JP2009118261A - Channel selection method and broadcast receiver - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To receive a service by a channel having an excellent reception state when a user executes channel selection by a broadcast receiver. <P>SOLUTION: A tuner control part 50 of a television receiver 10 is provided with a reception-state determination part 51, a channel-list generation part 52, a channel-list holding part 53, a reception-state comparison part 54, and a channel-list update part 55. The reception-state determination part 51 acquires reception states of channels selected by first/second tuner modules 20, 30 so as to determine the reception states. The reception-state comparison part 54 compares the reception states with each other so as to determine which reception state of the channel in the first/second tuner modules 20, 30 is excellent. As a result of the comparison, the reception-state comparison part 54 selects the reception state better than the other one as the tuner module to be displayed and sound-outputted. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a channel selection method and a broadcast receiving apparatus, and more particularly to a channel selection method for creating a receivable channel list and selecting a channel based on the channel list and a broadcast receiving apparatus having such a function.

  In the TV broadcast receiving apparatus, in order to set a channel that can be selected conventionally, a channel that can be selected is searched at a timing that is not used by the user, and a channel whose reception state is a predetermined level or higher is selected. It has a function to generate a channel list as possible channels.

  As described above, several techniques for enabling channel selection in a good reception state have been proposed. As such a technology, when a channel that provides a certain service (also referred to as “organization channel”) is changed on the broadcast station side, that is, when the frequency is changed, the channel change information included in the broadcast wave is acquired, A technique for updating a channel preset table and determining whether normal reception is possible according to the updated channel preset table has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1). With this technique, it is possible to automatically follow a channel change without performing a channel search or the like by the user.

Also, if there are different channels that provide the same service when a channel list that can be selected is recorded in the receiver by performing a channel search in advance, priorities are set according to the reception status and selected. There is also a technique for searching for a channel in a good reception state in descending order of priority at the station (see, for example, Patent Document 2).
Special republication WO2005 / 011265 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-90908

  By the way, in the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, there is a case where the change of the frequency cannot be recognized until the channel search is executed. In addition, if channel preset is performed only with the acquired channel change information, there are cases where it is not possible to follow when the change date is changed. Furthermore, in the technique disclosed in Patent Document 2, since the channel selection operation is performed until a channel having a good reception state is found according to a predetermined priority order, it takes time until the service is presented to the user. Furthermore, since all the channels described in the channel list are not compared, there is no guarantee that the optimum channel is selected. As described above, as a general function, when a channel search is performed and the channel list is updated when the television broadcast receiver is off, the channel list is not necessarily displayed when the user selects the channel by turning on the television broadcast receiver. A good reception state is not always obtained, and the reception state of another channel may be better. In addition, some users may unplug the power supply from the outlet in order to reduce standby power when the television broadcast receiver is turned off. In such a case, there is a problem that the channel list is not updated.

  In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a technique capable of receiving a service with a good reception state when the same service is provided by different channels at the same timing.

The method according to the present invention relates to a channel selection method. This method is a channel selection method for a broadcast receiving apparatus including a plurality of tuners, and for a receivable service, a service specifying step of specifying a plurality of channels provided at the same timing for the same service, A reception state step of determining reception states in the plurality of channels providing the same service; a list generation step of associating the services, the plurality of channels and the reception state in a channel list; and a channel selection instruction When a reception is performed, a plurality of channels are separately set to a plurality of tuners by referring to the channel list, and a reception state comparison step of comparing reception states in the plurality of tuners is selected, and a channel having a good reception state is selected. And a channel selection process for setting a channel to be stationed.
In addition, this method may include a re-comparison step of changing a channel other than the channel having the best reception state among the channels set in the plurality of tuners and comparing the reception state.
The method may further include a list update step of updating the channel list based on the reception status of the channel compared in the reception status comparison step.
An apparatus according to the present invention is a broadcast receiving apparatus including a plurality of tuners, and creates a channel list by associating a receivable service, a channel providing the service, and a reception state of the channel. And a reception state determination unit that sets different channels associated with the selected service in the plurality of tuners in the channel list and determines reception states of the channels, and the selected channel. For a service, referring to the channel list, a plurality of channels are separately set in a plurality of tuners, and a reception state comparison unit that compares reception states in the plurality of tuners based on a determination result in the reception state determination unit; A channel selection unit that selects a channel having a good reception state as a channel to be selected, and To.
In this apparatus, the reception state comparison unit may change channels other than the channel having the best reception state among the channels set in the plurality of tuners, and compare the reception states after the change. Good.
The apparatus may further include a channel list updating unit that updates the channel list at a predetermined timing based on the compared reception state.

