JP2008148130A - Receiver, its control method as well as program and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a receiver by which desired pictures can be selected and their printing can be performed without disturbing the user's viewing and listening of a program. <P>SOLUTION: The receiver 200 is provided with a display part 209 which displays broadcasting pictures received by a receiving means 202 and has the function of transmitting the broadcasting pictures displayed on the display part 209 to a printer. It is also provided with a recording means which records the broadcasting pictures in a recording region 211 for printing them according to a printing program instruction and a determining means which determines whether conditions do not disturb viewing and listening of the program which is viewed and listened at the time of execution of the printing program instruction. It is further provided with a display means 208 which displays a printing preview according to the broadcasting pictures recorded by the recording means when it is determined that the conditions do not disturb viewing and listening of the program by the determining means. A printing control means 212 has the functions of the recording means and determining means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a receiving apparatus that includes a display unit that displays a broadcast image received by a receiving unit and has a function of transmitting a broadcast image displayed on the display unit to a printing apparatus, a control method thereof, a program, and a storage medium.

  With the practical use of digital broadcast waves, images sent by digital television signals have become high-definition images. Under such circumstances, it is considered that the demand for printing broadcast images will increase. In order to print the print image most desired by the user, it is desirable to display a print preview for selecting and printing from a plurality of frames in the moving image. However, when a print preview is displayed, there is a problem that viewing of the program is hindered.

  Here, when a print command is received while viewing a television, a print preview screen is displayed as “picture-in-picture” on the display unit of the receiving device, and a print preview is performed while viewing. A technique has been proposed (see Patent Document 1).

Patent Document 2 discloses the following technique. When there is a second display screen that can be preview-displayed in the print preview display when printing the printed material linked to the image or video displayed on the first display screen, the print preview is displayed on the second display screen. Display the screen and insert notes.
JP 2001-54060 A JP 2005-346236 A

  However, in the technique of Patent Document 1, since the screen being viewed becomes small, there is a possibility that the viewing screen intended by a user other than the user who wants to execute printing is changed. Moreover, since the technique of Patent Document 2 requires the second screen, it is difficult to mount it on all devices. Further, in the conventional technique, since it is necessary to select a print image while viewing, there has been a case where proper selection is not performed.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a receiving apparatus, a control method thereof, a program, and a storage medium that can select and print a target image without disturbing viewing of a user's program.

  In order to achieve the above object, the receiving apparatus according to claim 1 includes a display unit that displays a broadcast image received by the receiving unit, and has a function of transmitting the broadcast image displayed on the display unit to the printing apparatus. In the receiving apparatus, a recording unit that records a broadcast image in a recording area for printing based on a print reservation command, and a determination unit that determines whether or not the condition does not hinder viewing of a program that was viewed when the print reservation command was executed And a display means for displaying a print preview by the broadcast image recorded by the recording means when the determining means determines that the condition does not hinder viewing of the program.

  8. A control method for a receiving apparatus according to claim 7, comprising a display unit for displaying a broadcast image received by the receiving unit, and having a function of transmitting the broadcast image displayed on the display unit to a printing apparatus. A recording step of recording the broadcast image in the recording area for printing based on the print reservation command, a determination step of determining whether or not the condition does not hinder viewing of the program that was being viewed at the time of execution of the print reservation command; A display step of displaying a print preview by the broadcast image recorded in the recording step when the determination step determines that the condition does not hinder viewing of the program.

  14. A control program for a receiving apparatus according to claim 13, comprising a display unit for displaying a broadcast image received by the receiving unit, and having a function of transmitting the broadcast image displayed on the display unit to a printing apparatus. A recording module for recording the broadcast image in the recording area for printing based on the print reservation command, a determination module for determining whether or not the condition does not hinder viewing of the program that was viewed when the print reservation command was executed, When it is determined by the determination module that the condition does not hinder viewing of the program, the computer is caused to execute a display module that displays a print preview based on the broadcast image recorded by the recording module.

  A computer-readable storage medium according to a fourteenth aspect stores a control program for the receiving apparatus according to the thirteenth aspect.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to select and print a target image without hindering viewing of a user's program.

