JP2006217432A - Program information display apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a program information display apparatus capable of carrying out the switching of a display period of program information (a particular time band of a particular date) into a different time band of a different date by simple operation in a short time. <P>SOLUTION: The program information display apparatus includes: a date selection section 84 for selecting a date; and a time band selection section 85 for selecting a time band and switching the selected time band in response to a time band switching instruction by a user, and displays program information with respect to a plurality of programs broadcast in the time band selected by the time band selection section 85 in the date selected by the date selection section 84, and the date selection section 84 switches the selected date in the case that the date selection section 84 receives a time band switching instruction in a time passage direction from the user when the time band selection section 85 selects a final time band or in the case that the date selection section 84 receives a time band switching instruction in a direction opposite to the time passage direction from the user when the time band selection section 85 selects a first time band. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a program information display device that displays program information related to a plurality of programs broadcast in a specific time zone on a specific day according to a user instruction.

  Conventionally, a program information display device generally displays program information relating to a program broadcast on a plurality of channels in a period much shorter than one day (for example, three hours near the current time), and the channel is the vertical axis (or horizontal axis). In the form of an electronic program guide (Electronic Program Guide; hereinafter referred to as “EPG” where appropriate) with the broadcast time as the horizontal axis (or vertical axis), the EPG is displayed according to user instructions. A time unit (for example, 1 hour) shorter than the length of the EPG display period (the time range of the program displayed on the EPG) or a program unit (usually shorter than the length of the EPG display period) in the time axis direction (horizontal axis or horizontal axis). It is configured to scroll in a period; for example, about 15 minutes to 2 hours.

  However, in such a configuration, since the EPG display period can be changed only in units of time shorter than the length of the EPG display period, when the user wants to greatly change the EPG display period, for example, to display the EPG after one day It is necessary to repeatedly instruct scrolling. Therefore, the user's operation becomes complicated, and it takes time until an EPG in a desired time zone is displayed.

  Therefore, there is known a program information display device that allows a user to specify a date and display an EPG for that date.

  For example, Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. currently sells the terrestrial / BS / 110 degree CS digital high-definition LCD televisions “LX300 Series” and “LX30 Series” (for example, “TH-32LX300” released on June 1, 2004). “TH-26LX300”, “TH-32LX30”, “TH-26LX30” (hereinafter referred to as “Matsushita LCD TV”) can be switched to the previous day's EPG with the blue button and to the next day's EPG with the red button. It has become.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a program information display device that displays a date cell for selecting a date in addition to a program cell for displaying a program, and displays program information for that date when the user selects a date cell. Has been.

  However, in these conventional program information display devices, the EPG display period can be changed by the user's selection only in units that are much longer than the EPG display period. In these conventional program information display devices, in order to change the EPG display period in units shorter than the daily unit, it is necessary for the user to issue an instruction to scroll (for example, pressing a cursor button). For example, in the aforementioned Matsushita LCD TV, the movement of the EPG in the time axis direction (up and down direction) in units shorter than the daily unit is moved in units of programs each time the user presses the cursor (up and down) button. It has become.

  Therefore, in these conventional program information display devices, if the EPG display period after the change greatly deviates from the time zone that the user wants to browse, it is necessary to repeatedly instruct the scroll after the change. There is. Therefore, in some cases, the user's operation becomes complicated, and it may take time until the EPG of a desired time zone is displayed. As described above, in the conventional program information display apparatus, the unit for changing the EPG display period by the user is one day or a time shorter than the EPG display period (for example, the length of the program). Can not see continuously.

  Therefore, a program information display device has been developed that allows a user to designate a day and a time zone and display an EPG relating to the designated time zone on a designated day.

  The liquid crystal television “AQUAS G series” (for example, “LC-37GD3” and “LC-37GD4” released on September 1, 2004) sold by the applicant at the time of filing this application, the user specifies the date and time zone. In addition, a date search mode that can display an EPG for a specified time zone on a specified date is provided.

In this configuration, the user can display the EPG for the period desired to browse without repeatedly instructing scrolling in units shorter than the length of the EPG display period.
JP 2004-282647 A (published March 18, 2003)

  However, in the liquid crystal television “AQUIS G series”, the switching of the EPG display date and the switching of the EPG display time zone are performed separately. Therefore, when both the EPG display date and the display time zone are changed, the user operation includes a step of performing a key operation (left / right cursor key operation) for switching the EPG display date, and a key for switching the EPG display time zone. There are two steps including the step of performing the operation (operation of the left and right cursor keys), which is complicated.

  In the liquid crystal television “AQUIS G series”, a key operation for switching the EPG display date (left / right cursor key operation) and a key operation for switching the EPG display time zone (left / right cursor key operation) are common keys. When a common key operation is accepted, which of the display date and the display time zone is switched according to the key operation (switching of the selected time zone according to the time zone switching instruction and according to the day selection instruction) Which of the selection dates can be changed) is selected by another key operation (yellow key operation). Therefore, another key operation (yellow key operation) is required between the above two-step operations.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and its purpose is to perform a simple operation to switch a period (a specific time zone on a specific day) for displaying program information to a different time zone on a different day. An object of the present invention is to provide a program information display device that can be performed in a short time.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, the program information display device of the present invention selects a date, a date selection unit that selects a date, and a time zone, and the selected time zone is instructed by the user to switch the time zone. A program information display for displaying program information relating to a plurality of programs broadcast in the time zone selected by the time zone selection unit on the day selected by the day selection unit. In the device, the date selection unit may receive a time zone switching instruction in the time progress direction in a state where the last time zone is selected by the time zone selection unit, or may be the first by the time zone selection unit. When a time zone switching instruction in the direction opposite to the time progression direction is sent from the user with the time zone selected, the selected day is switched.

  According to the above configuration, the user simply switches the time zone (for example, operation of the left and right keys), switches the selected time zone to a different time zone on the same day, and sets the selected time zone to a time zone on a different day. Both switching can be performed. Therefore, the user can perform the operation of switching the period for displaying the program information (specific time zone on a specific day) to a different time zone on a different day in a short time with a simple operation. Therefore, the user can browse the program information over a plurality of days in time order with a simple operation and at high speed, or broadcast on each channel at a specific time zone with a date different from the date of the currently displayed program information. The program information of the program to be viewed can be browsed, and the program broadcast in a specific time zone on a date different from the date of the currently displayed program information can be reserved.

  In the program information display device of the present invention, the day selection unit is configured to switch the selected day in accordance with the user's day switching instruction, and the time zone selection unit is in response to the time zone switching instruction. It is preferable that the configuration is such that when the selected time zone can be switched, the day selection unit can switch the day according to the day selection instruction.

  Of the switching of the selected time zone according to the time zone switching instruction and the switching of the selected day according to the day selection instruction, only one of them can be entered, and which switching is possible is determined by the user instruction A configuration for selecting based on the above is also conceivable. However, in this configuration, when the user issues a day switching instruction and a time zone switching instruction, another instruction must be given between the day switching instruction and the time zone switching instruction. Therefore, the user's operation becomes complicated.

  On the other hand, in the configuration according to the present invention, the day selection unit responds to the day selection instruction when the time zone selection unit is capable of performing switching according to the time zone switching instruction. It becomes a state that can be switched. Therefore, the user can switch the selected day and the selected time by continuously performing the day switching instruction and the time zone switching instruction without interposing other instructions in the middle. Become. Therefore, the user's operation can be simplified.

  In addition, the said structure is easily realizable by further providing the input device which provided separately the key for inputting a time slot | zone switching instruction | indication, and the key for inputting a day switching instruction | indication.

  The program information display device of the present invention displays program information relating to a plurality of programs broadcast in the time zone selected by the time zone selection unit on the day selected by the day selection unit, arranged along the time axis. Time in units of time intervals equal to the length of the time zone according to the display control unit to be switched, the switching of the day selected by the day selection unit and the switching of the time zone selected by the time zone selection unit A scroll processing unit for scrolling program information in the axial direction, and the time interval is preferably longer than 3 hours.

  According to the above configuration, since the program information is scrolled in the time axis direction in units of time intervals longer than 3 hours, the user can scroll at a high speed (the amount of program information that can be displayed around a certain time (time unit)). You can watch programs in chronological order. Therefore, the program information can be browsed over a plurality of days in order of time or displayed at present by only a simple operation for the user to input a time zone selection instruction (for example, input of the left and right keys) for instructing scrolling. View program information of programs broadcast on each channel at a specific time zone with a date different from the program information date, or broadcast at a specific time zone with a date different from the program information date currently displayed Can be quickly booked.

  As described above, when displaying an electronic program guide for digital broadcasting, when selecting a date in the program guide, the time is basically used as a scroll movement unit, and the time interval is set to a time longer than 3 hours such as 6 hours. By displaying the program information for that time, it is possible to easily view the programs in time order with high-speed scrolling.

  According to the present invention, as described above, the program information display that allows the operation of switching the period for displaying the program information (specific time zone on a specific day) to a different time zone on a different day can be performed in a short time with a simple operation. An apparatus can be provided.

[Embodiment 1]
An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 36 as follows.

  Note that “scroll”, in a narrow sense, cannot display all of the image on the screen at once, and the display content changes partially when only a part of the image is displayed on the screen. Thus, it refers to continuously shifting the displayed portion of the image within the image. However, “scroll” in the present specification is not only “scroll” in a narrow sense, but it is not possible to display all of the image on the screen at the same time, but only when a part of the image is displayed on the screen. In order for the content to change completely (or partially), the displayed portion of the image is one screen (image displayed at once on the screen; hereinafter referred to as “page”) in the image. It also includes a process of shifting continuously (page switching process). In the present specification, the amount of movement of the display image on the screen when the image is scrolled in response to one user instruction during scrolling is referred to as a “(scroll) movement unit”.

  In this specification, “selected state display” is a display that allows a selected portion (for example, a portion that displays program information related to a selected program) to be distinguished from a non-selected portion. For example, highlight display, cursor display, and the like. Highlight display is to display the selected part in a different form from the non-selected part, and reverse display (the selected part is not selected, the brightness of the character part and the background) Display that inverts the height relationship between the brightness of the part), color-coded display (display in which the color of the character part and / or the background part is different between the part where the selected part is not selected), and the like. The cursor display is to display a cursor such as an arrow or a thick frame in a selected part.

  Here, as one embodiment of the program information display device according to the present invention, digital broadcast waves including content (video information and audio information) and EPG information are received, and the received content (video information and audio information) is output. In addition, a television with a digital broadcast receiving function that displays an EPG of a digital broadcast based on the received EPG information will be described.

  Digital broadcasting currently includes BS digital broadcasting that uses BS (Broadcasting Satellite) to broadcast digital signals, and CS digital broadcasting that uses CS (Communication Satellite) to broadcast digital signals. There are three types of broadcasts, terrestrial digital broadcasts that transmit digitized broadcast waves from a terrestrial radio tower, and the digital broadcast television 100 can receive any of these three types of broadcasts. In digital broadcasting, there are currently three types of services: television broadcasting, radio broadcasting, and data broadcasting. The contents provided by these three services are video information and audio information for television broadcasting, audio information for radio broadcasting, and text information for data broadcasting. The digital broadcast television 100 supports any of these three types of services, and can output content provided by each service as video and / or audio. In addition, since the difference in service is not related to the display layout of the display screen, in the following description, a case where a digital broadcast wave is a television broadcast will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a television with a digital broadcast receiving function (hereinafter referred to as “digital broadcast television”) 100 according to this embodiment includes a terrestrial / BS / CS digital demodulator 2, a demultiplexer 3, and EPG information acquisition ( Storage unit 4, graphic drawing unit (EPG screen creation unit) 5, EPG screen output unit 6, remote control device (abbreviated as “remote control” in the following description and drawings), light receiving unit 7, system control unit 8, A screen layout information storage unit (not shown), a display panel 10 for displaying video on a screen, an AV decoder 11, and an audio output unit 12 are provided.

