JP3387166B2 - Broadcast signal receiver - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention uses a broadcast station identification signal included in a broadcast signal to automatically set the correspondence between a VCR + guide channel and a receiving channel (TV channel). Recorder) and TV
The present invention relates to a broadcast signal receiver such as (television receiver).

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been proposed a VCR capable of recording reservation by a VCR + code. In this type of VCR,
After the received VCR + code is decoded to obtain the program start date / time, end time, and VCR + guide channel, the program start date / time and end time, and VCR
The VCR reception channel (TV channel) corresponding to the + guide channel is written in the reserved memory.

In this case, the guide channel of VCR + is set to V
In order to convert to the TR reception channel, the correspondence between the VCR + guide channel and the reception channel is stored in advance in the memory means.

[0004]

As described above, it is necessary to store in advance the correspondence between the VCR + guide channel and the VCR reception channel in the memory means. Conventionally, for example, as shown in FIG.
While watching the menu screen displayed on the screen of the monitor 100, the user operates the commander (transmitting means) 60 of the remote control or the key of the VCR 50 main body,
The receiving channel corresponding to the + guide channel was input, which was very troublesome.

Therefore, in the present invention, the correspondence between the VCR + guide channel and the receiving channel is automatically set.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a broadcast signal receiver for tuning control means for sequentially changing a tuning channel and a broadcasting signal for a reception channel selected by the tuning control means. Identification information extraction means for extracting the included broadcast station identification information, guide channel generation means for obtaining a VCR + guide channel corresponding to the broadcast station identified by the broadcast station identification information extracted by the identification information extraction means, and Memory control means is provided for storing in a memory the correspondence between the guide channel obtained by the guide channel generation means and the reception channel selected by the channel selection control means.

A broadcast signal receiver according to a second aspect of the present invention includes a video device and an external tuner, and the video device controls the external tuner to sequentially change the channel selection, and a channel selection control means for controlling the external channel. Identification information extracting means for extracting the broadcast station identification information included in the broadcast signal of the reception channel selected by the tuner, and VCR + corresponding to the broadcast station identified by the broadcast station identification information extracted by the identification information extracting means. And a memory control means for storing in the memory the correspondence between the guide channel obtained by the guide channel generating means and the receiving channel selected by the external tuner.

[0008]

In the first and second aspects of the invention, the broadcast station identification information is extracted from the broadcast signal of the reception channel, the VCR + guide channel corresponding to the broadcast station identified by this broadcast station identification information is obtained, and this guide is used. The correspondence between the channel and the reception channel is stored in the memory, and the correspondence between the VCR + guide channel and the reception channel is automatically set. This makes it possible to save the user the trouble of setting operation.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG. This example is an example applied to a closed caption system.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 is a cable box for performing channel selection processing and descrambling processing for CATV signals. The CATV signals of a plurality of channels transmitted by a cable (not shown) are supplied to the tuner 12 via the input terminal 11. In the tuner 12, tuning is performed under the control of the tuner control microcomputer 13,
The tuner 12 outputs the video signal of the selected channel. The tuner 12 is provided with a descrambler, and descrambles the scrambled video signal.

Reference numeral 14 denotes a remote control signal receiving section, and the remote control signal receiving section 14 is supplied with a remote control signal (infrared signal) output from an infrared light emitting section described later. Then, the remote control signal receiving unit 14 supplies the microcomputer 13 with information such as channel selection and power on / off.

The video signal output from the tuner 12 is supplied to the RF modulator 15, converted into a broadcast signal of a predetermined channel, and supplied to the tuner 20 of the VCR 2. The tuner 20 selects the channel of the broadcast signal output from the RF modulator 15 of the cable box 1 under the control of the tuner control microcomputer 22.

The NTSC video signal output from the tuner 20 is supplied to a data decoder 21. In the predetermined line of the vertical blanking period of this video signal,
Caption data (subtitle data) is inserted.
As shown in FIG. 2A, the caption data has 7 periods (5
03 KHz) clock run-in signal and 2 bits (S
1 bit (S3) logic level "0" followed by 1 bit (S3) logic level "1" start bit and 16 bit N
It is composed of RZ data (data code). The clock run-in signal is a synchronizing signal for decoding the data code, and the clock run-in signal and the data code are in phase with each other. The 16-bit NRZ data is composed of two sets of combinations of the 7-bit ASCII codes b1 to b7 and the 1-bit parity code P.
In FIG. 2A, HD is a horizontal sync signal and SC is a color burst signal.

