JP3810379B2 - Broadcast video recording device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a broadcast video recording apparatus that records broadcast TV video data in a storage unit.
[0002]
As seen in the recent movement of the fusion of television and computers and the trend of multi-channel digital broadcasting, the wave of digitization is rushing to TV images. With digital analog broadcasting, it is possible to transmit 4-8 channels in a conventional analog broadcasting 1 channel band, and the use cost is expected to decrease. In addition, the image quality can be improved by digitizing the video. Furthermore, digital video information can be obtained from various information sources such as satellite broadcasting, terrestrial broadcasting, cable TV broadcasting, and the Internet. For this reason, diversification is also required for a system for recording the video.
[0003]
[Prior art]
FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram of the prior art.
[0004]
Digital video recording systems associated with broadcasting station services have been proposed. For example, NHK Broadcasting Technology has proposed Integrated Services TV (ISTV). This ISTV uses home server technology. In ISTV, various information such as news, weather forecasts, programs, program guides, and the like sent from broadcasting stations are automatically selected and recorded on the TV side based on user designation. And when the user wants to see the recorded video, it can be seen anytime.
[0005]
The ISTV service functions are as follows. This is a first function for automatically receiving news, television newspapers, programs, and the like. This function is to collect information transmitted from a broadcasting station at a certain time and view it at any time. The second function is to automatically update news, weather forecasts, etc. broadcast at regular intervals and at regular intervals.
[0006]
The third function is to automatically select and accumulate by automatically determining from the index information added to the program / information when an interesting genre / theme / performer is designated.
[0007]
The process of these recording systems will be described with reference to FIG.
[0008]
(S1) First, a user manually designates a program to be recorded.
[0009]
(S2) Broadcast video is input.
[0010]
(S3) According to the designation in step S1, a program to be recorded is selected from the input video. When recording, the process proceeds to step S4. When not recording, the process returns to step S2.
[0011]
(S4) The designated program is recorded.
[0012]
(S5) Designate reproduction. When reproduction is not designated, the process returns to step S2.
[0013]
(S6) Play back the recorded program. Thereby, the recorded video can be viewed.
[0014]
As described above, the conventional recording apparatus can record the video after designation by the user.
[0015]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the conventional broadcast video recording apparatus, it was not possible to record retroactively. For example, when the recording timing is missed and the program that is desired to be recorded has already started, or when the user wants to record and watch again after watching the program to the end.
[0016]
In such a case, there is a problem that the conventional recording apparatus cannot record.
[0017]
An object of the present invention is to provide a broadcast video recording apparatus capable of recording a broadcast video prior to recording designation.
[0018]
Another object of the present invention is to provide a broadcast video recording apparatus capable of recording a broadcast video retroactively.
[0019]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve this object, the broadcast video recording apparatus of the present invention is designated by a first storage unit that stores broadcast video data and a second storage unit that stores video data to be reproduced. A control unit for storing the designated video data in the second storage unit after searching for the video data from the first storage unit, and designation means for designating the video data to be reproduced If, possess a correspondence table between the first recording address and time of the video data of the video data stored in the storage unit, the first storage unit, the video data the input, FIFO format, stored, wherein the control unit in the first storage unit of the FIFO type, stores the image data, the recording of the correspondence table The address and the time of the video data are stored, and according to the time designation from the designation means operated by a user, the corresponding table is referred to, a corresponding recording address is obtained, and according to the obtained recording address, The designated video data of the first storage unit is stored in the second storage unit .
[0020]
In the present invention, the broadcast video is always stored in the first storage unit, and the broadcast video stored in the first storage unit is stored in the second storage unit when it is specified that recording is desired. did. For this reason, it is possible to record retroactively. Even if the time changes slightly from the schedule, the broadcast video can be transferred from the first storage unit to the second storage unit at the time of change, so that desired recording can be performed. In addition, since the first storage unit is in the FIFO format, recording to the second storage unit can be performed from the middle of the program.
[0021]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 is a principle diagram of the present invention.
[0022]
The receiving unit 1 receives broadcast video. The primary storage unit (first storage unit) 2 stores all received broadcast videos. The secondary storage unit (second storage unit) 3 stores the designated broadcast video out of the broadcast video stored in the primary storage unit 2. The request unit 4 is for manually specifying a broadcast video. For example, the request unit 4 has a play button, a channel, and numeric keys for specifying a time.
