JP3582428B2 - Digital broadcast receiver - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a digital broadcast receiver for receiving a digital broadcast, and more particularly to a digital broadcast receiver having an improved program guide display method.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In digital broadcasting, since a plurality of channels can be transmitted by one transponder of a satellite, multi-channel broadcasting is possible. Even in BS digital broadcasting that is scheduled to be broadcast in the near future, more than 50 multi-channel broadcasting is assumed. In BS digital broadcasting, one transponder consisting of 48 slots is divided into a plurality and assigned to each broadcasting station.
[0003]
In BS digital broadcasting, either normal television broadcasting (hereinafter referred to as SDTV) or high-definition television broadcasting (hereinafter referred to as HDTV) is broadcast. Major television broadcast stations are assigned 22 slots, and HDTV is broadcast using a maximum of 22 slots. Since the number of slots required for SDTV broadcasting is smaller than that for HDTV, it is possible to broadcast SDTV of about 3 channels with 22 slots.
[0004]
The SDTV has an interlace of 480 scanning lines (hereinafter referred to as 480i) and a sequential scanning of 480 scanning lines (hereinafter referred to as 480p). HDTV is interlaced (hereinafter 1080i) with 1080 scanning lines. In addition, there is a possibility that broadcasting of 720 scanning lines (hereinafter referred to as 720p) is performed using two channels of SDTV.
[0005]
As described above, since there are both HDTV and SDTV systems in digital broadcasting, there is a mixture of HDTV and SDTV, in which one broadcasting station broadcasts HDTV and another certain broadcasting station broadcasts SDTV. possible. Also, even when broadcasting from one broadcasting station, depending on the time zone, there is only HDTV or only SDTV, so even within one broadcasting station, there can be a mixture of HDTV and SDTV due to differences in time zones. . Therefore, the number of channels actually broadcast is flexibly operated and changed depending on the broadcasting station and time zone. Hereinafter, this is referred to as mottled knitting.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, when broadcasting HDTV using three SDTV channels, the following methods are used to transmit additional information such as HDTV broadcasting methods and program information transmitted together with video signals and audio signals of broadcast programs themselves. There are two types. Broadcasting an HDTV program using three SDTV channels (22 slots) and transmitting additional information of the same content on each of the three SDTV channels, and most of the three SDTV channels (for example, 20 slots) Is assigned to one channel of HDTV, and the rest is assigned to the other two channels as broadcast suspension.
[0007]
FIG. 4 shows an example of a conventional program guide in mottled organization. The program guide is an electronic program guide (EPG) that is electronically generated on the screen using additional information transmitted together with the video signal and audio signal of the broadcast program itself. The program table 50 shown in FIG. 4 shows the broadcast contents for each time zone of the A station. It is assumed that 101 to 103 channels are allocated to the A station. In FIG. 4, in the time zone of 18:00 to 19:00 and 19: 0 to 20:00, programs of different SDTV are broadcast on the 101 to 103 channels.
[0008]
In the time zone from 20:00 to 21:00, HDTV movies using three channels 101 to 103 are broadcast, and additional information having the same content is transmitted through the three channels 101 to 103, respectively. When additional information (program information) having the same contents is transmitted for each of the three channels of the SDTV, and the program table is generated as it is using the additional information, 20:00 to 21: In the time zone of 00, although one program of HDTV was broadcasted, the display of the program guide was divided into three sections 51 to 53, which was visually unfavorable.
[0009]
Also, in the time zone from 21:00 to 22:00, most of the three channels 101 to 103 are allocated to one HDTV channel, and the HDTV professional soccer is broadcast as the 101 channel, and the rest is broadcast suspension 102, 103 channels are assigned. In this case, additional information (program information) is transmitted on channel 101, and broadcasting is suspended on channels 102 and 103. Therefore, when the program table is generated as it is using the additional information, 101-103 of station A In the time zone from 21:00 to 22:00 of the channel, program information such as a program name is displayed in the section 54, and pause is displayed in the sections 55 and 56. Since the area of each section is limited, only limited information such as the program name is displayed, and displaying only the information of pause in the sections 55 and 56 is said to effectively use the limited area. There was a problem that it was not preferable in this respect.
[0010]
Further, FIG. 4 shows only the television broadcast channel of station A, but the television broadcast station may have a radio broadcast channel or a data broadcast channel. When the same broadcasting station has television broadcasting and radio broadcasting, television broadcasting and data broadcasting, television broadcasting and radio broadcasting, and data broadcasting, it is necessary to display the program guide accordingly. Also, in BS digital broadcasting, a transport stream transmitted from one satellite transponder (that is, one physical channel) is divided into a plurality (for example, two) and transmitted. It is also possible to display a program guide in units. Even when TV broadcasting, radio broadcasting, and data broadcasting are mixed in the same transport stream, it is necessary to display the program guide accordingly.
