JP2007159163A - Digital broadcast receiving method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a digital broadcast receiver and communication system in which a program can be viewed in an optimal receiving state at all the time in accordance with a location change. <P>SOLUTION: The channel of an area relating to a program (or a broadcasting station thereof), selected by a user, under viewing at present or a reserved program (or a broadcasting station thereof) is extracted from EPG data to generate a channel list and when a predetermined quality can not be obtained any more as a reception quality of a receiving channel under viewing or of a channel being received based on the reservation, a channel on the channel list is scanned and changed into a channel on which an optimal reception quality can be obtained, thereby receiving the identical relevant program (or a group station thereof) with stable sensitivity. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a battery-powered device typified by a mobile phone, and more particularly to a digital broadcast receiving device and a communication system capable of receiving a digital broadcast.

In recent years, a technique of incorporating a TV tuner in a mobile phone is known (for example, see Patent Document 1). In terrestrial digital broadcasting or satellite digital broadcasting, broadcasting using a transmission band of 1 or 3 segments is scheduled mainly for small portable receivers with high portability.

  By the way, in terrestrial digital broadcasting, broadcast stations (broadcast areas) differ depending on regions, and broadcast frequencies also differ. For this reason, for example, channel information (data such as receivable frequencies (channels) and broadcast station names) for each region in Japan is stored in a memory as a preset database, and the viewer designates the region (broadcast area). As a result, the broadcasting / frequency data of the designated area can be read from the preset database, and the channel setting of the corresponding area can be performed.

  In addition, even if channel setting of the corresponding region is not performed, a function called channel scan can be used to pick up all broadcast waves that can be actually received by the receiving apparatus and create and maintain a list of channels.

  A code corresponding to each area is defined as an area identification code (hereinafter referred to as an area code) in the ARIB (Japan Radio Industry Association) standard.

  However, if the receiving device is installed in a car or mobile phone, or if the area (broadcasting area) to which the receiving device belongs changes due to user movement, etc., it will be manually adapted to the new region. If you do not set the channel or scan the channel, you will not be able to receive digital broadcasts in that area. Also, if the region (broadcast area) changes during viewing, the same program cannot be viewed continuously.

In order to solve this problem, in Patent Document 2 below, a receiving device detects a position such as the current latitude and longitude and a prefecture, and stores a table in which a program broadcast in each region is associated with a region code. By sending the location information to the server, the program table of the region having a certain relationship with the location is sent from the server, and the program being broadcast and viewed in the current region is in the destination region (receivable area). A technique is shown in which if the program is broadcast, it can be continuously viewed by changing the reception channel automatically based on the program guide and the current position detection.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-9920 JP 2003-18108 A

  However, in the above-described technique, the channel is automatically changed based on the position information regardless of the reception state. Therefore, even if the channel in the area (area) before the change can be received with higher sensitivity, the reception channel is automatically changed according to the position, so the reception state after the change is worse than before the change There is a possibility that the worst viewing will not be possible.

  In addition, since location information is periodically transmitted, unnecessary communications (such as when the broadcast area is not changed even when moving or when it is not moving) may be performed. It is costly and uses unnecessary radio resources.

  In addition, since power is consumed during the transmission of the position information, the power required to view the broadcast is consumed correspondingly and the viewable time is reduced.

  Furthermore, if the location information cannot be transmitted while moving, that is, the broadcast can be received but the radio wave for communication is out of the service area (including the case where it is out of service area only when communicating), communication with the server is not possible. Therefore, there is a problem that the reception channel cannot be changed.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a digital broadcast receiving apparatus and a communication that can always watch a program in an optimal reception state according to a change in place. To provide a system.

  In order to overcome the above-described problems, a first aspect of the present invention provides a receiving unit that receives a digital broadcast, a channel selecting unit that selects a channel received by the receiving unit, and a channel selected by the channel selecting unit. Storage means for storing, in association with information on a program and information on a digital broadcast electronic program guide, information on a region where the selected program is broadcast and information on a channel where the program is broadcast in the region. A digital broadcast receiving apparatus provided.

  Preferably, the reception quality of the selected channel is monitored, and when the reception quality of the channel cannot obtain a predetermined quality, the storage means scans the channel stored in the storage means, When the stored channel can be captured, the received channel is determined on the condition that the regional information obtained from the captured channel matches the regional information corresponding to the channel stored in the storage means. Control means for changing to the captured channel is provided.

