JP2006115227A - Digital broadcast receiver mounted with program guide - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a digital broadcast receiver mounted with a program guide capable of simply carrying out the searching of a series program and reservation video recording. <P>SOLUTION: The digital broadcast receiver mounted with the program guide includes a control means that displays an EPG on a display apparatus as an EPG menu, displays a series program information list wherein programs are processed as a group on the same menu as the EPG menu, allows a switching means to switch one of an EPG menu, a series program list and a program content list into an active state, selects the series program when the menu of the series program list is active to display the program content list, and carries out the explanation of a program of broadcast times and / or video recording reservation as its control by displaying the information of each of the broadcast times of the series program in the program content list and selecting a desired broadcast time in the program content list. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

The present invention can be applied to, for example, BS (Broadcasting Satellite) digital broadcasting and CS (Communicat).
ion Satellite) The present invention relates to a program guide-equipped digital broadcast receiver equipped with a program guide for selecting programs and recording reservations in digital broadcasting or terrestrial digital broadcasting.

In recent years, in the field of digital broadcasting and the like, broadcasting services covering a wide range of multi-channel programs are being provided by using MPEG image compression technology. However, with the increase in the number of channels, it is complicated for many users to search for programs on the day, the next day, one week later, etc. from the program guide in printed form such as newspapers and magazines, and perform channel selection and recording reservation. It has become. Therefore, as a countermeasure, the data necessary for creating a program guide such as program information is multiplexed and broadcast together with image data and audio data so that the user can search for programs, select programs, and make recording reservations on the TV screen. An electronic program guide (hereinafter referred to as E) that receives data necessary for the program guide with a digital broadcast tuner and creates a program guide with the digital broadcast tuner based on the received data and displays it on a television device or the like.
(Referred to as PG) has been used, and various program guide functions by EPG have been developed.

For example, Patent Literature 1 discloses a digital broadcast receiver capable of presenting detailed information of each series program constituting a specific series selected by the user to the user.

Further, in Patent Document 2, when a channel list or a program list for each selected genre is displayed, when a desired category of a genre is selected, a broadcast program table corresponding to the category is displayed in a list and a large amount is displayed. There is disclosed a digital broadcast receiver that is displayed and takes time to select a channel, and facilitates a user's troublesome operation of selecting a broadcast program.
JP 2001-257955 A JP 2003-298963 A

TV programs include series programs that handle the program as a predetermined group, such as a program that is broadcast once a week, every day from Monday to Friday, or a program that is broadcast irregularly several times a month, such as a football broadcast. is there. Conventionally, when searching for such a series program or making a recording reservation, there is only a search from the EPG screen.
When displaying on the EPG, the EPG screen must be changed one week ahead by key operation of the remote controller, and the remote controller operation is troublesome. Furthermore, there is a problem that a program with an irregular schedule and time such as a soccer broadcast cannot be displayed on the EPG, and in that case, it is difficult to search.

As described above, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for displaying two screens: a program guide unit and a screen for displaying details of a program selected by the program guide unit. Since the information list is not displayed at the same time, the problem that it is difficult to search for a series program cannot be solved.

An object of the present invention is to provide a digital broadcast receiver equipped with a program guide that can easily search for series programs and perform scheduled recording.

A digital broadcast receiver equipped with a program guide according to a first aspect of the invention is a receiving means for receiving a digital / analog broadcast signal transmitted from a broadcasting station, a digital / analog decoding means for decoding a broadcast signal received by the receiving means, Signal conversion means for converting the decoded signal decoded by the digital / analog decoding means into a signal capable of video display and outputting it to a display device, OSD display means for causing the display device to display a predetermined OSD, program selection, etc. Input means for inputting various commands, storage means for storing program information included in the decoded signal decoded by the digital / analog decoding means, control of each means, and instructions from the input means The EPG is created based on the program information stored in the storage means, and the created EPG is displayed on the display device as an EPG screen. A series program information list that handles programs as a group is displayed on the same screen as the EPG screen, and the switching means switches any of the EPG screen, the series program list, and the program content list to an active state. In the active state of the screen, by selecting a series program, a program content list is displayed. In the program content list, information on each broadcast time of the series program is displayed. And a control means for controlling to perform program explanation and / or recording reservation of the broadcast times by selecting the broadcast times.