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

  FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a receiving system including a receiving apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, the receiving system includes a broadcasting station 100, a receiving device 200, and a printing device 300. The receiving device 200 receives the broadcast by the broadcast wave transmitted from the broadcasting station 100, displays an image on the display unit 209, selects a desired image with the remote controller 220, and prints it with the printing device 300.

  Hereinafter, the configuration will be described together with the operation.

  In the broadcasting station 100, the program generation means 101 generates stream data of image and audio of programs such as news, dramas, music, sports, movies and shopping. Further, the connection data generating means 102 generates data related to the program such as character information and comment information for storing the program data.

  The multiplexing transmission means 103 multiplexes the data generated by the program generation means 101 and the connection data generation means 102 according to the digital television transport stream structure, and generates a transmission signal. The transmission antenna 104 transmits the signal generated by the multiplexing transmission means 103 as a digital television signal.

  The receiving device 200 receives the digital television signal by the receiving antenna 201 that receives the digital television signal transmitted from the broadcasting station 100. The receiving means 202 selects and demodulates a desired broadcast channel from the digital television signal received by the receiving antenna 201.

  The data stream separation unit 203 separates and outputs program data and stored data from the data stream of the digital transport stream signal of the channel selected and demodulated by the reception unit 202.

  The program decoding unit 204 decodes the program data separated by the data stream separation unit 203. The data recording area 205 records the storage data separated by the data stream separation unit 203.

  The data decoding unit 206 decodes the data stored in the data recording area 205. Data is decoded by the data decoding means 206, sent to the image synthesizing means 207, and synthesized with the data stream.

  The display unit 208 outputs video and audio to the display unit 209 based on the signal decoded by the program decoding unit 204. The display unit 209 displays the input video and audio. Further, the streaming data decoded by the program decoding unit 204 is stored in the stream recording area 210. The stream recording area 210 may be, for example, one that always holds a stream for a certain time in a ring buffer format.

  The print recording area 211 is a recording area that holds image data for executing printing in the stream recording area 210. The print control unit 212 is a control unit that performs control related to printing, and executes a print command to the printing apparatus 300 according to a print command from the user I / F unit 213.

  For example, in response to a print command from the user I / F unit 213, print image data is acquired from the print recording area 211, and the print image data acquired from the print recording area 211 is transmitted to the printing apparatus 300. Send and execute printing.

  The user I / F means 213 receives a request from a user who is a viewer from the remote controller 220. For example, the user I / F unit 213 transmits the received channel switching command to the receiving unit 202 to perform channel switching.

  The power management unit 214 is a module that manages the power supply of the entire receiving apparatus 200, and turns the power on / off in response to a request from the user I / F unit 213. The reservation management unit 215 manages viewing reservations, recording reservations, program guides, and the like.

  The user I / F unit 213 receives the program information extracted from the SI (Service Information) by the data decoding unit 206, and the reservation time and channel number information are sent to the reservation management unit 215. Configure the table. Further, the reservation management unit 215 changes the channel to the reception unit 202 via the user I / F unit 213 when the set time is reached by the user I / F unit 213 that has received the reservation command received from the remote controller 220. Execute the request.

  The printing apparatus 300 may be an external device different from the receiving apparatus 200, or may exist inside the receiving apparatus 200. Here, an external independent printing apparatus is used. In addition, printing is controlled by a USB interface 301 that is generally used as an external I / F unit. Since the printer control by the USB interface 301 is a well-known technique used in various products, description thereof is omitted here.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a procedure of print reservation processing executed by the receiving apparatus in FIG.

  In FIG. 2, in step S201, the print control unit 212 determines whether a print reservation command has been received. Here, when the user executes a print reservation command using the remote controller 220, the print reservation command is sent from the remote controller 220 to the user I / F unit 213.

  Upon receiving the print reservation command, the user I / F means 213 records time information at the moment of receiving the command. Then, from the stream data recorded in the stream recording area 210, the stream data at the moment when the print reservation command is received is copied to the printing recording area 211 (step S202) (recording means). Here, not only the stream data at the moment of receiving the command but also the data before and after the set time set in advance may be copied to the print recording area 211.

  Next, the print control unit 212 activates a print condition check program for determining whether or not the printable condition is satisfied (step S203), and the process ends.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the printing condition check process executed in step S203 of FIG.

