JP2011029842A - Electronic program guide operating device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electronic program guide operating device wherein operability of cursor movement is improved in the time axis direction of an electronic program guide. <P>SOLUTION: The electronic program guide operating device includes a timer 110a which measures the time when a direction key assigned to the cursor movement in the time axis direction is depressed continuously, and a cursor control means 110b which changes the width and the transfer unit of a cursor in the time axis direction to a width corresponding to a fixed time in the time axis until the depression of the direction key assigned to the time axis direction is released, when the depression time of the direction key assigned to the cursor movement in the time axis direction continuously exceeds a predetermined time. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic program guide operating device.

  Conventionally, a service for providing broadcast program information of each channel has been provided. A television receiver or a recorder that records a television program receives this information, and creates and displays an electronic program guide based on this information. In general, an electronic program guide has a horizontal axis as a channel axis and a vertical axis as a time axis, and a program cell in which information such as a program name of a program to be broadcast is displayed is assigned to each channel in the channel axis direction. The time axis direction is arranged in a width corresponding to the broadcast time of the program. A cursor indicating a specific program cell is displayed in the electronic program guide, and the user selects a program cell of a desired program by moving the cursor by operating a cursor operation key such as a cross key provided on the remote control device or the main body. Perform operations such as recording reservation and viewing reservation. With respect to such an electronic program guide, various proposals for simplifying user operations have been made.

  Patent Document 1 discloses an electronic program guide display device that allows a date cell to be drawn on a program guide and can switch the date of the program guide with a simple operation.

  Patent Document 2 discloses a display control device and a display method in which a time column representing time or a channel column representing a broadcast channel of a program is further displayed on the vertical axis or the horizontal axis in addition to a tabular program table. Has been.

JP 2001-309266 A Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 08-251696

  In the conventional electronic program guide, the unit of movement of the cursor in the time axis direction is a program cell, so that if the user wants to select a long time ahead, it is not easy to move with the cursor. It was. In particular, if there are many program cells of a short program, it is difficult to move the cursor to a long time ahead. In addition, a technique for jumping to the time you want to move using functions other than the normal cursor operation keys has also been proposed, but operations other than the normal cursor operation keys must be performed, and the continuity of operations is not good was there.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above, and provides an electronic program guide operating device in which the operability of cursor movement in the time axis direction of an electronic program guide is improved.

  The electronic program guide operating device of the present invention measures the time during which the direction key assigned to the cursor movement in the time axis direction is continuously pressed, and if the time exceeds a predetermined time, the direction key Until the pressing of is canceled, the width in the time axis direction and the movement unit of the cursor are changed to a width corresponding to a certain time (for example, 1 hour) on the time axis. In this way, even if many program cells of a short-time program are included, it is easy to move the cursor to a long time ahead, and operability can be improved.

  An electronic program guide operating device according to the present invention includes an electronic program guide generating means for generating an electronic program guide in which program cells for displaying information of programs scheduled to be broadcast are arranged along a channel axis and a time axis, and pressing a direction key. Direction key press detection means for detecting, a cursor indicating a specific program cell in the electronic program guide is displayed, and the cursor is moved to the channel in response to detection of a press of a direction key assigned to cursor movement in the channel axis direction. Cursor control that sequentially moves to program cells adjacent in the axial direction and sequentially moves the cursor to program cells adjacent in the time-axis direction in response to detection of pressing of a direction key assigned to the cursor movement in the time-axis direction And a timer for measuring a time during which a direction key assigned to the cursor movement in the time axis direction is continuously pressed, When the time for which the direction key assigned to the cursor movement in the time axis direction is continuously pressed exceeds a predetermined time, the control means presses the direction key assigned in the time axis direction. Until the time axis is released, the width of the cursor in the time axis direction is changed to a width corresponding to the fixed time on the time axis, and the unit of movement of the cursor in the time axis direction is changed to the fixed time. And

  The cursor control means is configured so that each time the direction key assigned to the cursor movement in the time axis direction is continuously pressed exceeds another predetermined time longer than the predetermined time, the cursor control means The width of the cursor in the time axis direction is changed to a width corresponding to another fixed time stepwise longer than the fixed time on the time axis, and the movement unit of the cursor in the time axis direction is changed to the other fixed time. You may make it do.

  The cursor control means is assigned to the cursor movement in the time axis direction when the time during which the direction key assigned to the cursor movement in the time axis direction is continuously pressed exceeds a predetermined time. The cursor may be moved on the time axis until the direction key is released.

  The cursor control means is assigned to the cursor movement in the time axis direction when the time during which the direction key assigned to the cursor movement in the time axis direction is continuously pressed exceeds a predetermined time. The appearance of the cursor may be changed until the direction key is released.

