JP4860028B2 - Broadcast receiver - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a broadcast receiving apparatus, and more particularly to a broadcast receiving apparatus improved so that an electronic program guide created based on an electronic program guide in BS (Broadcasting Satellite) digital broadcasting or the like is easier to see.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, in CS (communications satellite) broadcasting, an electronic program guide (hereinafter referred to as “EPG”) service has been provided. With this EPG service, for example, the broadcast station name, the start time of the broadcast program, the program title, and other information on each required channel (broadcast station) are provided to the user. The user can use this to check what program is currently being broadcast without looking at the television column of the newspaper. Then, a desired program can be selected to select a channel and make a recording / viewing reservation.
[0003]
In the current terrestrial wave, BS analog broadcast, and CS broadcast, a plurality of channels broadcast different programs at the same time. In other words, a single program is not broadcast over a plurality of channels at the same time. Therefore, since each channel is independent, the provided EPG is displayed as follows.
[0004]
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an EPG display example in such a conventional situation. Here, it is assumed that an EPG is displayed on a receiving apparatus such as a television. Channels are taken on the horizontal axis, and time is taken on the vertical axis.
[0005]
In different channels 1CH, 2CH, and 3CH, different programs A, B, C, or D, E, and F are broadcast at the same time. Therefore, as a configuration of the EPG, as shown in the figure, each channel is displayed as being independent.
[0006]
This is the same even if one broadcasting station has a plurality of channels. That is, even if the channel is the same broadcast station, each channel is independent and different programs are displayed as shown in FIG.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The above EPG service is expected to become more popular in the future due to the realization of BS digital broadcasting and terrestrial digital broadcasting. Under such circumstances, the following problems occur in the conventional EPG display method.
[0008]
For example, in BS digital broadcasting, there are two broadcasting systems, HDTV (High Definition TV) and SDTV (Standard Definition TV). SDTV is a system that is currently broadcast, and HDTV is a system that broadcasts with higher definition image quality. Since there are two broadcasting systems in this manner, in BS digital broadcasting, it is possible to broadcast one HDTV program using a plurality of SDTV channels owned by one broadcasting station.
[0009]
For example, it is assumed that a certain broadcasting station has a bandwidth capable of simultaneously broadcasting three SDTV programs. Then, from today 7:00 pm, three programs, Program A, Program B, and Program C, will be broadcast simultaneously on three SDTV channels, and from 8:00 pm, one program will be used using three SDTV channels. A situation may occur in which an HDTV program D is broadcast.
[0010]
In such a case, when the EPG is displayed according to the conventional display method, the result is as shown in FIG. Referring to FIG. 9, the horizontal axis represents the channel and the vertical axis represents the time. Information on different programs A, B, and C is displayed on each SDTV channel in a certain time zone, and information on the same program D is displayed on each SDTV channel in a certain time zone. In other words, even if the same HDTV program D is broadcast over channels 1, 2, and 3, it is independently displayed as program D on channel 1, program D on channel 2, and program D on channel 3. Will be.
[0011]
When such a display is made, there are the following two problems when the user sees the display and understands the broadcasting form.
[0012]
First of all, it is difficult to determine at a glance whether or not the program D broadcast on the channels 1, 2, and 3 is the same program. That is, the user can confirm that these are the same program only after confirming the display contents of the programs D displayed on the channels 1, 2, and 3, and comparing them with each other.
[0013]
Second, it is difficult to judge at a glance that a high-definition image quality called HDTV is being broadcast. As described above, the user compares each other and knows that the same program D is broadcast on channels 1, 2, and 3, and then the same program D is transmitted on channels 1, 2, and 3 owned by the same broadcast station. Since it is broadcast, it must be judged by the idea that this program is broadcast on HDTV.
[0014]
When BS digital broadcasting is started in the future, one broadcasting station broadcasts HDTV programs across multiple channels, or broadcasts multiple normal SDTV programs, and these SDTV and HDTV It is thought that the broadcasting situation that mixes with time occurs. Under such circumstances, the conventional EPG display method further increases the chances of the above-mentioned problems, and is not satisfactory for the user.
[0015]
The present invention has been conceived in view of such a situation, and an object of the present invention is to provide a broadcast receiving apparatus from which an EPG table capable of easily recognizing a broadcast form can be obtained.
