JP4026148B2 - Digital broadcast receiver with program guide - Google Patents

Description

The present invention can be applied to, for example, BS (Broadcasting Satellite) digital broadcasting and CS (Communicat).
ion Satellite) The present invention relates to a program guide-equipped digital broadcast receiver equipped with a program guide for selecting programs and recording reservations in digital broadcasting or terrestrial digital broadcasting.

In recent years, in the field of digital broadcasting and the like, broadcasting services covering a wide range of multi-channel programs are being provided by using MPEG image compression technology. However, with the increase in the number of channels, it is complicated for many users to search for programs on the day, the next day, one week later, etc. from the program guide in printed form such as newspapers and magazines, and perform channel selection and recording reservation. It has become. Therefore, as a countermeasure, the data necessary for creating a program guide such as program information is multiplexed and broadcast together with image data and audio data so that the user can search for programs, select programs, and make recording reservations on the TV screen. An electronic program guide (hereinafter referred to as E) that receives data necessary for the program guide with a digital broadcast tuner and creates a program guide with the digital broadcast tuner based on the received data and displays it on a television device or the like.
(Referred to as PG) has been used, and various program guide functions by EPG have been developed.

For example, Patent Literature 1 discloses a digital broadcast receiver capable of presenting detailed information of each series program constituting a specific series selected by the user to the user.

Further, in Patent Document 2, when a channel list or a program list for each selected genre is displayed, when a desired category of a genre is selected, a broadcast program table corresponding to the category is displayed in a list and a large amount is displayed. There is disclosed a digital broadcast receiver that is displayed and takes time to select a channel, and facilitates a user's troublesome operation of selecting a broadcast program.
JP 2001-257955 A JP 2003-298963 A

TV programs include series programs that handle the program as a predetermined group, such as a program that is broadcast once a week, every day from Monday to Friday, or a program that is broadcast irregularly several times a month, such as a football broadcast. is there. Conventionally, when searching for such a series program or making a recording reservation, there is only a search from the EPG screen.
When displaying on the EPG, the EPG screen must be changed one week ahead by key operation of the remote controller, and the remote controller operation is troublesome. Furthermore, there is a problem that a program with an irregular schedule and time such as a soccer broadcast cannot be displayed on the EPG, and in that case, it is difficult to search.

As described above, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for displaying two screens: a program guide unit and a screen for displaying details of a program selected in the program guide unit. Patent Document 2 discloses a genre selection. Although a table and a series selection table are disclosed, since neither of them displays the EPG and the series program information list at the same time, the problem that it is difficult to search for a series program cannot be solved.

An object of the present invention is to provide a digital broadcast receiver equipped with a program guide that can easily search for series programs and perform scheduled recording.

A digital broadcast receiver equipped with a program guide according to a first aspect of the invention is a receiving means for receiving a digital / analog broadcast signal transmitted from a broadcasting station, a digital / analog decoding means for decoding a broadcast signal received by the receiving means, Signal conversion means for converting the decoded signal decoded by the digital / analog decoding means into a signal capable of video display and outputting it to a display device, OSD display means for causing the display device to display a predetermined OSD, program selection, etc. Input means for inputting various commands, storage means for storing program information included in the decoded signal decoded by the digital / analog decoding means, control of each means, and instructions from the input means The EPG is created based on the program information stored in the storage means, and the created EPG is stored in the display device via the OSD display means. When a series program information list that displays as a PG screen and handles programs as a group is displayed on the same screen as the EPG screen, and the currently viewed program selected on the EPG screen is a series program, The series information of the current viewing program is displayed, and when the current viewing program is displayed, all the broadcasting stations, the channel of the broadcasting station broadcasting the current viewing program, or the current viewing program are displayed by the left arrow button on the screen. Control means for controlling all of the channels of the broadcasting station that is broadcasting, so as to display the series program of the focused broadcasting station in the series program column,
It is provided with.

According to this digital broadcast receiver with a program guide, since the EPG screen and the series program information list screen are displayed at the same time, the detailed information of the series program can be easily searched from the program selected on the EPG screen, and the scheduled recording can be easily performed. It is possible to display the series information of the current viewing program series, the corresponding channel of the broadcasting station that is broadcasting the current viewing program, or any series program of all channels in the series program column. Can meet various demands .
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a digital broadcast receiver with a program guide, receiving means for receiving a broadcast signal transmitted from a broadcasting station, and a display device for converting the broadcast signal received by the receiving means into a signal capable of video display. A signal conversion means for outputting to the input means, an input means for inputting various commands such as program selection, a storage means for storing program information, and controlling each of the means, and receiving a command from the input means, An EPG is created based on the program information stored in the storage means, the created EPG is displayed on the display device as an EPG screen, and a series program information list for handling the program as a group is displayed on the same screen as the EPG screen. display and, if the current viewing program that has been the focus in the EPG screen is a series of programs, to the series program list and display each time the individual information of the developing viewing program door In the case that focus channels in the EPG screen, characterized in that the list of series program of the channel and a control means for controlling so as to display the series program information table.