  Preferably, a wireless communication unit that performs wireless communication with a network of a wireless communication provider is provided, and the wireless communication unit acquires the electronic program guide information of the digital broadcast.

  Preferably, the digital broadcast electronic program guide information is information relating to a nationwide program guide.

  Preferably, the digital broadcast electronic program guide information is information related to a program guide in a neighboring area receiving the digital broadcast.

  Preferably, setting means for setting a time for recording a program and a receiving channel is provided, and the storage means includes information on the set program when setting for recording the program is performed by the setting means. Based on the electronic program guide information of the digital broadcast, information about the area where the set program is broadcast and information about the channel where the program is broadcast in the area are stored in association with each other.

  In order to overcome the above-described problems, a second aspect of the present invention provides a receiving unit that receives digital broadcasting, a channel selecting unit that selects a channel received by the receiving unit, and a channel selected by the channel selecting unit. A digital broadcast receiving apparatus having transmission means for transmitting information relating to the program to the server; a receiving means for receiving information relating to the selected program from the digital broadcast receiving apparatus; and holding digital program electronic program guide information A list in which holding means, information on the received program and information on the digital broadcast electronic program guide information are associated with information on a region where the program is broadcast and information on a channel where the program is broadcast in the region; A communication unit configured to generate a server, wherein the digital broadcast receiver receives the list from the server. If the reception quality of the channel being selected cannot obtain a predetermined quality, the channel in the list is scanned, and if the channel in the list can be acquired, the channel is obtained from the acquired channel. A communication system comprising control means for changing the selected channel to the captured channel on condition that the regional information and the regional information corresponding to the channel in the list match.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to always watch a program in an optimal reception state according to a change in place.

  As an embodiment of a digital broadcast receiving apparatus according to the present invention, a mobile phone 1 capable of receiving terrestrial digital broadcast (1-segment broadcast) will be described.

  FIG. 1 is an example of an external shape of a mobile phone 1 according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a system configuration of the mobile phone 1 according to the present embodiment.

  The main components of the mobile phone 1 will be described below with reference to FIGS.

  The wireless unit 13 modulates various data processed by the control unit 11 and transmits the data to the base station of the wireless communication carrier by the transmission / reception antenna 12 in order to perform wireless communication using the wireless radio wave with the network of the wireless communication carrier. To do.

  The radio unit 13 demodulates various data transmitted from the base station by radio signals and received by the transmission / reception antenna 12, and sends the data to the control unit 11.

  The memory 14 stores application programs such as calls, mails, Internet browsers, mail data, various data in the address book in which names and telephone numbers are registered, and various data that the mobile phone of this embodiment has. For example, the control unit 11 loads a program of the application stored in the memory 14 into a RAM area which is one of the components of the memory 14 in order to start an application for receiving digital broadcasting (digital broadcasting application). To do.

  The memory 14 stores region code data. The regional code data is data defined by ARIB (Japan Radio Industry Association) in which reception channels (frequencies) and regional codes throughout Japan are associated with each other.

  Further, the memory 14 stores a channel list. As will be described later, the channel list is data in which a region code and a reception channel (frequency) are extracted by the control unit 11 for one or more selected programs.

  The key operation unit 15 includes a plurality of operation keys.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of keys include a web key 15a for starting a web browser and connecting to the Internet, a mail key 15b for executing an e-mail function, a soft 1 key 15c and a soft 2 key 15f, Up / down / left / right key 15d, enter key 15e for confirming processing, off-hook key 15g for sending, clear key 15h, on-hook key 15i for disconnecting communication, numbers "0" to "9", "*" , “#” Is a numeric keypad 15j.

  The up / down / left / right key 15d is a key that can be operated in four directions of up / down / left / right. For example, the channel selection operation can be performed by up / down the digital broadcast channel by the up / down operation of the up / down / left / right key 15d.

  The reception antenna 20, the tuner 16, the demodulation unit 17, and the TS separation unit 18 output digital broadcast reception / video signal / audio signal / data signal and the like in the mobile phone 1.

  The receiving antenna 20 constantly receives digital broadcast waves continuously, and the tuner 16 selects a channel commanded by the control unit 11 according to an operation on the key operation unit 15 and broadcast contents of the selected channel. That is, the transport stream (TS) is output to the demodulator 17.

