JP2021057690A - Broadcasting receiver - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a broadcasting receiver that can appropriately perform simultaneous viewing and recording operations in an environment that receives both radio wave broadcasting and IP broadcasting.SOLUTION: A broadcasting receiver includes a viewing/recording management unit and a viewing/recording route selection unit. The viewing/recording management unit performs control and selection to causes a tuner unit and a communication interface unit to respectively receive radio waves and IP broadcasts broadcast from the same broadcaster on the basis of information for selecting the same broadcaster. The viewing/recording route selection unit outputs one of information on the radio broadcast and IP broadcast to a signal path leading to a video/audio output unit that outputs a video and an audio on the basis of the information on the radio broadcast and IP broadcast, and outputs the other to a signal path leading to a stream storage unit that stores video and audio signals.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to a broadcast receiver.

A receiver represented by a television or the like receives broadcasts by radio waves such as terrestrial digital broadcasting and satellite broadcasting (hereinafter referred to as radio wave broadcasting). The viewer can watch the radio wave broadcast program by using these receivers. As a radio wave broadcast receiver, a receiver having two types of tuners, a viewing tuner and a recording tuner, is known. Patent Document 1 discloses, as a technique using two types of tuners, a technique for enabling viewing of a program different from the program even while recording a certain program.

Japanese Patent No. 4366678

With the development of the Internet, not only radio broadcasting but also broadcasting via the Internet (hereinafter referred to as IP broadcasting) has been realized. In the future, it is expected that the same program will be broadcast on radio waves and IP broadcasts. In that case, the viewer receives the radio wave broadcast and the IP broadcast of the same program with a receiver capable of receiving both the radio wave broadcast and the IP broadcast (hereinafter referred to as a broadcast receiver), and watches one of the broadcasts. It is also conceivable to record the other broadcast. In this way, the operation of the broadcast receiver when the viewer watches one broadcast and records the other broadcast is called a simultaneous viewing / recording operation. In order to realize the simultaneous viewing and recording operation, the broadcast receiver is required to appropriately receive and control both radio wave broadcasting and IP broadcasting.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and provides a broadcast receiver capable of appropriately performing viewing and recording simultaneous operation in an environment for receiving both radio wave broadcasting and IP broadcasting. With the goal.

The broadcast receiver according to the present invention receives both radio wave broadcasts and IP broadcasts broadcast from broadcasters. The broadcast receiver includes a tuner unit, a communication interface unit, a viewing / recording management unit, and a viewing / recording route selection unit. The tuner unit receives the radio wave broadcast and demodulates it. The communication interface unit receives the IP broadcast. Based on the information for selecting the same broadcaster, the viewing / recording management department causes the tuner section to receive the radio wave broadcast from the same broadcaster, and the communication interface section receives the same broadcast. Performs channel selection control to receive IP broadcasts broadcast from businesses. The viewing / recording route selection unit selects one of the radio broadcasts and the IP broadcast based on the radio broadcast information received by the tuner section and the IP broadcast information received by the communication interface section. And output to the signal path leading to the video / audio output unit for outputting audio, and the other output to the signal path leading to the stream storage unit for accumulating the other video signal and audio signal.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a broadcast receiver that appropriately performs viewing and recording simultaneous operation in an environment that receives both radio wave broadcasting and IP broadcasting.

Objectives, features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent with the following detailed description and accompanying drawings.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the broadcast receiver in Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the structure of the processing circuit included in a broadcast receiver. It is a figure which shows another example of the structure of the processing circuit included in a broadcast receiver. It is a flowchart which shows the program recording method during viewing in Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the reserved program recording method when the broadcast receiver in Embodiment 1 is in a standby state. It is a flowchart which shows the reserved program recording method when the broadcast receiver in Embodiment 1 is in a viewing state. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the broadcast receiver in Embodiment 2.

<Embodiment 1>
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a broadcast receiver 100 according to the first embodiment. The broadcast receiver 100 has a function of receiving both a radio wave broadcast and an IP (Internet Protocol) broadcast broadcast from a broadcaster. In the first embodiment, a case where the broadcast receiver 100 is a television will be described as an example.

The broadcast receiver 100 includes a tuner section 101, a first demultiplexer section 102 (hereinafter referred to as a first Demux section 102), an AV (Audio / Visual) decoder section 103, an AV control section 104, a video / audio output section 105, and a stream control. Unit 107, stream storage unit 108, device control unit 109, remote control light receiving unit 110, communication interface unit 111, second demultiplexer unit 112 (hereinafter referred to as second Demux unit 112), viewing / recording management unit 113, viewing / recording determination unit. It includes 114, a channel selection information management unit 115, and a viewing / recording route selection unit 116. The video / audio output unit 105 includes a video display unit 105A and an audio output unit 105B. In FIG. 1, the solid line arrow indicates the flow of the video signal and the audio signal, and the dotted line arrow indicates the flow of the control signal between each part. In the following description, some control signal flows are not shown.