[0016]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, according to one aspect of the present invention, a broadcast receiving device receives a receiving means for receiving electronic program guide data, and receives electronic program guide data from the electronic program guide data. The first determination means for determining whether or not there is the same program broadcast using a plurality of channels at the same time, and when the first determination means determines that there is the same program, the contents of the same program are , to appear in the same area over a corresponding plurality of channels, and generating means for generating, based on the electronic program guide data, an electronic program guide to display the contents of a program corresponding to each channel, creating a storage means for storing an electronic program guide created by means, when accepting the display request of an electronic program guide from a user, display means for displaying an electronic program guide stored in the storage means Ru equipped with.
[0017]
According to the present invention, when there is the same program that is broadcast using a plurality of channels at the same time, the contents of the same program are displayed in the same area across the corresponding channels. (EPG table) is created.
[0018]
For this reason, the user can understand that the same program is broadcast at a glance without checking the display contents for each of a plurality of channels and checking whether or not they match each other. It can also be seen at a glance that the program is broadcast with high definition image quality such as HDTV broadcasting.
[0019]
Therefore, it is possible to provide a broadcast receiving apparatus that can obtain an EPG table that can more easily recognize a broadcast form.
[0020]
Preferably, the broadcast receiving apparatus determines that the same program is present by the second determining means for determining whether or not the same program exists in the electronic program guide to be displayed, and the second determining means. A processing means for processing data of the same program in accordance with the displayable width, and when the second judging means determines that there is the same program, the display means has a plurality of corresponding channels. The content processed by the processing means is displayed in the same area extending over.
[0021]
According to the present invention, if there is the same program that is displayed in the same area over a plurality of channels in an electronic program guide that is a display target, the display unit, in the same area over a corresponding plurality of channels, The content processed by the processing means is displayed. For this reason, the inconvenience that the content of the same program displayed in the same area is interrupted is avoided, and the content is appropriately recognized by the user.
[0022]
More preferably, the processing means processes the data of the same program so as to be compressed.
[0023]
According to the present invention, the table display region, when a part of the same program is displayed, the data of the same program is compressed. Therefore, even if is scrolled, so that the amount of information about the program is secured.
[0024]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0025]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of a broadcast receiving apparatus 1 in an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, a broadcast receiving apparatus 1 includes an EPG receiving unit 101 that receives EPG data, a received EPG storage unit 103 that temporarily stores received EPG data, an analysis of the received EPG data, and an EPG table. An EPG processing unit 105 that creates (electronic program guide), a shaped EPG storage unit 115 that stores the created EPG table, and a display / input unit 117 that receives an EPG table display and an input instruction from a user ( The display unit 117 and the input unit 117 may be shown separately).
[0026]
The EPG receiving unit 101 receives EPG data from the broadcast system 10, the external memory 11 such as a memory card or CD-ROM, or the network 12. The received EPG data is sequentially stored in the received EPG storage unit 103.
[0027]
Here, the EPG data will be described. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a format example of EPG data received by the EPG receiving unit 101. Referring to this figure, EPG data starts with a channel header representing the number N of channels, and data for each channel continues from channel 1 to channel N for the number of channels.
[0028]
The data for each channel includes a program header including the number M of programs broadcast on the channel and a channel name, and M program information including detailed data of each program. The program information includes the start time, broadcast time, program name, and program content of the program.
[0029]
Returning to FIG. 1, the EPG processing unit 105 includes an all EPG check unit 107 that analyzes the contents of all EPG data, an EPG creation unit 109 that creates an EPG table, an HDTV program detection unit 113 that detects an HTDV program, And an EPG data compression unit 111 that compresses the EPG data.
[0030]
The all EPG check unit 107 analyzes the contents of the EPG data stored in the EPG storage unit 103. That is, the EPG data in the format shown in FIG. 2 is analyzed to create an EPG table. At this time, it is also confirmed whether or not a plurality of the same programs exist in the same time zone.
[0031]
Receiving the analysis result of all EPG check units 107, EPG creation unit 109 creates an EPG table according to a predetermined format. That is, when there are not a plurality of the same programs in the same time zone, a normal EPG table (hereinafter referred to as “normal EPG table”) as shown in FIG. 8 is created. On the other hand, when there are a plurality of the same programs, an EPG table (hereinafter referred to as “the EPG table of the present format”) in a format in which one program having the same contents is displayed across a plurality of corresponding channels is created. Details will be described later.
