JP3130501B2 - Program search device and program search method - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a program search apparatus and a program search method for searching for a program.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A television program usually has a broadcast start time.
Weekly (or daily) due to the fact that
For programs you are watching, set the broadcast start time and channel
People just have to remember. However, before the show
If there is a live sport or if the broadcast start time is
For programs that are not available, see programs from newspapers and TV magazines
To check the channel, broadcast start time, etc.
Good. Then, at that time, switch on the TV
Turn on, tune to a channel, or
Recording on a recording device.

[0003]

However, the program section
To display the program confirmed in, on the TV receiver,
It is necessary to match the screen of the
No. Also, check the broadcast start time of the desired program in the program column
May fail to do so. For example, yesterday's newspaper turn
If you mistakenly view the group column as the program column of today's program,
Sometimes the desired program cannot be found. The latter
If the show doesn't air,
Only to be broadcast at different times and on different days of the week
If you can't find it, you may miss the desired program.
And

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and a program display apparatus according to the first and fifth aspects can reliably know a broadcast channel and a broadcast start time of a desired program. It is an object of the present invention to be able to easily search for the same program that will be broadcast in the next week or later once a certain program is searched. The present invention described in claims 2 and 6 aims to achieve the objects of the present invention described in claims 1 and 5 , and to automatically receive a searched program. A program search device according to a third aspect of the present invention and a program search method according to a seventh aspect of the present invention can surely know a broadcast channel and a broadcast start time of a desired program and automatically search for the searched program. The purpose is to receive in a targeted manner. It is an object of the present invention described in claims 4 and 8 to make a scheduled recording of a searched program.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a program search apparatus wherein information including at least a plurality of weeks of contents of a television broadcast, a date, a channel, and a broadcast start time is digitized. A storage unit for storing a stored program, a weekly key, a designation unit for designating a desired program, and a search for a program designated by the designation unit. After the search, the weekly key is operated. Then, there is provided a search means for searching the same program as the already searched program from the programs of the next week or later stored in the storage means. According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the program search apparatus of the first aspect, a tuner for extracting a specific broadcast content from a received broadcast content of a television, and broadcasting of the program searched by the search means. A broadcast content output unit for causing the tuner to extract the broadcast content when the start time comes. According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a storage means in which information including at least contents of a television broadcast, a channel, and a broadcast start time is digitized and stored in advance.
Specifying means for specifying the contents , and storing in the storage means
From among the content of television broadcasting that is, the same program and the designated content by the designation means, different time zone
A search means for searching from a program, a tuner for extracting a specific broadcast content from a received TV broadcast content,
A broadcast content output unit that causes the tuner to extract the broadcast content when the broadcast start time of the program searched by the search unit comes. According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the program search apparatus according to the second or third aspect, there is provided a video recording device for recording the broadcast content extracted by the tuner, and the storage means is at least a television. Information including the contents of a broadcast, a channel, a broadcast start time, and a broadcast end time, which is stored in advance in an electronic form, and wherein the broadcast contents output means stores the program stored in the storage means with respect to the program searched by the search means. Based on the information digitized and stored in
When the broadcast start time of the program is reached, the broadcast content is extracted by the tuner and recorded on the video recorder until the broadcast end time of the program. The invention according to claim 5, at least a plurality of weeks
Minutes of TV broadcast, date, channel and start of broadcast
The information including the time is digitized and stored in advance,
When a desired program is specified, the program is searched for and the
When the keys are operated weekly after the
From the programs after the week, the same as the programs already searched
Program search method characterized by searching for one program
Is the gist. The present invention described in claim 6 is directed to claim 5.
In the program search method described above, the searched program
When the broadcast start time arrives, the broadcast content is extracted to the tuner.
It is featured to be put out. The invention according to claim 7
At least the content, channels and broadcast
The information including the start time is digitized and stored in advance.
When the desired program content is specified,
Of the contents of the TV broadcast
Search for the same program from programs in different time zones,
At the broadcast start time of the broadcasted program,
Is extracted by a tuner. Claim 8
The present invention described above is a program search according to claim 6 or 7.
In the method, at least the content and channel of the television broadcast
Digitizing information including the file, broadcast start time and broadcast end time
Is stored in advance, and based on the stored information,
At the broadcast start time of the program,
Let the above-mentioned tuner extract, until the broadcast end time of the program
It is characterized in that video recording is performed by a video recording device.

