JP3344625B2 - Set-top boxes and TV terminals - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a demodulator in a set-top box or a television terminal for connecting a communication line to a television.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A set-top box is used as a home communication terminal for connecting a communication line and a television in order to use a two-way multimedia communication service or the like (see, for example, JP-A-9-200693). ). The set-top box has a function of demodulating a broadcast signal, converting the demodulated signal, and outputting the converted signal to a TV receiver.
It has a function of transmitting a video signal (demodulated signal) reproduced by a VTR to the R, a function of converting the signal, and outputting the converted signal to a TV, and the like.

[0003]

The conventional set-top box is not provided with means for controlling the demodulation conditions of the demodulator (tuner) inside the set-top box from an externally connected device. However, there is a problem that the VTR cannot perform timer recording of the video signal using the demodulation unit in the set-top box. Therefore,
In order to perform timer recording, it was necessary to provide a tuner independently in the VTR.

An object of the present invention is to enable a demodulator in a set-top box to be controlled from the outside, thereby enabling timer recording of video signals using the demodulator in the set-top box. Is to provide.

When the demodulation unit in the set-top box can be controlled, the demodulation condition specified by an externally connected device and the demodulation condition requested by the viewer compete with each other, and contrary to the wishes of the viewer. The program output from the set-top box may be changed.

Therefore, another object of the present invention is to provide a means for solving a case where a demodulation condition specified by an externally connected device and a demodulation condition requested by a viewer conflict with each other.

[0007]

The set-top box according to the present invention is based on one or more demodulation control signals D input from the outside and a demodulation control signal E input by a viewer via a user interface. A demodulation control unit for controlling demodulation conditions in one or more demodulation units is provided. The demodulation control unit enables an externally connected VTR or the like to control the demodulation conditions of the demodulation unit in the set-top box independently of the viewer. The demodulator in the box can be used.

Further, according to the present invention, when a demodulation condition specified from the outside and a demodulation condition specified by a viewer conflict with each other, the viewer is notified that the demodulation unit cannot be allocated, and Means for narrowing down to a plurality of demodulation control signals and demodulation conditions that can be allocated according to the situation, thereby preventing the demodulation conditions of the set-top box from being changed contrary to the viewer's will. Can be.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an example of a connection form between a set-top box and peripheral devices according to the present invention. The set-top box 1 is connected to the video recording device 2, the user input device 5, the antenna 3, and the display 2, and receives a broadcast signal specified from the user input device 5 or the video recording device 2 via the antenna 3. Then, the signal is demodulated and transmitted to the video recording device 2, or the demodulated signal is further converted and transmitted to the display 4.
Further, it converts the signal reproduced by the video recording device 2 and sends it to the display 4.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the set-top box of the present invention when the demodulation section demodulates only one broadcast wave. The set-top box according to the present invention includes a demodulation unit 11, a demodulation control unit 12, a video signal selection unit 13, a signal conversion unit 14, and an external communication interface 15. The external communication interface 15 is connected to the video recorder 2, the output of the antenna 3 is input to the demodulator 11, the output of the user input device 5 is input to the demodulator controller 12 and the video signal selector 13, The output of the conversion unit 14 is input to the display 4.

The demodulation control unit 12 resolves a conflict between the demodulation control signal D input from the video recording device 2 via the external communication interface 15 and the demodulation control signal E input from the user input device 5, and as a result, Is input to the demodulation unit 11. The demodulation unit 11 demodulates a broadcast wave based on the demodulation control signal F input from the demodulation control unit 12, transfers the demodulated video signal A to the video recording device 2 via the external communication interface 15, and Input to the unit 13.

The video signal B input from the video recorder 2 is transferred to the video signal selector 13 via the external communication interface 15. In the video signal selection unit 13,
Based on the input from the user input device 5, either the video signal A or the video signal B is selected, and the selected video signal C is transferred to the signal conversion unit 14. In the signal converter 14,
The input video signal C is converted into a display drive signal which is an output for driving the display, and the display 4 is driven.

