information of the broadcast start back program and the storage unit. After one or more keywords stored in 10a are compared, the process proceeds to step 6. In step S5, the channel information is referred to, and a program (a program other than the back program) in a channel that matches the output channel is excluded from comparison.

In step S6, as a result of the comparison in step S5, whether or not the program content information corresponding to the broadcast start back program includes one of the one or a plurality of keywords is determined by the extraction circuit 10c. Determined. If it is determined that the keyword is not included (S6 NO), the process returns to step S1. On the other hand, if it is determined that the keyword is included (S6 YES), the process proceeds to step S7, where the extraction circuit 10c extracts a back program information signal representing the information of the broadcast start back program from the EPG information signal, and the video signal After being input to the generation circuit 10d, the process proceeds to step S8.
For example, when the phrase “baseball” is input and stored as a keyword and the title of the broadcast start back program is “professional baseball night game”, it is determined that the keyword is included. Further, as the back program information extracted from the EPG information signal, for example, a program title, a channel number (broadcast station), a performer name, and the like can be considered.
Note that the extraction circuit 10c that executes the processes of steps S5 and S6 uses the back program (from the EPG signal representing the program information based on the keyword stored in the storage unit (an example of keyword storage means) 10a. This is an example of back program information extracting means for extracting all back program information signals representing back program information such as title, genre, performer name, etc. (programs other than the selected program).
Here, the back program information display mode is further subdivided into an OSD display mode and a flowing display mode, and these modes are switched by inputting predetermined subdivision mode switching information through the input unit 5. (Setting) is made.
The OSD display mode is a mode in which the back program information is displayed by the video output unit 12 in a so-called OSD format in a sub-screen embedded in the video screen of the selected program.
On the other hand, in the flowing display mode, the back program information is synthesized in a so-called flowing format (a format in which a part of all display information is displayed while being sequentially moved) in the video screen of the selected program, This is a mode displayed by the video output unit 12.

In the back program information display mode, a display mode selection signal indicating whether the OSD display mode is set or the flowing display mode is set is transmitted from the control unit 6 to the video signal generation circuit 10d. Has been.
In step S7, the video signal generation circuit 10d determines whether the OSD display mode is set or the flowing display mode is set based on the display mode selection signal.
If it is determined in step S7 that the OSD display mode is selected (S7OSD), the process proceeds to step S8, and the video signal generation circuit 10d uses the back program information signal to support the back program information video signal (OSD format). Hereinafter, after the OSD back program information video signal) is generated, the process proceeds to step S10. When the OSD back program information video signal is combined with the output channel video signal (video screen of the selected program), the video output unit 12 sends the back program information in the OSD format as shown in FIG. Is displayed.
On the other hand, when it is determined in step S7 that the display mode is flowing (S7 flowing display), the process proceeds to step S9, and the video signal generation circuit 10d uses the back program information signal to display all the display information. A back program information video signal (hereinafter referred to as a flowing back program information video signal) corresponding to a format in which the images are displayed while being sequentially moved (flowing display format) is generated. When the OSD back program information video signal is combined with the selected program video signal, the video output unit 12 displays all of the display information within a predetermined display area as shown in FIG. The back program information is displayed in a format (flowing format) in which a part of the program is displayed while being sequentially moved. The video signal generation circuit 10d that performs the process of step S9 is an example of a stream display control unit.

In step S10, the back program information video signal generated in steps S8 and S9 is output to the video synthesis circuit 11 by the video signal generation circuit 10d. At the same time as the back program information video signal is output, the back program information is stored in the back program information output history storage unit 10e together with the output time information, that is, the output history indicating the output order. (S11). When the process of step S11 ends, the process returns to step S1 again, and the above process is repeated.
In the back program information output history storage unit 10e (an example of past back program information storage means), a predetermined number of the back program information output from the video output unit 12 and their output order (display) are displayed. Order) is stored, and as the new back program information is stored, the oldest (first output) back program information is sequentially deleted (overwritten).

The back program information stored in step S11 may be displayed again on the video output unit at an arbitrary timing (when the viewer overlooks the back program information, etc.) according to the operation input of the viewer. Is possible.
For example, whenever the control unit 6 inputs a back program re-output instruction signal to the back program information output history storage unit 10e, an input of a predetermined back program re-output operation is detected through the input unit 5, The back program information stored in the back program information output history storage unit 10e (output in the past) is sequentially transmitted to the video signal generation circuit 10d according to the output order.
In response to this, the video signal generation circuit 10d generates the back program information video signal again based on the back program information signal transmitted from the back program information output history storage unit 10e, and the signal is generated as the video signal. Transmit to the synthesis circuit 11. Thereby, the back program information stored in the back program information output history storage unit 10e is re-displayed on the video output unit 12 (an example of display means) together with the display video of the selected program.
The back program information output history storage unit 10e, the video signal generation circuit 10d, and the video composition circuit 11 are used as an example of back program information re-output means.
Further, the back program information video signal stored in the back program information output history storage unit 10e and a part or all of the output history can be erased by a viewer's operation input. Further, it may be considered that the back program information is automatically deleted after a predetermined time has elapsed since it was stored.