[0023]
The control unit 5 controls the primary storage unit 2 so as to store the received broadcast video. Then, the control unit 5 controls the secondary storage unit 3 so as to store the designated broadcast video according to the designation of the request unit 4. Further, the control unit 5 reproduces the video of the secondary storage unit 3 in response to the reproduction instruction of the request unit 4.
[0024]
2 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a primary storage processing flowchart of FIG. 2, FIG. 4 is a secondary storage processing flowchart of FIG. 2, and FIG. 5 is the management of FIG. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of the recording operation of FIG. 2.
[0025]
As shown in FIG. 2, the primary storage unit (memory) 2 is composed of a hard disk unit. The secondary storage unit (memory) 3 is composed of an optical disk unit.
[0026]
The control unit 5 is composed of a processor. The overall control unit 10 controls the primary storage address control unit 12 and the secondary storage address control unit 13 to execute primary storage processing, secondary storage processing, and reproduction processing. The timer 11 measures time. The primary storage address control unit 12 controls the recording address / playback address of the primary storage unit 2.
[0027]
The secondary storage address control unit 13 controls the recording address / reproduction address of the secondary storage unit 3. The primary storage management table 14 stores the recording address and time of the primary storage unit 2. The secondary storage management table 15 stores the recording address and time of the secondary storage unit 3.
[0028]
The viewing / playback history unit 16 holds a history of viewing requests / playback requests from the request unit 4. The automatic recording designation unit 17 automatically designates recording according to the history of the viewing / playback history unit 16.
[0029]
Each of these units 10 to 13, 16, and 17 represents the function of the control unit 5 as a block.
[0030]
First, the overall control unit 10 uses the timer 11, the primary storage address control unit 12, and the primary storage management table 14 to store video data that is constantly input in the primary memory 2. The overall control unit 10 increments the recording address of the primary storage in synchronization with the timer 11 and stores the video data in the primary memory 2 in the FIFO format regardless of whether there is a user request. Details will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
[0031]
(S11) As an initial setting, the recording (write) address nw of the primary memory 2 is set to “0”. The time t is set to the time t ′ of the timer 11.
[0032]
(S12) Video data every minute is recorded at the write address nw of the primary memory 2 in increments of minutes. The video data for 1 minute is about 60 MB in the case of MPEG2.
[0033]
(S13) In order to manage the recording status, the time t and the write address nw are stored in the primary storage management table 14 as shown in FIG.
[0034]
(S14) In synchronization with the timer 11, the time t is incremented and the write address nw is incremented.
[0035]
(S15) It is checked whether the write address nw exceeds the maximum address N of the primary memory 2 in order to form a FIFO (First In First Out) format memory. If the write address nw does not exceed the maximum address N, the process returns to step S12.
[0036]
(S16) If the write address nw exceeds the maximum address N, the write address nw is returned to “0” in order to form a FIFO memory. Then, the process returns to step S12.
[0037]
In this way, the broadcast video data is always stored in the primary memory 2. Then, the video data is stored in the FIFO format.
[0038]
Next, the video data recorded in the primary memory 2 is selectively taken into the secondary memory 3 in response to a recording request (request). Therefore, the overall control unit 10 uses the timer 11, the primary storage address control unit 12, the primary storage management table 14, the secondary storage address control unit 13, and the secondary storage management table 15. This will be described in detail with reference to FIG.
[0039]
(S21) As an initial setting, the reproduction (read) address of the primary memory 2 is set to nr. Further, the recording (write) address nw ′ of the secondary memory 3 is set to “0”.
[0040]
(S22) The overall control unit 10 determines whether there is a secondary recording request from the request unit 4.
[0041]
(S23) The user designates the start time ts and end time te of the primary recording from the request unit 4 for the secondary recording. These times ts and te are held in the secondary storage management table 15.
[0042]
(S24) In order to confirm whether the primary recording has already been performed, it is checked whether the primary storage management table 14 holds the start time ts and the corresponding recording (write) address nw. If the start time ts and the write address nw are not held, it is determined that recording has not yet been performed, and the process proceeds to step S25. On the other hand, if the start time ts and the write address nw are held, it is determined that recording has already been performed, and the process proceeds to step S26.
