JP5046066B2 - Information processing apparatus and method, and recording medium - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus and method, and a recording medium, and more particularly to an information processing apparatus and method suitable for application to an apparatus that provides EPG, and a recording medium.

  In recent years, digital broadcasting has become widespread. In digital broadcasting, there are many channels and many programs are distributed. For this reason, it is difficult for the user to select (find) a program that the user wants to view. Therefore, as a method for enabling the user to easily select a program that the user wants to view, a program guide called EPG (Electric Program Guide) is provided (distributed) to the user. FIG. 1 shows an example of an EPG. As shown in FIG. 1, the program distributed for each channel is displayed in a time frame corresponding to the distribution time.

  From such an EPG, the user can select a desired program for viewing or make a recording reservation.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 07-184136 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-042207 JP 09-284734 A JP 2000-155664 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-196343 JP 2000-050215 A International Publication No. 97/046006

  As shown in FIG. 1, the EPG displays a list of programs. In such a display, when the number of programs increases, it may be difficult to select a desired program. Therefore, some EPGs can classify programs by genre (for example, sports, drama, etc.) and display them in different colors according to the classification.

  Further, in the EPG shown in FIG. 1, a currently broadcast program, a program that has already been broadcast, and a program that will be broadcast will be displayed in a mixed manner. Furthermore, since each program has a different length of time to be broadcast, the length of the displayed time frame is also different. Under such circumstances, as shown in FIG. 1, the display of each program is irregularly arranged. As a result, a program that has already been broadcast as a program to be viewed can be selected, or a current broadcast can be performed. There is a possibility that a program is scheduled to be mistaken for misunderstanding that the current program is a program to be broadcast. Such a thing cannot be prevented even if the above-mentioned program is displayed with different colors for each genre.

  In order to prevent such a situation, the user broadcasts the current time and the program that the program that the user wants to watch is not a broadcasted program, and that the program that the user wants to reserve for recording is a program that will be broadcast. Compared with the time, it must be confirmed, and the conventional EPG has some disadvantages.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and provides an EPG that can be distinguished from a currently broadcast program, an already broadcast program, and a program to be broadcast at a glance. For the purpose.

An information processing apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention is an information processing apparatus that controls display of an EPG, in which a program past a current time, a program including the current time, and a future program from the current time are displayed in different colors. When the user instructs the past program from the EPG, a message is displayed so that the user can recognize that the broadcast has ended, and the EPG is displayed. When the time elapses in the state, the display of the EPG is updated, and when the user designates the future program, further program related information is displayed .

  The program instructed by the user can be further controlled to be displayed in a different color.

  The program instructed by the user can be the program where the cursor is located.

  The color can be set to a user's favorite color.

  The update of the display of the EPG can be performed so as to always display the latest EPG including the current time even if time elapses.

An information processing method according to one aspect of the present invention is an information processing method of an information processing apparatus that controls display of an EPG, in which a program that is past the current time, a program that includes the current time, and a program that is future than the current time When the user designates the past program from the EPG, a message for causing the user to recognize that the broadcast has ended is displayed, and the EPG is displayed. When the time elapses in the state where is displayed, the display of the EPG is updated, and when the user designates the future program, further program related information is displayed .

  The program instructed by the user can be further controlled to be displayed in a different color.

  The program instructed by the user can be the program where the cursor is located.

  The color can be set to a user's favorite color.

  The update of the display of the EPG can be performed so as to always display the latest EPG including the current time even if time elapses.

A recording medium according to an aspect of the present invention is a recording medium that records a computer-readable program that controls an information processing apparatus that controls display of an EPG. Control is performed to display a program including and a future program with a different color from the current time, and when the user instructs the past program from the EPG, the broadcast is terminated to the user. When the time has elapsed while the EPG is displayed, the display of the EPG is updated, and when the user instructs the future program, a further program is displayed. A program including a step of displaying related information is recorded.

  The program instructed by the user can be further controlled to be displayed in a different color.

  The program instructed by the user can be the program where the cursor is located.

  The color can be set to a user's favorite color.

  The update of the display of the EPG can be performed so as to always display the latest EPG including the current time even if time elapses.

In the information processing apparatus and method and the recording medium according to one aspect of the present invention, a past program from the current time, a program including the current time, and a future program from the current time are displayed on the EPG in different colors. When the user instructs a past program from the EPG, a message is displayed so that the user can recognize that the broadcast has ended, and when the EPG is displayed, the time has elapsed. When the display of the EPG is updated and the user designates a future program, further program related information is displayed .