The tuner unit 101 receives the radio wave broadcast via the antenna 152 and demodulates it.

The first Demux unit 102 separates the radio wave broadcast demodulated by the tuner unit 101 into video signals, audio signals, various types of information, and the like. The video signal and audio signal separated by the first Demux unit 102 are output to the viewing / recording route selection unit 116, and various information is output to the device control unit 109.

The communication interface unit 111 receives the IP broadcast from the Internet 153.

The second Demux unit 112 separates the IP broadcast received by the communication interface unit 111 into a video signal, an audio signal, various types of information, and the like. The video signal and audio signal separated by the second Demux unit 112 are output to the viewing / recording route selection unit 116, and various information is output to the device control unit 109.

The channel selection information management unit 115 manages a BC (Broadcaster) management table in which information for selecting the same broadcaster for radio wave broadcasting and IP broadcasting is stored. The BC management table is generated and managed based on the information input from the device control unit 109, which will be described later. The BC management table is generated using, for example, a stream ID indicating a broadcaster. Alternatively, the BC management table may be generated using information other than the stream ID as long as the information for each broadcaster can be distinguished and managed.

The viewing / recording management unit 113 acquires information for selecting the same broadcaster for radio wave broadcasting and IP broadcasting from the channel selection information management unit 115. Based on the information, the viewing / recording management unit 113 causes the tuner unit 101 to receive the radio wave broadcast broadcast from the same broadcaster, and the communication interface unit 111 broadcasts from the same broadcaster. Performs channel selection control to receive IP broadcasts. Further, the viewing / recording management unit 113 causes the tuner unit 101 and the communication interface unit 111 to receive the radio wave broadcast and the IP broadcast on which the reserved program is broadcast according to the channel selection instruction from the device control unit 109, which will be described later, respectively. Take control.

The viewing / recording determination unit 114 is for viewing one of the radio broadcasting and the IP broadcasting based on the quality of the radio broadcasting received by the tuner unit 101 and the quality of the IP broadcasting received by the communication interface unit 111. Decide to broadcast and the other to be broadcast for recording. The quality of radio wave broadcasting is, for example, the reception level of radio wave broadcasting received by the tuner unit 101. The quality of IP broadcasting is, for example, the communication rate of IP broadcasting received by the communication interface unit 111. In that case, the viewing / recording determination unit 114 holds a threshold value regarding the reception level of the radio wave broadcast and a threshold value regarding the communication rate of the IP broadcast. The threshold value regarding the reception level of radio broadcasting is, for example, an intermediate value between the maximum value and the minimum value of the reception level. The threshold value regarding the communication rate of IP broadcasting is, for example, an intermediate value between the maximum value and the minimum value of the communication rate of IP broadcasting. Here, the minimum value is a receivable limit value at which reception of radio wave broadcasting or IP broadcasting is not interrupted.

When the reception level of the radio wave broadcast is equal to or higher than the threshold value and the communication rate of the IP broadcast is less than the threshold value, the viewing / recording determination unit 114 determines the IP broadcast as the broadcast for viewing and the radio wave broadcast as the broadcast for recording. In cases other than the above, the viewing / recording determination unit 114 determines the radio wave broadcasting as the broadcasting for viewing and the IP broadcasting as the broadcasting for recording. In other words, basically, the viewing / recording determination unit 114 assigns the radio wave broadcasting to the broadcasting for viewing and the IP broadcasting to the broadcasting for recording. However, when the quality of the radio broadcast is equal to or higher than the threshold and the quality of the IP broadcast is less than the threshold, the viewing / recording determination unit 114 assigns the radio broadcast to the broadcast for recording and the IP broadcast to the broadcast for viewing. That is, the broadcast receiver 100 preferentially records a high-quality radio wave broadcast. This is a control corresponding to the user's intention that the recording operation intentionally executed by the user has priority over the viewing operation. The above threshold value does not necessarily have to be an intermediate value, and may be set to a necessary value according to the specifications of the broadcast receiver 100.

Based on the above determination by the viewing / recording determination unit 114, the viewing / recording path selection unit 116 outputs the video signal and audio signal of the broadcast for viewing to the viewing path, which is the signal path leading to the video / audio output unit 105, and records the video signal. The video signal and audio signal of the broadcast for broadcasting are output to a recording path which is a signal path leading to the stream storage unit 108. That is, the viewing / recording route selection unit 116 selects one of the radio broadcast and the IP broadcast based on the radio broadcast information received by the tuner unit 101 and the IP broadcast information received by the communication interface unit 111. It outputs to the signal path leading to the video / audio output unit 105, and outputs the other to the signal path leading to the stream storage unit 108. The radio wave broadcasting information and the IP broadcasting information are not limited to the quality of each broadcasting signal as described above, and may be, for example, the characteristics or specifications of each broadcasting signal.

