JP4253602B2 - Digital broadcast receiver, reception channel setting system, reception channel setting method, and recording medium recording reception channel setting program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a digital broadcast receiver that receives a digital broadcast, a reception channel setting system, a reception channel setting method, and a recording medium on which a reception channel setting program is recorded, and in particular, an automatic setting of a receivable channel of a terrestrial digital broadcast receiver. Regarding improvement.

  In recent years, television broadcasting has also rapidly shifted from analog broadcasting to digital broadcasting. In this digital broadcasting, the number of channels is increased as compared with the analog broadcasting, and at the same time, information (program information) necessary for program selection at the receiver is transmitted together with the program as service information. The user can display this program information on the display screen of the receiver and use it for confirmation of a broadcast program, viewing reservation, recording reservation, and the like.

  From the end of 2003, digital terrestrial broadcasting began in some areas of the Tokyo metropolitan area, Kinki area, and Chukyo area, and multiple broadcasts including terrestrial digital broadcasting, BS digital broadcasting, 110 ° C CS broadcasting, terrestrial analog broadcasting, BS analog broadcasting, etc. Digital broadcast / analog broadcast composite receivers that can receive TV have appeared on the market.

  Patent Document 1 describes a receiver that has a reception database for each region that has been registered in the receiver body in advance, and that sets receivable channel data in the installation region only by specifying the region for the receiver. ing.

  Patent Document 2 describes a reception channel auto-preset device that sets receivable channel data in an installation area in a receiver only by a method of scanning a frequency range that can be received by the receiver.

Further, Patent Document 3 describes a channel setting registration system that downloads receivable channel data in an installation region and sets the receiver in the receiver by specifying the region with respect to the reception database for each region registered in the server in advance. ing.
JP-A-5-259819 JP-A-6-77779 JP-A-10-257402

  However, in such a conventional terrestrial digital broadcast receiver, there is a problem that it is difficult to easily and accurately set a receivable channel of the terrestrial digital broadcast receiver for the following reason. there were.

  For example, if the local receivable channel data is held in the receiver in advance, it is difficult to deal with unexpected usage at the beginning of the design, such as changing the frequency of the broadcasting station or crossing the broadcasting area. It is.

  Also, when a receivable channel is set only by scanning a receivable frequency range with a receiver, it is difficult to detect a newly installed broadcast station after setting.

  In addition, in the receiver setting only by downloading the receivable channel data based on the regional information from the server, it is necessary to frequently perform detailed field tests to make the data in the server suitable for actual operation. It is difficult to keep the data up-to-date.

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and a digital broadcast receiver capable of automatically setting a receivable channel of a digital broadcast receiver more reliably and easily, a reception channel setting system, It is an object of the present invention to provide a recording medium on which a reception channel setting method and a reception channel setting program are recorded.

  The digital broadcast receiver of the present invention is a digital broadcast receiver that receives a digital broadcast, a reception status detection unit that detects a reception status of a digital broadcast signal, a storage unit that stores the detected reception status data, and the storage Transmitting means for transmitting data including the reception status data stored in the means to a summing center that stores the data as a database relating to the broadcasting station and the receiving station. As a result, on the digital broadcast receiver side, especially when a new digital broadcast receiver is installed, it is received based on receivable broadcast station data transmitted from the aggregation center without actually checking the reception status. Possible broadcast stations can be updated and set, and antenna adjustment can be performed. On the aggregation center side, the latest detailed information is transmitted to the digital broadcast receiver based on the database stored in advance, thereby making it possible for the user of the digital broadcast receiver to automatically set the receivable channel. In addition, since the reception status data from each digital broadcast receiver is received, the database can be updated to the latest data.

  Furthermore, by providing receiving means for receiving broadcast station data that can be received from the aggregation center, the broadcast station data can be updated and set without actually performing a reception status check.

The storage unit may store reception condition data indicating an installation location and model information of the own device and the broadcast station data received by the reception unit.
The storage means may have a recording medium that is detachable from the receiver body, and store data in the storage medium.

  As a more preferred specific mode, the transmission means transmits data to the aggregation center via a network such as the Internet or a telephone line. In this case, if encryption, electronic authentication or the like is performed for communication between the aggregation center and the receiver, leakage of personal information of the digital broadcast receiver owner can be prevented.

  The transmission means includes local transfer means for transferring data to other digital broadcast receivers installed in the vicinity, and the local transfer means receives the data stored in the storage means for receiving the other digital broadcasts. As a result, the latest receivable broadcast station can be set even by a receiver that cannot be connected to the aggregation center.

  Furthermore, by providing notification means for notifying the user of the data stored in the storage means by display or voice, it is possible to notify the viewer of the result of communication with the aggregation center and the result of changing the receiver internal settings.

  As a more preferred specific aspect, the notification means notifies the user of the optimum antenna direction for the receivable broadcast station based on the data stored in the storage means, so that the user should point the antenna in which direction You can easily know if it ’s good.