  The cursor control means includes a direction assigned to the cursor movement in the time axis direction after a time during which a direction key assigned to the cursor movement in the time axis direction is continuously pressed exceeds a predetermined time. When the key is released, the cursor may be moved to the program cell of the program that is broadcast earliest among the program cells included in the time period occupied by the cursor immediately before.

  According to the present invention, the operability of moving the cursor in the time axis direction of the electronic program guide is improved.

It is a block diagram which shows an example of a structure of the digital television broadcast receiver which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure explaining the cursor of a normal program cell width. It is a figure explaining the cursor of 1 hour width. It is a figure explaining the cursor of the 1-hour width represented with the frame. It is a figure explaining the cursor of 1 hour width shown on the time axis. It is a flowchart explaining the cursor movement process of the time-axis direction of the digital television broadcast receiver which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

  Hereinafter, an electronic program guide operating device according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings, taking as an example a digital television broadcast receiving device.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a digital television broadcast receiver according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  This digital television broadcast receiver includes a tuner unit 101, a demultiplexer 102, a program information decoding unit 103, a video / audio decoding unit 104, an EPG configuration unit 105, a screen synthesis unit 106, a display unit 107, A voice output unit 108, an operation reception unit 109, a control unit 110, and a memory 111.

  The tuner unit 101 selects an arbitrary broadcast wave from a plurality of broadcast waves received by a satellite antenna or a terrestrial antenna or supplied by cable broadcasting, and supplies the selected broadcast wave to the demultiplexer 102. The demultiplexer 102 selects a digital signal of an arbitrary channel from a plurality of channels included in the selected broadcast wave by demultiplexing processing, supplies the digital signal to the video / audio decoding unit 104, and program information to the program information decoding unit 103. The video / audio decoding unit 104 obtains a video / audio signal by decoding the digital signal of the selected channel, supplies the video signal to the screen synthesis unit 106, and supplies the audio signal to the audio output unit 108. The program information decoding unit 103 decodes the program information and supplies it to the EPG configuration unit 105. The EPG configuration unit 105 configures an EPG screen based on the decoded program information and supplies the EPG screen to the screen composition unit 106. The screen synthesizing unit 106 synthesizes the video signal of the program, the EPG screen, the reservation screen, and the like, and supplies them to the display unit 107. The display unit 107 is a liquid crystal display or the like, and displays a program video, various control screens, and the like. The audio output unit 108 includes an amplifier, a speaker, and the like, and outputs program audio, warning sound, and the like. The memory 111 stores program information and reservation information.

  These units are controlled by the control unit 110. The control unit 110 receives a control signal from an operation button (not shown) of the remote control device 112 or the main body via the operation reception unit 109, receives a user operation such as cursor movement in the electronic program guide, and controls the screen composition unit 106. To reflect on the display of the electronic program guide.

  In the electronic program guide, as shown in FIG. 2, program cells corresponding to each program scheduled to be broadcast are arranged vertically and horizontally. Information such as a program name and a program performer is displayed in the program cell. In the electronic program guide, the horizontal axis is the channel axis, and the vertical axis is the time axis. The width in the channel axis direction of each program cell is a width equally assigned to each channel, and the width in the time axis direction is a width corresponding to the broadcast time of the program. Therefore, the widths in the channel axis direction of each program cell are all the same, but the width in the time axis direction differs depending on the broadcasting time, and the width of the program cell of the program cell having a long broadcasting time is wide. However, the width of the program cell of a short program in the time axis direction is narrow.

  A cursor is positioned in one of the program cells. The cursor is indicated, for example, by displaying a program cell where the cursor is located in a different color from other program cells where the cursor is not located, or by being surrounded by a frame. In FIG. 2, it is indicated by hatching. The user can move the cursor to a predetermined program cell by using a direction key provided on the remote control device 112 or the main body.

  When the operation reception unit 109 detects a direction key pressing signal generated by pressing a direction key provided on the remote control device 112 or the main body, the control unit 110 causes the cursor to change the direction of the direction key corresponding to the direction key pressing signal. To move to the next program cell without waiting time.

  In this digital television broadcast receiving apparatus, when the horizontal direction key is continuously pressed, that is, when the cursor is moved in the channel axis direction, and when the vertical direction key is continuously pressed, that is, when the cursor is moved in the time axis direction. Different processing is performed depending on the case.

  When the horizontal key is continuously pressed and the horizontal key pressed signal is detected, the control unit 110 moves the cursor to the next program cell after a predetermined waiting time elapses. If the horizontal key continues to be pressed and the horizontal key pressed signal continues to be detected, key repeat processing is entered, and the waiting time has elapsed according to the width of the currently positioned program cell in the direction of the pressed horizontal key. Thereafter, the cursor is further moved to the next program cell. This processing is performed while the horizontal key is continuously pressed and the horizontal key press signal is continuously detected. After entering the key repeat process, the cursor movement unit is changed every 2 program cells (2 channels) after elapse of a predetermined time, or after the predetermined time elapses, the cursor movement unit is changed to 4 program cells (4 channels). ), Or after the elapse of a predetermined time, the unit of movement of the cursor can be set for each page (one screen). This makes it possible to quickly reach the program cell of the desired channel, particularly when the number of channels is large.