According to this digital broadcast receiver with a program guide, since the EPG screen and the series program information list screen of the current viewing program are displayed at the same time, detailed information on the series program can be easily searched from the program selected on the EPG screen, and the reservation is made. Recording is also easy.
Further, according to the digital broadcast receiver equipped with the program guide, individual information about the current viewing program can be easily viewed, and the contents of the series program of the focused channel can be easily viewed.

A digital broadcast receiver with a program guide according to a third aspect of the present invention focuses a broadcast station on the EPG screen.
In this case, it is controlled to display a list of series programs of all channels of the broadcasting station in the series program information list.

According to the digital broadcast receiver equipped with the program guide, the contents of the series programs of all channels of the focused broadcasting station can be easily viewed.

The digital broadcast receiver with a program guide according to a fourth aspect of the invention is characterized in that when all channels are focused on the EPG screen, a list of series programs of all channels is controlled to be displayed in the series program information list. To do.

According to this digital broadcast receiver with a program guide, it is possible to easily view all the contents of series programs broadcast by all broadcast stations.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a block configuration of a digital / analog broadcast receiving apparatus according to the present embodiment.

The digital / analog broadcast receiving apparatus (STB) 1 includes an antenna 20 for receiving a television broadcast signal transmitted from a broadcasting station using high-frequency radio waves of a predetermined frequency, and a television monitor (display device) for displaying a television broadcast image. ) 30 is connected. The broadcast receiving apparatus 1 is an apparatus for receiving an ATSC broadcast signal and an NTSC broadcast signal transmitted from a broadcast station via an antenna 20 and projecting an image of a television program distributed by these broadcast signals on a television monitor 30. is there.

The broadcast receiving apparatus 1 includes a remote control receiving unit 3 that receives an input signal from a remote control (input means) 2, a tuner (reception means) 4, an NTSC decoder (analog decoding means) 5, and an MPE.
G encoder 6, ATSC front end (digital decoding means) 7, MPEG decoder back end (signal conversion means) 9, OSD circuit 10, memory 11, control unit (control means, search means, color change control means) , Highlight display control means, warning means) 13.

The remote controller 2 is used for channel selection of TV programs to be viewed, TV program viewing reservation, and E
This is for performing various operations such as displaying a PG screen, and is operated by the user. In order to enable these various operations, the remote controller 2 includes various operation buttons as will be described later. When the various operation buttons are operated, a wireless signal such as an infrared signal corresponding to the operation is transmitted.

The remote control receiving unit 3 receives a signal sent from the remote control 2 and outputs a signal corresponding to an operation on the remote control 2 to the control unit 13. The tuner 4 tunes the reception frequency to the frequency corresponding to the channel selected by the remote controller 2, thereby receiving the TV broadcast signal of the channel selected by the antenna 20 via the antenna 20.

The NTSC decoder 5 is controlled by the remote controller 2 using NTSC (National Television Systems Co.).
mmittee) When a broadcast channel is selected, the NTSC broadcast signal received by the tuner 4 is demodulated into a video signal and an audio signal of a television program, and the video signal and the audio signal are output to the MPEG encoder 6. The MPEG encoder 6 digitally compresses and encodes the video signal and the audio signal output from the NTSC decoder 5 according to the MPEG standard.
Output to.

When the ATSC broadcast channel is selected by the remote controller 2, the ATSC front end 7 converts the ATSC broadcast signal modulated by the 8VSB system received by the tuner 4 into MPEG.
Signals such as video and audio of a plurality of television programs digitally compressed and encoded according to the standard, and electronic program information are demodulated into a TS signal in a time-division multiplexed state. Then, the ATSC front end 7 separates and extracts the video signal and audio signal of the TV program of the channel selected by the remote controller 2 from this TS signal and outputs it to the MPEG decoder back end 9 and also extracts the electronic program information. And output to the control unit 13. This electronic program information includes a program name of each program, a program description, rating information for restricting user viewing, and the like.

The MPEG decoder back end 9 receives a video signal and an audio signal that are digitally compressed and encoded according to the MPEG standard and output from the MPEG encoder 6 and the ATSC front end 7. The MPEG decoder back end 9 decodes these video signals and audio signals into signals before being subjected to digital compression encoding, thereby generating a signal for displaying video on the television monitor 30 and outputting audio. The video signal output from the MPEG decoder back end 9 is output to the television monitor 30 via the OSD circuit 10.