When the caption data is multiplexed on a predetermined line of the vertical blanking period of the video signal output from the tuner 20, the data decoder 21 outputs 1
The 6-bit NRZ data is extracted, decoded from the hexa code to the BCD code, and then supplied to the microcomputer 22 as subtitle data. In this case, for example, subtitles are displayed on the screen in units of a predetermined frame for each break of a sentence, so that subtitle data is stored in a RAM (not shown) in the microcomputer 22 in units of a predetermined frame.

Then, the caption data is read from the RAM of the microcomputer 22, supplied to the display control circuit 23, and converted into character data (dot data). A control signal indicating the display position is also supplied from the microcomputer 22 to the display control circuit 23. The display control circuit 23 forms a superimpose signal according to the character data at the timing of the display position on the screen, and superimposes it on the video signal supplied from the tuner 20 via the recording / reproducing processing circuit 24.

The video signal output from the display control circuit 23 is supplied to the RF modulator 25, converted into a broadcast signal of a predetermined channel, and then supplied to the TV monitor 3. As a result, when the caption data is multiplexed in the video signal output from the tuner 20, the TV monitor 3
The subtitle is displayed at a predetermined position on the screen.

Reference numeral 26 is a cable box control driver. The driver 22 is controlled by the microcomputer 22, and a predetermined remote control signal is supplied to the cable box 1 from the infrared ray emitting section 4 to control the power on / off of the cable box 1 and the tuning operation from the VCR 2 side.

Reference numeral 27 is a mechanical control microcomputer for controlling the operation of the head drive system, reel drive system, tape running system and the like.

Although not described above, the tuner 20 detects the presence / absence of a video signal depending on whether or not a horizontal synchronizing signal is detected, and the detection output SD is supplied to the microcomputer 22. Reference numeral 30 is a memory for storing a correspondence relationship between a station ID and a VCR + guide channel, which will be described later, a correspondence relationship between the VCR + guide channel and the reception channel of the tuner 12, and further recording reservation information and the like.

In the VCR 2, the video signal output from the tuner 20 is recorded by the signal processing circuit 2 during recording.
4 is processed to form a recording signal, and the recording signal is supplied to the magnetic head 28 and recorded on the magnetic tape 29. During reproduction, the signal reproduced by the magnetic head 28 from the magnetic tape 29 is processed by the signal processing circuit 24 to form a reproduced video signal, and the reproduced video signal is passed through the display control circuit 23 and the RF modulator 25. It is supplied to the TV monitor 3, and the reproduction screen is displayed on the TV monitor 3.

By the way, when the caption data is not multiplexed on a predetermined line of the vertical blanking period of the video signal, for example, predetermined information (hereinafter referred to as "VBI (Vertical Blanking ID) data") is used by using the line. It may be transmitted. For example, the current time,
Information about whether or not it is summer time, various information about the program such as the start time, elapsed time, and contents of the program that is currently or will be transmitted, information on the broadcasting station that is transmitting the program (network name, station ID) Etc.), weather and disaster information.

As shown in FIG. 2B, VBI data may be defined with the same signal format as, for example, caption data. A series of VBI data is transmitted using multiple lines. The VBI data of each line is 1 following the 1-bit start bit, like the caption data.
It is composed of 6-bit NRZ data (two combinations of 7-bit codes b1 to b7 and 1-bit parity code P).

Here, in the first line of the plurality of lines in which a series of VBI data is transmitted, the start code for each class (type) of VBI data is transmitted by using the first half 7-bit code, and the latter half 7 bits are transmitted. V using code
A code indicating the type of BI data is transmitted. Then, in the second and subsequent lines, the data of the class and type specified in the first line are sequentially transmitted by using the first and second 7-bit codes.

As described above, the VBI data is sent when the caption data is not sent, and the VBI data is sent when the transmission of the caption data is started before all the series of VBI data is sent. The transmission is interrupted, the transmission of the VBI data is resumed after waiting for the transmission of the caption data to finish (see FIG. 2B). In the first line after the transmission is restarted, a continuation code for each VBI data class (type) is transmitted using the first half 7-bit code, and a code indicating the VBI data type is transmitted using the latter half 7-bit code. Is transmitted.

