JP2008191234A - Display method and display device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To impart such display effect that curtains are opened and closed at start time and end time to a content that a user views according to a mode of a screen being viewed. <P>SOLUTION: An effect determining section 30 judges whether a screen mode set in a display setting section 38 meets a condition of the display effect. When it is judged that the condition is met, an effect control section 23 imparts a picture of opening and closing of the curtains as the display effect to the content at the start time and end time. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a display method and a display device, and more particularly to a display method and a display device that apply a display effect to content at a predetermined timing.

  In recent years, thin-screen image display devices (hereinafter simply referred to as “thin TVs”) such as liquid crystal TVs and PDP (plasma display panel) TVs have become larger, and TVs with a size of 50 inches can be purchased by general consumers. It has become a price. With such a large television, you can enjoy various contents in an environment full of realism.

  For example, while at home, you can enjoy content as if you were in a movie theater, or enjoy sports broadcasts as if you were in a stadium.

  By the way, the competition among manufacturers in the above-mentioned flat-screen television market is extremely fierce, and each company has implemented various technologies to achieve further improvement in video quality and to differentiate itself from other companies. Under such circumstances, not only the basic performance such as the display quality is set as a selection criterion of the user, but other additional functions are becoming important.

Further, as one of the technologies assumed as such an additional function, there is an effect application (see Patent Document 1). With the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, various fade patterns can be given to video shot by a video camera.
Japanese Patent Publication No.8-8660

  In the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, the user selects a desired fade pattern and performs editing such as adding an effect to the video shot by the user. However, although it is a very effective technique when performing video editing, there is a problem that it cannot be used when simply viewing content such as television broadcasting or DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) video. That is, at the time of video editing, the user can select the target to which the effect is applied. However, since there are various types of content in television broadcasting and the like, it is necessary to determine whether or not to apply an effect on the display device side such as a television.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and its purpose is to estimate whether or not a display effect should be applied to content, and content that is estimated to be provided. It is to provide a technique for giving a display effect to the image. In particular, it is an object of the present invention to provide a technique for determining whether or not a display effect should be applied on the display device side without referring to content.

The method according to the present invention relates to a display method. In this display method, a display effect is applied to the content at the start and / or end of the content according to the step of acquiring information related to the image display setting set in the display device and the acquired image display setting. Process.
Further, a step of specifying an input path of content data input to the display device and whether to apply the display effect at the start and / or end of the content are determined according to the specified input path. You may have a process.
Further, when a display device power ON / OFF signal is input, the display effect may be applied in accordance with the operation of the display device according to the signal.
A step of holding an image at the end when content input from a predetermined input path is terminated halfway; and a step of determining that input of content data is started from the predetermined input path; And a step of referring to the held image and determining whether or not the content data whose input has been started is the content that has been terminated midway.
The device according to the present invention relates to a display device. The display device should determine whether or not to apply a display effect according to the display setting acquisition unit that acquires information related to the image display setting of the content to be displayed, and the acquired image display setting. An effect applying unit that applies a display effect to the content to be displayed at a start and / or end time, and a storage unit that stores data used for the display effect.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to estimate whether or not the content is a display effect application target, and to apply the display effect to the content estimated to be the application target.

  Next, the best mode for carrying out the present invention (hereinafter simply referred to as “embodiment”) will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.

  In the present embodiment, a display effect is applied to content at the start or end time of content display. When a display effect is given to content, whether to give a display effect to the content to be displayed is determined by referring to an image display setting of a television as a display device or an input path of video or audio. Here, “applying a display effect to content” means synthesizing a predetermined video with the content or transforming the video of the content.

  FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of the television 10 according to the present embodiment. Note that the present embodiment is not limited to a television but can be applied to a device that displays video such as a video device.

  The television 10 includes a tuner 11, a main control unit 15, an output control unit 20, an external input unit 16, an operation acquisition unit 17, a display unit 18, and a speaker 19. The television 10 further includes an effect determination unit 30.