According to this receiver, the EPG screen and the series program list are displayed simultaneously,
By pressing the switch button, it is possible to switch to activate either the EPG screen or the series program list. In addition, by selecting a series program in the series program list, information on each broadcast time of the selected series program is displayed, and a desired broadcast time is selected in the program content list to make a recording reservation and / or program. You can explain, and you can easily search for series programs and schedule recording.

A digital broadcast receiver with a program guide according to a second aspect of the present invention is a receiving device for receiving a broadcast signal transmitted from a broadcasting station, and a display device for converting the broadcast signal received by the receiving device into a signal capable of video display. Signal converting means for outputting to the input means, input means for inputting various commands such as program selection,
A storage means for storing program information and each means are controlled, and an EPG is created based on the program information stored in the storage means in response to an instruction from the input means.
PG is displayed as an EPG screen on the display device, and a series program list that handles programs as a group is displayed on the same screen as the EPG screen, and one of the EPG screen and the series program list is activated by the switching means In the active state of the screen of the series program list, the program contents list is displayed by selecting the series program,
The program content list includes control means for controlling so that information of each broadcast time of the series program is displayed.

According to this receiver, the EPG screen and the series program list are displayed simultaneously,
By pressing the switch button, it is possible to switch to activate either the EPG screen or the series program list. In addition, by selecting a series program in the series program list, it is possible to display information on each broadcast time of the selected series program, so that the series program can be searched and reserved recording can be easily performed.

A receiver according to a third invention is the receiver according to the second invention, wherein the control means selects a series program in an active state of the screen of the series program list,
A program content list is displayed instead of the series program list, and control is performed so that information on each broadcast time of the series program is displayed in the program content list.

In this case, it is possible to switch from the state in which the EPG screen and the series program list are displayed to the state in which the EPG screen and the program content list are displayed. Therefore, the EPG screen and the program content list can be used to easily search for series programs and make reservation recordings.

A receiver according to a fourth invention is the receiver according to the second invention, wherein the control means selects a series program in the active state of the screen of the series program list,
In addition to the EPG screen and the series program list, a program content list is displayed, and control is performed so that information on each broadcast time of the series program is displayed in the program content list.

In this case, in order to display the EPG screen, the series program list, and the program content list at the same time,
Although the area of each screen is reduced, it is possible to easily search for a series program and perform scheduled recording while simultaneously viewing the three screens.

A receiver according to a fifth invention is the receiver according to any one of the second to fourth inventions, wherein the control means selects a desired broadcast time in the program content list, and thereby the program of the broadcast time is selected. Control to perform explanation and / or scheduled recording.

In this case, it is possible to select a desired broadcast time in the program content list and make a recording reservation and / or program description, and to easily search for a series program and make a reservation recording.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a block configuration of a digital / analog broadcast receiving apparatus according to the present embodiment.

The digital / analog broadcast receiving apparatus (STB) 1 includes an antenna 20 for receiving a television broadcast signal transmitted from a broadcasting station using high-frequency radio waves of a predetermined frequency, and a television monitor (display device) for displaying a television broadcast image. ) 30 is connected. The broadcast receiving apparatus 1 is an apparatus for receiving an ATSC broadcast signal and an NTSC broadcast signal transmitted from a broadcast station via an antenna 20 and projecting an image of a television program distributed by these broadcast signals on a television monitor 30. is there.

The broadcast receiving apparatus 1 includes a remote control receiving unit 3 that receives an input signal from a remote control (input means) 2, a tuner (reception means) 4, an NTSC decoder (analog decoding means) 5, and an MPE.
G encoder 6, ATSC front end (digital decoding means) 7, MPEG decoder back end (signal conversion means) 9, OSD circuit 10, memory 11, control unit (control means, search means, color change control means) , Highlight display control means, warning means) 13.