The AV decoder unit 103 decodes the video signal and audio signal of the broadcast for viewing output from the viewing / recording route selection unit 116 to the signal path leading to the video / audio output unit 105.

The AV control unit 104 applies various processes necessary for display and reproduction to the video signal and the audio signal decoded by the AV decoder unit 103, respectively.

The video / audio output unit 105 includes a video display unit 105A and an audio output unit 105B. The video display unit 105A displays a video based on the video signal processed by the AV control unit 104, that is, a broadcast video for viewing. The audio output unit 105B reproduces the audio based on the audio signal processed by the AV control unit 104, that is, the audio of the broadcast for viewing.

The stream control unit 107 controls the stream storage unit 108 to record the broadcast for recording. In other words, the stream control unit 107 controls the stream storage unit 108 to store the video signal and the audio signal of the broadcast for recording output from the viewing / recording route selection unit 116. For example, the stream control unit 107 controls to store the video signal and the audio signal in the stream storage unit 108 in accordance with the recording execution instruction of the device control unit 109 described later.

The stream storage unit 108 stores the video signal and audio signal of the radio wave broadcast received by the tuner unit 101, or the video signal and audio signal of the IP broadcast received by the communication interface unit 111.

The remote control light receiving unit 110 detects a signal output from the remote controller 151 used by the user to operate the broadcast receiver 100, and outputs the signal to the device control unit 109.

Although the dotted arrow is not shown in FIG. 1, the device control unit 109 controls each part of the broadcast receiver 100, that is, overall control. For example, the device control unit 109 acquires recording information based on an operation performed for recording a program via the remote control light receiving unit 110. The device control unit 109 outputs a recording execution instruction to the stream control unit 107 based on the recording information. Alternatively, the device control unit 109 outputs a recording execution instruction to the stream control unit 107 based on the recording start time of the reserved program included in the recording information. Alternatively, the device control unit 109 outputs an instruction to maintain the viewing path and the recording path to the viewing / recording management unit 113 at a time earlier than the recording start time by a preset time. Alternatively, the device control unit 109 acquires and processes various information of radio wave broadcasting and various information of IP broadcasting from the first Demux unit 102 and the second Demux unit 112, respectively.

As described above, the tuner unit 101 and the first Demux unit 102 mainly realize functions related to reception of radio wave broadcasting. The communication interface unit 111 and the second Demux unit 112 mainly realize functions related to reception of IP broadcasting. The AV decoder unit 103, the AV control unit 104, and the video / audio output unit 105 mainly realize functions related to viewing. The stream control unit 107 and the stream storage unit 108 mainly realize functions related to recording.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the processing circuit 90 included in the broadcast receiver 100. Each function of the viewing / recording management unit 113 and the viewing / recording route selection unit 116 is realized by the processing circuit 90. That is, the processing circuit 90 has a viewing / recording management unit 113 and a viewing / recording route selection unit 116.

When the processing circuit 90 is dedicated hardware, the processing circuit 90 may be, for example, a single circuit, a composite circuit, a programmed processor, a parallel programmed processor, an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), or an FPGA (Field). -Programmable Gate Array), or a circuit that combines these. Each function of the viewing / recording management unit 113 and the viewing / recording route selection unit 116 may be individually realized by a plurality of processing circuits, or may be collectively realized by one processing circuit.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing another example of the configuration of the processing circuit included in the broadcast receiver 100. The processing circuit includes a processor 91 and a memory 92. By executing the program stored in the memory 92 by the processor 91, each function of the viewing / recording management unit 113 and the viewing / recording route selection unit 116 is realized. For example, each function is realized by executing software or firmware described as a program by the processor 91. As described above, the broadcast receiver 100 has a memory 92 for storing the program and a processor 91 for executing the program.

In the program, the broadcast receiver 100 causes the tuner unit 101 to receive the radio broadcast broadcast from the same broadcaster based on the information for selecting the same broadcaster, and the communication interface unit 111. The channel selection control is performed to receive the IP broadcast broadcast from the same broadcaster, and the radio broadcast information received by the tuner unit 101 and the IP broadcast information received by the communication interface unit 111 are obtained. Based on this, one of the radio broadcast and the IP broadcast is output to the signal path leading to the video / audio output unit 105 for outputting the video and audio of one of them, and the other is output of the video signal and audio signal of the other. A function of outputting to a signal path leading to the stream storage unit 108 for storage is described. In addition, the program causes the computer to execute the procedure or method of the viewing / recording management unit 113 and the viewing / recording route selection unit 116.