On the last line of the plurality of lines for transmitting a series of VBI data, the end code is transmitted by using the first half 7-bit code and the checksum is transmitted by using the latter half 7-bit code. It

Here, examples of classes (types) and types will be described.

When the class (type) is "explanation of program currently sent" or "description of program sent later", type is "start time of program", "scheduled length of program / “Elapsed time of program”, “program title”, “type of program”, “target audience of program”, and the like. When the class is "special information that is not a program related to the currently transmitted channel", the type is "network name associated with the selected local station", "station I"
D "," number of hours and minutes of regular tape delay of network program of local station "and the like. When the class is "Description of other information", the type is "Greenwich Mean Time", "Time difference from standard time and information on whether or not it is summer time", and the like. Class is "transfer of public service messages and data such as weather forecasts and messages"
, The type is “weather forecast service” or the like.

In this example, the microcomputer 22 of the VCR 2
Sequentially changes the reception channel selected by the tuner 12 of the cable box 1, extracts the station ID from the VBI data included in the broadcast signal of the reception channel, and obtains the VCR + guide channel corresponding to this station ID, The correspondence between the VCR + guide channel and the reception channel is stored in the memory 30, and the correspondence between the VCR + guide channel and the reception channel is automatically set.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the setting operation of the correspondence relationship between the VCR + guide channel and the reception channel by the microcomputer 22.

First, in step ST1, the infrared emitting section 4
The remote control signal generated thereby is controlled to select the first channel from the channels selectable by the cable box 1.

Next, in step ST2, it is determined whether or not there is a broadcast signal (video signal). This judgment is made by the detection output SD supplied from the tuner 20 to the microcomputer 22. When there is a broadcast signal, the process proceeds to step ST3, while when there is no broadcast signal, the process proceeds to step ST6.

In step ST3, the station ID is extracted from the VBI data included in a predetermined line of the vertical blanking period of the video signal output from the tuner 20. Then, in step ST4, the VCR + guide channel corresponding to the extracted station ID is obtained by utilizing the correspondence relationship between the station ID and the VCR + guide channel stored in advance in the memory 30. Then, the tuner channel is currently used as the guide channel of this VCR +.
It is stored in a predetermined area of the memory 30 in association with the receiving channel selected in step S6, and the process proceeds to step ST6.

In step ST6, it is determined whether or not all the channels that can be selected by the tuner 12 have been selected. When all channels have been selected, the setting operation ends. On the other hand, when all the channels are not selected, the process proceeds to step ST7 to control the remote control signal generated from the infrared light emitting unit 4, and the tuner 12 of the cable box 1
After selecting the next channel, the process returns to step ST2 and the same operation as described above is performed.

Returning to FIG. 1, 6 is a remote control transmitter (commander) for the VCR 2, and 31 is a remote control signal receiving section of the VCR 2. The remote control signal output from the commander 6 is supplied to the microcomputer 22 via the receiver 31. As a result, the commander 6 outputs V
The operation of CR2 is performed.

Next, the recording reservation operation by the VCR + code in this example will be described. For example, when the VCR + code of a program to be reserved for recording is supplied from the receiving unit 31 to the microcomputer 22 by the key operation of the commander 6, the microcomputer 22 decodes the VCR + code and starts the program start date / time and the end time. And the VCR + guide channel is obtained. Then, the microcomputer 22 displays the program start date /
The time and end time and the reception channel of the tuner 12 corresponding to the VCR + guide channel are written in a predetermined area of the memory 30. Here, in order to convert the VCR + guide channel into the reception channel of the tuner 12, the correspondence between the VCR + guide channel and the reception channel of the tuner 12 written in the memory 30 as described above is referred to.

When the recording reservation is made as described above,
When the start date / time of the program arrives, the tuner 12 of the cable box 1 is controlled by the microcomputer 22 so that the reception channel related to the recording reservation is selected, and the recording of the video signal of this reception channel is started. Then, when the end time comes, the recording state is controlled to end.

In the present example, for example, the commander 6
Although the correspondence between the VCR + guide channel and the reception channel of the tuner 12 can be displayed on the TV monitor 3 by operating the key, the station ID is displayed at the same time as the VCR + guide channel, not shown. Further, for example, when the VCR + code is supplied from the commander 6 to the microcomputer 22 via the receiving unit 31, the program start date / time, the end time, the VCR + guide channel, the tuner 12 receiving channel, etc. Is displayed on the TV monitor 3, but at the same time, the station ID is also displayed.