The remote controller 2 is used for channel selection of TV programs to be viewed, TV program viewing reservation, and E
This is for performing various operations such as displaying a PG screen, and is operated by the user. In order to enable these various operations, the remote controller 2 includes various operation buttons as will be described later. When the various operation buttons are operated, a wireless signal such as an infrared signal corresponding to the operation is transmitted.

The remote control receiving unit 3 receives a signal sent from the remote control 2 and outputs a signal corresponding to an operation on the remote control 2 to the control unit 13. The tuner 4 tunes the reception frequency to the frequency corresponding to the channel selected by the remote controller 2, thereby receiving the TV broadcast signal of the channel selected by the antenna 20 via the antenna 20.

The NTSC decoder 5 is controlled by the remote controller 2 using NTSC (National Television Systems Co.).
mmittee) When a broadcast channel is selected, the NTSC broadcast signal received by the tuner 4 is demodulated into a video signal and an audio signal of a television program, and the video signal and the audio signal are output to the MPEG encoder 6. The MPEG encoder 6 digitally compresses and encodes the video signal and the audio signal output from the NTSC decoder 5 according to the MPEG standard.
Output to.

When the ATSC broadcast channel is selected by the remote controller 2, the ATSC front end 7 converts the ATSC broadcast signal modulated by the 8VSB system received by the tuner 4 into MPEG.
Signals such as video and audio of a plurality of television programs digitally compressed and encoded according to the standard, and electronic program information are demodulated into a TS signal in a time-division multiplexed state. Then, the ATSC front end 7 separates and extracts the video signal and audio signal of the TV program of the channel selected by the remote controller 2 from this TS signal and outputs it to the MPEG decoder back end 9 and also extracts the electronic program information. And output to the control unit 13. This electronic program information includes a program name of each program, a program description, rating information for restricting user viewing, and the like.

The MPEG decoder back end 9 receives a video signal and an audio signal that are digitally compressed and encoded according to the MPEG standard and output from the MPEG encoder 6 and the ATSC front end 7. The MPEG decoder back end 9 decodes these video signals and audio signals into signals before being subjected to digital compression encoding, thereby generating a signal for displaying video on the television monitor 30 and outputting audio. The video signal output from the MPEG decoder back end 9 is output to the television monitor 30 via the OSD circuit 10.

The OSD circuit 10 superimposes predetermined on-screen display data such as a channel number and an EPG screen on the video signal output from the MPEG decoder back end 9. As a result, an image based on the on-screen display data is displayed on the television monitor 30 so as to overlap the video of the television program.

The memory 11 stores frequency data of television broadcast signals of each channel and various on-screen display data. The memory 11 stores electronic program information extracted by the ATSC front end 7.

When an NTSC broadcast channel is selected by the remote controller 2, the control unit 13 causes the tuner 4 to receive an NTSC broadcast signal of the selected channel and
The C decoder 5 demodulates and reproduces the video signal and the audio signal. In addition, the remote control 2
When a TSC broadcast channel is selected, the tuner 4 receives the ATSC broadcast signal of the selected channel, and the ATSC front end 7 receives the channel video signal and audio signal. Separate and extract.

Further, the control unit 13 causes the tuner 4 to receive an ATSC broadcast signal and causes the memory 11 to store electronic program information output from the ATSC front end 7. When the display operation of the EPG screen is performed by the remote controller 2, the display image of the EPG program selection screen is created with reference to the electronic program information stored in the memory 11, and the image signal is output to the OSD circuit 10. To do. As a result, an EPG program selection screen is displayed on the television monitor 30. Next, a configuration example of a program guide output from the tuner 1 of this embodiment will be described.