The OSD circuit 10 superimposes predetermined on-screen display data such as a channel number and an EPG screen on the video signal output from the MPEG decoder back end 9. As a result, an image based on the on-screen display data is displayed on the television monitor 30 so as to overlap the video of the television program.

The memory 11 stores frequency data of television broadcast signals of each channel and various on-screen display data. The memory 11 stores electronic program information extracted by the ATSC front end 7.

When an NTSC broadcast channel is selected by the remote controller 2, the control unit 13 causes the tuner 4 to receive an NTSC broadcast signal of the selected channel and
The C decoder 5 demodulates and reproduces the video signal and the audio signal. In addition, the remote control 2
When a TSC broadcast channel is selected, the tuner 4 receives the ATSC broadcast signal of the selected channel, and the ATSC front end 7 receives the channel video signal and audio signal. Separate and extract.

Further, the control unit 13 causes the tuner 4 to receive an ATSC broadcast signal and causes the memory 11 to store electronic program information output from the ATSC front end 7. When the display operation of the EPG screen is performed by the remote controller 2, the display image of the EPG program selection screen is created with reference to the electronic program information stored in the memory 11, and the image signal is output to the OSD circuit 10. To do. As a result, an EPG program selection screen is displayed on the television monitor 30. Next, a configuration example of a program guide output from the tuner 1 of this embodiment will be described.

FIG. 2 is an image diagram showing an example of a program table output as a display signal from the tuner 1 and displayed on the display. As shown in the figure, this program guide 40 includes an EPG screen 41 and a series displayed on the right side of the EPG screen 41 on a certain date (in this example, Friday, June 4, 2004). The program one column table 42 is displayed on one screen at the same time. EPG
The screen 41 displays the broadcast station name 43 on the vertical axis, the time 44 on the horizontal axis, and the program name 45 at each time, and is a normal one used conventionally. In the series program list 42, series programs included in the electronic program information are displayed in order. For example, EP
The programs are displayed in the order of the channels displayed on the G screen 41. If the program is on the same channel, the programs are displayed in the order of early broadcast time. The order of the programs to be displayed in the series program list 42 is not limited to this, and the programs may be arranged in the order in which the broadcast period is long, the broadcast frequency is high or the like. Series program table 4
2 shows a series program, for example, a program that is regularly aired every day, from Monday to Friday, once a week, once a month, or an irregular program such as a soccer broadcast. Yes. In this example, broadcast station KHN1 drama 13 (weekly), major league broadcast (irregular), KH
N2 cooking A (weekly), shogi broadcast (month 1), serial drama AAA (weekly), KHNH drama ABC (weekly) are shown. The EPG screen 41 and the series program information list 42 are provided with scroll bars 41a and 42a, and the screen can be freely changed by operating these with a remote controller.

FIG. 7 shows a configuration example of the remote controller 2. Below the normal channel key 51, a menu key 52, a search key 53, and a cross key 54 (cursor key) are provided. Each time the menu key 52 is pressed, one of 1) channel guidance, 2) program guidance, 3) series guidance, and 4) reservation is selected on the menu screen 55 as shown in FIG. By selecting the 2) program guide by operating the menu key 54 and pressing the search key 53, the above EPG screen 41 is displayed.
Is displayed on the television monitor 30. Similarly, the 3) series guidance is selected with the cross key 54 and the search key 53 is pressed.
Is displayed. Note that the focus here refers to making the portion indistinguishable from other portions by increasing the luminous intensity, blinking, reversing, or the like.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a first example of a method for displaying EPG series program information. Cross key 54
Thus, the screen of the EPG 41 can be focused vertically and horizontally. Now, in the EPG screen 41, as shown in FIG.
When “AAA” 60 is focused ("cursor / AAA" 60 is set to the cursor), E
In the program information display section 47 at the bottom of the PG screen 41, program information relating to “continue drama / AAA”, for example, performers, program contents, and the like are displayed. In addition, when the selected program “serial dora / AAA” is a series program (when serial dramas / AAA has series information),
In conjunction with placing the cursor on “Series Drama / AAA”, the series program “Series Drama / AAA” is focused in the series program list 42, and only this series drama / AAA,
Each individual information (list of each broadcast times) of each series program thereafter is displayed. In addition, the series information of the series / AAA that is focused on, for example, the series name, organization, number of remaining episodes, last broadcast date, and the like are displayed on the series information display section 49 at the bottom.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a second example of a method for displaying series program information, in which a list of all series programs broadcast on one channel is displayed. As shown in FIG. 4, when the focus is moved by the cross key 54 or the like and the channel KHN2 is focused, a list of all series programs broadcast on the channel KHN2 is displayed in the series program list 42.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a third example of a method for displaying series program information, in which a list of series programs broadcast on one broadcasting station is displayed. As shown in FIG. 5, when the focus is moved by the cross key 54 or the like, for example, when moving from “Cooking A” to “KHN2”, all three channels “KHN1” to “KHNH” included in the broadcasting station KHN are focused. . At this time, the series program list 42 displays a list of series programs of all channels of the broadcasting station KHN. Note that when a channel including only one channel is focused on the broadcasting station, only that channel is focused as all channels.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a fourth example of the series program information display method, in which a list of series programs broadcast on all channels of all broadcast stations is displayed. In the state of FIG. 4 or FIG. 5, if the operation of moving the focus further to the left with the cross key 54 or the like is performed, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 4, all channels of all broadcasting stations are focused, and a list of series programs broadcast on all channels of all broadcasting stations is displayed in the series program list 42.

