JP2008160525A - Electronic program information output device and electronic program information output method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electronic program information output device for outputting screen data for displaying electronic program information and video information of a television broadcast in an indicator, capable of easily and efficiently arranging an electronic program guide and video of a television program during viewing on a display screen. <P>SOLUTION: An electronic program guide creating part 10 creates an electronic program guide, based on information of a program title of a broadcast program, taken from database of an electronic program information management part 9, and information of a broadcasting time period so that a screen data creating part 11a creates screen data in which video during viewing and a banner, indicating the electronic program guide are arranged. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic program information output apparatus and an electronic program information output method for outputting screen data for displaying electronic program information of television broadcasting together with video information on a display panel or the like.

  A television broadcast signal transmitted from a broadcast station includes information related to a broadcast schedule of a television program as well as video information. This information is called electronic program information (EPG) and includes information such as a broadcast channel of a TV program, a program name, a broadcast time, a genre, and a description of program contents.

  The electronic program information output device outputs image data based on the electronic program information. This image data is input to a display panel, for example, and displayed as an electronic program guide. A viewer of a television program can know information on a program scheduled to be broadcast by viewing the electronic program guide.

  By the way, the conventional electronic program information output device first displays the minimum necessary electronic program information on the entire display screen, narrows down the TV programs according to the viewer's selection, and then sequentially displays detailed electronic program information. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).

  Another conventional electronic program information output device can display a display screen by dividing the display screen into left and right parts. Therefore, when the viewer is watching a television program, the video of the television program is displayed on the entire display screen. Next, when the viewer presses the program guide display button to display the electronic program information, the display screen is divided into left and right parts. For example, the video of the TV program being viewed is displayed in the left divided area of the display screen, and the electronic program guide is displayed in the right divided area of the display screen. In this way, the viewer can view the electronic program guide without being hindered from viewing the television program being viewed (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-101859 (page 7, FIG. 2) Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-271405 (pages 3 to 4, FIGS. 2 to 3)

  However, in the conventional electronic program information output device as described above, since the electronic program information is displayed on the entire display screen, there is a problem that viewing of the TV program being viewed is hindered.

  Further, in another conventional electronic program information output device as described above, viewing of a TV program being viewed is not hindered, but when the viewer presses the program guide display button to display the electronic program information. Since the video of the TV program being viewed that has been displayed on the entire display screen is displayed in one of the two divided areas on the left and right, the video size changes rapidly, and the TV being viewed When the program is, for example, soccer, there is a risk that the viewer wants to miss a scene such as a goal shoot.

  Further, in order to display the video displayed on the entire display screen in one of the divided areas divided into the left and right, it is necessary to reduce the video. In that case, unless the aspect ratio of the video is changed, the area where the video can actually be displayed in the divided area is limited. Accordingly, there is a problem in that the efficiency of arranging the video on the display screen is low, the display screen cannot be used effectively, and the displayed video is remarkably reduced, so that the visibility of the video is lowered.

  The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described problems, and electronic program information capable of easily and efficiently arranging an electronic program guide and a video of a TV program being viewed on a display screen. An object is to provide an output device.

  An electronic program information output device according to the present invention includes an electronic program information acquisition means for acquiring electronic program information of a scheduled broadcast program of a plurality of channels from a television broadcast signal, and a broadcast program included in the electronic program information of the scheduled broadcast program An electronic program guide creation means for creating an electronic program guide based on the program name information and broadcast time zone information, a video based on the video information input at the current time, and the electronic program guide are displayed on the display screen. An electronic program information output device comprising screen data output means for outputting screen data arranged on the screen, wherein the screen data output means has a horizontally long strip shape in which the electronic program guide is arranged at the upper end or lower end of the display screen. Screen data displayed in the banner, and / or the electronic program guide is displayed in the vertically long banner arranged at the right or left end of the display screen. And it is characterized in Rukoto.

  According to the present invention, since the electronic program guide is displayed in the banner, the viewer can view the electronic program guide without being obstructed to watch the TV program, and the video of the TV program can be viewed. There is an effect that the visibility of the electronic program guide and the television program video can be efficiently arranged on the display screen without lowering the visibility.

