JP2010010829A - Electronic program guide generator and electronic program guide generating method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable browsing of a video of an imaging device with the same sense of operation as to operate an electronic program guide. <P>SOLUTION: An electronic program guide generator has: a receiving means for receiving broadcast program information; an acquisition means for acquiring video and video information about the video from an imaging device; and an electronic program guide generating means for creating an electronic program guide where program sequences arranging program entries related to programs in the first direction in order of time of day so that the program entries broadcast in the same time band are arranged on a second direction axis crossing the first direction on the basis of the program information received by the receiving means are placed and imaging device video browsing entry sequences arranging imaging device video browsing entries 301 to 304 related to video of the imaging device so that they are on the second direction axis are placed on the basis of the video information acquired by the acquisition means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic program guide generating device and an electronic program guide generating method.

Imaging devices that can view real-time video such as Web cameras are used not only for large-scale security systems but also for home use status confirmation means such as pet monitoring in recent years. Conventionally, these videos are browsed by using a PC or the like and starting a dedicated viewer.
However, the user has to start the PC and the dedicated viewer every time the image of the imaging apparatus is confirmed, and the operation feeling is different for each viewer or is specialized. Therefore, there is a problem that a user who wants to use for home use has a high threshold and impairs convenience and operability.

As a technique for solving the above-described problem, Patent Document 1 is known that aims to guide various services with the same operational feeling.
The purpose of this technology is to comprehensively guide (control) various services such as TV broadcasting, security services, and home appliance control services by independently building a system having the same form as an electronic program guide (EPG). It is said. At that time, XML data is defined so that various services can be handled in a unified manner, and guide (control) is realized by using the data in an original client / server model.
But with this technology, all the services that you guide must support a unique client / server model.

JP 2001-346187 A

  As described above, in the conventional browsing means, the PC and the dedicated viewer must be activated separately. Even if these dedicated viewers are introduced to the TV, the operation of the remote control user interface alone becomes more complicated than that performed on a PC, and there is a problem that impairs the convenience and operability of users who want to use for home use. .

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and an object of the present invention is to make it possible to view an image of an imaging apparatus with the same operation feeling as when operating an electronic program guide.

  Therefore, the present invention provides a program based on receiving means for receiving broadcast program information, acquisition means for acquiring video and video information relating to the video from an imaging device, and program information received by the receiving means. The program arrangements in which the program entries according to the above are arranged in the first direction in time order are arranged so that a plurality of program entries broadcast in the same time zone are arranged on the second direction axis intersecting the first direction, And, based on the video information acquired by the acquisition means, an imaging device video browsing entry array in which imaging device video browsing entries related to the video of the imaging device are arranged in the first direction is arranged on the second direction axis. And an electronic program guide generating means for generating an electronic program guide arranged so as to be arranged in a line.

  Further, the present invention is an electronic program guide generation method in an electronic program guide generation device, wherein a reception step of receiving broadcast program information, an acquisition step of acquiring video and video information relating to the video from an imaging device, Based on the program information received in the receiving step, a program arrangement in which program entries related to the program are arranged in the first direction in time order, and the program entries broadcast in the same time zone intersect the first direction. A plurality of imaging device video browsing entries related to the video of the imaging device are arranged in the first direction based on the video information acquired in the acquisition step. And an electronic program guide generation step of creating an electronic program guide in which imaging device video browsing entry arrays are arranged on the second direction axis.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the image | video of an imaging device can be browsed with the same operation feeling as operating an electronic program guide.

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

<Embodiment 1>
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a system configuration of a program display system. Connected to the program display device 1 is a display device 2 capable of displaying a television broadcast program and various videos. Various operation instructions from the user are performed by an operation input device 3 represented by a remote controller.
The program display device 1 receives video and audio of a broadcast program and information related to the broadcast program via the television line 4. The broadcast program may be recorded by the program display device 1 or may be output to the display device 2 through a decoding process or the like by the program display device 1. Also, the video of the imaging device and information relating to the video are input to the program display device 1 via the line 5 connected to the imaging device. The video of the imaging device may be recorded by the program display device 1 or may be output to the display device 2 through decoding processing by the program display device 1 or the like.

  FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the program display device 1. The program display device 1 includes a program receiving unit 101, an imaging device video receiving unit 102, a display output unit 103, a user operation receiving unit 104, a recording control unit 105, a recording unit 106, a keyword extracting unit 107, a display control unit 108, and an imaging device. Video decoder 120 and TV decoder 121. In addition, the program display device 1 includes an operation analysis unit 122 and a display switching unit 123. Each of these functional blocks can be realized in various forms by a combination of hardware and software.

The program receiving unit 101 receives video and audio of a broadcast program and information (program information) related to the broadcast program via a television broadcast line. Information relating to the program information is held on a memory which is an example of a recording device of the program display device 1. The video and audio of the broadcast program are output to the display output unit 103 through processing by the TV decoder 121, for example.
The imaging device video reception unit 102 receives video of the imaging device and information related to the video (video information) via a line connected to the imaging device. The program display device 1 may store information about the video in the memory of the program display device 1 or may store the information in the recording unit 106 via the recording control unit 105. Further, the program display device 1 may output the video and audio of the imaging device to the display output unit 103 through processing in the video decoder 120 of the imaging device.

The user operation receiving unit 104 receives a user's broadcast program browsing and imaging device video browsing instruction. The operation analysis unit 122 analyzes the browsing instruction received by the user operation reception unit 104. The display output unit 103 then outputs the video instructed by the user based on the result analyzed by the operation analysis unit 122.
The recording control unit 105 detects the image of the imaging device based on information about the video received by the imaging device video reception unit 102 or information on a user instruction received by the user operation reception unit 104 (or analyzed by the operation analysis unit 122). Is recorded in the recording unit 106. However, the recording control unit 105 may record video and audio of the broadcast program in the recording unit 106 based on the information.
The recording unit 106, which is an example of a recording device, records information about video, audio, and video received by the imaging device video receiving unit 102. Note that the recording unit 106 may record a broadcast program input via a television broadcast line and information related to the broadcast program. Here, for the sake of convenience, the recording unit 106 is cited as the internal configuration of the program display device 1. However, if the program display device 1 can acquire the information via the communication unit, the recording unit 106 is an external storage device including a storage unit. Also good.

The keyword extraction unit 107 extracts various keyword information such as alarm information and recording information such as a frame rate from the information related to the image of the imaging device recorded by the recording unit 106. The extracted data may be held on the memory of the program display device 1 or may be recorded in the recording unit 106.
The display control unit 108, which is an example of an electronic program guide generation unit, creates an electronic program guide based on information about the television program received by the program receiving unit 101 and information about the video of the imaging device extracted by the keyword extraction unit 107. To do. When the display control unit 108 creates the electronic program guide, the second direction axis that intersects the first direction with an imaging device entry array in which video entries of the imaging device described below are arranged in the first direction. Create to line up. An example of an electronic program guide output screen created by the display control unit 108 and output by the display output unit 103 is shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram (part 1) illustrating an example of an electronic program guide.

Further, in addition to the creation method described above, the display control unit 108 may create an electronic program guide so that video entries of the imaging device are arranged on the second direction axis. An example of an electronic program guide output screen created in this manner and output by the display output unit 103 is shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a second diagram illustrating an example of an electronic program guide.
As shown in FIG. 3, the electronic program guide includes a live entry 301 that allows viewing of real-time video of the imaging device, a recording entry 302 that allows viewing of recorded video of the imaging device, and an alarm recording entry 303 that allows viewing of alarm recording video of the imaging device. Including. In addition, the electronic program guide includes a recording reservation entry 304 that allows viewing and operation of imaging device settings and recording reservations, a current time line 305 that indicates the current time on the electronic program guide, a channel for television broadcasting, and a channel for the imaging device. A channel identifier for identifying. Further, the electronic program guide includes one or a plurality of broadcast program entries (program entries) that allow browsing of television broadcast programs.

More specifically, the display control unit 108 displays a program arrangement in which broadcast program entries are arranged in the first direction in time order based on program information, and the broadcast program entries broadcast in the same time zone are in the first direction. A plurality of electronic program guides arranged so as to be arranged on the second direction axis that intersects with is created.
Further, when the display control unit 108 creates the electronic program guide, an imaging device video browsing entry array in which imaging device video browsing entries (301, 302, 303, 304) are arranged in the first direction based on video information. Are arranged on the second direction axis to create the electronic program guide.

