JP2013258613A - Television receiver - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow a user to easily confirm the content of chat messages corresponding to a currently viewed program and a program of other channel, without having to look away from the currently viewed program, in a television receiver.SOLUTION: A TV receiver 1 transmits an input chat message, and the area information and channel information associated with this chat message to a message management server. The TV receiver 1 also transmits a transmission instruction of a chat message and the area information to the message management server, and receives a chat message associated with the area information. The video of a TV program on a channel currently viewed by the user is displayed in a display area D1 of a liquid crystal display 14, and a chat message corresponding to a currently viewed TV program is displayed in a display area D2. Chat messages corresponding to TV programs, not viewed currently by the user, are displayed in display areas D11-D15, respectively.

Description

  The present invention relates to a television receiver capable of receiving and outputting a television broadcast.

  Conventionally, a television (hereinafter referred to as TV) receiver that displays a chat message is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In this TV receiver, a user participates in a desired chat group based on a program name, a channel, a category, and the like, and transmits / receives a chat message to / from participants in the participating chat group. Since the chat message of the user and the participant is displayed on the TV receiver, the user can chat with other participants who are viewing the TV program while viewing the TV program.

Japanese Patent No. 4515633 JP 2003-345729 A

  However, in the TV receiver described above, the user cannot know a chat message corresponding to a TV program that is not viewed when the user is chatting about the TV program that is being viewed. Therefore, the user feels inconvenience. On the other hand, a method of viewing a TV program while displaying a chat message of a TV program that is not viewed on the TV receiver instead of the chat message of the TV program being listened to by the user is also conceivable. The user cannot know the chat message corresponding to the TV program being viewed, which is inconvenient.

  In order to solve the above problem, Patent Document 2 discloses a personal computer for performing a TV chat related to a TV program being viewed by a user with another user who is viewing the same TV program, And a server for providing a TV chat service for the user to perform a TV chat with another user according to the TV program being operated, and the server uses the user personal information input by the user. A video chat system that provides a video chat service in accordance with permission to be performed is disclosed. However, since this TV chat system does not display a chat message of a TV program that is not viewed, the above problem cannot be solved.

  The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described problems, and the chat message corresponding to the program currently being viewed and the program of another channel can be obtained without the user keeping an eye on the program currently being viewed. An object of the present invention is to provide a television receiver capable of easily confirming the contents.

  In order to achieve the above object, a television receiver of the present invention is compatible with a program receiving means for receiving a television program distributed from a broadcasting station, and a television program of a plurality of channels receivable by the program receiving means. A message receiving means for receiving a chat message from a message server storing the chat message, a video of a television program received by the program receiving means, and a television of a plurality of channels received by the message receiving means And output means for outputting a chat message corresponding to the program.

  In the above configuration, the video of the television program received by the program receiving means and the chat message corresponding to the television programs of a plurality of channels received by the message receiving means are output. As a result, the user can keep an eye on the currently viewed television program, the contents of the chat message corresponding to the currently viewed television program, and the television program that has not been viewed (the television program of another channel). ) Can be easily confirmed with the contents of the chat message.

  The television receiving apparatus includes an update frequency detecting means for detecting an update frequency of chat messages corresponding to the television programs of the plurality of channels received by the message receiving means, and an update detected by the update frequency detecting means. It is desirable to further include program detecting means for detecting a television program of a chat message whose frequency is equal to or higher than a first threshold.

  In the above configuration, it is possible to detect a television program of a chat message whose update frequency is equal to or higher than the first threshold. Therefore, for example, since the television program of the chat message detected that the update frequency is equal to or higher than the first threshold can be output, the user has the trouble of switching to the television program in which the chat message is frequently updated. Therefore, it is possible to easily watch a television program whose chat message update frequency is equal to or higher than the first threshold.

  In the television receiving apparatus, the output means responds to the detected television program when the program detecting means detects a television program of a chat message whose update frequency is equal to or higher than the first threshold. The character color of the chat message to be changed is changed from the current character color, the character size of the chat message is changed from the current size, and the size of the message frame for displaying the chat message is changed to the current size. It is desirable to change the display order of the chat message or change the display order of the chat message from the current display order and output the chat message.

