JP4829703B2 - Receiver - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for displaying an electronic program guide in a receiving apparatus, and in particular, displays important information as much as possible within a limited range of the display area of the electronic program guide when the electronic program guide is displayed on a display unit of the receiving apparatus. It relates to the technology to display.

  In recent years, an electronic program guide (EPG) has been actively used as a program guide suitable for multi-channel broadcasting such as digital broadcasting, which is also convenient for users. The electronic program guide generally includes information such as the title of each program, detailed information, broadcast time, channel, program category, and the like. Such EPGs are generally displayed in a list format in a matrix format with a time axis and a broadcasting station axis.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a display example of a general EPG. In the 161 channel indicated by the white arrow, “Year-end Western-style Encore Theater“ Su ... ”is displayed, and even the title of the program cannot be seen from this display. When the program information in this case is actually “Year-end Western Painting Encore Theater“ Star Wars 2 ””, the important program title “Star Wars 2” is not displayed, and for the user, “Year-end Western Painting Encore Theater” "Star Wars 2", which is more important information than "

  Therefore, conventionally, when there is a character string surrounded by a specific character code such as “” in certain program information, for example, the extraction range of the character string is determined based on this “”. The method is taken. For example, as shown in FIG. 12, there is a method of displaying a character string in “” first. According to this method, it is devised so that Star Wars 2, which is a character string in “”, is displayed on the electronic program guide (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 to 3).

  Of the program information, a character string estimated to be important by being surrounded by “” can be displayed on the electronic program guide, and important information can be preferentially notified to the user.

JP-A-11-261976 JP 2005-223940 A JP 2005-229635 A

  According to the above Patent Documents 1 to 3, an extraction range is determined from a specific character code (for example, ““ ””) from certain program information, and the extracted character string is displayed in a predetermined area of the program guide. ing.

  However, in this method, only the result after extraction is displayed, so that there is a problem that it is impossible to cope with information that the user really needs in the title portion that has not been extracted. Moreover, since only the extracted result is displayed, there is a problem that related information is not displayed and is difficult to understand. Furthermore, there is a problem that no consideration is given to a case where a single program title includes a plurality of character strings having specific character codes such as “” and ().

  An object of the present invention is to solve the above problems and to display information that the user wants to know more in a limited area in the electronic program guide.

  According to one aspect of the present invention, a receiving apparatus having a function of receiving program information including a plurality of character codes, generating a character string corresponding to the character code from the received program information, and displaying the character string on an electronic program guide. When there is a specific character code that delimits a character string constituting the program information, the character string is divided into a plurality of character strings by the character code, and each of the divided character strings is There is provided a receiving apparatus characterized in that a display character string candidate is displayed in a display area of a corresponding program in a program guide.

  According to the above receiving apparatus, the program information is divided by a specific character code included in the program information, and the program information can be divided based on the division, thereby creating a group of a plurality of display character string candidates.

  A storage unit for storing the display character string candidates in association with each other by a unique identifier for each piece of program information for identifying whether or not the display character string candidates are divided from one program information; preferable. As a display character string candidate to be displayed in a display area of a program corresponding to one program information at the time of display by facilitating management by identifying whether or not the display character string candidate is divided from one program information Can be organized.

  It is preferable to perform control to sequentially display the display character string candidates stored in the storage unit and identified by the unique identifier in the display area. As a result, all the display character string candidates obtained from one program information can be displayed, so that there are no oversights.

  The sequential display process may be performed based on a specific event for the display area. Thereby, a display character string candidate can be switched and displayed by a user's will.

  A timer that counts the time from when the occurrence of the specific event is detected, and switches the divided character string selected from the display character string candidates when the time counted by the timer reaches a predetermined time; It is preferable to display. Moreover, it is preferable that it is possible to identify whether or not the character string displayed in the display area is one of the display character string candidates.

  Based on the total number of characters of the display character string candidate and the size of the display area, if it is provided with means for determining whether or not the total number of characters can be completely entered, for example, the means for determining determines that the character cannot be completely entered. In this case, it is possible to reduce the character size and display all characters in the program title display area. It is also possible to display a plurality of display character string candidates.

  Furthermore, setting means for setting a priority order for display according to the type of the specific character code may be provided.