[0032]
The created EPG table is stored in the post-shaping EPG storage unit 115. When there is a display request from the user, the stored EPG table is read and sent to the display unit 117.
[0033]
The HDTV program detection unit 113 receives a user scroll request sent from the input unit 117 and detects an HDTV program from the EPG table to be displayed. The EPG data compression unit 111 compresses the data of the EPG table in the range displayed after scrolling when the HDTV program detection unit 113 detects an HDTV program. The compressed EPG table is sent to the display unit 117.
[0034]
If an HDTV program is not detected, a table using uncompressed EPG data is displayed after scrolling.
[0035]
The display unit 117 displays a part or all of the EPG table sent from the EPG storage unit 115 after shaping or the compressed EPG table sent from the EPG data compression unit 111. In addition, when there is an instruction for display or scrolling from the user, the input unit 117 detects the instruction and transmits it to the HDTV program detection unit 113 or the shaped EPG storage unit 115.
[0036]
Next, the process flow of the broadcast receiving apparatus 1 will be described.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing from reception of EPG data to storage of the EPG table in the broadcast receiving apparatus 1. Referring to this figure, if EPG data is received by EPG receiving unit 101 ("Yes" in step S301), EPG data is stored in received EPG storing unit 103 in step S303.
[0037]
In step S305, all EPG check units 107 check (analyze) all the received EPG data. This is for creating an EPG table. In step S307, as a result of the analysis, it is determined whether or not a plurality of the same programs exist in the same time zone.
[0038]
If there are not more than one, a normal EPG table is created in step S309. That is, as shown in FIG. 8, a table is created in which the contents of the corresponding program are displayed for each channel.
[0039]
On the other hand, if it is determined in step S307 that there are a plurality of the same programs, an EPG table of this format is created in step S311 to display one identical program content across a plurality of channels.
[0040]
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a part of the EPG table in such a format. Program D is an HDTV program that is broadcast using SDCH channels 1CH, 2CH, and 3CH. As shown in FIG. 8, the same content is not repeatedly displayed for each channel, but the content of one program D is displayed using the width of three channels from 1CH to 3CH. For this reason, the user can see at a glance that the same program D is broadcast on 1 to 3 channels. At the same time, it can also be seen that the program D is broadcast as a high-definition image quality HDTV program.
[0041]
The normal EPG table created in step S309 or the EPG table of this format created in step S311 is stored in the post-formatting EPG storage unit 115 in step S313. And it returns to the process of step S301 again and will be in the reception waiting state of EPG data.
[0042]
According to the above processing, when there are a plurality of the same programs in the same time zone in the received EPG data, it is determined that the program is an HDTV program, and the contents of one program over a plurality of channels of the corresponding SDTV are determined. An EPG table as displayed is created. Therefore, the user who sees the EPG table can immediately know that the same program is broadcast on a plurality of channels, and can know that the program is an HDTV program.
[0043]
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing performed in response to a user input from the input unit 117. Referring to this figure, first, in step S501, input from the input unit 117 is waited for. If there is an input, it is determined in step S503 whether the content of the input is a display request, scrolling, or program selection.
[0044]
In the case of program selection, the process proceeds to step S513, and processing according to program selection is executed. The process according to program selection includes, for example, program selection, program recording / viewing reservation, and the like.
[0045]
If the user input is a display request, the process proceeds to step S505, and a part or all of the target EPG table is displayed on the display unit 117. After the display, the process returns to step S501 and waits for user input.
[0046]
On the other hand, if the user input is scrolling, the process proceeds to step S507. In step S507, the HDTV program detection unit 113 determines whether there is an HDTV program in the target EPG table.
[0047]
If it is determined that there is an HDTV program, data compression is performed on the target portion in step S509. That is, the display content of the HDTV program is compressed in accordance with the displayable width in the EPG table displayed next.
[0048]
In step S511, an EPG table including a slightly compressed portion of data is displayed on the display unit 117. FIG. 6 shows an example in which the EPG table is compressed and displayed during scrolling. Here, a case is considered where a scroll request is issued in the right direction when the EPG table as shown in FIG. 4 is displayed on the display unit 117.
[0049]
In FIG. 4, since the contents of the program D are displayed in the width of 3 channels from 1CH to 3CH, by scrolling this to the right, the display width is narrowed to 2 channels. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6, the content of the program D is displayed by being compressed to D ′ so as to be within the width of 2CH and 3CH. By compressing and displaying in this way, there is no inconvenience that the program content is disconnected, and the user can understand the content of the program D even after scrolling.