  The demodulator 17 demodulates the transport stream (TS) of the selected channel.

  When the demodulated transport stream (TS) is scrambled, descrambling is performed by a descrambler (not shown). That is, the descrambler performs a process of permitting reproduction by only a specific digital broadcast receiving apparatus (decrypting an encrypted broadcast of a limited reception method). When the transport stream (TS) is scrambled, it operates under the instruction of the control unit 11 and performs descrambling in accordance with the scramble processing method.

  In the transport stream (TS), as illustrated in FIG. 3 of an exemplary TS, an audio signal, a video signal, a data signal, and program information are multiplexed on a packet basis. For example, an audio signal and a video signal are compression encoded by the MPEG method.

  The data signal includes the region code of the currently captured radio wave. The program information includes EPG data (electronic program guide).

  The transport stream (TS) signal is separated into a video signal, an audio signal (acoustic / audio), a data signal, and program information for each packet by the TS separator 18.

  The separated video signal is decoded by, for example, the MPEG system in the image processing unit 19 and displayed on the display unit 23 as a video.

  The separated audio signal is decoded by the audio processing unit 22 by, for example, the MPEG method and output from the speaker 24 as audio and / or sound.

  The separated data signal is analyzed by the data processing unit 21. If the content of the data signal is related to the broadcast service, the data signal is decoded so that it can be displayed and reproduced on the display unit 23 or the like. Display or playback. The region code included in the data signal is supplied to the control unit 11.

  As for the separated program information, the EPG data is extracted by the data processing unit 21 and supplied to the control unit 11.

  The image processing unit 19 decodes the separated MPEG video signal, outputs the video signal, and drives the display unit 23 to display the video on the display unit 23. Needless to say, the image processing unit 19 displays not only the digital broadcast video but also information related to the mobile phone (a so-called standby screen, telephone number, and data of various applications corresponding to the call function) on the display unit 23. Yes.

  The voice processing unit 22 performs predetermined processing such as filtering processing and encoding processing on the user's voice collected from a microphone (abbreviated as a microphone as appropriate) 25 to generate voice data. The generated voice data is sent to the base station for a call via the radio unit 13 and the transmission / reception antenna 12, for example.

  The audio processing unit 22 amplifies the audio data received via the transmission / reception antenna 12 and the radio unit 13 and the audio signal separated by the TS separation unit 18 and causes the speaker 24 to output sound such as sound.

  The control unit 11 is mainly composed of a microcomputer, and controls the entire mobile phone 1. For example, the control unit 11 controls wireless transmission / reception of various information in the wireless unit 13, digital broadcast reception processing, audio information processing for the audio processing unit 22, information display control on the display unit 23, and key operation unit 15. Various processing such as processing according to input information from the memory and access control to the memory 14 are performed.

  The control unit 11 extracts channels in all regions (national) that broadcast the program selected by the user from EPG data in all regions (national), and generates a channel list in which the programs, channels, and region codes are associated with each other. .

  FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically illustrating a channel list generated by the control unit 11.

  In the example shown in FIG. 4, for the program “A” selected by the user and currently being viewed, EPG data for all regions (nationwide) is searched, and all channels that broadcast the program are extracted. Generate a channel list with code. The region code is included in the EPG data, and is extracted from there.

  In FIG. 4, channels (ch. 24, 19, 45, 63, 22, 34, 20) of all regions (national) corresponding to the program “A” are extracted from the EPG data, and the regions are assigned to the plurality of channels. A channel list is generated by associating codes.

  Further, the control unit 11 has a monitoring function for monitoring the reception sensitivity of the channel being received (viewing) in order to use it as a channel switching determination factor. The reception sensitivity can be obtained, for example, by observing the reception signal strength or BER (bit error rate).