  In addition, the reception status detection means automatically detects any reception status at an execution timing according to a user setting or an execution timing in response to an external request so as not to disturb a viewer's use. Processing can be performed irregularly in a time period or a requested time period from the center side.

As a more preferable specific aspect, the reception status includes a reception frequency, a reception time, an electric field strength of a received radio wave, an error rate, or a broadcast station name.
The digital broadcast signal may be a terrestrial digital broadcast signal.

  The reception channel setting system of the present invention is a reception channel setting system comprising a digital broadcast receiver that receives a digital broadcast, and an aggregation center that aggregates data stored in the digital broadcast receiver, wherein the aggregation center includes: A database for storing data relating to a broadcasting station and a receiving station is provided, and the digital broadcast receiver includes a reception status detection unit that detects a reception status of a digital broadcast signal, a storage unit that stores the detected reception status data, and It comprises transmission means for transmitting data including the reception status data stored in the storage means to the aggregation center, and reception means for receiving broadcast station data receivable from the aggregation center.

  The aggregation center requests the digital broadcast receiver to detect the reception status, so that the digital broadcast receiver can automatically investigate the reception status of an arbitrary broadcast station requested from the aggregation center. it can.

  Preferably, the aggregation center requests the digital broadcast receiver to transmit data stored in the storage unit.

  The aggregation center preferably transmits receivable broadcast station data to the digital broadcast receiver.

  The aggregation center preferably accepts the broadcast station data transmission request from the digital broadcast receiver. Data can be arbitrarily added, deleted, and processed on the aggregation center side.

  As a more preferred specific aspect, the aggregation center receives the broadcast station data transmission request from the digital broadcast receiver, and when there is no data corresponding to the installation location of the digital broadcast receiver, the digital broadcast reception Based on the data of a nearby receiver near the installation location of the device or the broadcast station data that can be received based on the location of a nearby broadcast station, the estimated data is transmitted to the digital broadcast receiver. Thus, even when there is no data corresponding to the place where the digital broadcast receiver is installed when the broadcast station data is requested from the digital broadcast receiver, the receiver installation location and the aggregated neighboring installation receiver The broadcast station data that can be received is estimated on the basis of the data of the broadcast station and the location of the nearby broadcast station, and this broadcast station data can be transmitted to the request digital broadcast receiver.

  The database of the aggregation center accumulates map data including terrain data, so that it is possible to compile and process data that takes into account mountains and large-scale structures that affect reception and reflect this terrain data. The received receivable broadcast station data can be transmitted to the digital broadcast receiver.

  The reception channel setting method of the present invention is a reception channel setting method for a digital broadcast receiver, wherein the digital broadcast receiver detects a reception status of a digital broadcast signal, and the detected reception status and reception condition data. Storing the receivable broadcast station data, transmitting the stored data to the aggregation center, receiving the data from the aggregation center, and updating the stored broadcast station data; And notifying the user of the optimal antenna direction for the receivable broadcast station based on the updated broadcast station data.

  From another viewpoint, the present invention provides a reception channel setting method for a digital broadcast receiver, wherein the digital broadcast receiver includes a step of detecting a reception status of a digital broadcast signal, and the detected reception status and reception condition data. Storing the receivable broadcast station data, transmitting the stored data to the aggregation center, receiving the data from the aggregation center, and updating the stored broadcast station data; A computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program for causing a computer to execute a step of notifying a user of an optimal antenna direction for a receivable broadcast station based on the updated broadcast station data. is there.

  Moreover, this invention is a program for making a computer perform each means with which the said digital broadcast receiver is provided.

  As described above in detail, according to the present invention, it is possible to more reliably and easily perform automatic setting of a receivable channel of a digital broadcast receiver.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of a digital broadcast receiver according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a digital broadcast receiver according to an embodiment of the present invention. The digital broadcast receiver according to the present embodiment can be applied as an AV network system to, for example, a television receiver having a terrestrial digital broadcast reception function capable of receiving terrestrial digital broadcast radio waves.

  In FIG. 1, a terrestrial digital broadcast receiver 100 is divided into a terrestrial antenna 1, a tuner unit 2 including a tuner including a BS tuner, a demodulation circuit 3, an error correction unit 4, a video signal, an audio signal, and a data signal. Transport decoder 5, MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group) decoder 6, OSD (on-screen display) display unit 7 (notification means), video encoder 8, audio DAC 9, CPU 10 (reception status detection means), control program and fixed Non-volatile auxiliary storage comprising a ROM 11 for storing data, a RAM 12 as an execution / working storage area of the CPU 10, an EEPROM (electrically erasable programmable ROM) as an electrically rewritable non-volatile memory, a RAM backed up by a power source, etc. Device 13 (storage means), input / output interface (I / F) 14, the input I / F15, LAN (Local Area Network) port 16 (transmitting means, local transport means) configured with a, and modem port 17 (transmitting means). The modem port 17 is connected to the totaling center 20 via the Internet 18 that is the Internet or a dedicated line, and is connected to the totaling center 20 via the telephone line 19 that is a public telephone network.