  The terrestrial / BS / CS digital demodulation unit 2 receives an external digital broadcast wave (a high-frequency broadcast wave carrying a digital broadcast signal) of a terrestrial digital broadcast, a BS digital broadcast, or a CS digital broadcast from a digital broadcast station. It is connected to the antenna 1. The terrestrial / BS / CS digital demodulator 2 tunes to the digital broadcast wave of the desired channel to extract the digital broadcast signal of the desired channel from the digital broadcast signal received by the antenna 1 and Is demodulated into a baseband bit stream signal.

  The bit stream signal demodulated by the terrestrial / BS / CS digital demodulator 2 is obtained by multiplexing a bit stream signal of program contents (video information and audio information), a bit stream signal of EPG information, and the like. The demultiplexer 3 extracts a bit stream signal of EPG information (hereinafter referred to as “EPG data”) from the multiplexed bit stream signal. That is, the demultiplexer 3 separates the multiplexed bit stream signal into a video information bit stream signal, an audio information bit stream signal, EPG data, and the like. Further, the demultiplexer 3 sends a bit stream signal of video information and audio information to the AV decoder 11. The EPG data included in the bitstream signal is usually EPG data related to EPG (weekly program guide) for about one week (for example, eight days) in the case of television broadcasting.

  The EPG information acquisition (storage) unit 4 stores the EPG data extracted by the demultiplexer 3.

  The screen layout information storage unit includes a display area for displaying a list of EPGs or a list of programs (a plurality of programs) that satisfy conditions (search conditions, etc.) among programs included in the EPG. Information of a predetermined screen layout is stored for each information display mode (hereinafter referred to as “EPG display mode”) for displaying a screen (hereinafter referred to as “EPG screen”). This screen layout information is information indicating the position at which a plurality of information display areas included in the EPG screen are arranged, that is, the display layout of the EPG screen in each EPG display mode. In the screen layout information, a program information display area (described later) is arranged at the same upper position in the EPG screen except in the date / time search mode.

  The system control unit 8 receives a user instruction for displaying an EPG in a specific EPG display mode as an instruction signal. Based on the instruction signal, the system control unit 8 performs its own operation, the terrestrial / BS / CS digital demodulation unit 2, and the demultiplexer. 3. Control the operation of the EPG information acquisition (storage) unit 4 and the EPG screen output unit 6. The system control unit 8 performs display control by controlling the EPG screen output unit 6.

  The system control unit 8 includes a display control unit 81, a date / time search unit 82, and a mode switching unit 83.

  Based on the instruction signal sent from the remote control light receiving unit 7, the display control unit 81 displays a part (for example, one cell of the table) that displays information (for example, a program title) related to the selected program in the EPG display area. The graphic drawing unit 5 is controlled so as to perform processing such as processing for displaying a selection state (highlight display or the like), processing for moving a portion (hereinafter referred to as “cursor” as appropriate) displayed in the selection state. The display control unit 81 reads the EPG data corresponding to the EPG display mode from the EPG information acquisition (storage) unit 4 based on the instruction signal for instructing the activation or switching of the EPG screen sent from the remote control light receiving unit 7 and draws the graphic. At the same time, the screen layout information corresponding to the EPG display mode is read from the screen layout information storage unit and sent to the graphic drawing unit 5. Accordingly, the display control unit 81 causes the display panel 10 to display a portion corresponding to at least some of the EPG channels related to all available channels based on the EPG data. The display control unit 81 displays the EPG on the display panel 10 in a matrix form in which the program information is arranged in the order of channel numbers in the vertical direction and the program information is arranged in the order of time with the horizontal direction as the time axis. It has become. In this case, the arrangement direction in the channel order (hereinafter referred to as “channel direction”) is the vertical direction.

  In the date search mode, the date search unit 82 uses the search conditions specified by the user or the default search conditions from the information related to a plurality of programs included in the EPG data stored in the EPG information acquisition (storage) unit 4. Information regarding the matching program is searched, and the search result is sent to the display control unit 81 or the like.

  The mode switching unit 83 indicates that an instruction signal sent from the remote control light receiving unit 7 to instruct switching of a mode, for example, a green key 211 (switching key from the basic display mode to the date / time search mode) described later is pressed by the user. Based on the indicated instruction signal, the operation mode of the display control unit 81 is switched between the basic display mode (program selection mode) and the date / time search mode (period selection mode).

  In the basic display mode, the EPG is displayed on the display panel 10 and program information and channels related to the selected program in the EPG in response to an instruction for selecting a program by the user (pressing up / down / left / right cursor keys 203 to 206 described later). In this mode, the number is displayed in a selected state (highlight display etc.). The date and time search mode is a program that is broadcast during a period selected in accordance with an instruction for selecting a period by the user (pressing any of left and right cursor keys 204 and 205, a green key 211, and a yellow key 212 described later). Is a mode in which the EPG is displayed on the display unit. Details of these modes will be described later.

  The display control unit 81 includes a scroll processing unit 81a for performing EPG scroll processing (scroll display processing for scrolling EPG). When the scroll processing unit 81a cannot display the entire EPG for all available channels on the display panel 10 and displays only a part corresponding to a part of the available channels on the display panel 10, The EPG is scrolled in the channel direction so that the channel on which the program information is displayed changes in accordance with the scrolling instruction by, and the portion corresponding to the remaining channels in the EPG is displayed. The scroll processing unit 81a determines a scroll movement unit, performs processing such as movement, deletion, and addition of each EPG line (channel) according to the scroll movement unit, and obtains EPG information according to this process. The data is read from the (storage) unit 4 and display control is performed.

  The scroll processing unit 81a uses the same instruction (the same key operation) input to the remote controller (input device) 200 described later by the user regardless of whether the operation mode of the display control unit 81 is the basic display mode or the date / time search mode. The EPG is scrolled in the channel direction in response to the instruction). Therefore, the user can scroll the EPG in the channel direction according to a common instruction without being conscious of mode switching.

  The time zone selection unit 85 selects the time zone of the EPG to be displayed, and the selected time zone is indicated by the user's time zone switching instruction (the left cursor key 204 or the right cursor key 205 of the remote controller 200 described later). Switching is performed according to the pressing of.

  The day selection unit 84 selects the day of the EPG to be displayed, and also instructs the user to switch the date (by pressing a green key 211 or yellow key 212 of the remote controller 200 described later) or an instruction from the time zone selection unit 85. The selected day is switched based on the above. The date selection unit 84 receives a time zone switching instruction in the time progression direction with the last time zone selected by the time zone selection unit 85 or when the time zone selection unit 85 sends the first time zone. Is selected, the selected day is switched in accordance with an instruction from the time zone selection unit 85 when a time zone switching instruction in the direction opposite to the time progression direction is sent from the user.

  Under the control of the system control unit 8, the graphic drawing unit 5 creates an image signal of the EPG screen from the EPG data and screen layout information. At this time, the graphic drawing unit 5 is an image signal for displaying the program information display area at the same position on the screen of the display panel 10 except in the date / time search mode. The graphic drawing unit 5 sends the created image signal of the EPG screen to the EPG screen output unit 6.

  The AV decoder 11 decodes the bit stream signal of the video information sent from the demultiplexer 3 into a video signal in a format that can be processed by the display panel 10 (decoding a video signal in the MPEG (Motion Picture Experts Group) 2 format. And the video signal obtained by the processing is sent to the display panel 10 and the bit stream signal of the audio information sent from the demultiplexer 3 is decoded into an audio signal in a format that can be processed by the audio output unit 12. And sent to the audio output unit 12. The audio output unit 12 outputs audio according to the audio signal sent from the AV decoder 11.

  The EPG screen output unit 6 outputs the image signal of the EPG screen sent from the graphic drawing unit 5 to the display panel 10 as an output signal of the receiver, and displays the EPG screen on the display panel 10. The EPG screen output unit 6 synthesizes the image signal of the EPG screen sent from the graphic drawing unit 5 with the video signal sent from the AV decoder 11 as necessary, and outputs the obtained video signal to the display panel 10. To do. That is, the EPG screen output unit 6 receives the image signal of the EPG screen sent from the graphic drawing unit 5 from the AV decoder 11 when displaying the EPG screen while the user is viewing the digital broadcast. The obtained video signal is combined with the obtained video signal, and the obtained video signal is output to the display panel 10. On the other hand, the EPG screen output unit 6 displays the EPG screen image signal sent from the graphic drawing unit 5 as a video signal when the user displays the EPG screen without viewing the digital broadcast. Output to. The EPG screen output unit 6 outputs the video signal sent from the AV decoder 11 to the display panel 10 as it is in a normal viewing state where the EPG screen is not displayed.

  The remote control light receiving unit 7 receives a signal from the remote control 200, determines an instruction input by the user to the remote control 200 based on the received signal, and sends an instruction signal corresponding to the instruction to the system control unit 8.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the remote controller 200 has a program guide key 201 for displaying an EPG screen on the display panel 10 of the digital broadcast television 100, and a back for displaying the back program guide on the display panel 10 of the digital broadcast television 100. Program guide key 202, up cursor key 203 for moving the cursor on the EPG screen up, left cursor key 204 for moving the cursor on the EPG screen to the left, and moving the cursor on the EPG screen to the right Right cursor key 205, down cursor key 206 for moving the cursor on the EPG screen downward, and determination for selecting or reserving the program (currently selected program) at the position of the cursor on the EPG screen. Key 207, an end key for ending the display of the EPG screen on the display panel 10 of the digital broadcast television 100. 208, blue key 209, red key 210, is equipped with a green key 211 and the yellow key 212,.

  The remote control 200 sends signals representing various instructions to the remote control light receiving unit 7 in accordance with the operation of the key group. For example, when the program guide key 201 is pressed, the remote controller 200 sends a signal indicating an instruction to activate a basic EPG screen (an EPG screen 20 described later), and the green key 211 is displayed while the basic EPG screen is displayed. When the button is pressed, a signal indicating an instruction to switch the basic EPG screen to another EPG screen (an EPG screen 50 described later) is sent.

  The digital broadcast television 100 has two types of EPG display modes for displaying EPG screens (EPG screens 20 and 50 described later) having different display layouts, and switches between these two types of EPG display modes for display. It is possible. The two types of EPG display modes are (1) a basic display mode for displaying an EPG screen (basic screen) including EPG and program information, and (2) an EPG screen (date / time search) including a list of programs meeting the date / time search condition. Is a date and time search mode.

  The switching process between these two types of EPG display modes will be described below with reference to FIGS.

[Basic display mode (program selection mode)]
The digital broadcast television 100 normally displays a video of a program being selected without displaying an EPG on the display panel 10, that is, a state in which the user is viewing the program; State)). In this normal viewing state, the digital broadcast signal is received by the antenna 1 and demodulated into a baseband bit stream signal by the terrestrial / BS / CS digital demodulator 2. Then, the demodulated bit stream signal is separated by the demultiplexer 3 into a bit stream signal for video information, a bit stream signal for audio information, EPG data, and the like. The bit stream signal of the video information is decoded by the AV decoder 11 and then sent to the display panel 10 via the EPG screen output unit 6 and displayed as a video on the display panel 10. The bit stream signal of audio information is decoded by the AV decoder 11, then sent to the audio output unit 12, and output from the audio output unit 12 as audio. The EPG data is stored in the EPG information acquisition (storage) unit 4. The EPG data need not always be received and may be received constantly, or may be received at a predetermined timing, for example, when reception of a digital broadcast signal is started.

  In this normal viewing state, the digital broadcast television 100 stands by without starting the EPG screen until the user presses the program guide key 201 of the remote controller 200.