  Hereinafter, a television broadcast receiving apparatus incorporating an electronic program information output apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, which is connected to a display panel such as a liquid crystal display, etc. An example of a television broadcast receiving apparatus capable of watching is described. Further, the case where the television broadcast is a terrestrial broadcast or a satellite broadcast and is a digital broadcast will be described as an example.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram showing an overall configuration of a television broadcast receiving apparatus incorporating Embodiment 1 of an electronic program information output apparatus according to the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, a digital broadcast television broadcast signal received by an antenna 1 is input to a television broadcast receiver 2a. The television broadcast receiver 2a is connected to a display 3a that displays a screen such as a liquid crystal panel or a cathode ray tube monitor. In addition, the television broadcast receiver 2 a is configured to receive an operation command from the remote controller 4 when the viewer operates the remote controller 4.

  Next, the internal configuration of the television broadcast receiver 2a will be described. A digital broadcast television broadcast signal received by the antenna 1 is input to a tuner 5 in the television broadcast receiver 2a. In the tuner 5, only the video signal of the television program of the channel selected by the viewer is extracted from the video signals of the plurality of channels included in the television broadcast signal and input to the decoder 6.

  The television broadcast signal includes an EPG signal for transmitting electronic program information together with a video signal of the television program. The tuner 5 appropriately scans a receivable channel and inputs a television broadcast signal from each broadcasting station in a time zone when the channel of the television program selected by the viewer is not selected. Further, the tuner 5 takes out the EPG signal of each channel included in the television broadcast signal and outputs the EPG signal to the electronic program information extraction unit 7.

  Incidentally, the decoder 6 decodes the video signal sent from the tuner 5 and outputs the video information of the TV program of the channel selected by the viewer. The display video creation unit 8 inputs the video information and adds video display data indicating an appropriate video display size and display position to the video information data in order to display the video information on the display screen of the display 3a. .

  On the other hand, the electronic program information extracting unit 7 extracts electronic program information from the EPG signal of each channel sent from the tuner 5. The electronic program information extracted by the electronic program information extraction unit 7 is managed by the electronic program information management unit 9 in the form of a database.

  The electronic program guide creation unit 10 extracts electronic program information necessary for creating the electronic program guide from the database managed by the electronic program information management unit 9, and displays the electronic program information on the display screen of the display 3a. In addition to creating a program guide and displaying it on the display screen of the display 3a, electronic program guide display data for indicating the appropriate display size and display position of the electronic program guide is added to the data of the electronic program guide.

  The screen data creation unit 11a is a video information data output from the display video creation unit 8 to which video display data is added, and an electronic program output from the electronic program guide creation unit 10 to which electronic program guide display data is added. Enter the table data. Next, the screen data creation unit 11a configures a display screen in which a video based on video information data and an electronic program guide based on the electronic program guide data are arranged based on the video display data and the electronic program guide display data. Create screen data.

  This screen data is input to the display 3a, and the video of the TV program selected by the viewer and the electronic program guide are displayed on the display screen of the display 3a.

  As described above, the television broadcast receiving apparatus 2a receives an operation command from the remote controller 4 when the viewer operates the remote controller 4. The operation command input from the remote controller 4 is received as a remote control signal by the remote control light receiving unit 12 provided in the television broadcast receiver 2a. The microcomputer 13 inputs the remote control signal, and outputs control signals to the display video creation unit 8 and the electronic program guide creation unit 10 based on the operation command corresponding to the remote control signal.

  The display video creation unit 8 that has received the control signal from the microcomputer 13 creates video display data that indicates the display size and display position of the video based on the control signal. The electronic program guide creation unit 10 that has received the control signal from the microcomputer 13 creates electronic program guide display data that indicates the display size and display position of the electronic program guide based on the control signal.

  FIG. 2 is a screen configuration diagram for explaining an example of a screen configuration displayed on the display screen of the display 3a in the first embodiment of the electronic program information output device according to the present invention.

  In FIG. 2, in the display screen of the display 3 a, the video of the TV program of the channel received by the television broadcast receiving device 2 a when the viewer selects the channel is displayed in the viewing video display area 20. . The video displayed in the viewing video display area 20 is generated based on video information data output from the display video creation unit 8 and having video display data added thereto.

