JP4366890B2 - Television program recording system and television program recording method - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a television program recording system and a television program recording method using a network, and more particularly to a television program recording system and a television program recording method that can cope with a sudden change or extension of a program broadcast time.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, as a system for recording this kind of television program, there is one described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-90510. The contents of this gazette are that, when reserving the reception of a data broadcast program, the reservation information of the received program designated by the information processing device is received through the network and stored in the program reservation storage unit, and the date and time information and program output by the clock unit The received program information stored in the reservation storage unit is compared, and the information processing apparatus is instructed to start and end data broadcast storage through the network.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the conventional television program recording system, since the information processing apparatus that has received the reservation information via the network records the program based on the reservation information, it cannot cope with a sudden change or extension of the program broadcast time. There is.
[0004]
The present invention has been made in view of such a point, and accurately records a reserved program even when there is a sudden change or extension of a program broadcast time when performing a reserved recording of a TV program using a network. An object of the present invention is to provide a television program recording system and a television program recording method capable of performing the above.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above problems, a television program recording system according to the present invention has a recording / reproducing apparatus that receives and records radio waves of a television program broadcast of a broadcasting station, and requests program recording via a communication network. An information processing apparatus as a request source that controls recording and reproduction of the recording / reproducing apparatus in response to a program recording start command and a program recording end command sent from the communication network in response to the request, and the broadcast Storage means for storing program broadcast information from the station while being updated in real time, and storing program reservation information indicating the program recording request received from the requesting information processing apparatus via the communication network; the program individual broadcast start or just before time indicated in said stored program broadcast information, wherein the program reservation information of the program is shown in the program reservation information, if stored Yi To the original information processing apparatus through the communication network to transmit the program recording start command, said program recording completion to the requesting information processing apparatus to the end time of the programs indicated in the stored the program broadcast information And a server device having a control means for transmitting a command.
[0006]
A portable information terminal that requests the program recording via the communication network by an Internet communication function, and the information processing apparatus is sent from the communication network by the program recording request in the portable information terminal; The recording / playback of the recording / playback apparatus is controlled in accordance with the program recording start command and the program recording end command.
[0007]
In the server device, when the program broadcast information stored in the storage unit is updated in response to a change in the broadcast time of the program at the broadcast station, the control unit The portable information terminal is controlled to transmit information indicating that the program has been changed.
[0008]
In addition, the information processing apparatus has a function capable of requesting recording of only desired commercial information when the program recording request is made, and the server apparatus receives a recording request of only the commercial information as the program reservation information in the storage unit. When stored, the recording start / end instruction of the commercial information is sent to the requesting information processing apparatus via the communication network in synchronization with the commercial broadcast time indicated in the program broadcast information stored in the storage means. It is characterized by transmitting.
[0009]
Also, the television program recording method of the present invention makes a program recording request via a communication network when receiving and recording and playing a radio wave of a television program broadcast of a broadcasting station, and from the communication network in response to this request. In a television program recording method for performing recording and playback in response to a program recording start command and a program recording end command sent thereto, program broadcast information from the broadcast station is stored while being updated in real time as needed and the communication network is through stores program reservation information indicating the program recording request is received, the program individual broadcast start or just before the time indicated in the stored the program broadcast information, the information of the program recording request of the relevant program is stored if it is the the requesting indicated in the program reservation information via the communication network to transmit the program recording start command, the program recording end to the requesting party the end time of the show It is characterized by transmitting a decree.
[0010]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
[0011]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a television program recording system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
[0012]
The television program recording system 10 shown in FIG. 1 stores a broadcast station 25 that broadcasts a television program, and stores program broadcast information such as program guides and program-related information transmitted from the broadcast station 25. The program information center 20, which is a characteristic element, an information processing device 30 that performs various controls of the VTR 35, and a communication network 100 such as the Internet that connects the program information center 20 and the information processing device 30 to each other are configured. .