Examples of broadcast waves input from the antenna 3 include terrestrial analog broadcast, BS analog broadcast, CS analog broadcast, cable television / analog broadcast, terrestrial digital broadcast, BS digital broadcast, CS digital broadcast, cable television・ There is digital broadcasting.

Examples of the output of the demodulation unit 11 include an MPEG transport stream, an MPEG program stream, an MPEG elementary stream, and a non-transport stream in the MPEG-SYSTEMS standardized by the international standard ISO / IEC18318-1. There are a digital output of a compressed image, an analog composite output, and an RGB output.

As an example of the signal conversion unit 14, means for decoding a compressed digital video such as MPEG to produce an uncompressed digital video and outputting it as an analog composite output or an analog RGB output, And means for outputting compressed digital video via a digital line.

The video signal selector 13 in FIG. 2 is not always necessary. Even if the video signal A obtained by the demodulator 11 is input to the signal converter 14,
The effect of the present invention is obtained.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing one embodiment of the demodulation control section 12 in FIG. The demodulation control unit 12 includes a program ID selection unit 21, an externally requested program ID register 22,
End detection unit D23, viewer request program ID register 24,
Demodulation start / end detection unit E25, program ID output register 2
6 and a program ID valid signal register 27.

Of these, the externally requested program ID register 22
Is transmitted from the video recording device 2 to the external communication interface 15.
A program ID-D, which is an identifier of a program requested by the demodulation control signal D input via the USB port, is stored. The demodulation start / end detection unit D23 has a register inside, detects the start and end of demodulation by the demodulation control signal D, drives a pulse on the demodulation start / end signal D, and starts demodulation. Sets the internal register, resets it when finished, and outputs the output of the register to program ID-
Output as D valid signal.

The viewer request program ID register 24 stores a program ID-E which is an identifier of a program requested by the demodulation control signal E input from the user input device 5. The demodulation start / end detection unit E25 has a register inside similarly to the demodulation start / end detection unit D23, detects the start and end of demodulation by the demodulation control signal E, and outputs a pulse on the demodulation start / end signal E. When demodulation is started, an internal register is set when demodulation is started, and when demodulation is ended, the register is reset and an output of the register is output as a program ID-E valid signal.

In the program ID selecting section 21, an external request program I
The program ID-D output from the D register 22 and the demodulation start / end signal D output from the demodulation start / end detection unit D23.
And a program ID-D valid signal, a program ID-E output from the viewer request program ID register 24, a demodulation start / end signal E and a program ID-E valid signal output from the demodulation start / end detection unit E25. And a program I obtained by resolving a conflict between the demodulation control signal D from the external communication interface 15 and the demodulation control signal E from the user input device 5.
D is output as the program ID-F. If the program ID-F is valid, the program ID valid signal register is set. If the program ID-F is invalid, the register is reset.

The program ID output register 26 stores a program ID-
Store F. The program ID valid signal register 27
Is set when the program ID-F is valid, and is reset when the program ID-F is invalid.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure in the program ID selecting section 21 of FIG. The program ID selector 21 waits for a demodulation start / end signal D and a demodulation start / end signal E (step 101). Then, if any signal is detected, it is checked whether or not the program ID-D valid signal is set (step 102).
If the signal has been set, the process proceeds to step 104, and if the signal has been reset, the process proceeds to step 103. In step 103, it is checked whether the program ID-E valid signal is set. If the signal is set, the process proceeds to step 105, and if the signal is reset, the process proceeds to step 106.

In step 104, the program ID-D is set in the program ID output register 26, and the flow advances to step 107. In step 105, the program ID-E is set in the program ID output register 26, and the flow advances to step 107. In step 107, the program ID valid signal register 27 is set, and the process returns to step 101 again. On the other hand, Step 1
At 06, the program ID valid signal register 27 is reset, and the process returns to step 101 again.