[0043]
(S25) Wait 1 minute and return to step S24.
[0044]
(S26) The primary playback (read) address nr is set to the recording (write) address nw held in the primary storage management table 14.
[0045]
(S27) As shown in FIG. 5, in order to record video data for one minute from the primary memory 2 to the secondary memory 3, the data at the primary reproduction (read) address nr is recorded as the secondary recording (write) address nw. Record on '.
[0046]
(S28) As shown in FIG. 5, the secondary storage management table 15 holds the time ts, the secondary recording (write) address nw ′, and the presence / absence of recording.
[0047]
(S29) In synchronization with the timer 11, the time ts, the primary playback (read) address nr, and the secondary recording (write) address nw ′ are each incremented by “+1”.
[0048]
(S30) It is checked whether the secondary recording (write) address nw ′ exceeds the maximum address N ′ of the secondary memory 3. If the secondary recording (write) address nw ′ exceeds the maximum address N ′, the process proceeds to step S31. If the secondary recording (write) address nw ′ does not exceed the maximum address N ′, the process proceeds to step S32.
[0049]
(S31) The secondary recording (write) address nw ′ is returned to “0”.
[0050]
(S32) It is checked whether the time ts has exceeded the recording end time te. If the time ts exceeds the recording end time te, the requested recording ends, and the process returns to step S22. If the time ts does not exceed the recording end time te, the requested recording has not ended, and the process returns to step S24.
[0051]
In this way, the program having the designated start time and end time is moved from the primary memory 2 to the secondary memory 3 by the user.
[0052]
5 and 6 show the state of reproduction from the primary memory 2 and recording to the secondary memory 3. In the primary memory 2, data is stored in the form of FIFO by rotating the address cyclically. While recording at the address n in the primary memory 2, the previously recorded data is reproduced. From the start of playback to the end of playback, recording is performed from the primary memory 2 to the secondary memory 3 every minute.
[0053]
For example, the primary storage management table 14 and the secondary storage management table 15 can hold data for 2 hours each. It is assumed that the current time is 9:16 and the data recorded at 7:16 two hours ago in the primary storage memory 2 is overwritten. FIG. 5 shows a case in which a primary reproduction and secondary recording request for 14 minutes of data from 9:01 to 9:14 are generated at that time.
[0054]
The secondary storage management table 15 holds the time, secondary recording address, and presence / absence of recording. Use it as a guideline for overwriting or not overwriting depending on whether or not recording is performed. Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the recording table 15-1 holds the recording name, time, and secondary recording address range. As a result, it is used for grasping the remaining parts that are not recorded.
[0055]
FIG. 5 shows that the data from 9:01 15 minutes before (past) is primarily reproduced and secondarily recorded for the recording at the current time 9:16. From the primary recording, it can be said that it is a 15 minute time difference recording. Further, when the primary reproduction data is reproduced and output as it is, the time difference reproduction that can see the video of 15 minutes before is realized. This indicates that even if the viewing time is delayed, it can be viewed with a delay by the delayed time.
[0056]
The recorded data in the secondary memory 3 is reproduced in response to a reproduction request from the request unit 4.
[0057]
FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of another recording operation of the present invention. FIG. 7 shows a case where the primary playback end point is after the primary recording point. Compared with the embodiment of FIG. 5, the following two points are different. First, in the example of FIG. 5, recording is performed in synchronization with time (time difference recording) from the start of primary playback to the end of primary playback. On the other hand, in the example of FIG. 7, the data up to the point before the primary recording (primary recorded) is collected and primary playback and secondary recording are performed. Thereby, shortening of the secondary recording time can be realized.
[0058]
Second, in the example of FIG. 5, the secondary recording is delayed in time difference from the primary recording. On the other hand, in the example of FIG. 7, the primary recording and the secondary recording are performed simultaneously from the time of the primary recording until the end of the primary reproduction. For this reason, the secondary recording can also end at the reproduction end time.
[0059]
The processing of FIG. 7 is performed at a time without synchronizing with the time during the recording, during the recording of steps S26 to S29 shown in FIG. Further, after recording, the recording may be performed in synchronization with time. However, it is assumed that the secondary recording capability is higher than the primary recording capability.