  Then, when the user presses the program guide key 201 of the remote controller 200, that is, when the instruction signal instructing activation of the EPG screen is received from the remote controller light receiving unit 7, the digital broadcast television 100 displays the digital broadcast. The EPG is displayed on the display panel 10 based on the EPG data received from the broadcasting station, and at the same time, the program information related to one program currently selected from the plurality of programs displayed in the EPG based on the EPG data. (More detailed information than the information in the EPG) is displayed in the program information display area arranged at the upper part of the screen of the display panel 10. More specifically, the system control unit 8 selects one program, for example, a program being viewed, from among the programs displayed in the EPG in an initial state in which no program selection instruction is received from the user, Information indicating whether a program is selected is stored. Further, after receiving a program selection instruction from the user, the system control unit 8 selects a program according to the user's instruction and stores information indicating which program is selected. The system control unit 8 displays the EPG data corresponding to the basic display mode, that is, the EPG, in the EPG based on the signal indicating the display of the EPG received from the remote control light receiving unit 7 and the information indicating which program is selected. Information to be read (program title, etc.) and program information related to the currently selected program are read from the EPG information acquisition (storage) unit 4 and sent to the graphic drawing unit 5, and screen layout information corresponding to the basic display mode is displayed on the screen. The data is read from the layout information storage unit and sent to the graphic drawing unit 5. Then, the graphic drawing unit 5 creates an image signal of the EPG screen including the EPG and the program information from the information to be displayed in the EPG, the program information regarding the currently selected program, and the screen layout information. Then, the EPG screen output unit 6 outputs an image signal of the created EPG screen to the display panel 10 to display the EPG screen on the display panel 10.

  As a result, as shown in FIG. 3, the EPG screen 20 (basic screen) is displayed on the screen 10a of the display panel 10 (see FIG. 1) so as to be superimposed on the video of the program being viewed.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the EPG screen 20 includes a program information display area (program information display field) 21 for displaying program information related to the currently selected program, an EPG display area 22 for displaying EPG, and operation guidance. And an operation guidance display area 23 to be displayed.

  The EPG display area 22 displays program information such as a program title related to a program being broadcast or scheduled to be broadcast on a plurality of channels belonging to the same type of broadcast (terrestrial digital broadcast, BS digital broadcast, or CS digital broadcast) as the channel being received. A list is displayed in time series. In this example, the time axis is a horizontal axis, and rows (hereinafter, simply referred to as “rows” as appropriate) for displaying information on each channel are arranged in the vertical direction. Program information relating to each program is displayed in a cell (hereinafter referred to as “program cell”) provided for each program. A program title is displayed in the program cell, and an icon indicating the genre of the program is displayed in front of the program title.

  In the EPG display area 22, any one program cell is always selected. When the EPG screen 20 is activated from the normal viewing state, the program currently being viewed is selected. The program cell of the currently selected program is displayed in a selected state (in this example, highlighted). Therefore, when the EPG screen 20 is activated from the normal viewing state, the program cell corresponding to the currently viewed program is displayed in a selected state. In the EPG display area 22, the user can select a program by moving the cursor to the position of the program cell corresponding to the desired program using the cursor keys 203 to 206 of the remote controller 200. It has become.

  Further, in the EPG display area 22, a line for displaying program information relating to a program of each channel is registered in advance as a logo of the channel, a channel number, a broadcasting station name corresponding to the channel, and a button for selecting the channel. The number of the channel button of the remote controller 200 is displayed. In addition, the broadcast time zone of each program is displayed on the line displaying the program title of each channel. In the broadcast time zone display area, the time zone of the selected program is displayed in a selected state. The time width of the EPG displayed in the EPG display area 22 may be appropriately set, for example, 3 hours or 6 hours, but is 6 hours in the example of FIG. The number of EPG channels displayed in the EPG display area 22 is not particularly limited, but is 15 channels (services) in the example of FIG.

  The program information display area 21 is information relating to the program selected and displayed in the EPG display area 22, and includes a logo of a channel that broadcasts the program, a name of a broadcasting station that broadcasts the program, and a channel number that broadcasts the program. In addition to the icon indicating the genre of the program, the program title more detailed than the program title displayed in the EPG display area 22 (simple display halfway), and the broadcast time (from what time to what time) ) Is included. Further, as program information, an icon indicating that digital copying of the program is prohibited, and an icon indicating that digital copying of the program is permitted only once (channel number in the program information display area 21 in FIG. 3). An icon indicating that the program is reserved for viewing, an icon indicating that the program is reserved for recording, an icon indicating that the program is a pay broadcast or PPV (pay per view) program, etc. Is also displayed. Therefore, the user can read useful information (detailed program title, broadcast time, availability of digital copy, etc.) that cannot be read from the EPG display area 22 by viewing the program information. The program information display area 21 is arranged at a position above the EPG display area 22 in the EPG screen 20 and is arranged at the upper part of the screen 10 a of the display panel 10.

  The operation guidance display area 23 includes a selected network (terrestrial digital broadcast, BS digital broadcast, or CS digital broadcast) and media (television broadcast, radio broadcast, or data broadcast), a selected day and day, and color keys 209 to 209. The operation guidance regarding 211 (blue key 209, red key 210, green key 211, yellow key 212) is displayed.

  The user can use the EPG screen 20 to view a program that the user wants to view or reserve a program. That is, after the EPG screen 20 shown in FIG. 3 is displayed, the user moves the cursor to the position of a desired program using the cursor keys 203 to 206, selects the program, and presses the enter key 207 to select Can watch or make reservations. The digital broadcast television 100 selects the selected program when a program being broadcast is selected, and shifts to a reservation selection screen when an unbroadcast program is selected. This reservation selection screen is used to select whether to make a viewing reservation, a recording reservation, or no reservation. When the user makes this selection, the digital broadcast television 100 performs reservation processing or reservation cancellation processing according to the selection.

  The EPG display area 22 of the EPG screen 20 scrolls the EPG up and down as the user moves the cursor up and down using the up and down cursor keys 203 and 206. As a result, the user can view or select information regarding programs on channels that are not initially displayed in the EPG display area 22. This vertical scrolling will be described in detail later.

  The EPG display area 22 of the EPG screen 20 scrolls and displays the EPG to the left and right as the user moves the cursor to the left and right using the left and right cursor keys 204 and 205. As a result, the user can view or select information related to a program in a time zone that is not initially displayed in the EPG display area 22.

  Further, the EPG screen 20 disappears when the user presses the end key 208. That is, when the user presses the end key 208, the display panel 10 returns to a state in which an image of the selected program is displayed (normal viewing state).

[Date search mode (period selection mode)]
The date search mode is a mode in which a program can be searched for by specifying the date. In the date / time search mode, the digital broadcast TV 100 extracts a program of a specific date and time zone (in this example, 6 hours) from the program table, and displays a display screen including a list of the extracted programs on the display panel 10. Let

  In the state where the EPG screen 20 shown in FIG. 3 is displayed, the digital broadcast television 100 displays until the user presses the green key 211 of the remote controller 200 (however, the user presses the end key 208 or the color keys 209, 210,. The basic screen 20 continues to be displayed (unless 212 is pressed).

  Then, when the user depresses the green key 211 of the remote controller 200, that is, when the instruction signal instructing switching from the EPG screen 20 to the date / time search screen is received from the remote control light receiving unit 7, the system control unit 8 receives the digital broadcast television 100. Switches from basic display mode to date / time search mode, erases the program information display area, and displays a date / time search screen that displays a list of programs in a specific time zone based on EPG data received from a digital broadcast station To do.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 24, the mode switching unit 83 of the system control unit 8 displays the current display screen when the green key 211 (switching key from the EPG screen 20 to the date / time search screen) of the remote controller 200 is input. It is determined whether or not the normal EPG screen 20 is displayed (S1). That is, when the green key 211 of the remote controller 200 is input, the mode switching unit 83 determines whether the process instructed (selected) by the key input is a process of switching from the EPG screen 20 to the date / time search screen. To do.

  When the current display screen is the normal EPG screen 20 (that is, when the process instructed (selected) by the key input is the switching process from the EPG screen 20 to the date / time search screen), the mode is switched. The unit 83 performs a switching process from the EPG screen 20 to the date / time search screen, that is, a switching process from the basic display mode to the date / time search mode (S2).

  More specifically, first, the mode switching unit 83 causes the date search unit 82 to perform date search processing. Since the initial display time zone (in this case, the time zone including the current time) is automatically selected when the date / time search screen is activated, the date / time search unit 82 is set to the initial display time zone. Based on this, the program corresponding to the default display time zone is searched, and information on the program found by the search (program in the display time zone) is sent to the display control unit 81 and the like. On the other hand, after the date and time search screen is activated, a display time zone is designated by a user instruction (operation of any of the left and right cursor keys 204 and 205, the green key 211, and the yellow key 212) via the remote controller 200. The date search unit 82 corresponds to the designated display time zone from the information of each program included in the EPG data stored in the EPG information acquisition (storage) unit 4 based on the default display time zone. The program to be searched is searched, and information on the program found by the search (program in the display time zone) is sent to the display control unit 81 and the like.

  The mode switching unit 83 causes the display control unit 81 to perform display control according to the date / time search mode. That is, based on the information indicating which program the display control unit 81 has selected, EPG data corresponding to the date / time search mode, that is, information such as the title of the program that satisfies the search conditions, etc. is obtained (stored). 4 is read out and sent to the graphic drawing unit 5, and screen layout information corresponding to the date / time search mode is read out from the screen layout information storage unit and sent to the graphic drawing unit 5. As a result, an image signal for the date search screen is created by the graphic drawing unit 5.

  In S1 of FIG. 24, when the current display screen is not the normal EPG screen 20, that is, when the current display screen is another display screen, other processing is performed (S3). Other screens and other processes are not relevant to the present invention and will not be described.

  Here, the case where the switching instruction from the EPG screen 20 to the date / time search screen is performed by the input of the green key 211 has been described, but a cell (button) instructing switching from the EPG screen 20 to the date / time search screen is described. In addition to the EPG screen 20, the user moves the cursor onto the cell by pressing the cursor keys 03 to 206, and then presses the enter key 207 to switch from the EPG screen 20 to the date and time search screen. You may be able to give instructions.

  As a result, the EPG screen 50 (date search screen) shown in FIG. 4 is displayed on the display panel 10. The EPG screen 50 is a date / time search screen that doubles as a date / time search condition setting screen for allowing the user to select a period during which the EPG is to be displayed on the display panel 10 and a date / time search result display screen for displaying the EPG in the selected time zone. It is. As shown in FIG. 4, the EPG screen 50 includes a date / time search condition display area 51, an EPG display area 22 </ b> B for displaying an EPG that matches the date / time search condition (time zone in units of 6 hours), and an operation guidance display area. 23.

  The date and time search condition display area 51 displays and selects a plurality of time zone selection buttons for enabling selection of a specific time zone (a period to be displayed among all EPGs) as a date and time search condition. The time zone selection button corresponding to the set date search condition is displayed in a selected state (in this example, highlighted). These time zone selection buttons display the specific time zone corresponding to the time zone selection button in characters so that the user can understand that the time zone selection button corresponds to the specific time zone of a specific day. It has become.

  The plurality of time zone selection buttons are arranged in time order in the time axis direction of the EPG. For this reason, it is easy for the user to intuitively recognize which time zone is selected. Further, the arrangement direction in the date / time search condition display area 51 and the arrangement direction of the left and right cursor keys 204 and 205 on the remote controller 200 are the same direction (lateral direction). Thus, the user can intuitively operate the left and right cursor keys 204 and 205 to easily select a desired time zone selection button.

  The date and time search condition display area 51 displays the selected specific date in characters separately from the time zone selection button. The time zone and date display method in the date / time search condition display area 51 is not particularly limited. For example, you can add characters that indicate the day to the time zone selection button, display symbols or designs that indicate the time zone instead of the characters that indicate the time zone on the time zone selection button, or the time zone on the time zone selection button. The character indicating the selected time zone may be displayed separately from the time zone selection button. Further, the time zone selection button may be changed to a character or the like by deleting the frame of the time zone selection button.

