JP2006304135A - Television receiver and channel switching method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a television receiver in which each user can easily select a desired channel when operating a channel changeover switch. <P>SOLUTION: The television receiver comprises: the channel changeover switch for switching channels in an ascending order or a descending order and tuning them; a storage part for storing four channel groups G0-G3 for which one or more channels selected as tuning objects are grouped; a reception part for receiving the broadcasting signals of the tuned channel; and a control part for executing the channel switching processing of switching the channel of the broadcasting signals to be received by the reception part corresponding to the operation of the channel changeover switch. When the channel changeover switch is operated in the state that a prescribed channel group is selected from one or more channel groups G0-G3 stored in the storage part, the control part executes the channel switching processing among the respective channels belonging to the prescribed channel group. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a television configured to be able to select a channel by switching channels in ascending or descending order, and a channel switching method in the television.

  Today, with the spread of 110-degree CS digital broadcasting and the start of distribution of terrestrial digital broadcasting, the number of channels that can be viewed has increased rapidly. For this reason, for example, when selecting a channel by switching a channel in ascending or descending order by operating a channel switching switch, it takes a very long time to complete the channel selection of a desired channel. In this case, it is possible to select a desired channel directly by using an EPG (Electric Program Guide). However, since it is not easy for a child or an elderly person to search for a desired channel using the EPG, it still takes a long time to complete the channel selection.

On the other hand, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-58713 discloses a satellite broadcast receiver in which a channel belonging to a specified genre is selected by specifying a desired genre. Specifically, the satellite broadcast receiver includes a signal sampling unit that extracts a genre signal transmitted as a part of an audio signal, a genre key that specifies a desired genre, and a genre in which the received genre signal is specified. And a coincidence determination unit for determining whether or not they coincide with each other. When viewing a TV program of a channel belonging to a desired genre with this satellite broadcast receiver, an arbitrary genre is designated by operating the genre key. At this time, the coincidence determination unit determines whether the genre associated with the currently viewed channel matches the designated genre. In this case, when it is determined by the match determination unit that they do not match, the control unit controls to switch to another channel belonging to the specified genre. When the next program selection key is operated, the control unit controls to switch to yet another channel belonging to the designated genre. Thus, in this satellite broadcast receiver, it is possible to select a desired channel in a short time as much as channel selection not belonging to the specified genre is avoided.
JP 7-58713 A (page 2-3)

  However, the conventional satellite broadcast receiver has the following problems. That is, the conventional satellite broadcast receiver is configured to select a channel belonging to a genre designated by the user when the next program selection key (channel switch) is operated. In this case, for example, one person can watch a predetermined news in the morning, watch a variety program in the daytime, watch a TV drama in the evening, and watch another predetermined news before going to bed. In general, a channel desired to be viewed by a person often spans a plurality of genres. Therefore, in the above example, it is necessary to operate the genre key and specify the genre of the desired channel (program) every time a desired television program is to be viewed in the morning, noon, evening and before going to bed. For example, when one TV is shared with a family (when there are many users), a desired channel is different for each user. Therefore, when viewing a predetermined channel, the genre to which the channel belongs may be different from the genre designated by another user before that. In this case, it is necessary to specify the genre including the channel to be selected by operating the genre key. As described above, the conventional satellite broadcast receiver has a problem that it still takes a long time to select a desired channel.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and provides a television in which each user can easily select a desired channel when operating a channel changeover switch, and each user can easily select a desired channel. The main purpose is to propose a channel switching method that can be selected.

  In order to achieve the above object, a television according to the present invention includes a channel changeover switch for selecting a channel by switching channels in ascending or descending order, and one or more groups in which one or more channels selected as a channel selection target are grouped. A storage unit that stores a channel group, a receiving unit that receives a broadcast signal of the selected channel, and a channel switching that switches the channel of the broadcast signal that is received by the receiving unit according to an operation of the channel switching switch A control unit that executes processing, and when the channel switch is operated in a state where a predetermined channel group is selected from the one or more channel groups stored in the storage unit, Each channel belonging to the predetermined channel group is controlled by the control unit. Performing the channel change process in the.