In the above-described embodiment, for the program content information (information representing the program content such as the title, genre, and performer name of each program) for one or more keywords, the back program information corresponding to the program is obtained. Although an example of extracting and displaying on the video output unit 12 has been shown, if the program content information does not include the keyword, the back program information is output if the information related to the keyword is included ( An embodiment targeted for display) is also conceivable.
In that case, a related word / phrase table storage unit (for example, the storage unit 10a is assigned thereto) in which a related word / phrase table in which related words / phrases are registered in association with each other is provided in the above-described composite video generation unit 10 or the like. deep. FIG. 5 shows an example of such a related phrase table. In the example of FIG. 5, for example, when the keyword is “baseball”, the related phrases are “baseball”, “nighter”, “Japan series”, and “major league”.
Further, in step S5 and step S6 in FIG. 3, in addition to whether or not the program content information of the broadcast start back program includes the keyword, a related word / phrase registered in association with the keyword (related to the keyword) It is also determined whether or not the word matches.
For example, if the word “baseball” is registered as a keyword, in the example shown in FIG. 5, in addition to “baseball”, related words such as “baseball”, “nighter”, “Japan series”, “major league”, etc. Is included in the program content information. As a result, for a program in which a phrase such as “Japan series” related to “baseball” is included in the program content information, even if it does not directly include the phrase “baseball” such as “Japan series broadcast”, The back program information is displayed.

In the above-described embodiment, an example in which it is determined whether or not there is a program whose current time and broadcast start time coincide with each other in steps S3 and S4 shown in FIG. 3 is not limited to this. Instead, it may be determined whether there is a program in which the current time and a time (an example before a predetermined time) that is a predetermined time before the broadcast start time match.
In this case, when the program whose time before the broadcast start time coincides with the current time is a program that is the back of the broadcast start, and the content information of the program includes the keyword stored in the storage unit 10a, the EPG Of the information, an information signal representing the information of the program is extracted and input to the video signal generation circuit 10d.
In the video signal generation circuit 10d, in the above-described embodiment, the back program information video signal for displaying the contents such as “Professional baseball night game (sports) broadcasting has been started” in the OSD or flowing format is generated. In this case, a back program information video signal displaying the content such as “Professional baseball night game (sports) will start broadcasting soon” is generated.

An embodiment in which the keyword stored in the storage unit 10a is automatically updated is also conceivable.
For example, when the back program information is displayed from the video output unit 12, history information indicating whether or not a program corresponding to the back program information is actually selected as a selected program, and program information of the back program are obtained. It is conceivable to provide a selection history information storage unit to be stored, a keyword update unit for updating a keyword stored in the storage unit 10a based on the stored contents, and the like.
In this case, for example, for each keyword registered in advance by the extraction circuit 10c, program content information and channel information of each program corresponding to the back program information extracted based on the keyword are stored in the storage unit 10a. It records and notifies the said control part 6 of that.
On the other hand, the control unit 6 checks whether the program (channel) corresponding to the channel information recorded in the storage unit 10a is selected within a predetermined time after the notification from the extraction circuit 10c. Then, the program content information recorded in the storage unit 10a is classified into an actually selected program group and an unselected program group. When the recording number (stored number) of the program content information classified into the program group that is not actually selected reaches a predetermined number, the control unit 6 uses the common word / phrase (keyword) from the program content information. ) Are extracted and stored in the storage unit 10a as exclusion keywords shown below.
Thereafter, when the program information of a certain program includes the exclusion keyword stored in the storage unit 10a during the extraction process of the back program information, the extraction circuit 10c is set by an operation input. Even if a (registered) keyword is included, the program is not targeted for outputting back program information.
As described above, the exclusion keywords common to the programs that are not actually selected by the viewer are automatically set, and the back program information including the exclusion keywords is not displayed, so only the back program information required by the viewer is displayed. Is displayed without waste.

On the other hand, when the recording number (stored number) of the program content information classified into the actually selected program group reaches a predetermined number, the control unit 6 causes the common phrase (keyword) from the program content information. Is extracted and stored in the storage unit 10a as a new keyword corresponding to the keyword registered by the viewer. At that time, before registering as a new keyword, a confirmation message such as “Do you want to register (...) as a new keyword?” Is displayed on the video output unit 12, and new registration is permitted through the input unit 5. The word / phrase may be stored in the storage unit 10a as a new keyword only when an operation input to that effect is detected.
By providing the functions as described above, the stored contents of keywords are automatically or semi-automatically updated during the natural program selection operation normally performed by the viewer, so that the actual situation of the program viewed by the viewer can be improved. The corresponding back program information is displayed accordingly.