  An electronic program guide creation device for generating a character string corresponding to the character code from program information including a plurality of character codes and displaying the character string on an electronic program guide, wherein the character string constituting the program information is delimited. When there is a character code, the character string is divided into a plurality of character strings by the character code, and each of the divided character strings is displayed in the display area of the corresponding program in the electronic program guide. An electronic program guide creation device is provided. If such a device is included, it is included in the category of the present invention.

  According to the present invention, program information can be organized by a certain unit by dividing and storing program information by specific symbols such as parentheses. In addition, various display can be performed by controlling the display of the divided character strings of the program information divided and arranged in this way based on the storage.

  Therefore, for example, in the program guide display, information that the user wants to know can be preferentially displayed so that the user can easily recognize it. Further, it is possible to prevent leakage due to the fact that information is not displayed.

  Hereinafter, an electronic program guide display technique according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 12 by taking a television receiver having an EPG function (hereinafter referred to as receiver → receiver) as an example. I do. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an overall configuration of a television receiver according to an embodiment of the present invention. In television receiver 100 according to the present embodiment, an input signal from antennas 101 and 102 or a communication line (telephone line, LAN) is input to (program extraction) separation unit 107 to separate video information and program information. . The program information is stored in the nonvolatile memory 120 as appropriate. In the program information portion of the program information, the program information processing unit 123 detects the presence or absence of specific characters such as parentheses, divides the program name character string data, and stores the divided character string data in a nonvolatile memory 120 is stored in association with the program information.

  When the cursor remains on the same program name for a certain period of time or more due to the user's cursor operation from the remote control device (when the focus is on), the divided character string data stored in the nonvolatile memory 120 Is read by the OSD processing unit 110 and superimposed on the video signal, for example, so that the divided character string data can be alternately displayed on the liquid crystal display panel in terms of time. The other members are general and will not be described.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an arrangement example of the key operation unit of the remote control device. Among the operation buttons shown in FIG. 2, a remote control button used for menu operation includes a menu button 201 for turning on / off the display of a menu screen such as an EPG display, and a direction key for moving a focus position in the menu display up, down, left and right. 202 to 205, a determination button 206 for executing processing of the currently focused area, and an end button 207 for ending the menu display.

  3 and 4 are diagrams showing a procedure for setting the display method of the program title by the remote control device. Reference is also made to FIG. First, in a state where the menu button 201 is pressed and the menu screen 301 is displayed, “main body setting” 303-“program title display method” 305 is selected, and the decision button 206 (or 301 in FIG. 3) is pressed. Then, as a program title display method, for example, as shown in FIG. 4, three options of an alternate display 401, a font size change 403, and a multi-line display 405 are presented. Here, for example, “alternate display” 405 is selected and determined by the direction key and the determination key of the remote control device.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the flow of the electronic program guide display process according to the first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 5, according to the present embodiment, first, display processing of an electronic program guide is started in step S1. Here, program information is acquired from the program information database X, and in step S2, it is determined whether or not there is a specific symbol that delimits a character string such as parentheses in the acquired program information such as the program name. If parentheses or the like are present (Yes), the process proceeds to step S3, where the program name character string data is divided and stored in the memory for each divided data. Based on the divided data in the memory, for example, rearrangement is performed such that the character string in parentheses is at the head, and the process proceeds to step S4. If there is no parenthesis in step S2 (No), the process proceeds to step S4. In step S4, it is determined whether or not a character string can enter the display area by, for example, comparing the size of the display area with the size of the divided character string, and the divided character string is within the display area. If it is determined that it can be entered (Yes), the process proceeds to step S5, and the divided program name character string data is displayed in the display area. If it is determined in step S4 that even a character string divided in the display area does not fit (No), the process proceeds to step S6, and the end of the divided character string is set to "...", for example. Is attached with a symbol that informs the user that there is more information, and then a character string having “...” Is displayed in the display area in step S5 (see FIG. 8A). Instead of displaying “...”, For example, the end of a divided character string with a reduced font size may be displayed. In this way, if the user looks closely, it can be determined what is being displayed, so more information can be obtained than when the “...” Display is performed (see FIG. 8B). ).

  This has the advantage that the user can see only the most important information that is likely to be described in parentheses, for example the program title. By dividing the program information and storing it in the memory in the divided state, the user can sequentially switch the display and view the divided character string information when other information is desired. it can.

