JP4257174B2 - Recording apparatus and reservation method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a recording apparatus and a reservation method for registering a recording reservation for a program such as a TV program by acquiring program information from an external information provider.

Conventionally, a recording / playback apparatus is provided with a program recording reservation function, and a program of a set channel has been automatically recorded at a set time. In recent years, a program guide is obtained by connecting a recording / playback apparatus to the Internet, obtaining a program guide from an external program information provider that provides program information, and selecting a program name to be reserved for recording from the acquired program guide. Has been developed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2000-101965 A

  However, the conventional apparatus is described as if the program can be reserved by selecting any program in the program table obtained from the program information provider, but in reality, it is broadcast by the same broadcaster. However, the channels recognized by the recording / playback device and the receiving device differ depending on the region, and it is necessary to register the correspondence information between the channel number and the broadcast by the broadcaster in advance in each device, and this correspondence is registered. The case where it is not done is not considered at all, and this point is not described at all. That is, if a broadcast for which the channel number corresponding to the device is not registered is selected from the provided program guide, the subsequent recording reservation operation cannot be continued, and the recording reservation operation is canceled (abandoned) After executing the process of registering the correspondence between the number and the broadcast, it was necessary to restart the recording reservation from the beginning.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and provides a recording apparatus and a reservation method that can smoothly make a recording reservation without stopping the recording reservation process when making a reservation for recording a program of a broadcasting station that has not registered a channel. For the purpose.

  In order to achieve the above object, the recording apparatus of the present invention obtains information relating to the broadcast time of a program and the broadcasting station from the outside, storage means for storing the receivable broadcasting station and the channel of the apparatus in association with each other. An acquisition unit, a determination unit that determines whether the broadcast station of the acquired program is associated with a channel in the storage unit, when making a recording reservation for the acquired program, and the determination unit If it is determined that the broadcast station of the acquired program is associated with the channel of the apparatus, the registration unit executes channel registration so that the storage unit stores the channel in the storage unit. And reservation means for making a recording reservation based on the broadcast time of the program acquired by the acquisition means and information on the broadcast station.

  In order to achieve the above object, the reservation method of the present invention is a reservation method for making a recording reservation for a program in a recording apparatus having a storage means for storing a receivable broadcasting station and a channel of the apparatus in association with each other. To obtain information on the broadcast time and broadcast station of the program from the program, and determine whether the broadcast station of the acquired program is associated with a channel in the storage means when making a recording reservation for the acquired program Performing channel registration so that the broadcast station of the acquired program is associated with the channel of the apparatus and stored in the storage means when it is determined that it is not associated in this determination step; When the channel registration by this execution step is executed, the broadcast time of the program acquired by the acquisition means and the broadcast station are related. And having the steps of: performing a recording reservation based on the distribution.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to smoothly make a recording reservation without stopping the recording reservation process when making a recording reservation for a program of a broadcasting station not registered with a channel.

  Hereinafter, embodiments according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a system configuration using a recording apparatus 1 of the present invention.

  The system shown in FIG. 1 includes an HDD / DVD recorder 1 as a recording device, a monitor 3 connected to the HDD / DVD recorder 1 wirelessly or via a wire 2, and an Ethernet (registered trademark), for example, on the HDD / DVD recorder 1. ) 4 is constituted by a program information DB (database) 5 of the program information providing organization connected at 4.

  The HDD / DVD recorder 1 has a function of recording and reproducing a television broadcast program and the like, as well as a function of recording the title of the recorded program together with the program, and includes a remote control device 6 including a remote controller unit and an operation input unit. Thus, the user switches and adjusts functions and inputs various instructions and information.

  The monitor 3 is composed of, for example, a television receiver, displays a playback video signal of the HDD / DVD recorder 1 and outputs a playback audio signal as sound, and an initial setting of the HDD / DVD recorder 1. For displaying a menu screen for displaying the function adjustment status.

  The program information database 5 is a server that provides information related to a program. For example, information necessary for recording reservation (information such as program name, start time, end time, broadcast station name) and information when there is a change in broadcast time Etc., and provide various information in response to external requests.

  In the system configured as described above, when the user intends to make a recording reservation in the HDD / DVD recorder 1, first, the remote controller 6 selects a program to be reserved for recording using the EPG screen or the like. Thereby, the HDD / DVD recorder 1 obtains the information of the selected program from the program information database 5 via the network, and the channel of the obtained program information is a channel registered in the HDD / DVD recorder 1 in advance. If it is determined that the channel is an unregistered channel, a channel registration screen is displayed to automatically shift to the channel registration process, and the user registers the channel via the remote controller 6. Is instructed, the screen returns to the recording reservation screen and automatically shifts to the recording reservation processing.

