JP3173437B2 - Display device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a display device, and more particularly to a display device that automatically selects only a desired program from among broadcast programs and makes it possible to view the program.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, when a certain program of a television broadcast is viewed using a display device capable of displaying a display for a personal computer and a broadcast receiver (for example, a television receiver), the broadcast receiver is used. The user either waits for the target program to be broadcast with the device turned on, or waits for the broadcast start time to be checked from a program table or the like and then turns on the broadcast receiver to view the program. . However, in the former case, the user continues to watch an undesired broadcast program until the desired program starts broadcasting. In the latter case, he forgets the broadcast start time,
You may forget to watch it.

[0003] Therefore, a display device for automatically selecting and viewing only a desired program from among broadcast programs by using a timer has been conventionally known. A display device using this timer can automatically start viewing a desired viewing program at the broadcast start time by setting the timer to a broadcast start time checked in advance from a program table.

[0004]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional display device, since the time setting for the timer is a condition, for example, a program that is broadcast regardless of time, such as a news flash or earthquake information, is used. There is a problem that it is completely useless for the case. Further, depending on the program, the broadcast time may be irregularly delayed by a program before the broadcast program. In this case, there is a problem that an unintended broadcast program is continuously viewed. In particular, in a display device having both a function of a display for a personal computer and a function of a television receiver, there is a problem that a personal computer cannot be operated while a television broadcast program is being viewed. is there.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above points,
It is an object of the present invention to provide a display device capable of automatically selecting only a desired program from among broadcast programs so that the program can be viewed even if the program is broadcast regardless of time.

[0006]

To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a character data recognizing means for extracting character data from a received broadcast video signal and outputting a character code corresponding to the extracted character data. Storage means for storing a character code, a display unit for displaying an image, keyword setting means for setting a keyword related to a desired broadcast program,
A matching unit that compares and matches the keyword set by the keyword setting unit with the character code read from the storage unit; and only when the matching unit obtains a matching result indicating that the keyword and the character code match, the external device can perform the matching. And a switching unit for forcibly selecting a received broadcast video signal instead of the video signal and displaying an image of the broadcast video signal on a screen of a display unit.

According to the present invention, when a matching result is obtained in which a keyword relating to a desired broadcast program and a character code corresponding to character data extracted from the received broadcast video signal match, an image of the received broadcast video signal is displayed on the display unit. Since the display is performed, when a desired broadcast program is received, an image of the broadcast program can be automatically displayed.

Further, the keyword setting means in the present invention sets, as a keyword, a character code of one or more character data selected from character codes stored in advance based on a predetermined operation. According to the present invention, a character code (word code) corresponding to a keyword is preset in the apparatus, and one or more of them are selected as necessary. , Alphabet keys, etc. can be eliminated.

Further, the keyword setting means in the present invention sets the character codes of one or more of the character data extracted from the character data by the character data recognizing means as a keyword based on a predetermined operation. . According to the present invention, a pseudonym and an alphabet key for inputting a keyword can be eliminated on the display screen.

Further, the keyword setting means in the present invention converts one or more character data relating to a desired broadcast program input from the outside into a character code and sets it as a keyword. According to the present invention, an arbitrary search target keyword can be easily set.

The collating means in the present invention determines that the collation coincides when any one of the two or more keywords set by the keyword setting means matches the character code read from the storage means. .

[0012] As a checking means, one keyword is generally set for each broadcast program desired to be viewed, and it is checked whether the keyword matches the recognized character data. If the recognition accuracy of the means is relatively low, there is a possibility that the corresponding keyword may be missed. In such a case, two or more keywords related to each program desired to be viewed are set in advance (for example, when the earthquake bulletin is a program desired to be viewed, “earthquake”, “seismic intensity”,
"Earthquake location" is set as a keyword), and the matching error is determined by determining that at least one of them matches the character code of the recognized character data as in the matching means of the present invention. Can be reduced.

[0013] The collating means in the present invention may be arranged such that a predetermined number or more of the two or more keywords set by the keyword setting means coincide with any one of the two or more character codes read from the storage means within a predetermined time. When this is done, it may be determined that the collation matches.

[0014] Even if the recognition accuracy of the character data recognizing means is high, if the program to be set has low program specificity, the desired program may not always be specified even if the corresponding keyword is recognized. For example, by setting, as keywords, a plurality of character data appearing on the display screen within a predetermined time when starting broadcasting of a desired program, the matching means in the present invention allows a predetermined number or more of the keywords to be used. By determining that a match is found by matching any one of two or more character codes within a predetermined time, a desired program can be accurately searched even if a keyword to be set has low program specificity.

The switching means in the present invention forcibly converts the received broadcast video signal in place of the video signal from the external device only when the collation means obtains a collation result indicating that the keyword and the character code match. In order to display the image of the broadcast video signal on the screen of the display unit, for example, to enable viewing of a broadcast receiver, a display circuit is turned on, or a personal computer or the like is turned on. The display screen can be switched from the screen of the external device to the broadcast signal.