  The control unit 110 includes a timer 110a and a cursor control unit 110b. The timer 110a measures the time during which the vertical key is continuously pressed, that is, the time during which the vertical key press signal is detected. The cursor control unit 110b controls the width of the cursor in the time axis direction and the movement width of the cursor according to the time during which the vertical direction key is continuously pressed.

  Within a predetermined time (for example, 2 seconds) from the start of pressing the vertical direction key, after entering the key repeat process, the cursor is sequentially moved to the adjacent program cell. That is, the unit of movement of the cursor is a program cell, that is, the broadcast time of each program.

  When the time during which the vertical direction key is continuously pressed exceeds the predetermined time, the cursor control unit 110b changes the width of the cursor in the time axis direction in units of one hour. That is, the cursor occupies an area of one channel for one hour regardless of the program cell. The cursor control unit 110b further changes the unit of movement of the cursor in the time axis direction to one hour unit. By doing so, the movement speed of the cursor does not become slow even in a portion where many program cells of a program having a short broadcast time are included, and the cursor can be easily moved to a long time.

  When the time during which the vertical key is continuously pressed exceeds a predetermined time (for example, 10 seconds), the cursor control unit 110b sets the cursor movement unit to 6 hours or after the predetermined time has elapsed. Also, the unit of movement of the cursor can be set to a unit of 12 hours.

  Also, a normal cursor whose width in the time axis direction is the width of the program cell in the time axis direction is indicated by displaying it in a different color from other program cells where the cursor is not located, and the cursor in the time axis direction is a time unit. May be indicated by surrounding them with a frame as shown in FIG.

  Further, when the movement of the cursor in the time axis direction is in units of time, the cursor position may be moved on the time axis as shown in FIG.

  When the vertical key is released from the state where the movement of the cursor in the time axis direction is in time units, the cursor control unit 110b returns the width and movement unit of the cursor in the time axis direction to program cell units. The program cell to which the cursor returns at this time is, for example, the program cell of the top program (broadcast at the earliest time) among programs in which at least a part of the broadcast time is included in the time when the cursor was located. Alternatively, it may be the program cell of the top program (broadcast at the earliest time) among the programs including the start time at the time when the cursor was located. The timer 110a resets the timekeeping and prepares for the next press of the vertical direction key.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining cursor movement processing in the time axis direction of the digital television broadcast receiver according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  In step S101, the control unit 110 detects that a vertical key provided on the remote control device 112 or the main body is pressed.

  In step S102, the timer 110a measures the time during which the vertical key is continuously pressed.

  In step S103, control unit 110 determines whether or not the pressing of the vertical direction key has been released. If not canceled, the process proceeds to step S104. If it has been canceled, the process proceeds to step S114, the timer 110a is reset, and the operation ends.

  In step S104, the control unit 110 determines whether or not the measurement time t of the timer 110a exceeds a predetermined time t1 (for example, 2 seconds). If t does not exceed t1, the process proceeds to step S105. If t exceeds t1, the process proceeds to step S106.

  In step S105, the cursor control unit 110b moves the cursor in units of program cells in the direction in which the vertical direction key is pressed, and returns to step S103.

  In step S106, the cursor control unit 110b changes the width of the cursor in the time axis direction to a width corresponding to one hour on the time axis.

  In step S107, control unit 110 determines whether or not the pressing of the vertical direction key has been released. If not canceled, the process proceeds to step S108. If released, the process proceeds to step S113, where the cursor control unit 110b returns the width of the cursor in the time axis direction to the program cell unit, resets the timer 110a in step S114, and ends the operation.

  In step S108, the control unit 110 determines whether or not the measurement time t of the timer 110a has exceeded a predetermined time t2 (for example, 10 seconds). If t does not exceed t2, the process proceeds to step S109, and if t exceeds t2, the process proceeds to step S110.

  In step S109, the cursor control unit 110b moves the cursor in the direction in which the vertical key is pressed in units of one hour, and returns to step S107.

  In step S110, the cursor control unit 110b changes the width of the cursor in the time axis direction to a width corresponding to 6 hours on the time axis.

  In step S111, control unit 110 determines whether or not the pressing of the vertical direction key has been released. If not canceled, the process proceeds to step S112. If released, the process proceeds to step S113, and the cursor control unit 110b returns the width of the cursor in the time axis direction to the program cell unit, resets the timer 110a in step S114, and ends the operation.