  In the display screen, a horizontal banner 21 that is a horizontally long banner is disposed above the viewing video display area 20 and at the upper end of the display screen. Further, on the right side of the viewing video display area 20 and on the right end of the display screen, a vertical banner 22 that is a vertically long banner is arranged. The electronic program guide displayed in these banners is created based on the data of the electronic program guide output from the electronic program guide creation unit 10 and added with the electronic program guide display data.

  In FIG. 2, the horizontal banner 21 is a viewing program area in which a program name and a broadcast time zone of a viewing program that is a television program of a channel that is broadcast and received by the television broadcast receiving apparatus 2a at the current time are displayed. 23 and back program areas 211 to 215 in which the program name and broadcast time zone of a back program which is a broadcast program of a channel different from the channel received at the current time are displayed. In the back program areas 211 to 215, one back program of each channel is displayed in each area.

  The vertical banner 22 displays the viewing program area 23 described above and the program name and broadcast time zone of the next program which is a broadcast program broadcast after the viewing program broadcast and received at the current time. The following program areas 221 to 225 are configured. In the next program areas 221 to 225, one next program is displayed in each area.

  As shown in FIG. 2, when the viewer selects the sixth channel and is watching a television program broadcast on the sixth channel at the current time, the video of the television program is shown in FIG. Is displayed on the entire display screen of the display 3a. When the viewer operates the remote controller 4 and issues an operation command for displaying the electronic program guide, the remote control light receiving unit 12 receives this operation command as a remote control signal. The microcomputer 13 receives the remote control signal sent from the remote control light receiving unit 12 and outputs respective control signals for displaying the electronic program guide on each of the display video creation unit 8 and the electronic program guide creation unit 10. To do.

  The display video creation unit 8 that has received the control signal from the microcomputer 13 creates video display data that indicates the display size and display position of the video based on the control signal. Next, the display video creation unit 8 adds the video display data to the video information data of the viewing program that is the television program of the channel received at the current time, and outputs the video display data to the screen data creation unit 11a.

  On the other hand, the electronic program guide creation unit 10 that has received the control signal from the microcomputer 13 is a plurality of channels different from the channel received at the current time from the database managed by the electronic program information management unit 9. As shown in FIG. 2, information on the program name and broadcast time zone of the back program of the first to fifth channels is taken out. The broadcast time zone is calculated from the broadcast start time and broadcast end time or broadcast time length of the television program managed in the database. Furthermore, the electronic program guide creation unit 10 is a next program broadcast from this database after the viewing program broadcast and received at the current time, for example, as shown in FIG. 5 program name and broadcast time zone information is extracted.

  Next, in order to display the back program information in the area of the horizontal banner 21 shown in FIG. 2, the electronic program guide creation unit 10 arranges the program name and broadcast time zone information of the back programs of the first to fifth channels. Create an electronic program guide for horizontal banners. Next, on the basis of the control signal from the microcomputer 13, the electronic program guide display data of the horizontal banner electronic program guide display size and display position is added to the data of the horizontal banner electronic program guide data, and the screen data creation unit To 11a.

  Furthermore, the electronic program guide creation unit 10 arranges the electronic information for the vertical banner in which the program names and broadcasting time zone information of the next programs 1 to 5 are arranged in order to display the next program information in the area of the vertical banner 22 shown in FIG. Create a program guide. Next, based on a control signal from the microcomputer 13, the electronic program guide display data of the vertical banner electronic program guide display size and display position is added to the data of the vertical banner electronic program guide data, and a screen data creation unit To 11a.

  The screen data creation unit 11a is a video information data output from the display video creation unit 8 to which video display data is added, and a horizontal data output from the electronic program guide creation unit 10 to which electronic program guide display data is added. Based on the banner electronic program guide data and the vertical banner guide electronic program guide data, the viewing program video received at the current time in the viewing video display area 20 shown in FIG. Image data for displaying an electronic program guide for the back program in 21 and an electronic program guide for the next program in the vertical banner 22 shown in FIG.

  The display device 3a receives the image data created by the image data creation unit 11a, and displays the video and electronic program guide of the viewing program having the screen configuration shown in FIG. 2 on the display screen of the display device 3a.

  In the above description, the channel of the viewing program is the sixth channel and the channel of the back program displayed in the horizontal banner 21 is described as an example of the first to fifth channels. Needless to say, you are not limited to this. For example, when the viewer changes the channel to the fourth channel, information on the TV program of the fourth channel being broadcast at the current time is displayed in the viewing program area 23, and in the back program areas 211 to 215, For example, information on a channel different from the channel of the viewing program is displayed, such as information on the back programs of the first to third channels and the fifth to sixth channels.