FIG. 2 is an image diagram showing an example of a program table output as a display signal from the tuner 1 and displayed on the display. When EPG button is pushed, EPG41 and series program list 4
2 is displayed and the program that is currently being viewed (in this example, “Doradora AAA” is focused). Note that the focus here refers to making the portion indistinguishable from other portions by increasing the luminous intensity, blinking, reversing, or the like. As shown in the figure
This program guide 40 is an EP on a certain date (in this example, Friday, June 4, 2004).
The G screen 41 and the series program one column table 42 displayed on the right side of the EPG screen 41 are simultaneously displayed on one screen. The EPG screen 41 is a normal one that has been used in the past, with the broadcast station name 43 on the vertical axis, the time 44 on the horizontal axis, and the program name 45 at each time. In the series program table 42, a series program broadcast on the channel KHN2 currently being viewed, for example, a program that is regularly aired every day, from Monday to Friday, once a week, once a month, etc. Or, irregular programs such as professional baseball broadcasts are displayed. In this example, KHN2's cooking A (weekly), Shogi broadcast (month 1), serial drama A
Examples of AA (weekly), continuous drama / BBB (weekly), and professional baseball broadcasting (irregular) are shown. The EPG screen 41 is provided with a scroll bar 41a, and the screen can be freely scrolled by operating it with a remote controller. In the state of FIG. 2, the EPG 41 is in an active state, that is, a state in which the focus can be moved. In this example, the focused “continuous dora AAA” has a thick frame indicating that it is focused, Is shaded to indicate that it is movable. On the other hand, in the state of FIG. 2, the series program list 42 is not active, and the focused “continuous drama / AAA” is displayed only with a thick frame indicating that it is focused.

FIG. 6 shows a configuration example of the remote controller 2. Below the normal channel key 51, a menu key 52, a search key 53, a cross key 54 (cursor key), a switching key 56 for switching between the EPG and the series program column, an enter key 57, and a return button 58 are provided. ing. The switch key 56 switches between the EPG 41 and the series program list 42 each time it is pressed.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a display example of series program information. As shown in FIG. 2, when the switch key 56 is pressed while the EPG 41 is active, the series list table 42 becomes active.
In this state, as shown in FIG. 3, in the series program list 42, for example, “Dora / AAA” is displayed.
"45b" is focused and displayed by a thick frame indicating the focus and a shaded area indicating that the focus can be moved. At the bottom of the list of series programs 42, “Dora / AAA”
", The series name, organization, number of remaining episodes, last broadcast date, etc. are displayed.
In the series program list 42 in the active state, the series information 49 of other series programs can be displayed by moving the focus up and down with the cross key 54 or the like.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a display example 1 of the program content list. In FIG.
When the enter key 57 is pressed while 45b is focused, a program content list 42 'is displayed instead of the series program list 42 as shown in FIG. Program contents list 42 '
Shows a list of broadcast times of “Doradora AAA”, and the sixth episode corresponding to the broadcast times of 2004/6/4 (Friday) focused on EPG41 is a program contents list. Focus on 42 '. In this state, the program content list 42 ′ is active, and the sixth episode of “Doradora AAA” focused on the program content list 42 ′ is displayed with a thick frame and hatching. In this state, by pressing the enter key 57, the recording reservation and program explanation for the sixth episode are performed. It is possible to move the focus while the program content list 42 'is active, and it is possible to make a recording reservation and program explanation by focusing on other broadcast times by moving the focus. Further, when the return button of the remote controller 2 is pressed, the screen of FIG. 3 can be returned.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a display example 2 of the program content list.

This figure shows the “Drama / AAA” in the series program list 42 (active) shown in FIG.
”And press the Enter key 57, instead of displaying the screen shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5, the EPG 41 and the series program list 42 are reduced, and the program content list 4
2 'is added and displayed, the program content list 42' is activated, and the program content list 42 'is displayed.
, Focus on the broadcast times corresponding to the focus in the EPG 41. Here, in the program content list 42 ′, a list of broadcast times of serial dramas and AAA is displayed, and the sixth corresponding to the broadcast times of 2004/6/4 (Friday) focused on the EPG 41 is displayed. The story is focused in the program content list 42 '. In this screen as well, as in FIG. 4, the program content list 42 'is active, and the sixth episode of "Dora / AAA" focused on the program content list 42' is displayed in a thick frame and shaded area. Is done. In this state, by pressing the enter key 57,
Schedule talk recording and program explanation. It is possible to move the focus while the program content list 42 'is active, and it is possible to make a recording reservation and program explanation by focusing on other broadcast times by moving the focus. Further, when the return button of the remote controller 2 is pressed, the screen of FIG. 3 can be returned. Further, on the screen of FIG. 5, the active screen may be switched among the EPG 41, the series program list 42, and the program content list 42 ′ every time the switch key 56 of the remote controller 2 is pressed.