  Next, the channel setting changing operation in the mobile phone 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  In FIG. 5, first, a user selects a program (step ST1), and then obtains EPG data for all regions (nationwide) (step ST2). Here, as a method of acquiring EPG data of all regions (nationwide), there are a method of acquiring from broadcast waves and a method of acquiring using communication. In addition, this process may be skipped when EPG data for all regions (nationwide) is acquired in advance. Then, using the selected program as a key (for example, using a program code), a broadcast station on which the program is broadcast (or scheduled to be broadcast) is searched (step ST3), and the program of the broadcast station hit by the search is broadcast. The channel (frequency) is searched, and all the corresponding channels are held as a channel list together with the regional information (step ST4). It should be noted that the search for the broadcast station and the search for the channel (frequency) of the broadcast station based on the EPG data of all regions (national) may be performed in a single process. The area information may be an area code, area name, or other special code. Further, as one method for obtaining regional information, it can be obtained from information included in EPG data. Then, the video signal and audio signal of the program of the channel selected by the user are reproduced (step ST5). It should be noted that the above-described processing may be performed at the same timing when the video signal and audio signal of the selected channel program are reproduced.

  Next, when appropriate reception quality cannot be obtained with the current channel setting, it is recognized that the reception quality is degraded. When the reception quality of the channel to be monitored (viewed) does not satisfy the predetermined quality (when it is not equal to or higher than the threshold value) (step ST6), scanning of the channels in the above-described channel list is started (step ST7). It should be noted that when scanning is stopped when scanning is performed, a predetermined display may be displayed to indicate that scanning processing is to be performed.

  In the scanning process, first, all the channels in the channel list are sequentially scanned (step ST8), and it is confirmed whether there is a channel that can be captured (a channel that can obtain a predetermined quality) (step ST9). If there is a channel that can be captured (step ST10), the captured channel is selected (step ST11). Then, data including regional information is received based on the selected channel (step ST12). The region code is included in the transport stream of the selected channel.

  Then, in order to verify whether or not the selected channel is a channel in the region indicated in the channel list, the region information received based on the selected channel and the region information of the channel indicated in the channel list are displayed. Compare (step ST13). If the region information matches according to this verification (subject to the match), the selected channel is the channel shown in the channel list, and therefore, the channel broadcasts a program that can be continuously viewed. Then, the channel is changed to a channel that has been captured (selected), and the received data is reproduced. If the region information does not match by this verification, it is a channel different from the original purpose that could be accidentally captured, and therefore other channels in the channel list are scanned.

  If all channels in the channel list cannot be captured, the channel before the scan process is selected (step ST14), and the channel broadcasting the program that can be continuously viewed cannot be captured. Is displayed (step ST15).

  The processing operation in FIG. 5 has been described for the case where the user is watching a program. However, the above processing may also be performed in the case of an operation based on a program reservation (such as a recording reservation) by the user. Note that the program reservation is a function for setting a time and a receiving channel for recording a program by the operation unit, receiving the channel set at the set time, and recording the program.

  For example, a program reservation function for accepting a program reservation according to the operation of the key operation unit 15 is provided in the control unit 11 (for example, as a program), and a channel list is preliminarily set at the time of reservation setting based on the contents of the program reservation setting. Generate and store. As a result, the optimal channel can be set in advance from the start of the program, and the same program can be continued by resetting the optimal channel even if the received electric field strength decreases during movement during recording. And keep recording.

  Also, when generating the channel list, it is not necessary to search all the regional codes in the national code data, and to continuously watch the same program such as the area where the broadcast radio wave is currently captured or the adjacent area. Only an area necessary for recording may be searched. As a result, the target of the scan process can be narrowed down, and a desired channel can be captured in a short time.

  Moreover, although the program is described in the above-described embodiment, a method of continuing to affiliated broadcasting stations is also included. In that case, a search is performed using the broadcast station of the selected program as a search key, and a channel list is generated by associating the channels of the searched broadcast stations with the area information. The relationship between affiliated stations may be included in the EPG data, or the affiliated station information may be retained and determined based on the information.

  As described above, according to the digital broadcast receiving apparatus according to the present embodiment, it is possible to select an area related to the currently selected program (or its broadcast station) or reserved program (or its broadcast station) selected by the user. When a channel is extracted from the EPG data and a channel list is generated, and the reception quality of the receiving channel being viewed or the channel being received based on the reservation cannot obtain a predetermined quality, it is in the above-described channel list. The same program (or its affiliated station) can be received with stable sensitivity by scanning the channel and changing to a channel that provides optimum reception quality.

  Also, instead of simply switching the channel according to the region code, only the channel of the receiving channel is switched to the optimum channel according to the reception sensitivity, so the region is set even for unrelated (not received) channels. There is no need.