  In this television, when a channel switching switch is operated in a state where a predetermined channel group is selected, the control unit executes a channel switching process among the channels belonging to the predetermined channel group. Therefore, according to this television, for example, a desired channel is grouped and registered for each user (stored as a channel group in the storage unit), and the genre differs depending on the operation of the channel switch. A desired channel can be easily selected in a short time from a plurality of channels including the channel to be performed.

  In addition, the television according to the present invention includes a plurality of receiving circuits that respectively receive broadcast signals having different distribution formats, and the reception unit is configured to receive an arbitrary plurality from the channels of the broadcast signals of each distribution format. The storage unit is configured to be able to store the grouped channel groups, and the channel selector switch is operated to select a predetermined channel while the channel group in which the arbitrary plurality of channels are grouped is selected. Then, the control unit controls the receiving circuit capable of receiving the broadcast signal of the selected channel to receive the broadcast signal. Note that the “distribution format” in the present invention refers to a modulation method, a frequency band, and the like.

  In this television, when a predetermined channel is selected in a state where a channel group obtained by grouping a plurality of arbitrary channels having different broadcast signal distribution formats is selected, the control unit selects the selected channel. A receiving circuit capable of receiving a broadcast signal is controlled to receive the broadcast signal. Therefore, according to this television, for example, a broadcast changeover switch (only by grouping and registering desired channels without being aware of differences in distribution formats such as terrestrial digital broadcasting, BS digital broadcasting, and CS digital broadcasting) Without operating the tuner changeover switch, it is possible to switch to a desired channel having a different distribution format.

  In the channel switching method according to the present invention, one or more channels to be switched and selected by operating a channel switching switch are selected from a plurality of channels and registered in a television, and the channel switching switch is operated to operate the channel switching switch. Switch to the desired channel from the registered channels.

  In this channel switching method, one or more channels to be selected at the time of channel switching are selected from a plurality of channels and registered in the television prior to the operation of the channel switching switch, and at the time of channel switching, a desired one of the registered channels is selected. Switch to the next channel. Therefore, according to this channel switching method, even when there are a large number of channels that can be selected, only channels registered in the television are selected when the channel selector switch is operated. A desired channel can be easily selected in a short time from a plurality of channels.

  The best mode of a television and a channel switching method according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. As an example, the television 1 shown in FIG. 1 can view each channel of terrestrial analog broadcasting, terrestrial digital broadcasting, BS digital broadcasting, and 110-degree CS digital broadcasting (an example of “broadcast signals having different distribution formats” in the present invention). The rear projection type TV is configured to be capable of remote operation (channel switching operation, etc.) by operating various operation switches provided on the remote control 2 that is an accessory of the TV 1. According to the channel switching method according to the invention, the channel can be switched. In this case, the remote controller 2 outputs an operation signal S1 (infrared signal as an example) that can specify the operation content corresponding to the switch operation. As shown in FIG. 2, the remote controller 2 includes a broadcast selector switch 30, direct channel selection switches 31a to 31l, an ascending channel selection switch (channel up switch) 32a, a descending channel selection switch (channel down switch) 32b, and a group switching. A switch 33 and the like are provided. In this case, in this remote controller 2, the ascending channel selection switch 32 a and the descending channel selection switch 32 b (hereinafter also referred to as “channel selection switch 32” when not distinguished) correspond to the channel switching switch in the present invention. An operation signal S1 for switching the channel in ascending order is output when 32a is operated, and an operation signal S1 for switching the channel in descending order is output when the descending channel selection switch 32b is operated.