In addition, the display control unit 108 displays the live entry 301 related to the real-time video of the imaging device at a position where the second direction axis that coincides with the current time of the electronic program guide and the imaging device video browsing entry array intersect. The electronic program guide is created so as to be arranged.
In addition, the display control unit 108 arranges the recording entry 302 related to the video of the imaging device recorded in the memory or the like at a position before the live entry 301 in the imaging device video browsing entry array. Create a program guide.
In addition, the display control unit 108 arranges the recording reservation entry 304 related to the setting of the imaging device and the recording setting of the recording device at a position after the live entry 301 in the imaging device video browsing entry array. Create a program guide.

The display control unit 108 creates the alarm recording entry 303 by classifying the recorded video recorded by the recording unit 106 according to the alarm keyword extracted by the keyword extracting unit 107.
The program display device 1 may transmit a signal for setting and controlling the imaging device to the imaging device via the imaging device control unit 124 using the recording reservation entry 304.
The display control unit 108 may dynamically move the recording reservation entry 304 in conjunction with the current time (or time information) when creating the electronic program guide.

Next, an example of an operation input device for operating the program display device 1 is shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of the operation input device. In this example, the operation input device 3 is a remote controller. The operation input device 3 includes a recording entry browsing button 501 for a user to browse a video recorded in the recording unit 106 and a live entry browsing button 502 for browsing a real-time video of the imaging device. The operation input device 3 also includes a left button 504, a right button 505, an upper button 506, a determination button 507, a lower button 508, a cancel button 509, and a television entry button 503 for a user to view a television broadcast program. It has. In addition, the operation input device 3 includes an electronic program guide display button 510 for the user to browse a television broadcast program.
Selection of an entry for viewing various videos displayed in the electronic program guide is performed by the user pressing the left button 504, the right button 505, the upper button 506, and the lower button 508 to browse the actual video. Is performed by pressing the enter button 507.

An example of the processing when the enter button 507 is pressed is shown in FIG. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing when the enter button 507 is pressed.
When the enter button 507 is pressed, the program display device 1 determines whether or not it is a video viewing instruction based on a channel operation user instruction in the operation input device 3 (S10). If it is not a video browsing instruction (S10N), the program display device 1 immediately decodes the television broadcast program (S14) and outputs the television program video by the display output unit 103 (S15). When the user instruction in the channel operation is viewing of the video on the program display device 1 (S10Y), the program display device 1 determines whether to view the real-time video or the recorded video based on the user instruction (S11). . When viewing the recorded video (S11N), the program display device 1 immediately reads and decodes the recorded video (S13), and outputs the recorded video by the display output unit 103 (S15). When the user instruction is a real-time video in the preprocessing (S11Y), the program display device 1 decodes the real-time video (S12), and outputs the real-time video by the display output unit 103 (S15).

When the electronic program guide display button 510 is pressed, the program display apparatus 1 outputs the electronic program guide from the display output unit 103, and the electronic program guide display button 510 is pressed again for the output electronic program guide. To stop output. Further, the program display device 1 may stop outputting the electronic program guide when the cancel button 509 is pressed.
In addition, the program display device 1 allows the real-time video and the recorded video of the imaging device to be immediately browsed by pressing the live entry browsing button 502 and the recording entry browsing button 501 as well as the browsing request operation for the electronic program guide. It may be.

As described above, according to the above-described embodiment, the video channel of the imaging apparatus is integrated and displayed on the electronic program guide that is a TV menu system, so that the imaging apparatus can be operated with the same operational feeling as operating the electronic program guide. It becomes possible to view the video.
In addition, it is possible to reduce applications such as status confirmation using an imaging device such as a Web camera to the level of home use.
Further, by displaying the imaging device channel at the same level as the broadcasting station channel in the electronic program guide that is browsed on a daily basis, the confirmation and recognition can be performed very easily.

<Other embodiments>
The object of the present invention is achieved by the following. That is, a storage medium (or recording medium) in which a program code of software that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is recorded is supplied to the system or apparatus. Then, the central processing means (CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus reads and executes the program code stored in the storage medium. In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium recording the program code constitutes the present invention.

  In addition, by executing the program code read by the central processing means of the system or apparatus, an operating system (OS) or the like operating on the system or apparatus performs actual processing based on the instruction of the program code. Do some or all. The case where the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by the processing is also included.