In the above description, the channel, broadcast station, or all channels are focused by moving the focus on the EPG screen 41, and the series program of the channel, broadcast station, or all channels is displayed on the series program list 42. 2 may be provided with direct buttons for channel selection, broadcast station selection, and all channel selection so that a channel, broadcast station, or all channels can be directly selected.

In addition, a switching button is provided for switching between the EPG screen 41 and the series program list 42 to which the cursor can be moved. After the series program list 42 is selected by the switching button, the focus is moved in the series program list 42. Program or desired broadcast times may be selected.

The block block diagram of the broadcast receiver by one Embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows an example of EPG displayed by the same apparatus. The figure which shows the 1st example of the display method of the series program information of EPG of FIG. The figure which shows the 2nd example of the display method of the series program information of EPG of FIG. The figure which shows the 3rd example of the display method of the series program information of EPG of FIG. The figure which shows the 4th example of the display method of the series program information of EPG of FIG. The front view of the remote control for operation of the apparatus. The figure which shows the selection menu screen.

Explanation of symbols

1 Digital / analog broadcast receiver 2 Remote control (input means)
4 Tuner (Receiving means)
5 NTSC decoder (analog decoding means)
7 ATSC front end (digital decoding means)
8 MPEG decoder back end (signal conversion means)
9 OSD circuit (OSD display means)
11 Memory (memory means)
13 Control means 30 Display device 41 EPG screen 42 Series program information list 49 Series information 60 Left arrow button

Claims (4)

Receiving means for receiving a digital / analog broadcast signal transmitted from a broadcasting station;
Digital / analog decoding means for decoding the broadcast signal received by the receiving means;
A signal conversion means for converting the decoded signal decoded by the digital / analog decoding means into a signal capable of video display and outputting the signal to a display device;
OSD display means for causing the display device to display a predetermined OSD;
Input means for inputting various commands such as program selection;
Storage means for storing program information included in the decoded signal decoded by the digital / analog decoding means;
Controls each means, receives an instruction from the input means, creates an EPG based on the program information stored in the storage means, and sends the created EPG to the display device via the OSD display means. When a series program information list that displays as an EPG screen and handles programs as a group is displayed on the same screen as the EPG screen, and the current viewing program focused on the EPG screen is a series program, Individual information of the current viewing program is displayed each time, and when any of the channel, broadcasting station, or all channels is focused on the EPG screen, a list of series programs of the channel, broadcasting station, or all channels is displayed. And a control means for controlling to display in the series program list. Digital broadcast receiver. Receiving means for receiving a broadcast signal transmitted from a broadcasting station;
A signal conversion means for converting the broadcast signal received by the receiving means into a signal capable of video display and outputting the signal to a display device;
Input means for inputting various commands such as program selection;
Storage means for storing program information;
Controlling each means, receiving an instruction from the input means, creating an EPG based on program information stored in the storage means, displaying the created EPG as an EPG screen on the display device; and When a series program information list for handling programs as a group is displayed on the same screen as the EPG screen, and the current viewing program focused on the EPG screen is a series program, the series program list is displayed each time in the series program list. And control means for controlling to display a list of series programs of the channel in the series program information list when the channel is focused on the EPG screen. A digital broadcast receiver with a program guide. 3. The control unit according to claim 2, wherein when the broadcasting station is focused on the EPG screen, the control unit displays a list of series programs of all channels of the broadcasting station in the series program information list. Digital broadcast receiver with a program guide. Wherein, when focusing all channels in the EPG screen, according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the program list of all the channels series program and controls to display the series program information table Table-mounted digital broadcast receiver.

Images