  On the other hand, as described above, the television 1 is configured to be able to tune a large number of channels having different distribution formats. Therefore, as described later, when the channel selection switch 32 is operated, a plurality of channels are selected. The channel is switched in a channel group in which a plurality of channels (one or more channels) arbitrarily selected by the user are grouped. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, the television 1 includes a channel selection control unit 11, a channel selection information storage unit 12, tuners 13a to 13d, a video / audio processing unit 14, an audio signal output unit 15, a speaker 16, A video signal output unit 17, a display unit 18, a main body operation unit 19 and a switch operation processing unit 20 are provided. The channel selection control unit 11 corresponds to the control unit in the present invention, and is selected by the user by controlling the tuners 13a to 13d by executing the channel switching process 40 (see FIG. 4) as will be described later. The corresponding tuner 13a-13d receives the broadcast signal of the channel. Further, the channel selection control unit 11 executes the group switching process 50 (see FIG. 6) when operating the above-described group switching switch 33, and the channels belonging to the channel group designated by the user are group-specific channel information Dg (this An example of the channel group in the invention: see FIG. 3). The channel selection information storage unit 12 corresponds to a storage unit in the present invention, and channel information about the channel displayed when the power is turned off (information about the channel to be displayed when the power is turned on next time), group-specific channel information Dg ( 3) and information (current group information) about the channel group designated by the user.

  In this case, the group-specific channel information Dg is data about a channel group obtained by grouping a plurality of channels (channels selected as a channel selection target) to be switched and displayed when the channel selection switch 32 is operated. As shown in the figure, as an example, it is configured to include information that can identify each channel belonging to four channel groups from channel group G0 to channel group G3. In this case, in the channel group G0 (“G0” in the figure), all the channels that can be viewed at the place where the television 1 is installed are grouped. When the channel group G0 is selected, all the channels that can be viewed when the channel selection switch 32 is operated are displayed in ascending or descending order. Channel groups G1 to G3 ("G1" to "G3" in the figure) are arbitrarily selected by each user from each channel of terrestrial analog broadcast, terrestrial digital broadcast, BS digital broadcast, and 110 degree CS digital broadcast. A predetermined number of selected channels (for example, 20 channels) are grouped. When any one of the channel groups G1 to G3 (for example, the channel group G1) is selected, each channel belonging to the channel group G1 (grouped and registered as the channel group G1) when the channel selection switch 32 is operated. Each channel) is displayed in ascending or descending order. In the figure, “Earth A” represents analog terrestrial broadcasting, “Earth D” represents terrestrial digital broadcasting, “BS” represents BS digital broadcasting, and “CS” represents 110-degree CS digital broadcasting. .

  Each of the tuners 13a to 13d corresponds to a receiving circuit according to the present invention and four together constitute a receiving unit according to the present invention. Under the control of the channel selection control unit 11, the tuners 13a to 13d display broadcast signals of designated channels. The image is received by an external antenna and output to the video / audio processing unit 14. In the television 1, for example, the tuner 13a receives a terrestrial analog broadcast signal, the tuner 13b receives a terrestrial digital broadcast signal, the tuner 13c receives a BS digital broadcast signal, and the tuner 13d A broadcast signal of 110 degree CS digital broadcasting is received. The video / audio processing unit 14 includes, as an example, an IF circuit, an audio detection circuit, a video detection circuit, an A / D conversion unit (all not shown), and the like, and an audio signal based on a broadcast signal output from the tuners 13a to 13d. The video signal is output to the audio signal output unit 15 and the video signal output unit 17. The audio signal output unit 15 amplifies the audio signal output from the video / audio processing unit 14 and outputs the amplified audio signal to the speaker 16. The speaker 16 outputs sound based on the sound signal output from the sound signal output unit 15. The video signal output unit 17 generates a display signal by executing video processing on the video signal output from the video / audio processing unit 14 and outputs the display signal to the display unit 18.