  The main control unit 15 controls the operation of each component of the television 10. The main control unit 15, the output control unit 20, and the effect determination unit 30 are stored in, for example, an LSI (Large Scale Integrated Circuit) such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a memory, and the function thereof. It is realized by a program that executes The main control unit 15 includes a display setting unit 38 that records information related to screen display settings, a sound setting unit 39 that records information related to sound settings, and a power management unit 40 that performs power on / off management.

  Here, screen display settings include screen size, brightness setting, color tone setting, and the like. Screen sizes include a normal screen with an aspect ratio of 4: 3 and a wide screen with an aspect ratio of 16: 9. Further, as the screen display setting, there are a plurality of modes in which the television 10 is provided in advance, with the luminance setting and the color tone setting adjusted according to the content genre. For example, there is a “cinema mode” in which brightness and color tone settings are adjusted assuming content with a movie genre, and a “dynamic mode” in which brightness and color tone settings are adjusted assuming content with a genre of sports. . Further, as the mode, there is a “user mode” that can be set by the user. Note that the combination of the luminance setting and the color tone setting that are commonly set in the television 10 is referred to as a “standard mode”. Audio settings include “stereo”, “monaural”, “surround”, and the like. For example, when the cinema mode is selected, “Surround” can be selected. As described above, the set screen display setting information is stored in the display setting unit 38, and the similarly set audio setting information is stored in the audio setting unit 39. In the following description, the above-described four types of modes are used for determining whether an effect is to be applied. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a screen size may be used. When using the screen size, for example, when “Cinema” is selected with the “Screen Size” button on the remote control, or when the auto-wide function is used, the result of video discrimination and the screen size control signal sent as additional information This corresponds to a case where it is detected that the content is a movie. Furthermore, when the signal input to the audio input unit 36 is a 5.1CH signal, the display effect may be applied.

  The tuner 11 is connected to the antenna 25 and receives and decodes terrestrial digital broadcasting. The tuner 11 further includes a receiving unit 12 and a decoding processing unit 13. The receiving unit 12 selects a desired channel, performs demodulation processing and error correction processing, and extracts a TS (transport stream) transmitted from the broadcasting station. The decoding processing unit 13 separates the multiplexed TS according to the purpose, decodes the video data and the audio data, and sends, for example, data broadcast data other than the data to the main control unit 15. The decoded video data is sent to the output control unit 20.

  The external input unit 16 acquires desired content from an external video device 42 such as a video device or a DVD player, and sends the acquired content to the output control unit 20 or controls the external video device 42. For this purpose, the external input unit 16 includes a video input unit 35, an audio input unit 36, and an external device control unit 37.

  The video input unit 35 acquires a video signal from the external video device 42 and outputs the video signal to the output control unit 20. The audio input unit 36 acquires an audio signal from the external video device 42 and outputs it to the output control unit 20. In general, the audio input unit 36 obtains a signal that has not been compressed or encrypted from the external video device 42, but obtains a compressed or encrypted signal and decrypts the signal. May be output to the output control unit 20. At this time, the audio data may be decoded using the function of the decoding processing unit 13. The external device control unit 37 controls the external video device 42. For this control, when the external video device 42 and the television 10 have an interface according to the HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface) standard, for example, the external device control unit 37 does not provide a special interface. Control of the external video device 42 can be realized.

  Here, the external input unit 16 includes first to third external input terminals. Accordingly, the video input unit 35 includes first to third video input terminals corresponding to the first to third external input terminals. Similarly, the voice input unit 36 includes first to third voice input terminals corresponding to the first to third external input terminals. Therefore, for example, when the second external input terminal is selected by the operation of the remote controller 43, the second video input terminal is selected in the video input unit 35, and the second audio input unit 36 in the audio input unit 36. The input terminal is selected, and signals of the selected video input terminal and audio input terminal are output to the output control unit 20. Note that the selected video input terminal and audio input terminal are recorded in the external device control unit 37.

