JP3384706B2 - Digital broadcast receiver - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a digital broadcast receiver, and more particularly to an EPG (Electronic Program Guid).
The present invention relates to a digital broadcast receiver that converts program guide data of a predetermined scale included in a digital broadcast signal into program display data and outputs the program display data to a monitor in response to an operation of a button.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional digital broadcast receiver of this type, when an operator operates an EPG button, EPG data for 3 channels × 3 hours including a channel selected at that time is detected from a digital broadcast signal. Then, the EPG data is converted into bitmap data. This bitmap data is once held in the VRAM and then output to the monitor. As a result, the program guide for 3 channels × 3 hours was displayed on the monitor.

[0003]

However, in such a conventional technique, a desired EP is not operated after the EPG button is operated.
Since the G data detection operation is started, there is a problem that it takes time before the program guide is displayed on the monitor. That is, although it takes only a short time to convert the detected EPG data into bitmap data and expand it in the VRAM, it takes time to detect the desired EPG data from the digital broadcast signal, so that the program guide is not displayed. I was late.

Therefore, the main object of the present invention is to
It is an object of the present invention to provide a digital broadcast receiver that can shorten the time from when the PG button is pressed until the program guide is displayed.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to detecting means for detecting program guide data included in a digital broadcast signal in advance, a display key for instructing display of the program guide, and program guide data when the display key is operated. And output means for outputting the program display data corresponding to
It is a digital broadcast receiver.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is a program guide.
Monitors the 1st scale program guide in response to display instructions
Is displayed on the screen, and the program
In the digital broadcast receiver that scrolls the id,
Program guide data included in digital broadcast signals
Detection means to detect prior to guide display instruction, program display
The program detected by the detection means when the instruction is issued
Second scale larger than the first scale based on guide data
Generate bitmap data for the scale program guide,
A first generator that writes the bitmap data to memory
A predetermined area in the memory when a program display instruction is issued
The first setting means for setting the read area
When a call instruction is issued, the read area is moved on the memory.
Move the moving means and read out the bit area.
Read-out means for reading the backup data and outputting it to the monitor
The read area and the predetermined area are
Has a size corresponding to the
Preferentially generate bitmap data to be written to
The digital broadcast receiver is characterized by the following .

When the operator operates the cursor button, the IC changes the read position of the bitmap data as needed. As a result, the program guide displayed on the monitor is scrolled.

[0008]

According to the present invention, since the program guide data is detected in advance, it is not necessary to detect the program guide data from the digital broadcast signal every time the display key is operated, and the display key is operated. It is possible to shorten the time from when the program guide is displayed on the monitor.

If the bitmap data having a larger scale than the output bitmap data is written in the second memory, the program guide can be easily scrolled by changing the read position. The above-mentioned objects, other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the embodiments with reference to the drawings.

[0010]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIG. 1, a digital broadcast receiver 10 of this embodiment includes an antenna 12 for receiving a digital broadcast by a communication satellite, and a digital broadcast signal received by this antenna 12 is given to a CS tuner 14. To be The CS tuner 14 selects broadcasting data for 4 to 8 channels output from a desired transponder. The selected broadcast data is demodulated by the QPSK demodulation circuit 16 to become a transport stream composed of a plurality of transport packets. Descrambler 1
8 applies only the transport packet of the channel that the receiver has a contract to the demultiplexer 20, and the demultiplexer 20 detects only the packet of the desired channel and applies it to the MPEG decoder 22. Therefore, a video signal of a desired channel is generated based on the packet, and the video signal is encoded by the NTSC encoder 24. This allows the monitor 26 to display NTSC
The composite video signal of the format is given and the desired video is displayed.

PSI is included in a part of the transport packet.
(Program Specific Information) is assigned, and the PSI has 70 channels x 20 hours of EP.
G data is added. The demultiplexer 20 is
When there is an EPG data acquisition request from the CPU 28,
9 hours of EPG data of 9 channels including 3 channels preceding the currently selected channel (current channel) and 5 channels following the current channel and the current channel, that is, EPG data of the fourth scale is detected. .
Then, the program content included in each EPG data and the text data of the start time such as "1:00" or "2:30" are written in the RAM 20a of the demultiplexer 20, and the broadcast time of the program and the text data are written. The attribute data including the pointer and the like is output to the CPU 28. C
The PU 28 uses the provided attribute data as E of the DRAM 32.
Store in the PG work area to form an EPG attribute table.