[0013]
As shown in FIG. 2, the program information center 20 is a server device that includes a transmission / reception unit 21, a storage unit 22, a control unit 23, and a clock unit 24, from a broadcasting station 25 received by the transmission / reception unit 21. The program broadcast information is updated in real time and stored in the storage unit 22, and the program broadcast information is provided on the communication network 100. However, the program broadcast information includes not only the program guide and program related information transmitted from the broadcast station 25 but also the broadcast time of the main program and the commercial broadcast time flowing during the program broadcast.
[0014]
Further, when the program recording request information transmitted from the information processing device 30 is received by the transmission / reception unit 21 via the communication network 100, the program information center 20 stores the program recording request information in the storage unit 22 as program reservation information of the television program.
[0015]
Further, in the program information center 20, the control unit 23 compares the time of the clock unit 24 with the broadcast start time (or immediately before) of each program indicated in the program broadcast information stored in the storage unit 22. When it is detected that the broadcast start time (or immediately before) of the program is reached, the presence or absence of program reservation information for the corresponding program is confirmed by accessing the storage unit 22, and if there is program reservation information, the program reservation information Based on the above, a program recording start command is sent to the information processing device 30. Similarly, the program information center 20 sends a program recording end command to the information processing apparatus 30 based on the program reservation information when the broadcast end time of the corresponding program comes.
[0016]
The information processing device 30 is a personal computer device or the like that can be connected to the communication network 100. The information processing apparatus 30 accesses the program broadcast information provided by the program information center 20 on the communication network 100. As the program information, for example, the program name, contents, broadcast start time, broadcast end time, broadcast station name (Channel) and other program guides and program-related information are displayed on the screen.
[0017]
Further, when receiving the program recording start command or the program recording end command from the program information center 20, the information processing apparatus 30 performs various controls such as program recording start or program recording end on the connected VTR 35. .
[0018]
The VTR 35 is a device capable of receiving, recording and reproducing a television program broadcast transmitted from a broadcasting station or the like, and is, for example, a video tape recorder device. The VTR 35 operates upon receiving various control commands such as program recording start and program recording end from the information processing apparatus 30. In the present embodiment, the information processing apparatus 30 and the VTR 35 are shown as separate units. However, the information processing apparatus 30 may be provided with a TV program broadcast reception, recording, and playback apparatus as a single unit. Further, the program information center 20, that is, the server device may be provided in the broadcasting station 25.
[0019]
Next, the operation of the television program recording system 10 having such a configuration will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. In the following description, it is assumed that the communication network 100 is the Internet.
[0020]
First, as shown in step A <b> 1 of FIG. 3, the user accesses the program information homepage (HP) established by the program information center 20 on the Internet 100 from the information processing apparatus 30 at home. At this time, the user (user ID) may be authenticated at the program information center 20. In response to this, the program information center 20 transmits the program information to the information processing apparatus 30 as shown in step A2.
[0021]
As a result, as shown in step A3, on the screen of the information processing apparatus 30, as program information, for example, program information such as program name, contents, broadcast start time, broadcast end time, broadcast station name (channel), and program related information Program broadcast information such as information is displayed. The program broadcast information is not limited to text, but may be a video (for example, an edited program outline or a trailer). The user looks at the program broadcast information displayed on the screen, determines the program to be recorded, and registers on the screen that the program is requested to be recorded as shown in step A4.
[0022]
However, the program information center 20 stores the broadcast time of the main part of the program and the commercial broadcast time flowing in the program as the program broadcast information, and the user uses the information processing device 30 to request the program recording. When accessing the program information center 20, it is possible to request recording of only desired commercial information.
[0023]
By registering the recording request for the corresponding program in step A4, the program recording request information is transmitted to the program information center 20 via the Internet 100 as shown in step A5. The program recording request information includes information on a program to be recorded and information processing device designation information (or user ID) which is unique information of the information processing device 30 that performs various controls of the VTR 35.
[0024]
As shown in step A6, when receiving the program recording request information, the program information center 20 stores it as program reservation information of the television program. At this time, the reservation status or the like can be confirmed on the HP, or information indicating the completion of the reservation may be notified to the information processing apparatus 30.