[0006]

Program search apparatus according to claim 1 having the Detailed Description of the Invention The structure, the contents of multiple weeks worth of TV programs
Information including the date, channel and broadcast start time is pre-recorded.
It is provided with a memorized storage means. This information is digitized
Is controlled by a microprocessor such as a CPU.
You can easily search. Operation of the program search device
When the program is designated by the author using the designation means,
Means for searching the designated program from the storage means.
To search. Thereafter, when the keys are operated weekly,
The same program is supported from the programs stored in
Have been enabled. Therefore, the program according to claim 1
According to the search device, once a program is searched,
Easily search for the same program that will be aired the following week
Can be.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a program search device for extracting a specific broadcast content from a received broadcast content of a television, and when the broadcast start time of the program searched by the search means is reached, the broadcast content is obtained. Broadcast content output means for causing the tuner to extract the broadcast content. Therefore, according to the present invention, a searched program can be automatically received, and the risk of an operator of the program search device missing a desired program can be greatly reduced. it can. According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a program search device including a storage unit in which information including the content of a television broadcast, a channel, and a broadcast start time is stored in advance. Since this information is digitized, it can be easily searched by a microprocessor such as a CPU. Of course, the storage means may store information other than the content of the television broadcast, the channel, and the broadcast start time. When receiving the designation of program content <br/> with designation means from the operator of the program search apparatus, search means, stored in the storage unit
Content that has received the designation from the content of television broadcasts are
Is searched from programs in different time zones . A tuner that extracts a specific broadcast content from the received broadcast content of the television; and a broadcast content output unit that causes the tuner to extract the broadcast content when the broadcast start time of the program searched by the search unit comes. ing. Therefore, according to the third aspect of the present invention, the searched program can be automatically received, and the risk of the operator of the program search device missing the desired program can be greatly reduced. it can. According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the program search apparatus, the storage unit stores in advance the digitized broadcast end time in addition to the content of the television broadcast, the channel, and the broadcast start time. Then, the broadcast content output means, when the broadcast start time is digitized and stored in the storage means for the program searched by the search means,
The content of the broadcast is extracted by the tuner and recorded on the video recording device until the broadcast end time of the program. Therefore, according to the present invention, the searched program can be reserved and recorded. In addition, according to claims 5 to 8
5. A program search method according to claim 1, wherein:
Is described as a method, and the corresponding effect is
Play a fruit.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In order to further clarify the structure and operation of the present invention described above, a preferred embodiment of a program search apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to an example applied to a recording reservation control apparatus.
explain. First, FIG. 1 shows the basic structure of the recording reservation control device.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration further simplified. Main figure
As shown in the figure, the recording reservation control device comprises a storage unit and a display control unit.
Control means, selection means, recording setting means, recording reservation means
And it is mainly composed. The storage means is related to television broadcasting.
Is stored, and the content of the information is
TV broadcast content and the broadcast start / end time of each content
Is stored electronically for about one to four weeks
It has become. The display control means is stored in the storage means.
To display the stored information in a table format on the TV receiver
And the selecting means is the position specifying means of the present invention.
This unit integrates separate display means and setting means.
For selecting desired broadcast content from the indicated information
It is. Recording setting means according to the information thus selected
Set the broadcast time to the video recording device in the recording reservation means.
Set. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a recording reservation card 1 as an embodiment of the recording reservation control device of the present invention, together with a video tape recorder (VTR) 3 and a television receiver 5 connected thereto via a cable 4. FIG. VTR3
, As illustrated, the cassette insertion portion 7 to insert a video cassette tape, a time display unit 8 that displays the current time,
A connection unit 10 and the like are provided for slidingly inserting the card-shaped recording reservation card 1 from above.

