JP5268397B2 - Television equipment - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a television apparatus, and more particularly to a television apparatus having a function of searching for a desired program from program information.

  Conventionally, a television apparatus having a program information search means for finding a desired program has been devised. The program information search means includes an input means for a user to input information for searching for a program, a specifying means for specifying a desired program from a database in which program information is stored based on the input information, It is comprised by the presentation means which presents a program to a user. In particular, in digital broadcasting, various information is added to one program according to the broadcasting standard of digital broadcasting, so various searching means using this program information are realized. For example, the following Patent Documents 1 and 2 disclose a method of searching for a program including a keyword from a database using the program name, program genre, performer name, broadcast time, and the like included in the program information as keywords. Further, in Patent Documents 3 and 4 below, since it is troublesome for the user to input information to the input means for search, in order to save the work of the input means, the preference is set according to the usage history of the user. There is disclosed a method for analyzing and automatically searching for a program in accordance with preferences using this as input information.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-341181 JP 2001-103391 A International Publication No. 2005/015902 Pamphlet JP 2005-348445 A

  As described in Patent Documents 1 and 2, a television device having a function of searching using a specific keyword can use other keywords even if it cannot search for a desired program using a certain keyword. Re-searching can be performed by changing the method. However, if the desired program cannot be extracted using any keyword, or if the desired program cannot be extracted using the search means prepared in advance in the apparatus, a desired program can be selected. There was no way to identify. Therefore, for example, there is a problem that a complicated operation such as searching for a desired program by listing a huge number of programs displayed in the program guide has to be performed.

  Also, a storage device for storing program contents is provided, and when searching from a large number of programs stored in this storage device, particularly when there are a large number of programs stored compared to broadcast programs, When this search means is applied, the number of programs obtained as a search result increases, and a desired program cannot be specified. Therefore, there is a problem that as the number of programs in the search result increases, a complicated operation such as manually searching for a desired program again from the search result has to be performed.

  Further, as described in Patent Documents 3 and 4, there is a problem that a television program that automatically recommends a specific program from a usage history does not recommend a desired program when the usage frequency is low. Moreover, when searching for programs other than the preference used, it was not an appropriate search means.

  Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to obtain a television apparatus capable of quickly searching for a desired program in response to various requests that differ depending on users. To do.

The television apparatus according to the present invention includes receiving means for receiving and decoding a broadcast signal, program information storing means for storing program information relating to a program among the decoded broadcast signals, and program information stored in the program information storing means. A search unit having at least one program information search unit for searching program information of a desired program from the search unit, a search unit changing unit for adding / deleting a program information search unit to / from the search unit, and the program information search unit Display means for displaying the broadcast signal decoded according to the search result, and search section selection means for selecting the program information search means to be used from the search section when the program information search means searches for program information. If, and an input means for inputting program information retrieval means from the outside, the search unit changing means, the program information retrieval means input from said input means and the search unit In addition, the search unit executes a search using the program information search unit selected by the search unit selection unit, and the search unit selection unit includes the search unit when performing a re-search. you wherein reselecting another said program information search section out of the program information retrieval means.

  According to the television apparatus of the present invention, since the search means for searching for program information can be changed, even when a desired program cannot be searched by a certain search means, it is changed to another search means. By executing the search operation again, the possibility that a desired program can be searched increases. In addition, even if the existing search means cannot search for the desired program, it is possible to search for the desired program by configuring the new search means and executing the search operation again. Will increase. Further, by adding / deleting search means to / from the search unit, an optimum search means can be configured for each user.

<Embodiment 1>
First, the configuration of the television device 1 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a television device 1 according to the present embodiment. The television apparatus 1 includes a receiving unit 2 that receives and decodes broadcast signals, a program information database 3 (program information storage unit) that extracts and stores / manages program information related to programs from the decoded broadcast signals, and a program information database 3. A search unit 4 having search means (program information search means) 41 and 42 for searching for desired program information from stored program information; a search unit changing means 5 for adding / deleting / modifying search means to / from the search unit 4; A search unit selection unit 6 for selecting a search unit to be used from the search unit 4 when the search unit searches for program information; and a display unit 7 for displaying a broadcast signal decoded according to a search result of the search unit 4. Prepare. The receiving means 2 receives broadcast signals from satellite broadcasts, terrestrial broadcasts, cable television, networks, and the like. When the television apparatus 1 includes storage means (not shown) for storing program content, the reception means 2 may take out and receive the program once stored in the storage means.