[0025]
Next, at the broadcast start time (or immediately before) of each program, the program information center 20 checks the presence / absence of program reservation information for the corresponding program as shown in step A7. Based on the program reservation information, a program recording start command is transmitted to the information processing device 30 designated by the information processing device designation information. The information processing apparatus 30 receives the program recording start command as shown in step A8, activates the VTR 35 connected to the own apparatus 30 and controls the start of program recording, as shown in step A9.
[0026]
Thereafter, when the broadcast end time of the corresponding program is reached, the program information center 20 instructs the information processing apparatus 30 designated by the information processing apparatus designation information based on the program reservation information, as shown in step A10, to terminate the program recording. Send it out. The information processing device 30 receives the program recording end command as shown in step A11, and controls the VTR 35 to end program recording as shown in step A12.
[0027]
As described above, according to the television program recording system of the first embodiment, the program information center 20 stores the program broadcast information transmitted from the broadcast station 25 while updating it in real time, and stores the stored program. By transmitting a recording start / end command for a program requested to be recorded based on broadcast information to the requesting information processing device 30 via the communication network 100, the information processing device 30 activates the VTR 35 and records the program. Therefore, it is possible to reliably perform recording even when a broadcast time of a TV program is suddenly changed or extended.
[0028]
Conventionally, in order to make a recording reservation for a television program, it has been necessary to purchase a newspaper and a magazine and confirm the contents, but by accessing the program broadcast information provided on the communication network 100, it is more possible. The contents of the program can be easily known (for example, by moving images), and recording can be reserved at the same time.
[0029]
Further, when the information processing apparatus 30 requests recording of only the desired commercial information at the time of the program recording request, the program information center 20 stores the request for recording only the commercial information as the program reservation information. Since the recording start / end command of the commercial information can be transmitted to the requesting information processing apparatus 30 in synchronization with the commercial broadcast time indicated in the program broadcast information, the user can record only the desired commercial. it can.
[0030]
Next, a second embodiment will be described.
[0031]
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a television program recording system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. However, in the second embodiment shown in FIG. 4, parts corresponding to those in the first embodiment shown in FIG.
[0032]
The television program recording system 40 shown in FIG. 2 is different from the television program recording system 10 shown in FIG. 1 in that a portable information terminal 50 such as a mobile phone makes a program recording request via the communication network 100 using the Internet function. Is to do.
[0033]
The operation of the television program recording system 40 having such a configuration will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. In the following description, it is assumed that the communication network 100 is the Internet.
[0034]
First, as shown in step B1 of FIG. 5, the user accesses the program information homepage (HP) established by the program information center 20 on the Internet 100 from the portable information terminal 50. At this time, the user (user ID) may be authenticated at the program information center 20. In response to this, the program information center 20 transmits the program information to the portable information terminal 50 as shown in step B2.
[0035]
As a result, as shown in step B3, on the screen of the portable information terminal 50, for example, program information such as program name, contents, broadcast start time, broadcast end time, broadcast station name (channel), etc. Program broadcast information such as related information is displayed. The program broadcast information is not limited to text, but may be a video (for example, an edited program outline or a trailer). The user looks at the program broadcast information displayed on the screen, determines the program to be recorded, and registers on the screen that the recording request for the program is requested as shown in step B4.
[0036]
However, the program information center 20 stores the broadcast time of the main part of the program and the commercial broadcast time flowing in the program as program broadcast information, and the user uses the portable information terminal 50 to request the program recording. When accessing the program information center 20, it is possible to request recording of only desired commercial information.
[0037]
By recording the recording request for the corresponding program in step B4, the program recording request information is transmitted to the program information center 20 via the Internet 100 as shown in step B5. The program recording request information includes information on a program to be recorded and information processing device designation information (or user ID) which is unique information of the information processing device 30 that performs various controls of the VTR 35.
[0038]
As shown in step B6, when receiving the program recording request information, the program information center 20 stores it as program reservation information of the television program. At this time, the reservation status or the like can be confirmed on the HP, or information indicating the completion of the reservation may be notified to the portable information terminal 50.