  According to one aspect of the present invention, it is possible to prevent an erroneous operation such as a user instructing viewing of a past program that has already been broadcast, or instructing recording reservation for a past program.

It is a figure which shows an example of the conventional EPG. It is a figure which shows the structure of one Embodiment of the receiver which applied this invention. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the receiving device 10. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of EPG displayed in step S1. It is a figure explaining a medium.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of a receiving apparatus to which the present invention is applied. Digital data received by the antenna 30 is input to the tuner 11 of the receiving device 10. The tuner 11 extracts data related to the program instructed by the user and outputs it to the descrambler 12.

  The descrambler 12 cancels the scramble when the input data is scrambled and the scramble can be canceled (a regular contract is made and the release key is held). Then, the data is output to the stream processing unit 13. Of the input data, the stream processing unit 13 outputs video data to the video encoder 14 and audio data to the audio decoder 15. When the video data is encoded data, the stream processing unit 13 performs decoding processing corresponding to the encoding method on the input video data, and further generates OSD (On Screen Display) data as necessary. And superimposed on the decoded video data for output.

  When the video encoder 14 outputs the input video data to the television receiver 50, the video encoder 14 performs an encoding suitable for the television receiver 50, for example, an encoding process by an NTSC (National Television System Committee) system, Output to the television receiver 50. The video data that has been processed by the stream processing unit 13 is also output to the component 51 that handles digital data.

  The audio decoder 15 performs a decoding process corresponding to the audio data encoding method on the input audio data. The audio data decoded by the audio decoder 15 is output to the interface 16. The interface 16 is connected to, for example, an IEEE1394 cable 52 and outputs audio data from the audio decoder 15 to a device connected to the IEEE1394 cable 52.

  The audio data output from the audio decoder 15 is also output to other devices via the optical cable 53. Further, the audio data output from the audio decoder 15 is converted into analog data by a D / A (Digital / Analog) converter 17 and output to the speaker 54.

  The tuner 11 extracts program data instructed by the user. The user selects a desired program using the remote controller 32 or the switch 33 and issues an instruction. The switch 33 is provided on the side surface of the receiving device 10 and can issue almost the same instructions as the remote controller 32. The remote controller 32 exchanges data with the receiving device 10 by, for example, infrared rays.

  Data corresponding to an instruction from the user using the remote controller 32 is received by the light receiving unit 18 of the receiving device 10. Data received by the light receiving unit 18 and data corresponding to the instruction by the switch 33 are output to the display control unit 19. The display control unit 19 outputs the data from the light receiving unit 18 or the data from the switch 33 to the control unit 20 as necessary, and controls the display of the display unit 21 according to the input data.

  The display unit 21 is provided on the side surface of the receiving device 10, and performs display for causing the user to recognize that processing corresponding to the instruction given by the user is being executed, or display of information to be provided to the user Or do.

  The IC card 31 stores data provided by a partner who has signed a contract when a contract for viewing a paid program is made. This data is, for example, a release key for releasing scramble. The IC card 31 is mounted on a card I / F (interface) 22 and stored data is read out. The read data is output to the control unit 20.

  Based on the input data, the control unit 20 instructs the tuner 11 on the program to be extracted, and provides a release key to the descrambler 12.

  Next, the operation of the receiving device 10 when the user selects a desired program or makes a recording reservation with reference to the EPG will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In step S <b> 1, the receiving apparatus 10 displays an EPG on the television receiver 50, for example. The display of this EPG is performed when there is an instruction from the user. The user instructs display of the EPG by operating the remote controller 32 or the switch 33 when a program of a predetermined channel is displayed. Here, the following description will be given assuming that an EPG button (not shown) for instructing the remote controller 32 to switch the display of the EPG is provided.

  FIG. 4 shows an example of an EPG displayed on the television receiver 50 when the user operates an EPG button provided on the remote controller 32 in step S1. On the upper side of the screen of the television receiver 50, a current date and time display unit 71 for displaying the current date and time is provided. Below that, a day display unit 72 for displaying the day of the week is provided. Further, a program guide display unit 73 is provided below the day of the week display unit 72.

  Each day of the week displayed in the day-of-week display unit 72 is a button, and the program of the day of the week corresponding to the operated button is displayed in the program guide display unit 73. In the display example shown in FIG. 4, the program guide display unit 73 displays programs for about three hours including the current time on the selected day of the week (displayed on the left side of the program guide display unit 73). Is displayed in the corresponding time frame.