The switching means includes a TV tuner for converting a broadcast video signal of a desired channel into a signal of a predetermined signal form among the received broadcast video signals, and a video signal from one or more external devices and a TV tuner. Receiving the output signal
A source selector unit for forcibly selecting an output signal of a TV tuner instead of a video signal from an external device only when a matching result indicating that the keyword and the character code match by the matching unit is obtained; The image of the output signal of the unit may be displayed on the screen of the display unit.

[0017]

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of an embodiment of the display device according to the present invention. In this embodiment,
The present invention is applied to a display device capable of displaying both a display for a personal computer and a television receiver. The display device 1 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 2, a memory 3, an operation unit 4, and a display unit 5. , A TV tuner 6, character data recognition means 7, and a source selector 8 are connected to each other via a bus 9.

As is well known, the CPU 2 performs overall control of the entire apparatus, and performs a keyword setting process, a collation process, a viewing start, an end process, and the like, which will be described later. The memory 3 includes a read only memory (ROM) and a random access memory (RAM).
Each control system program performed by U2 is stored, and the RAM is used as a working area of the system program and a storage area for keywords and the like set by the operation unit 4.

The operation unit 4 and the display unit 5 are composed of a TV main body and a remote controller, which are general components of a TV receiver, and are used for a keyword setting operation and the like in the present embodiment. The specific configuration will be described later with reference to FIG. The TV tuner 6 includes an operation unit 4
, The reception frequency is changed, the reception signal is converted into a screen display signal, and output to the source selector 8. Also,
This signal is also supplied to character data recognizing means 7 described later.

The character data recognizing means 7 recognizes character data included in the image signal output from the TV tuner 6, and sequentially outputs a word code or a character code corresponding to the recognized character data. Various known character data recognition circuits can be used for the character data recognition means 7. Normally, this character data recognition circuit
When an image pattern of character data included in the received broadcast signal is recognized, a corresponding character code is output.

The source selector 8 is generally used for a TV receiver, and selects one of the sources from a plurality of external devices connected to the input section of the TV receiver. Output to the screen of the display unit 5.

FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 are external views of an example of a display screen and a remote controller of the TV set constituting the operation unit 4 and the display unit 5 described above. As shown in FIG. 2, on a keyword input screen 20 displayed on the TV screen of the display unit 5, a Japanese syllabary key 21 for inputting a keyword and a cursor for selecting this data are displayed. . Furthermore, when the keyword is a kanji, the kana data selected from the Japanese syllabary key 21 is converted into kanji data, so that a display area 22 for temporarily displaying kana input data, and a display area 22 for displaying the input keyword. The display area 23 forms a keyword input screen.

As shown in FIG. 3, on the remote controller 30, a four-directional cursor key 31 for moving a cursor up, down, left, and right, and various operation modes (a mode for automatically selecting and viewing a program, a normal mode). Mode key 32 for switching to a viewing mode or the like, and an enter key 33 for selecting the character at the cursor position as keyword data.
A switching key 34 for switching the display screen between displaying image data from the source selected by the source selector 8 and displaying the image as a keyword input screen, and a conversion key 35 for converting a selected character into a kanji. , A registration key 36 for registering as a keyword.

Next, the operation of the present embodiment up to automatic selection of a program will be described. The operator operates the switching key 34 on the remote controller 30 shown in FIG. 3 to switch the TV screen to the keyword input screen 20 shown in FIG. Subsequently, a keyword is input using the remote controller 30. The keyword is a word unique or highly specific to a broadcast program that the operator desires to view, and one or more of the keywords are input. If only keywords having low program specificity can be obtained (for example, if the set keyword is recognized not only for a specific program but also for various programs), the keyword is used within a certain period of time to start broadcasting the desired program. It is conceivable to set and register a series of a plurality of words that will be performed as keywords.

When registering, for example, "flash report" as a keyword to be input, the cursor key 3
In step 1, the cursor position on the screen is set to the position of "SO" of the Japanese syllabary key 21, and the enter key 33 is operated to select a character.
The selected character is displayed in the display area 22. By repeating the same operation, "ku", "ho", and "u" are selected.

When the character selection is completed, the conversion key 3 is used to convert the selected character string "Sokuho" to Kanji.
Operate 5 to get a "flash report". Next, in order to register "flash report" as a keyword, the registration key 36 on the remote controller 30 is operated to perform registration. The registered data is stored in the memory 3 and is displayed in the keyword display area 23 so that it is possible to confirm what is registered as a keyword.

Next, the mode key 32 is operated to change the mode to the viewing start mode by automatic selection of a program. As a result, the mode is shifted from the normal mode to a mode for automatically selecting and viewing a program. When the mode shifts to the automatic selection viewing mode, the character data recognizing means 7
Extracts character data from the image data output from the TV tuner 6, and sequentially writes the character data into the memory 3.