  In the above configuration, the character color of the chat message corresponding to the television program of the chat message whose update frequency is equal to or higher than the first threshold is changed, the character size of the chat message is changed, and the chat message is displayed. The chat message is output by changing the size of the message frame to be changed or changing the display order of the chat messages. Therefore, the user can easily know a program in which chat messages are frequently updated.

  The television receiver further includes second program receiving means for receiving a television program distributed from a broadcasting station, and the output means has an update frequency equal to or higher than the first threshold by the program detecting means. When the television program of the chat message is detected, the video of the television program received by the program receiving means and the chat message corresponding to the television programs of a plurality of channels received by the message receiving means In addition, it is desirable to output the video of the television program received by the second program receiving means.

  In the above configuration, when a chat message program whose update frequency is equal to or higher than the first threshold is detected, the video of the television program received by the program receiving means and the plurality of channels received by the message receiving means In addition to the chat message corresponding to the television program, the television program received by the second program receiving means is output. Therefore, the user can simultaneously view a television program corresponding to a chat message whose update frequency is equal to or higher than the first threshold in addition to the television program being viewed.

  The output means preferably does not output a video of a chat message display frame for displaying the chat message when the update frequency detected by the update frequency detection means is equal to or less than a second threshold.

  In the above configuration, since the video of the chat message display frame for displaying the chat message is not output when the update frequency is less than or equal to the second threshold, the user can select a program whose chat message is not frequently updated. It is easy to know.

  The television receiver preferably further includes a display frame position setting unit for setting a display position of a chat message display frame for displaying the chat message.

  In the above configuration, since the user can set the display position of the chat message display frame, the usability is improved.

  According to the present invention, since a chat message corresponding to a television program of a plurality of channels is output, the user can respond to the currently viewed television program without taking his eyes off the currently viewed television program. The content of the chat message and the content of the chat message corresponding to the television program that is not viewed can be easily confirmed.

1 is a schematic diagram of a network system including a TV receiver and a message management server according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The block diagram which shows the internal structure of the said TV receiver. The figure explaining the display of the liquid crystal display part at the time of chat mode operation | movement of the said TV receiver. Explanatory drawing which shows the example of a display of a liquid crystal display part at the time of chat mode operation | movement of the said TV receiver. The flowchart which shows the modification of chat mode operation | movement in the said TV receiver. Explanatory drawing which shows the example of a display of the liquid crystal display part in the said chat mode operation | movement. The flowchart which shows another modification of the procedure of the chat mode operation | movement in the said TV receiver. The block diagram which shows the internal structure of TV receiver which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. The flowchart which shows an example of the procedure of the chat mode operation | movement in the said TV receiver. The flowchart which shows another example of the procedure of the chat mode operation | movement in the said TV receiver. Explanatory drawing which shows the example of a display of the liquid crystal display part in the said chat mode operation | movement.

  Hereinafter, a television receiver according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 1 shows a network system including television (hereinafter referred to as TV) receivers (television receivers) 1a to 1e and a message management server (message server) 2 for transmitting / receiving data to / from the TV receivers 1a to 1e. 60 shows a schematic configuration. FIG. 2 shows an electrical block configuration of the TV receiver 1. The TV receiver 1 is a general term for a plurality of TV receivers 1a to 1e.

  Each of the TV receivers 1a to 1e is connected to a WAN 8 (Wide Area Network) and transmits / receives a chat message to / from the message management server 2 via the Internet N. The message management server 2 includes a message database (hereinafter referred to as a message DB) 2a. The message DB 2a stores a chat message associated with regional information and channel information. That is, the chat message is associated with each of the TV programs of a plurality of channels by associating the chat message with the area information and the channel information.

  The TV receivers 1a to 1e perform a transmission process of transmitting the chat message input by the user and the area information 18b and channel information associated with the chat message to the message management server 2. Further, the TV receivers 1a to 1e transmit a chat message transmission command and the regional information 18b set in the own device to the message management server 2, and message the chat message associated with the regional information 18b. The reception process received from the management server 2 is performed. The TV receivers 1a to 1e provide the chat function to the user by performing the transmission process and the reception process.

  The message management server 2 stores the chat message transmitted from the TV receivers 1a to 1e, the area information 18b and the channel information associated with the chat message in the message DB 2a. Specifically, for example, information indicating that the area information 18b is "Osaka", the channel information is "4 channels", and the chat message is "I want this product" is stored in the message DB 2a.