Therefore, according to this embodiment, for example, when timer recording is set for the video recording device 2, the information is transmitted via the external communication interface 15 to the externally requested program ID register 22 and the demodulation start / stop. The data is written to a register in the end detection unit D23. When the demodulation start pulse is output from the demodulation start / end detection unit D23 at the recording start time, the program ID selection unit 21
Is a video recording device 2 according to the flowchart of FIG.
, And sends a demodulation control signal F to the demodulation unit 11 so as to demodulate the broadcast program specified by the external request program ID register 22. The demodulation unit 11 demodulates a broadcast program specified by the demodulation control signal and outputs the demodulated signal to the external communication interface 15.
To the video recording device 2 via the.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing another embodiment of the set-top box according to the present invention, in which a plurality of demodulators are provided. As can be seen by comparing FIG. 2 with FIG. 2, the plurality of demodulation units 11 connected to the antenna 3
-1, 11-2, and 11-3 provide a mechanism for simultaneously demodulating a plurality of broadcast waves. In the embodiment, the case where the number of the demodulation units is three is shown, but the number of the demodulation units can be arbitrarily set. The number of antennas to be connected only needs to correspond to one demodulation unit, and the total number of antennas and the total number of demodulation units do not have to match. For example, if there are two BS tuners in the set-top box, one BS antenna is sufficient.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing details of the demodulation control section 12 in the set-top box shown in FIG. However, for simplicity of description, the demodulation units are two, that is, a demodulation unit 11-1 and a demodulation unit 11-2, and a demodulation control signal D-1 and a demodulation control signal It is assumed that two of D-2 are generated independently of each other. It is needless to say that the number of demodulation sections and demodulation control signals is not limited to two, but may be any number.

As can be seen from a comparison between FIG. 6 and FIG.
According to the embodiment, the demodulation control signal D input from the external communication interface 15 is classified into several demodulation control signals D by the demodulation control signal classification means 28. Further, in order to output the demodulation control signal F-1 and the demodulation control signal F-2 to the plurality of demodulation units 11-1 and 11-2,
A program ID output register 26 and a program ID valid signal register 27 are prepared for each demodulation unit. Further, the demodulation control signals classified by the demodulation control signal classification means 28 are supplied to separate external request program ID registers 22 and demodulation start / end detection sections D
23 and the demodulation unit ID register D29.

For example, the demodulation control signal D-1 is transmitted to the external request program ID register 22-1 and the demodulation start / end detection unit D.
23-1 and the demodulation section ID register D29-1. The output of the user input device 5 is input to the viewer request program ID register 24, the demodulation start / end detection unit E25, and the demodulation unit ID register E30. Each externally requested program ID register 22 and demodulation start / end detection unit D2
3 and the output of the viewer request program ID register 24 and the demodulation start / end detection unit E25
Is input to

The demodulation section ID registers D29-1 and D29-
2, and the demodulation section ID register E30 stores an ID for identifying the demodulation section requested by the corresponding demodulation control signal. The program ID selecting section 21 resolves the contention of each demodulation section 11 and outputs the result to each program ID output register 26 and each program ID valid signal register 27.

The classification by the demodulation control signal classification means 28 in FIG. 6 is easily realized by using the classification identifier included in the demodulation control signal D. For example, when the demodulation control signal D is input as a digital signal packet,
An ID number that uniquely indicates the demodulation control signal may be described in the header or the payload of the packet, and the packet may be classified using the ID number.

The necessity of classifying the demodulation control signals is, for example, that when demodulation control signals D are separately input from a plurality of video recorders, it is necessary to store and manage each demodulation control signal D in a separate register. There is. Even if the video recording device 2 is connected to one video recording device 2, if the video recording device 2 can simultaneously record two or more video streams, the two demodulation control signals input from the video recording device 2 can be used. It is necessary to store the signal D in a separate register.

FIG. 7 shows the program ID selector 21 shown in FIG.
6 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of FIG. First, in step 111, a demodulation start / end signal D-1, a demodulation start / end signal D-2, or a demodulation start / end signal E is awaited. The demodulation unit ID required by the corresponding demodulation control signal is obtained. Then, the obtained demodulation unit I
Based on D, the demodulation unit 11 to which the demodulation control signal is to be assigned is determined.