  In FIG. 3, first, in step S301, it is determined whether or not the program has ended. The reservation management unit 215 manages a program guide for each program. The user I / F means 213 checks the end time of the program broadcast on the currently set channel from the program table of the reservation management unit 215, and determines whether the currently viewed program has ended. If the program has ended, the process proceeds to step S305; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S302.

  In step S302, it is determined whether a commercial message (hereinafter referred to as CM) is being broadcast. The data held in the stream recording area 210 is sequentially sent to the print control unit 212.

  In the print control unit 212, discrimination is performed by a scene discrimination algorithm as to whether or not it is a CM. The CM detection algorithm is actually employed in HDD recorders and the like, and is a known technique. If it is determined that it is a CM, the process proceeds to step S305; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S303.

  In step S303, it is determined whether or not the program being viewed has been switched. The selected program is managed by the user I / F unit 213, receives a channel switching command from the remote controller 220, sends the command to the receiving unit 202, and changes the channel.

  Therefore, if a command for setting a channel other than the currently set channel is received from the remote controller 220, the process proceeds to step S305, and if not, the process proceeds to step S304. In the program switching in this case, since viewing reservation is switching to the program that the user wants to watch, it is not preferable to display a print preview at the time of program switching, so automatic program switching by viewing reservation is not included. To do.

  In step S304, it is determined whether a power-off command has been received. The user I / F unit 213 that has received the power-off command from the remote controller 220 inquires of the print control unit 212 whether or not the print job remains. If the print job remains, the user I / F unit 213 holds the power-off request. The process proceeds to step S305.

  Here, steps S301 to S304 constitute a discrimination means.

  In step S305, it is determined whether the printing apparatus (printer) 300 connected via the USB interface 301 is in a printable state. First, as a connection state in the USB interface 301, it is determined whether or not the connected printing apparatus 300 can communicate as a device, and the status of the printing apparatus 300 is acquired to determine whether or not printing is possible. If the printing apparatus 300 is capable of printing, the process proceeds to step S307, and if printing is not possible, the process proceeds to step S306.

  In step S306, the user is notified that the printing apparatus 300 is in a printable state. The print control unit 212 that determines that the printing apparatus 300 is not capable of printing notifies the user I / F unit 213 of the state of the printing apparatus 300.

  Then, the user I / F unit 213 instructs the data decoding unit 206 to display that the printing apparatus 300 cannot print. The data decoding unit 206 displays a warning as shown in FIG. 7 on the display unit 209 via the image synthesis unit 207 and the display unit 208.

  In FIG. 7, an icon 701 indicating “print job exists” and a warning display portion 702 are shown. As shown in the figure, there is a print job, but it is displayed that the printer (printer) 300 is not powered on or not connected to a cable.

  If there is no problem with the state of the printing apparatus 300 in step S305, it is determined in step S307 whether there is a remaining amount of ink. The print control unit 212 acquires the ink status for the printing apparatus 300. In this case, a vendor-specific command may be used. If the remaining ink level is low, the process proceeds to step S308, and if there is no problem in the remaining ink level, the process proceeds to step S309.

  In step S308, the user is notified that the ink remaining in the printing apparatus 300 is low. The print control unit 212 that has determined that the ink remaining amount of the printing apparatus 300 is low notifies the user I / F unit 213 of the ink remaining amount of the printing apparatus 300.

  Then, the user I / F unit 213 instructs the data decoding unit 206 to display that the remaining amount of ink in the printing apparatus 300 is low. The data decoding unit 206 displays a warning as shown in FIG. 8 on the display unit 209 via the image synthesis unit 207 and the display unit 208.

  In FIG. 8, an icon 801 indicating “print job present” and an ink warning display portion 802 are shown. As shown in the figure, it is displayed that there is a print job but the remaining amount of ink is insufficient.

  In step S309, a screen for notifying that there is a print job as shown in FIG. 5 is displayed.

  In FIG. 5, an icon 501 indicating “print job present” and a print job message 502 are shown.

  In step S310, it is determined whether there is a print preview execution command from the user. If it is desired to immediately present a print preview screen to the user, such as when a power-off command is received in step S304, the processing may proceed to step S311 without executing the processing of steps S309 and S310.

  In step S310, the print preview execution command is kept waiting while the display screen shown in FIG. 5 is displayed. If the user receives a print preview display execution command to the user I / F unit 213 via the remote controller 220, the process proceeds to step S311; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S313.

