JP2006267060A - Route-search device and receiver - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a route-search device capable of searching a route where an operator can continuously view a desired program, and to provide a receiver for prompting the operator to receive the desired program. <P>SOLUTION: When a vehicle moves, there may be a risk of the vehicle moving in an area where the desired program cannot be received. However, based on relevant information associated with a present position and a plurality of areas with receivable programs in each area by a controller 7, a route including receivable areas of the desired program is searched, and then only the receivable areas of the desired program can be selected to move the areas. The operator can prevent missing of the desired program, even when he moves a plurality of areas. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a route searching device that searches for a route based on a plurality of regions and programs that can be received in each region, and a receiving device that prompts an operator to view the program.

  Various techniques for suitably receiving a program broadcast by a broadcasting station based on the position of a mobile object have been put into practical use. The mobile mounting receiver of the first prior art measures the current position where the moving body is present by GPS, and transmits the current position obtained by the measurement to an information providing station such as a broadcasting station. The information providing station transmits information such as a program guide of a broadcasting station that can be received at the current position based on the received current position of the mobile body. As a result, the mobile unit can select a program that can be received at the current position (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  The second conventional mobile receiving device receives a plurality of broadcasts and compares the signal strengths of the plurality of broadcasts received, so that a desired program can be obtained even in a poor reception environment. Has been disclosed (for example, see Patent Document 2).

  Even if the program receiving apparatus of the third prior art moves from a receivable area of radio waves radiated from a broadcasting station to a receivable area of radio waves radiated from another broadcast station, it is continuously the same. A technique for controlling a program to be received based on the current position of the program receiving device and identification information for identifying a program that can be received at the current position is disclosed. (For example, see Patent Document 3).

  The on-vehicle broadcast receiving apparatus according to the fourth prior art is simple even when there is a broadcast station that broadcasts the same content or a broadcast station that broadcasts related content, even when good reception cannot be performed with traveling. In order to make it possible to receive broadcasts of the same content or related broadcasts by operation, the broadcast station's correspondence is compared with the reception state of the broadcast station in the correspondence, and the broadcast of the broadcast station having a good reception state is compared. A receiving technique is disclosed (for example, see Patent Document 4).

  In the fifth automatic program composition device, when the route to the destination is set by navigation, the user sets the genre so that the user sets at each point on the route from the current position to the destination. A technique for controlling a receiving unit so as to receive a broadcasting station broadcasting a program of the genre is disclosed (see, for example, Patent Document 5).

JP-A-11-284930 JP 2003-37785 A JP 2003-18108 A JP-A-5-48396 JP 2002-152067 A

  In each of the above-described first to fourth conventional techniques, a receiving device that can continuously receive the same program even if it moves is disclosed, but when it moves to an area where it is not possible to continuously receive the program In addition, it is inconvenient because the operator cannot be provided with information about the program, and the operator needs to search for a program that can be received from the program guide.

  In the fifth prior art described above, a program that can be received on the determined route can be selected and received as appropriate, but the route is searched so that the operator can continuously view the desired program. It is inconvenient.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a route search device capable of searching for a route through which an operator's desired program can be continuously viewed, and a receiving device capable of prompting the operator to receive the desired program. Is to provide.

The present invention is a route search device for searching for a route,
A route search device characterized by including route search means for searching for a route including an area that can be received by a broadcast station that broadcasts the same program as a reference program that is being received by a receiving means that receives a broadcast. is there.

  According to the present invention, there is a possibility that an area where a desired program cannot be received may be searched as a route in the existing technology. However, a broadcast station that broadcasts the same program as the reference program is received by the route search means of the present invention. Since a route including a possible area is searched, it is possible to select and move only the area where the reference program can be received.

  Further, the present invention is characterized in that a broadcast station that broadcasts the same program as the reference program is selected based on the information of the electronic program guide.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to easily search for a broadcast station that broadcasts the same program as the reference program based on the information of the electronic program guide. Therefore, the same program as the reference program can be easily selected in a short time.

  Further, the present invention is characterized in that a broadcast station that broadcasts a program similar to the reference program is selected instead of the same program as the reference program.

  According to the present invention, since the broadcast station that broadcasts a program similar to the reference program is selected instead of the same program as the reference program, the contents of the reference program can be obtained even if it is necessary to move in an area where the reference program cannot be received. You can receive and move similar programs. Therefore, the operator can obtain information similar to the reference program.