  Since the first embodiment of the electronic program information output apparatus according to the present invention is configured as described above, the viewer views the electronic program guide without being interrupted from viewing the currently viewed television program. be able to. By looking at the electronic program guide displayed on the horizontal banner 21, it is possible to know from what time to what time a program with a program name is broadcast on the back program at the current time. Therefore, the viewer can confirm whether there is a more interesting back program than the program being viewed, and the effect that the viewer can reduce the miss of the program that the viewer wants to watch is reduced.

  Furthermore, it is possible to know from what time to what time the program name of the program being broadcast in the back program while watching what time the program being viewed by the viewer is broadcast from what time to what time. Then, after the viewing program ends, the channel can be switched to the back program that interests the viewer after the viewing program, and the viewer can further reduce the miss of the program that the viewer wants to watch.

  In addition, when the viewer looks at the electronic program guide displayed on the vertical banner 22, it is determined from what time to what time what program name is broadcast on the same channel after the program being viewed is over. I can know. Therefore, the viewer can check whether there is a more interesting next program on the channel being watched, and if there is an interesting next program, reducing the missed program by not changing the channel. There is an effect that can be done.

  Further, the horizontal banner 21 and the vertical banner 22 on which the electronic program guide is displayed are arranged at the end of the display screen such as the upper end, the lower end, the right end, or the left end of the display screen of the display 3a. Even if the video displayed on the entire display screen being viewed is reduced in order to display the program table together with the video being viewed, it is not necessary to perform a significant reduction. Therefore, since the video being viewed is not rapidly and significantly reduced, the visibility of the displayed video is hardly lowered.

  For example, when the TV program being watched is soccer, there is no possibility of losing the scene that the viewer wants to see, such as a goal shoot.

  In particular, by displaying both the horizontal banner 21 and the vertical banner 22 on the display screen, the aspect ratio of the display screen of the display 3a and the aspect ratio of the viewing video display area 20 can be kept substantially the same. Therefore, even if the video is reduced while maintaining the aspect ratio of the video before reduction, it is possible to suppress the generation of a useless area in the display screen area. Thereby, there is an effect that the video of the viewing program and the electronic program guide can be efficiently arranged on the display screen.

  In the above, the electronic program guide of the back program is displayed on the horizontal banner 21 and the electronic program guide of the next program is displayed on the vertical banner 22, but the electronic program guide of the next program is displayed on the horizontal banner 21, It goes without saying that the same effect can be obtained even if the electronic program guide of the back program is displayed on the vertical banner 22.

  Further, in the above description, the case where both the horizontal banner 21 and the vertical banner 22 are arranged on the display screen of the display device 3a has been described. However, only either the horizontal banner 21 or the vertical banner 22 is placed on the video of the viewing program. You may make it superimpose.

  In particular, instead of reducing the video of the viewing program and displaying it in the viewing video display area, the video of the viewing program is displayed on the entire display screen, and the area where the video is hidden by the banner is limited to only one banner area. To do. In that case, the video is displayed without being reduced. Therefore, except for the minimum area hidden by the banner, before and after displaying the electronic program guide, the video is displayed in a completely continuous state without any change in size. There is an advantage that even change is not overlooked.

  For example, when the TV program being viewed is golf, the golf ball is small, so it is not easy to keep track of the golf ball with the eyes even if the image changes slightly in size. However, since the banner is superimposed on the video without reducing the video, the video is displayed in a completely continuous state without any change in size. Therefore, unless the golf ball rolls to the position of the image hidden by the banner, there is no risk of losing sight of the moment of hole-in.

  Note that the electronic program information acquired from the television broadcast signal has a very large amount of information such as the broadcast channel of the TV program, the program name, the broadcast time, the genre, and the description of the program content. By the way, in the above description, the TV program information displayed in the banner has been described with respect to the two cases of the program name of the TV program and the broadcast time zone. However, the information need not be limited to these two. It is sufficient to include the minimum necessary information.