Further, the EPG signal is not necessarily extracted (acquired) from the television broadcast signal as in the above-described embodiment, and a connection terminal for connecting a communication line or the like is connected to the EPG extraction circuit 3 (see FIG. 1). An example of program information acquisition means), and the EPG signal (program information signal) is acquired from a server on the Internet, for example, via the communication line (so-called i-EPG is used) Is also possible.
Further, when the television receiver having the back program information control device is provided with a recording circuit based on a video signal, or when a video device having a recording function is connected to the outside, the control unit 6 or the like It is also possible to record a program currently being viewed or a program displaying back program information by outputting a predetermined control signal to the recording circuit or the video device from .
In this case, the video signal generation circuit 10d (see FIG. 2) records either the program currently being viewed and the back program (the program corresponding to the back program information) together with the back program information, or The back program information video signal for displaying a selection menu for prompting a selection input whether or not to record is generated and displayed on the video output unit 12. When an operation input (selection operation) for selecting any program to be recorded is detected for the selection menu, a predetermined control signal is sent from the control unit 6 to the recording circuit or the video device. The program selected by the viewer is recorded.
As a result, a program that is not selected (viewed) at that time is recorded as necessary. For example, the program to which the back program information is output is interested, but the program currently being viewed is continued. This is very suitable for viewing.

In the above-described embodiment, an example is shown in which keyword candidates are stored in advance in the ROM of the control unit 6 and the viewer selects a keyword from among them. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a viewing program information storage unit that accumulates and stores the EPG information of a program that is actually viewed (selected) by a viewer, and a common phrase that extracts common phrases in the EPG information accumulated and stored in the viewing program information storage unit When the number of programs whose common word / phrase is included in the EPG information (for example, included in the title) reaches a predetermined number, the word / phrase extraction circuit asks the viewer whether or not to register the word / phrase as a new keyword. It is also conceivable to provide a function of storing the phrase (keyword) in the storage unit 10a when a selection input for selecting and registering as a new keyword is made.
Here, among the programs selected by the viewer, those that are to be stored and stored for the EPG information are not temporarily selected by the viewer, for example, the viewer for the entire broadcast time of the program. It is desirable to store and store EPG information of the program when the viewing time of the program occupies a predetermined ratio or more.

In the above-described embodiment, the back program information is defined as information related to a program other than the selected program among the information represented by the EPG signal. In steps S5 and S6 of the flowchart shown in FIG. Programs other than those in were compared with keywords. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the back program information may be considered as a concept including information on the selected program.
In this case, in steps S5 and S6 in FIG. 3, the extraction is performed if the program content information includes a keyword regardless of whether or not the channel of the broadcast start program to be broadcast is the output channel. The back program information is extracted from the program information by the circuit 10c, and the information signal (back program information signal) is input to the video generation circuit 10d.

The figure which shows schematic structure of the television receiver X provided with the back program information control apparatus A which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The block diagram showing the schematic structure of the synthetic | combination video production | generation part 10 with which the back program information control apparatus A is provided. The flowchart which shows the procedure of the display process of the back program information by the back program information control apparatus A. The figure which shows an example of the display screen of the back program information in the television receiver. The figure which shows an example of the related term phrase table which back program information control apparatus A uses.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Reception antenna 2 ... Tuner 3 ... EPG extraction circuit 4 ... Detection circuit 5 ... Input part 6 ... Control part 7 ... Audio | voice processing circuit 8 ... Audio | voice output part 9 ... Video processing circuit 10 ... Composite image generation part 10a ... Memory | storage part 10b ... Timer 10c ... Extraction circuit 10d ... Video signal generation circuit 10e ... Back program information output history storage unit 11 ... Video composition circuit 12 ... Video output unit

Claims (7)

A selected program selected as an output target by receiving a TV broadcast signal including program video signals for a plurality of channels and a program information signal representing program information related to the contents and broadcast time of the program broadcast by the TV broadcast signal. In addition to the program video, a back program information control device that displays the back program information extracted from the program information on the display means,
Keyword storage means for storing keywords set according to operation input;
Back program information extracting means for extracting the back program information from the program information based on the keyword stored in the keyword storage means;
The back program information control apparatus characterized by comprising.   The said back program information extraction means extracts a part or all of the said program information including the said keyword memorize | stored in the said keyword memory | storage means or the information relevant to it as said back program information. Back program information control device.   The back program information display timing control means for displaying the back program information on the display means before the broadcast start time of the program or a predetermined time before the broadcast start time is provided. Back program information control device. Past back program information storage means for storing one or more back program information displayed on the display means in the past;
Back program information re-display control means for causing the display means to display the stored information of the past back program information storage means together with the display video of the selected program;
The back program information control device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.   5. The back according to claim 1, further comprising stream display control means for displaying the back program information while sequentially moving part of the display information in the program video of the selected program. Program information control device. In the keyword storage means, the program corresponding to the back program information is selected as the selected program and / or the program selection history information related to the history of not being selected and the program information corresponding to the back program information. Keyword updating means for updating the stored content of the keyword;
The back program information control apparatus in any one of Claims 1-5 comprised.   A television receiver comprising the back program information control device according to claim 1.

Images