[0060]
8 is a process flow diagram of the viewing / playback history unit 16 and the automatic recording designation unit 17 shown in FIG. 2, FIG. 9 is a list update process flow diagram thereof, and FIGS. 10 to 12 are explanatory diagrams of the list process. FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of the list update operation. The automatic designation process will be described with reference to FIG.
[0061]
(S41) A viewing / playback request (manual) from the request unit 4 is received.
[0062]
(S42) This viewing / playback request is registered in a list described in FIG. In this case, the list is deleted / updated according to the viewing / playback request.
[0063]
(S43) Designate the top of the list (for example, the top 5 programs).
[0064]
In this way, a list is created corresponding to the viewing / playback status of the user. Then, the list is continuously deleted / updated. Based on this list, the video that the user wants to watch is automatically specified.
[0065]
The list update process in FIG. 8 will be described with reference to FIG.
[0066]
(S51) It is checked whether the viewing / playback request is a new registration to the list from the registration status to the list. In the case of new registration, the process proceeds to step S52. If it is not a new registration, the process proceeds to step S55.
[0067]
(S52) It is checked whether the registration space of the list is full. If the list is full, the process proceeds to step S53. If the list is not full, the process proceeds to step S54.
[0068]
(S53) Since the registration space is full, the lowest information in the list is deleted.
[0069]
(S54) New registration in the list. This registration method will be described later with reference to FIGS.
[0070]
(S55) The list is updated. The update method will be described later with reference to FIGS.
[0071]
10 to 12 show examples of three lists. Each list stores the rank, day of the week, channel, start time, end time, program name, performer name, and genre.
[0072]
In FIG. 10, a technique called MTF (Move To Front) is used. As shown in FIG. 13, the newly registered program is registered at the top of the list. Also in the case of updating, it moves to the top of the list. In this method, the most recently watched / reproduced program can be designated with the highest priority. It is not necessary to count the frequency. This method is effective when the tendency is relatively easy to change in a short time.
[0073]
In FIG. 11, a technique called Transport is used. As shown in FIG. 13, the newly registered program is registered at the bottom of the list. In the case of updating, the program is replaced with an adjacent higher program. It is not necessary to count the frequency. This method is effective when the trend does not change much over a long period.
[0074]
In FIG. 12, as also shown in FIG. 13, a newly registered program is always registered in the lower level of the list. In the case of updating, the frequency of viewing / playback is calculated, and the list is exchanged according to the frequency. This method requires calculation of the frequency, but can accurately grasp the user's preference.
[0075]
In this way, manual designation by the user and designation by automatic prediction without user assistance can be performed. In the automatic designation by the user, the designation by the day of the week, the time, the channel, the G code, the EPG (program information), etc. can be selected and designated from the program, the performer, etc., as in the past.
[0076]
In automatic prediction without help from the user, the user's current viewing situation and secondary recording situation are included in the list. Then, the recording designation automatic prediction is performed based on the statistical properties seen for each parameter described in the user designation. For example, recording is designated from the highest probability to the top five.
[0077]
FIG. 14 is a block diagram of another embodiment of the present invention. 14, the same components as those shown in FIG. 2 are indicated by the same symbols. The primary memories 20 to 22 are provided for each channel and primarily store video data of each channel. In this example, video data of a plurality of channels at the same time can be captured simultaneously.
[0078]
Similarly, when one primary memory 2 has the capability of primary storage of video data of a plurality of channels simultaneously, the video data of a plurality of channels can be captured simultaneously. In this case, when deleting the video data, the oldest video data is deleted.
[0079]
If the start time is the same for a plurality of channels of video data, the oldest end time is deleted. That is, the recording time is deleted from the shortest recording time. Thereby, the latest information can be secured. Another method is to delete the new end time. That is, it deletes from the long recording time. Thereby, the capacity of the primary memory 2 can be secured. As another method, it is also possible to simply delete from the oldest list. In addition, from the list, programs with lower importance may be deleted first from the importance of programs.