  The search means 41 and 42 are input means for a user to input information for searching for a program, specification means for specifying a desired program from a database storing program information based on the input information, and specification It is comprised by the presentation means which presents a program to a user. In FIG. 1, description is made assuming that the input means, the specifying means, and the presentation means are included in the search means 41 and 42, not shown. Further, among these means, for example, if the input means is the same means for the search means 41 and the search means 42, it may be constituted by one input means so that they can be shared. Similarly, if the specifying means and the presenting means can be shared, they may be constituted by one means.

  In the present embodiment, as an initial state of the television apparatus 1, a description will be given assuming that the search unit 4 includes detection means 41 and 42. However, other detection means may be used, or the initial state may be set to the initial state. None of the detection means may be configured.

  Next, the operation of the television device 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a procedure of search processing of the television apparatus 1 in the present embodiment. First, a user who wants to search for a desired program uses the search unit selection unit 6 to select a search unit from the search unit 4 (S-1). The search means to be selected is a search means that can be used by the search unit 4 of the television apparatus 1 at this time. If at least one search means is available, these can be selected. When there is no available search means in the search unit 4 of the television apparatus 1, it is configured to present that the search cannot be performed. In the present embodiment, the search unit selection unit 6 selects a search unit to be used from the search units 41 and 42 included in the search unit 4.

  Next, a search is performed using the search means selected by the search unit selection means 6 and the search result is displayed on the display means 7 (S-2). Next, the user determines whether or not to continue the search from the displayed search results (S-3). If it is determined that the search is to be continued and the search means is selected again, the process returns to S-1 to select the search means again and perform the search again. If it is determined that the search is to be continued and the search is performed by the same search means, the process returns to S-2 and the search is performed again. If it is determined that the re-search is unnecessary, the search is terminated (S-4).

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a procedure of processing for changing the search means of the television apparatus 1 in the present embodiment. First, the search unit changing unit 5 receives a request for changing the search unit of the search unit 4 (S-11). Requests that can be changed are addition, deletion, and modification of search means. The correction of the search means is provided to improve the convenience of the apparatus. Generally, if the addition is performed after execution of deletion, the same effect as the correction can be obtained. This is not an essential configuration for performing the processing of No. 5.

  When receiving the request for adding the search means, the search section changing means 5 constitutes the search means to be added by referring to the program information database 3 (S-12), and adds the search means configured in the search section 4 ( S-13). The configuration of the search means to be added performed in S-12 is performed by the following procedure, for example. The program information changing means 5 displays a list of database fields that can be referred to in the program information database 3 on the display means 7. From the displayed list of database fields, select which field is used as a key for the search operation. Next, for each selected field to be searched, what value is to be searched is determined, and a value to be searched is defined for each field. For example, when a numerical value is designated as a search target, a specific unique value or a plurality of values are defined. In addition, when a range is designated as a search target, a range value is defined. In the case of a character string, settings such as a complete match or partial match character string are defined. In this way, the field to be searched and the setting method of the value for each field are defined, and this is configured as a new search means and added to the search unit 4 of the television apparatus 1.

  The database field that can be referred to in the program information database 3 is basically program information accompanying the program at the time of broadcasting, but it adds information generated on the user side such as the tendency of the user to view this. May be. In addition, in the television apparatus 1 provided with a storage means (not shown) for storing program content, when the program is stored in the storage device, the compression rate and the compression method used for the storage are stored. History information of the user who played the program may be added. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a state where a new search unit 43 is added to the television apparatus 1 of FIG.

  Next, when receiving the request for deleting the search means, the search section changing means 5 selects the search means to be deleted from the search section 4 (S-14), and deletes the selected search means (S-15). When selecting the search means to be deleted, the search means that can be used in the television apparatus 1 at this time are presented so that they can be listed, and the search means to be deleted by the user is selected from the presented search means Provide means to do this. Further, if there is a search means that cannot be deleted, it may be configured so that it cannot be deleted by a method such as showing that it cannot be deleted or not presenting it in the list of search means that can be deleted.