More specifically, the EPG work area has a memory area for 9 channels × 9 hours, and a frame for each channel and every 30 minutes is formed in the memory area as shown in FIG. Then, in each frame, an event ID, program start time data, program end time data,
A pointer to a program content storage unit formed in the DRAM 32 and having a part (9 channels × 9 hours) of the content of the RAM 20a copied, and attribute data including a frame attribute flag are held. In the example of FIG. 2, the current channel is the channel C4, and the channels C1 to C are in the EPG work area.
Attribute data of 9 hours from the current hour is stored. The frame attribute flag indicates whether the program is reserved for recording or for viewing. Also, for programs such as movies where the broadcast time exceeds 30 minutes,
The same attribute data is stored in a plurality of frames corresponding to the broadcast time zone. Furthermore, the hour is 00 minutes of the time,
For example, when the current time is 17:42, the hour on the current time is 17:00.

As described above, by causing the demultiplexer 20 to detect the predetermined EPG data in advance and forming the EPG attribute table based on the EPG data, the program guide is actually displayed after the instruction to display the program guide is given. It is possible to shorten the time until it is done. CPU
When an EPG key 30a provided on the remote controller 30 shown in FIG. 4 is operated, 28 includes 5 channels including 1 channel preceding the current channel and 2 channels following the current channel and the current channel (channels C3 to C7). Attribute data for 5 hours from the hour of the current time, that is, the second
The scale attribute data is read from the EPG work area, and the bitmap data corresponding to each attribute data is expanded in the VRAM 36. In detail, CP
U28 reads text data from the program content section according to the pointer to the program content storage section, converts the text data into bitmap data using the bitmap ROM 34, and converts the converted bitmap data into program start time data and program end time. VRAM 36 according to the data
Deploy it in place. The CPU 28 does not develop a plurality of the same bitmap data when a plurality of attribute data having the same event ID exist. That is, the CPU 28
Judges that the broadcast time of the program indicated by the event ID exceeds 30 minutes, and develops one bit map data (program content) at a position corresponding to the broadcast time zone of the program.

As shown in FIG. 3A, the VRAM 36 has a memory area of 5 channels × 6 hours ( third scale), and the bit map data generated by the CPU 28 is from the reference position (0:00). It is developed in the area for the lower 5 hours, that is, the area of the second scale. Only when the bitmap data of the program to be broadcast later is expanded in the area for 5 hours by scrolling described later, the bitmap data is displayed in the area for 1 hour above the reference position (scroll area B). Is deployed. That is, the bitmap data of the already broadcast program is not expanded in the VRAM 36.

The CPU 28 controls the current channel and the following two channels (channels C4 to C6) for 3 hours from the hour on the hour of the current time, that is, the first bit map data.
The scale bitmap data is expanded in the VRAM 36 in preference to other bitmap data. That is, E
Based on the attribute data of the current channel and the following two channels for 3 hours held in the PG work area, the corresponding bitmap data is preferentially generated, and the generated bitmap data is shown in FIG. Expand to the priority drawing area shown. After the expansion into the priority drawing area is completed, other bitmap data is expanded in the scroll area A located on the left and right and the lower side of the priority drawing area, and then the bitmap data is expanded in the scroll area B as necessary. Be expanded.

The on-screen display IC 38 has 3 channels × 3 hours ( first scale) designated by the CPU 28 each time a horizontal and vertical synchronizing signal is applied.
Read the bitmap data from the area. CPU2
Initially, 8 instructs the IC 38 to read the preferential drawing area shown in FIG. 3A, but when there is a scroll instruction, it instructs to change the reading area (bitmap reading area).
The bitmap data read by the IC 38 is
The video signal output from the MPEG decoder 22 is added by the adder 40. This allows, for example, FIG.
A program guide surrounded by bold letters is displayed on the monitor 26. The channel banner, operation guide, time guide and attribute guide displayed around the program guide are
It is displayed according to the bitmap data expanded in the VRAM (not shown).

As shown in FIG. 5, when the hatched cursor indicates the program "Asia Special" that will be broadcast on channel "210" from 18:00, the channel banner shows the name of the channel and the reservation. Information, program titles, etc. are displayed. At this time, when the operator operates the downward cursor key 30e provided on the remote controller 30, the cursor moves downward for each program according to the operation.
When the operator further operates the cursor key 30e while the cursor is pointing to the bottom program guide displayed on the monitor 26, the cursor disappears once, and FIG.
As shown in (A), the display area overlapping the priority drawing area scrolls downward smoothly for one hour.
That is, the CPU 28 moves the bitmap read area downward by a predetermined number of bits for one hour so that the IC
Give instructions to 38. In response to this, the program guide displayed on the monitor 26 is scrolled upward by a predetermined number of bits, and when scrolling for one hour is completed, the cursor is moved to the position of the program following the program indicated by the cursor before disappearance. Is displayed.