Furthermore, the present invention is characterized in that the similar programs are programs of the same genre.
According to the present invention, since the similar program is a program of the same genre as the reference program, even if it is necessary to move in an area where the reference program cannot be received, the same genre as that of the reference program is received. Can move. Therefore, the operator can view a program of the same genre as the reference program.

Furthermore, the present invention provides position detection means for detecting a current position;
A storage station for storing a broadcast station capable of receiving corresponding to the position and program data thereof;
Reception state detection means for detecting the reception state;
Output means for outputting program information relating to the same program as the program being viewed based on the data stored in the storage means when the reception state detection means detects that the reception state of the program has deteriorated It is a receiver.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to receive a program that can be received in each area based on data stored in the storage means. The output means outputs program information related to the same program as the program being viewed based on the data stored in the storage means when the reception status detection means detects that the reception status of the program being received has deteriorated. As a result, the operator can select a receivable program again based on the program information output by the output means when the receiving state of the program being viewed has deteriorated and viewing has become difficult.

  Furthermore, the present invention is characterized in that a broadcast that broadcasts the same program as the program being viewed is received based on the broadcast start time of the program.

  According to the present invention, since a broadcast that broadcasts the same program as the program being viewed is received based on the broadcast start time of the program, the viewing of the program being viewed that has become difficult to view due to a deteriorated reception state is operated. Can be encouraged. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the missed program from being missed as much as possible.

  Furthermore, the present invention is characterized in that a broadcast of the same program as the program being viewed is received based on a time corresponding to a time when the reception state of the program being viewed has deteriorated.

  According to the present invention, since the broadcast of the same program as the program being viewed is received based on the time corresponding to the time when the reception state of the program being viewed has deteriorated, the operator can receive the program whose reception state has deteriorated. Can be prompted to the operator. As a result, the operator can view only the part where viewing is difficult without viewing the overlapping part of the same program. Therefore, time can be used effectively and convenience is improved.

  According to the present invention, the route search means searches for a route including an area where a broadcast station that broadcasts the same program as the reference program can receive, so that only the area that can receive the reference program is selected and moved. be able to. Accordingly, the operator can prevent the reference program from being missed as much as possible when moving and moving between a plurality of regions.

  According to the present invention, even if it is necessary to move in an area where the reference program cannot be received, a program similar to the content of the reference program can be received and moved. Therefore, the operator can obtain information similar to the reference program.

  Furthermore, according to the present invention, even if it is necessary to move in an area where the reference program cannot be received, the same genre as that of the reference program can be received and moved. Therefore, the operator can view a program of the same genre as the reference program.

  Further, according to the present invention, when the receiving state of the program being viewed deteriorates and viewing becomes difficult, the operator selects a receivable program again based on the program information output by the output means. can do. As a result, the operator can prompt the user to view the same program based on the program information that is automatically output without searching for a receivable program from the program guide or the like.

  Furthermore, according to the present invention, it is possible to prompt the operator to view a program that is being viewed whose viewing state has become difficult to view. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the missed program from being missed as much as possible.

  Furthermore, according to the present invention, the operator can prompt the operator to view the program after the reception state deteriorates. As a result, the operator can view only the part where viewing is difficult without viewing the overlapping part of the same program. Therefore, time can be used effectively.

  Hereinafter, a plurality of embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Parts corresponding to the matters described in the preceding forms in each form are denoted by the same reference numerals, and overlapping description may be omitted. When only a part of the configuration is described, the other parts of the configuration are the same as those described in the preceding section. Not only the combination of the parts specifically described in each embodiment, but also the embodiments can be partially combined as long as the combination does not hinder. The start condition of each flowchart is not necessarily limited to the described start condition.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the receiving device 1 according to the first embodiment of this invention. Receiving device 1 of the present embodiment is mounted on a moving body, for example, a vehicle. The receiving device 1 relates to a receiving unit 2 that receives a television broadcast, a navigation system 3 that guides a route to a destination, an operating unit 4 that instructs various operations, a memory 5 that stores various settings, and a broadcasting station. It includes a broadcasting station database 6 in which information is stored and a control unit 7 that controls each unit. Since the receiving device 1 is equipped with the navigation system 3, it has a function as a route search device.