The processor 91 is, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), an arithmetic unit, a microprocessor, a microcomputer, a DSP (Digital Signal Processor), or the like. The memory 92 is a non-volatile or volatile memory such as a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a flash memory, an EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory), or an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory). It is a semiconductor memory. Alternatively, the memory 92 may be any storage medium used in the future, such as a magnetic disk, a flexible disk, an optical disk, a compact disk, a mini disk, or a DVD.

Some of the functions of the viewing / recording management unit 113 and the viewing / recording route selection unit 116 described above may be realized by dedicated hardware, and some of them may be realized by software or firmware. In this way, the processing circuit realizes each of the above-mentioned functions by hardware, software, firmware, or a combination thereof.

Further, not only the functions of the viewing / recording management unit 113 and the viewing / recording route selection unit 116, but also the functions of the viewing / recording determination unit 114, the channel selection information management unit 115, and the device control unit 109 are similarly shown in FIGS. 2 or 3. It may be realized by the processing circuit shown. In that case, each function may be realized by one processing circuit, or may be realized by a plurality of processing circuits for each function.

Next, as a broadcast reception method by the broadcast receiver 100 in the first embodiment, a simultaneous viewing / recording operation will be described. The simultaneous viewing / recording operation refers to the operation of the broadcast receiver 100 when the user watches one broadcast and records the other broadcast. In the first embodiment, two operations, "recording a program being viewed" and "recording a reserved program", will be described as simultaneous operations for viewing and recording. The "viewing program recording" is an operation of the broadcast receiver 100 when the user is watching the program and is not recording the program, and then records the program being watched. That is, "viewing program recording" means that the broadcast receiver 100 starts recording the program from a state in which the broadcast receiver 100 is outputting the video and audio of the program and the program is not recorded. This is the operation of the case. The "reserved program recording" is an operation of the broadcast receiver 100 when the user presets the recording of a specific program. That is, it is an operation when the broadcast receiver 100 starts recording a specific program, that is, a reserved program, based on the recording information preset by the user.

First, the operation of "recording a program being watched" will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a program recording method during viewing according to the first embodiment.

In step S201, the remote control light receiving unit 110 detects a channel selection operation signal output from the remote control 151 that the user has performed channel selection operation to watch a program. The device control unit 109 outputs a channel selection instruction to the viewing / recording management unit 113 based on the channel selection operation signal detected via the remote control light receiving unit 110.

In step S202, the viewing / recording management unit 113 notifies the channel selection information management unit 115 of the information of the receiving target station, that is, the broadcasting company to be received, according to the channel selection instruction. The channel selection information management unit 115 selects information for selecting the same broadcaster for radio wave broadcasting and IP broadcasting based on the information of the broadcaster to be received and the BC management table owned by itself. Respond to the viewing / recording management unit 113.

In step S203, the viewing / recording management unit 113 causes the tuner unit 101 to receive the radio wave broadcast broadcast from the same broadcaster based on the information for selecting the same broadcaster, and communicates with the tuner unit 101. The interface unit 111 is subjected to channel selection control to receive an IP broadcast broadcast from the same broadcaster. As a result, the same broadcast is received by radio wave broadcast and IP broadcast.

In step S204, the viewing / recording management unit 113 requests the viewing / recording determination unit 114 to allocate the broadcasting for viewing and the broadcasting for recording.

In step S205, the viewing / recording determination unit 114 acquires the quality information about the radio wave broadcast received by the tuner unit 101 and the quality information about the IP broadcast received by the communication interface unit 111. The viewing / recording determination unit 114 determines whether or not the quality of the radio wave broadcasting is equal to or higher than a preset threshold value based on the quality information about the radio wave broadcasting. If the quality of the radio wave broadcast is equal to or higher than the preset threshold value, step S206 is executed. If the quality of the radio wave broadcast is less than the preset threshold value, step S207 is executed.

In step S206, the viewing / recording determination unit 114 determines whether or not the quality of the IP broadcast is equal to or higher than a preset threshold value based on the quality information about the IP broadcast. If the quality of the IP broadcast is greater than or equal to a preset threshold, step S207 is executed. If the quality of the IP broadcast is less than a preset threshold, step S208 is executed.

In step S207, the viewing / recording determination unit 114 determines the radio wave broadcasting as the broadcasting for viewing and the IP broadcasting as the broadcasting for recording. In other words, if the quality of the radio broadcast is less than the preset threshold, or if the quality of the radio broadcast is greater than or equal to the preset threshold but the quality of the IP broadcast is greater than or equal to the preset threshold. Radio broadcasts are assigned to broadcasts for viewing, and IP broadcasts are assigned to broadcasts for recording. The viewing / recording determination unit 114 responds to the viewing / recording management unit 113 with the determined content.