  In step S112, the cursor control unit 110b moves the cursor in the direction in which the vertical key is pressed in units of 6 hours, and returns to step S111.

  In the example of the flowchart of FIG. 6, the time axis width and movement unit of the cursor are switched between two stages of 1 hour and 6 hours according to the length of the vertical key being pressed. The number of stages to be switched between the width and the time unit as the movement unit is not limited to these.

  In the above embodiment, the vertical axis is the time axis and the horizontal axis is the channel axis. However, the vertical axis may be the channel axis and the horizontal axis may be the time axis.

  Moreover, although the example implemented as a digital television broadcast receiving apparatus was demonstrated as embodiment of this invention, the electronic program guide operation apparatus of this invention is as various apparatuses with an electronic program guide function, such as a television and a recorder. It can be implemented.

  The present invention is applicable to an electronic program guide operating device.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 101 Tuner part 102 Demultiplexer 103 Program information decoding part 104 Video | audio decoding part 105 EPG structure part 106 Screen composition part 107 Display part 108 Audio | voice output part 109 Operation reception part 110 Control part 110a Timer 110b Cursor control part 111 Memory 112 Remote control device

Claims (9)

An electronic program guide creation means for creating an electronic program guide in which program cells for displaying information of programs scheduled to be broadcast are arranged along the channel axis and the time axis;
Direction key press detection means for detecting a press of a direction key;
A cursor indicating a specific program cell is displayed in the electronic program guide, and the cursor is sequentially moved to adjacent program cells in the channel axis direction in response to detection of pressing of a direction key assigned to the cursor movement in the channel axis direction. Cursor control means for moving and sequentially moving the cursor to program cells adjacent in the time axis direction in response to detection of pressing of a direction key assigned to the cursor movement in the time axis direction;
A timer for measuring a time during which the direction key assigned to the cursor movement in the time axis direction is continuously pressed;
When the time during which the direction key assigned to the cursor movement in the time axis direction is continuously pressed exceeds a predetermined time, the cursor control means determines the direction key assigned in the time axis direction. The electronic program guide operating device, wherein the time-axis width and movement unit of the cursor are changed to a width corresponding to a certain time on the time axis until the pressing is released.   The cursor control means is configured so that each time the direction key assigned to the cursor movement in the time axis direction is continuously pressed exceeds another predetermined time longer than the predetermined time, the cursor control means 2. The electronic program guide operation device according to claim 1, wherein the width in the time axis direction and the moving unit are changed to a width corresponding to another fixed time stepwise longer than the fixed time on the time axis. .   The cursor control means is assigned to the cursor movement in the time axis direction when the time during which the direction key assigned to the cursor movement in the time axis direction is continuously pressed exceeds a predetermined time. 3. The electronic program guide operating device according to claim 1, wherein the cursor is moved on the time axis until the direction key is released.   The cursor control means is assigned to the cursor movement in the time axis direction when the time during which the direction key assigned to the cursor movement in the time axis direction is continuously pressed exceeds a predetermined time. 3. The electronic program guide operating device according to claim 1, wherein the appearance of the cursor is changed until the direction key is released.   The cursor control means includes a direction assigned to the cursor movement in the time axis direction after a time during which a direction key assigned to the cursor movement in the time axis direction is continuously pressed exceeds a predetermined time. 5. The cursor according to claim 1, wherein when the key is released, the cursor is moved to a program cell of a program that is broadcast earliest among program cells included in a time period occupied by the cursor immediately before. The electronic program guide operation device according to claim 1. A method of controlling a cursor in an electronic program guide in which program cells for displaying information on programs scheduled to be broadcast are arranged along a channel axis and a time axis,
A measuring step of measuring a time during which a direction key assigned to the cursor movement in the time axis direction is continuously pressed;
A determination step of determining whether or not the time during which the direction key assigned to the cursor movement in the time axis direction is continuously pressed exceeds a predetermined time;
When the time during which the direction key assigned to the cursor movement in the time axis direction is continuously pressed exceeds a predetermined time, the width and movement unit of the cursor in the time axis are set in the time axis. Cursor change step to change to a width corresponding to a certain time,
A return step of returning the width and movement unit of the cursor in the time axis direction to the program cell unit when the direction key assigned to the cursor movement in the time axis direction is released after the cursor changing step. A method characterized by that. In the determining step, it is determined whether or not the time during which the direction key assigned to the cursor movement in the time axis direction is continuously pressed exceeds another predetermined time,
When the time during which the direction key assigned to the cursor movement in the time axis direction is continuously pressed exceeds the other predetermined time, in the cursor changing step, the cursor in the time axis direction is changed. 7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the width and the moving unit are changed to a width corresponding to another fixed time on the time axis.   The program for making a computer implement | achieve the method of Claim 6 or 7.   A computer-readable recording medium storing the program according to claim 8.

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