  In step S311 (display means), in order to actually execute printing, a print preview as shown in FIG. 6 is displayed. The print control unit 212 sends image data or data to be displayed for preview to the data decoding unit 206 via the user I / F unit 213. The data sent from the data decoding unit 206 is displayed on the display unit 209 via the image synthesis unit 207 and the display unit 208.

  In FIG. 6, a print execution button 601, a print cancel button 602, a print image slide image display unit 603, a print preview image 604 selected in the print image slide display unit 603, and print settings for making detailed print settings. 605 is shown. In addition, a broadcast image / program name / date / time display section 606 of the print image is shown.

  The user slides the slide image display unit 603 of the print image and determines a print image that the user really wants to print while viewing the print preview image 604. If there is an image to be printed, printing is executed by the print execution button 601; if there is no image to be printed, the print cancel button 602 is selected (step S312).

  Regardless of which button is selected, the process proceeds to step S313. All the operations are instructed by the user using the remote controller 220 and executed through the user I / F means 213.

  Here, if the print execution button 601 is selected, the user I / F unit 213 sends a print command to the print control unit 212, and the print control unit 212 executes print to the printing apparatus 300 via the USB interface 301. Issue an instruction.

  Upon receiving the print command, the printing apparatus 300 prints the sent image and proceeds to step S313. On the other hand, if the print cancel button 602 is pressed, the print preview display is terminated, and the process proceeds to step S313.

  In step S313, the user I / F unit 213 determines whether a power-off command has been received in accordance with the determination in step S304. If a power-off request has been received, the process proceeds to step S314, where the power management unit 214 turns off the power of the receiving apparatus 200. If not, the process ends.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of print job processing when the power is turned on, which is executed by the receiving apparatus in FIG.

  In FIG. 4, in step S401, it is determined whether or not a print job exists. It is assumed that the print job itself is held in the print recording area 211. If there is a print job, the process proceeds to step S402, and if not, the process ends.

  Step S402 is the same processing as step S309 described above, and a screen for notifying that there is a print job as shown in FIG. 5 is displayed, and the process proceeds to step S403.

  Step S403 is the same process as step S310 described above, and continues to wait for a print preview execution command while the display screen shown in FIG. 5 is displayed. When the user receives a print preview display execution command from the user I / F unit 213 via the remote controller 220, the process proceeds to step S404, and if not, the process ends.

  Step S404 is the same process as step S311 described above, and displays a print preview as shown in FIG. 6 in order to actually execute printing.

  When the print execution button 601 is pressed, the user I / F unit 213 sends a print command to the print control unit 212, and the print control unit 212 prints to the printing apparatus 300 via the USB interface 301. Issue an execution instruction. Upon receiving the print command, the printing apparatus 300 prints the sent image and ends the process. On the other hand, if the print cancel button 602 is selected, the print preview display is terminated and the process is terminated.

  Further, for example, when a print preview command is sent to the user I / F means 213 by the remote controller 220 operated by the user, the processing of step S401 to step S403 is omitted and the process proceeds to step S404, and the print pre-bye screen is displayed. Is displayed. If there is no print job, a warning message indicating that there is no print job is displayed.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to display a print preview at a timing that does not hinder the user's viewing, and the user can select a print image at a time when viewing is not necessary.

  The object of the present invention is achieved by executing the following processing. That is, a storage medium that records a program code of software that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus, and a computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus is stored in the storage medium. This is the process of reading the code.

  In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the program code and the storage medium storing the program code constitute the present invention.

  Moreover, the following can be used as a storage medium for supplying the program code. For example, floppy (registered trademark) disk, hard disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-ROM, DVD-RAM, DVD-RW, DVD + RW, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM or the like. Alternatively, the program code may be downloaded via a network.

  Further, the present invention includes a case where the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by executing the program code read by the computer. In addition, an OS (operating system) running on the computer performs part or all of the actual processing based on an instruction of the program code, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing. Is also included.

  Furthermore, a case where the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized by the following processing is also included in the present invention. That is, the program code read from the storage medium is written in a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer. Thereafter, based on the instruction of the program code, the CPU provided in the function expansion board or function expansion unit performs a part or all of the actual processing.