  Further, when the message management server 2 receives the chat message transmission command and the area information 18b from the TV receivers 1a to 1e, the chat associated with the received area information 18b among the chat messages stored in the message DB 2a. The message is transmitted to the TV receivers 1a to 1e. That is, based on the area information 18b received from the TV receivers 1a to 1e, the message management server 2 sends chat messages of TV programs of a plurality of channels that can be received in the area corresponding to the area information 18b to the TV receiver 1a. Send to ~ 1e.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the TV receiver 1 is connected to an antenna 11 and is a tuner (program receiving means) 12 that receives a digital broadcast signal, a liquid crystal display 14 that displays video, and a speaker that outputs audio. 15. In addition, the TV receiver 1 includes a high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) connection unit 16, a network interface (message receiving unit) 17, a memory 18, an input signal receiving unit 19, and a control microcomputer (output unit) 10. And further comprising.

  The tuner unit 12 includes a decoder unit 13 and receives a digital broadcast signal of each channel distributed from a broadcast station via the antenna 11. The decoder unit 13 performs demodulation processing, error correction processing, and the like on the received digital broadcast signal, and separates a necessary TS (transport stream) packet from the multiplexed signal (not shown). Each of the separated TS packets is composed of a video decoding circuit (not shown), an audio decoding circuit (not shown), a data decoding circuit (not shown), and the like.

  The video decoding circuit performs a decoding process on the TS packet including the video signal, extracts the video signal, and outputs the extracted video signal to the control microcomputer 10. The audio decoding circuit performs a decoding process on the TS packet including the audio signal, extracts the audio signal, and outputs the extracted audio signal to the control microcomputer 10.

  The data decoding circuit performs a decoding process on a TS packet including SI (Service Information) data, extracts SI data, and outputs the extracted SI data to the control microcomputer 10. The SI data includes an EIT (Event Information Table) in which program information of TV programs is stored.

  The liquid crystal display unit 14 includes a liquid crystal display panel 14a and a drive circuit 14b. The drive circuit 14b generates a drive voltage for driving the liquid crystal display panel 14a based on the video signal received from the video signal processing circuit 10a, and applies the generated drive voltage to the liquid crystal display panel 14a. The liquid crystal display panel 14a displays an image based on the drive voltage output from the drive circuit 14b.

  The speaker 15 converts the amplified audio signal received from the audio signal processing circuit 10b into audio and outputs it.

  The HDMI connection unit 16 is connected to an HDMI cable (not shown), and is connected to an external device such as a BD (Blu-ray Disc) player via the HDMI cable. The HDMI connection unit 16 transfers the video signal and the audio signal received from the external device to the control microcomputer 10 via the HDMI cable.

  The network interface 17 is connected to a LAN (Local Area Network) cable (not shown) for connecting to the Internet N, and transmits / receives various commands and data to / from the message management server 2 via the Internet N. Specifically, for example, the network interface 17 sends a chat message transmission command, a chat message input by the user, regional information 18b, and channel information being viewed to the message management server 2 via the Internet N. Send. Further, the network interface 17 receives the chat message transmitted from the message management server 2, and transfers the received message to the control microcomputer 10.

  The memory 18 stores a program 18a for operating the control microcomputer 10, a region information 18b, a first threshold value (first threshold value) 18c, a second threshold value (second threshold value) 18d, and the like. . In the area information 18b, for example, an area where the TV receiver 1 is installed (for example, “Osaka”) is set. The area information 18b can be set in an arbitrary area by the user. The first threshold value 18c and the second threshold value 18d are used for a chat message update frequency detection process by the program detection unit 10d described later. The first threshold value 18c and the second threshold value 18d can be set to arbitrary threshold values by the user.

  The input signal receiving unit 19 converts the remote control signal (infrared signal) received from the remote control device (see FIG. 3) 40 into an electrical signal and transfers it to the control microcomputer 10. Further, the input signal receiving unit 19 converts the radio signal received from the keyboard device (see FIG. 3) 50 into an electric signal and transfers it to the control microcomputer 10. The wireless signal is, for example, a signal based on the Bluetooth (registered trademark) standard.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the remote control device (display frame position setting means) 40 has a plurality of operation buttons operated by the user, and sends a remote control signal corresponding to the operation buttons operated by the user to the TV receiver 1. Send to. By operating the remote control device 40, the user can select a channel, input a chat message, or send a chat message. Further, the user can set a display position of a chat message display frame, which will be described later, by operating the remote control device 40.