  In addition, selection of a specific time zone on a specific day by selection of these time zone selection buttons can be performed by the user pressing down the left and right cursor keys 204 and 205. That is, each time the right cursor key 205 is pressed once, the selection state display part (cursor) indicating the selected time zone selection button (time zone identifier) is adjacent to the time progression direction (right direction). Move to the select button. Conversely, by pressing the left cursor key 204, the selection state display part moves to the time zone selection button adjacent in the direction opposite to the time progression direction (left direction).

  In addition, the selection time zone is switched by the left / right cursor keys 204/205 to select all time zones (period corresponding to EPG data, for example, all time zones for one week) that can be displayed beyond the date difference. It is possible to switch the belt. The date of the selected time zone can be changed by the user pressing the left / right cursor keys 204/205, but can also be changed by the user pressing the green key 211 or the yellow key 212. When the user presses the green key 211, the selected time zone is changed to the same time zone of the previous day, and when the user presses the yellow key 212, the selected time zone is changed to the same time zone of the next day. In this example, the time zone selection buttons for selecting all the time zones of a certain day are displayed at the same time, and the left and right cursor keys 204 and 205, the green key 211, and the yellow key are displayed. The displayed time zone selection button is changed in accordance with the date switching by any one of 212.

  In this example, the date and time search condition display area 51 is divided into four time intervals of 6 days, that is, “0:00 am to 6 am”, “6 am to 0:00 pm”, “0:00 pm to 0:00 pm”. Four time zone selection buttons for selecting four time zones of “6 pm” and “6 pm to 0:00 am” are displayed. Therefore, EPG for 6 hours is displayed in the EPG display area 22B, and the selection time zone is switched in units of 6 hours by pressing the left and right cursor keys 204 and 205. That is, as the right cursor key 205 is pressed, the EPG displayed in the EPG display area 22B is scrolled in units of 6 hours and in units of pages in the time progress direction (right direction). Conversely, as the left cursor key 204 is pressed, the EPG displayed in the EPG display area 22B is scrolled in units of 6 hours and in units of pages in the reverse direction (left direction) of the time progression direction. . Here, the unit of scroll movement is a page unit, which means that the amount of movement of the EPG as a result of scrolling by one user instruction is one page (the time range of EPG displayed at a time). .

  In addition, the length of this time slot | zone is not limited to 6 hours, It can select arbitrarily. For example, the EPG may be displayed in units of 3 hours.

  However, if the length of this time zone is 3 hours or less, the scrolling speed in the time direction (the amount of program information that can be displayed around a certain time (in time units)) is slow. For this reason, the number of times of scrolling (number of key operations) required to move the predetermined amount increases. For example, when the EPG is displayed in units of 3 hours, the scroll movement for one day at the time of time search becomes 8 stages. Therefore, it is necessary to press the left cursor key 204 or the right cursor key 205 eight times in order to view the EPG in order of time for one day or to view the EPG one day after the currently displayed EPG. As the number of key operations by the user increases, browsing takes a long time. Therefore, there is a possibility that the user may feel uncomfortable.

  For the above reasons, the length of the time zone (scroll movement unit) is preferably longer than 3 hours. Thereby, the user can browse the EPG over a plurality of days in a time sequence in a short time with few key operations, browse the EPG in a specific time zone on a date different from the date of the currently displayed EPG, It is possible to reserve a program to be broadcast in a specific time zone on a date different from the date of the displayed EPG. For example, as shown in the example of FIG. 4, if the scroll unit in the time direction of the EPG (the length of the EPG display period) is changed from 3 hours to 6 hours, the daily scroll movement can be changed from 8 stages to 4 stages. . As a result, the key operations can be reduced, and the EPG can be scrolled between different days only by the time selection instruction without causing the user to feel uncomfortable.

  Note that the length of the EPG time zone displayed on the basic screen and the date and time search screen may be switched between 3 hours and 6 hours according to the user's preference. This switching may be performed by setting a menu on a display screen different from the date / time search screen, or may be performed by key operation.

  The EPG display area 22B corresponds to the date and time search conditions (day and time zone) selected by the user using at least one of the left and right cursor keys 204 and 205, the green key 211, and the yellow key 212 in the date and time search condition display area 51. This is an area where matching program information is displayed. However, at the time of switching from the program display screen 20 to the search display screen 50, program information in a time zone including the current time on that day is displayed in the EPG display area 22B.

  The EPG display area 22B has the same configuration as the EPG display area 22 except that the vertical size is small and the number of display channels is small (12 channels in the example of FIG. 4).

  The EPG display area 22B scrolls and displays the EPG up and down as the user moves the cursor up and down using the up and down cursor keys 203 and 206. As a result, the user can view or select information related to programs on channels that are not initially displayed in the EPG display area 22B. This vertical scrolling will be described in detail later.

  The EPG display area 22B is configured to scroll and display the EPG to the left and right as the user moves the cursor to the left and right using the left and right cursor keys 204 and 205. Thereby, the user can view or select information regarding a program in a time zone that is not initially displayed in the EPG display area 22B.

  In the state where the EPG screen 50 (date search screen) shown in FIG. 4 is displayed, the digital broadcast television 100 continues to display the EPG screen 50 until the user presses the blue key 209 or the enter key 207 of the remote controller 200. When the user presses the blue key 209 or the enter key 207 with the EPG screen 50 (date search screen) shown in FIG. 4 displayed, the digital broadcast television 100 switches from the date search mode to the basic display mode, and FIG. The display returns to the state in which the EPG screen 20 (basic screen) shown in FIG.

  In the digital broadcast television 100 according to the present embodiment, the mode switching unit 83 performs switching processing from the normal EPG screen 20 to the date / time search screen (S2 in FIG. 24), that is, switching from the basic display mode to the date / time search mode. The scroll processing unit 81a responds to the switching from the EPG program selection mode to the period selection mode by the mode switching unit 83, and the EPG scroll moving unit along the channel direction (vertical direction) (display by one user instruction) The shift amount of the area) is switched.

  The scroll unit switching process will be described below.

  First, when the up / down cursor keys 203/206 are input, the scroll processing unit 81a determines whether the current display screen is a normal EPG screen 20, a date / time search screen, or other display screens, that is, a mode. It is determined which display mode (the operation mode of the display control unit 81) is selected by the switching unit 83, and scroll processing (up / down cursor key 203/206 input processing) corresponding to the determination result is performed. That is, first, when the current display screen is the normal EPG screen 20 (when the current operation mode is the basic display mode), the scroll processing unit 81a displays the EPG for each channel along the channel direction (vertical direction). Scroll to. When the current display screen is a date / time search screen (when the current operation mode is the date / time search mode), the scroll processing unit 81a scrolls the EPG page by page along the channel direction (vertical direction).

  As described above, the scroll processing unit 81a changes the scroll movement unit in the EPG channel direction between the channel unit and the page unit in accordance with the switching between the basic display mode and the date / time search mode by the mode switching unit 83. Switch between them.

  According to the above configuration, in the date and time search mode, the EPG is scrolled in the channel direction in units of pages, which is a larger movement unit compared to the conventional one. It can be made larger and the scrolling speed can be increased. Therefore, the user can view program information related to programs broadcast on all channels in a desired period in a shorter time and with fewer key inputs.

  Note that the scroll processing unit 81a performs other processing if the current display screen is another display screen. Other screens and other processes are not relevant to the present invention and will not be described.

  Next, the scroll process in the basic display mode in the digital broadcast television 100 according to the present embodiment will be described in detail.

  In this embodiment, scrolling along the channel direction of the EPG is the first channel (the channel with the lowest number; in this example) under the row for the last channel (the channel with the highest number; in this example 200 ch). 101 ch) is scrolled so as to display a line (so-called loop scroll). Note that the scrolling along the EPG channel direction stops the downward scrolling when the last EPG channel is displayed (the upward scrolling is stopped when the first EPG channel is displayed). It may be a thing.

  First, it is checked whether or not there is an upward movement instruction or a downward movement instruction from the user, that is, whether or not the user has pressed the up cursor key 203 or the down cursor key 206. When there is a downward movement instruction (when the lower cursor key 206 is pressed), the cursor is moved downward or scrolled in units of channels in accordance with the current cursor position. That is, first, it is determined whether or not the current cursor position is on the bottom line. If the current cursor position is not on the bottom line, the program is broadcast on the next channel to the channel of the currently selected program at the position immediately below the currently selected program cell. To another program) position. At this time, when the currently selected program is broadcast on one channel, the cursor is moved by one channel while the currently selected program is broadcast on a plurality of continuous channels. Moves the cursor by the number of channels that are broadcasting the program. When the current cursor position is on the bottom line, the display of the number of lines corresponding to the predetermined movement amount (scroll movement unit) is deleted from the top, and the other lines are moved (scrolled) upward by the predetermined movement amount. In this example, the predetermined movement amount relates to a plurality of channels that are broadcasting the same program when the same program is broadcast on the next channel on the bottom row and further on the next one or more channels. The height of the line displaying program information is the height of the area displaying the program information related to one channel when the same program is not being broadcast on the next channel and the next channel on the bottom line. Then, the display of the number of lines corresponding to the predetermined movement amount (one line in this example) is added below the moved lines. This added row is a row related to the next channel with respect to the channel of the bottom row in the immediately preceding display state.

  On the other hand, when there is an upward movement instruction while waiting for input (when the up cursor key 203 is pressed), the cursor is moved upward or scrolled in units of channels downward according to the current cursor position. That is, first, it is determined whether or not the current cursor position is on the top line. If the current cursor position is not on the top row, the program at the position immediately above the currently selected program cell (broadcast on the previous channel relative to the channel of the currently selected program at the same time zone). To another program) position. At this time, when the currently selected program is broadcast on one channel, the cursor is moved by one channel while the currently selected program is broadcast on a plurality of continuous channels. Moves the cursor by the number of channels that are broadcasting the program. When the current cursor position is on the uppermost line, the display of the number of lines corresponding to the predetermined movement amount is deleted from the bottom, and the other lines are moved (scrolled) downward by the predetermined movement amount. In this example, the predetermined movement amount relates to a plurality of channels that are broadcasting the same program when the same program is broadcast on the previous channel on the top row and further on one or more previous channels. The height of the area for displaying the program information is the height of the area for displaying the program information for one channel when the same program is not broadcast on the previous channel in the top row and the previous channel. Then, the display of the number of lines (one line in this example) corresponding to the predetermined movement amount is added above the moved line. This added row is a row related to the previous channel with respect to the channel on the top row in the previous display state.

  Next, the scroll process in the date search mode in the digital broadcast television 100 according to the present embodiment will be described in detail.

  First, it is checked whether or not there is an upward movement instruction or a downward movement instruction from the user, that is, whether or not the user has pressed the up cursor key 203 or the down cursor key 206. When there is an instruction to move downward (when the down cursor key 206 is pressed), scroll processing is performed in increments of pages. That is, the displayed program information is deleted, and the program information corresponding to the next page of the displayed page, that is, the program information related to the plurality of channels next to the plurality of channels corresponding to the displayed program information is displayed. To do.

  On the other hand, when there is an upward movement instruction while waiting for input (when the up cursor key 203 is pressed), scroll processing is performed in page units downward. That is, the displayed program information is deleted, and the program information corresponding to the previous page of the displayed page, that is, the program information related to the plurality of channels before the plurality of channels corresponding to the displayed program information is displayed. To do.

  Note that the next channel of a certain channel is an available channel having a channel number larger than a certain channel if the certain channel is not the last channel (the channel having the highest channel number among the available channels). The channel having the smallest channel number among the channels, and when a certain channel is the last channel, it is the first channel (the channel having the smallest channel number). In addition, a channel before a certain channel is a channel having the largest channel number among the available channels having a smaller channel number than a certain channel when a certain channel is not the first channel, and a certain channel. If is the first channel, it is the last channel.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, in a digital broadcast television as a program information display device, in the normal EPG display mode, the up / down cursor keys 203/206 or the left / right cursor keys 204/205 of the remote controller 200 are moved by scrolling for each channel. When the mode is switched to the date / time search mode from the normal EPG display mode by selecting and selecting the key for switching to the date / time search mode (green key 211 of the remote control 200), the scroll unit in the channel direction is changed. Scroll display is performed in page units. Thereby, when there are many channels, high-speed scroll search in the channel direction can be performed in the date search mode. Therefore, when the user performs a date search, the scroll operation for each channel is facilitated.