  The display unit 18 includes an optical engine and a screen panel (not shown), and displays various images based on the display signal output from the video signal output unit 17. Specifically, the display unit 18 displays various images on the screen panel by projecting projection light, which is light-modulated based on the output display signal, onto the screen panel from the back side. In this case, the optical engine includes, for example, a light source, a light modulation element (for example, a digital micromirror device or a liquid crystal light valve), and a projection lens (both not shown). The main body operation unit 19 includes various operation switches (not shown) such as a power switch, a volume adjustment switch, an ascending order selection switch, a descending order selection switch, a broadcast changeover switch, and a group changeover switch, and an operation signal corresponding to the switch operation. S2 is output to the switch operation processing unit 20. The switch operation processing unit 20 outputs an operation signal S1 (infrared signal) from the remote control 2 and a remote control (not shown) for external devices (various video devices such as a video deck and a DVD player) and the main body operation unit 19. Is monitored, and the channel selection control unit 11 and the like are controlled in accordance with the output operation signals S1 and S2.

  Next, the overall operation of the television 1 will be described with reference to the drawings. When starting to use the television 1, first, a desired channel is selected and registered as a channel selection target for each of the channel groups G1 to G3. In this case, for example, a channel group registration screen (not shown) is displayed on the display unit 18 by operating a menu switch (not shown) of the remote controller 2 to associate channels (perform registration processing). (As an example, channel group G1) is selected. Next, by operating the broadcast changeover switch 30 and the channel selection switch 32, etc., switching display is performed when the channel selection switch 32 is operated from among channels of terrestrial analog broadcast, terrestrial digital broadcast, BS digital broadcast and 110 degree CS digital broadcast. Select any channel that should be. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 3, as an example, two channels of terrestrial digital broadcasting, two channels of BS digital broadcasting, and four channels of 110-degree CS digital broadcasting are registered as a channel group G1. Similarly, a desired channel is selected and registered for the channel groups G2 and G3. As a result, group-specific channel information Dg is generated and stored in the channel selection information storage unit 12. In actual use, for example, channel group G1 is used such that channel group G1 is used by user A, channel group G2 and user B are used, and channel group G3 is used by user C. G3 is associated with each user A to C.

  On the other hand, in the state where the channel registration for each channel group is completed as described above, the tuners 13a to 13d perform the power supply immediately before according to the control of the channel selection control unit 11 when the television 1 is turned on. A broadcast signal of a channel selected at the time of blocking (a channel corresponding to channel information stored in the channel selection information storage unit 12) is received and output to the video / audio processing unit 14. In response to this, the video / audio processing unit 14 outputs an audio signal based on the broadcast signal to the audio signal output unit 15 and outputs the video signal to the video signal output unit 17. At this time, the audio signal output unit 15 amplifies the audio signal output from the video / audio processing unit 14 and outputs the amplified audio signal to the speaker 16. Also, the video signal output unit 17 outputs a display signal generated based on the video signal output from the video / audio processing unit 14 to the display unit 18. As a result, the TV image of the channel displayed before the power is shut off is displayed on the screen panel of the display unit 18 and the sound corresponding to the TV image is output from the speaker 16 at a predetermined volume.

  On the other hand, when the channel selection switch 32 is operated by the user during the display of the television image, the channel selection control unit 11 starts the channel switching process 40 shown in FIG. In the channel switching process 40, the channel selection control unit 11 selects the channel group (channel) selected at the start of the channel switching process 40 based on the information (current group information) stored in the channel selection information storage unit 12. Any one of groups G0 to G3) is specified (step 41). In this case, as an example, the channel group G2 is selected at the start of the channel switching process 40, and a television image of ch 270 (channel number 5 in the channel group G2) in 110-degree CS digital broadcasting is displayed on the display unit 18. It is assumed that Next, the tuning control unit 11 identifies channels belonging to the channel group identified in step 41 based on the group-specific channel information Dg stored in the tuning information storage unit 12 (step 42). Subsequently, the channel selection control unit 11 determines whether the operated switch is the ascending order channel selection switch 32a or the descending order channel selection switch 32b (step 43).