The recording reservation card 1 stores the contents and time of a television broadcast program for one to several weeks in advance, and is sold alone or together with a weekly magazine or a monthly magazine describing the program contents. Is done. In this embodiment, the contents of the program and the like are stored in the ROM as described later, but may be stored in a rewritable PROM or a RAM backed up by a battery, and may be rewritten by a vending machine or the like. Good. This recording reservation card 1
It is used by being attached to the connection section 10 of the VTR 3.

[0010] The recording reservation card 1 has a control key 1 on its surface on which characters such as "setting", "weekly" and "continuous" are engraved.
1, 12, 13 and cursor keys 21, 22, 23, 24, on which up, down, left, and right arrows are engraved. Recording reservation card 1 corresponds to the specified unit of the present invention. still,
At the lowermost end, a connector 30 connected to the connection section 10 in the VTR 3 is provided.

Next, the internal structure of the recording reservation card 1 and the VTR 3 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in the figure, a well-known CPU 31,
A key input port 35, an input / output port 38, and the like, which are interconnected by a ROM 32 and a RAM 33 and a bus 34, are provided.

In the ROM 32, together with a control program,
The brief contents of the broadcast program for about one to four weeks and the broadcast start and end times are stored. That is, the ROM 32
It corresponds to the storage means of the present invention. Key input port 3
5 includes keys 11 to 1 provided on the card surface.
3, 21 to 24 are connected to input the operation state of each key. The input / output port 38 is a port for exchanging data and the like with a control device inside the VTR 3.
When the recording reservation card 1 is mounted on the VTR 3, it is connected to the internal bus 45 via the connector 3.

On the other hand, a well-known CPU 51, ROM 52, R
In addition to the AM 53 and the timer 55, a tuner 60 that receives a television broadcast wave via an antenna 57 and demodulates a video / audio signal, a recording / reproducing unit 65 that records or reproduces the demodulated signal on a video tape, and a video signal to the television 5. An output video signal output unit 70 and the like are provided. The timer 55 has a calendar function for managing the date and a 24-hour clock function. When the time set in advance by the CPU 51 via the internal bus 45 is notified, the timer 55 notifies the CPU 51 of the time as an interrupt. To display the current time. Further, the tuner 60 can select a channel to be demodulated in response to a command from the CPU 51. The demodulated video signal of the selected channel is output to the recording / reproducing unit 65. The recording / reproducing unit 65 also outputs a control signal of the CPU 51. ,
In accordance with recording / reproduction of the video signal, driving of a recording / reproduction head (not shown), control of a tape reel driving motor, and the like are performed. Further, the video signal output unit 70 outputs a video signal of a certain channel demodulated by the tuner 60,
5. The video signal reproduced by the CPU 5
Of the video signal generated by reading out the image data stored in the memory, and temporarily storing the selected video signal in an internal video memory (not shown), and constantly outputting the video signal to the television receiver 5.

Next, an explanatory diagram of the program table shown in FIG.
The processing executed by the CPUs 31 and 51 of the recording reservation card 1 and the VTR 3 will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. Recording reservation card 1 is VTR3
When the power is turned on after the card is mounted, the card-side processing routine shown in FIG. 5 is started, and first, processing such as initialization of the cursor position is performed (step 100). The initial position of the cursor is a predetermined origin, and in the program table shown in FIG. 4, it is the position corresponding to the program with the smallest number and the earliest time zone (program A1 in this embodiment) . Later, reads the program table from the ROM 32 (step 110), input and output data of the program data and cursor position of the region in accordance with these cursor position ports 38
(Step 1)
20). That is, since the entire program table cannot be displayed on the television receiver 5 at one time, one screen of program data is output centering on the position of the cursor. The output program data is temporarily stored in the RAM 5 through the connector 30.
3 is sent to the video signal output unit 70 under the control of the CPU 51 later, where it is converted into a video signal and then output to the television receiver 5 . Continued stomach, recording reservation card 1
The operation waits for the operation of a key provided on the surface (step 130), and proceeds to the processing of step 140 and subsequent steps according to the input key.