  According to the present invention, when the same service is provided by different channels at the same timing, this service can be received by a channel having a good reception state.

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

  In the present embodiment, when a user selects a desired service (organization channel) in a television receiver having a plurality of tuners, the channel having the best reception state is selected from the channels that provide the service. Bureau. Of course, the present invention can be applied not only to a television receiver but also to a recording / playback apparatus including a plurality of tuners.

  FIG. 1 schematically shows that the television receiver 10 according to the present embodiment is in a state where it can receive the broadcasts of the two relay stations 91 and 92, and the television suitable for such a state according to the present embodiment. A receiving device 10 is proposed. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a case where the same service is transmitted from the same relay station using two frequencies. For example, there is a case where a digital broadcast channel is reorganized (frequency repacking) when analog broadcasting is stopped. At this time, as shown in the figure, the old wave and the new wave that provide the same service are transmitted redundantly in the periods D1 to D2, which are simultaneous periods, and the service is provided only by the new wave after the period D2. Then, as shown in the figure, the output of the old wave is gradually lowered to prompt the user to shift to the new wave. In general, as described above, the television receiver 10 automatically updates the channel change information with reference to the channel change information. However, in some cases, the user sets the channel list by manual operation. Is preferred.

  Therefore, first, when creating a channel list, if multiple channels providing the same service are in a state where channel selection is possible, the channels that can be selected are prioritized based on the past reception state to the channel list. Record it. Then, at the time of channel selection, the two tuners are activated, the channel with the highest priority is selected on the one hand, and the channel with the second priority is selected on the other tuner. Further, if it is determined that the reception state is not good in the tuner that has selected a channel with a higher priority, if there is a good channel in the second and subsequent channels, channel selection is determined for that good channel. . The channel described below means a physical channel associated with a frequency, and does not mean a knitting channel referred to as a channel selection button number of a remote control device or the like.

  FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram showing a main configuration of the television receiver 10 according to the present embodiment. As shown in the figure, the television receiver 10 includes a main control unit 12 that comprehensively controls the following components, first and second tuner modules 20 and 30 as two tuner modules, an output processing unit 41, and the like. A display unit 42 for displaying video and a speaker for outputting sound.

  Furthermore, the television receiver 10 includes a distributor 40 that demultiplexes the signal received by the antenna 46 into the first and second tuner modules 20 and 30, a remote control light receiver 44 that acquires an operation instruction for the remote controller 45, And a tuner control unit 50 that controls the first and second tuner modules 20 and 30.

  The first tuner module 20 includes a first tuner unit 21, a first demodulation processing unit 22, and a first decoding process 23.

  The first tuner unit 21 selects a channel and extracts a signal (IF signal) having a desired frequency in order to execute a user's channel selection instruction or channel list creation process.

  The first demodulation processing unit 22 demodulates the extracted signal and extracts a TS signal.

  The first decoding process 23 reproduces the video signal and the audio signal by the separation process (DeMUX process) and the decoding process of the service selected from the TS signal.

  Similar to the first tuner module 20, the second tuner module 30 includes a second tuner unit 31, a second demodulation processing unit 32, and a second decoding processing unit 33. The second tuner unit 31, the second demodulation processing unit 32, and the second decoding processing unit 33 have the same functions as the first tuner unit 21, the first demodulation processing unit 22, and the first decoding processing 23, respectively. Then, explanation is omitted.

  The output processing unit 41 performs processing for outputting the video signal and the audio signal reproduced by the first decoding processing 23 or the second decoding processing unit 33 to the display unit 42 and the speaker 43. In the processing, the output processing unit 41 synthesizes the video screen and the data broadcast screen as necessary.

  The tuner control unit 50 performs channel selection control of the first and second tuner modules 20 and 30, and performs a characteristic process in the present embodiment, a reception state determination unit 51, a channel list generation unit 52, A channel list holding unit 53, a reception state comparing unit 54, and a channel list updating unit 55.

  The reception state determination unit 51 acquires the reception state of the channel selected by the first and second tuner modules 20 and 30 and determines the reception state. Further, the reception state comparison unit 54 compares the reception states to determine which of the first and second tuner modules 20 and 30 has a good reception state. The reception state is determined based on, for example, a BER (Bit Error Rate) value, a CN (Carrier to Noise ratio) value, and reception intensity.

  The channel list generation unit 52 creates a channel list that can be received by the first and second tuner modules 20 and 30, and records the created channel list in the channel list holding unit 53. Then, the channel list update unit 55 executes the channel list creation and update processing, for example, in the standby mode at midnight every day, and when the television receiver 10 is turned on at that timing, the television receiver 10 Wait until it turns off and run in standby mode. Note that the standby mode refers to a state in which the main power of the television receiver 10 is turned on and the channel selection process and the display process are not performed as a standby state and the user's operation is waited for.