  FIG. 2 is a circuit block diagram showing a specific circuit configuration of the HDD / DVD recorder 1 shown in FIG. 2, the HDD / DVD recorder 1 includes a TV (Television) tuner 201, an AV input unit 202, an encoder unit 203, a disk drive unit 204, a decoder unit 205, an AV output unit 206, an MPU (Micro Processing Unit) 207, a memory. 208, an operation input unit 209, a remote control I / F (Interface) 210, and a communication control unit 211.

  A TV (television) tuner 201 is connected to an antenna (not shown), selects a desired channel of an analog television broadcast signal supplied via the antenna, demodulates it, and an encoder unit as a baseband television composite signal 203. An AV (Audio Visual) input unit 202 inputs an AV signal output from an external audio / video device or the like, and sends the AV signal to the encoder unit 203.

  Under the control of the MPU 207, the encoder unit 203 executes an encoding process for converting an analog baseband AV signal supplied from the TV tuner 201 or the AV input unit 202 into a digitally compressed and encoded signal. By this encoding process, the AV signal is output as a compression-encoded digital data sequence corresponding to, for example, the MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group) 2 standard or the DVD format.

  Under the control of the MPU 207, the disk drive unit 204 records the AV signal converted into a compression-coded digital data string on the DVD disk DVD and the hard disk HD, and the DVD disk DVD and the hard disk HD A signal reading process is executed. In order to perform this process, a disk drive (not shown) and a temporary storage unit are provided. The disk drive unit can individually drive either or both of the DVD disk DVD and the hard disk HD. The temporary storage unit is a buffer memory for temporarily storing write data to the disk drive or read data from the disk drive.

  Data read from the DVD disk DVD and the hard disk HD is sent from the disk drive unit 204 to the decoder unit 205, and the decoder unit 205 decodes the compressed and encoded AV signal under the control of the MPU 207. Execute the process. The AV signal combined by this decoding process is output to the monitor 3 via the AV output unit 206.

  The MPU 207 is a main CPU (Central Processing Unit) provided for controlling the operation of the HDD / DVD recorder 1. The MPU 207 controls each part in accordance with a program stored in the memory 208 and, for example, a GUI for initial setting of the HDD / DVD recorder 1 based on data such as characters, symbols, and characters stored in the memory 208. It has a function of generating a menu screen signal in the (Graphical User Interface) format. These screen signals can be output as an OSD (On Screen Display) signal from the AV output unit 206 via the decoder unit 205.

  The memory 208 holds various programs for processing the HDD / DVD recorder 1 by the MPU 207 and is provided as a work area for the MPU 207. The memory 208 holds a channel registration information table as shown in FIG. 3 described later.

  The operation input unit 209 includes a plurality of operation buttons provided on the front panel of the HDD / DVD recorder 1, sets the operation of the HDD / DVD recorder 1, and outputs a signal for controlling the function to the MPU 207. The remote control I / F 210 receives the remote control signal transmitted from the remote control device 6 and transmits it to the MPU 207.

  The communication control unit 211 is a device for connecting the HDD / DVD recorder 1 to the network 4 and executes communication with the program information database 5 via the network 4 and is configured by a network interface controller. The communication control unit 211 converts data to be transmitted into a signal of a predetermined protocol, and converts the protocol signal sent to the original signal.

  The channel registration information table registered in the memory 208 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, in the channel registration information table, as an initial setting, the main terrestrial analog television broadcasting stations that can be received in Tokyo 23 wards and channel numbers used in Tokyo 23 wards are associated with each other. The table 208 is registered in the memory 208. In addition to this initial setting, the user can associate broadcast stations and channel numbers manually.

  In this embodiment, information such as a registration number, a main body CH position, a channel name, a channel code, and a station code is registered as a channel registration information table. In the registration contents of the channel registration information table shown in FIG. 3, for example, the main body CH position “CH1 (1 channel)” is selected as the registration number “01”. “ABC General” is associated.

  Also, the main body CH position “CH4 (4 channels)” is selected as the registration number “02”, and the channel name “CDE TV”, the channel code “33”, the station code “ “bbbbbb” is associated. The main body CH position “CH10 (10 channels)” is selected as the registration number “03”, and the channel name “EFG TV” is associated with “CH10” as a broadcasting station. In addition, the registration number “04” and later are in an unregistered state.