  Next, an electronic program guide display processing technique according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the flow of display processing of the electronic program guide according to the present embodiment. In addition to the flowchart shown in FIG. 5, processing related to display above the divided programs is added. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a specific display example by the processing shown in FIG. First, in step S11, an electronic program guide display process is started. Next, program information is acquired from the program information database Y, and it is determined whether or not a specific character string such as parentheses exists in the acquired program information (step S12). If there is no parenthesis (No), the program name character string data is stored in the program information divided character string storage database Z without being divided in step S15, and the process proceeds to step S14.

  If there is a parenthesis in step S12 (Yes), the program information is divided based on the position of the parenthesis in step S13, stored in the program information divided character string storage database Z, and the process proceeds to step S14. For example, in the case of the program information of “Year-end Western Painting Encore Theater“ Star Wars 2 ”[Subtitle Super]” in FIG. 7 (1), as shown in FIG. 7 (2), “Year-end Western Painting Encore Theater”, “Star Wars” 2 ”and“ Subtitle Super ”. At this time, as can be seen, by assigning a number for identifying the character string divided from the top of one program such as ID: 001, it becomes easy to manage the divided information. . In this way, various displays can be performed while enabling switching of the display method.

  Next, in step S14, the character string extracted from the parentheses (divided character string 1) is displayed in the program field. In step S16, the process waits for the user's cursor operation and proceeds to step S17. (Timer start). In step S18, it is determined whether or not the user's cursor operation has stayed for a predetermined time or more. If the user's cursor operation has remained for a predetermined time or more (Yes), it is determined that the cursor operation has stopped. Whether the information can be displayed in the display area as it is is determined based on the size of the display area, the size of the font, and the number of characters. If it is determined whether or not the display area can be fully entered (Yes), the process proceeds to step S24, and the program name is displayed as it is.

  If it is determined in step S19 that the display area cannot be entered as it is (No), one of the three processes in the figure is performed based on the menu setting described in FIGS. Done.

  If reduced display is set, as shown in FIG. 8B, the font size is reduced so that all title characters are displayed (step S21). When the multi-line display is set, the divided character strings (1), (2), and (3) are displayed on different lines to display the title characters over multiple lines (step S22: display area Division: illustrated in FIG. 9B). When the alternate display is set, the divided character strings (1), (2), and (3) are alternately displayed in the display area (step S23: self-divided display: (c) in FIG. 9). Example). The display area division and time division display do not necessarily need to be displayed with the same weight (area size, display time), and based on the priority and importance, the higher ones are displayed so that the user can see them better. It can also be made. How to set priority / importance in divided displays is based on the presence or absence of parentheses, and then the fact that character strings with a large number of characters are often information related to program explanations. Therefore, it is preferable to give priority to display with a small number of characters included in the character string. In any case, the processing can be advanced by selecting a display area and making a decision regarding processing such as viewing or recording reservation.

  As described above, according to the program information display technique according to the present embodiment, program information that does not fit in the display area is subjected to a division display method (time division, display area division) set in advance. As a result, it is possible to prevent display omission regarding information. In particular, when displaying an electronic program guide on a display unit such as a receiving device, there is an advantage that information as important as possible can be displayed within a limited range of the displayable area of the electronic program guide.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of an EPG display according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In the electronic program guide shown in FIG. 10, the sumo wrestling place 1000 is currently being viewed or recorded. Other channels broadcast back programs. Here, when the user wants to see “Year-end Western-style Encore Theater“ Star Wars 2 ”[Subtitle Super]” as a back program as described above, the cursor is placed on this display area 1003. Then, the program information is divided and divided into three character strings of year-end Western-style encore theater 1005, Star Wars 2 (1007), and subtitle super 1008. Currently, Star Wars 2 (1007) is displayed (1003) and not displayed in FIG. 10, but some display is made to inform the user that there is other information. In this state, when a predetermined action, for example, the cursor of the remote control device is moved (dragged) in the row direction within this display range and a predetermined time has elapsed, the divided character strings are controlled to be switched sequentially (1005 to 1007). -1008). Therefore, the user can view the divided program information at a large size, and can confirm other program information with a simple operation.

  In addition, regarding the display order of each character, the character in a parenthesis may be given priority and the priority order regarding a display may be preset suitably according to the kind of parenthesis. For example, it is possible to preferentially display a character string presumed to be a title name, or display it with a larger font size. Further, the icon or the character color may be changed so that the user can recognize that the character string is a part of the character string displayed as a result of the process of extracting and dividing the character string. That is, a part that has not been extracted is displayed triggered by the user's cursor operation being stopped, and there is a part that is not displayed. 1) Change the color of the program name or the program name display area; It can be made discriminable for the user by changing the font, 3) adding a special mark, 4) underlining, etc. If sufficient display is possible without division, it is possible to recognize at a glance whether or not there is other information by dividing such display.