  At this time, if the ascending channel selection switch 32a has been operated at the start of the channel switching process 40, the channel selection control unit 11 identifies each channel (each channel registered as the channel group G2) identified in step 42. Of these channels, the channel is switched to channel 6 (in this example, ch 551 in 110-degree CS digital broadcasting) and the corresponding broadcast signal is received by tuner 13d (step 44), and this channel switching process 40 is terminated. . At this time, the video / audio processing unit 14 outputs the audio signal to the audio signal output unit 15 and outputs the video signal to the video signal output unit 17 based on the broadcast signal received by the tuner 13d. As a result, as shown in FIG. 5, the TV image of ch551 in 110 degree CS digital broadcasting is displayed on the display unit 18, and the corresponding sound is output from the speaker 16. In this case, as shown in the figure, in this television 1, a group display P1 indicating the selected channel group (in this example, a character string “G2” indicating the channel group G2) and the channel being displayed are displayed. A channel display P2 (in this example, a character string “CS-ch551” representing ch551 in 110-degree CS digital broadcasting) is displayed on the display unit 18, for example, on the upper right for a predetermined time from the end of the channel switching process 40. . In the figure, the television image of the above ch551 is conceptually illustrated by a white character string “CS-Ch551”.

  If it is determined in step 43 that the descending channel selection switch 32b has been operated, the channel selection control unit 11 selects each channel (each channel registered as the channel group G2) identified in step 42. The channel is switched to channel No. 4 (in this example, ch1 in BS digital broadcasting) and the corresponding broadcast signal is received by the tuner 13c (step 45), and this channel switching process 40 is terminated. At this time, based on the broadcast signal received by the tuner 13 c, the video / audio processing unit 14 outputs the audio signal to the audio signal output unit 15 and outputs the video signal to the video signal output unit 17. As a result, the television image of ch1 in BS digital broadcasting is displayed on the display unit 18, and the corresponding sound is output from the speaker 16.

  On the other hand, for example, when a television image of a channel belonging to the channel group G2 (for example, ch6 in terrestrial digital broadcasting) is displayed, when another user switches to a desired channel, first, the remote control 2 To select a desired channel group. In this case, for example, when the channel group G3 is selected, the group changeover switch 33 is operated until the group display P1 displayed on the display unit 18 becomes “G3”. At this time, the tuning control unit 11 starts a group switching process 50 shown in FIG. In this group switching process 50, the tuning control unit 11 operates the group switching switch 33 based on the information (current group information) stored in the tuning information storage unit 12 (the start time of the group switching process 50). The channel group selected in is identified (step 51). Next, the channel selection control unit 11 specifies a channel belonging to the channel group specified in step 51 (in this example, the channel group G2) based on the group-specific channel information Dg stored in the channel selection information storage unit 12. At the same time (step 52), the current group information in the channel selection information storage unit 12 is updated to the channel group G3. Subsequently, the channel selection control unit 11 specifies the channel being displayed (in this example, ch6 in terrestrial digital broadcasting) (step 53).

  Next, the channel selection control unit 11 determines whether or not the channel specified in step 53 exists in the selected channel group G3 (step 54). At this time, when ch6 in the terrestrial digital broadcast, which is the channel specified in step 53, exists in the channel group G3, the channel selection control unit 11 immediately ends this group switching processing 50, and ch6 in the terrestrial digital broadcast. Continue to display. On the other hand, when ch6 in terrestrial digital broadcasting does not exist in the channel group G3, the channel selection control unit 11 determines that the channel group G3 has been selected based on the channel information stored in the channel selection information storage unit 12. The channel selected last (for example, terrestrial analog broadcast ch11) is specified, the tuner 13a is controlled to receive a broadcast signal corresponding to this channel (step 55), and this group switching processing 50 is performed. finish. As a result, based on the broadcast signal received by the tuner 13a, the video / audio processing unit 14 outputs the audio signal to the audio signal output unit 15 and outputs the video signal to the video signal output unit 17. As a result, the terrestrial analog broadcast ch 11 television image is displayed on the display unit 18, and the corresponding audio is output from the speaker 16. Thereafter, when the channel selection switch 32 is operated, the channel selection control unit 11 starts the channel switching process 40 described above, and switches and displays each channel belonging to the channel group G3 in ascending order or descending order.