  The program guide display unit 73 displays a past program (already broadcasted) with respect to the current time, a currently broadcasted program, and a future program (currently broadcasted) with respect to the current time. The program guide is displayed so that it can be distinguished at a glance. In the display example shown in FIG. 4, a past program and a future program are displayed with diagonal lines. Past programs and future programs are marked with different diagonal lines. In FIG. 4, the distinction is made with diagonal lines, but the distinction may be made with colors.

  When the colors are distinguished, the past program, the current program, and the future program are displayed in different colors. The color may be set to a user's favorite color.

  The program guide display unit 73 also displays a cursor that moves within the displayed program guide. The program frame in which the cursor is located is displayed so as to be distinguished from other program frames. For example, when the past program, the current program, and the future program are displayed so as to be distinguished from each other by color, the program on which the cursor is positioned is displayed in another color. In the display example of FIG. 4, the cursor is positioned on the program Q of the channel 132. The cursor is operated using the remote controller 32.

  In this way, past programs, current programs, and future programs are displayed so that they can be distinguished at a glance, so that past programs that have already been broadcast can be selected or recorded. It is possible to prevent a program being broadcast from being selected as a program to be reserved.

  For example, in the display example shown in FIG. 4, when the program guide displayed on the program guide display unit 73 is in the display state, the program guide moves to the left at 11 o'clock in the display example shown in FIG. It is updated to the program guide up to the time. By doing so, the latest program guide including the current time is always displayed. In addition, it is possible to prevent a past program from being displayed indefinitely.

  In the program information display section 74, information on the program where the cursor is located in the program guide display section 73 is displayed. Information on the displayed program includes a channel number, program name, broadcast time, program content, and the like. An operation guide display unit 75 is provided below the program information display unit 74. The operation guide display unit 75 displays information related to the operation, and indicates to the user that, for example, when the EPG button provided in the remote controller 32 is operated, the display is returned (switched) to the previous state.

  When such an EPG (program guide) is displayed on the television receiver 50 in step S1, it is determined in step S2 whether or not the EPG button has been operated. If it is determined in step S2 that the EPG button is not operated, the process proceeds to step S3, and the cursor is moved in response to the user operating the remote controller 32. In step S4, it is determined whether or not the enter button has been operated. The decision button is also provided on the remote controller 32 and is operated, for example, when the user wants to watch or reserve a program where the cursor is located.

  Steps S3 and S4 are repeated until it is determined in step S4 that the enter button has been operated. If it is determined that the enter button has been operated, the process proceeds to step S5. In step S5, it is determined whether or not the program on which the cursor is positioned when the enter button is operated is a past program. As described above, past programs, current programs, and future programs are displayed in different colors, etc., so that they can be distinguished at a glance. There may be a case where a past program that has already been broadcast is selected (instructed). In order to cope with such a situation, the processes of steps S5 and S6 are provided.

  If it is determined in step S5 that a past program has been instructed, the process proceeds to step S6, and the program instructed to the user such as "Broadcasting has ended" is displayed on the screen of the television receiver 50. Displays a message that recognizes that it is a past program that has already been broadcast and cannot be selected. This message may be displayed so as to be superimposed on the screen as shown in FIG. 4, or may be displayed by switching the screen.

  When the message in step S6 is displayed for a predetermined time or when the user performs an operation indicating that the program cannot be selected, the process returns to step S2 and the subsequent processing is repeated.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S5 that the past program has not been instructed, the process proceeds to step S7 to determine whether or not the current program has been instructed. If it is determined that the current program has not been instructed, the process proceeds to step S8, and it is determined whether or not a future program has been instructed. If it is determined in step S8 that a future program has been instructed, the process proceeds to step S9.

  If a future program is designated, it can be determined that the user wants to reserve recording of the designated program. In step S9, the contents of the designated program are first displayed. This display may be displayed on the program information display unit 74, or the screen may be switched to display detailed information. When the user wants to execute a recording reservation with reference to the program information displayed in such a manner, a predetermined operation, for example, a recording reservation button provided on the remote controller 32 is operated and displayed on the screen. An operation such as operating a recording reservation button is executed, and a recording reservation is set based on the operation.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S8 that a future program has not been instructed, the process returns to step S2 and the subsequent processing is repeated. If it is determined in step S8 that the program is not a future program, it is determined that the program is not a program at any point in time in the past, present, and future. Such a program is processed as a program without time information. In other words, since recording reservation and viewing are impossible, the display state of the screen as shown in FIG. 4 is maintained without performing any particular processing (that is, the process returns to step S2 and the subsequent processing is repeated). ).