  Next, the display processing of the date search screen will be described in detail.

  First, the display process of the date search screen when switching from the basic display mode to the date search mode will be described.

  At this time, first, the time zone selection unit 85 selects a default time zone. In the present embodiment, the time zone selection unit 85 selects a time zone including the current time as an initial time zone. Then, the time zone selection unit 85 transmits information indicating the selected time zone to the date search unit 82 and the display control unit 81. Further, the day selection unit 84 selects an initial setting day. In the present embodiment, the day selection unit 84 selects the current day as the default day. Then, the date selection unit 84 transmits information indicating the selected date to the date search unit 82 and the display control unit 81.

  When receiving the information indicating the selected date and the information indicating the selected time zone from the date selecting unit 84 and the time zone selecting unit 85, the date search unit 82 receives a combination of these search conditions (the selected date and the selected date) based on the information. The program information matching the (time zone) is searched from the EPG data stored in the EPG data information acquisition (storage) unit 4. Then, the date search unit 82 transmits to the display control unit 81 program information found by this search, that is, program information related to a plurality of programs broadcast in the selected time zone on the selected date. The display control unit 81 selects based on the program information received from the display control unit 81, the information indicating the selection date received from the information date selection unit 84, and the information indicating the selection time zone received from the time zone selection unit 85. The graphic drawing unit 5 is made to generate an image signal of a new EPG screen including the EPG related to the day and the selected time zone. At this time, the display control unit 81 sets the image of the time zone selection button corresponding to the display time zone of the EPG screen as an inverted display image, and sets the images of other time zone selection buttons as non-inverted display images. The graphic drawing unit 5 transmits the generated image signal to the EPG screen output unit 6 and instructs the EPG screen output unit 6 to transmit the output video signal to the display panel 10. As a result, on the display panel 10, the EPG of the time zone including the current time on the current day is displayed, and the time zone selection button corresponding to the display time zone of the EPG is highlighted.

  Next, display processing of the date / time search screen after switching from the basic display mode to the date / time search mode and displaying the date / time search screen (EPG screen 50) in the initial state will be described.

  In the digital broadcast television 100, when the date / time search screen (EPG screen 50) is being displayed, any one of the left cursor key 204, right cursor key 205, green key 211, and yellow key 212 of the remote controller 200 is always used by the user. Is waiting to be pressed.

  When the user presses the right cursor key 205 of the remote controller 200, the digital broadcast television 100 performs a selection time zone switching process, and performs a selection date switching process as necessary. That is, first, when the user presses the right cursor key 205, the selection state display part is instructed to move from the time zone selection button currently displayed in the selection state to another time zone selection button adjacent to the right side thereof. An instruction signal (time zone selection instruction in the direction of time progression) is transmitted. When the time zone selection unit 85 receives the instruction signal from the remote control 200 via the remote control light receiving unit 7, the time zone selection unit 85 selects the last time zone ("6 pm to midnight"). It is determined whether or not the selected state.

  In a state where the last time zone (“6 pm to midnight”) is selected, the time zone selection unit 85 generates an instruction signal (time zone switching instruction in the time progress direction by the user). In response, an instruction signal (a day selection instruction in the time progress direction) for instructing to switch the selected day (EPG display date) to the next time zone of the currently selected day is transmitted to the day selection unit 84. At the same time, the selected time zone (EPG display time zone) is switched to the first time zone (“0:00 am to 6 am”), and information indicating the selected time zone after switching is displayed as the date and time search unit 82. And transmitted to the display control unit 81. When the day selection unit 84 receives the instruction signal from the time zone selection unit 85, the day selection unit 84 switches the selected day to the next day of the currently selected day according to the instruction signal, and the selected date after the switching. Is transmitted to the date and time search unit 82 and the display control unit 81. On the other hand, when the time zone selection unit 85 is in a state where a time zone other than the last time zone (“6 pm to midnight”) is selected, the instruction signal (in the direction of time progression by the user) According to the time zone switching instruction), the selected time zone (EPG display time zone) is switched to the time zone next to the currently selected time zone, and information indicating the selected time zone after switching is displayed. It transmits to the search part 82 and the display control part 81. In this case, the date selection unit 84 transmits information indicating the currently selected date to the date search unit 82 and the display control unit 81.

  Thereafter, the EPG is displayed in the same manner as the display process of the date and time search screen in the initial state. As a result, the display panel 10 displays the EPG in the time zone next to the EPG time zone displayed immediately before, and the time zone selection button corresponding to the EPG display time zone is highlighted.

  When the user presses the left cursor key 204 of the remote controller 200, the digital broadcast television 100 performs a selection time zone switching process and performs a selection date switching process as necessary. That is, first, when the user presses the left cursor key 204, the selection state display portion is instructed to move from the time zone selection button currently displayed in the selection state to another time zone selection button adjacent to the left side thereof. An instruction signal (time zone selection instruction in the direction opposite to the time progression direction) is transmitted. When the time zone selection unit 85 receives the instruction signal from the remote controller 200 via the remote control light receiving unit 7, the time zone selection unit 85 selects the first time zone ("0:00 am to 6:00 am"). It is determined whether the current time zone is selected, the current time zone is selected, or another time zone is selected.

  If the time zone selection unit 85 is in the state of selecting the first time zone (“0:00 am to 6 am”), the instruction signal (time zone switching in the direction opposite to the time progression direction by the user) An instruction signal (day selection instruction in the time progress direction) for instructing to switch the selected day (EPG display date) to the time zone before the currently selected day according to the instruction) 84, and the selected time zone (EPG display time zone) is switched to the last time zone ("6 pm to midnight"), and information indicating the selected time zone after switching is displayed. It transmits to the search part 82 and the display control part 81. When the day selection unit 84 receives the instruction signal from the time zone selection unit 85, the day selection unit 84 switches the selected day to the day before the currently selected day according to the instruction signal, and the selected day after the switching. Is transmitted to the date and time search unit 82 and the display control unit 81. Further, when the current time zone is selected, the time zone selection unit 85 does not switch the time zone, and displays the information indicating the currently selected time zone and the date and time search unit 82 and the display. Transmit to the control unit 81. In this case, the date selection unit 84 transmits information indicating the currently selected date to the date search unit 82 and the display control unit 81. In addition, when the time zone selection unit 85 is in a state of selecting another time zone, the time zone selection unit 85 selects the time zone according to the instruction signal (time zone switching instruction in the reverse direction of the time progression direction by the user). The time zone (EPG display time zone) is switched to the time zone before the currently selected time zone, and information indicating the selected time zone after switching is transmitted to the date search unit 82 and the display control unit 81. In this case, the date selection unit 84 transmits information indicating the currently selected date to the date search unit 82 and the display control unit 81.

  Thereafter, the EPG is displayed in the same manner as the display process of the date and time search screen in the initial state. As a result, the display panel 10 displays the EPG of the time zone before the time zone of the EPG displayed immediately before (however, when the EPG displayed immediately before is the EPG of the current time zone). The EPG of the current time zone is displayed), and the time zone selection button corresponding to the EPG display time zone is highlighted.

  As described above, when the user presses the right cursor key 205 or the left cursor key 204 of the remote controller 200, the EPG displayed in the EPG display area 22B is changed to the EPG in the next or previous time zone. In other words, the EPG is scrolled for 6 hours in the time advance direction or vice versa. In the present embodiment, when the user presses the right cursor key 205 of the remote controller 200 in a state where the EPG of the last time of the day is displayed, and the EPG of the first time of the day is displayed. When the user presses the left cursor key 204 of the remote controller 200 in this state, the display date is changed together with the display time zone, and the EPG displayed in the EPG display area 22B is changed to the EPG of the next time zone.

  Therefore, simply by pressing the right cursor key 205 of the remote controller 200, the user can switch the EPG display time zone beyond the day difference. In other words, it is possible to scroll in the time direction in units of 6 hours over a plurality of days. Therefore, the user can switch the selected day and the selected time by continuously performing the day switching instruction and the time zone switching instruction without interposing other instructions in the middle. Become. Therefore, the user can switch the selected time zone to a time zone of a different day with a simple operation. Therefore, a user can browse program information over a plurality of days in time order with a simple operation, or a program of a program broadcast on each channel at a specific time zone on a date different from the date of the currently displayed program information. Information can be browsed, and a program to be broadcast in a specific time zone with a date different from the date of the currently displayed program information can be reserved. Therefore, the user can switch the EPG to a time zone on a different day with a simple operation. Therefore, the user can browse the EPG for a plurality of days in time order with a simple operation, or program information of programs broadcast on all channels in a specific time zone on a date different from the date of the currently displayed EPG. It is possible to browse or to reserve a program to be broadcast in a specific time zone on a date different from the date of the currently displayed EPG.

  When the user presses the green key 211 of the remote controller 200, the digital broadcast television 100 performs a selection date switching process. That is, first, when the user presses the green key 211, an instruction signal instructing to change the selection date to the previous day (date selection instruction in the direction opposite to the time progression direction) is transmitted. When the date selection unit 84 receives the instruction signal from the remote controller 200 via the remote control light receiving unit 7, the day selection unit 84 selects the currently selected day according to the instruction signal. The information indicating the selected date after switching is transmitted to the date search unit 82 and the display control unit 81. Further, the time zone selection unit 85 transmits information indicating the currently selected time zone to the date search unit 82 and the display control unit 81. Thereafter, the EPG is displayed in the same manner as the display process of the date and time search screen in the initial state. As a result, the EPG of the same time zone one day before the EPG displayed immediately before is displayed on the display panel 10, and the time zone selection button corresponding to the EPG display time zone is highlighted.

  When the user presses the yellow key 212 of the remote controller 200, the digital broadcast television 100 performs a selection date switching process. That is, first, when the user presses the green key 211, an instruction signal (a day selection instruction in the time progress direction) is transmitted to instruct the selection date to be changed to the next day. When the date selection unit 84 receives the instruction signal from the remote controller 200 via the remote control light receiving unit 7, the day selection unit 84 selects the currently selected day according to the instruction signal. The information indicating the selected date after the switching is transmitted to the date search unit 82 and the display control unit 81. Further, the time zone selection unit 85 transmits information indicating the currently selected time zone to the date search unit 82 and the display control unit 81. Thereafter, the EPG is displayed in the same manner as the display process of the date and time search screen in the initial state. As a result, the EPG of the same time zone one day after the EPG displayed immediately before is displayed on the display panel 10, and the time zone selection button corresponding to the EPG display time zone is highlighted.

  As described above, when the time zone selection unit 85 is capable of switching the selected time zone according to the time zone switching instruction, at the same time, the day selection unit 84 also switches the day according to the day selection instruction. It is in a state that can be performed. Therefore, the user can switch the selected day and the selected time by continuously performing the day switching instruction and the time zone switching instruction without interposing other instructions in the middle. Become. Therefore, the user's operation can be simplified.

  Next, date and time search pixels between “AQUAS G series” (hereinafter referred to as “conventional model”) manufactured by Sharp Corporation as an example of a conventional program information display device and the digital broadcast television 100 according to the present embodiment. The difference in operability will be described below based on specific operation examples.

  In the following operation example, the user broadcasts the program on the BS channel 101 (hereinafter abbreviated as “ch” as appropriate) from 5:00 pm to 5:15 pm on Monday, January 17, It is assumed that an operation for reserving a program using an EPG is started at 5:13 pm on Monday, January 17 while viewing “Δ news”). The EPG includes BS 101ch, 102ch, 103ch, 141ch, 142ch, 143ch, 151ch, 152ch, 153ch, 161ch, 162ch, 163ch, 171ch, 172ch, 173ch, 181ch, 182ch, 183ch, 191ch, 192ch, 191ch, It is assumed that information on programs broadcast on a total of 22 channels of 200 channels is displayed. Here, a case where a conventional model and the digital broadcast television 100 are operated using the same remote controller 200 will be described.

