JP3789716B2 - Television broadcast receiver - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a television broadcast receiver that, when displaying video sources having a plurality of formats on a multi-screen, converts these video sources into an optimized combination format and outputs them.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In digital television broadcasting, a signal of the same format is not always transmitted as a source format of a video signal. Examples of the source format include 480I format (480 effective scanning lines, interlaced scan: interlaced scanning method), 1080I format (1080 effective scanning lines, interlaced scanning method), and 720P format (720 effective scanning lines). Book, Progressive scan).
[0003]
The receiver determines the format of the video signal when decoding the video signal, performs signal processing according to each format based on the result, converts it to the required video format, and outputs it. The
[0004]
In addition, digital television broadcast receivers require flexible support for different formats on the same media, such as digital television broadcasts, and because the media differ among the sources input to the receiver. When the video formats are different, it is required to convert each source to one output format or to synthesize an image after converting to the same format.
[0005]
As an input source of the digital broadcast receiver, NTSC broadcast, BS analog broadcast, external video input, ready terminal input, and the like are assumed except for digital television broadcast.
[0006]
FIG. 4 shows a schematic configuration of a conventional digital broadcast receiver.
[0007]
This digital broadcast receiver has a function of displaying a maximum of three video sources including a digital broadcast signal and two input video sources selected from external input video sources on a multi-screen.
[0008]
The digital broadcast signal is received by the antenna 101, frequency down-converted by the tuner unit 102, and demodulated by the demodulation unit 103. The data demodulated by the demodulation unit 103 is sent to a TS (Transport stream) separation / decoding unit 104.
[0009]
The TS separation / decoding unit 104 separates the input data into a video stream, an audio stream, and an SI (Service Information) stream. The video stream is sent to the video decoding unit 105.
[0010]
The video decoding unit 105 identifies the sequence header information of the video stream and recognizes the format of the transmitted video source. The first format converter 106 converts the video signal into a specific output format assigned to the receiver, and outputs it to the second selector 112.
[0011]
Input video sources from the outside such as NTSC broadcast, BS analog broadcast, external video input, ready terminal input, etc. are sent to the first selector 108. The first selector 108 selects one or two input video sources to be displayed from these input video sources.
[0012]
The source selected by the first selector 108 is converted into a specific output format assigned to the receiver by the second format converter 110 or the third format converter 111 and then output to the second selector 112.
[0013]
The second selector 112 sends the video source designated by the output video selection signal to the video composition unit 115. The video composition unit 115 performs composition processing on the received video source. The video data synthesized by the video synthesis unit 115 is output via the video output processing unit 116.
[0014]
Conventionally, a viewer selects an output format using a man-machine interface such as a remote control or an external switch. The output format selected by such a selection method is an output format that does not depend on a combination pattern of a plurality of video sources to be combined.
[0015]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
There are several video sources as input sources for digital broadcast receivers, and there are also several formats as video formats. For example, when considering video formats such as 480I, 480P, and 1080I, it is generally said that 480I has the lowest resolution and 1080I has the highest resolution. There is no need to display.
[0016]
If a video whose source is not 1080I, for example, 480I or 480P, is converted to a higher resolution, there may be a gap from the original image quality or loss due to the conversion. Further, since the upper-level format conversion unit must always be operated regardless of the source format, excessive power consumption is required.
[0017]
In addition, in a receiver that can output video in a plurality of formats and the user can select the output format, the user must specify which format to output in consideration of the format. In a receiver capable of displaying a screen in which a plurality of sources are combined, the user must instruct which format the source is to be matched with.
[0018]
The present invention relates to a television broadcast receiver capable of converting and outputting video sources having a plurality of formats into an optimized combination format when displaying them on a multi-screen.
[0019]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The television broadcast receiver according to the present invention is a television broadcast receiver having a function of displaying a plurality of input video sources on a multi-screen , and manufactures the receiver for each combination of formats of input video sources that can be displayed on a multi-screen. Output format determination table storing output formats that the user thinks appropriate, identification means for identifying the format of each input video source to be displayed on multiple screens, and combinations of formats of each input video source identified by the identification means And means for determining an output format based on the output format determination table, means for converting the format of each input video to the determined output format, and displaying each input video after format conversion on a multi-screen And a means for synthesizing.
[0020]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0021]
FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a digital broadcast receiver. In FIG. 1, the same components as those in FIG.
[0022]
In the digital broadcast receiver of FIG. 1, a source detection unit 109 for detecting format information of the external input video selected by the first selector 108 is provided after the first selector 108.
[0023]
In the digital broadcast receiver of FIG. 1, the second memory 113 for storing the format information for the external input video detected by the source detection unit 109 and the format information for the digital broadcast video detected by the video decoding unit 105 is provided. Is provided.
[0024]
Furthermore, the digital broadcast receiver of FIG. 1 is provided with a first memory 114 that stores a relative table relating to an input / output format created in advance.
[0025]
FIG. 2 shows an example of the contents of the relative table regarding the input / output format. Formats of digital broadcasting are arranged in the vertical axis direction, and formats of external input sources are arranged in the horizontal axis direction. Then, the format corresponding to the combination of sources selected as the output video source is determined as the output format.
[0026]
FIG. 3 shows the operation of the digital broadcast receiver.
[0027]