  The receiving unit 2 functioning as a receiving unit receives a broadcast wave transmitted from a broadcast station, and receives broadcast information based on a program and provision schedule information indicating a program provision schedule by the broadcast station included in the broadcast wave. To do. The receiving unit 2 receives a broadcast wave (channel number, reception frequency) of a broadcasting station desired by the viewer, in other words, an output signal from the high-frequency amplifier circuit and a local oscillation circuit so as to receive a program desired by the viewer (local portion). (Oscillation frequency) signal is mixed and converted to an intermediate frequency, a tuner unit 8, a reception circuit unit 9 that detects and amplifies the intermediate frequency signal and separates it into a video signal and an audio signal, amplifies the detected and demodulated audio signal, From the audio output unit 10 that outputs a stereo audio signal obtained by separating the detected signal into left and right from the left and right speakers, and the video output unit 11 that amplifies the detected and demodulated video signal and displays it on a liquid crystal display element or the like. Composed. As described above, the audio output unit 10 and the video output unit 11 have a function as an output unit, and are configured to be able to output received broadcast information and provision schedule information. The tuner unit 8 functions as a reception state detection unit. The reception state is detected and the detected reception state is given to the control unit 7.

  The provision schedule information is realized by information obtained by an electronic program guide (abbreviation: EPG) in the present embodiment. A broadcast station provides a program by transmitting analog television broadcast radio waves according to a provision schedule expressed in EPG and divided into preset provision time frames. The EPG is transmitted from the broadcast station while being superimposed on a vertical blanking interval (abbreviation: VBI) of a video signal in a broadcast wave from the broadcast station. The EPG is extracted from the VBI of the video signal by the receiving circuit unit 9, and the extracted EPG is given to the control unit 7. The EPG has an index including keywords such as the title, genre, and performer name of the program provided in each provided time frame for each channel corresponding to the carrier frequency.

The navigation system 3 includes a GPS system 12 that detects a vehicle position using radio waves from an artificial satellite, and a map database 13 in which map information is stored. The GPS system 12 functioning as a position detection unit detects the current position of the receiving device 1. The GPS system 12 is a GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver that receives a positioning radio wave from an artificial satellite and detects a current position, and a VICS (VICS) that notifies a user of road traffic information.
Vehicle Information and Communication System), a vehicle speed pulse generator that measures travel distance (also used for vehicle speedometers), a vibration gyro sensor that measures the turning direction, and an inclinometer that measures road slope The present invention is realized by an autonomous navigation sensor, a mobile phone, and a PHS (Personal Handyphone System), and detects the current position of the receiving device 1. The navigation system 3 gives information based on the detected current position to the control unit 7.

  The memory 5 stores a program used by the control unit 7 to control each unit and various data, and gives the stored program to the control unit 7 in accordance with a control command given from the control unit 7. The memory 5 stores information given from the control unit 7, for example, EPG. The memory 5 is realized by, for example, a read only memory (abbreviated as ROM) and a random access memory (abbreviated as RAM).

  The broadcast station database 6 is storage means, and stores related information that associates a plurality of regions with program data that can be received in each region based on the EPG. Specifically, the broadcast station database 6 is a database in which the names of broadcast stations constituting the network, the broadcast station names and channel numbers of the respective districts belonging to the series are stored, and the EPG information is combined. It is stored in the power backed up RAM. More specifically, the broadcast station database 6 is scheduled to be broadcast for each broadcast station series that makes up the network in each district (for example, the Tokyo district, Osaka district, Nagoya district), the broadcast station name, the channel number, and each time zone. Information on the programs is stored. For example, in the case of the Fuji TV series, the Tokyo station has 8ch Fuji TV, the Osaka area has 8ch Kansai TV, and the Nagoya area has 1ch Tokai TV. It is remembered.

  The operation unit 4 has a function as a selection unit, and when operated by the operator, a program received by the reception unit 2 and output by the output units 10 and 11 is selected. The operation unit 4 is realized by a keyboard or the like having a plurality of keys, and various commands such as a channel search start command are given to the control unit 7 when operated by the operator. The operation unit 4 includes a remote control using infrared rays and the like, and a remote control image control unit that changes the image display of the video output unit 11 in accordance with the operation of the remote control. It is also possible to adopt a configuration that can perform the above.

  The control unit 7 is a control unit that performs processing according to various types of input information and outputs a control command to each part based on a control program stored in the memory 5, so that the entire receiving device 1 To control the operation.

  The control unit 7 has a function as route search means, and searches for a route to the destination based on the current position detected by the GPS system 12 and the map information stored in the map database 13. The control unit 7 gives information based on the EPG to the memory 5.