  The operation acquisition unit 17 receives a user's direct operation through a predetermined interface (not shown) such as a switch or button provided in the television 10 or an indirect operation by the remote controller 43. The instruction acquired from the user is sent to the main control unit 15.

  The output control unit 20 includes a selector 21, a video construction unit 22, and an effect control unit 23. The selector 21 selects the tuner 11 or the external input unit 16, outputs a video signal to the display unit 18 according to the selection, and outputs an audio signal to the speaker 19. Note that the input path selected by the selector 21 is also referred to as “source”. For example, when content is input from the first external input terminal to the television 10 and output to the output control unit 20, the source is the first source. External input terminal.

  The video construction unit 22 should finally display on the display unit 18 by, for example, composing a screen reflecting the contents of the data broadcast as necessary, or assigning the number and time of the selected channel. Build a video.

  Further, the effect control unit 23 assigns the screen image determined by the effect determination unit 30 described below to the content as a display effect. When the display of the content is started, as shown in FIG. 2, the screen is displayed so that the curtain gradually opens, thereby expanding the area in which the content is displayed in time series. Also, when the display of the content ends, as shown in FIG. 3, the area where the content is displayed is reduced in time series by displaying the curtain gradually closing. Further, except for the start and end timings of content display, curtains are displayed on both sides of the content as shown in FIG. 2C, but the curtains need not be displayed. In other words, when the operation of opening the curtain ends, the curtain disappears. When the curtain is closed, the curtain is displayed so as to come out from both sides. The display effect application is selectively performed when the effect application mode is selected, and is not performed when the effect application mode is not selected. Note that the effect application mode selection is stored in the content determination unit 31 described later as effect application mode selection information, for example, a flag, by pressing a predetermined button provided on the remote controller 43.

  The effect determination unit 30 includes a content determination unit 31, a timing specification unit 32, a setting acquisition unit 34, an effect storage unit 33, and a history holding unit 51.

  The content determination unit 31 determines whether or not the content is a display effect application target, and determines that the display effect is applied to the content at the start timing and the end timing when it is determined that the content is the display target. Then, the effect control unit 23 is notified of this. Here, whether or not the display effect is to be applied is determined based on whether or not the display of the content is viewed in the “cinema mode” described above. Note that only the content of a predetermined source may be a display effect application target.

  The timing specifying unit 32 determines the timing for applying the display effect to the content. In order to specify the start time and the end time, the timing specifying unit 32 sends the program arrangement information SI and the information of the electronic program guide EPG included in the TS to the main control unit 15 in the case of terrestrial digital broadcast content. Via the tuner 11. Further, when displaying the content of the external video device 42, the timing specifying unit 32 receives information such as the time of the content and the progress degree of the chapter from the external video device 42 as well as information such as a user instruction to the external video device 42. get. In recent years, for example, a function for linking a television 10 and an external video device 42 such as a video has been installed in many products. By using this function, information from the external video device 42 described above is used. Acquisition is realizable. Furthermore, in an environment where content is replicated on a network such as the Internet or broadcast, such information may be obtained from metadata as additional information of the content.

  In addition, when the power of the television 10 is turned on or off, the timing specifying unit 32 receives a notification that the power management unit 40 is performing on / off, and applies a display effect to the content. To decide. In the history holding unit 51, when viewing of the content of the external input unit 16 is interrupted halfway, images of the interrupted portion are recorded for several frames. The history holding unit 51 may hold the chapter number of the end scene of the external video device 42. When the selector 21 selects the external input unit 16, the timing specifying unit 32 refers to the image or chapter number recorded in the history holding unit 51 and determines whether the content is started from the same part as the image. to decide. When making a determination with reference to an image, it is possible to determine whether the image has been started from the same portion by using a general image pattern matching technique.