When a video output instruction (including a source to be output) is input from the user to the receiver (step 1), the control unit 107 outputs an output video selection signal corresponding to the content of the instruction. The data is sent to the selectors 108 and 112 (step 2). As a result, the first selector 108 and the second selector 112 are set to output the input source selected as the output video source by the output video selection signal (step 3).
[0028]
If the digital broadcast video is not included in the input source selected as the output video source by the control unit 107 (NO in step 4), the video decoding unit 105 is put to sleep and proceeds to step 8 (step 5).
[0029]
When the digital broadcast video is included in the input source selected as the output video source by the control unit 107, the video decoding unit 105 extracts sequence header information (step 6), and obtains information on the format of the digital broadcast video. get. The obtained format information is stored in the second memory 113 (step 7). Then, the process proceeds to Step 8.
[0030]
In step 8, the control unit 107 determines whether or not an external input video is included in the input source selected as the output video source. If an external input video is not included in the input source selected as the output video source, the process proceeds to step 11. When the external input video is included in the input source selected as the output video source, the source detection unit 109 detects the format information of the input source output from the first selector 108 (step 9). The detected format information is stored in the second memory 113 (step 10).
[0031]
The source detection unit 109 recognizes NTSC broadcast, BS analog broadcast, and external video input as a 480I format. For the ready terminal input, the format is detected based on the source format information sent from the identification signal line.
[0032]
The output format is determined by comparing the format information stored in the second memory 113 with the relative table related to the input / output format stored in the first memory 114 (step 11).
[0033]
For example, when digital broadcast 1080I and external input 1080I are selected as output video sources, the 1080I format corresponding to these combinations is determined as the output format in the relative table.
[0034]
When the digital broadcast 480P and the external input 480I are selected as the output video source, the 480P format corresponding to these combinations is determined as the output format in the relative table.
[0035]
When only the digital broadcast 480I is selected as the output video source, the 960I format corresponding to the digital broadcast 480I is determined as the output format in the relative table.
[0036]
In this example, a relative relationship is adopted that matches the highest video format among the combinations of input sources selected as output video sources. This is just an example, and it may be set to a relative relationship that seems to be optimal according to the receiver and the surrounding environment.
[0037]
When the output format is determined, the control unit 107 outputs the output format switching signal to the input source selected as the output video source among the first format conversion unit 106, the second format conversion unit 110, and the third format conversion unit 111. The data is sent to the input format converter (step 12).
[0038]
If digital broadcast video is selected as the output video source (step 13), the first format conversion unit 106 converts the digital broadcast signal into the determined output format (step 14).
[0039]
When the external input video is selected as the output video source (step 15) and only one system of external input signals is output (step 16), the output whose external input signal is determined by the second format conversion unit 110 The format is converted (step 17).
[0040]
When an external input signal is selected as an output video source (step 15) and two external input signals are output (step 16), an output in which one external input signal is determined by the second format conversion unit 110 While being converted into the format, the third format conversion unit 111 converts the other external input signal into the determined output format (step 18).
[0041]
The video signal output from each format conversion unit is sent to the synthesis processing unit 115 via the second selector 112 and synthesized, and then output from the video output processing unit 116 (step 19).
[0042]
According to the above embodiment, even when there are a plurality of video formats as an input source of a digital broadcast receiver, by optimizing the combination of the formats, the difference from the original image quality and the loss due to conversion are minimized. It can be reduced to the limit. Furthermore, it is only necessary to operate a minimum format conversion unit according to the format to be output, which leads to a reduction in power consumption.
[0043]
For example, when three input sources each having a format of 480I, 480P, and 1080I are selected as output video sources, 480I has the lowest resolution and 1080I has the highest resolution, but depending on the contents of the relative table, It is possible to prevent the upper 1080I from being selected as the output format.
[0044]
In the above embodiment, since the output format is automatically determined, it is not necessary for the user to determine the output format. For this reason, the user does not need to have knowledge of the video format, and the burden on the user is reduced.
[0045]
It is preferable that the user can change the contents of the relative table regarding the input / output format.
[0046]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, when a video source having a plurality of formats is displayed on a multi-screen, these video sources can be converted into an optimized combination format and output.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a television broadcast receiver.
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a relative table related to an input / output format.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the television broadcast receiver of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a conventional television broadcast receiver.
[Explanation of symbols]
101 Antenna 102 Tuner 103 Demodulator 104 TS Separator / Decoder 105 Video Decoder 106 First Format Converter 107 Controller 108 First Selector 109 Source Detector 110 Second Format Converter 111 Third Format Converter 112 Second Selector 113 Second memory (detection information storage unit)
114 First memory (format relative table storage unit)
115 video composition unit 116 video output processing unit

Claims (1)

In a television broadcast receiver having a function of displaying a plurality of input video sources on a multi-screen,
An output format determination table storing output formats that the receiver manufacturer seems to be appropriate for each combination of input video source formats that can be displayed on multiple screens,
Identification means for identifying the format of each input video source to be displayed on a multi-screen;
Means for determining an output format based on a combination of formats of each input video source identified by the identification means and an output format determination table;
Means for converting the format of each input video to the determined output format, and means for synthesizing each input video after format conversion for multi-screen display,
A television broadcast receiver comprising:

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