In the conventional model and the digital broadcast television 100, as an example (situation) when the user uses the date search screen, for example,
1. When the user wants to reserve a program to be broadcasted after the time zone displayed on the basic screen (3 hours or 6 hours including the current time) on the channel currently being viewed (fixed channel)
2. The user checks what program is being broadcast in a certain time zone after the time zone displayed on the basic screen (range of 3 hours or 6 hours including the current time). If you want to find a program that interests you from and want to reserve the found program (if you want to search for all channels after setting the date and time)
3. There is a case where the user wants to reserve a program that is broadcast after a time zone (a range of 3 hours or 6 hours including the current time) displayed on the basic screen on a channel different from the channel currently being viewed. .

  Next, the above-described 1. As an example, the program “Δ △ documentary” broadcasted from 10:10 pm to 11:00 pm on Thursday, January 18, the following day on the channel “101ch” that the user is currently viewing. Examples of operations for selecting a desired program using the date and time search screen of the conventional model and the digital broadcast television 100 when making a reservation will be described as “conventional model operation example 1” and “present television operation example 1”, respectively.

[Conventional model operation example 1]
(1) First, the user presses the program guide key 201 of the remote controller 200 during viewing. Thereby, the display screen of FIG. 5 is displayed.

  (2) Next, the user presses a key for displaying the date / time search screen, that is, the green key 211 of the remote controller 200. Thereby, the date search screen shown in FIG. 6 is displayed.

  (3) Next, the user presses the right cursor key 205 of the remote controller 200 once to move the cursor from the “today” button to the “18 [Tue]” button. Thereby, the display screen of FIG. 25 is displayed.

  (4) Next, the user presses the yellow key 212 of the remote controller 200 in order to select a time zone as the date and time search condition. Accordingly, the display screen of FIG. 26 is displayed, and eight buttons indicating selectable time zones can be selected as the date and time search condition, and the cursor is moved from the “18 [Tue]” button to the time zone including the current time. Move to a button (“3” button) indicating (from 3 pm to 6 pm).

  (5) Next, the user moves the cursor from the button indicating the time zone from 3 pm to 6 pm (“3” button) to the button indicating the time zone from 9 pm to midnight (“9”). Button), the right cursor key 205 of the remote controller 200 is pressed twice. As a result, the display time zone is selected from 9:00 pm to midnight on January 18 (Thursday), and the EPG relating to 9:00 pm to midnight on January 18 (Thursday) is displayed. As a result, the display screen of FIG. 27 is displayed.

  (6) Next, the user presses the enter key 207 of the remote controller 200. As a result, the date / time search screen shifts to a normal EPG screen (basic screen), and the display screen of FIG. 28 is displayed.

  (7) Next, the user presses the right cursor key 205 of the remote controller 200 four times (selection) in order to set the cursor to the program “ΔΔ documentary” broadcast from 10:10 PM to 11:00 PM. The number of programs broadcasted from the beginning of the selected time zone to the time before the program to be reserved). As a result, the cursor moves from program to program as many times as the right cursor key 205 is pressed. As a result, the program “ΔΔ documentary” to be reserved is selected, and the display screen of FIG. 29 is displayed.

  (8) Next, the user presses the enter key 207 of the remote controller 200 to reserve the selected program. Thereby, the display screen of FIG. 30 is displayed, and the selection of the program is confirmed (program selection operation ends). Thereafter, if the user selects a reservation method on the display screen of FIG. 30, the reservation is completed.

[This TV operation example 1]
(1) First, the user presses the program guide key 201 of the remote controller 200 during viewing (operation common to the conventional model). Thereby, the display screen of FIG. 16 corresponding to the EPG screen 20 is displayed on the display panel 10.

  (2) Next, the user presses a key for displaying the date / time search screen, that is, the green key 211 of the remote controller 200 (operation common to the conventional model). Thereby, the date and time search screen of FIG. 17 corresponding to the EPG screen 50 is displayed on the display panel 10.

  (3) Next, the user presses the right cursor key 205 of the remote controller 200 a total of five times to select the “6:00 PM to midnight” button for the next day. That is, first, the user presses the right cursor key 205 of the remote controller 200 once in order to move the cursor from the “0 pm to 6 pm” button to the “6 pm to midnight” button. Thereby, the display screen of FIG. 31 is displayed on the display panel 10. Furthermore, the user presses the right cursor key 205 of the remote controller 200 once to select the time zone of the next day. Thereby, the display screen of FIG. 32 is displayed on the display panel 10. That is, instead of the four buttons indicating the four time zones of today, four buttons indicating the four time zones of the next day are displayed, and the cursor is moved to the “0:00 am to 6:00 am” button of the next day. Moving. Further, the user presses the right cursor key 205 of the remote controller 200 three times to move the cursor from the “0:00 am to 6:00 am” button to the “6 pm to midnight” button. As a result, the display time zone is selected from 6:00 pm to midnight on January 18 (Thursday), and the EPG relating to 6:00 pm to midnight on Thursday, January 18 is displayed. As a result, the display screen of FIG. 33 is displayed on the display panel 10.

  (4) Next, the user presses the enter key 207 of the remote controller 200 (operation common to the conventional model). As a result, the date / time search screen shifts to the normal EPG screen, and the display screen of FIG. 34 is displayed on the display panel 10.

  (5) Next, the user presses the right cursor key 205 of the remote controller 200 14 times (in order to align the cursor with a program (“ΔΔ documentary”) broadcast from 10:10 PM to 11:00 PM ( On the selected channel, press only the number of programs broadcast from the beginning of the selected time zone to before the program to be reserved. As a result, the cursor moves from program to program as many times as the right cursor key 205 is pressed, and the display screen of FIG. 35 is displayed on the display panel 10.

  (6) Next, the user presses the enter key 207 of the remote controller 200 in order to reserve the selected program (operation common to conventional models). As a result, the display screen of FIG. 36 is displayed, and the selection of the program is confirmed (program selection operation ends). Thereafter, if the user selects a reservation method on the display screen of FIG. 36, the reservation is completed.

  As described above, in this television operation example 1, the operations of (3) to (5) of the conventional model operation example 1, that is, the right cursor key 205 is performed once, the yellow key 212 is performed once, and the right cursor key 205 is operated. The operation of pressing twice can be replaced with the operation of pressing the right cursor key 205 five times (3). Therefore, the number of times the user moves the operated key (the number of times the finger position is moved) can be reduced twice, and a simpler operation can be realized.

  In this television operation example 1, the number of times the right cursor key 205 is pressed in the operation (5) is different from the number of times the right cursor key 205 is pressed in the operation (7) in the conventional model operation example 1. This changes the length of the time zone (the time zone displayed on the date and time search screen and the time zone displayed at a time on the normal EPG screen) to twice that of the conventional model operation example 1 (3 This is due to the change from 6 hours to 6 hours. If the length of the time zone is the same as that of the conventional model operation example 1, the number of times the right cursor key 205 is pressed by the operation of (5) is the same as that of the conventional model operation example 1. Same as the number of presses.

  Also, when the user wants to reserve a program to be broadcast at the same time on the same day of the week next week on the channel “101ch” currently being viewed (channel fixed), the user can search the date and time of the conventional model and the digital broadcast TV 100. The operation of selecting a desired program using the screen is almost the same.

  However, in that case, in the operation of the conventional model, the number of times the right cursor key 205 is pressed in the operation (3) is increased from 1 to 7 times, and the number of times the right cursor key 205 is pressed in the operation (7) is four times. To 3 times. In this case, since the time zone need not be changed, the operations (4) and (5) that are normally required in the conventional model are exceptionally unnecessary.

  In this case, in the operation of the digital broadcast television 100, the number of times the right cursor key 205 is pressed in the operation (3) increases from 5 times to 28 times. Instead of the operation of (3), the yellow key 212 that is the next day movement key may be pressed seven times.

  In the conventional model and the digital broadcast television 100, the above-described 2. In this case, there are two types of operations for the user to select a desired program: (2-1) Channel selection method on the date / time search screen, (2-2) Channel selection method using normal EPG This can be done in any of the ways.

  Next, as an example of the method of (2-1), the user can select any time period from 9 pm to 12 pm 5 days later (Saturday, January 22) on the channel “101ch” currently being viewed. It is checked whether the program is broadcast using the date and time search screen of the conventional model and the digital broadcast TV 100, and the program “ΔΔ communication” broadcast on 171 to 173ch as a program that attracts the user's interest from the checked programs. Examples of operations for finding and reserving the found program will be described as “conventional model operation example 2” and “present television operation example 2”, respectively.

[Conventional model operation example 2]
(1) First, the user presses the program guide key 201 of the remote controller 200 during viewing. Thereby, the display screen of FIG. 5 is displayed.

  (2) Next, the user presses a key for displaying the date / time search screen, that is, the green key 211 of the remote controller 200. Thereby, the date search screen shown in FIG. 6 is displayed. At this time, the current date (today) and the time zone (from 3 pm to 6 pm) including the current time are automatically selected as the date and time search condition, and a program table showing programs that satisfy the date and time search condition is displayed on the display screen. Is displayed. In addition, eight buttons indicating dates (from today to seven days later) that can be selected as date / time search conditions are displayed on the date / time search screen. Of the displayed buttons, the selected button is displayed in a selected state.

  (3) Next, the user presses the right cursor key 205 of the remote controller 200 five times in order to move the cursor from the “today” button to the “22 [Sat]” button. Thereby, the display screen of FIG. 7 is displayed.

  (4) Next, the user presses the yellow key 212 of the remote controller 200 in order to select a time zone as the date and time search condition. Accordingly, the display screen of FIG. 8 is displayed, and eight buttons indicating selectable time zones can be selected as the date and time search condition, and the cursor is moved from the “22 [Sat]” button to the time zone including the current time. Move to a button (“3” button) indicating (from 3 pm to 6 pm).

  (5) Next, the user moves the cursor from the button indicating the time zone from 3 pm to 6 pm (“3” button) to the button indicating the time zone from 9 pm to midnight (“9”). Button), the right cursor key 205 of the remote controller 200 is pressed twice. Thereby, from 9:00 pm to midnight on January 22 (Saturday) is selected as the display time zone, and an EPG relating to 9:00 pm to midnight on January 22 (Saturday) is displayed. As a result, the display screen of FIG. 9 is displayed.

  (6) Next, the user presses the lower cursor key 206 of the remote controller 200 a total of 14 times to view program information of other channels. First, the user presses the down cursor key 206 once. As a result, the cursor moves from the position of channel number “101” to the position of channel number “102”, and the display screen of FIG. 10 is displayed. Next, the user presses the down cursor key 206 four times. As a result, the cursor moves from the position of channel number “101” to the position of channel number “143”. Thereafter, the user presses the down cursor key 206 once. As a result, an upward scroll process (channel unit) is performed. By this scroll processing, the display of the 101ch line is deleted, and the 151ch line is newly displayed. As a result, the display screen of FIG. 11 is displayed. Further, the user presses down cursor key 206 eight times. Thus, the upward scrolling process (channel unit) is performed eight times, and the 161ch, 162ch, 163ch, 171ch, 172ch, and 173ch rows are displayed as shown in the display screen of FIG. Thereby, the user can find the program “ΔΔ communication” broadcast on 171 to 173ch. Instead of pressing down cursor key 206 eight times, it may be pressed six times or seven times.

  (7) Next, the user presses the enter key 207 of the remote controller 200. As a result, the date / time search screen shifts to a normal EPG screen (basic screen), and the display screen of FIG. 13 is displayed.