  The setting acquisition unit 34 acquires information regarding screen display settings stored in the display setting unit 38 and information regarding audio settings stored in the audio setting unit 39, and uses the acquired setting information as the content determination unit 31. Notify

  Note that the user can select a desired mode from a plurality of modes as screen display settings when viewing content. Specifically, the user can set the above-described screen display setting and audio setting for each source on the mode setting screen shown in FIG. Here, “standard mode” is set in the tuner 11 as the screen display setting. For example, if a DVD player as an external video device 42 is connected to the first external input terminal via an HDMI standard interface, the content input from the first external input terminal can be a movie. High nature. Therefore, the user sets a mode suitable for the genre (type) of content assumed to be output most from the external video device 42 connected to the source. Therefore, here, the “cinema mode” is set for the first external input terminal. Further, the “dynamic mode” is set for the second external input terminal, and the user mode is set for the third external input terminal. As audio settings, stereo is set for the tuner 11, “surround” is set for the first external input terminal, “stereo” is set for the second external input terminal, and “surround” is set for the third external input terminal. . For this setting, the user operates the remote controller 43 to display a mode setting screen, and selects a desired mode for each source. The selected mode is stored in the display setting unit 38 or the audio setting unit 39 as display screen setting or audio setting information as described above. In addition, the user can change the mode by pressing a predetermined button provided on the remote controller 43 while viewing the content, and once the power is turned off, the mode returns to the set mode. In satellite broadcasting, there are channels that broadcast only movie content. For such channels, a predetermined button of the remote controller 43 is set to be selectable, and when the channel is selected by the button, a display effect may be applied to the content.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the user sets whether to give a display effect to the content for each screen display mode. Here, in the “cinema mode” and “user mode”, a curtain is added to the content as a display effect. For this setting, the user operates the remote controller 43 to display an effect setting screen, and selects whether to apply a display effect for each mode. Further, instead of referring to the mode, it may be determined whether or not the display effect is to be applied depending on what kind of source interface is used. For example, when the external input terminal can be connected by a plurality of types of interfaces and is digitally connected by an HDMI standard interface, the genre of content input from the external input terminal is a movie. A display effect that opens and closes the curtain may be given to the content. With such a configuration, the user does not have to set the source for the display effect for each external input terminal.

A procedure for applying a display effect having the above configuration will be described.
First, processing when the power of the television 10 is turned on will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The process according to this flowchart is activated only once each time the power is turned on. When the user gives an instruction to turn on the power using a power button (not shown) provided on the remote controller 43 or the television 10, the operation acquisition unit 17 receives the instruction and notifies the main control unit 15. Then, the power management unit 40 activates each component of the television 10 and starts a power-on initialization process of the television 10 (S10).

  Subsequently, the content determination unit 31 determines whether or not the effect applying mode is selected with reference to the storage data (flag) of the content determination unit (S12). When the effect application mode is selected (Y in S12), the content determination unit 31 further determines whether or not the screen display setting matches the effect application conditions, in this case, “cinema mode” or “user mode”. Is selected (S14). For example, when the content of the tuner 11 is selected, the screen display mode is the “standard mode”, so that it is determined that the content is not a target for effect application. When the content of the first external input terminal of the external input unit 16 is selected, the screen display mode is “cinema mode”, so that it is determined that the display effect is to be applied. In addition, when only the content of a predetermined source is a display effect application target, the content determination unit 31 determines which source content is the content by referring to the selector 21.

  When “cinema mode” or “user mode” is selected (Y in S14), the effect control unit 23 gives the display effect selected from the effect storage unit 33 to the content input from the selector 21. The screen is displayed so that the curtain gradually opens (S16). As described above, the screen is displayed with the curtain closed as shown in FIG. 2A, and then the curtain gradually opens as shown in FIG. 2B. At this time, in order to notify that the content has started, the letters “start” are given as shown in FIG. Note that in the case of digital terrestrial broadcast content of the tuner 11, a time lag occurs due to decoding processing or the like before the content is actually displayed. In this case, as a display effect, the effect control unit 23 displays a state in which the curtain in FIG. 2A is closed until the content is actually displayed, and a display effect that gradually opens the curtain as the content starts to be displayed. You may give to content.