  The aggregation center 20 is installed in a broadcasting station or the like, and accumulates data related to the broadcasting station and the receiving station as a database, such as reception status investigation results, receiver installation location, receiving condition data such as a receiver model, and receivable broadcasting station data. To do.

  The tuner unit 2, the demodulation circuit 3, and the error correction unit 4 constitute a front end unit 110, and the transport decoder 5 constitutes a transport unit 120. The MPEG decoder 6, OSD display unit 7, video encoder 8 and audio DAC 9 constitute an MPEG decoding unit 130, and each unit is controlled by the CPU 10.

  The OSD display unit 7 displays information such as channel, volume, setting information, time, etc., and a menu and an electronic program guide (program guide based on EPG (Electrical Program Guide)) on a screen of a display unit (not shown). In video devices such as digital television receivers, information such as reception status, time, and volume is generally displayed on a screen. The OSD data is not an image but is held in a format called a bitmap. This bitmap is converted into YUV format pixel values represented by Y, Cb, and Cr, and the converted pixels are converted into an input image or the like. Is superimposed on the original image.

  When applying to an actual application including MPEG video and MPEG audio encoded streams (bit strings) and other encoded streams, the encoded streams are multiplexed and integrated into a single unit including synchronization. At the same time, it is necessary to make the stream a data format conforming to a specific physical format or protocol possessed by the storage medium or network.

  The MPEG2 system includes a program stream (MPEG2-PS, PS: Program Stream) that constitutes one program, and a transport stream (MPEG2-TS, TS: Transport Stream) that can constitute a plurality of programs, as in MPEG1. There is.

  The MPEG stream is a byte stream that is byte-aligned for each unit such as a header although there are many 1-bit flags. As a structure common to the entire MPEG system, the data portion that is not fixed length is preceded by information indicating the length. If unnecessary, that portion is skipped or the head of the next data group is confirmed and trusted. It has a data structure that enables highly-separated separation processing.

  An apparatus for receiving compressed video and audio signals in conformity with the MPEG2 encoding system is designed to receive video and audio sampling frequencies on the encoding side in order to prevent overflow and underflow of video and audio data on the decoding side. And the video, audio sampling frequency or STC (System Time Clock) on the decoding side must be matched.

  Therefore, the decoding apparatus uses PCR (Program Clock Reference) or SCR (System Clock Reference) defined by the MPEG2 system standard (ISO / IEC standard 13818-1). Thus, the video and audio sampling frequencies on the encoding side are matched with the video and audio sampling frequencies on the decoding side.

  The MPEG decoding unit 130 is controlled by the CPU 10 and notifies the CPU 10 of the operation status (for example, reception frequency, reception intensity, error rate, etc.).

  The CPU 10 controls the terrestrial digital broadcast receiver 100 as a whole, controls the front end unit 110, the transport unit 120, and the MPEG decoding unit 130 to grasp the operation status, and determines the reception status of the terrestrial digital broadcast signal. A reception status detection process to be detected and a storage process to save the detected reception status data in the nonvolatile auxiliary storage device 13 are executed. In addition, the modem port 17 is controlled, and reception condition data stored in the nonvolatile auxiliary storage device 13 and reception condition data indicating the installation location and model information of the own device are transmitted to and received from the aggregation center 20. A communication process for receiving a survey request and receivable station information is executed. In addition, the LAN port 16 is controlled to execute local transfer processing for transferring or receiving receivable broadcast station data to other digital broadcast receivers installed in the vicinity. Further, the OSD display unit 7 is controlled to perform OSD display of the receivable broadcast station data and the like stored in the nonvolatile auxiliary storage device 13 to notify the user.

  The nonvolatile auxiliary storage device 13 stores work data, auxiliary programs, and the like that must be retained after the power is turned off until the next power on. The nonvolatile auxiliary storage device 13 may be a card-type external extended storage medium that can be removed from the main body. This storage medium is a compact flash (CF) including a disk device such as a small hard disk drive (HDD), an SRAM (Static RAM) card that holds information written by power backup, or a flash memory that does not require power backup. ), Smart media, memory sticks, etc.

  The input / output I / F 14 communicates with an external peripheral device by infrared data communication using IrDA (Infrared Data Association) or wired communication using USB (Universal Serial Bus).

  The input I / F 15 is connected to a key input unit including a cross key, a numeric keypad, etc., and an operation input unit (not shown) such as a remote control device, and receives key operation information from the user.

  The LAN port 16 performs local communication with other AV devices constituting the AV network system and also connects to the modem port 17. The LAN port 16 transmits / receives data to / from AV devices owned by group users, and transmits / receives radio waves other than carriers as well as carriers connected to a carrier server via a carrier network which is a dedicated line. Then, Bluetooth, UWB (Ultra Wideband), and wireless LAN that perform wireless communication may be used.