[0011]
The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and one program is broadcast using a plurality of channels, and the program of the one program is transmitted through all of the plurality of channels that broadcast the one program. An object of the present invention is to provide a digital broadcast receiver capable of displaying a program table with good visibility when information is transmitted. It is another object of the present invention to provide a digital broadcast receiver capable of displaying a program table with good visibility when there are broadcast pause channels in a plurality of channels transmitted from the same broadcast station. Furthermore, a digital broadcast capable of displaying a program table with good visibility when at least two of a television broadcast, a radio broadcast, and a data broadcast are transmitted from the same broadcast station or in the same transport stream. The purpose is to provide a receiver.
[0012]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention provides a digital broadcast receiver configured as follows in order to solve the above-described problems of the prior art.
(1) In a digital broadcast receiver including a program guide generation unit that generates a program guide using additional information transmitted by digital broadcasting, the program guide generation unit includes a plurality of programs transmitted from the same broadcasting station. Means for displaying the program information included in the additional information in a section determined by the channel and the time zone, with the channel as one axis in the horizontal direction or the vertical direction and the time zone as the other axis in the horizontal direction or the vertical direction; When a broadcast channel and a non-broadcast channel are mixed in the plurality of channels in a certain time zone, the area of the channel where the broadcast is performed is larger than the area of the pause channel partition. A digital broadcast receiver characterized by comprising means for displaying program information in a section of a channel on which the broadcast is performed.
(2) In a digital broadcast receiver including a program guide generation unit that generates a program guide using additional information transmitted by digital broadcasting, the program guide generation unit includes a plurality of programs transmitted from the same broadcasting station. Means for displaying the program information included in the additional information in a section determined by the channel and the time zone, with the channel as one axis in the horizontal direction or the vertical direction and the time zone as the other axis in the horizontal direction or the vertical direction; When a channel that is broadcast and a pause channel that is not broadcast are mixed in the plurality of channels in a certain time zone, the area of the pause channel partition is set to 0, and A digital broadcast receiver having a large area and means for displaying program information in a section of a channel on which the broadcast is performed.
[0013]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, a digital broadcast receiver according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a digital broadcast receiver of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a remote control transmitter used in the digital broadcast receiver of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a digital broadcast receiver of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the example of the program schedule by.
[0014]
In FIG. 1, a digital broadcast wave input from an antenna 1 is received by a reception demodulator 2, and a signal modulated in the transmission process is demodulated into a baseband bit stream signal. If this bit stream signal is a scrambled signal, the descrambler 3 releases the scramble and inputs it to the demultiplex / AV decoding unit 4. The demultiplexing / AV decoding unit 4 separates the video signal and audio signal from the additional information such as program information, and decodes and outputs the video signal and audio signal.
[0015]
The additional information is taken in by the microprocessor 6 and stored in the memory 9. When the user operates, for example, to display a program guide with the remote control transmitter 8, the microprocessor 6 reads the additional information from the memory 9 and controls the on-screen signal generator 10 to generate a program guide as described later. The video signal and the audio signal are input to the DA converter 5 to be an analog signal and input to the synthesis unit 11. The synthesizer 11 synthesizes the video signal and the program table output from the on-screen signal generator 10. The video signal and audio signal are supplied to a not-shown receiver or video tape recorder.
[0016]
The microprocessor 6 controls the reception demodulation unit 2 to the DA converter 5, the memory 9, the on-screen signal generation unit 10, and each circuit unit not shown here. The operation unit 7 is provided in the main body of the receiver. When the user operates the operation unit 7, a signal from the operation unit 7 is input to the microprocessor 6, and the microprocessor 6 is a circuit to be operated. To control. When the user operates the remote control transmitter 8, a signal from the remote control transmitter 8 is input to the microprocessor 6, and the microprocessor 6 controls a circuit to be operated. The remote control transmitter 8 is also an operation unit.
[0017]
FIG. 2 shows an example of the remote control transmitter 8. Here, although the remote control transmitter 8 is shown, similar keys may be provided on the operation unit 7. As shown in FIG. 2, the remote control transmitter 8 includes a numeric keypad 81 composed of “1” to “0” and an up / down key 82 for sequentially increasing or decreasing the channel. Furthermore, the remote control transmitter 8 includes a broadcast station key 83 provided for each broadcast station, an up / down key 84 for sequentially raising or lowering the broadcast station, and a program guide display key 85 for displaying a program guide. The broadcasting station key 83 is given the broadcasting station name such as A station, B station, C station.
[0018]
The present invention is characterized by a program table generated by the on-screen signal generator 10, and an embodiment thereof is shown in FIGS. 3 (A) and 3 (B). By pressing a program guide display key 85 provided on the remote control transmitter 8, the on-screen signal generator 10 generates program guides 20 and 20 'as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B and displays them on the screen. indicate. First, in FIG. 3A, the program table 20 is displayed for each broadcasting station, and here shows a case where the program of the A station is displayed. A plurality of broadcasting stations may be displayed at a time. By pressing the broadcast station key 83 or the up / down key 84, the broadcast station of the program guide can be switched.