  When it is determined that the effect applying mode is not selected in the processing of S12 (N of S12), or when it is determined that “Cinema mode” or “User mode” is not selected in the processing of S14 (S14 N) The processing according to this flow ends without giving a display effect to the content.

  Next, a display effect application process executed when the power is on will be described with reference to FIG. This process is based on the premise that the above-described process when the television 10 is turned on is performed once. Here, if there is a change in channel or input source, that is, if there is a change in the external video device 42 input to the selected external input unit 16, an interrupt process occurs, and the first process Return to.

  First, the content determination unit 31 determines whether or not the effect applying mode is selected (S30). When it is determined that the effect application mode is selected (Y in S30), the content determination unit 31 determines whether the screen display setting is “cinema mode” or “user mode” (S32). When it is determined that “cinema mode” or “user mode” is selected (Y in S32), the content determination unit 31 determines whether new content has been started (S34). As described above, the timing specifying unit 32 refers to the EPG to specify the start time, monitors the channel change of the TV 10 or switches to external input, and the like as described above. It is executed by acquiring the monitoring information.

  When it is determined that new content has been started (Y in S34), the timing specifying unit 32 determines whether it has been started from the beginning of the content (S36). Here, in the process of S34, when it is determined that the start time of the content is obtained by referring to the EPG (N in S34), it is determined that the content is actually started from the beginning. The process proceeds to S42. If the channel has been changed, the EPG is referred to. When switching to the external input unit 16 is performed, the degree of progress of the content is acquired from the external video device 42 and determined. When an interrupt has occurred due to a change of channel or switching to the external input unit 16, a flag indicating that is set, and the timing specifying unit 32 refers to the flag to specify the start time Information, more specifically, EPG or the like is selected.

  If it is determined that the content has started from the beginning (Y of S36), first, the effect control unit 23 displays a closed state for a predetermined time as shown in FIG. 2A (S38). At this time, all the contents are hidden, but this is not the only case. For example, the curtain may be half open or the contents may be seen through. Further, the predetermined time for displaying the closed state of the curtain may be substantially 0 seconds or may be settable by the user. Furthermore, for example, when the start time is specified with reference to the EPG or viewing reservation is made, a state in which the curtain is closed a predetermined time ago is displayed, for example, 2 seconds before the actual start time. May be.

  When the curtain is displayed for a predetermined time, the effect control unit 23 gives the content a display effect that gradually opens the curtain, as shown in FIG. 2B (S40). The time for which this curtain opens may be settable by the user. When the operation of opening the curtain ends, as shown in FIG. 2C, the curtain is displayed beside the content (S42). If the display effect is such that the curtain disappears from the display screen, the process of S42 is skipped.

  Returning to the description of the process of S36, when it is determined that the start is not started from the beginning of the content (N of S36), the content determination unit 31 determines whether or not to resume from a scene where the viewing of the content is terminated halfway. (S44). The process of S44 is performed when the external input unit 16 is selected, and is performed by comparing the image of the external input unit 16 with the image and chapter number held in the history holding unit 51 as described above. Is called. Further, when the external video device 42 and the television 10 are linked, it may be determined by receiving notification from the external video device 42 that the scene is resumed from the previously interrupted scene.

  If it is determined to resume from the middle (Y in S44), the effect control unit 23 gives a display effect for resumption in which the curtain is opened and the text “Resume” is displayed instead of FIG. 2B. (S46). When the process of S46 is completed or when it is determined that the process is not resumed (N in S44), the effect control unit 23 displays the curtains on both sides of the content (S42).

  The state in which the curtain is opened is displayed until the content ends (N in S48). When it is determined that the content has ended (Y in S48), as shown in FIG. 3B, a display effect for gradually closing the curtain is applied to the content (S50). When the operation of closing the curtain is finished, as shown in FIG. 3C, the effect control unit 23 displays a state where the curtain is closed for a predetermined time, the process by this flow is finished, and the display effect is initialized.

  Next, processing when an operation to turn off the power of the television 10 is performed will be described with reference to a flowchart of FIG.