  FIG. 4 shows a table showing an example of the contents of the channel list created by the channel list generator 52. FIG. 4A is a channel list created in the present embodiment, and FIG. 4B is a channel list that is generally created conventionally. In the figure, “button number” means the main body of the television receiver 10, a channel selection button of the remote controller 45, and the like. Therefore, for example, in FIG. 4A, when the button number “1” of the remote control device 45 is pressed, the channel “U21” (frequency 521 MHz) providing the service ID “141” is selected and the button number “2” is selected. "" Is pressed, the channel "U22" providing the service ID "161" is selected.

  First, as shown in FIG. 4B, in the channel list created conventionally, one channel (CH) and the frequency of the channel are associated with one service ID. For example, the channel (CH) “U21” is associated with the service ID “141”.

  On the other hand, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4A, it is possible to associate a plurality of channels (CH) and the frequencies of their physical channels with one service ID. For example, only the channel “U21” is associated with the service ID “141”.

  In FIG. 4A, the comparison result of the past reception states is recorded. Here, the comparison results for three times from the previous time to the previous three times are recorded in numbers in the order in which the reception state is good. In the service ID “161”, the previous channel “U22” has the best reception state “1”, the channel “U26” has the second best reception state “2”, and the channel “U28” has the third reception state. A certain “3” is recorded.

  Here, the comparison result of the reception state is recorded as the reception state, but the value of the BER value or the CN value may be recorded. Then, the channel list update unit 55 updates the priority at the above-described update timing based on a predetermined timing, for example, the past three reception states, or updates based on the record for one week. Further, when a BER value, a CN value, a reception level, or the like is recorded, the priority order may be determined based on the transition of the numerical values.

  The service ID “161” is associated with three channels “U22”, “U26”, and “U28”, and the above-mentioned “U22” channel is the last two times and three times before. Since the reception state “1” is twice and the reception state “2” is once, this indicates that the channel is in a better reception state when the channel list is created.

  Further, for example, when the channel selection button with the button number “2” of the remote control device 45 is pressed and a channel selection instruction with the service ID “161” is given, the first tuner module 20 first selects the channel “U22”. Then, the second tuner module 30 selects the channel “U26”. Then, the reception state determination unit 51 determines which channel is in a good reception state, selects a tuner module that has received a good channel as a final tuning tuner module, and performs output processing. An output instruction is given to the unit 41.

  Hereinafter, the channel selection processing in the television receiver 10 will be described based on the flowchart shown in FIG.

  When the user instructs to select a desired service using the remote controller 45 or the like, the tuner control unit 50 is designated with reference to the channel list held in the channel list holding unit 53 as a service specifying step. It is checked whether two or more receivable channels are recorded for the service ID indicating the service (S10).

  When two or more stations are recorded (Y in S10), the following reception state comparison steps (S12, S14) are executed. That is, the reception state comparison unit 54 instructs the first and second tuner modules 20 and 30 to select and set the upper two stations with the highest priority (S12). Accordingly, for example, if the service ID “161” in FIG. 4A is selected, the first tuner module 20 sets the channel “U22” having the highest priority as the frequency to be selected. . Further, the second tuner module 30 sets the channel “U26” having the second highest priority as a frequency to be selected.

  Next, the reception state determination unit 51 acquires the reception states (BER value, CN value, etc.) of the first and second tuner modules 20 and 30, and the reception state comparison unit 54 receives the first and second tuners. Which of the modules 20 and 30 is in good reception is compared (S14). The comparison of the reception state is performed by referring to the BER value, CN value, etc. obtained from the signals received by the first and second tuner modules 20 and 30 as described above.

  Then, as a result of the comparison process in the reception state comparison unit 54, the tuner control unit 50 changes the set channel to a channel that has not been set for the tuner module that is determined to be inferior in the reception state (S16). ). For example, when the reception state of the channel “U26” received by the second tuner module 30 in the above example is inferior, the second tuner module 30 has a channel “U28” instead of the channel “U26”. Is set. Further, the channel “U22” of the first tuner module 20 is not changed.

  If the reception status of any tuner module is very good, the comparison process is stopped and the reception status is changed even if there is another channel whose reception status should be compared. A tuner module that is determined to be very good may be determined as a channel selection target, that is, a presentation process (display and output process). Thereby, the speed of the channel selection process can be improved.

  The reception state comparison unit 54 determines whether or not all channels recorded in the same service ID have been set by any channel module (S18). If an unset channel still remains (N in S18), the process returns to the step S14 as a re-comparison process and the subsequent processing is performed.