First, in step 113-1, it is determined whether the demodulation unit to which the demodulation control signal is to be assigned is the demodulation unit 11-1. If so, the process proceeds to step 114-1; otherwise, the process proceeds to step 113-2. In step 113-2,
The demodulation unit to which the demodulation control signal is to be assigned is the demodulation unit 11-2.
Is determined. If so, the process proceeds to step 114-2; otherwise, the process returns to step 111.

In step 114-1, the demodulation unit 11-1
Then, the contention of the demodulation unit control signal with respect to is resolved, and the process returns to step 111 after the end. Similarly, in step 114-2, the contention of the demodulation unit control signal with the demodulation unit 11-2 is resolved, and the process returns to step 111 after the end.

FIG. 8 shows step 114-1 in FIG.
5 is a flowchart showing a detailed processing procedure of the first embodiment. First,
In step 121, it is determined whether or not the program ID-D valid signal-1 is set. If it is determined that it has been set, the process proceeds to step 122; otherwise, the process proceeds to step 123. In step 122, it is determined whether the demodulation unit ID-D-1 points to the demodulation unit 11-1. If so, the process proceeds to step 127; otherwise, the process proceeds to step 123.

Similarly, in step 123, the program ID-
It is determined whether the D valid signal-2 is set. If it is determined that it is set, step 12
The process proceeds to step 125, and if it is determined that it has not been set, the process proceeds to step 125. In step 124, the demodulation unit ID-
It is determined whether D-2 points to the demodulation unit 11-1. If so, proceed to step 128; otherwise, proceed to step 125.

Similarly, in step 125, the program ID-
It is determined whether the E valid signal is set. If it is determined that it has been set, the process proceeds to step 126. If it is determined that it has not been set, step 1 is performed.
Go to 31. In step 126, it is determined whether the demodulation unit ID-E points to the demodulation unit 11-1. If it is determined that it is, proceed to step 129; otherwise, proceed to step 131.

In step 127, the program ID-D-1 is set in the program ID output register 26-1.
Go to 30. In step 128, the program ID-D-2 is set in the program ID output register 26-1, and step 1 is executed.
Go to 30. In step 129, the program ID-E is set in the program ID output register 26-1.
Proceed to. In step 130, the program ID valid signal register 27-1 is set, and the process ends. In step 131, the program ID valid signal register 27-1 is reset and the process ends.

It should be noted that step 114-2 in FIG.
Of the demodulation unit 11-1 in FIG.
Is obtained by replacing In the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, the demodulation control signal D-1 and the demodulation control signal D-
2. Although the method of allocating the demodulation unit 11 with priority in the order of the demodulation control signal E is adopted, it is apparent that the same effect can be obtained by assigning arbitrary priority or dynamic priority.

At step 127, 128 or 129 in FIG. 8, the program ID and the program ID are already stored in the program ID output register 26-1 and the program ID valid register 27-1.
If the valid signal is set, the demodulation unit 11-
1 will compete with each other.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a method of solving such a case where the demodulation unit control signals conflict, and is included in the detailed processing procedure of step 114-1 or 114-2 in FIG. First, in step 141, it is determined whether or not the program ID valid signal register 27-1 has been set. If it is determined that the flag is set, a conflict has occurred, and the process proceeds to step 142; otherwise, the process proceeds to step 146.

In step 142, the fact that a conflict in the demodulation section 11-1 has occurred is displayed on the user screen to urge the viewer to make a decision, and the flow advances to step 143. Step 1
At 43, it is determined whether or not there is a response from the viewer,
When there is no response, the process returns to step 142, and when there is a response, the process proceeds to step 144. In step 144, the program ID-C, which is the program ID to be canceled, is
And proceeds to step 145.