On the other hand, the CPU 2 compares the character data read from the memory 3 with the registered keywords,
If it is determined that one of the keywords matches the read character data, the source selector 8
Is switched to select the image data output from the TV tuner 6.

As described above, according to this embodiment, by setting one or more words included in a broadcast program desired to be viewed as a search keyword in advance, the broadcast of the relevant broadcast program is started. At the same time, the input switching means forcibly switches from image data from another personal computer or the like to output image data of the TV tuner 6. As a result, even if a program that is broadcast regardless of time, such as an emergency broadcast, or a program that you want to watch is delayed from the start of the broadcast due to the contents of the previous program, only the desired program is automatically selected from the broadcast programs. It is possible to selectively select and watch.

In this embodiment, when a desired program is received, the image is automatically switched to the image of the desired program. Therefore, an image from an external device such as a personal computer is displayed on the screen of the display unit 5 until then. The video source is interrupted, the source selector 8 is configured to automatically return to the original video source when the viewing of the desired program ends. Is also good.

The keyword setting method is not limited to the method using the input device such as the remote controller 30 shown in FIG.
When keywords to be searched are limited to a few keywords, character codes (word codes) corresponding to those keywords are preset in the apparatus, and one or more of them are used as necessary. May be selected, or the character code of one or more character data among the character data extracted by the character data recognizing means 7 may be directly set as a keyword.

[0032]

As described above, according to the present invention,
When a matching result is obtained in which the keyword relating to the desired broadcast program and the character code corresponding to the character data extracted from the received broadcast video signal match, the image of the received broadcast video signal is displayed on the display unit, so that the desired When a broadcast program is received, the image of the broadcast program can be automatically displayed, so that a program that is broadcast regardless of time, such as an emergency broadcast, or a program that the user wants to watch depends on the broadcast content of the previous program. Even if there is a delay, it is possible to automatically select and view only a desired program from among the broadcast programs.

According to the present invention, a character code corresponding to a keyword is preset in the apparatus, and one or more of them are selected as necessary, or a character extracted by the character data recognizing means. One of the data
Alternatively, by setting character codes of two or more character data as keywords as they are, kana and alphabet keys for keyword input on the display screen can be eliminated, so that operability of keyword input can be improved and personal computers can be improved. A large-scale input device such as a keyboard can be eliminated.

Further, according to the present invention, when any one of the two or more keywords set by the keyword setting means matches the character code read out from the storage means, it is determined that the matching matches. Therefore, the possibility of a keyword recognition error can be reduced.

Further, according to the present invention, since a predetermined number or more of the keywords match any one of the two or more character codes within a predetermined time, it is determined that the matching is performed. Even if the keyword to be used has low program specificity, a desired program can be accurately searched, and reliability can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a keyword input screen of a display unit in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an external view of an example of a remote controller constituting the operation unit of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 display device 2 central processing unit (CPU) 3 memory 4 operation unit 5 display unit 6 TV tuner 7 character data recognition means 8 source selector 20 keyword input screen 21 syllabary key 22, 23 display area 30 remote controller 31 4-directional cursor key

Claims (7)

(57) [Claims] 1. Character data recognition means for extracting character data from a received broadcast video signal and outputting a character code corresponding to the extracted character data; storage means for storing the character code; and displaying an image. A display unit; keyword setting means for setting a keyword relating to a desired broadcast program; collation means for comparing and collating the keyword set by the keyword setting means with the character code read from the storage means; Only when a collation result indicating that the keyword matches the character code is obtained, the received broadcast video signal is forcibly selected instead of the video signal from the external device, and the image of the broadcast video signal is A display device comprising: switching means for displaying the image on the screen of the display unit. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the keyword setting unit sets, as the keyword, one or more character codes of character data selected from character codes stored in advance based on a predetermined operation. Item 2. The display device according to Item 1. 3. The keyword setting means sets a character code of one or more character data among character data extracted by the character data recognizing means as the keyword based on a predetermined operation. The display device according to claim 1, wherein: 4. The keyword setting unit according to claim 1, wherein the keyword setting unit converts one or more character data of the desired broadcast program input from outside into a character code and sets the character code as the keyword. Display device. 5. The matching means determines that the matching is found when any one of the two or more keywords set by the keyword setting means matches the character code read from the storage means. The display device according to claim 1, wherein: 6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the matching means determines that a predetermined number or more of the two or more keywords set by the keyword setting means are within a predetermined period of time with one of the two or more character codes read from the storage means. 2. The display device according to claim 1, wherein a match is determined when the two match. 7. The TV tuner for converting a broadcast video signal of a desired channel into a signal of a predetermined signal form in the received broadcast video signal, and a video signal from the one or more external devices. And the output signal of the TV tuner, and only when the matching means obtains a matching result indicating that the keyword matches the character code, the output signal of the TV tuner is replaced with a video signal from an external device. 7. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a source selector unit forcibly selecting an image, and displaying an image of an output signal of the source selector unit on a screen of the display unit.
The display device according to claim 1.