  When all the channels are set (Y in S18), the reception state comparison unit 54 determines a channel with a good reception state as a channel to be finally presented to the user (S20). For example, if the reception state of the channel “U26” is better as a result of the comparison between the reception states of the channels “U22” and “U26”, the channel “U26” having the second highest priority in the channel list. Is the channel presented to the user.

  On the other hand, in step S10, when two or more selectable channels are not recorded in the channel list (N in S10), the tuner control unit 50 determines whether a selectable channel is recorded in the channel list. (S22).

  If a channel is recorded (Y in S22), the channel is set to either the first tuner module 20 or the second tuner module 30 (S24). Which tuner module is set may be fixed constantly.

  When the channel to be presented to the user is determined in steps S20 and S24, the tuner control unit 50 sends the video signal and audio signal of the tuner module received by setting the channel to the output processing unit 41 as the presentation process. Then, the output processing unit 41 performs appropriate processing to output a video signal and an audio signal to the display unit 42 and the speaker 43 (S28).

  In the step of S22, when a receivable channel is not recorded in the channel list (N in S22), the main control unit 12 displays on the display unit 42 that the reception is impossible from the output processing unit 41. (S26). This completes a series of processing.

  In the comparison of the reception state in S14, when it is determined that a channel with a high priority is sufficiently good in reception, the subsequent processing is not performed and the channel may be determined as a channel to be presented to the user. Good. In this way, the channel selection operation can be simplified.

  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 combinations of these components, and such modifications are also within the scope of the present invention.

  For example, the output to the display unit 42 and the speaker 43 is made after the channel to be finally selected is determined, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, if it is determined that the reception status of the priority channel is good, output to the display unit 42 and the speaker 43 is performed even before comparison with other channels, and then the comparison process is performed. May be made. Further, the target broadcast is not limited to the television broadcast but may be a radio broadcast.

It is the figure which showed typically that the television receiver which concerns on embodiment is in the state which can receive the broadcast of two relay stations. It is the figure which showed the case where the simultaneous period which the same service transmits by two frequencies from the same relay station has arisen based on embodiment. It is a functional block diagram which shows the main structures of the television receiver based on embodiment. The table which showed an example of the contents of the channel list created by the channel list generation part concerning an embodiment is shown. It is a flowchart which shows the channel selection process in the television receiver based on Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Television receiver 12 Main control part 20 1st tuner module 21 1st tuner part 22 1st demodulation process part 23 1st decoding process 30 2nd tuner module 31 2nd tuner part 32 2nd demodulation process part 33 2nd decoding process Unit 40 distributor 41 output processing unit 42 display unit 43 speaker 44 remote control light receiving unit 45 remote control device 46 antenna 50 tuner control unit 51 reception state determination unit 52 channel list generation unit 53 channel list holding unit 54 reception state comparison unit 55 channel list update Part

Claims (6)

A channel selection method for a broadcast receiving apparatus including a plurality of tuners,
With respect to receivable services, a service identifying step for identifying a plurality of channels provided at the same timing for the same service,
A reception state comparison step of determining reception states in the plurality of channels providing the same service;
A list generation step of associating the service, the plurality of channels, and the reception state with each other and recording the channel list;
When a channel selection instruction is given, a plurality of channels are separately set to a plurality of tuners with reference to the channel list, and a reception state comparison step of comparing reception states in the plurality of tuners and a current reception state are A channel selection process for selecting a good channel as a channel to be selected,
A channel selection method characterized by comprising:
2. The channel selection method according to claim 1, further comprising: a re-comparison step of comparing a reception state by changing a channel other than a channel having the best reception state among channels set in the plurality of tuners. Method.
3. The channel selection method according to claim 1, further comprising a list update step of updating the channel list based on the reception state of the compared channels in the reception state comparison step.
A broadcast receiving device comprising a plurality of tuners,
A channel list generation unit that creates a channel list by associating a receivable service, a channel that provides the service, and a reception state of the channel;
In the channel list, a different channel associated with the selected service is set in the plurality of tuners, and a reception state determination unit that determines the reception state of these channels;
For the selected service, a plurality of channels are separately set in a plurality of tuners with reference to the channel list, and reception states in the plurality of tuners are compared based on a determination result of the reception state determination unit. A state comparison unit;
A channel selection unit that selects a channel with a good reception state as a channel to be selected,
A broadcast receiving apparatus comprising:
5. The reception state comparing unit changes channels other than the channel having the best reception state among channels set in the plurality of tuners, and compares the reception states after the change. The broadcast receiving apparatus described in 1.
6. The broadcast receiving apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a channel list update unit that updates the channel list at a predetermined timing based on the compared reception state.

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