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S7 that the current program has been instructed, the process proceeds to step S10. In step S10, the display is switched to the designated program. Since the current program is instructed, the user can determine that he / she wants to watch the program, so the user can display the instructed program from the EPG display state as shown in FIG. Is switched.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S2 that the EPG button has been operated, that is, the user can determine that the user has instructed to end the display of the EPG, the process proceeds to step S11 and is shown in FIG. The display of the EPG is terminated. When the display of the EPG is terminated, the display of the television receiver 50 is switched to the original program (the program of the channel displayed before the EPG is displayed).

  In this way, in the EPG display, past, present, and future programs are displayed in different colors so that they can be distinguished from each other, and processing is executed according to the broadcast time of the selected program. Thus, it is possible to prevent the user from performing an operation that cannot be instructed, and to perform a desired operation easily.

  The series of processes described above can be executed by hardware, but can also be executed by software. When a series of processing is executed by software, various functions can be executed by installing a computer in which the programs that make up the software are installed in dedicated hardware, or by installing various programs. For example, it is installed from a recording medium in a general-purpose personal computer or the like.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the recording medium is distributed to provide a program to the user separately from the computer, and includes a magnetic disk 121 (including a floppy disk) on which the program is recorded, an optical disk 122 (CD- It is simply composed of a package medium consisting of ROM (compact disk-read only memory), DVD (digital versatile disk), magneto-optical disk 123 (including MD (mini-disk)), or semiconductor memory 124. Rather, it is composed of a ROM 102 storing programs and a hard disk including a storage unit 108 provided to the user in a state of being pre-installed in a computer.

  In this specification, the steps for describing the program provided by the medium are performed in parallel or individually in accordance with the described order, as well as the processing performed in time series, not necessarily in time series. The process to be executed is also included.

  Further, in this specification, the system represents the entire apparatus constituted by a plurality of apparatuses.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Receiving device, 11 Tuner, 12 Descrambler, 13 Stream processing part, 14 Video encoder, 15 Audio decoder, 16 Interface, 17 D / A converter, 18 Light receiving part, 19 Display control part, 20 Control part, 21 Display part , 32 remote controller, 50 television receiver, 71 current date and time display section, 72 day of week display section, 73 program guide display section, 74 program information display section, 75 operation guide display section

Claims (15)

In an information processing apparatus that controls display of an EPG,
Performs control to display past programs from the current time, programs including the current time, and future programs from the current time in different colors,
When the user instructs the past program from the EPG, a message is displayed so that the user can recognize that the broadcast has ended,
If the time has elapsed while the EPG is displayed, the display of the EPG is updated ,
An information processing apparatus for displaying further program related information when a user instructs the future program . The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a program instructed by a user is further controlled to be displayed in a different color. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the program instructed by the user is a program where a cursor is located. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the color can be set to a user's favorite color. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the update of the display of the EPG is performed so as to always display the latest EPG including the current time even when time elapses. In an information processing method of an information processing apparatus that controls display of an EPG,
Performs control to display past programs from the current time, programs including the current time, and future programs from the current time in different colors,
When the user instructs the past program from the EPG, a message is displayed so that the user can recognize that the broadcast has ended,
If the time has elapsed while the EPG is displayed, the display of the EPG is updated ,
An information processing method for displaying further program related information when a user instructs the future program . The information processing method according to claim 6 , wherein a program instructed by the user is further controlled to be displayed in a different color. The information processing method according to claim 7 , wherein the program instructed by the user is a program where a cursor is located. The information processing method according to claim 6 , wherein the color can be set to a user's favorite color. The information processing method according to claim 6 , wherein the display update of the EPG is performed so that the latest EPG including the current time is always displayed even if time elapses. A recording medium that records a computer-readable program that controls an information processing apparatus that controls display of an EPG,
Performs control to display past programs from the current time, programs including the current time, and future programs from the current time in different colors,
When the user instructs the past program from the EPG, a message is displayed so that the user can recognize that the broadcast has ended,
If the time has elapsed while the EPG is displayed, the display of the EPG is updated ,
A recording medium for displaying further program related information when a user instructs the future program . The recording medium according to claim 11 , wherein the program instructed by the user is further controlled to be displayed in a different color. The recording medium according to claim 12 , wherein the program instructed by the user is a program in which a cursor is located. The recording medium according to claim 11 , wherein the color can be set to a user's favorite color. The recording medium according to claim 11 , wherein the display update of the EPG is performed so that the latest EPG including the current time is always displayed even when time elapses.

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