  If the electronic program guide displayed in the banner is created only for the program name and the broadcast time zone, which are information related to the television program, the load that the electronic program guide creation unit 10 creates the electronic program guide. When the viewer transmits an operation command for displaying the electronic program guide by operating the remote controller 4, the electronic program guide can be displayed on the display screen of the display 3a in a short time.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
In the television broadcast receiving device 2a in which the electronic program information output device of the first embodiment is incorporated, the electronic program guide displayed in the horizontal banner 21 arranged on the display screen of the display 3a is a current viewing program. When displaying the information of the sixth channel being broadcast at the time, the information of the first to fifth channels as the back program, and the information of the next programs 1 to 5 after the viewing program scheduled to be broadcast on the sixth channel being viewed This has been described with reference to FIG.

  However, it goes without saying that the channels that can be received by the television broadcast receiver 2a are not limited to the first to sixth channels. Further, the next program after the viewing program of the sixth channel is not limited to the next programs 1 to 5, and TV programs are continuously broadcast after the next program 5.

  Therefore, if the viewer operates the remote controller 4 shown in FIG. 1 to scroll the electronic program guide, the viewer can increase the area of the banner arranged on the display screen of the display 3a. Further, it becomes possible to view information on programs on more channels and information on more next programs.

  FIG. 3 is a screen configuration diagram for explaining an example of the screen configuration displayed on the display screen of the display 3a in the case of the second embodiment of the electronic program information output device according to the present invention. Note that the same reference numerals as those in FIG.

  In the following, as an initial display state, the electronic program guide having the screen configuration shown in FIG. 2 is displayed on the display screen of the display 3 a. FIG. 3 shows the electronic program guide by operating the remote controller 4 by the viewer. A description will be given assuming that the screen configuration after scrolling is shown.

  In FIG. 3, the viewing program area 23 displays information on the viewing program of the sixth channel broadcasted at the current time as in FIG. 2, but in the horizontal banner 31 excluding the viewing program area 23, Information about the next program 1 scheduled to be broadcast after each back program of the second to fifth channels and the next program 1 scheduled to be broadcast after the back program of the seventh channel are displayed. Further, in the vertical banner 32 excluding the viewing program area 23, information on the next programs 2 to 6 to be broadcast after the next program of the viewing program broadcast at the current time of the sixth channel is displayed. .

  FIG. 4 shows an electronic program necessary for creating the electronic program guide before scrolling from the database of electronic program information managed by the electronic program information management unit 9 shown in FIG. 1 in order to scroll the electronic program guide. It is the 1st explanatory view for explaining the method of taking out information. The horizontal axis represents the arrangement of channels, and the vertical axis represents the broadcast order of television broadcasting.

  FIG. 4 shows an information table in which electronic program information managed in the database is arranged. Here, the electronic program information in the thick frame area 40 corresponds to the electronic program information displayed in the horizontal banner 21 and the vertical banner 22 in the initial display state of FIG. The position of the thick frame area 40 is fixed with respect to the horizontal axis and the vertical axis, and when the electronic program guide is scrolled, this information table is moved with respect to the horizontal axis and the vertical axis. .

  Further, in FIG. 5, in order to scroll the electronic program guide, scrolling was performed for viewing the next program of the back program from the electronic program information database managed by the electronic program information management unit 9 shown in FIG. It is a 2nd explanatory view for demonstrating the method to take out the electronic program information required in order to create a later electronic program guide. Note that the same reference numerals as those in FIG.

  Further, FIG. 6 is for explaining a method of extracting electronic program information necessary for creating an electronic program guide after scrolling to view a channel that is not displayed following the display state of FIG. It is a 3rd explanatory drawing of. Note that the same reference numerals as those in FIG.

  The electronic program according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG. 2, which is the initial display state, FIG. 3 after scrolling, and FIGS. 4, 5, and 6 for explaining the creation of the electronic program guide after scrolling. Of the operation of Embodiment 2 of the information output device, the part related to the creation of the electronic program guide after scrolling will be described.

  First, in FIG. 4, for example, the channels that can be received by the television broadcast receiver 2a are the first to seventh channels, and the electronic program information managed in the database of the electronic program information management unit 9 as electronic program information is Suppose that the information of the TV program broadcast at the current time and the information of the next programs 1-6.

  In this case, an information table shown in FIG. 4 is created in which the horizontal axis is the arrangement of channels and the vertical axis is the broadcast order of television programs, and the electronic program information managed in the database is arranged.