In step 145, it is determined whether or not the program ID-C is equal to the newly requested program ID. If the two are determined to be equal, the demodulation control signal corresponding to the newly requested program ID is cancelled. . If not, the process proceeds to step 146. In step 146, the program ID output register 26-1 overwrites the newly requested program ID.

As a method for notifying the viewer of the conflict of the demodulation control signal, in addition to a method of notifying at the moment when the conflict occurs, if a conflict is expected in advance, a future A similar effect can be achieved by communicating expected competition.

For example, when timer recording is set to the demodulation section 11-1, a timer recording setting reservation signal is newly transmitted to the external communication interface 15 in the same time period or a partially overlapping time period. If the input is input to the demodulation control section via the demodulation control section, the demodulation control section 12 notifies the timer recording setter to the external communication interface 15.
By displaying the occurrence of a conflict in the demodulation unit 11-1 on the timer recording setting screen via the, the setter is prompted to determine whether or not to execute a new recording reservation, as shown in FIG. Means for executing such a processing procedure to resolve the conflict can be provided.

The determination as to whether or not the newly scheduled recording program conflicts is performed by, for example, storing the program ID for which the timer recording request has been received and the program ID valid signal in the program ID selection section 21 as a set. The present invention can be implemented by providing a register and comparing the contents of the register with a newly requested program ID and a program ID valid signal to determine and output a conflict.

Although the embodiment has been described with reference to the case where the set-top box 1 is a single unit, the present invention provides the same effect in a television terminal in which the set-top box 1 and the display 2 are incorporated in a single device. What is obtained is clear from the description of FIG. 1, FIG. 2 and FIG.

[0048]

According to the present invention, the demodulation section of the set-top box can be directly controlled from an externally connected device.

Also, a video recording device connected to the outside of the set-top box can perform timer recording of a television image of a designated program by using a demodulation unit inside the set-top box.

Further, when the program specified by the externally connected device is different from the program specified by the viewer using the set-top box, the viewer specifies which program to demodulate. Can be.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a connection form between a set-top box and an external device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of a set-top box according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating details of a demodulation control unit in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of a program ID selecting unit in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a second embodiment of the set-top box according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating details of a demodulation control unit in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of a program ID selecting unit in FIG. 6;

8 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of a step of resolving a conflict between demodulation units in FIG. 7;

9 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of a step of resolving conflict between demodulation units in FIG. 7;

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 set-top box 2 video recording device 3 antenna 4 display 5 user input device 11 demodulation unit 12 demodulation control unit 13 video signal selection unit 14 signal conversion unit 15 external communication interface 21 program ID selection unit 22 external requested program ID register 23 demodulation start • End detection unit D 24 Viewer request program ID register 25 Demodulation start / end detection unit E 26 Program ID output register 27 Program ID valid signal register 28 Demodulation control signal classification unit 29 Demodulation unit ID register D 30 Demodulation unit ID register E

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-9-200693 (JP, A) JP-A-6-60473 (JP, A) JP-A-4-335795 (JP, A) JP-A-3-3 259666 (JP, A) JP-A-1-2088752 (JP, A) JP-A-9-233459 (JP, A) JP-A-4-38185 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04N 5/44 G11B 15/02 H04N 5/78

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] (1)Multiple at the same timeDemodulate TV broadcast waves and
Output number of video signalsConfigured to be possibleMultiple demodulation unitsWith
Set-top box  An external communication interface can be provided from one or more video recorders.
One or more first demodulation controls input via a source
Signals and input by the viewer via the user interface
The plurality of demodulation units based on the second demodulation control signal
A demodulation control unit that controls demodulation conditions, the demodulation control unit includes:One input to the demodulation control unit
At least a plurality of the first demodulation control signals and the second demodulation control signal.
It is impossible to assign all of the control signals to the plurality of demodulation units.
When possible, inform viewers that assignment is not possible
Means to be notified and can be assigned based on the response from the viewer
To narrow down to a plurality of demodulation control signals and demodulation conditions
Equipped with stepsSet-top box
Su. 2. The display according to claim 1, further comprising a display.
Features a built-in set-top box
TV terminal.