As shown in FIG. 3B, the VRAM 36 is provided with two virtual screens. In the initial state, only one virtual screen has the bitmap data expanded as shown in FIG. 3A. There is. However, when it is necessary to change the display area, that is, the bitmap read area by operating the cursor keys 30b to 30e, new attributes for 5 channels × 6 hours from the EPG work area are changed before the display area is changed. The data is read and new corresponding bitmap data (new bitmap data) is developed on the other virtual screen. As a result, the display area on the other virtual screen has the positional relationship shown in FIG. 3A with respect to the scroll areas A and B. Also at this time, the bitmap data for 3 channels × 3 hours is preferentially expanded. Further, when the time at the upper end (head) of the changed display area is on the hour of the current time, new bitmap data for 5 channels × 5 hours excluding the scroll area B is expanded.

When the smooth scrolling for one hour is completed, the CPU 28 controls the IC 38 to read the bitmap data from the other virtual screen. This eliminates the need to update one virtual screen so that the display area overlaps the priority drawing area, and it is possible to prevent image flicker. CPU2
8 is also when new bitmap data is expanded,
A part of the attribute data stored in the EPG work area is updated. That is, the EPG work area is a two-dimensional ring buffer, and when the display area is horizontally scrolled, the attribute data of 9 channels centering on the attribute data of 3 channels included in the scrolled display area is EPG. Part of the attribute data is updated so as to be held in the work area. For example, the display area is 1 to the right
When the channels in the display area become C5 to C7 due to the channel scrolling, the attribute data of channel C1 is erased, and the attribute data of channel C10 is newly written in the erased portion.

On the other hand, when the display area is scrolled in the vertical direction, one of the attribute data will be deleted only when the time at the upper end of the display area before and after the scroll is one hour or more ahead of the current time on the hour. The department is updated. this is,
This is because it is necessary to secure the attribute data corresponding to the bitmap data expanded in the scroll area B of the VRAM 36. Therefore, when the display area before scrolling scrolls the display area down by one hour when the current time is on the hour, or the top end of the display area before scrolling is forward by one hour on the hour on the current time. When the upper end of the display area is returned to the current hour on the hour, the attribute data is not updated. When the attribute data is updated, the update is performed in the same manner as when scrolling the display area in the horizontal direction.

Since the EPG work area is updated in accordance with the scrolling of the display area in this manner, the operation of detecting the EPG data to be displayed after the scrolling instruction is not performed and the program guide is displayed quickly. it can. Specifically, the CPU 28 controls the display and scroll of the program guide by processing the flow charts shown in FIGS. 6 to 15. The CPU 28 first jumps to the subroutine shown in FIG. 7 at step S1 of FIG. 6, and at steps S13 and S15 respectively, the VRAM 36 and E
Initialize the PG work area. The CPU 28 detects the current channel in step S17, and in step S19, instructs the demultiplexer 20 to display three channels preceding the current channel, five channels following the current channel, and nine hours from the current time of the current time. Requesting the acquisition of EPG data. Then, the demultiplexer 20 becomes E
When PG data is acquired and attribute data is generated, CP
U28 writes the attribute data in the EPG work area to form an EPG attribute table.

Thereafter, the CPU 28 returns to step S1 and fetches a key operation signal from the remote controller 30 in step S3. In step S5, the CPU 28 determines whether or not the EPG key 30a is operated. If "NO", other processing is performed in step S11. If "YES", the CPU 28 jumps to the subroutine shown in FIG. 8 in step S9. .

In this subroutine, the CPU 28 first processes the subroutine shown in FIG. 9 in step S23,
Bit map data for 5 channels x 6 hours in VRAM
Expand to 36. Subsequently, the CPU 28 proceeds to step S25
The key operation signal is taken in and it is determined in each of steps S27 to S33 whether or not the cursor keys 30b to 30e are operated. When it is determined in step S27 that the downward cursor key 30e has been operated, the CPU 28 processes the subroutine shown in FIG. 10 in step S35 and returns to step S25. If it is determined in step S29 that the upward cursor key 30b has been operated, the CPU 28
Processes the subroutine shown in FIG. 11 in step S37 and returns to step S25. Further, if it is determined in step S31 that the right cursor key 30d is operated, C
The PU 28 processes the subroutine shown in FIG. 12 in step S39, and returns to step S25. Furthermore, if it is determined in step S33 that the left cursor key 30c has been operated, the CPU 28 processes the subroutine shown in FIG. 13 in step S41, and returns to step S25. In each of steps S35 to S41, the cursor key 3
Each time 0b to 30e is pressed, the cursor is moved one program at a time, and the display area shown in FIG. 3A is scrolled if necessary.