  Furthermore, it is assumed that the program code read from the storage medium is written to a memory provided in a function expansion card inserted into the system or apparatus or a function expansion unit connected thereto. After that, based on the instruction of the program code, the CPU of the function expansion card or function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by the processing. It is.

  When the present invention is applied to the storage medium, the program code corresponding to the flowchart described above is stored in the storage medium (computer-readable storage medium).

  The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, but the present invention is not limited to such specific embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the gist of the present invention described in the claims.・ Change is possible.

It is a figure showing an example of the system configuration of a program display system. 2 is a functional block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a program display device 1. FIG. It is a figure (the 1) which shows an example of an electronic program guide. It is FIG. (2) which shows an example of an electronic program guide. It is a figure which shows an example of the operation input device. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing when a determination button 507 is pressed.

Explanation of symbols

1 Program Display Device 2 Display Device 3 Operation Input Device 4 Television Line 5 Line

Claims (12)

Receiving means for receiving broadcasted program information;
Acquisition means for acquiring video and video information relating to the video from the imaging device;
Based on the program information received by the receiving means, a program arrangement in which program entries related to a program are arranged in the first direction in time order, and program entries broadcast in the same time zone intersect the first direction. Arranging a plurality of images on the second direction axis and arranging imaging device video browsing entries related to the video of the imaging device in the first direction based on the video information acquired by the acquisition means An electronic program guide generating means for creating an electronic program guide in which imaging device video browsing entry arrays are arranged on the second direction axis;
An electronic program guide generating device characterized by comprising:   The electronic program guide generating means displays a live entry related to the real-time video of the imaging device at a position where a second direction axis that coincides with the current time of the electronic program guide and the imaging device video browsing entry array intersect. The electronic program guide generating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the electronic program guide is created so as to be arranged.   The electronic program guide generation means arranges the electronic entry so as to arrange a recording entry related to the video of the imaging device acquired by the acquisition means and recorded in the recording device at a position before the live entry. 3. The electronic program guide generating device according to claim 2, wherein a program guide is created.   The electronic program guide generating means creates the electronic program guide so that a recording reservation entry related to the setting of the imaging device and the recording setting of the recording device is arranged at a time position after the live entry. The electronic program guide generating device according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that   4. The electronic program guide generating device according to claim 3, wherein the electronic program guide generating unit generates the electronic program guide so that the recording entries are arranged in correspondence with time information of the electronic program guide. .   5. The electronic program guide generation unit according to claim 4, wherein the electronic program guide generation unit generates the electronic program guide so as to arrange the recording reservation entries in correspondence with time information of the electronic program guide. apparatus. An electronic program guide generating method in an electronic program guide generating device,
A receiving step for receiving broadcasted program information;
An acquisition step of acquiring a video and video information relating to the video from the imaging device;
Based on the program information received in the receiving step, a program arrangement in which program entries related to a program are arranged in the first direction in time order, and program entries broadcast in the same time zone intersect the first direction. Imaging in which a plurality of imaging device video viewing entries are arranged in the first direction based on the video information acquired in the acquisition step and arranged in a plurality on the second direction axis An electronic program guide generating step for creating an electronic program guide in which device video browsing entry arrays are arranged on the second direction axis;
An electronic program guide generation method comprising:   In the electronic program guide generation step, a live entry related to the real-time video of the imaging device is arranged at a position where a second direction axis that coincides with the current time of the electronic program guide and the imaging device video browsing entry array intersect The electronic program guide generation method according to claim 7, wherein the electronic program guide is created as described above.   In the electronic program guide generating step, the electronic entry is arranged so that a recording entry related to the image of the imaging device acquired in the acquisition step and recorded in the recording device is arranged at a position before the live entry. 9. The electronic program guide generation method according to claim 8, wherein a program guide is created.   In the electronic program guide generation step, the electronic program guide is created so that a recording reservation entry relating to the setting of the imaging device and the recording setting of the recording device is arranged at a time position after the live entry. 10. The electronic program guide generation method according to claim 8, wherein the electronic program guide is generated.   10. The electronic program guide generation method according to claim 9, wherein, in the electronic program guide generation step, the electronic program guide is generated so that the recording entries are arranged in correspondence with time information of the electronic program guide. .   11. The electronic program guide generation according to claim 10, wherein in the electronic program guide generation step, the electronic program guide is generated so that the recording reservation entry is arranged in correspondence with time information of the electronic program guide. Method.

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