In step S208, the viewing / recording determination unit 114 determines the IP broadcast as the broadcast for viewing and the radio wave broadcast as the broadcast for recording. In other words, when the quality of the radio broadcast is equal to or higher than the preset threshold and the quality of the IP broadcast is less than the preset threshold, the IP broadcast is assigned to the broadcast for viewing and the radio broadcast is assigned to the broadcast for recording. The viewing / recording determination unit 114 responds to the viewing / recording management unit 113 with the determined content.

In step S209, the viewing / recording management unit 113 notifies the viewing / recording route selection unit 116 of the response by the viewing / recording determination unit 114. Based on the determination of the viewing / recording determination unit 114, the viewing / recording route selection unit 116 outputs the video signal and the audio signal of the broadcast for viewing to the viewing path as the signal path leading to the video / audio output unit 105, and is used for recording. The video signal and the audio signal of the broadcast of the above are output to the recording path as the signal path leading to the stream storage unit 108, respectively. For example, when the determination of the viewing / recording determination unit 114 is to allocate the radio wave broadcast to the broadcasting for viewing and the IP broadcasting to the broadcasting for recording, the viewing / recording route selection unit 116 uses the viewing / recording route selection unit 116 as the signal path for viewing. The first video unit 102 and the AV decoder unit 103 are connected. Then, the viewing / recording route selection unit 116 outputs the video signal and the audio signal of the radio wave broadcast to the AV decoder unit 103. Further, the viewing / recording route selection unit 116 connects the second Demux unit 112 and the stream control unit 107 as a signal path for recording. Then, the viewing / recording route selection unit 116 outputs the video signal and the audio signal of the IP broadcast to the stream control unit 107.

In step S210, the device control unit 109 determines whether or not the remote control light receiving unit 110 has detected the channel selection operation signal output from the remote controller 151 again. If the channel selection operation signal is detected, step S202 is executed again. If the channel selection operation signal is not detected, step S211 is executed. In this way, steps S202 to S209 are performed each time the user selects a channel.

In step S211 the device control unit 109 determines whether or not the remote control light receiving unit 110 has detected the recording request signal output from the remote controller 151. If the recording request signal is not detected, step S210 is executed again. If the recording request signal is detected, step S212 is executed.

In step S212, the device control unit 109 acquires radio wave broadcasting information from the first Demux unit 102 and IP broadcasting information from the second Demux unit 112. The device control unit 109 compares both pieces of information and determines whether or not the received radio wave broadcast program and the IP broadcast program are the same. If the received radio wave broadcast program and the IP broadcast program are the same, step S213 is executed. If the received radio wave broadcast program and the IP broadcast program are not the same, step S214 is executed.

In step S213, the device control unit 109 notifies the stream control unit 107 of the recording execution instruction. The stream control unit 107 controls the stream storage unit 108 to store the video signal and the audio signal of the broadcast for recording output from the viewing / recording route selection unit 116 in accordance with the recording execution instruction. The stream storage unit 108 records the broadcast for recording by accumulating the video signal and the audio signal of the broadcast for recording according to the control thereof. In this way, the broadcast receiver 100 makes it possible to record the broadcast for recording without affecting the broadcast for viewing. Further, such a broadcast receiver 100 can freely change the viewing program even during recording.

In step S214, the device control unit 109 does not notify the stream control unit 107 of the recording execution instruction. That is, the stream storage unit 108 does not record the broadcast for recording. In this case, the device control unit 109 notifies the viewer, who is the user, by controlling, for example, a part of the video display unit 105A to display that recording is not possible.

By the above steps, the program recording method during viewing is completed. In the above-mentioned operation of "recording a program being watched", the broadcast receiver 100 controls so that the channel selection of the broadcast for recording always follows the channel selection of the broadcast for viewing. However, in the absence of the above recording execution instruction, the video display unit 105A and the audio output unit 105B output the video and audio of the broadcast for viewing, but the stream storage unit 108 does not record the broadcast for recording. The viewing / recording route selection unit 116 only connects the second Demux unit 112 and the stream control unit 107.

Next, the operation of "reserved program recording" will be described. In the case of "reserved program recording", the broadcast receiver 100 does not need to control the channel selection of the broadcast for recording to follow the channel selection of the broadcast for viewing. The broadcast receiver 100 is in a state where it can be used for both radio wave broadcasting and IP broadcasting. Therefore, the broadcast receiver 100 may determine the broadcaster for broadcasting the reserved program to select the broadcast for recording before the recording start time. However, the broadcast receiver 100 at the start of recording a reserved program has a "standby state" and a "viewing state" in which the display and playback operations of the video display unit 105A and the audio output unit 105B are stopped. Hereinafter, the operation of "reserved program recording" in each of the "standby state" and the "viewing state" will be described in order.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a reserved program recording method when the broadcast receiver 100 in the first embodiment is in the standby state.