  (8) Next, the user presses the right cursor key 205 of the remote controller 200 twice (selects) in order to set the cursor to the program “△△ communication” broadcast from 11:00 pm to 11:30 pm The number of programs broadcasted from the beginning of the selected time zone to the time before the program to be reserved). As a result, the cursor moves from program to program as many times as the right cursor key 205 is pressed. As a result, the reservation target program “ΔΔ communication” is selected, and the display screen of FIG. 14 is displayed.

  (9) Next, the user presses the enter key 207 of the remote controller 200 to reserve the selected program. As a result, the display screen of FIG. 15 is displayed, and the selection of the program is confirmed (program selection operation ends). Thereafter, if the user selects a reservation method on the display screen of FIG. 15, the reservation is completed.

[This TV operation example 2]
(1) First, the user presses the program guide key 201 of the remote controller 200 during viewing (operation common to the conventional model). Thereby, the display screen of FIG. 16 corresponding to the EPG screen 20 is displayed on the display panel 10.

  (2) Next, the user presses a key for displaying the date / time search screen, that is, the green key 211 of the remote controller 200 (operation common to the conventional model). Thereby, the date and time search screen of FIG. 17 corresponding to the EPG screen 50 is displayed on the display panel 10. At this time, the time zone including today's current time (today's 0:00 to 6:00 pm) is automatically selected as the date / time search condition, and a program table showing programs satisfying the date / time search condition is displayed on the date / time search screen. Is done. In addition, the date / time search screen displays the current time zone (from 0:00 pm to pm of today) among the time zones that can be selected as the date / time search condition (in this case, from the time zone including today's current time to one week later). 6 o'clock and 6 pm to midnight) are displayed. Of the displayed buttons, the selected button is displayed in a selected state.

  (3) Next, the user presses the yellow key 212 which is the next day movement key five times. Alternatively, the user presses the right cursor key 205 of the remote controller 200 20 times. Accordingly, as shown in the display screen of FIG. 18, buttons indicating four time zones on Saturday, January 22 are displayed, and “00 pm to 6 pm” buttons on Saturday, January 22 are displayed. Selected state is displayed.

  (4) Next, the user presses the right cursor key 205 of the remote controller 200 once to move the cursor from the “0 pm to 6 pm” button to the “6 pm to midnight” button. As a result, the “6 pm to midnight” button on Saturday, January 22 is displayed in a selected state. Further, from 6 pm to midnight on Saturday, January 22, is selected as the display time zone, and an EPG relating to 6 pm to midnight on Saturday, January 22 is displayed on the display panel 10. . As a result, the display screen of FIG. 19 is displayed on the display panel 10.

  (5) Next, the user presses the lower cursor key 206 of the remote controller 200 once to view program information of other channels. As a result, scroll processing is performed in units of pages in the downward direction, and the EPG relating to 101 to 103, 141 to 143, 151 to 153, 161 to 163ch is the next channel, that is, 191 to 193, 203, It is switched to EPG related to 101, 102ch. As a result, the display screen of FIG. 20 is displayed on the display panel 10. Thereby, the user can find the program “ΔΔ communication” broadcast on 171 to 173ch.

  (6) Next, the user presses the enter key 207 of the remote controller 200 (operation common to the conventional model). As a result, the date / time search screen shifts to the normal EPG screen, and the display screen of FIG. 21 is displayed on the display panel 10. At this time, if there is a channel currently being viewed, the cursor is attached to the cell of the program broadcast on the channel at the beginning of the selected time period. If there is no channel currently being viewed, the cursor is attached to the cell of the program broadcast on the first channel in the selected time zone.

  (7) Next, the user presses the upper cursor key 203 of the remote controller 200 six times in order to move the cursor to the channels 171 to 173ch that broadcast the program “ΔΔ communication”. The cursor moves one program each time the up cursor key 203 is pressed once. In this case, since the programs broadcast on 171 to 173ch and 181 to 183ch are the same, movement for these three channels is performed by pressing the cursor key 203 once. As a result, the cursor moves to a program broadcast on 171 to 173ch.

  (8) Next, the user selects (right-clicks) the right cursor key 205 of the remote controller 200 nine times (to select the right cursor key 205 of the remote controller 200 in order to set the cursor to the program “△△ communication” broadcast from 11:00 to 11:30 pm. The number of programs broadcast from the beginning of the selected time slot to the time before the scheduled program). Accordingly, the cursor moves from program to program as many times as the right cursor key 205 is pressed, and the display screen of FIG. 22 is displayed on the display panel 10.

  (9) Next, in order to reserve the selected program, the user presses the enter key 207 of the remote controller 200 (operation common to conventional models). Thereby, the display screen of FIG. 23 is displayed, and the selection of the program is confirmed (program selection operation ends). Thereafter, if the user selects a reservation method on the display screen of FIG. 23, the reservation is completed.

  As described above, in this television operation example 2, the operation (6) in the conventional model operation example 2, that is, the operation of pressing the lower cursor key 206 12 to 14 times, the lower cursor key 206 once, the upper cursor key 203 Can be replaced with an operation of pressing 6 times (operations (5) and (7)). Accordingly, since the number of times the user presses the key can be reduced by 5 to 7 times, the user can make a reservation with a simpler operation and in a shorter time.

  When searching for a program of interest from programs broadcast on all channels at a specific time, you may not be able to find a program of interest immediately, as in these examples. There may be a case where a program of interest is found after switching many times, or a program of interest cannot be found.

  If an interesting program is found after switching the channel for displaying the program information many times, an operation for finding the program of interest (the operation of (6) of the conventional model operation example 2 or ( In the operation 5), the number of times the down cursor key 206 is pressed increases. However, the increase in the number of times is significantly less in the digital broadcast television 100 than in the conventional model (for example, the number is decreased from 12 to 14 times to 1 time). Therefore, the above effect (simplification of operation and reduction of operation time) becomes more remarkable. In addition, even when a program of interest is not found, the operation (7) of the television operation example 2 is not necessary, and thus the above-described effect (simplification of operation and reduction of operation time) becomes more remarkable.

  In this television operation example 2, the operations of (3) to (5) in the conventional model operation example 2, that is, the right cursor key 205 is pressed five times, the yellow key 212 is pressed once, and the right cursor key 205 is pressed twice. The operation can be replaced with an operation of pressing the yellow key 212 five times (or pressing the right cursor key 205 20 times) (3). Therefore, the number of times the user moves the operated key (the number of times the finger position is moved) can be reduced by two, and a simpler operation can be realized. When the yellow key 212 is pressed five times in the operation (3), the number of times the user presses the key can be reduced by three times, so that the user can make a reservation with a simpler operation and in a shorter time. Can do.

  In the date / time search mode, the scroll unit in the channel direction (vertical direction) is a page unit and the scroll unit in the time axis direction (horizontal direction) is a unit of 6 hours or 1 day. The scroll speed in the direction and the horizontal direction can be made close, and a natural scroll display can be realized.

  In the digital broadcasting television 100, the same program can be reserved by the method (2-2) in which channel selection is performed by normal EPG. That is, after performing the operations (1) to (4) of the television operation example 2 and performing the operation (6) of the television operation example 2 (pressing the enter key 207), the normal time search screen is used. Moving to the EPG screen, lines relating to 171 to 173ch are added. Thereby, the user can find the program “ΔΔ communication” broadcast on 171 to 173ch. Thereafter, if the operations (7), (8), and (9) of this television operation example 2 are performed, the reservation is completed. Also in this case, as in this television operation example 2, compared to the conventional model operation example 2, the number of times the user moves the operated key (number of times to move the finger position) can be reduced by two times. A simpler operation can be realized. Further, when the yellow key 212 is pressed five times in the operation (3), the number of times the user presses the key can be reduced three times, so that the user makes a reservation with a simpler operation and in a shorter time. be able to.

  In the conventional model and the digital broadcast television 100, the above-described 3. In this case, the user selects the desired program as follows: (3-1) A method of searching for the date after finding 181ch on the normal EPG screen (determining the channel and date), (3-2) ) It can be performed by any method of selecting 181ch after searching the date and time on the date and time search screen (determining the date and determining the channel).

  As the above method (3-2), there are two types of methods: (3-2-1) Channel selection on the date and time search screen, (3-2-2) Channel selection on the normal EPG screen Can be adopted. The methods (3-2-1) and (3-2-2) are exactly the same as the methods (2-1) and (2-2).

  Next, as an example of the method of (3-1), a user broadcasts a program broadcast on BS 181ch from 8:00 pm to 8:55 pm on Thursday, January 20, three days later. Examples of operations for making reservations using the date / time search screen of the television 100 will be described as “conventional model operation example 3” and “present television operation example 3”, respectively.

[Conventional model operation example 3]
(1) First, the user presses the program guide key 201 of the remote controller 200 during viewing. Thereby, the display screen of FIG. 5 is displayed.

  (2) Next, the user presses the up cursor key 203 a total of seven times in order to move the cursor to 181ch. As a result, the EPG scrolls downward by 7 channels, the lines 181 to 183, 191 to 193, and 200ch are newly displayed, and the cursor moves to the program cell of the program currently broadcast on 181ch.

  (3) Next, the user presses a key for displaying the date / time search screen, that is, the green key 211 of the remote controller 200. Thereby, a date search screen is displayed.

  (4) Next, the user presses the right cursor key 205 of the remote controller 200 three times to move the cursor from the “today” button to the “20 [Thu]” button.

  (5) Next, the user presses the yellow key 212 of the remote controller 200 in order to select a time zone as the date and time search condition. As a result, eight buttons indicating selectable time zones can be selected as the date / time search condition, and the cursor is moved from the “20 [Thu]” button to the time zone including the current time (3 pm to 6 pm). Move to the button ("3" button).

  (6) Next, the user moves the cursor from a button indicating a time zone from 3 pm to 6 pm (“3” button) to a button indicating a time zone from 6 pm to 9 pm (“6”). Button), the right cursor key 205 of the remote controller 200 is pressed twice. Thereby, from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm on Thursday, January 20, is selected as the display time zone, and an EPG relating to 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm on Thursday, January 20 is displayed.

  (7) Next, the user presses the enter key 207 of the remote controller 200. As a result, the date / time search screen shifts to a normal EPG screen (basic screen).

  (8) Next, the user presses the right cursor key 205 of the remote controller 200 five times in order to set the cursor to a program broadcast from 8:10 PM to 8:55 PM. As a result, the cursor moves from program to program as many times as the right cursor key 205 is pressed. As a result, the reservation target program is selected.

  (9) Next, the user presses the enter key 207 of the remote controller 200 to reserve the selected program. As a result, the selection of the program is confirmed (program selection operation ends). Thereafter, if the user selects a reservation method, the reservation is completed.

[This TV operation example 3]
(1) First, the user presses the program guide key 201 of the remote controller 200 during viewing (operation common to the conventional model). Thereby, the display screen of FIG. 16 corresponding to the EPG screen 20 is displayed on the display panel 10.

  (2) Next, the user presses the up cursor key 203 a total of five times in order to move the cursor to 181ch. That is, first, when the user presses the up cursor key 203 once, the EPG scrolls downward by one channel, the 200 ch line is newly displayed, and the cursor is the program cell of the program currently broadcast on the 200 ch. Move to. Next, when the user presses the up cursor key 203 three times, the EPG scrolls downward by three channels, a new line of 191 to 193 ch is displayed, and the program of the program currently broadcast on the 191 ch is displayed. Move to a cell. Next, when the user presses the up cursor key 203 once, the EPG scrolls downward by three channels, a new line of 181 to 183 ch is displayed, and a program in which the cursor is currently broadcast on 181 to 183 ch. Move to the program cell. At this time, the EPG scrolls for three channels by only pressing the up cursor key 203 once because the program newly selected at the time of scrolling is broadcast in common on 181 to 183ch.

  (3) Next, the user presses a key for displaying the date / time search screen, that is, the green key 211 of the remote controller 200 (operation common to the conventional model). Thereby, a date search screen corresponding to the EPG screen 50 is displayed on the display panel 10.