[0039]
Next, at the broadcast start time (or immediately before) of each program, the program information center 20 checks the presence / absence of program reservation information for the corresponding program as shown in step B7. Based on the program reservation information, a program recording start command is transmitted to the information processing device 30 designated by the information processing device designation information. The information processing apparatus 30 receives the program recording start command as shown in step B8, activates the VTR 35 connected to its own apparatus 30 and controls the start of program recording as shown in step B9.
[0040]
Thereafter, when the broadcast end time of the corresponding program is reached, the program information center 20 instructs the information processing apparatus 30 designated by the information processing apparatus designation information based on the program reservation information, as shown in step B10. Send it out. The information processing apparatus 30 receives the program recording end command as shown in step B11, and controls the VTR 35 to end the program recording as shown in step B12.
[0041]
Thus, according to the television program recording system of the second embodiment, since the portable information terminal 50 makes a program recording request via the communication network 100 by its Internet function, the user can It is possible to easily and surely record a desired TV program even when the user is away from home (place where the VTR 35 is located) such as when going out, or when he / she forgets to make a recording reservation.
[0042]
Next, a third embodiment will be described.
[0043]
FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the television program recording system according to the third embodiment of the present invention.
[0044]
In the third embodiment, the configuration of the television program recording system is basically the same as that of the television program recording system 40 shown in FIG. 4, but the program information center 20 is changed by changing the broadcast time of the program at the broadcast station 25. When the program broadcast information stored in the storage unit 22 is updated, the control unit 23 sends the program broadcast time to the portable information terminal 50 of the user who has requested recording of the program. The difference is that control is performed to transmit the change.
[0045]
The operation of the television program recording system of the third embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. In the following description, it is assumed that the communication network 100 is the Internet.
[0046]
First, as shown in step C <b> 1 of FIG. 6, the user accesses the program information homepage (HP) established by the program information center 20 on the Internet 100 from the portable information terminal 50. At this time, the user (user ID) may be authenticated at the program information center 20. In response to this, the program information center 20 transmits the program information to the portable information terminal 50 as shown in step C2.
[0047]
As a result, as shown in step C3, on the screen of the portable information terminal 50, program information such as program name, contents, broadcast start time, broadcast end time, broadcast station name (channel), etc. is displayed as program information. Program broadcast information such as related information is displayed. The program broadcast information is not limited to text, but may be a video (for example, an edited program outline or a trailer). The user looks at the program broadcast information displayed on the screen, determines a program to be recorded, and registers on the screen that a recording request for the program is requested, as shown in step C4.
[0048]
However, the program information center 20 stores the broadcast time of the main part of the program and the commercial broadcast time flowing in the program as program broadcast information, and the user uses the portable information terminal 50 to request the program recording. When accessing the program information center 20, it is possible to request recording of only desired commercial information.
[0049]
By recording the recording request for the corresponding program in step C4, the program recording request information is transmitted to the program information center 20 via the Internet 100 as shown in step C5. The program recording request information includes information on a program to be recorded and information processing device designation information (or user ID) which is unique information of the information processing device 30 that performs various controls of the VTR 35.
[0050]
As shown in step C6, when receiving the program recording request information, the program information center 20 stores it as program reservation information of the television program. At this time, the reservation status or the like can be confirmed on the HP, or information indicating the completion of the reservation may be notified to the portable information terminal 50.
[0051]
Here, if the broadcast time of the program is changed in the broadcast station 25, the program broadcast information stored in the program information center 20 is updated, so that the program information center 20 displays the program as shown in step C7. Program change information is transmitted to the portable information terminal 50 of the user who has requested recording. The portable information terminal 50 that has received the program change information displays the program change information on the screen as shown in step C8. The user who sees this determines whether or not to record the program whose broadcast time has been changed. For example, if it is decided to record, program recording request information is transmitted to the program information center 20 as shown in step C9.
[0052]
Next, at the broadcast start time (or immediately before) of each program, the program information center 20 checks the presence / absence of program reservation information for the corresponding program as shown in step C10. Based on the program reservation information, a program recording start command is transmitted to the information processing device 30 designated by the information processing device designation information. The information processing apparatus 30 receives the program recording start command as shown in step C11, starts the VTR 35 connected to the own apparatus 30 and controls the start of program recording as shown in step C12.