It is a block diagram of a receiving system including a receiving apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 3 is a flowchart showing a procedure of print reservation processing executed by the receiving device in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a printing condition check process executed in step S203 of FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of print job processing when the power is turned on, which is executed by the receiving device in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a screen displayed on the display unit of the receiving device in FIG. 1 (No. 1). FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a screen displayed on the display unit of the receiving device in FIG. 1 (No. 2). FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a screen displayed on the display unit of the receiving device in FIG. 1 (No. 3). FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a screen displayed on the display unit of the receiving device in FIG. 1 (No. 4).

Explanation of symbols

100 broadcasting station 200 receiving apparatus 201 receiving antenna 202 receiving means 203 data stream separating means 204 program decoding means 205 data recording area 206 data decoding means 207 image synthesizing means 208 display means 209 display section 201 stream recording area 212 printing recording area 212 Print control unit 220 Remote control 300 Printing device

Claims (14)

In a receiving apparatus that includes a display unit that displays a broadcast image received by a receiving unit, and that has a function of transmitting a broadcast image displayed on the display unit to a printing apparatus;
Recording means for recording a broadcast image in a recording area for printing based on a print reservation command;
A discriminating means for discriminating whether or not it is a condition that does not hinder viewing of a program that was viewed at the time of execution of the print reservation command;
Display means for displaying a print preview by the broadcast image recorded by the recording means when the determining means determines that the condition does not hinder viewing of the program;
A receiving apparatus comprising:   The receiving apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display unit displays a print preview when the power of the receiving apparatus is turned on while a print job is not being executed. The recording means also records a broadcast image before receiving a print reservation command,
The receiving apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display unit also displays a print preview of a broadcast image before receiving a print reservation command.   2. The receiving apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording means records at least a program name, a broadcast date and time, and broadcast station information in addition to the broadcast image. When it is determined by the determining means that the condition does not hinder viewing of the program,
2. The receiving apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display unit displays a warning notifying that the power is not turned on instead of the print preview when the power of the printing apparatus is not turned on. When it is determined by the determining means that the condition does not hinder viewing of the program,
2. The receiving apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the remaining amount of ink in the printing apparatus is small, the display unit displays a warning notifying that the remaining amount of ink is low instead of the print preview. In a control method of a receiving apparatus, comprising a display unit that displays a broadcast image received by a receiving unit, and having a function of transmitting a broadcast image displayed on the display unit to a printing apparatus,
A recording step of recording a broadcast image in a recording area for printing based on a print reservation instruction;
A determination step for determining whether or not the condition does not hinder viewing of a program that was viewed when the print reservation instruction was executed;
A display step of displaying a print preview by the broadcast image recorded by the recording step when the determination step determines that the condition does not hinder viewing of the program;
A method for controlling a receiving apparatus.   8. The method of controlling a receiving apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the display step displays a print preview when the power of the receiving apparatus is turned on in a state where a print job is not executed. The recording step also records a broadcast image before receiving a print reservation command,
8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the display step also displays a print preview of a broadcast image before receiving a print reservation command.   8. The control method for a receiving apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the recording step records at least a program name, a broadcast date and time, and broadcast station information in addition to a broadcast image. If it is determined in the determination step that the condition does not hinder viewing of the program,
8. The control of a receiving apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the display step displays a warning notifying that the power is not turned on instead of the print preview when the power of the printing apparatus is not turned on. Method. If it is determined in the determination step that the condition does not hinder viewing of the program,
8. The receiving apparatus control method according to claim 7, wherein, when the remaining amount of ink in the printing apparatus is low, a warning for notifying that the remaining amount of ink is low is displayed instead of the print preview. In a control program for a receiving device comprising a display unit for displaying a broadcast image received by a receiving means, and having a function of transmitting the broadcast image displayed on the display unit to a printing device,
A recording module for recording a broadcast image in a recording area for printing based on a print reservation instruction;
A determination module for determining whether or not a condition that does not hinder viewing of a program that was viewed at the time of execution of the print reservation instruction;
A display module that displays a print preview by the broadcast image recorded by the recording module when the determination module determines that the condition does not hinder viewing of the program;
A control program for a receiving apparatus, which causes a computer to execute.   A computer-readable storage medium storing the control program for the receiving device according to claim 13.