  As described above, the modem port 17 is connected to the totaling center 20 via the Internet or the Internet network 18 including a dedicated line, and is connected to the totaling center 20 via the telephone line 19 which is a public telephone network.

  The Internet network 18 is a network composed of a mobile communication network, a public telephone network, a LAN, the Internet, and the like, and the type of network and the type of protocol such as a wired system or a wireless system are not particularly limited. The network access line has a large capacity such as FTTH (Fiber To The Home), HFC (Hybrid Fiber Coax), and ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) / VDSL (Very high data rate Digital Subscriber Line). The line is available.

  Hereinafter, operations of the terrestrial digital broadcast receiver 100 and the aggregation center 20 configured as described above will be described.

First, the overall operation of the terrestrial digital broadcast receiver 100 will be described.
A signal wave received by the terrestrial antenna 1 is input to the front end unit 110, a broadcast frequency to be received by the tuner unit 2 is selected from the received signal waves, and an MPEG transformer which is a digital signal is selected by the demodulation circuit 3. Conversion to a port stream signal (MPEG-TS signal) is performed, and error data is corrected by the error correction unit 4. The error-corrected MPEG-TS signal is input to the transport unit 120, and the transporter decoder 5 of the transport unit 120 converts the MPEG-TS signal into a packetized MPEG elementary stream (MPEG-PES) and converts the MPEG-TS signal into MPEG. The data is passed to the decoding unit 130.

  In the MPEG decoder 6 of the MPEG decoding unit 130, the MPEG-PES is decoded, and the decoded video data is encoded by the video encoder 8 and output as a video output. The decoded audio data is output as audio via the audio DAC 9. The OSD display unit 7 displays information such as a channel, volume, setting information, and time on the display screen according to an instruction from the CPU 10.

Next, a reception channel setting method of the terrestrial digital broadcast receiver 100 will be described.
FIG. 2 is a control sequence diagram illustrating data managed by the terrestrial digital broadcast receiver 100 and the aggregation center 20 and communication between the terrestrial digital broadcast receiver 100 and the aggregation center 20.

  In FIG. 2, a terrestrial digital broadcast receiver 100 includes a terrestrial antenna 1 and a receiving unit 140 (a part of the reception status detecting means). Information, that is, receivable broadcasting station information 150, receiving station information 160, and receiver channel setting information 170 are stored. The reception unit 140 is a general term for the front end unit 110, the transport unit 120, and the MPEG decoding unit 130 of FIG.

  The terrestrial digital broadcast receiver 100 receives receivable station information and broadcast station position information transmitted from the aggregation center 20 and stores them as receivable broadcast station information 150 in the nonvolatile auxiliary storage device 13 (see FIG. 1). . The receivable broadcast station information 150 includes station information such as frequency, station name, and CH number, and station position information such as a location and direction.

  The terrestrial digital broadcast receiver 100 also creates receiving station information 160 based on the data received by the receiving unit 140 and the stored receivable broadcasting station information 150 and stores the receiving station information 160 in the nonvolatile auxiliary storage device 13. The receiving station information 160 includes station information such as frequency, station name, and CH number, and reception status information such as reception intensity, error rate, and reception time.

  The terrestrial digital broadcast receiver 100 creates receiver channel setting information 170 based on the receiving station information 160, controls the receiving unit 140 by the receiver channel setting information 170, and creates the created receiver channel setting. Information 170 is stored in the nonvolatile auxiliary storage device 13.

  Furthermore, the terrestrial digital broadcast receiver 100 transmits the installation location information to the aggregation center 20 in accordance with a request from the aggregation center 20 or at an arbitrary timing. In particular, when a reception survey request from the aggregation center 20 is received, the reception status such as reception survey time, reception intensity, error rate, broadcasting station name, etc. for an arbitrary reception frequency is investigated, and the received reception status survey result, receiver installation The reception condition data such as the location and the receiver model and the receivable broadcast station data are transmitted to the totaling center 20 as actually received information.

  The reception survey request and each information are transmitted and received at an arbitrary timing between the terrestrial digital broadcast receiver 100 and the aggregation center 20 using a dedicated communication network or network of the Internet network 18 or a telephone line 19. Thereby, the data requested in each of the terrestrial digital broadcast receiver 100 and the aggregation center 20 can be acquired, and the data of the terrestrial digital broadcast receiver 100 and the aggregation center 20 can be updated.

  On the other hand, the aggregation center 20 includes a broadcasting station database 210 that stores location, station name, CH number, transmission frequency, and output, a receiving station database 220 that stores location, reception frequency, and reception intensity, and a location where the broadcasting station exists. And a map database 230 for storing map information indicating. The map database 230 stores terrain / map data that may cause radio interference such as mountains and large structures.