  The control unit 7 also displays the broadcast station name and channel number of the broadcast station that can be received at the current position based on the navigation system 3 and the broadcast station database 6, the output of the GPS system 12, and the vehicle position based on the map database 13. Each part is controlled to display the broadcast station to which the specified vehicle position (current position) belongs. The control unit 7 is realized by a processing circuit such as a microcomputer, for example.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining route search. The operator inputs the destination or waypoint using the operation unit 4, so that the shortest distance via the recommended route or toll road, for example, from the current position to the destination or waypoint is shortest. A high-speed priority route serving as a travel time and a reception priority route through which a currently received program can be viewed continuously are calculated and displayed as each route. In the present embodiment, the control unit 7 receives, based on the current position and related information stored in the broadcast station database 6, a reception priority route that is a route including an area where a desired program that is a reference program can be received, In other words, the reception unit 2 that receives the broadcast is characterized by searching for a reception priority route including an area that can be received by a broadcast station that broadcasts the same program as the reference program that is being received.

  The navigation system 3 performs map matching between the detected current position and the map database 13, calculates an accurate current position, and provides it to the control unit 7. The control unit 7 calculates a route as shown in FIG. 2 and provides the video output unit 11 with route information regarding the calculated route. In addition, the control unit 7 gives information given from the navigation system 3 to the video output unit 11. The video output unit 11 superimposes and outputs the current position and the searched route as shown in FIG. 2 on the map information based on the information given from the control unit 7 and prompts the operator to select a route. it can.

  Next, the operation of the receiving apparatus 1 will be described using a flowchart. The operation of each flowchart is performed by the control unit 7.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining a route search operation in the control unit 7. This flow is a process in which a desired program is selected in advance by an operator, and a route for continuously receiving the desired program and a normal route such as the recommended route are searched. This flow starts when the operator selects a desired program, the selected program is receivable, and the EPG is stored in the memory 5 and the destination is input by the operator. Is done.

  In step a1, information on the destination is acquired, and the process proceeds to step a2. The operator inputs a destination by operating the operation unit 4, and information regarding the input destination is given to the control unit 7. In step a2, a region where the selected desired program can be received is searched based on the related information stored in the broadcast station database 6, and the process proceeds to step a3. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, an area where a desired program can be received is a broadcasting area of broadcasting station A and broadcasting station B.

  In step a3, it is determined whether or not there is a broadcast station that broadcasts the same program as the reference program that is a desired program. If there is a broadcast station, the process proceeds to step a4. If there is no broadcast station, the process proceeds to step a6. In step a4, the shortest route including the receivable area to the destination is searched based on the current position, the receivable area of the search result, and the destination, and the process proceeds to step a5. In step a6, a normal route is searched and the process proceeds to step a5. In step a5, the result of the search is given to the video output unit 11, and this flow ends.

  As described above with reference to FIG. 3, a route (see FIG. 2) through the receivable area to the destination (see FIG. 2) or a normal route is searched and output by the video output unit 11.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, when the vehicle moves, there is a risk of moving in an area where the desired program cannot be received. However, the control unit 7 determines the desired program based on the current position and related information. Since the route including the area where can be received is searched, only the area where the desired program can be received can be selected and moved. Thus, the operator can move as far as possible from a plurality of areas, and can prevent the missed desired program from being missed as much as possible. Therefore, convenience is improved.

  Moreover, when there is no overlapping area of the receivable areas and they are separated from each other, it is preferable that the control unit 7 searches for a route that makes the unreceivable time as short as possible. As a result, the operator can move to the destination through the shortest possible route during the time when the operator cannot receive.

  In the above-described embodiment, the route is searched so that the same program can be continuously received. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a program similar to the content of the desired program to be output can be received. You may comprise so that the route containing an area may be searched. For example, when the desired program is a baseball broadcast, when a baseball relay of the same card is performed in another station instead of an affiliated station, a route including an area for receiving the baseball relay of another station is searched. To control. When the reference program is a baseball broadcast, a specific method for searching for a similar program is controlled to search for a similar program from the EPG information, for example, using the keywords “baseball relay” and “sports relay”. The As a result, even if it is necessary to move in an area where the desired program cannot be received, a program similar in content to the desired program can be received and moved. Therefore, the operator can obtain information similar to the desired program, and convenience is improved.

  In the above-described embodiment, the route is searched so that the same program can be continuously received. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the control unit 7 has the same genre as the desired program to be output. You may comprise so that the route containing the area which can receive a genre is searched. The specific search method for programs of the same genre is the same when, for example, the base program is baseball broadcast, and the genre is sports or baseball, so the keywords are “baseball” and “sports” from the EPG information. It is controlled to search for programs of the genre. Therefore, even if it is necessary to move in an area where the desired program cannot be received, the same genre as the desired program genre can be received and moved. Therefore, the operator can view a program of the same genre as the desired program, and convenience is improved.