In this way, in this example, the correspondence between the VCR + guide channel and the tuner 12 reception channel is automatically set, so that the user's troublesome setting can be eliminated.

In the above embodiment, the broadcast signal of the channel selected by the tuner 12 of the cable box 1 is supplied to the tuner 20 of the VCR 2, but the tuner 20 of the VCR 2 has an antenna. The present invention can be similarly applied to a configuration in which a broadcast signal is directly supplied from a cable 5 (shown by a broken line in FIG. 1) or a cable (not shown), that is, a VCR 2 alone. In that case, the microcomputer 22 controls the tuner 20 to sequentially change the channel selection and automatically set the correspondence between the VCR + guide channel and the tuner 20 reception channel.

Further, in the above embodiment, the station ID of the VBI data multiplexed in the vertical blanking period of the video signal is used as the broadcast station identification information, but the broadcast station identification information is the vertical direction of the video signal. It may be inserted in a portion other than the blanking period. This VB
The format of the I data does not have to be the same as that of the caption data, and may be a separate format.

Further, although the above-described embodiment shows an example in which the present invention is applied to the closed caption system having the VCR 2, the present invention can be similarly applied even if the receiver main body is not the VCR but the television receiver. Of course.

[0042]

According to the present invention, the broadcast station identification information is extracted from the broadcast signal of the reception channel, the VCR + guide channel corresponding to the broadcast station identified by this broadcast station identification information is obtained, and this guide channel is used. Since the correspondence relationship with the reception channel is stored in the memory, the correspondence relationship between the VCR + guide channel and the reception channel can be automatically set, and the user's own setting operation can be omitted.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a broadcast signal receiver according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining VBI data multiplexed on a broadcast signal.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of a setting operation of a correspondence relationship between a VCR + guide channel and a reception channel.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a conventional setting operation of a correspondence relationship between a VCR + guide channel and a reception channel.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 cable box 2 VCR (video cassette recorder) 3 TV monitor 4 Infrared emitting section 6 Remote control transmitter (commander 12,20 tuner 13,22 Tuner control microcomputer 14, 31 Remote control signal receiver 15,25 RF modulator 21 Data Decoder 23 Display control circuit 24 Recording / playback signal processing circuit 26 Cable Box Control Driver 28 Magnetic head 29 magnetic tape 30 memory

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Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A channel selection control means for sequentially changing channel selection channels, and identification information extraction means for extracting broadcast station identification information contained in a broadcast signal of a reception channel selected by the channel selection control means. The guide channel generating means for obtaining a VCR + guide channel corresponding to the broadcast station identified by the broadcast station identification information extracted by the identification information extracting means, the guide channel obtained by the guide channel generating means, and the tuning control means. A broadcast signal receiver, comprising: a memory control unit that stores a correspondence relationship with a selected reception channel in a memory. 2. VCR + code is decoded to VCR +
And a receiving channel converting means for converting the VCR + guide channel obtained by this decoding means into a receiving channel by referring to the correspondence between the guide channel and the receiving channel stored in the memory. The broadcast signal receiver according to claim 1, characterized in that the tuning control means controls to select a reception channel obtained by the reception channel conversion means. 3. A video device and an external tuner, wherein the video device controls the external tuner to sequentially change channel selection channels, and a receiving channel selected by the external tuner. Identification information extracting means for extracting the broadcast station identification information included in the broadcast signal and the guide channel generation for obtaining the VCR + guide channel corresponding to the broadcast station identified by the broadcast station identification information extracted by the identification information extracting means. A broadcast signal receiver comprising means and memory control means for storing a correspondence relationship between the guide channel obtained by the guide channel generation means and the reception channel selected by the external tuner in a memory. 4. The video equipment comprises a decoding means for decoding a VCR + code to obtain a VCR + guide channel, and a VCR + guide channel obtained by the decoding means as a guide channel and a reception channel stored in the memory. Reception channel conversion means for converting to a reception channel with reference to the correspondence relationship, wherein the tuning control means controls the external tuner to select the reception channel obtained by the reception channel conversion means. The broadcast signal receiver according to claim 3, which is characterized in that.