If the input key is a cursor key, cursor data corresponding to one of the operated keys 21 to 24 is output (step 140), and the RAM 3
Then, a process of updating the cursor position information stored in No. 3 according to the configuration of the program guide is performed (step 150). For example,
When the cursor is at the position of the program C3 shown in FIG.
When the cursor key 21 of the upward arrow is operated,
The data is output to the video signal output unit 70 of the VTR 3 and the cursor position information in the recording reservation card 1 is updated from the program C3 to the position of the program C2. When the right arrow cursor key 24 is operated, the cursor position information is updated from the program C3 to the position of the program D3 . After the processing of the following, again executes step 120 following the process returns to step 120. Therefore, when the cursor is moved out of the currently displayed area, the area of the displayed program is also updated by the processing of step 120.

If it is determined in step 130 that the input key is the "SET" key 11, the start time of the program corresponding to the current cursor position information and its channel number are read from the ROM 32 (step 16).
0) Then, processing for outputting the recording start time to the CPU 51 of the VTR 3 is performed (step 170). For example, when the cursor is on the program C3, the start time 8
At hour 45, channel CH5 is read and output . Continued stomach, reads an end time of the program (step 180), performs a process of outputting the time (step 190). In the example described above, the end time of 9:30 is read and output.

On the other hand, if the "weekly" key 12 is input, the program stored in the ROM 3 is searched for the program of the next week and thereafter (step 200), and the same program as the program where the cursor is currently located is searched for in the following week. It is determined whether or not it exists (step 210). If the same program exists after the next week, read and output of the start time and channel including the date of the program and read and output of the end time are performed in the same manner as when the "SET" key is operated as described above ( Steps 160 to 190). If there is no identical program, step 1
Returning to step 20, the process is repeated from the key input. By this processing, even when the same program is broadcasted in a different time zone after the next week, it can be easily reserved. Toes
Steps 200 and 210
The processing that flows to step 160 and reaches step 190 is the present invention.
Corresponds to processing as search means. The processing on the VTR 3 side will be described later.

If the input key is the "continuous" key 13 in step 130, a process for canceling the end time of a continuous program among a plurality of programs set up to that time is performed (step 220). As a result, when recording of a plurality of continuous programs (including different channels and the same channel) is set, the power supply of the VTR 3 is not turned off every time the broadcast time of one program ends.

The processing on the recording reservation card 1 has been described above. According to this processing, the following processing is performed on the VTR 3 side. As shown in FIG. 6, first, wait until data is output from the recording reservation card 1 (step 3).
00), if there is a data output, the contents are determined (step 310). If the output content is cursor data (corresponding to step 140 in FIG. 5), the CPU 5
1 outputs data to the video signal output unit 70 and updates the reverse position of the program being displayed (step 350). For example, when the program C3 shaded in FIG. 4 is displayed in reverse video, when information indicating that the down arrow cursor key 22 is operated is sent from the recording reservation card 1, the program C4 is displayed in reverse video. The output is switched to the output of the video signal in which C3 is normally displayed.

On the other hand, if the contents of the output from the recording reservation card 1 are the data of the program guide, step 12 in FIG.
0, which is temporarily stored in the RAM 5
After that, the data is stored in the video signal output unit 70 as data to be displayed on the television receiver 5 (step 32).
0) and a process of inputting cursor position data output from the recording reservation card 1 (step 330). Subsequently, a process of setting the position of the program to be reversely displayed on the video signal output unit 70 based on the input data of the cursor position is performed (step 340).