  In this initial display state, in order to view the information of the next program of the back program, the viewer operates the remote controller 4 to move the information table in the direction opposite to the broadcast order of the TV program on the vertical axis in FIG. Let At this time, as already described, the position of the thick frame region 40 is fixed with respect to the horizontal axis and the vertical axis. As a result, in the next program 1 row 41 in which the next programs 1 of the first to seventh channels shown in FIG. 4 are arranged side by side, as shown in FIG. The thick frame region 40 is entered.

  The electronic program guide creation unit 10 is an area 53 corresponding to the viewing program area 23 at the position where the horizontal banner 31 and the vertical banner 32 overlap in the thick frame area 40 of the information table shown in FIG. Is replaced with the information of the viewing program broadcast at the current time to create an electronic program guide.

  Subsequently, the viewer operates the remote controller 4 to view information on the back program channel different from the channel displayed on the display screen, and the direction of the channel on the horizontal axis in FIG. Move the information table. At this time, it is assumed that the column of the sixth channel which is the channel of the viewing program is moved over. As a result, as shown in FIG. 6, the information of the next program 1 of the seventh channel enters the thick frame area 40, while the information of the next program 1 of the first channel deviates from the thick frame area 40.

  The electronic program guide creating unit 10 is an area 63 corresponding to the viewing program area 23 at the position where the horizontal banner 31 and the vertical banner 32 overlap in the thick frame area 40 of the information table shown in FIG. Is replaced with the information of the viewing program broadcast at the current time to create an electronic program guide.

  When the viewer performs scrolling for viewing information on the next program of the back program described above and scrolling for viewing information on channels that are not displayed by operating the remote controller 4, the display screen of the display 3a is displayed. The video of the viewing program having the screen configuration shown in FIG. 3 and the electronic program guide are displayed. In other words, the viewing video image is displayed in the viewing video display area 20, and the horizontal banner 31 displays information on the viewing program and information on the next program 1 in the second to fifth channels and the seventh channel. . The vertical banner 32 displays the information of the next programs 2 to 6 of the sixth channel so that the viewing program area 23 overlaps the horizontal banner 31.

  In the second embodiment of the electronic program information output device according to the present invention, since the electronic program guide is scrolled as described above, the area of the banner arranged on the display screen of the display 3a is not increased. As a result, there is an effect that it is possible to view information on programs on more channels and information on more next programs without further reducing the visibility of the video being viewed.

Embodiment 3 FIG.
In the electronic program information output device according to the first and second embodiments, the case where both the horizontal banner and the vertical banner are arranged on the display screen has been described. However, when the viewer operates the remote controller 4, the microcomputer 13 may determine the position of the cursor on the display screen and display only one of the horizontal banner and the vertical banner.

  FIG. 7 is a screen configuration diagram for explaining an example of the screen configuration before the remote control operation by the viewer in Embodiment 3 of the electronic program information output device according to the present invention.

  FIG. 8 is a screen configuration diagram for explaining an example of the screen configuration after the remote control operation by the viewer in Embodiment 3 of the electronic program information output apparatus according to the present invention.

  In FIG. 7, the horizontal banner displays information 72 of the back programs 1-5 together with the viewing program information 71, and the vertical banner displays information 73 of the next programs 1-5.

  By the way, if the viewer is interested in the information of the back program, the viewer operates the remote controller 4 and moves the cursor of the display screen to the area where the information of the back programs 1 to 5 of the horizontal banner is displayed. When moved, the microcomputer 13 transmits a control signal for arranging only the horizontal banner on the display screen to the electronic program guide creation unit 10.

  As a result, as shown in FIG. 8, only the horizontal banner displaying the viewing program information 81 and the back program 1 to 5 information 82 is arranged on the display screen of the display 3a.

  As described above, since the viewer operates the remote controller 4 to move the cursor so that only the banner on the side where the cursor is located is displayed, the information that the viewer is easily interested in by a simple operation. You can see the electronic program guide created by focusing on

  Furthermore, since the amount of electronic program information necessary for creating the electronic program guide extracted from the database can be limited to the minimum, the load for creating the electronic program guide by the electronic program guide creating unit 10 can be reduced, and the time can be shortened. In this way, the electronic program guide can be displayed on the display screen.