In this example, the screen of the EPG is reduced, but a series program is selected in the series program list 42, and information on each broadcast time of the program is displayed in the program list 42 'on the same screen.
There is an advantage that the display is easy to see and the operation is easy.

In the above embodiment, only one switching key 56 is provided and switching is performed each time the button is pressed. However, two switching keys are provided, and when one is pressed, the EPG 41 is displayed, and when the other is pressed, the series program list is displayed. Each of the tables 42 may be switched.

In the present embodiment described above, the series program list 42 or the program content list 42 ′ as the series program information is displayed on the same screen as the EPG 41, and among the broadcast times displayed in the program content list 42 ′. Since the desired broadcast times are selected and the recording reservation and / or the program description are performed, the search for the series program and the recording reservation are simplified.

The block block diagram of the broadcast receiver by one Embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows an example of the program schedule displayed by the same apparatus. The figure which shows the 1st example of the display method of series program information. The figure which shows the example 1 of a display of a program content list. The figure which shows the example 2 of a display of a program content list. The front view of the remote control for operation of the apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

1 Digital / analog broadcast receiver 2 Remote control (input means)
4 Tuner (Receiving means)
5 NTSC decoder (analog decoding means)
7 ATSC front end (digital decoding means)
8 MPEG decoder back end (signal conversion means)
9 OSD circuit (OSD display means)
11 Memory (memory means)
13 Control means 30 Display device 41 EPG screen 42 Series program information list 49 Series information 56 Switching key (switching means)
57 OK key 58 Back button

Claims (5)

Receiving means for receiving a digital / analog broadcast signal transmitted from a broadcasting station;
Digital / analog decoding means for decoding the broadcast signal received by the receiving means;
A signal conversion means for converting the decoded signal decoded by the digital / analog decoding means into a signal capable of video display and outputting the signal to a display device;
OSD display means for causing the display device to display a predetermined OSD;
Input means for inputting various commands such as program selection;
Storage means for storing program information included in the decoded signal decoded by the digital / analog decoding means;
Controlling each means, receiving an instruction from the input means, creating an EPG based on program information stored in the storage means, displaying the created EPG as an EPG screen on the display device; and The EPG is a list of series program information that handles programs as a group.
By displaying on the same screen as the screen, switching any of the EPG screen, the series program list, and the program content list to the active state by the switching means, and selecting the series program in the active state of the series program list screen, A program content list is displayed. In the program content list, information on each broadcast time of the series program is displayed. By selecting a desired broadcast time in the program content list, a program at the broadcast time is displayed. A program guide-equipped digital broadcast receiver comprising: control means for controlling to perform explanation and / or recording reservation. Receiving means for receiving a broadcast signal transmitted from a broadcasting station;
A signal conversion means for converting the broadcast signal received by the receiving means into a signal capable of video display and outputting the signal to a display device;
Input means for inputting various commands such as program selection;
Storage means for storing program information;
Controlling each means, receiving an instruction from the input means, creating an EPG based on program information stored in the storage means, displaying the created EPG as an EPG screen on the display device; and The series program list that treats the program as a group is displayed on the same screen as the EPG screen, and one of the EPG screen and the series program list is switched to the active state by the switching means, and the active state of the series program list screen In order to display a program content list by selecting a series program,
And a control means for controlling so that information of each broadcast of the series program is displayed. In the active state of the screen of the series program list, the control means displays a program content list instead of the series program list by selecting a series program,
3. The program table mounted digital broadcast receiver according to claim 2, wherein control is performed so that information of each broadcast time of the series program is displayed in the program content list. The control means displays a program content list in addition to the EPG screen and the series program list by selecting a series program in an active state of the series program list screen, and the program content list 3. The program table-equipped digital broadcast receiver according to claim 2, wherein control is performed so that information of each broadcast time of the series program is displayed. The control means, in the program content list, by selecting a desired broadcast times,
5. The program table-equipped digital broadcast receiver according to claim 2, wherein control is performed so that the program explanation and / or recording reservation of the broadcast times are performed.

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