  Next, recording reservation processing in the above-described system will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 4, when the user instructs display of the EPG screen using the remote control device 6, the MPU 207 of the HDD / DVD recorder 1 controls the communication control unit 211 to program information database via the network 4. 5, an EPG screen is acquired from the program information database 5, and the EPG screen is displayed on the monitor 3 as shown in FIG. 5, for example (step ST11).

  When, for example, the program 20 is selected by the user using the remote control device 6 from the EPG screen displayed on the monitor 3 in ST11 (Yes in step ST12), the MPU 207 controls the communication control unit 211 via the network 4. To the program information database 5. The MPU 207 acquires information on the selected program from the program information database 5 and stores it in the memory 208, and displays the acquired information on the program on the monitor 3 as a program information screen, for example, as shown in FIG. (Step ST13).

  Examples of information 21 related to the program displayed on the monitor 3 on the program information screen include a program name, a broadcast date, a start time, an end time, a broadcast station name, and an introduction of program contents. In ST13, together with information related to the program, a [recording reservation] button 22 and a [return] button 23 are displayed on the monitor 3.

  In this embodiment, as information related to the program 20 selected in ST12 and acquired in ST13, as shown in FIG. 6, on the program information screen, as the information 21 related to the program, the program name “Drama” and the broadcast date “September 4” are displayed. “Day (Thursday)”, start time “7:00 PM”, end time “8:56 PM”, broadcast station name “ABC General” and program content “This drama is ...” are displayed.

  In the program information screen displayed on the monitor 3 in ST13, when the user instructs the [Return] button 23 via the remote control device 6 (No in step ST14), the MPU 207 returns to the process in ST11 and returns to the monitor 3. The EPG display screen is displayed.

  In the program information screen displayed on the monitor 3 in ST13, when the [Recording reservation] button 22 is instructed by the user via the remote control device 6 (Yes in Step ST14), the MPU 207 stores the program stored in the memory 208. The information on the broadcast station name is extracted from the information on the broadcast station, the channel registration information table registered in the memory 208 is searched based on the broadcast station name, and it is confirmed whether the broadcast station is already registered (step ST15). .

  In this embodiment, the broadcasting station “ABC general” shown in FIG. 6 is already registered as the registration number “01” in the channel registration information table shown in FIG. Therefore, as a result of the confirmation in ST15, the MPU 207 determines that the broadcast station “ABC general” has been registered with the channel information “CH1” (Yes in step ST16), and displays a menu screen signal to be displayed to confirm the reservation information. Information relating to the program that has been created, selected in ST12, acquired in ST13, and stored in the memory 208 is applied and displayed on the monitor 3 as a reservation information confirmation screen as shown in FIG. 7 (step ST17).

  In the reservation information confirmation screen, information displayed on the monitor 3 includes, in addition to the program information 21, for example, a program name as a reservation name, a broadcast date as a recording date, a start time, an end time, and a program description. The channel information 31 being recorded, the HDD or DVD selection field 32 as the recording destination, and the like. In addition to these pieces of information, a [Register] button 33 and a [Return] button 34 are displayed.

  In the reservation information confirmation screen displayed on the monitor 3 in ST17, when the user designates the [Return] button 32 via the remote control device 6 ([Return] in Step ST18), the MPU 207 returns to the process in ST13. The program information screen is displayed on the monitor 3.

  In the reservation information confirmation screen displayed on the monitor 3 in ST17, when the user instructs the [Register] button 33 via the remote control device 6 and receives an input for recording reservation ([Register] in Step ST18), the MPU 207 Re-registers information related to the program stored in the memory 208, channel information 31, and recording destination 32 as reserved program information, and sets a timer (not shown) to shift to a standby state (step ST19). .

  Next, when the user selects, for example, a program 40 using the remote control device 6 from the EPG screen shown in FIG. 8 displayed on the monitor 3 in ST11 (Yes in step ST12), the MPU 207 displays the communication control unit 211. Control and connect to the program information database 5 via the network 4. The MPU 207 acquires information on the selected program from the program information database 5 and stores it in the memory 208, and displays the acquired information on the program on the monitor 3 as a program information screen as shown in FIG. 9, for example. (Step ST13).

  In this embodiment, as information related to the program 40 selected in ST12 and acquired in ST13, as shown in FIG. 9, on the program information screen, the program name “Soccer” and the broadcast date “September 5” are displayed as information 21 related to the program. “Day (Friday)”, start time “6:00 PM”, end time “8:54 PM”, broadcast station name “ABC satellite” and program content “HHHHvs.JJJJ” are displayed.