[0019]
As shown in FIG. 3A, for example, station A has 101 to 103 channels of television broadcasting, 501 and 502 channels of radio broadcasting, and 901 channels of data broadcasting. ing. Different channels are broadcast with different service IDs. The program guide 20 has a television broadcast display area 21, a radio broadcast display area 22, and a data broadcast display area 23, which are separated from each other but integrated as a whole. In the present embodiment, as a more preferable embodiment, an interval is provided between the display areas 21, 22, and 23. However, the display areas 21, 22, and 23 may be separated by simple lines, and channels of television broadcasting, radio broadcasting, and data broadcasting are not mixed. The display areas 21, 22, and 23 may be separated so that they can be visually recognized.
[0020]
In the time zone from 18:00 to 19:00, in the time zone from 18:00 to 19:00 and from 19:00 to 20:00, programs of different SDTV are broadcast on 101 to 103 channels. At this time, program information such as a program name is displayed in one normal section 24 (similar to one section 51 in FIG. 4 and the like) that is basically determined by one channel and time zone.
[0021]
In the time zone from 20:00 to 21:00, HDTV movies using three channels 101 to 103 are broadcast, and additional information having the same content is transmitted through the three channels 101 to 103, respectively. At this time, in the present invention, instead of dividing into three sections 51 to 53 as in the conventional example of FIG. 4, all of the 101 to 103 channels are integrated into one section 25, and a program is stored in this section 25. Display program information such as name. In this way, since the area of the section 25 can be made larger than the basic one section 24, it is possible to display not only the program name but also other additional information such as a synopsis. . Alternatively, even when only the program name is displayed, it can be displayed with larger characters, which makes it easier to view. Similarly, when two programs are used to broadcast one program among the 101 to 103 channels, the two sections are integrated.
[0022]
Also, in the time zone from 21:00 to 22:00, most of the three channels 101 to 103 are allocated to one HDTV channel, and the HDTV professional soccer is broadcast as the 101 channel, and the rest is broadcast suspension 102, 103 channels are assigned. The fact that the broadcasting is suspended can be transmitted in a few slots. At this time, the areas of the sections 27 and 28 of the 102 and 103 channels, which are broadcast suspension channels, are reduced, and the area of the section 26 of the 101 channel where broadcasting is performed is increased. Since it can be displayed in a small area that it is a pause, there is no problem even if the areas of the sections 27 and 28 are reduced. Since the area of the section 26 of the 101 channel is increased, not only the program name but also other additional information such as a synopsis can be displayed, and even when only the program name is displayed, it can be displayed in larger characters. Because it is possible, it becomes easy to see. In addition, by displaying the numbers of channels 102 and 103 (channel names) in the sections 27 and 28 together, it can be easily understood that the channels 102 and 103 are inactive.
[0023]
The display example shown in FIG. 3B is different from FIG. 3A only in the display form in the case of a broadcast suspension channel, and the description of other parts is omitted. In the time zone from 21:00 to 22:00, most of the three channels 101 to 103 are allocated to one HDTV channel, and the HDTV professional soccer is broadcast as the 101 channel, and the rest is the 102, 103 channels that are suspended. Assigned as. At this time, the areas of the sections 27 and 28 of the 102 and 103 channels, which are broadcast suspension channels, are set to zero. That is, the sections 27 and 28 of the 102 and 103 channels are eliminated at all, and the area of the section 26 of the 101 channel where broadcasting is performed is made larger than the normal area (section 24). In this example, all the channels 101 to 103 are defined as one section 26 ', and information such as the program name is displayed in this section 26'. Since the area of the section 26 'of the 101 channel is increased, not only the program name but also other additional information such as a synopsis can be displayed. Even when only the program name is displayed, it can be displayed in larger characters. Can be seen easily.
[0024]
3A and 3B show the case where one program is broadcast on a plurality of TV broadcast channels or there is a broadcast suspension channel, the same display method is used for radio broadcasts. . In addition, here, the case where the data broadcast is only one channel is shown, but the same applies when there are a plurality of channels in the data broadcast.
[0025]
As described above, the program guides 20 and 20 'according to the present invention are determined by the channel and the time zone, with a plurality of channels transmitted from the same broadcasting station as the horizontal axis and the time zone as the vertical axis. Program information such as the program name is displayed in the section. The channel may be the vertical axis and the time zone may be the horizontal axis. Then, the program tables 20 and 20 'are generated with a plurality of channels transmitted from the same broadcasting station as one group. One program is broadcast using a plurality of channels that are all or part of a plurality of channels in a certain time zone, and the program information of the one program is displayed on all of the plurality of channels that broadcast the one program. When transmitted, the section of a plurality of channels that broadcast the one program is regarded as one section, and the program information is displayed in the one section. Therefore, it is visually preferable and excellent in visibility. These are realized by the microprocessor 6 controlling the on-screen signal generator 10 which is a program guide generator.