  In addition, since data necessary for channel setting is prepared in advance, even if the wireless communication is “out of range” when the reception quality of the receiving channel does not satisfy the predetermined quality, there is no problem. Thus, the above channel setting can be performed and communication cost and power consumption can be suppressed.

  The above-described embodiment is merely an example of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the form in which the channel list is generated by the digital broadcast receiving apparatus that has received the EPG data has been described. However, the generation of the channel list is not limited to the case where the digital broadcast receiving apparatus performs. For example, an external network server may generate the channel list. In such a case, the digital broadcast receiving apparatus transmits the data of the program that the user is viewing (or its broadcast station) or the data of the program selected by the user (or its broadcast station) to the network server, and the network server Then, based on program information (EPG data) held by itself, series information of broadcast stations, program information (EPG data) acquired from the outside, series information of broadcast stations, or the like, from received program data (or its broadcast stations) What is necessary is just to comprise so that a channel list may be produced | generated and a channel list may be transmitted to a digital broadcast receiver. The digital broadcast receiving apparatus that has received the channel list scans the channels in the list when the reception quality of the channel being selected (receiving) cannot obtain a predetermined quality, and the list is displayed in the list. When a channel can be captured, the channel being selected (receiving) is captured on condition that the region information obtained from the captured channel matches the region information corresponding to the channel in the list. Control to change to channel.

  The embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail above, but the specific configuration and system are not limited to the present embodiment, and design modifications and other systems can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. This includes adaptations.

It is an example of the external shape of the mobile telephone which concerns on embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the system configuration | structure of the mobile telephone which concerns on embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of a structure of a transport stream (TS). It is the figure which represented typically the channel list which a control part produces | generates or accesses. It is a flowchart which shows channel setting change operation.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Mobile telephone 11 ... Control part 12, 20 ... Transmission / reception antenna 13 ... Radio | wireless part 14 ... Memory 15 ... Key operation part 16 ... Tuner 17 ... Demodulation part 18 ... TS separation part 19 ... Image processing part 21 ... Data processing part 22 ... Audio processing unit 23 ... display unit 24 ... speaker 25 ... microphone

Claims (7)

Receiving means for receiving digital broadcasting;
Channel selection means for selecting a channel received by the reception means;
Based on the information related to the program selected by the channel selection means and the electronic program guide information of the digital broadcast, the information on the area where the selected program is broadcast is associated with the information on the channel where the program is broadcast in the area. Storage means for storing
A digital broadcast receiving apparatus.   The reception quality of the selected channel is monitored, and when the reception quality of the channel cannot obtain a predetermined quality, the channel stored in the storage means is scanned and stored in the storage means. When a channel can be captured, the channel that has been received is acquired on the condition that the regional information obtained from the captured channel matches the regional information corresponding to the channel stored in the storage means. The digital broadcast receiving apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising control means for changing to Provided with a wireless communication means for performing wireless communication with a network of a wireless communication carrier,
2. The digital broadcast receiving apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the wireless communication means acquires electronic program guide information of the digital broadcast.   2. The digital broadcast receiving apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the digital broadcast electronic program guide information is information on a nationwide program guide.   2. The digital broadcast receiving apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the digital broadcast electronic program guide information is information related to a program guide in a neighboring area receiving the digital broadcast. A setting means for setting a time and a receiving channel for recording a program;
When the setting is made to record the program by the setting means, the storage means is based on the information related to the set program and the information on the area where the set program is broadcast based on the digital program electronic program guide information. The digital broadcast receiving apparatus according to claim 1, wherein information on a channel that broadcasts the program in the region is stored in association with each other. Digital broadcast reception comprising: reception means for receiving digital broadcast; channel selection means for selecting a channel received by the reception means; and transmission means for transmitting information on a program selected by the channel selection means to a server Equipment,
Receiving means for receiving information on the selected program from the digital broadcast receiving device; holding means for holding electronic program guide information of digital broadcast; information on the received program; and electronic program guide information of the digital broadcast And a generation unit that generates a list that associates information on a region that broadcasts the program with information on a channel that broadcasts the program in the region, and a communication system that includes: ,
The digital broadcast receiving apparatus receives the list from the server, scans the channels in the list when the reception quality of the channel being selected cannot obtain a predetermined quality, and the channels in the list If the area information obtained from the captured channel matches the area information corresponding to the channel in the list, the control unit changes the selected channel to the captured channel. A communication system comprising:

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