  In the program information screen displayed on the monitor 3 in ST13, when the [Recording reservation] button 22 is instructed by the user via the remote control device 6 (Yes in Step ST14), the MPU 207 stores the program stored in the memory 208. The information “ABC satellite” relating to the broadcast station name is extracted from the information relating to the broadcast station, and the channel registration information table registered in the memory 208 is searched based on the broadcast station name to confirm whether the broadcast station is already registered. (Step ST15).

  If the MPU 207 determines that the broadcasting station “ABC satellite” is unregistered as a result of the confirmation in ST15 (No in step ST16), it first creates a menu screen signal to be displayed to confirm the reservation information, and is selected in ST12. Information related to the program acquired in ST13 and stored in the memory 208 is inserted, and the channel information 31 is set to “no channel” because the channel is not registered, and is displayed on the monitor 3 as a reservation information confirmation screen as shown in FIG.

  Further, the MPU 207 creates a menu screen signal to be displayed for registering the channel number, and broadcasts of the information on the program selected in ST12 in the channel name column 41 shown in FIG. 11 and acquired in ST13 and stored in the memory 208. The station name is inserted and displayed on the monitor 3 as a channel registration screen so that a window is displayed in front of the reservation information confirmation screen. At this time, in this embodiment, information 48 related to the channel registration information table stored in the memory 208 is also displayed on a part of the channel registration screen (step ST20).

  In the channel registration screen, when the user instructs the [Close] button 47 via the remote control device 6 (No in step ST21), the MPU 207 ends a series of processes related to channel registration and recording reservation.

  In this channel registration screen, the user selects a registration number in the registration number column 42 shown in FIG. 11 via the remote controller 6, selects a channel number in the main body side CH position 43, and presses the [Register] button 46. When instructed (Yes in step ST21), the MPU 207 stores various information selected on the channel registration screen in a corresponding place in the channel registration information table of the memory 208.

  As a result of the registration in ST22, the registration number “05” in the channel registration information table stored in the memory 208 includes information such as the main body CH position “BS7” and the channel name “ABC satellite” as shown in FIG. Registered in association.

  Next, the channel information 31 on the reservation information confirmation screen displayed at the bottom of the channel registration screen is switched to channel information “BS7” corresponding to the “ABC satellite” registered in ST22, as shown in FIG. Then, the window of the channel registration screen is erased from the monitor 3 (step ST22). Thereafter, when a program recording reservation is made at the broadcasting station “ABC satellite”, the recording reservation can be performed without performing channel registration processing.

  When the channel registration process in ST22 is completed, the MPU 207 returns to the state where the reservation information confirmation screen as shown in FIG. 13 is displayed in ST17, and thereafter, based on the instruction content input by the user via the remote control device 6. The recording reservation process is continued (steps ST17 to ST19).

  For example, when the user selects, for example, a program 50 using the remote control device 6 from the EPG screen shown in FIG. 14 displayed on the monitor 3 in ST11 (Yes in step ST12), the MPU 207 displays a communication control unit. 211 is connected to the program information database 5 through the network 4. The MPU 207 acquires information on the selected program from the program information database 5 and stores it in the memory 208. The MPU 207 displays the acquired information on the program on the monitor 3 as a program information screen, for example, as shown in FIG. (Step ST13).

  In the present embodiment, as information on the program 50 selected in ST12 and acquired in ST13, the program information screen has a program name “News” and a broadcast date “September 5” as information 21 on the program as shown in FIG. “Date (Friday)”, start time “9:00 PM”, end time “10:00 PM”, broadcast station name “ABC satellite” and program content “This news is ...” are displayed.

  In the program information screen displayed on the monitor 3 in ST13, when the [Recording reservation] button 22 is instructed by the user via the remote control device 6 (Yes in Step ST14), the MPU 207 stores the program stored in the memory 208. The information “ABC satellite” relating to the broadcast station name is extracted from the information relating to the broadcast station, and the channel registration information table registered in the memory 208 is searched based on the broadcast station name to confirm whether the broadcast station is already registered. (Step ST15).

  Here, “ABC satellite” is registered as a registration number “05” in the channel registration information table as shown in FIG. Therefore, as a result of the confirmation in ST15, the MPU 207 determines that the broadcast station “ABC satellite” has been registered with the channel information “BS7” (Yes in step ST16), and displays a menu screen signal to be displayed to confirm the reservation information. Information related to the program that has been created, selected in ST12, acquired in ST13, and stored in the memory 208 is inserted, and “BS7” is inserted into the channel information 31 and displayed on the monitor 3 as a reservation information confirmation screen as shown in FIG. (Step ST17).

  In the reservation information confirmation screen displayed on the monitor 3 in ST17, when the user designates the [Return] button 32 via the remote control device 6 ([Return] in Step ST18), the MPU 207 returns to the process in ST13. The program information screen is displayed on the monitor 3.