If "NO" is determined in the step S33, the CPU 28 determines whether the cancel key 30f and the enter key 30g are operated in the steps S43 and S47, respectively. If it is determined that the cancel key 30f is operated, the CPU 28 processes the subroutine shown in FIG. 14 in step S45 and returns to step S9. On the other hand, when the enter key 30g is pressed, step S49 shown in FIG.
The subroutine shown in is processed and the process returns to step S9.

In the subroutine shown in FIG. 9, the CPU
In step S53, 28, the attribute data for 3 channels × 3 hours is read so that the attribute data at the current time of the current channel is located at the upper left, bit map data corresponding to the attribute data is generated, and the bit map The data is expanded in the priority drawing area of the VRAM 36.
Since the IC 38 reads the bitmap data from the priority drawing area for each 1V, the program guide corresponding to the bitmap data is displayed on the monitor 26. Thereafter, the CPU 28 displays the cursor on the program guide of the program currently being received, that is, the program guide on the upper left in step S55, expands the bitmap data in the scroll area A in step S57, and then returns.

When shifting to the subroutine shown in FIG. 10,
The CPU 28 detects the position of the cursor currently displayed on the screen in step S59, and then E in step S61.
The cursor position after movement is obtained by referring to the PG work area. The CPU 28 determines in step S63 whether or not the cursor position after the movement is within the display screen. If "YES", the cursor is temporarily erased in step S65, the cursor is displayed at the moved position in step S69, and the process returns. If “NO” in the step S65, it is necessary to scroll the screen, and thus the step S65
At 69, the new virtual screen shown in FIG. 3B is newly created for 5 channels × 6 hours so that the bitmap data displayed after the cursor is moved fits in the priority drawing area shown in FIG. 3A. Extract the bitmap data.
When scrolling downward, the bitmap data is also expanded in the scroll area B.

Then, in step S71, the cursor is temporarily erased, and in step S73, the display area of one virtual screen is smoothly scrolled downward by one hour. Specifically, the CPU 28 instructs the IC 38 to move the bitmap read position downward by a predetermined number of bits. When smooth scroll is completed, CPU2
8 switches the read area to the priority drawing area of the other virtual screen in step S75.

The CPU 28 further proceeds to step S76,
It is determined whether or not the time at the upper end of the display area before and after the scroll is ahead of the current time by one hour or more. Then, if “NO”, the process directly proceeds to step S69, but if “YES”, a part of the attribute data needs to be updated, and therefore, the desired EPG data is obtained for the demultiplexer 20 in step S77. A request is issued, and E is returned by the attribute data returned in step S78.
Update part of the PG work area.

In the subroutine shown in FIG. 11, it is determined in step S95 that the display area is smoothly scrolled up by one hour, and in step S83 whether the moved cursor position is after the current hour's hour. Except for the points, the subroutine is the same as that shown in FIG. The reason why step S83 is provided is that the program guide at the cursor position cannot be displayed if the cursor position after the movement is before the hour of the current time, and if "NO" is selected in step S83. If there is, the key operation is invalidated and the process returns.

In the subroutine shown in FIG. 12, the CPU2
The first step 8 is to obtain the current cursor position in step S101, and then temporarily erase the cursor in step S103.
Then, in step S105, the EPG work area is referenced to obtain the moved cursor position, and in step S107 it is determined whether the moved cursor position is within the display screen. If “YES” here, the CPU 28 displays the cursor at the position after movement in step S109 and returns, but if “NO”, the display area after cursor movement matches the priority drawing area in step S111. In this way, new bitmap data for 5 channels × 6 hours or 5 channels × 5 hours is developed on the other virtual screen. Then, in step S113, the display area is smoothly scrolled to the right by one channel.

When the smooth scroll is completed, the CPU
28 switches the reading position to the other virtual screen, and in step S116, the demultiplexer 20 receives the desired EPG.
When a data acquisition request is issued and corresponding attribute data is obtained, a part of the EPG work area is updated with the attribute data in step S117. Then, the process proceeds to step S109. Note that the subroutine shown in FIG. 13 is the same as the subroutine shown in FIG. 12 except that the display area is smoothly scrolled to the left by one channel in step S131, and therefore a duplicate description will be omitted.

In the subroutine shown in FIG. 14, the CPU2
8 turns off the display of the program guide in step S137, then processes steps S139 and S141 to update the EPG work area. When the cancel key 30f is operated, the channel is not switched, so the CPU2
8 updates all the attribute data of the EPG work area so that the attribute data of the current time of the current channel is stored in a predetermined position of the EPG work area. Then return.