[0080]
Similarly, as a new recording method of the secondary memory when the start time is the same for video data of a plurality of channels, recording is performed from the one with the oldest end time. That is, recording is performed from the recording time that is short. As another method, recording is performed from a new end time. In other words, recording is performed from the recording with the longest recording time. As another method, it is possible to simply record from the youngest channel. Further, according to the list, the program with higher importance may be recorded first from the importance of the program.
[0081]
In addition to the above-described embodiments, the present invention can be modified as follows.
[0082]
(1) In the above-described embodiment, the primary memory and the secondary memory have been described as the magnetic disk device and the optical disk device. However, a digital video disk device, a video tape device, and the like can also be used.
[0083]
(2) Although the manual recording method and the automatic specifying method have been described as the secondary recording designation method, it has been described as a device, but either can be selectively made possible by a device or switch. You may apply to an apparatus.
[0084]
As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated by embodiment, a various deformation | transformation is possible within the range of the main point of this invention, and these are not excluded from the scope of the present invention.
[0085]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, the present invention has the following effects.
[0086]
(1) The always-on broadcast video is stored in the first storage unit, and the broadcast video stored in the first storage unit is stored in the second storage unit when it is designated to record. For this reason, it is possible to record retroactively. Further, every time video data is stored in the first storage unit, the FIFO format recording address and time are stored in the table, so that the specified video data can be stored in the second memory easily and accurately by the user's time specification. Can be stored in the unit.
[0087]
(2) Even if the time slightly changes from the schedule, the broadcast video can be transferred from the first storage unit to the second storage unit at the time of change, so that desired recording can be performed. Since the first storage unit is in the FIFO format, storage in the second storage unit can be started from the middle of the program.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a principle diagram of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart of primary storage processing in FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a secondary storage processing flow diagram of FIG. 2;
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of the management table of FIG. 2;
6 is an explanatory diagram of the recording operation of FIG. 2;
7 is an explanatory diagram of another recording operation of FIG. 2. FIG.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart of automatic designation processing in FIG. 2;
9 is a list update process flow diagram of FIG. 8; FIG.
FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram (part 1) of the list process of FIG. 9;
FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram (part 2) of the list process of FIG. 9;
12 is an explanatory diagram (part 3) of the list process of FIG. 9; FIG.
13 is an explanatory diagram of the list update operation of FIG. 9;
FIG. 14 is a block diagram of another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram of a prior art.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Receiver 2 Primary storage unit 3 Secondary storage unit 4 Request unit 5 Control unit 10 Overall control part 11 Timer 12 Primary storage address control part 13 Secondary storage address control part 14 Primary storage management table 15 Secondary storage management table 16 Viewing / Playback history part 17 Automatic designation part

Claims (4)

In a broadcast video recording device that records broadcast video data,
A first storage unit for storing the broadcast video data;
A second storage unit for storing video data to be reproduced;
A control unit for storing the designated video data in the second storage unit after searching the designated video data from the first storage unit;
Designating means for designating the video data to be reproduced;
Possess a correspondence table between record address and time of the video data of the video data stored in the first storage unit,
The first storage unit stores the input video data in a FIFO format ;
The control unit stores the video data in the first storage unit in the FIFO format, and stores the recording address and the time of the video data in the correspondence table,
According to the time designation from the designation means operated by the user, the corresponding table is referred to, a corresponding recording address is obtained, and the designated video of the first storage unit is obtained according to the obtained recording address. A broadcast video recording apparatus , wherein data is stored in the second storage unit . The broadcast video recording apparatus according to claim 1,
The control unit refers to the correspondence table by the time designation from the designation unit, and determines whether the designated video data is stored in the first storage unit. Video recording device. The broadcast video recording apparatus according to claim 1,
The recording address is obtained by referring to the correspondence table according to the start time of the video data to be reproduced from the specifying means, and all of the video data specified at the start time is stored in the first storage. It is determined whether or not all of the video data is stored in the first storage unit. If all of the video data is not stored in the first storage unit, the entire video data is stored in the first storage unit. The broadcast video recording apparatus , wherein the designated video data of the first storage unit is stored in the second storage unit . The broadcast video recording apparatus according to claim 1 ,
The designation means includes first designation means operated by the user, and second designation means for determining the video data to be reproduced from a list storing user recording statuses. Broadcast video recording device.

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