[0026]
In addition, the program guide 20 according to the present invention pauses the area of the section of the channel on which the broadcast is performed when a broadcast channel and a non-broadcast channel are mixed in a plurality of channels in a certain time zone. The program information is displayed in the section of the channel on which the broadcast is performed, which is larger than the area of the section of the channel. In the program guide 20 'according to the present invention, the area of the pause channel section is set to 0, and the area of the broadcast channel section is increased. Therefore, it is visually preferable and excellent in visibility. These are realized by the microprocessor 6 controlling the on-screen signal generator 10 which is a program guide generator.
[0027]
Further, according to the present invention, at least two channels transmitted from the same broadcasting station among a television broadcasting channel, a radio broadcasting channel, and a data broadcasting channel are grouped, and the at least two channels are not mixed. Are displayed as one program guide 20, 20 '. Therefore, it is possible to display channels transmitted from the same broadcasting station at a time, not only for a single type such as a television broadcast but also for a plurality of types such as a television broadcast and a radio broadcast, improving usability. . These are realized by the microprocessor 6 controlling the on-screen signal generator 10 which is a program guide generator.
[0028]
Although not particularly illustrated, the program guide may be displayed not in units of broadcast stations but in units of transport streams. When displaying a program guide in units of transport streams, a plurality of channels transmitted in the same transport stream are set as one axis in the horizontal direction or the vertical direction, and the time zone is set in the other direction in the horizontal direction or the vertical direction. As axis, program information is displayed in a section determined by the channel and time zone. The channels transmitted in at least two identical transport streams among the television broadcast channel, the radio broadcast channel, and the data broadcast channel are grouped into one group so that the at least two channels are not mixed. Display as one program guide. These are realized by the microprocessor 6 controlling the on-screen signal generator 10 which is a program guide generator.
[0029]
【The invention's effect】
As described above in detail, the digital broadcast receiver of the present invention broadcasts one program using a plurality of channels that are all or part of the plurality of channels in a certain time zone, and the one program When the program information of the one program is transmitted on all of the plurality of channels that broadcast the one program, the section of the plurality of channels that broadcast the one program is defined as one section, and the information is included in the one section. Since the means for displaying the program information is provided, it is possible to display a program table with good visibility when one program is broadcast using a plurality of channels transmitted from the same broadcasting station.
[0030]
In addition, when a broadcast channel and a non-broadcast channel are mixed in a plurality of channels in a certain time zone, the area of the broadcast channel partition is larger than the pause channel partition area. As a means of displaying program information in the section of the channel on which the broadcast is performed, the area of the section of the pause channel is set to 0, the area of the section of the channel on which the broadcast is performed is large, and the section of the channel on which the broadcast is performed Is provided with means for displaying program information, so that a program table with good visibility can be displayed when there are broadcast pause channels in a plurality of channels transmitted from the same broadcasting station.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a remote control transmitter used in the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a program guide according to the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a program table according to a conventional example.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Antenna 2 Reception demodulation part 3 Descrambler 4 Demultiplex / AV decoding part 5 DA converter 6 Microprocessor 7 Operation part 8 Remote control transmitter (operation part)
9 Memory 10 On-screen signal generator (program guide generator)
11 Synthesizer 20, 20 'Program guide

Claims (2)

In a digital broadcast receiver having a program guide generation unit that generates a program guide using additional information transmitted by digital broadcasting,
The program guide generation unit
A plurality of channels transmitted from the same broadcasting station are set as one axis in the horizontal direction or the vertical direction, and the time zone is set as the other axis in the horizontal direction or the vertical direction. Means for displaying included program information;
When a broadcast channel and a non-broadcast channel are mixed in the plurality of channels in a certain time zone, the area of the channel where the broadcast is performed is larger than the area of the pause channel partition. A digital broadcast receiver characterized by comprising means for displaying program information in a section of a channel on which the broadcast is performed. In a digital broadcast receiver having a program guide generation unit that generates a program guide using additional information transmitted by digital broadcasting,
The program guide generation unit
A plurality of channels transmitted from the same broadcasting station are set as one axis in the horizontal direction or the vertical direction, and the time zone is set as the other axis in the horizontal direction or the vertical direction. Means for displaying included program information;
When a channel that is broadcast and a pause channel that is not broadcast are mixed in the plurality of channels in a certain time zone, the area of the pause channel partition is set to 0, and A digital broadcast receiver having a large area and means for displaying program information in a section of a channel on which the broadcast is performed.

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