  As described above, according to the television 1, when any one of the ascending channel selection switch 32a and the descending channel selection switch 32b is operated in a state where a predetermined channel group is selected from the channel groups G0 to G3. The channel selection control unit 11 executes the channel switching process 40 to switch channels among the channels belonging to a predetermined channel group, for example, to group desired channels for each user and to create channel groups G1 to G3. By simply registering as any of the above, a desired channel can be easily selected in a short time from among a plurality of channels including channels of different genres by operating the channel selection switch 32.

  Further, according to the television 1, when a predetermined channel is selected in a state where a channel group obtained by grouping a plurality of arbitrary channels having different broadcast signal distribution formats is selected, the channel selection control unit 11 for controlling the tuners 13a to 13d that can receive the broadcast signal of the channel selected by channel 11 so as to receive the broadcast signal, for example, the difference in distribution formats such as terrestrial digital broadcast, BS digital broadcast, and CS digital broadcast. By simply grouping and registering without being conscious, it is possible to switch to a desired channel with a different distribution format without operating the broadcast switch 30.

  Further, according to the channel switching method in the television 1, a plurality of one or more channels to be selected at the time of channel switching prior to the operation of either the ascending channel selection switch 32a or the descending channel selection switch 32b (channel switching switch). When the channel is switched, the ascending channel selection switch 32a and the channel selection switch 32a are selected even when there are many channels that can be selected by switching from the registered channels to a desired channel. When any of the descending channel selection switches 32b is operated, only the channel registered in the television 1 is selected, so that a desired channel can be easily selected in a short time from a plurality of channels including channels of different genres. You can tune in.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to said structure. For example, although a rear projection television has been described above, the present invention can be applied to a television having various displays such as a liquid crystal display, a plasma display, and an organic EL display. In this case, the television in the present invention includes various televisions in which a display and a tuner are configured separately. In addition, the present invention can be applied to a monitor (a display device that does not include a tuner). The present invention can also be applied to various receivers (for example, digital tuners capable of receiving broadcast signals such as BS digital broadcast, 110-degree CS digital broadcast, and terrestrial digital broadcast).

1 is a configuration diagram showing a configuration of a television 1. FIG. It is a partial top view of the remote control 2 which shows an example of the arrangement | sequence of various operation switches. It is a data structure figure which shows an example of the channel information Dg classified by group. 4 is a flowchart of a channel switching process 40. It is a display screen figure of the display part 18 on which group display P1 etc. were displayed. 5 is a flowchart of a group switching process 50.

Explanation of symbols

  1 TV, 2 remote control, 11 channel selection control unit, 12 channel selection information storage unit, 13a to 13d tuner, 32a ascending channel selection switch, 32b descending channel selection switch, 33 group switching switch, 40 channel switching processing, 50 group switching processing Channel information by Dg group

Claims (3)

A channel changeover switch for selecting a channel by switching channels in ascending or descending order, a storage unit for storing one or more channel groups obtained by grouping one or more channels selected as a channel selection target, and a channel selected A receiving unit that receives the broadcast signal of the channel; and a control unit that executes a channel switching process for switching the channel of the broadcast signal received by the receiving unit in accordance with an operation of the channel switching switch,
When the channel changeover switch is operated in a state where a predetermined channel group is selected from the one or more channel groups stored in the storage unit, the control unit is assigned to the predetermined channel group. A television that executes the channel switching process in each channel to which it belongs. The receiving unit includes a plurality of receiving circuits that respectively receive broadcast signals having different distribution formats,
The storage unit is configured to be able to store the channel group obtained by grouping a plurality of arbitrary channels from the channels of the broadcast signals of the respective distribution formats,
When the channel change switch is operated and a predetermined channel is selected in a state where a channel group obtained by grouping the arbitrary plurality is selected, the control unit transmits the broadcast of the selected channel. The television according to claim 1, wherein the receiving circuit capable of receiving a signal is controlled to receive the broadcast signal.   One or more channels to be switched and selected by operation of the channel selector switch are selected from a plurality of channels and registered in the television, and the channel selector switch is operated to switch from the registered channels to a desired channel. Channel switching method.

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