If the contents of the output from the recording reservation card 1 are set time information corresponding to the processing on the card side, steps 170 and 190, this information is temporarily stored in the RAM 53 (step 360) and stored. A process of setting the date and time closest to the present time among the plurality of time information to the timer 55 is performed (step 370). Timer 55
When the set date / time is reached, the CPU 51 interrupts the CPU 51 and drives the tuner 60 and the recording / reproducing unit 65 to perform a process of recording the program of the stored channel on the video cassette tape.

After the processing of steps 310 to 370 is completed, the process returns to step 300 and the recording reservation card 1
It repeats from the process which waits until data output from. With the processing on the recording reservation card 1 and the processing on the VTR 3 described above, the user sets the recording reservation as follows.

(1) First, when the recording reservation card 1 is mounted on the VTR 3 and the power is turned on, a part of the program table of the day is displayed in a table format on the television receiver 5 as shown in FIG. . By operating the cursor keys 21 to 24, a desired program can be highlighted and displayed. When a cursor operation is performed to move the highlighted display portion out of the currently displayed area, a display area is displayed. Is updated.
The process of displaying a program guide other than the program guide of the day is as follows.
Although not specifically described, a dedicated key may be provided,
By the combination of the cursor keys 21 and 22 and other keys,
It is also preferable to display the program table of the previous day or the next day.

(2) When the "SET" key 11 of the recording reservation card 1 is operated with the desired program highlighted,
The start time including the date of the program, the channel, and the end time are stored. The VTR 3 starts recording when the start time comes, and ends the recording when the end time comes. I mean
The processing of this part corresponds to the broadcast content output means of the present invention.
Processing.

(3) When the "weekly" key 12 is operated after a recording reservation for a certain program is made, the contents of the program from the next week onward stored in the ROM 32 are searched in advance. If the same exists, the start time / channel including the date and the end time are set. Therefore, even if the same program is broadcast in different time zones, it is possible to make a recording reservation without error.

(4) After the recording reservation of a plurality of programs is set, when the "continuous" key 13 is operated, the setting of the end time of the program in the continuous time zone among the programs reserved for recording is canceled. Therefore, when recording a plurality of programs in a continuous time zone, the VTR 3
This is preferable in terms of the durability of the VTR 3 without turning off the power supply.

As described above, the recording reservation card 1 of this embodiment stores in advance the contents of a program for one to several weeks and the start and end times thereof, and displays them on the television receiver 5. Thus, the program can be reserved for recording the program, so that the recording reservation can be made extremely easily. Since it is only necessary to select a program, there is no need to set time, read a barcode, or the like, and even a person who is not used to operating the machine can easily perform the operation. Further, in the present embodiment, programs having the same contents can be searched, so that even when continuous programs are broadcast in different time zones, recording reservation can be easily made.

The embodiments of the present invention have been described above.
The present invention is not limited to such an embodiment. For example, in place of a cursor key, a configuration in which a desired program is selected with a touch board, a mouse, or a light pen installed on the screen of a television receiver, and a setting operation of a setting operation. VTR key
It goes without saying that the present invention can be implemented in various modes without departing from the gist of the present invention, such as the configuration provided directly above.

[0029]