  When deleting the selected search means to be deleted, the program data or the like as the actual means may be deleted from the television apparatus 1 or not available from the search part selection means 6 or the search part change means 5 It may be configured to present. When deleting from the television apparatus 1, there is an advantage that the memory available in the television apparatus 1 is increased and the operation load of other functions is reduced. In addition, when presenting the status as unusable, if the user wants to use the deleted search means again, there is an advantage that the deleted search means can be reused simply by presenting it again so that it can be used. is there. Further, in this case, in the process (S-12) when the addition is requested, when the search means to be added is configured, the search means that is currently deleted and cannot be used may be presented. Good. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a state in which the search means is deleted from the television apparatus 1 of FIG.

  Next, when receiving the correction request for the search means, the search section changing means 5 selects the search means to be corrected from the search section 4 (S-16), changes the selected search means to be changed, It is registered as a search means that can be used again (S-17). The procedure for changing is performed in the same manner as the processing when there is an addition request with the set value as an initial value. In addition, when selecting the search means to be corrected, if there is an unchangeable search means of the television apparatus 1, the list indicating the change means that can be changed or the changeable search means is shown. You may comprise so that it cannot change by methods, such as not presenting.

  In the description of the flowcharts in FIGS. 2 and 3, the search unit changing unit 5 and the search unit selecting unit 6 are illustrated as functions separated from each other in FIG. Actually, these may be included in one means. For example, when the search unit is presented by the search unit selection unit 6, a menu for adding, deleting, or changing the search unit that is a function of the search unit changing unit 5 is displayed, and the user requests deletion or change. In this case, if the selection function of the search unit 4 of the search unit selection unit 6 is used, the search unit can be simply configured as a function for managing the search unit.

  As described above, in the television apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, the search unit changing unit 5 is used to add a new search unit, modify a search unit already provided, and search unit for determining that a user is unnecessary. Can be deleted. As a result, it is possible to provide a search means for setting a new search condition for information that can be a search field held in the program information database 3. Therefore, even when the desired search result is not obtained by the search means 41 and 42 in the initial state, the desired program is searched by changing to another search means and executing the search operation again. The possibility of becoming able to do so increases. Further, even when the desired search results are not obtained by the search means 41 and 42 in the initial state, a desired program is searched by configuring a new search means and executing the search operation again. The possibility of becoming able to do so increases. Further, by adding / deleting search means to / from the search unit 4, an optimum search means can be configured for each user.

  In addition, when the search means is requested to be added, the above-described contents simply describe the presence / absence of fields to be searched and the method of setting their values. However, the search is performed again on the sum and product of the conditions and the search results. If a more complicated search means is configured, the convenience is further improved. For example, after accumulating a wide variety of programs on a storage device with ample capacity, the user wants to continuously watch programs with high-definition resolution that can be viewed free of charge and within 15 seconds. In this case, it has been difficult to extract a desired program group by the conventional search means. However, in the television apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, if a search means that satisfies these conditions is newly added, a program group that satisfies these conditions can be taken out at any time even if the stored contents change. Is possible. Furthermore, if it is combined with a presentation means that presents them continuously after the search, the convenience can be significantly improved.

  In addition, it is possible to obtain more effective search means by adding new search means by adding information generated on the user side, such as viewing tendency of users other than program information accompanying the program at the time of broadcasting. It becomes. In the conventional program recommendation function based on preference extraction using user information, the principle of these functions is often concealed in the television device, and there is a phenomenon that a program not intended by the user is recommended. Sometimes it occurred. In the television device 1 according to the present embodiment, even in the search using these usage histories, for example, the user defines a range of usage from the present to the past week, one month, etc. It is possible to clarify whether the search is executed and to increase the possibility of retrieving a desired program.

  In addition, when a storage means for storing program content is provided, not only a simple search means based on a keyword included in a genre or program name but also a combination of these procedures or a stored content The combination of the playback history and the like not only makes it easier to identify the program that the user expects in the search, but also reduces the number of programs to be presented as a search result, thereby reducing the work after the search.

  In addition, users can use a large amount of program information, such as an increase in the number of broadcasting stations, support for network broadcasting, and stored programs, because a program guide based on program information including highly accurate search results can be presented to users. It is possible to present a program guide that is easier to use than a program guide for the purpose of listing all conventional programs.