  In the above-described embodiment, the destination is set and the route is searched. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a desired program can be received even when searching for a route on a drive course or the like. You may control so that it may pass through various areas.

  Next, the receiving apparatus 1 according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described. The receiving apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment has a feature in the processing of the control unit 7, and particularly has a feature in processing when the reception state of the program being received is deteriorated. The configuration of the receiving device 1 is similar to the configuration of the receiving device 1 shown in FIGS.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining a reception operation in the control unit 7. This flow is started with the video output unit 11 outputting the program being received. The control unit 7 repeats the operation shown in FIG. 4 in a short time. In step b1, the information given from the tuner unit 8 and indicating the reception state of the program being received is acquired, and the process proceeds to step b2.

  In step b2, it is determined whether or not the reception state is a reception state that can be viewed by the operator. If the reception state is a viewing state, this flow is terminated. If the reception state is difficult to view, step b3 Move on. For example, the reception state is determined based on a signal to noise ratio (abbreviation: S / N ratio). In step b3, a program which is the same as the program being received and can be received is searched based on the current position and related information stored in the broadcast station database 6, and the process proceeds to step b4.

  In step b4, it is determined whether or not there is a search result, in other words, whether there is a receivable program that is the same program, and if there is the same receivable program, the process proceeds to step b5 and the same receivable program is received. If there is no program, the process proceeds to step b6. In step b6, information indicating that there is no identical program that can be received is given to the video output unit 11, and this flow ends. In step b5, based on the search result, information including the searched program is extracted from the EPG, the extracted information is given to the video output unit 11, and this flow is finished.

  As described above with reference to FIG. 4, when the reception state of the program that is being received deteriorates, the control unit 7 operates based on the current position and related information stored in the broadcast station database 6. The video output unit 11 is controlled to search for a program that is the same as the program selected by 4 and can be received, and to output an EPG including the searched program. As a result, when the reception state of the program being received deteriorates and viewing becomes difficult, the operator again selects a program that can be received by the operation unit 4 based on the EPG output by the video output unit 11. You can choose. As a result, the operator can prompt the user to view the same program based on the automatically output EPG without searching for a receivable program from the program guide or the like. This improves convenience.

  In step b5, when the searched program is currently receivable based on the search result, the output units 10 and 11 may be controlled to output the searched program. As a result, when the reception state of the program being received deteriorates, the operator automatically switches to a receivable program, so that the same program can be continuously viewed without inconvenience.

  In step b3, a rebroadcast program that can receive the selected program may be searched. As a result, the operator can be encouraged to view the rebroadcast program of the program whose reception state has deteriorated.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining a reception operation in the control unit 7. This flow is related to the flow of FIG. 4, and starts when the information is extracted from the EPG in step b5 in FIG. The controller 7 repeats the operation shown in FIG. 5 in a short time. In step c1, the broadcast start time of the same program is acquired based on the extracted information, and the process proceeds to step c2. In step c2, it is determined whether or not the current time is the broadcast start time. If it is the broadcast start time, the process proceeds to step c3, and if it is not the broadcast start time, this flow ends. In step c3, the receiving unit 2 and the video output unit 11 are controlled so as to receive the program, and this flow ends.

  As described above with reference to FIG. 5, the control unit 7 controls the video output unit 11 to output the searched program at the broadcast start time. By controlling in this way, it is possible to prompt the operator to view a program that has become difficult to view due to a deteriorated reception state. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the missed program selected by the operator from being missed as much as possible.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining a reception operation in the control unit 7. This flow is processing for detecting the time when the reception state of the selected program deteriorated. This flow is started with the video output unit 11 outputting the program being received. The controller 7 repeats the operation shown in FIG. 6 in a short time. In step d1, information given from the tuner unit 8 and indicating the reception state of the program being received is acquired, and the process proceeds to step d2.

  In step d2, it is determined whether or not the reception state is a reception state that can be viewed by the operator. If the reception state is a viewing state, this flow is terminated. If the reception state is difficult to view, step d3 Move on. In step d3, the reception state drop time at which the reception state of the program being received has deteriorated is detected, and the process proceeds to step d4.