In step S301, the device control unit 109 activates the broadcast receiver 100 from the standby state before the recording start time based on the recording start time of the reserved program included in the recording information stored in advance. .. Based on the recording information, the device control unit 109 outputs a channel selection instruction for receiving the radio wave broadcast and the IP broadcast on which the reserved program is broadcast to the viewing / recording management unit 113.

The operations from steps S302 to S309 after step S301 are the same as the operations from steps S202 to S209 of the program recording method during viewing shown in FIG.

In step S310, the device control unit 109 notifies the stream control unit 107 of the recording execution instruction based on the recording start time of the reserved program. The stream control unit 107 controls the stream storage unit 108 to store the video signal and the audio signal of the broadcast for recording output from the viewing / recording route selection unit 116 according to the recording execution instruction. The stream storage unit 108 records the broadcast for recording by accumulating the video signal and the audio signal of the broadcast for recording according to the control thereof.

By the above steps, the reserved program recording method when the broadcast receiver 100 is in the standby state is completed.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a reserved program recording method when the broadcast receiver 100 in the first embodiment is in the viewing state.

The broadcast receiver 100 executes the operation of "recording the program being watched" until a time set in advance of the recording start time of the reserved program. In other words, the broadcast receiver 100 executes steps S202 to S211 of the program recording method during viewing shown in FIG. 4 until an earlier time by the preset time. Then, the video / audio output unit 105 outputs the video and audio of the broadcast for viewing, and the user is watching the broadcast program for viewing. The time earlier by the preset time is, for example, 3 minutes before the recording start time. However, the time is not limited to 3 minutes before the recording start time, and may be any time or a necessary time according to the specifications of the broadcast receiver 100.

In step S401, it is confirmed that the time reached earlier than the recording start time by a preset time.

In step S402, the viewing / recording path selection unit 116 maintains the viewing path and the recording path based on the instruction for maintaining the viewing path and the recording path output from the device control unit 109. That is, the viewing / recording route selection unit 116 fixes that one of the radio wave broadcasting and the IP broadcasting is output to the viewing path and the other is fixed to the recording path.

In step S403, the device control unit 109 notifies the stream control unit 107 of the recording execution instruction before the recording start time of the reserved program. The stream control unit 107 controls the stream storage unit 108 to store the video signal and the audio signal of the broadcast for recording output from the viewing / recording route selection unit 116 according to the recording execution instruction. The stream storage unit 108 stores the video signal and the audio signal of the broadcast for recording according to the control thereof.

By the above steps, the reserved program recording method when the broadcast receiver 100 is in the viewing state is completed.

Summarizing the above, the broadcast receiver 100 according to the first embodiment receives both the radio wave broadcast and the IP broadcast broadcast from the broadcaster. The broadcast receiver 100 includes a tuner unit 101, a communication interface unit 111, a viewing / recording management unit 113, and a viewing / recording route selection unit 116. The tuner unit 101 receives the radio wave broadcast and demodulates it. The communication interface unit 111 receives the IP broadcast. The viewing / recording management unit 113 causes the tuner unit 101 to receive the radio wave broadcast broadcast from the same broadcaster based on the information for selecting the same broadcaster, and causes the communication interface unit 111 to receive the radio wave broadcast. Performs channel selection control to receive IP broadcasts broadcast from the same broadcaster. The viewing / recording route selection unit 116 selects one of the radio broadcast and the IP broadcast based on the radio broadcast information received by the tuner section 101 and the IP broadcast information received by the communication interface section 111. Outputs to the signal path leading to the video / audio output unit 105 for outputting one video and audio, and outputs the other to the signal path leading to the stream storage unit 108 for accumulating the other video signal and audio signal. ..

Such a broadcast receiver 100 can appropriately perform viewing and recording simultaneous operation in an environment in which both radio wave broadcasting and IP broadcasting are received. For example, the broadcast receiver 100 always receives radio broadcasts and IP broadcasts from the same broadcaster, and broadcasts for recording the other broadcast, which is a broadcast different from the one broadcast that the user is watching. Automatically select and record. Since such a broadcast receiver 100 performs viewing / recording simultaneous operation without affecting the viewing broadcast, the convenience of the user is improved. Further, the broadcast receiver 100 enables simultaneous viewing and recording operations without causing the user to care which broadcast is being viewed.