Next, the communication operation between the terrestrial digital broadcast receiver 100 and the aggregation center 20 will be described.
First, the terrestrial digital broadcast receiver 100 transmits installation location information to the aggregation center 20 in accordance with a request from the aggregation center 20 or at an arbitrary timing. Here, when the terrestrial digital broadcast receiver 100 is newly installed, for example, the installation location information and model information of the receiver 100 are sent to the aggregation center 20 using the network of the Internet network 18 or the telephone line 19. Transmit (number 301).

  The aggregation center 20 receives the installation location information and the model information, and receives station information that can be received by the terrestrial digital broadcast receiver 100 from the terrestrial digital broadcast receiver 100 that has transmitted the installation location information and the model information. Broadcast station position information is transmitted (numbers 302 and 303).

  The aggregation center 20 accesses the broadcasting station database 210, the receiving station database 220, and the map database 230 based on the installation location and model information transmitted from the terrestrial digital broadcast receiver 100, and transmits the installation location information and model information. The station information and the broadcast station position information that can be received by the terrestrial digital broadcast receiver 100 are extracted. When the data corresponding to the installation location of the terrestrial digital broadcast receiver 100 is not stored in each of the databases 210, 220, and 230, the data of neighboring installation receivers close to the installation location of the terrestrial digital broadcast receiver 100, Alternatively, receivable broadcast station data is estimated based on the location of a nearby broadcast station, and the estimated data is transmitted to the terrestrial digital broadcast receiver 100. In this embodiment, the receivable station information and the broadcast station position information are transmitted to the terrestrial digital broadcast receiver 100, but either one may be used. The construction means of each database 210, 220, 230 is arbitrary and may be in any form. Furthermore, the transmission timing of receivable station information and the like to the terrestrial digital broadcast receiver 100 is set to the transmission request time zone if specified from the terrestrial digital broadcast receiver 100 side, otherwise used by the viewer. However, the transmission is preferably performed in a time zone that does not hinder (for example, automatically at night), but is not limited thereto. In addition to an arbitrary time zone set by the user or a requested time zone from the center side, a mode in which processing is performed irregularly on a regular basis may be used.

  The terrestrial digital broadcast receiver 100 that has received the receivable station information and the broadcast station position information stores the received receivable station information and the broadcast station position information in the non-volatile auxiliary storage device 13 as the receivable broadcast station information 150. As a result, the terrestrial digital broadcast receiver 100 can update and set the receivable broadcast stations without actually checking the reception status by receiving and storing the receivable broadcast stations from the aggregation center 20. It becomes possible to grasp the details of the receivable broadcasting station information in each place and the latest actual situation. The receivable broadcast station information is sent to the receiving unit 140, and the receivable broadcast station information is notified to the user by OSD display or voice. For example, the channel number of the receivable broadcasting station and the optimum antenna direction are notified. An example of the notification display will be described later with reference to FIGS.

  In addition, the aggregation center 20 can request reception status detection (reception investigation request) from the terrestrial digital broadcast receiver 100 (number 304).

  In the terrestrial digital broadcast receiver 100, the reception situation is actually measured from the station information such as frequency, station name, and CH number, and the reception situation information such as reception intensity, error rate, and reception time. While being stored in the storage device 13, the actually received information detected at an arbitrary timing is transmitted to the aggregation center 20 (number 305). The actual measurement reception information may be transmitted in a time zone that receives a request from the aggregation center 20 and does not hinder the use of the viewer. The aggregation center 20 can update the data in the broadcast station database 210 and the reception station database 220 with highly reliable data obtained by actual measurement based on the broadcast station position, receiver installation position, topographic data, and actual measurement data. The latest detailed information can be used at any time. Needless to say, the totaling center 20 can arbitrarily add, delete, and process data.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a notification screen for automatic correspondence to a new broadcast station in the terrestrial digital broadcast receiver 100.

  When the information (viewable broadcast station) on the terrestrial digital broadcast receiver 100 side is updated, for example, a user notification message shown in FIG. 3 is OSD-displayed on the display screen. Here, the notification screen 30 displays an OSD display of a user notification message 31 such as “The following broadcast stations are ready to receive. ** Registered to TV CH number XXX” and its confirmation diagram box 32. The Note that the display position and display form are not limited to FIG. 3 and FIGS. 4 and 5 described later. For example, a mode in which a viewable broadcast station is flushed and displayed by color identification from a plurality of broadcast stations may be used. Furthermore, a configuration in which an audio codec (a part of output means) that digitally processes an output signal from the OSD display unit 7 may be installed as a sound generation device. The audio codec is configured by a PCM (Pulse Code Modulation) sound source IC or the like, converts a signal received from the OSD display unit 7 into an audio signal, and outputs it from a speaker. For example, “*** TV broadcast station can be received. Registered to CH number XXX”, etc., and actually recorded human voice data recorded in advance.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an antenna adjustment preparation screen using data from the aggregation center 20 in the terrestrial digital broadcast receiver 100.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the antenna adjustment menu screen 40 displays viewable broadcast station information 41, an execution diagram box 42, and an end diagram box 43 in an OSD manner.