  In the reservation information confirmation screen displayed on the monitor 3 in ST17, when the user instructs the [Register] button 33 via the remote control device 6 and receives an input for recording reservation ([Register] in Step ST18), the MPU 207 Re-registers information related to the program stored in the memory 208, channel information 31, and recording destination 32 as reserved program information, and sets a timer (not shown) to shift to a standby state (step ST19). .

  As described above, in the present embodiment, when the recording time is reserved by acquiring information such as the broadcasting time or broadcasting station of the program to be reserved for recording from the outside, the channel of the program is not registered in the recording device. Then, the process proceeds to the channel registration process. When a channel to be associated is designated by the user, the broadcasting station and the designated channel are associated with each other and stored, and the channel registration is executed. When the channel registration is completed, the process returns to the original recording reservation process. The channel registration at this time is reflected in the subsequent processing, and the program of this broadcasting station can be reserved for recording without registering the channel.

  As a result, when making a recording reservation using a program guide acquired from an external program information provider, even if a program of a broadcasting station that has not been registered with a channel is selected, the channel registration is performed without stopping the recording reservation process. Can be executed. Further, after the channel registration, the remaining recording reservation process can be continuously executed, and the program of the broadcasting station not registered in the channel can be smoothly reserved for the recording.

1 is a diagram showing a system configuration using a recording apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a circuit block diagram showing a specific circuit configuration of the HDD / DVD recorder 1. The figure which shows the channel registration information table preserve | saved at the memory 208. FIG. The flowchart figure which shows the process of recording reservation. The figure which shows the EPG screen displayed on the monitor. The figure which shows the program information screen displayed on the monitor. The figure which shows the reservation information confirmation screen displayed on the monitor. The figure which shows the EPG screen displayed on the monitor. The figure which shows the program information screen displayed on the monitor. The figure which shows the reservation information confirmation screen displayed on the monitor. The figure which shows the channel registration screen displayed on the monitor. The figure which shows the channel registration information table preserve | saved at the memory 208. FIG. The figure which shows the reservation information confirmation screen displayed on the monitor. The figure which shows the EPG screen displayed on the monitor. The figure which shows the program information screen displayed on the monitor. The figure which shows the reservation information confirmation screen displayed on the monitor.

Explanation of symbols

1 Recording device (HDD / DVD recorder)
3 Monitor 5 Program information database 6 Remote control device 20, 40, 50 Program 21 Information about program 31 Channel information column 32 Recording destination column 201 TV tuner 202 AV input unit 203 Encoder unit 204 Disk drive unit 205 Decoder unit 206 AV output unit 207 MPU
208 Memory 209 Operation input unit 210 Remote control I / F
211 Communication control unit

Claims (4)

Storage means for storing a receivable broadcasting station and a channel of the device in association with each other;
An acquisition means for acquiring information on the broadcast time and broadcast station of the program from outside;
A determination unit that determines whether the broadcast station of the acquired program is associated with a channel in the storage unit when making a recording reservation for the acquired program;
Executing means for performing channel registration so that the broadcast station of the acquired program is associated with the channel of the apparatus and stored in the storage means when it is determined by the determination means that the information is not associated;
When the channel registration by the execution means is executed, reservation means for making a recording reservation based on the broadcast time of the program acquired by the acquisition means and information on the broadcast station,
A recording apparatus comprising: The execution means is:
A notification means for notifying that there is no channel associated with the broadcast station of the acquired program when it is determined by the determination means that it is not associated;
Control means for storing the channel instructed from outside after notification by the notification means and the broadcast station of the acquired program in the storage means in association with each other;
The recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: In a reservation method for making a recording reservation of a program in a recording apparatus having a storage means for storing a receivable broadcasting station and a channel of the apparatus in association with each other,
Obtaining information on the broadcast time and broadcasting station of the program from outside;
Determining whether the broadcast station of the acquired program is associated with a channel in the storage means when making a recording reservation for the acquired program;
If it is determined in this determination step that it is not associated, a step of performing channel registration so that the broadcast station of the acquired program is associated with the channel of the apparatus and stored in the storage means;
When the channel registration by this execution step is executed, the step of making a recording reservation based on the broadcast time of the program acquired by the acquisition means and information on the broadcast station,
The reservation method characterized by having. The execution steps above are
A step of notifying that there is no channel associated with the broadcast station of the acquired program when it is determined by the determination step that it is not associated;
Storing the channel instructed from outside after this notification and the broadcast station of the acquired program in association with each other in the storage means;
The reservation method according to claim 3, further comprising:

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