Further, in the first embodiment, an example in which the broadcast receiver 100 is a television is shown, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The broadcast receiver 100 may be a device capable of receiving radio wave broadcasts and IP broadcasts, and assigning one to a broadcast for viewing and the other to a broadcast for recording, as long as the image display unit 105A And the audio output unit 105B may not be built in. For example, the broadcast receiver 100 replaces the video display unit 105A and the audio output unit 105B with a video signal output terminal for outputting a video signal to the video display unit 105A and an audio signal for outputting the audio signal to the audio output unit 105B. The device may include an audio signal output terminal. Even with such a device, the same effect as described above can be obtained.

Further, the broadcast receiver 100 in the first embodiment includes the channel selection information management unit 115. The channel selection information management unit 115 generates and manages a management table in which information for selecting the same broadcaster is stored. The channel selection information management unit 115 outputs information for selecting the same broadcaster to the viewing / recording management unit 113.

Such a broadcast receiver 100 facilitates control for selecting the same broadcaster by the tuner unit 101 and the communication interface unit 111.

Further, the broadcast receiver 100 in the first embodiment includes a viewing / recording determination unit 114. The viewing / recording determination unit 114 broadcasts one of the radio broadcast and the IP broadcast for viewing based on the radio broadcast quality information as the radio broadcast information and the IP broadcast quality information as the IP broadcast information. In addition, the other is decided to be broadcast for recording. The viewing / recording route selection unit 116 outputs the video signal and audio signal of the broadcast for viewing to the signal path leading to the video / audio output unit 105 based on the determination of the viewing / recording determination unit 114, and the video signal of the broadcast for recording. And the audio signal is output to the signal path leading to the stream storage unit 108.

Such a broadcast receiver 100 does not affect the broadcast for viewing, and at the same time, records the broadcast for recording. Therefore, the broadcast receiver 100 does not make the user aware of the broadcast for viewing and the broadcast for recording during the simultaneous operation of viewing and recording, and as a result, the convenience of the user is improved.

Further, the broadcast receiver 100 in the first embodiment includes a stream storage unit 108, a stream control unit 107, and a device control unit 109. The stream control unit 107 controls the stream storage unit 108 to store the other video signal and audio signal output from the viewing / recording route selection unit 116. The device control unit 109 acquires recording information based on the operation performed for recording the program, and outputs a recording execution instruction to the stream control unit 107 based on the recording start time of the reserved program included in the recording information. .. The stream control unit 107 controls the stream storage unit 108 to store the other video signal and audio signal in accordance with the recording execution instruction.

Such a broadcast receiver 100 realizes recording of a reserved program by radio wave broadcasting or IP broadcasting.

Further, the device control unit 109 in the first embodiment outputs an instruction to maintain the viewing path and the recording path to the viewing / recording management unit 113 at a time earlier than the recording start time by a preset time. The viewing / recording management unit 113 outputs an instruction to maintain the viewing path and the recording path to the viewing / recording route selection unit 116 according to the instruction to maintain the viewing path and the recording path. The viewing / recording path selection unit 116 maintains that one of the radio wave broadcast and the IP broadcast is output to the signal path leading to the video / audio output unit 105 in accordance with the instruction for maintaining the viewing path and the recording path, and the other is streamed. The output to the signal path leading to the storage unit 108 is maintained.

Such a broadcast receiver 100 realizes recording of a reserved program even if it is in a viewing state at the start of recording the reserved program.

<Embodiment 2>
The broadcast receiver according to the second embodiment will be described. FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the broadcast receiver 200 according to the second embodiment. In FIG. 7, the configurations shown by the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 1 indicate parts that are the same as or correspond to each other. Description of the same configuration and operation as in the first embodiment will be omitted.

The broadcast receiver 200 includes a device control unit 201 in place of the device control unit 109, the viewing / recording management unit 113, and the channel selection information management unit 115 in the first embodiment. The device control unit 201 has a configuration in which the viewing / recording management unit 113 and the channel selection information management unit 115 are integrated with the device control unit 109 of the first embodiment, and realizes each of these functions. The device control unit 201 performs the same channel selection control as the viewing / recording management unit 113 and the channel selection information management unit 115.

Further, the broadcast receiver 200 includes a viewing / recording route selection unit 202 instead of the viewing / recording determination unit 114 and the viewing / recording route selection unit 116 in the first embodiment. The viewing / recording route selection unit 202 has a configuration in which the viewing / recording path selection unit 116 of the first embodiment is integrated with the viewing / recording determination unit 114, and realizes each of these functions. Similar to the viewing / recording determination unit 114, the viewing / recording route selection unit 202 uses radio waves based on the quality information of the radio broadcast received by the tuner unit 101 and the quality information of the IP broadcast received by the communication interface unit 111. Of the broadcast and IP broadcast, one is decided to be a broadcast for viewing and the other is decided to be a broadcast for recording. Then, based on the determination, the viewing / recording route selection unit 202 outputs the video signal and audio signal of the broadcast for viewing to the signal path leading to the video / audio output unit 105, and the video signal and audio signal of the broadcast for recording. Is output to the signal path leading to the stream storage unit 108.