  The keyboard device (display frame position setting means) 50 has a plurality of operation keys operated by the user, and transmits a radio signal corresponding to the operation keys operated by the user to the TV receiver 1. The user can input a chat message or give a chat message transmission instruction by operating the keyboard device 50. Further, the user can set a display position of a chat message display frame, which will be described later, by operating the keyboard device 50.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the control microcomputer 10 includes a video signal processing circuit 10a, an audio signal processing circuit 10b, a chat message transmission / reception unit (message reception unit) 10c, and a program detection unit (update frequency detection unit, program). Detection means) 10d, and controls each part of the TV receiver 1. The control microcomputer 10 has various operation modes such as a normal operation mode in which a normal operation is performed and a chat mode in which a chat message and a TV program video are displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 14. The control microcomputer 10 controls the tuner unit 12 so as to receive a digital broadcast signal of a channel for which channel selection is instructed by the user.

  When the video signal processing circuit 10a is operating in the normal operation mode, the video signal of the TV program input from the decoder unit 13 is subjected to various signal processing to generate a video signal, and the generated video signal Is output to the drive circuit 14 b of the liquid crystal display unit 14.

  When the video signal processing circuit 10a operates in the chat mode, the video signal processing circuit 10a includes a video of the TV program input from the decoder unit 13 and a video for displaying the chat message received from the message management server 2. Various signal processes are performed on the signal to generate a video signal, and the generated video signal is output to the drive circuit 22 of the liquid crystal display unit 14. Specifically, when operating in the chat mode, the video signal processing circuit 10a displays a video space for displaying a chat message by reducing the video of a TV program while maintaining the aspect ratio. It is secured on the screen of the display unit 14. Then, the chat message received from the message management server 2 is displayed in this space.

  The video signal processing circuit 10 a can also perform various signal processing on the video signal input from the external device to the HDMI connection unit 16 and output the processed signal to the drive circuit 14 b of the liquid crystal display unit 14.

  The audio signal processing circuit 10 b amplifies the audio signal of the TV program input from the decoder unit 13 based on the volume set by the user and outputs the amplified signal to the speaker 15. The audio signal processing circuit 10 b performs amplification based on the volume set by the user with respect to the audio signal input from the external device to the HDMI connection unit 16 and outputs the amplified signal to the speaker 15.

  The chat message transmission / reception unit 10c uses the network interface 17 to transmit transmission data including the chat message input by the user to the message management server. The transmission data includes a chat message and TV program information (area information 18b and channel information) being viewed that is associated with the chat message.

  Further, the chat message transmission / reception unit 10c transmits a chat message transmission command and the regional information 18b to the message management server 2 using the network interface 17, and manages the chat message associated with the regional information 18b as a message. Receive from server 2. The chat message transmitting / receiving unit 10c periodically performs a process of receiving a chat message from the message management server 2 when operating in the chat mode (for example, every 3 seconds).

  The program detection unit 10d detects the update frequency of the chat message received by the chat message transmission / reception unit 10c, and detects the TV program of the chat message whose detected update frequency is the first threshold value 18c or more. Specifically, when the number of chat messages corresponding to a TV program is equal to or more than a predetermined first threshold value 18c within a predetermined time such as several tens of seconds or several minutes, the program detection unit 10d determines that TV Detect programs. Further, the program detection unit 10d detects the update frequency of the chat message received by the chat message transmission / reception unit 10c, and also detects whether or not the detected update frequency is equal to or less than the second threshold value 18d.

  Next, the display on the liquid crystal display unit 14 during the chat mode operation will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 shows the display areas D1 to D3 and D11 to D15 of the liquid crystal display unit 14 during the chat mode operation. The display areas D2, D3, D11 to D15 are chat message display frames in the claims.

  As shown in FIG. 3, in the display area D1, a video of a TV program of a channel selected by the user (hereinafter referred to as a TV program being viewed) is displayed. In the display area D2, a chat message corresponding to the TV program being viewed is displayed. In the display area D3, a chat message that is being input by the user using the remote control device 40 or the keyboard device 50 (during input) is displayed. In each of the display areas D11 to D15, a chat message corresponding to a TV program of a channel that is not viewed by the user (hereinafter referred to as another channel) is displayed.