  The viewable broadcast station information 41 displays the broadcast station name, registered CH, estimated reception state, and reception state after the previous adjustment of a broadcast station that may be received in the area where the terrestrial digital broadcast receiver 100 is installed. The viewable broadcast station information 41 is a viewable broadcast station based on information held in the nonvolatile auxiliary storage device 13 of the terrestrial digital broadcast receiver 100 and information updated by the aggregation center 20, and the previous antenna adjustment. Displays information at the time of implementation.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an antenna adjustment screen using data from the aggregation center 20 in the terrestrial digital broadcast receiver 100.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the antenna adjustment display screen 50 includes a display area 51 for displaying a reception channel and its broadcast station name, reception intensity numerically and on a scale, an orientation screen 52 indicating an approximate direction from the installation location, and an end. The diagram box 53 is OSD-displayed.

  The display area 51 displays antenna adjustment guidelines for a broadcasting station desired to be viewed, azimuth information from the aggregation center 20, and reception intensity actually measured by the terrestrial digital broadcast receiver 100.

  As described above, the terrestrial digital broadcast receiver 100 according to the present embodiment includes the terrestrial antenna 1, the front end unit 110, the transport unit 120, the MPEG decoding unit 130, the CPU 10, the nonvolatile auxiliary storage device 13, and the LAN. The CPU 10 includes a port 16 and a modem port 17, and the CPU 10 receives a reception status detection process for detecting the reception status of the terrestrial digital broadcast signal, and saves the detected reception status data in the nonvolatile auxiliary storage device 13. Communication for receiving reception condition data stored in the auxiliary storage device 13 and reception condition data indicating the installation location and model information of the own device to the aggregation center 20 and receiving a reception investigation request and receivable station information from the aggregation center 20 Since the process is executed, the automatic setting of the receivable channel of the terrestrial digital broadcast receiver is more reliable and easy. It can be, it is suitable to the antenna adjustment of terrestrial digital broadcast receiver.

  For example, the digitalization of terrestrial TV broadcasting is currently planned, but it is anticipated that the broadcast frequency will change due to effective use of the frequency band after the transition to digital, and new broadcasters will enter the market. Setting a receivable broadcasting station as a receiver may frequently occur. In addition, in conventional terrestrial (analog) TV, there are many cases where cross-border reception of an unexpected broadcast area is performed in some areas as the operation of the initial broadcast station, and in the conventional receivable broadcast station setting method, This is a situation where an efficient response is not possible. The same applies to the case of shifting to digitalization as it is, and it is considered to be a particularly serious problem during the shift to digital.

  According to the digital terrestrial broadcasting receiver 100, the actual reception situation is detected and stored, and the detected reception situation is transmitted to the aggregation center 20, so that the aggregation center 20 can receive the signal at various locations. It is possible to grasp the details of the broadcasting station information and the latest actual situation. Since the totaling center 20 can investigate the reception status of terrestrial digital television broadcasting in each region, it is possible to improve the quality of the database by collecting a wide range of data.

  Further, by receiving and storing receivable broadcast station information from the aggregation center 20 side, the terrestrial digital broadcast receiver 100 side collects the aggregation center based on the broadcast station position, receiver installation position, terrain data, and actual measurement data. The latest detailed information generated at 20 can be used at any time. In particular, when a terrestrial digital broadcast receiver 100 is newly installed or when the installation location is changed, a receivable broadcast station can be updated and set without actually performing a reception status survey.

  In the terrestrial digital broadcast receiver 100, it is possible to set a broadcast station that can be received in the installation area even during the broadcast suspension time and before the antenna is installed. In addition, it is possible to promptly notify that a new broadcast station is receivable, and even if the frequency of each broadcast station is changed, the setting of the digital broadcast receiver can be quickly updated.

  In addition, since processing is performed periodically and irregularly at an arbitrary time zone set by the user or a requested time zone from the center side so as not to hinder the use of the viewer, It is possible to investigate reception status and update settings. Rough setting of the receiver is possible even immediately after purchase in a new area.

  In this embodiment, data is collected and processed in consideration of terrain data, so it is possible to infer not only a simple distance from the broadcasting station but also a receivable broadcasting station considering terrain obstacles. It becomes.

  In addition, if the broadcast radio wave from the broadcasting station is used for the transmission of data and survey request from the aggregation center 20 to the terrestrial digital broadcast receiver 100, the receiver is not always in a state where the line connection is possible. Can also transmit data or requests from the integration center.

  In the present embodiment, the result of communication with the aggregation center 20 and the result of changing the internal setting of the receiver are notified to the viewer by display or voice, so that there is a new receivable broadcast station for the viewer, It is possible to promptly notify that the setting has been updated. Similarly, since the viewer is notified of the optimum antenna direction for each receivable broadcast station from the receivable station data from the totaling center 20 and the installation position, the antenna can be easily installed.