Although such a broadcast receiver 200 is realized with a configuration smaller than that of the broadcast receiver 100 of the first embodiment, it has the same effect as the broadcast receiver 100.

In the present invention, each embodiment can be freely combined, and each embodiment can be appropriately modified or omitted within the scope of the invention.

Although the present invention has been described in detail, the above description is exemplary in all embodiments and the present invention is not limited thereto. It is understood that innumerable variations not illustrated can be assumed without departing from the scope of the present invention.

90 processing circuit, 91 processor, 92 memory, 100 broadcast receiver, 101 tuner section, 102 1st Demux section, 103 AV decoder section, 104 AV control section, 105 video / audio output section, 105A video display section, 105B audio output section, 107 Stream control unit, 108 Stream storage unit, 109 Equipment control unit, 110 Remote control light receiving unit, 111 Communication interface unit, 112 2nd Demux unit, 113 Viewing recording management unit, 114 Viewing recording judgment unit, 115 Channel selection information management unit, 116 Viewing / recording route selection unit, 151 remote control, 152 antenna, 153 Internet, 200 broadcast receiver, 201 device control unit, 202 viewing / recording route selection unit.

Claims (8)

A broadcast receiver that receives both radio waves and IP (Internet Protocol) broadcasts broadcast by broadcasters.
A tuner unit that receives and demodulates the radio wave broadcast,
The communication interface unit that receives the IP broadcast and
Based on the information for selecting the same broadcaster, the tuner section is made to receive the radio wave broadcast broadcast from the same broadcaster, and the communication interface section is made to receive the same broadcaster. A viewing / recording management unit that controls channel selection to receive the IP broadcast broadcast from a person
Based on the radio broadcast information received by the tuner unit and the IP broadcast information received by the communication interface unit, one of the radio broadcast and the IP broadcast is the video and audio of the one. A viewing / recording route selection unit that outputs to a signal path leading to a video / audio output unit for outputting, and outputs the other to a signal path leading to a stream storage unit for accumulating the other video signal and audio signal. Broadcast receiver to be equipped. Further provided with a channel selection information management unit that generates and manages a management table in which the information for selecting the same broadcaster is stored.
The broadcast receiver according to claim 1, wherein the channel selection information management unit outputs the information for selecting the same broadcaster to the viewing / recording management unit. Based on the quality information of the radio broadcast as the information of the radio broadcast and the quality information of the IP broadcast as the information of the IP broadcast, one of the radio broadcast and the IP broadcast can be viewed. Is further provided with a viewing / recording determination unit that determines the other broadcast as a broadcast for recording.
The viewing / recording route selection unit is
Based on the determination of the viewing / recording determination unit, the video signal and the audio signal of the broadcasting for viewing are output to the signal path leading to the video / audio output unit, and the video signal and the audio signal of the broadcasting for recording are output. The broadcast receiver according to claim 1 or 2, which outputs an audio signal to the signal path leading to the stream storage unit. With the stream storage unit
A stream control unit that controls the storage of the other video signal and the audio signal output from the viewing / recording route selection unit in the stream storage unit.
A device control unit that acquires recording information based on operations performed for recording a program and outputs a recording execution instruction to the stream control unit based on the recording start time of the reserved program included in the recording information. With more
The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the stream control unit performs the control of accumulating the other video signal and the audio signal in the stream storage unit in accordance with the recording execution instruction. Broadcast receiver. The device control unit outputs an instruction to maintain the viewing path and the recording path to the viewing / recording management unit at a time earlier than the recording start time by a preset time.
The viewing / recording management unit outputs the instruction to maintain the viewing path and the recording path to the viewing / recording route selection unit in accordance with the instruction to maintain the viewing path and the recording path.
The viewing / recording route selection unit outputs one of the radio wave broadcast and the IP broadcast to the signal path leading to the video / audio output unit in accordance with the instruction for maintaining the viewing path and the recording path. The broadcast receiver according to claim 4, wherein the other is maintained and the other is output to the signal path leading to the stream storage unit. The broadcast receiver according to claim 3, wherein the viewing / recording route selection unit is integrated with the viewing / recording determination unit. The broadcast receiver according to claim 2, wherein the viewing / recording management unit is integrated with the channel selection information management unit. The broadcast receiver according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the viewing / recording management unit is integrated with the device control unit.

Images