  Next, a display example of the liquid crystal display unit 14 during the chat mode operation will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a display example of the display areas D1 to D3 and D11 to D15 of the liquid crystal display unit 14 during the chat mode operation. Here, it is assumed that channels 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, and 10 can be received. Further, it is assumed that the user is viewing the TV program on channel 1 and is not viewing channels 3, 4, 6, 8, and 10.

  In the display area D1, an image of the TV program of channel 1 (CH1) being viewed is displayed. In the display area D2, a chat message corresponding to the TV program of CH1 being viewed is displayed. Specifically, chat messages “Mr. A:“ The moon is beautiful. ”” And “Mr. B:“ I can see the moon from my house. ”” Are displayed in the display area D2. In the display area D3, a chat message “I can see you” being input by the user is displayed. At this time, when the user operates remote control device 40 or keyboard device 50 to instruct transmission, a chat message “I can see you” is transmitted to message management server 2.

  A chat message corresponding to the TV program of channel 3 (CH3) is displayed in the display area D11, and a chat message corresponding to the TV program of channel 4 (CH4) is displayed in the display area D12. A chat message corresponding to the TV program of channel 6 (CH6) is displayed in the display area D13, and a chat message corresponding to the TV program of channel 8 (CH8) is displayed in the display area D14. In the display area D15, a chat message corresponding to the TV program of channel 10 (CH10) is displayed. In the example shown in the figure, only the latest chat message among the chat messages corresponding to the TV programs of the respective channels is displayed in the display areas D11 to D15. The user can set to display an arbitrary number of the latest chat messages.

  As described above, according to the TV receiver 1 of the present embodiment, the video of the TV program of the channel that the user is viewing and the chat message corresponding to the TV programs of the plurality of channels related to the regional information 18b are liquid crystal. It is displayed (output) on the same screen of the display unit 14. Accordingly, the user can easily view the contents of the chat message corresponding to the TV program currently being viewed and the chat message corresponding to the TV program not being viewed without taking his eyes off the TV program currently being viewed. Can be confirmed. Further, since the user can set the display positions of the display areas D2, D3, D11 to D15 shown in FIG. 3 to desired display positions by using the remote control device 40 or the keyboard device 50, it is convenient for the user. Get better.

  Next, a modification of the chat mode operation in the TV receiver 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a modified example of the chat mode operation in the TV receiver 1.

  The control microcomputer 10 receives a chat message related to the regional information 18b from the message management server 2 using the chat message transmission / reception unit 10c (S1). Then, the program detection unit 10d is used to detect a chat message TV program whose update frequency is equal to or higher than the first threshold value 18c or equal to or lower than the second threshold value 18d among chat messages corresponding to the received TV programs of a plurality of channels. (S2).

  As a result of S2, when a TV program having an update frequency equal to or higher than the first threshold value 18c or the second threshold value 18d is detected (YES in S3), the control microcomputer 10 determines that the TV whose update frequency is equal to or higher than the first threshold value 18c. A chat message corresponding to a program is highlighted and output to the liquid crystal display unit 14 (highlighted on the liquid crystal display unit 14), and a chat message display frame corresponding to a TV program whose update frequency is equal to or less than the second threshold value 18d is displayed. No (S4). On the other hand, as a result of S2, if the TV program having the update frequency equal to or higher than the first threshold value 18c is not detected (NO in S3), the chat message received in S1 is displayed without being emphasized (S5).

  FIG. 6 shows a display example of the liquid crystal display unit 14 in S4. Here, assuming that the update frequency of the chat message corresponding to the TV program of channel 3 (CH3) is equal to or higher than the first threshold value 18c (corresponding to YES in S3 above), the control microcomputer 10 displays in the display area D11. The chat message corresponding to the TV program of CH3 is displayed with a font size larger than that of other chat messages (corresponding to S4 above). The control microcomputer 10 changes the background design of the display area D11 from the current design, changes the character color of the chat message in the display area D11 from the current character color, and changes the chat message in the display area D11. The character size may be changed from the current size and displayed. Further, the control microcomputer 10 changes the size of the chat message frame in the display area D11 from the current size, or changes the display order of the display area D11 among the display areas D11 to D15 from the current display order. Or may be displayed.