  In particular, in a television apparatus equipped with a recent large display panel, when the electronic program guide is displayed on the entire screen, the display area displayed in one line (one program) can be increased compared to a small television apparatus. Taking advantage of this advantage, as described above, it is easy to perform multiple-line display of alternate display of divided character strings, reduced display of character size, and character display.

  The present invention is applicable to an electronic program guide display control apparatus.

It is a figure which shows the example of 1 structure of the television receiver provided with the electronic program guide apparatus by embodiment of this invention. It is a front view of the remote control device which operates the television receiver shown in FIG. 1, and is a figure for demonstrating a part of operation part. It is a figure which shows a mode that the display method of a program title is set with a remote control device. It is a figure which shows a mode that the display method of a program title is set with a remote control device. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the flow of the electronic program guide display process according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the flow of display processing of the electronic program guide according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In addition to the flowchart shown in FIG. 5, processing related to the display above the divided programs is added. It is a thing. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a specific display example by the processing shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the 1st example of a title display with the past and this Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the 2nd example of a title display with the past and this Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of EPG by 1st Example of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the conventional EPG display. It is a figure which shows an example of the EPG display by a prior art.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Television receiver, 107 ... Separation part, 110 ... OSD processing part, 120 ... Non-volatile memory, 123 ... Program information processing part.

Claims (12)

Look including a plurality of character codes, a receiving apparatus receives the program information has a function of displaying an electronic program guide from the received該番set information and generates a character string corresponding to the character code including program name ,
When there is a specific character code that delimits a character string that constitutes the program information, the character string is divided into a plurality of character strings by the character code, and each of the divided character strings is associated with the electronic program guide As a display character string candidate to be displayed in the display area of the program to be
Based on the total number of characters of the display character string candidate and the size of the display area, it comprises means for determining whether or not the total number of characters can be fully entered,
If it is determined by the determining means that it is not possible to enter, the program title display area is displayed in a plurality of stages, a plurality of display character string candidates are displayed, and one line of the plurality of display character string candidates is displayed. A receiving apparatus, wherein only a program name is displayed . The receiving apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a priority of display with a small number of characters among the character strings divided as the display character string candidates is increased.   A storage unit for storing the display character string candidates in association with each other by a unique identifier for each piece of program information for identifying whether or not the display character string candidates are divided from one program information; The receiving apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that:   The receiving apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the display character string candidates stored in the storage unit and identified by the unique identifier are controlled to be sequentially displayed in the display area.   The receiving apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the sequential display processing is performed based on a specific event for the display area.   A timer that counts the time from when the occurrence of the specific event is detected, and switches the divided character string selected from the display character string candidates when the time counted by the timer reaches a predetermined time; The receiving apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the receiving apparatus displays.   7. The device according to claim 1, wherein it is possible to identify whether or not a character string displayed in the display area is one of the display character string candidates. 8. Receiver.   8. The method according to claim 1, wherein when it is determined by the determining means that the character cannot be completely entered, the character size is reduced and all characters are displayed in the program title display area. The receiving device described.   9. The receiving apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising setting means for setting a priority order for display according to the type of the specific character code. Look including a plurality of character codes, an electronic program table creation device for displaying the electronic program table from the program information to generate a character string corresponding to the character code including program names,
When there is a specific character code that delimits a character string that constitutes the program information, the character string is divided into a plurality of character strings by the character code, and each of the divided character strings is associated with the electronic program guide As a display character string candidate to be displayed in the display area of the program to be
Based on the total number of characters of the display character string candidate and the size of the display area, it comprises means for determining whether or not the total number of characters can be fully entered,
If it is determined by the means for determining that the program title display area cannot be fully displayed, the program title display area is displayed in a plurality of stages and a plurality of display character string candidates are displayed, and one of the display character string candidates is displayed in one line. An electronic program guide creation device that displays only a program name .   The electronic program guide creation device according to claim 10, wherein the display character string candidates are controlled to be sequentially displayed in the display area. The electronic program guide creation device according to claim 10 or 11, wherein a priority of display with a small number of characters among the character strings divided as the display character string candidates is increased.

Images