[0053]
Thereafter, when the broadcast end time of the corresponding program is reached, the program information center 20 instructs the information processing apparatus 30 designated by the information processing apparatus designation information based on the program reservation information, as shown in step C13, to record the program recording end. Send it out. The information processing apparatus 30 receives the program recording end command as shown in step C14, and controls the VTR 35 to end program recording as shown in step C15.
[0054]
Thus, according to the television program recording system of the third embodiment, when the program broadcast information stored in the program information center 20 is updated due to the change of the broadcast time of the program at the broadcast station 25, The program information center 20 performs control to transmit program change information to the portable information terminal 50 of the user who has requested recording of the program.
[0055]
As a result, the user can receive notification from the program information center 20 when the program broadcast time is suddenly changed or extended, and priority is given to the case where the recording time overlaps with other program broadcasts. You can decide what to do.
[0056]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the server device stores the program broadcast information transmitted from the broadcast station while updating it in real time as needed, and receives a program recording request based on the stored program broadcast information. Since the recording / playback device is activated and the program recording is controlled by transmitting a recording start / end command of the recorded program to the request source via the communication network, even if the program broadcast time is suddenly changed or extended The reserved program can be recorded accurately.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a television program recording system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a program information center in the television program recording system.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the television program recording system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a television program recording system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the television program recording system according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining an operation of the television program recording system according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
10, 40 TV program recording system 20 Program information center 21 Transmission / reception unit 22 Storage unit 23 Control unit 24 Clock unit 25 Broadcast station 30 Information processing device 35 VTR
50 Personal digital assistant 100 Communication network

Claims (5)

A recording / reproducing apparatus for recording and reproducing by receiving a radio wave of a television program broadcast in a broadcasting station, performs a program recording request via the communication network, sent from the communication network in response to the request program An information processing apparatus as a request source that controls recording and reproduction of the recording / reproducing apparatus in response to a recording start instruction and a program recording end instruction;
Storage means for storing program broadcast information from the broadcasting station while being updated in real time as needed, and storing program reservation information indicating the program recording request received from the requesting information processing apparatus via the communication network; , the program individual broadcast start or just before the time indicated in the stored the program broadcast information, the request source of the program reservation information of the program is shown in the program reservation information if it is stored in the information processing apparatus sends said communication network the program recording start command via the stored control means for transmitting the program recording end command to the requesting information processing apparatus to the end time of the programs indicated in the program broadcasting information A television program recording system comprising: a server device including: A portable information terminal for requesting the program recording via the communication network by an Internet communication function;
The information processing device controls recording and playback of the recording / playback device in response to the program recording start command and the program recording end command sent from the communication network in response to a program recording request in the portable information terminal The television program recording system according to claim 1, wherein:   In the server device, when the program broadcast information stored in the storage unit is updated in accordance with a change in the broadcast time of the program in the broadcast station, the control unit is configured to transmit the portable recording source of the program. 3. The television program recording system according to claim 2, wherein information indicating that the program has been changed is transmitted to the information terminal. The information processing apparatus has a function capable of requesting recording of only desired commercial information when the program recording request is made,
When the recording request for only the commercial information is stored in the storage means as the program reservation information, the server device corresponds to the commercial broadcast time indicated in the program broadcast information stored in the storage means. The television program recording system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a commercial information recording start / end command is transmitted to the requesting information processing apparatus via the communication network. When recording and playback by receiving radio waves of a TV program broadcast from a broadcasting station, a program recording request is made via the communication network, and a program recording start command and program recording sent from the communication network in response to this request. In a television program recording method for performing the recording and reproduction in response to an end command,
Storing program reservation information indicating the program recording request is received via the communication network stores while updating the program broadcasting information from the broadcasting station at any time real time, shown in the stored the program broadcast information the program individual broadcast start or just before the time that, through the communication network to the requesting indicated in the program reservation information if the information of the program recording request of the relevant program is stored to send the program recording start command The television program recording method, wherein the program recording end command is transmitted to the request source at the end time of the program.

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