  As described above, according to the TV receiver 1 of the present modification, as shown in FIG. 5, when a TV program having an update frequency of the first threshold value 18c or more is detected, the update frequency is the first threshold value 18c or more. The chat message corresponding to the TV program is highlighted and displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 14. Therefore, the user can easily know TV programs whose chat message contents are frequently updated. In addition, when the chat message update frequency is equal to or lower than the second threshold value 18d, the chat message display frame corresponding to the TV program is not displayed, so that the user can easily know TV programs whose chat messages are not frequently updated. Can do.

  Next, a modified example of the chat mode operation in the TV receiver 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

  The control microcomputer 10 receives a chat message related to the regional information 18b from the message management server 2 using the chat message transmission / reception unit 10c (S11). And the TV program of the chat message whose update frequency is more than the 1st threshold value 18c is detected among the chat messages corresponding to the TV program of the received several channels using the program detection part 10d (S12).

  As a result of the detection process in S12, when a TV program having an update frequency equal to or higher than the first threshold value 18c is detected (YES in S13), the control microcomputer 10 uses the tuner unit 12 to update the update frequency to the first threshold value 18c. The channel is switched so as to receive the above TV program, and the TV program having the update frequency equal to or higher than the first threshold value 18c is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 14 (S14). Specifically, for example, when the user is viewing channel 1, if the update frequency of channel 3 is detected to be equal to or higher than the first threshold value 18c (corresponding to YES in S13), the control microcomputer 10 The tuner unit 12 is used to switch to receive channel 3, and the video of the TV program of channel 3 is displayed on the display area D1 of the liquid crystal display unit 14 (corresponding to S14 above).

  As described above, according to the TV receiver 1 of the present modification, as shown in FIG. 7, when a TV program whose update frequency is the first threshold value 18c or more is detected, the detected TV program is the tuner unit. 12 and output (displayed) on the liquid crystal display unit 14. Therefore, the user can reduce the trouble of switching the channel to the TV program in which the chat message is frequently updated, and thus can easily watch this TV program. In this process, as shown in FIG. 5, when a TV program whose chat message update frequency is equal to or lower than the second threshold value 18d is detected, the chat message display frame corresponding to the TV program is not displayed. You may control.

  Next, a TV receiver according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The TV receiver 1 according to the present embodiment has the same configuration as that of the TV receiver 1 according to the first embodiment described above except that it further includes a second tuner unit (second program receiving means) 22. . In the TV receiver 1 according to the present embodiment, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.

  The second tuner unit 22 includes a second decoder unit 23, and receives the digital broadcast signal of each channel distributed from the broadcast station via the antenna 11. Since the configuration of the second tuner unit 22 is the same as that of the tuner unit 12, the description thereof is omitted. The control microcomputer 10 can control the second tuner unit 22 so as to receive a digital broadcast signal of a predetermined channel.

  Next, the chat mode operation in the TV receiver 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 are flowcharts showing an example of the chat mode operation in the TV receiver 1.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the control microcomputer 10 receives a chat message related to the regional information 18b from the message management server 2 using the chat message transmission / reception unit 10c (S21). And the TV program of the chat message whose update frequency is more than the 1st threshold value 18c is detected among the chat messages corresponding to the TV program of the received several channels using the program detection part 10d (S22).

  As a result of S22, when a TV program having an update frequency equal to or higher than the first threshold 18c is detected (YES in S23), the control microcomputer 10 uses the second tuner unit 22 to update the chat message to the first update frequency. The channel is switched so as to receive a TV program having a threshold value 18c or higher, and the TV program received using the second tuner unit 22 is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 14 by PIP (Picture In Picture) (S24).

  As shown in FIG. 10, the control microcomputer 10 receives a chat message related to the regional information 18b from the message management server 2 using the chat message transmission / reception unit 10c (S31). And the TV program of the chat message whose update frequency is below the 2nd threshold value 18d is detected among the chat messages corresponding to the TV program of the received several channels using the program detection part 10d (S32).

  As a result of S32, when a TV program having an update frequency of the second threshold value 18d or less is detected (YES in S33), the control microcomputer 10 causes the chat message corresponding to the TV program having the update frequency to be the second threshold value 18d or less. The display frame is not displayed (S34). 9 and 10 can be performed in parallel.