As described in detail above, claim 1 of the present invention
According to the described program search device, since the information on the program stored in the storage means in advance is digitized, a desired program can be easily searched. If the program specified via the specifying means is not in the storage means, the search means cannot find it. This allows the operator
Since you can see that the desired program is not reliably broadcast,
(I can't find the show because of my carelessness.
Actually, it will be broadcast at a different time than usual)
There is no fuss. When a key is operated weekly after searching for a program specified by the specifying means, a program is searched once to search for the same program from programs stored in the storage means from the next week onward. Then, it is possible to easily search for the same program that will be broadcast in the next week or later. According to the program search device of the present invention, when the broadcast start time of the program searched by the search means comes, the broadcast content output means for extracting the broadcast content to the tuner is provided. , And the risk that the operator of the program search device or the like misses the desired program can be greatly reduced. According to the third aspect of the present invention, the searched program can be automatically received, and the risk of the operator of the program search device missing the desired program can be extremely reduced. In the program search device according to the fourth aspect, the storage means stores in advance the digitized broadcast end time in addition to the content of the television broadcast, the channel, and the broadcast start time. And, it is provided with broadcast content output means, and when the broadcast start time is digitized and stored in the storage means for the program searched by the search means, the tuner extracts the broadcast content,
Since the video recording device records the program until the broadcast end time of the program, the searched program can be reserved and recorded.
The program search method according to any one of claims 5 to 8 is directed to claim 1.
Or 4 program search devices described as methods
There is a corresponding effect.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a basic configuration of a recording reservation control device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an external appearance of a recording reservation card 1 as an embodiment of the present invention, together with a video tape recorder 3.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the recording reservation card 1 and the video tape recorder 3;

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of display of a program in the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing processing on the recording reservation card 1 side.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing processing on the video tape recorder 3 side.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Recording reservation card 3 ... Video tape recorder (VTR) 5 ... Television receiver 11, 12, 13 ... Control keys 21, 22, 23, 24 ... Cursor keys 55 ... Timer 60 ... Tuner 65 ... Recording / playback part 70 ... Video Signal output section

Claims (8)

(57) [Claims] 1. A storage means in which information including at least a plurality of weeks of contents of a television broadcast, a date, a channel, and a broadcast start time is digitized and stored in advance, and a weekly key is provided to designate a desired program. And a search means for searching for a program designated by the designating means. When the weekly key is operated after the search, the program is stored in the storage means in the program of the next week and thereafter. A search means for searching for the same program as the program already searched for. 2. The program search device according to claim 1, wherein: a tuner for extracting a specific broadcast content from the received broadcast content of the television; and a broadcast start time of the program searched by the search means. A broadcast content output unit for causing the tuner to extract the broadcast content. 3. A storage means in which information including at least contents of a television broadcast, a channel, and a broadcast start time is digitized and stored in advance, a designation means for designating desired program contents , and Among the contents of stored TV broadcasts
Searching means for searching the same program as the content specified by the specifying means from programs in different time zones; a tuner for extracting specific broadcast content from received TV broadcast content; A broadcast content output means for causing the tuner to extract the broadcast content when the broadcast start time of the program searched by the program is reached. 4. The program search device according to claim 2, further comprising a video recording device for recording the broadcast content extracted by the tuner, wherein the storage means includes at least a content and a channel of a television broadcast. And information including the broadcast start time and the broadcast end time, which is digitized and stored in advance. The broadcast content output means is digitized in the storage means with respect to the program searched by the search means. When the broadcast start time of the program is reached based on the stored information, the tuner extracts the broadcast content and records the broadcast content on the video recording device until the broadcast end time of the program. apparatus. 5. A television broadcast for at least a plurality of weeks.
Information including content, date, channel and broadcast start time.
Memorize the children in advance, When a desired program is specified, the program is searched for and the
When the keys are operated weekly after the
From the programs after the week, the same as the programs already searched
Program search method characterized by searching for one thing
Law. 6. The program search method according to claim 5, wherein
hand, When the broadcast start time of the searched program comes,
A program server characterized by having the tuner extract the transmission contents.
Approach. 7. At least the content and the channel of the television broadcast
Information including the file and the broadcast start time
Remember, When the desired program content is designated, the stored
Same as the content specified above from the contents of the Levi broadcast
Search for programs from different time zones, When the broadcast start time of the searched program comes,
A program server characterized by having a tuner extract the contents
H way. 8. The program search method according to claim 6 or 7.
In the law, At least the content and channel of the broadcast and the start of the broadcast
Digitized information including the time and the broadcast end time
Remember, Based on the stored information, the broadcast start time of the program
Then, let the tuner extract the broadcast content,
Record on the video recorder until the broadcast end time of the program This
A program search method characterized by the following.