  In step d4, the program elapsed time that the program has elapsed is calculated based on the broadcast start time of the program that is being received and the above-described reception state decrease time, the calculated time is given to the memory 5, and this flow ends. For example, if the broadcast start time of a program being received is 19:00 and the reception state drop time is 19:30 on the same day, the program elapsed time is 30 minutes. By calculating such program elapsed time, it is possible to store in the memory 5 how far the operator has watched the received program.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining a reception operation in the control unit 7. This flow is related to the flow of FIG. 4 and FIG. 6, and when the information is extracted from the EPG in step b5 in FIG. 4 and the program elapsed time is calculated in FIG. 6, this flow is started. . The controller 7 repeats the operation shown in FIG. 7 in a short time.

  In step e1, the broadcast start time of the same program is acquired based on the extracted information, and the process proceeds to step e2. In step e2, the reception start time is calculated based on the previous period broadcast start time and the previous period program elapsed time, and the process proceeds to step e3. For example, if the broadcast start time is 21:00 and the program elapsed time is, for example, 30 minutes, the reception start time is 21:30.

  In step e3, it is determined whether or not the current time is the reception start time. If it is the reception start time, the process proceeds to step e4. If it is not the reception start time, this flow ends. In step e4, the receiving unit 2 and the video output unit 11 are controlled so as to receive the same program, and this flow ends.

  As described above with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7, the control unit 7 controls each unit to output the searched program based on the time when the reception state of the program being received deteriorates. As a result, the operator can prompt the operator to view the program after the reception state deteriorates. Therefore, the operator can view only the part where viewing is difficult without viewing the overlapping part of the same program. Therefore, time can be used effectively and convenience is improved.

  In FIG. 7, the reception start time may be controlled so as to partially overlap based on the reception state decrease time. For example, when the broadcast start time is 21:00 and the program elapsed time is, for example, 30 minutes, the reception start time is controlled to be 21:25, and an overlap period of 5 minutes is set. The information can be output to the operator so that the user can recall the information of the previously viewed program and can understand the contents of the program that is viewed smoothly.

  In each of the above-described embodiments, the moving body is realized by a vehicle, but is not limited thereto, and may be mounted on, for example, a ship or an aircraft, and may be an information terminal such as a mobile phone device held by an operator. You may implement | achieve as a part of function of an apparatus.

  In each of the above-described embodiments, an analog broadcast signal is received from a broadcast station. However, the same effect can be achieved even if a digital broadcast signal is received. In this case, the EPG may be provided to the receiving apparatus 1 by being superimposed on the digital content signal from the broadcasting station. Moreover, you may comprise so that the broadcast from a radio station may be received further.

  Further, in each of the above-described embodiments, related information is determined and stored in advance in the broadcast station database. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the receivable area of the selected program is set to the broadcast station or the like every time a program is selected. It may be configured such that various processes are performed based on information transmitted from the broadcasting station upon inquiry. Thus, the route search and continuous reception processing procedures can always be executed based on the latest information.

It is a block diagram which shows the electric constitution of the receiver 1 of the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating route search. 5 is a flowchart for explaining a route search operation in a control unit 7; 4 is a flowchart for explaining a reception operation in a control unit 7; 4 is a flowchart for explaining a reception operation in a control unit 7; 4 is a flowchart for explaining a reception operation in a control unit 7; 4 is a flowchart for explaining a reception operation in a control unit 7;

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Receiver 2 Receiving part 3 Navigation system 4 Operation part 5 Memory 6 Broadcasting station database 7 Control part 8 Tuner part 9 Reception circuit part 10 Audio | voice output part 11 Video | video output part 12 GPS system 13 Map database

Claims (7)

A route search device for searching for a route,
A route search device comprising: route search means for searching for a route including an area that can be received by a broadcast station that broadcasts the same program as a reference program that is being received by a receiving means that receives a broadcast.   2. The route search apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a broadcasting station that broadcasts the same program as the reference program is selected based on information of the electronic program guide.   2. The route search apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a broadcast station that broadcasts a program similar to the reference program is selected instead of the same program as the reference program.   The route search apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the similar programs are programs of the same genre. Position detection means for detecting the current position;
A storage station for storing a broadcast station capable of receiving corresponding to the position and program data thereof;
Reception state detection means for detecting the reception state;
Output means for outputting program information relating to the same program as the program being viewed based on the data stored in the storage means when the reception state detection means detects that the reception state of the program has deteriorated A receiving device.   6. The receiving apparatus according to claim 5, wherein a broadcast that broadcasts the same program as the program being viewed is received based on a broadcast start time of the program.   6. The receiving apparatus according to claim 5, wherein a broadcast of the same program as the program being viewed is received based on a time corresponding to a time when a reception state of the program being viewed has deteriorated.

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