  When the user performs a power-off operation using the remote controller 43, the operation acquisition unit 17 notifies the main control unit 15 of a signal to that effect. Then, in the process shown in FIG. 7 (S30 to S50), an interrupt process occurs, and the process according to this flow is started.

  The power management unit 40 of the main control unit 15 notifies the content determination unit 31 that a signal to turn off the power has been received (S70). Then, the content determination part 31 determines whether it is an effect provision mode (S72). If it is determined that the mode is the effect applying mode (Y in S72), it is further determined whether the mode is the “cinema mode” or the “user mode” (S74). When it is determined that the mode is “cinema mode” or “user mode”, the effect control unit 23 gives a display effect for closing the curtain to the content (S76). When the display effect for closing the curtain ends, the power management unit 40 executes a process for turning off the television 10. When it is determined that the mode is not the effect applying mode (N in S72), or when it is determined that the mode is not the “cinema mode” or the “user mode” (N in S74), the power management unit 40 turns off the television 10. Processing is executed (S76).

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the display effect can be applied at the time when the content starts or ends. In addition, thin display devices such as liquid crystal televisions whose size exceeds 50 inches are purchased by general consumers. Therefore, when viewing content of a genre such as a movie, especially when displaying a curtain at the start and end timing of the content on the large screen as described above, the presence of being in a movie theater while at home Can be provided to viewers. Further, even when the content does not include information regarding the start time and the end time, it is possible to give the content a display effect that opens and closes the curtain at an appropriate timing.

  The present invention has been described based on the embodiments. This embodiment is an exemplification, and it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications can be made to the combination of each component and each processing process, and such modifications are also within the scope of the present invention. .

  The present invention can be widely used for display devices such as televisions.

It is a functional block diagram which shows the structure of the television which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the display effect provided when a content starts. It is a figure which shows an example of the display effect provided when a content is complete | finished. It is a figure which shows the screen which sets screen display setting and audio | voice setting. It is a figure which shows the screen which sets the conditions which provide a display effect for every screen display mode. It is a flowchart which shows the process which provides a display effect when a power supply is turned on. It is a flowchart which shows the process which provides a display effect in the state in which a power supply is on. It is a flowchart which shows the process which provides a display effect when a power supply is turned off.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Television (display apparatus) 11 ... Tuner 12 ... Reception part 13 ... Decoding processing part 15 ... Main control part 16 ... External input part 17 ... Operation acquisition unit, 18 ... display unit, 19 ... speaker, 20 ... output control unit, 21 ... selector, 22 ... video construction unit, 23 ... effect control unit, 30 ... ..Effect determining unit 31... Content determining unit 32. Timing identifying unit 33. Effect storing unit 34. Setting acquiring unit 35. Video input unit 36. Audio input unit 37 ... External device control unit 38 ... Display setting unit 39 ... Audio setting unit 40 ... Power management unit 42 ... External video device 43 ... Remote control 51 ... History holding unit

Claims (5)

Obtaining information related to image display settings set in the display device;
And a step of applying a display effect to the content at the start and / or end of the content according to the acquired image display setting. Identifying an input path of content data input to the display device;
2. The display method according to claim 1, further comprising a step of determining whether or not to apply the display effect at a start time and / or an end time of the content according to the specified input path.   3. The display method according to claim 1, wherein when a power on / off signal of the display device is input, the display effect is applied in accordance with the operation of the display device according to the signal. A step of holding an image at the end when content input from a predetermined input path ends in the middle;
Determining that the input of content data has started from the predetermined input path;
4. The display according to claim 2, further comprising: a step of referring to the held image and determining whether the data of the content whose input has been started is the content that has been completed halfway. Method. A display setting acquisition unit for acquiring information related to image display settings of content to be displayed;
In accordance with the acquired image display setting, it is determined whether or not a display effect is to be applied. If it is determined that the display effect should be applied, the display effect is displayed at the start and / or end time for the content to be displayed. An effect imparting section for imparting
And a storage unit for storing data used for the display effect.

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