<Embodiment 2>
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a configuration of the television device 10 according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. The television apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment is configured such that the television apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment further includes an input unit 8 for inputting a search unit from the outside. The input means 8 is connected to a telephone line, a network, or the same route through which the receiving means 2 or the receiving means 2 inputs a broadcast signal, as will be described later.

  The television apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment adds the search means input from the outside to the search section 4 in the same manner as the operation of the television apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment performing the process of adding search means to the search section 4. . The television apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment requires complicated operations such as selection of a data field in the program information database 3 and definition of a method for setting a value in the field when adding a search means. However, in the television apparatus 10, since the search means in which these settings have been made in advance can be taken in from the outside, the trouble of adding the search means becomes simple.

  For example, when program information to be added to a program to be broadcast is added, it is impossible for a conventional television apparatus to configure a search unit that uses the added program information. On the other hand, in the television apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment, a new search means corresponding to the added program information is taken in from the outside, so that the search means utilizing the added program information can be used easily.

  The timing of taking in a new search means from the outside using the input means 8 may be when the user performs an operation on the search section changing means 5 or may be taken in by the input means 8 in advance. When the input unit 8 captures in advance, it may be configured to present as a new search unit that can be added when the user requests the search unit changing unit 5 to add a search unit. The configuration may be such that the user is later notified that the new search means can be used, and the user adds the search means accordingly.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating another configuration of the television device 10 according to the present embodiment. The television apparatus 10 in FIG. 7 has a configuration in which the input unit 8 is provided in the subsequent stage of the receiving unit 2 and a new search unit is taken in via the receiving unit 2. When the input unit 8 is configured as shown in FIG. 7, it is not necessary to provide a unit for the input unit 8 to communicate with the outside, so that the television device 10 can be configured at low cost. Also, when program information to be added to the broadcast is added, if new search means are also added, both program information and search means can be updated using the same broadcast signal. The search using the program information thus made can be easily realized.

  As described above, the television device 10 according to the present embodiment includes the input unit 8, so that a new search unit can be added from the outside. Therefore, a new search unit is configured inside the television device 10. The procedure can be omitted. It is also possible to incorporate high-quality search means configured by specialized workers. Furthermore, by inputting external information such as a program with a high audience rating and a high degree of interest by using the external input means 8, a program attractive to the user can be searched.

  As an application example of the present invention, for example, in a television apparatus that receives digital broadcasts or a storage apparatus that receives and stores digital broadcasts, when providing a means for searching and presenting a desired program based on program information, The present invention can be applied.

1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a television device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. It is the flowchart which showed the process at the time of the television apparatus in Embodiment 1 of this invention searching for a desired program. It is the flowchart which showed the process at the time of changing the search means of the television apparatus in Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is the figure which showed the state which added the search means to the television apparatus in Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is the figure which showed the state which deleted the search means from the television apparatus in Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is the figure which showed the structure of the television apparatus in Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is the figure which showed the structure of the television apparatus in Embodiment 2 of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1,10 Television apparatus, 2 receiving means, 3 program information database, 4 search part, 5 search part change means, 6 search part selection means, 7 display means, 8 input means, 41,42,43 search means

Claims (4)

Receiving means for receiving and decoding broadcast signals;
Program information accumulating means for accumulating program information related to the program among the decoded broadcast signals;
A search unit having at least one program information search unit for searching program information of a desired program from the program information stored in the program information storage unit;
Search unit changing means for adding / deleting the program information search means to / from the search unit;
Display means for displaying the broadcast signal decoded according to the search result of the program information search means;
A search unit selecting unit that selects the program information search unit to be used from the search unit when the program information search unit searches for program information;
Input means for inputting program information search means from outside;
Equipped with a,
The search unit changing unit adds the program information search unit input from the input unit to the search unit,
The search unit performs a search using the program information search unit selected by the search unit selection unit,
The search unit selecting means, when performing re-search it you wherein reselecting another said program information search section out of the program information retrieval means the search unit has the television set. The television apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the input unit inputs the program information search unit via the receiving unit. The television apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a storage unit that stores program content that is a program to be searched by the program information search unit. The television apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display unit displays program information searched by the program information search unit.

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