  Further, if encryption, electronic authentication, or the like is used for communication between the aggregation center 20 and the terrestrial digital broadcast receiver 100, personal information can be protected while using an inexpensive general-purpose infrastructure. Collection can be done safely.

  In this embodiment, receivable broadcast station data is transferred to another receiver via an external medium such as a memory card, or other data is transferred using local data transfer means such as LAN, infrared communication, wireless communication, etc. The latest receivable broadcasting station data can be set without sharing the same antenna or accessing the aggregation center 20 to receivers that are installed or scheduled to be installed in the vicinity by transferring the data to the receivers. It is possible to set the latest receivable broadcast station even with a receiver that cannot be connected to the aggregation center.

  In the present embodiment, since a telephone line, an Internet line, etc. are used for communication between the tally center 20 and the terrestrial digital broadcast receiver 100, it is difficult to implement a hardware for a receiver that already has a line connection function such as a digital TV. Functions can be added without changing hardware.

  Therefore, the digital broadcast receiver having such characteristics is preferably applied to a terrestrial digital broadcast receiver that requires antenna adjustment and setting of a receivable broadcast station. Also, it can be used for the program audience rating survey of each station by the same method.

  The terrestrial digital broadcast receiver according to the above embodiment may be a device incorporated in a viewing device or a recording device such as a television receiver as well as a single device. For example, a personal computer having a terrestrial digital broadcast receiving function, a structure in which a digital broadcast receiver, a display device, and a recording device are integrated may be considered.

  Also, the notification screens in FIGS. 2 to 5 are examples, and any notification method may be used. In addition, the digital broadcast receiver is generally operated by a remote controller in addition to direct operation of the main body.

  In this embodiment, the names digital broadcasting receiver, aggregation center, reception channel setting system, and reception channel setting method are used. However, this is for convenience of explanation, such as a reception channel automatic setting device, a reception environment control method, and the like. Of course, it may be. The aggregation center may be named as a server or a broadcasting station, for example.

  Furthermore, the type, number, connection method, and the like of each circuit unit constituting the terrestrial digital broadcast receiver, such as a storage device, are not limited to the above-described embodiments.

  The terrestrial digital broadcast receiver described above is also realized by a program for causing the terrestrial digital broadcast receiver to function. This program is stored in a computer-readable recording medium. In the present invention, as the recording medium, the main memory itself may be a program medium, or a program reading device is provided as an external storage device and can be read by inserting the recording medium therein. May be. In either case, the stored program may be configured to be accessed and executed by the CPU, or in any case, the program is read and the read program is not shown in a program storage area. The program may be downloaded and executed by the program. It is assumed that this download program is stored in the main device in advance.

  Here, the program medium is a recording medium configured to be separable from the main body, such as a tape system such as a magnetic tape or a cassette tape, a magnetic disk such as a floppy disk or a hard disk, a CD-ROM / MO / MD / DVD, or the like. It may be a medium carrying a fixed program including a semiconductor memory such as a disk system of the above optical disk, a card system such as an IC card / optical card, or a mask ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, flash ROM or the like.

  Furthermore, although not shown in the figure, when a means capable of connection to an external communication network is provided, the program is fluidly supported so that the program is downloaded from the communication network via the communication connection means. It may be a medium. When the program is downloaded from the communication network in this way, the download program may be stored in the main device in advance, or may be installed from another recording medium. The content stored in the recording medium is not limited to a program, and may be data.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the terrestrial digital broadcast receiver of embodiment of this invention. It is a control sequence diagram showing data and communication managed by the terrestrial digital broadcast receiver and the aggregation center of the present embodiment. It is a figure which shows the notification screen of the automatic response | compatibility to a new broadcasting station in the terrestrial digital broadcasting receiver of this Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the antenna adjustment preparation screen using the data from a total center in the terrestrial digital broadcast receiver of this Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the antenna adjustment screen using the data from a total center in the terrestrial digital broadcast receiver of this Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Terrestrial antenna 2 Tuner part 3 Demodulator circuit 4 Error correction part 5 Transport decoder 6 MPEG decoder 7 OSD display part (notification means)
8 Video decoder 9 Audio DAC
10 CPU (reception status detection means)
11 ROM
12 RAM
13 Non-volatile auxiliary storage device (storage means)
14 Input / output I / F
15 input I / F
16 LAN port (transmission means, local transfer means)
17 Modem port (transmission means)
18 Internet network 19 Telephone line 20 Aggregation center 40 Antenna adjustment menu screen 50 Antenna adjustment display screen 100 Terrestrial digital broadcast receiver 110 Front end unit 120 Transport unit 130 MPEG decoding unit 140 Receiving unit (one of reception status detecting means) Part)
150 Receivable Broadcasting Station Information 160 Receiving Station Information 170 Receiver Channel Setting Information 210 Broadcasting Station Database 220 Receiving Station Database 230 Map Database

Claims (18)