In the subroutine shown in FIG. 15, the CPU2
First, in step S143, the display of the program guide is turned off, and in step S145, the time and channel at the cursor position are detected. Succeedingly, in a step S143, it is determined whether or not the time at the cursor position is the current time. If "YES" here, the program is selected in step S145, and the attribute data of the selected program is stored in a predetermined position of the EPG work area in steps S151 and S153. To update. On the other hand, if “NO” in the step S147, a step S1
Through the processes of 55 and S157, the process proceeds to the recording reservation routine of the program indicated by the cursor. At this time, the program being received cannot be switched, so that steps S155 and S157 are steps S139 and S1 of FIG.
The same processing as 41 is performed, and the EPG work area is updated so that the attribute data at the current time of the current channel is stored at a predetermined position.

The update of the EPG work area accompanying the scroll may be processed by multi-access. Moreover, as the IC 38, “YAMAHA YGV613” manufactured by Yamaha Corporation can be applied.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2A is an illustrative view showing an EPG work area, and FIG. 2B is an illustrative view showing a frame extension information storage unit.

FIG. 3A is an illustrative view showing bitmap data expanded in a VRAM, and FIG. 3B is an illustrative view showing a virtual screen formed in the VRAM.

FIG. 4 is an illustrative view showing a remote controller.

FIG. 5 is an illustrative view showing one example of monitor output.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a part of the operation of FIG. 1 embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a part of the operation of FIG. 1 embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a part of the operation of FIG. 1 embodiment.

9 is a flowchart showing a part of the operation of FIG. 1 embodiment. FIG.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a part of the operation of FIG. 1 embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a part of the operation of FIG. 1 embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a part of the operation of FIG. 1 embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a part of the operation of FIG. 1 embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing a part of the operation of FIG. 1 embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing one portion of the operation of the embodiment in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

10… Digital broadcasting receiver 20 ... Demultiplexer 28 ... CPU 32 ... DRAM 34 ... Bitmap ROM 36 ... VRAM 38 ... IC

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── --- Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-8-275077 (JP, A) JP-A-9-55922 (JP, A) JP-A-5-83688 (JP, A) JP-A-8- 317353 (JP, A) JP 7-284032 (JP, A) JP 7-193756 (JP, A) JP 7-184136 (JP, A) JP 62-60378 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04N 5/44-5/445

Claims (6)

(57) [Claims] 1. A first scale in response to a program guide display instruction.
The program guide of the
Scrolling through the program guide in response to
In the digital broadcasting receiver, the program guide data included in the digital broadcasting signal is
Detecting means for detecting prior to the program guide display instruction, and detecting means for detecting the program display instruction when the program display instruction is issued.
Based on the program guide data detected by
Bitmaa, a second-scale program guide that is larger than
Generate the bitmap data and store the bitmap data in the memory.
First generation means for writing to a memory, and a predetermined error on the memory when the program display instruction is generated.
First setting means for setting the area read rear, said on the memory when the scroll instruction is generated
Moving means for moving the reading area, and the reading
Read the bitmap data from the output area and
Read-out means for outputting the read- out area and the predetermined area to the first scan area.
Having a size corresponding to a kale,
Priority is given to bitmap data that should be written in the specified area
Digital broadcast reception, characterized by the automatic generation
Machine. 2. The moving means defines the read area in a predetermined manner.
The data is moved bit by bit, and the reading means reads the data.
Reads the bitmap data every time the area moves
The digital broadcast receiver according to claim 1. 3. The first scale and the second scale
Each of which is defined by the number of channels and time,
The digital broadcast receiver according to claim 1 or 2. 4. The memory is the program guide of the second scale.
Two Memorieri that can store de bitmap data
And the first generating means stores the generated bitmap data in the
The data is stored in one of the two memory areas, and the first setting means is located in one of the two memory areas.
A fixed area is set as the reading area.
4. The digital broadcast receiver according to any one of 1 to 3. 5. When a scroll instruction is issued,
The second scale program game based on the read-out area
Id bitmap data is generated and the bitmap
A second for writing data into the other of the two memory areas
Generating means, and the reading based on the scroll instruction
After the movement of the output area is completed, the two memory areas are
The other predetermined area is used as the read area.
The method according to claim 4, further comprising second setting means for setting.
Digital broadcast receiver. 6. The device set by the second setting means
The start time of the reading area is more than a predetermined time from the current time
When advancing, the program for the predetermined time preceding the start time
Generate the bitmap data of the guide and
Write data to the other of the two memory areas
The digital apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising: 3 generation means.
Broadcast receiver.