Embodiment 4 FIG.
The character size of the electronic program guide displayed in the banner is determined from the viewpoint of the viewer's visibility. Therefore, in the electronic program information output devices of the first to third embodiments, a character size that is not large enough to be viewed by the viewer is set in advance, and the display screen of the display unit is premised on this character size. The arrangement of the banner and the viewing video display area is set. Therefore, when the connected display device is replaced with a display device having a different display screen size, the viewer needs to change the setting of the arrangement of the banner and the viewing video display area.

  Therefore, in the fourth embodiment of the electronic program information output device according to the present invention, information on the size of the display screen is received from the connected display, and the arrangement of the banner and the viewing video display area is set based on the information. To do. This eliminates the need for the viewer to set the arrangement of the banner and the viewing video display area.

  FIG. 9 is an overall configuration diagram showing an overall configuration of a television broadcast receiving apparatus incorporating Embodiment 4 of the electronic program information output apparatus according to the present invention. Note that the same reference numerals as those in FIG.

  In FIG. 9, the display connected to the television broadcast receiver 2b is replaced with, for example, a display 3b whose display screen size is larger than that used previously. The display device 3b can output information on the size of the display screen.

  The display size calculation unit 14 receives information on the size of the display screen output from the display 3b, and does not change the character size of the electronic program guide displayed in the banner, and information on the displayable size of the banner. Create

  If the size of the display screen of the display 3b is larger than before, the horizontal size can be increased for horizontal banners, and the vertical size can be increased for vertical banners. Therefore, since the character size of the electronic program guide displayed in the banner is not changed, the number of channels to be displayed can be increased if it is a horizontal banner, and the number of programs of the next program to be displayed if it is a vertical banner. Can be increased.

  Information about the displayable size of the banner created by the display size calculation unit 14 is output to the microcomputer 13, and the microcomputer 13 sends the information to the display video creation unit 8 and the electronic program guide creation unit 10 based on this information. Each control signal is output.

  Since the electronic program information output device of the fourth embodiment is configured as described above, the display connected to the television broadcast receiving device in which the electronic program information output device is incorporated has a different display screen size. Even if the display is replaced with another display device, there is an effect that a troublesome work for the viewer to change the setting of the arrangement of the banner and the viewing video display area becomes unnecessary.

  In the first to fourth embodiments described above, the case of digital broadcasting has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to digital broadcasting, and similar effects can be obtained even with analog broadcasting. Needless to say.

  Furthermore, in Embodiments 1 to 4 described above, a video obtained from a viewing program that is a broadcast program broadcast at the current time of the channel received at the current time is displayed in the viewing video display area of the display screen. However, the video may be a recorded video such as a DVD. In that case, for example, the electronic program guide creation unit 10 sets a default channel in advance instead of the channel received at the current time, and the broadcast program broadcast at the current time of the default channel and its An electronic program guide is created based on information about the back program and the next program.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It is a whole block diagram which shows the whole structure of the television broadcast receiver incorporating the Embodiment 1 of the electronic program information output device concerning this invention. It is a screen block diagram for demonstrating an example of the screen structure displayed on the display screen in Embodiment 1 of the electronic program information output device which concerns on this invention. It is a screen block diagram for demonstrating an example of the screen structure displayed on the display screen in the case of Embodiment 2 of the electronic program information output device concerning this invention. It is the 1st explanatory view for explaining the method of taking out electronic program information required in order to create the electronic program guide before scrolling from a database. It is a 2nd explanatory view for demonstrating the method to take out the electronic program information required in order to create the electronic program guide after performing the scroll for seeing the next program of a back program from a database. It is a 3rd explanatory drawing for demonstrating the method to extract the electronic program information required in order to produce the electronic program guide after performing the scroll for seeing the channel which is not displayed from the database. It is a screen block diagram for demonstrating an example of the screen structure before remote control operation in Embodiment 3 of the electronic program information output device which concerns on this invention. It is a screen block diagram for demonstrating an example of the screen structure after remote control operation in Embodiment 3 of the electronic program information output device which concerns on this invention. It is a whole block diagram which shows the whole structure of the television broadcast receiver incorporating the Embodiment 4 of the electronic program information output device which concerns on this invention.