  FIG. 11 shows an example of the PIP display of the TV program displayed in S24. Here, it is assumed that the update frequency of the chat message corresponding to the TV program of channel 3 (CH3) is equal to or higher than the first threshold value 18c. In this case, the video of the CH3 TV program received using the second tuner unit 22 is displayed in the display area P1 in the display area D1. That is, in the display area D1, the video of the TV program (TV program being watched by the user) received by the tuner unit 12 and the TV program (chat message update frequency received by the second tuner unit 22) are the first. TV programs with a threshold value of 18c or more) are displayed. In each of the display areas D11 to D15, a chat message corresponding to a TV program of a channel that is not viewed by the user is displayed.

  Thus, according to the TV receiver 1 of the present embodiment, when a TV program of a chat message whose update frequency is equal to or higher than the first threshold value 18c is detected, a TV program (viewing) that is received by the tuner unit 12 is detected. In addition to the chat message corresponding to the TV program being viewed by the user and the chat message corresponding to the TV program of the channel not being viewed by the user. An image of a TV program (a TV program whose chat message update frequency is detected to be equal to or higher than the first threshold value 18c) is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 14. Therefore, in addition to the TV program being viewed, the user can simultaneously view the TV program corresponding to the chat message whose update frequency is equal to or higher than the first threshold value 18c among the TV programs not being viewed. If a plurality of chat message TV programs whose update frequency is equal to or higher than the first threshold 18c is detected, the user displays a desired TV program as a PIP video from the detected TV programs. You may make it selectable.

  The present invention is not limited to the configuration of each of the embodiments described above, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, in each of the above-described embodiments, an example in which the image display device indicated in the claims is a TV receiver has been described. Also good.

  The TV receiver is configured to display the video of the external content input from the external device and the chat message received from the message management server on the same screen of the liquid crystal display unit when operating in the chat mode. There may be. In that case, when a TV program of a chat message whose update frequency is equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold is detected, the chat message corresponding to the TV program may be highlighted and displayed on the liquid crystal display unit. May be displayed.

  The TV receiver displays a chat message display frame when the update frequency of the chat message is equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold, and does not display the chat message display frame when the update frequency is less than the predetermined threshold. It may be a thing.

1 TV receiver (television receiver)
2 Message management server (message server)
10 Microcomputer for control (output means)
10c Chat message sending / receiving part (message receiving means)
10d Program detection unit (update frequency detection means, program detection means)
12 Tuner (program receiving means)
17 Network interface (message receiving means)
18c First threshold (first threshold)
18d Second threshold (second threshold)
22 Second tuner section (second program receiving means)
40 Remote control device (display frame position setting means)
50 Keyboard device (display frame position setting means)

Claims (6)

Program receiving means for receiving a television program distributed from a broadcasting station;
Message receiving means for receiving a chat message corresponding to a television program of a plurality of channels receivable by the program receiving means from a message server storing the chat message;
A television receiving apparatus comprising: output means for outputting video of a television program received by the program receiving means and chat messages corresponding to television programs of a plurality of channels received by the message receiving means. Update frequency detecting means for detecting the update frequency of chat messages corresponding to the television programs of the plurality of channels received by the message receiving means;
2. The television receiver according to claim 1, further comprising program detecting means for detecting a television program of a chat message whose update frequency detected by the update frequency detecting means is not less than a first threshold value. .   When the program detecting unit detects a television program of a chat message whose update frequency is equal to or higher than the first threshold, the output unit sets the character color of the chat message corresponding to the detected television program. Change from the current character color, change the character size of the chat message from the current size, change the size of the message frame for displaying the chat message from the current size, or the chat 3. The television receiver according to claim 2, wherein the message display order is changed from the current display order and the chat message is output. A second program receiving means for receiving a television program distributed from a broadcasting station;
The output means, when the television program of the chat message whose update frequency is equal to or higher than the first threshold is detected by the program detection means, the video of the television program received by the program reception means, The video of the television program received by the second program receiving means is output in addition to the chat message corresponding to the television programs of a plurality of channels received by the message receiving means. The television receiver according to 2 or 3.   The output means does not output a video of a chat message display frame for displaying the chat message when the update frequency detected by the update frequency detection means is less than or equal to a second threshold value. Item 5. The television receiver according to any one of Items 2 to 4.   6. The television receiver according to claim 1, further comprising display frame position setting means for setting a display position of a chat message display frame for displaying the chat message. .

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