[0050]
If it is determined in step S507 that there is no HDTV program, the compression process in step S509 is skipped, and a normal EPG table is displayed after scrolling in step S511. After the scroll display, the process returns to step S501 and waits for user input.
[0051]
According to the above processing, when there is a scroll request, if there is an HDTV program in the target EPG table, the content of the HDTV program is compressed and displayed in a width that can be displayed after scrolling. For this reason, the content of the program is displayed without interruption even after scrolling.
[0052]
In addition, what kind of processing method may be used for the compression process of step S509 of FIG. For example, the character string at the end of the program content may be simply deleted according to the width that can be displayed after scrolling, or a compressed form of the program name may be provided together with the program data shown in FIG. You may make it utilize it.
<Modification>
Next, a modification of the embodiment of the present invention will be described. As described with reference to FIG. 3 and the like, in the embodiment shown this time, when checking all EPGs in step S305, it is also checked whether or not the same program is broadcast on a plurality of channels in the same time zone. It was done. After that, an EPG table was created. However, the processing procedure is not limited to this, and the same program may be checked after the EPG table is created.
[0053]
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing when determining the presence of a plurality of identical programs based on the created EPG table. Referring to this figure, first, the process waits for reception of EPG data in step S301 and until the EPG data received in step S303 is stored, is the same as the process of FIG.
[0054]
In step S705, all the stored EPGs are checked. However, here, unlike the processing contents of step S305 in FIG. 3, it is not checked whether there are a plurality of the same programs. Only data analysis necessary to create a normal EPG table is performed.
[0055]
Therefore, in step S707, a normal EPG table is once created. In step S709, it is determined whether or not a plurality of identical programs exist based on the created EPG table.
[0056]
If it is determined that there are a plurality of the same programs (“Yes” in step S709), the EPG table is rewritten in step S711. That is, in step S707, the EPG table of this format is created by rewriting the corresponding part of the normal EPG table once created.
[0057]
On the other hand, if it is determined that there are not a plurality of the same programs (“No” in step S709), the process of step S711 is skipped. That is, the EPG table is not rewritten.
[0058]
In step S313, a normal EPG table or an EPG table of this format is temporarily stored.
[0059]
As described above, once the normal EPG table is created, the EPG table may be rewritten as necessary.
[0060]
The embodiment disclosed this time should be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of a broadcast receiving apparatus 1 in an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a format example of EPG data received by an EPG receiving unit 101;
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing from reception of EPG data to storage of an EPG table in the broadcast receiving apparatus 1;
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a part of an EPG table in this format.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing performed in response to a user input from an input unit 117.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example in which an EPG table is compressed and displayed when scrolling.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing when determining the presence of a plurality of identical programs based on the created EPG table.
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a display example of an EPG in a conventional situation.
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example in which an EPG is displayed according to a conventional display method.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Broadcast receiving apparatus, 101 EPG receiving part, 103 Received EPG preservation | save part, 105 EPG processing part, 107 All EPG check part, 109 EPG creation part, 111 EPG data compression part, 113 HDTV program detection part, 115 EPG preservation | save part after shaping 117 Display / input section.

Claims (1)

Receiving means for receiving electronic program guide data;
First determination means for determining whether or not there is an identical program broadcast using a plurality of channels at the same time from the electronic program guide data when the electronic program guide data is received;
Based on the data of the electronic program guide so that the content of the same program is displayed in the same area across a plurality of corresponding channels when the first determining means determines that the same program exists. Creating means for creating an electronic program guide for displaying the contents of the program corresponding to each channel;
Storage means for storing the electronic program guide created by the creation means;
Display means for displaying the electronic program guide stored in the storage means when a display request for the electronic program guide is received from a user ;
Second determination means for determining whether or not the same program is present in the electronic program guide to be displayed;
When the second determining means determines that there is the same program, the contents of the same program are integrated in accordance with the displayable width, and the integrated display of the same area corresponding to the same program is performed. Processing means for compressing the content of the same program by deleting the last character string so as to fit in the target area ,
The display means, when it is determined that the there is the same program by the second determination means, of the displayed integrated the same regions corresponding to the same program, across a plurality of channels the corresponding in the area, to display the contents of the same program, which is compressed are integrated by the processing means, the broadcast receiving apparatus according to claim 1.

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