Explanation of symbols

3a display 3b display 4 remote control 7 electronic program information extraction device 8 display video creation unit 9 electronic program information management unit 10 electronic program guide creation unit 11a screen data creation unit 11b screen data creation unit 13 microcomputer 14 display size calculation unit

Claims (10)

Electronic program information acquisition means for acquiring electronic program information of programs scheduled to be broadcast from a plurality of channels from a television broadcast signal;
An electronic program guide creation means for creating an electronic program guide on the basis of information on a program name of a broadcast program and information on a broadcast time zone included in the electronic program information of the broadcast-scheduled program;
Screen data output means for outputting video data based on video information input at the current time and the electronic program guide, which are arranged in a display screen;
An electronic program information output device comprising:
The screen data output means is configured such that the electronic program guide is displayed in a horizontally long banner arranged at the upper end or lower end of the display screen, and / or the electronic program guide is at the right end or left end of the display screen. An electronic program information output device for outputting screen data to be displayed in a vertically long banner arranged on the screen. The video information is obtained from a viewing program that is a broadcast program broadcast at the current time of the channel received at the current time,
The electronic program guide creation means includes the program name information and the broadcast time zone information of the viewing program among the program name information and the broadcast time zone information of the broadcast programs of a plurality of channels broadcast at the current time. 2. The electronic program guide is created based on information on a program name of a back program which is a broadcast program of a channel different from the channel received at the current time and information on a broadcast time zone. The electronic program information output device described in 1. Scroll means for instructing to scroll the electronic program guide,
3. The electronic program guide creating means creates an electronic program guide by selecting the next program of the back program by scrolling in the broadcast order of the broadcast program based on an instruction from the scroll instruction means. The electronic program information output device described in 1. Scroll means for instructing to scroll the electronic program guide,
3. The electronic program guide creating means according to claim 2, wherein the electronic program guide creating means creates an electronic program guide by selecting a channel of a back program by scrolling in the order of channels based on an instruction from the scroll instruction means. Program information output device. The video information is obtained from a viewing program that is a broadcast program broadcast at the current time of the channel received at the current time,
The electronic program guide creation means includes the program name of the viewing program that is a broadcast program broadcast at the current time among the program name information and the broadcast time zone information of the broadcast program of the channel received at the current time. An electronic program guide is created based on information, information on a broadcast time zone, information on a program name of a next program that is a broadcast program broadcast after the viewing program, and information on a broadcast time zone The electronic program information output device according to claim 1. Scroll means for instructing to scroll the electronic program guide,
The electronic program guide creation means is a next program which is a broadcast program broadcast after the viewing program received at the current time of the channel changed by scrolling in the order of the channels based on the instruction from the scroll instruction means. 6. The electronic program information output device according to claim 5, wherein an electronic program guide is created by selecting. Scroll means for instructing to scroll the electronic program guide,
The electronic program guide creation means selects the next program which is a broadcast program broadcast after the viewing program received at the current time by scrolling in the broadcast order of the broadcast program based on the instruction from the scroll instruction means 6. The electronic program information output device according to claim 5, wherein an electronic program guide is created.   The horizontal belt-shaped banner and / or the vertical belt-shaped banner select one broadcast program for each channel on one side and display information on the program name of the broadcast program and information on the broadcast time zone on the other side. The electronic program information output device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein information on a program name of a broadcast-scheduled program of one channel and information on a broadcast time zone are displayed. A display size calculator for calculating the display size of the banner on the display screen of the display unit based on the size information of the display unit for displaying the screen;
9. The electronic program information output device according to claim 1, wherein the screen data output means outputs screen data based on a display size of the banner. An electronic program information acquisition step of acquiring electronic program information of programs scheduled to be broadcast from a plurality of channels from a television broadcast signal;
An electronic program guide creating step for creating an electronic program guide based on information of a program name of a broadcast program and information on a broadcast time zone included in the electronic program information of the broadcast scheduled program;
A screen data output step of outputting screen data arranged in a display screen, the video based on video information input at the current time and the electronic program guide;
An electronic program information output method comprising:
In the screen data output step, the electronic program guide is displayed in a horizontally long banner arranged at the upper or lower end of the display screen, and / or the electronic program guide is at the right end or the left end of the display screen. A method for displaying electronic program information, comprising: outputting screen data displayed in a vertically long banner arranged on the screen.

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