In a digital broadcast receiver that receives digital broadcasts,
Reception status detection means for detecting the reception status of the digital broadcast signal;
The detected reception status data , reception condition data indicating the installation location and model information of the own device, and the reception status data and the reception condition data received from a plurality of the digital broadcast receivers together with data about a broadcasting station A transmission means for transmitting to the aggregation center stored as a database ;
Receiving means for receiving receivable broadcast station data obtained from the database based on the reception condition data from the aggregation center;
Setting means for updating and setting a broadcastable receiving station based on the receivable broadcasting station data;
A digital broadcast receiver comprising: The digital broadcast receiver according to claim 1 , further comprising a storage unit that stores the reception status data and the reception condition data, and the receivable broadcast station data received by the reception unit. 3. The digital broadcast receiver according to claim 2 , wherein the storage unit includes a recording medium that is detachable from the receiver body, and stores data in the recording medium.   2. The digital broadcast receiver according to claim 1, wherein the transmission means transmits data to the aggregation center through a network such as the Internet or a telephone line. The transmission means includes local transfer means for transferring data to other digital broadcast receivers installed in the vicinity,
The digital broadcast receiver according to claim 2 , wherein the local transfer unit transfers the data stored in the storage unit to the other digital broadcast receiver. The digital broadcast receiver according to claim 2, further comprising notification means for notifying the user of the receivable broadcast station data included in the data stored in the storage means by display or voice. The receiving means also receives location information of a receivable broadcast station together with the receivable broadcast station data from the aggregation center,
The notification means further notifies the user of an optimal antenna direction for a receivable broadcast station based on the position information of the receivable broadcast station and the installation location of the own device in the reception condition data. Item 7. The digital broadcast receiver according to Item 6 .   The digital broadcast receiver according to claim 1, wherein the reception status detection means detects the reception status at an execution timing set by a user or an execution timing in response to an external request. The reception situation, reception frequency, the reception time, the field strength of the received radio wave, error rate, or a digital broadcast receiver according to claim 1 or 8, characterized in that it comprises a broadcasting station name.   The digital broadcast receiver according to claim 1, wherein the digital broadcast signal is a terrestrial digital broadcast signal. A receiving channel setting system comprising a digital broadcasting receiver for receiving digital broadcasting and an aggregation center,
The digital broadcast receiver
Reception status detection means for detecting the reception status of the digital broadcast signal;
Transmission means for transmitting the detected reception status data and reception condition data indicating the installation location and model information of the own device to the aggregation center;
Receiving means for receiving receivable broadcasting station data from the aggregation center;
A setting means for updating and setting a broadcastable receiving station based on the receivable broadcasting station data,
The aggregation center is
The reception status data and the reception condition data transmitted from a plurality of the digital broadcast receivers are stored as a database together with data relating to a broadcasting station,
Obtaining broadcast station data receivable by the digital broadcast receiver from the database based on reception condition data transmitted from the digital broadcast receiver, and transmitting to the digital broadcast receiver;
A receiving channel setting system. 12. The reception channel setting system according to claim 11 , wherein the counting center requests the digital broadcast receiver to detect the reception status. The aggregation center, reception channel setting system according to claim 11, wherein the requesting the transmission of the reception status data. 12. The reception channel setting system according to claim 11 , wherein the aggregation center receives the receivable broadcast station data transmission request from the digital broadcast receiver. The aggregation center receives the broadcast station data transmission request from the digital broadcast receiver, and if there is no data corresponding to the installation location of the digital broadcast receiver, the aggregation center is installed near the installation location of the digital broadcast receiver. 12. The reception channel setting according to claim 11 , wherein the receiver data or the broadcast station data that can be received is estimated based on the location of a nearby broadcast station, and the estimated data is transmitted to the digital broadcast receiver. system. 12. The reception channel setting system according to claim 11 , wherein the database of the aggregation center stores map data including terrain data. A reception channel setting method for a digital broadcast receiver,
In the digital broadcast receiver,
Detecting the reception status of the digital broadcast signal;
The detected reception status data , reception condition data indicating the installation location and model information of the own device, and the reception status data and the reception condition data received from a plurality of the digital broadcast receivers together with data about a broadcasting station Sending to a collection center that accumulates as a database ;
Receiving receivable broadcast station data obtained from the database based on the reception condition data from the aggregation center ;
Updating and setting a broadcast-capable receiving station based on the receivable broadcast-station data . A reception channel setting method of a digital broadcast receiver, wherein the digital broadcast receiver indicates a step of detecting a reception status of a digital broadcast signal, the detected reception status data , an installation location of the own device, and model information Transmitting reception condition data to the aggregation center that stores the reception status data and the reception condition data received from a plurality of the digital broadcast receivers as a database together with data about the broadcast station, from the aggregation center, Causing the computer to execute a step of receiving receivable broadcast station data obtained from the database based on reception condition data, and a step of updating and setting a broadcast-capable reception station based on the receivable broadcast station data . Computer readable, characterized by having recorded a program for Recording medium.

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