  (4) Next, the user presses the yellow key 212 that is the next day movement key three times. Alternatively, the user presses the right cursor key 205 of the remote controller 200 12 times. As a result, buttons indicating four time zones on January 20 (Thursday) are displayed, and “0 pm to 6 pm” buttons on January 20 (Thu) are displayed in a selected state.

  (5) Next, the user presses the right cursor key 205 of the remote controller 200 once in order to move the cursor from the “0 PM to 6 PM” button to the “6 PM to 0 AM” button. As a result, the “6 pm to midnight” button on Thursday, January 20 is displayed in a selected state. Further, from 6:00 pm to midnight on January 20 (Thursday) is selected as a display time zone, and an EPG relating to 6:00 pm to midnight on Thursday, January 20 is displayed on the display panel 10. .

  (6) Next, the user presses the enter key 207 of the remote controller 200 (operation common to the conventional model). As a result, the date / time search screen shifts to a normal EPG screen. At this time, if there is a channel currently being viewed, the cursor is attached to the cell of the program broadcast on the channel at the beginning of the selected time period. If there is no channel currently being viewed, the cursor is attached to the cell of the program broadcast on the first channel in the selected time zone.

  (7) Next, the user presses the right cursor key 205 of the remote controller 200 five times in order to set the cursor to a program broadcast from 8:00 pm to 8:55 pm. As a result, the cursor moves from program to program as many times as the right cursor key 205 is pressed.

  (8) Next, the user presses the enter key 207 of the remote controller 200 in order to reserve the selected program (operation common to conventional models). As a result, the selection of the program is confirmed (program selection operation ends). Thereafter, if the user selects a reservation method, the reservation is completed.

  As described above, in this television operation example 3, scrolling is performed in units of channels in the normal EPG display mode. Therefore, the following effects are exhibited.

  That is, first, since the movement amount of the cursor on the channel number and the number cell can be minimized, the user loses sight of the cursor position, and it is unnecessary to confirm the selected program and its channel. Avoiding the need for time and eye movements. Further, in the normal EPG display mode (basic display mode), the unit of scroll movement in the channel direction (vertical direction) is small in units of channels, and the unit of scroll movement in the time axis direction (horizontal direction) is small in units of programs. Further, the scroll speed in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction can be made close to each other, and a natural scroll display can be realized.

  In this television operation example 3, the operations of (4) to (6) of the conventional model operation example 3, that is, the right cursor key 205 is pressed three times, the yellow key 212 is pressed once, and the right cursor key 205 is pressed twice. The operation can be replaced with an operation of pressing the yellow key 212 three times (or pressing the right cursor key 205 twelve times) (4). Therefore, the number of times the user operates the key (the number of times the finger position is moved) can be reduced by two, and a simpler operation can be realized. Therefore, the number of times the user moves the operated key (the number of times the finger position is moved) can be reduced by two, and a simpler operation can be realized. Further, when the yellow key 212 is pressed three times in the operation (4), the number of times the user presses the key can be reduced three times, so that the user makes a reservation with a simpler operation and in a shorter time. be able to.

  In the above description, the reservation method using the date / time search screen has been described. However, in the digital broadcast television 100, viewing and reservation can be performed using only a normal EPG screen. When a reservation is made using only a normal EPG screen, operations corresponding to the operations (1), (2), (7), and (8) in this television operation example 3 may be performed. In addition, when viewing using only a normal EPG screen, operations corresponding to the operations (1), (2), and (8) of this television operation example 3 may be performed. When the determination key 207 of the remote controller 200 is pressed while the cursor is on the cell of the program being broadcast, viewing of the program being broadcast is started.

  In these cases as well, scrolling is performed in units of channels on a normal EPG screen. Therefore, it is possible to avoid the need for extra time and eye movements to confirm the selected program and its channel, and to realize a natural scroll display. can get.

  In the above description, the program information display apparatus of the present invention receives a digital broadcast wave including EPG information, and displays a digital broadcast EPG based on the EPG information included in the received digital broadcast wave. Although the case of a TV with a function has been described, the present invention is not limited to this. The program information display apparatus of the present invention receives a digital broadcast signal including EPG information through a cable TV line, and displays a digital broadcast EPG based on the EPG information included in the received digital broadcast signal, or an analog broadcast. Alternatively, the present invention can be applied to a television that receives digital broadcasting, acquires EPG information via the Internet, and displays EPG based on the acquired EPG information.

  The digital broadcast television 100 described above can receive any of the three types of broadcasts, BS digital broadcast, CS digital broadcast, and terrestrial digital broadcast, but receives only one or two of these broadcasts. The present invention can also be applied to possible televisions. Further, the digital broadcast television 100 described above is compatible with three types of services of television broadcast, radio broadcast, and data broadcast, but a digital broadcast receiving apparatus (only one or two broadcasts of these services can be received ( For example, the present invention can also be applied to a radio having an EPG display function, a dedicated data broadcast receiver, and the like.

  The digital broadcast television 100 described above displays program information related to a program broadcast on a plurality of channels in the form of an EPG with the channel number as the vertical axis and the broadcast time as the horizontal axis. The display form is not particularly limited, and (1) the channel priority set by the user is the vertical axis and the broadcast time is the horizontal axis; (2) the channel number (or the channel set by the user) (Priority)) with the horizontal axis and broadcast time with the vertical axis; (3) Program information arranged in a line in the vertical or horizontal direction (for example, a program that displays a back program); .

  Further, the digital broadcast television 100 described above is provided with a time zone selection button for designating a time zone in a display screen for displaying a date and time search result (EPG in a specific time zone) as means for selecting a date and time search condition. The date search condition was selected by moving the cursor. However, the means for selecting the date / time search condition is not particularly limited, and for specifying the time zone in a display screen different from the display screen for displaying the date / time search result (EPG in a specific time zone). There may be a configuration in which a time zone selection button is provided and date and time search conditions are selected by moving the cursor, or a date and time can be selected by key operation of a remote controller without providing a time zone selection button on the display screen.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the claims, and embodiments obtained by appropriately combining technical means disclosed in different embodiments. Is also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

  Finally, the block of the program information display device, in particular, the system control unit 8 may be configured by hardware logic, or may be realized by software using a CPU as follows.

  That is, the program information display device includes a CPU (central processing unit) that executes instructions of a control program that realizes each function, a ROM (read only memory) that stores the program, and a RAM (random access memory) that expands the program. And a storage device (recording medium) such as a memory for storing the program and various data. An object of the present invention is to provide a recording medium on which a program code (execution format program, intermediate code program, source program) of a control program for a program information display device, which is software that realizes the functions described above, is recorded so as to be readable by a computer. This can also be achieved by supplying the program information display device and reading and executing the program code recorded on the recording medium by the computer (or CPU or MPU).

  Examples of the recording medium include tapes such as magnetic tapes and cassette tapes, magnetic disks such as floppy (registered trademark) disks / hard disks, and disks including optical disks such as CD-ROM / MO / MD / DVD / CD-R. Card system such as IC card, IC card (including memory card) / optical card, or semiconductor memory system such as mask ROM / EPROM / EEPROM / flash ROM.

  Further, the program information display device may be configured to be connectable to a communication network, and the program code may be supplied via the communication network. The communication network is not particularly limited. For example, the Internet, intranet, extranet, LAN, ISDN, VAN, CATV communication network, virtual private network, telephone line network, mobile communication network, satellite communication. A net or the like is available. Also, the transmission medium constituting the communication network is not particularly limited. For example, even in the case of wired such as IEEE 1394, USB, power line carrier, cable TV line, telephone line, ADSL line, etc., infrared rays such as IrDA and remote control, Bluetooth ( (Registered trademark), 802.11 wireless, HDR, mobile phone network, satellite line, terrestrial digital network, and the like can also be used. The present invention can also be realized in the form of a computer data signal embedded in a carrier wave in which the program code is embodied by electronic transmission.

  The present invention is a program information display device that displays information related to a plurality of programs based on EPG information, for example, a digital broadcast wave is received, and an EPG of a digital broadcast is displayed based on EPG data included in the received digital broadcast wave It can be used to improve the convenience of the user in a television with a digital broadcast receiving function.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the program information display apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a top view which shows the structure of the remote controller used in combination with the program information display apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the display screen displayed in the program information display apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows another example of the display screen displayed in the program information display apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the display screen displayed in the conventional program information display apparatus. It is a figure which shows another example of the display screen displayed in the conventional program information display apparatus. It is a figure which shows another example of the display screen displayed in the conventional program information display apparatus. It is a figure which shows another example of the display screen displayed in the conventional program information display apparatus. It is a figure which shows another example of the display screen displayed in the conventional program information display apparatus. It is a figure which shows another example of the display screen displayed in the conventional program information display apparatus. It is a figure which shows another example of the display screen displayed in the conventional program information display apparatus. It is a figure which shows another example of the display screen displayed in the conventional program information display apparatus. It is a figure which shows another example of the display screen displayed in the conventional program information display apparatus. It is a figure which shows another example of the display screen displayed in the conventional program information display apparatus. It is a figure which shows another example of the display screen displayed in the conventional program information display apparatus. It is a figure which shows another example of the display screen displayed in the program information display apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows another example of the display screen displayed in the program information display apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows another example of the display screen displayed in the program information display apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows another example of the display screen displayed in the program information display apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows another example of the display screen displayed in the program information display apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows another example of the display screen displayed in the program information display apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows another example of the display screen displayed in the program information display apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows another example of the display screen displayed in the program information display apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the switching process from the normal EPG screen in the program information display apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention to a date search screen. It is a figure which shows another example of the display screen displayed in the program information display apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows another example of the display screen displayed in the program information display apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows another example of the display screen displayed in the program information display apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows another example of the display screen displayed in the program information display apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows another example of the display screen displayed in the program information display apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows another example of the display screen displayed in the program information display apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows another example of the display screen displayed in the program information display apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows another example of the display screen displayed in the program information display apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows another example of the display screen displayed in the program information display apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows another example of the display screen displayed in the program information display apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows another example of the display screen displayed in the program information display apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows another example of the display screen displayed in the program information display apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Antenna 2 Ground / BS / CS digital demodulation part 3 Demultiplexer 4 EPG information acquisition part 5 Graphic drawing part 6 EPG screen output part 7 Remote control light-receiving part 8 System control part 10 Display panel 10a Screen 11 AV decoder 12 Audio | voice output part 81 Display Control unit 81a Scroll processing unit 82 Date and time search unit 83 Mode switching unit 84 Day selection unit 85 Time zone selection unit 100 Digital broadcast television (program information display device)
200 Remote control 201 Program guide key 203 Up cursor key 204 Left cursor key 205 Right cursor key 206 Down cursor key 211 Green key 212 Yellow key

Claims (3)

A day selector for selecting the day;
A time zone selection unit that selects a time zone and switches the selected time zone according to a user time zone switching instruction;
In the program information display device for displaying program information on a plurality of programs broadcast in the time zone selected by the time zone selection unit on the day selected by the day selection unit,
The date selection unit is configured to send a time zone switching instruction in the time progress direction with the last time zone selected by the time zone selection unit, or when the time zone selection unit selects the first time zone. The program information display device is configured to switch the selected date when a time zone switching instruction in the direction opposite to the time progression direction is sent from the user in a state where is selected. The day selection unit is configured to switch the selected day according to the user's day switching instruction,
A state in which the day selection unit can switch the day according to the day selection instruction when the time zone selection unit is capable of switching the selection time band according to the time zone switching instruction. The program information display device according to claim 1, wherein: A display control unit for displaying program information related to a plurality of programs broadcast in the time zone selected by the time zone selection unit on the day selected by the day selection unit, arranged along the time axis;
In accordance with the switching of the day selected by the day selection unit and the switching of the time zone selected by the time zone selection unit, program information in the time axis direction in units of time intervals equal to the length of the time zone. A scroll processing unit for scrolling,
3. The program information display device according to claim 1, wherein the time interval is longer than 3 hours.

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