JP5460273B2 - Digital broadcast receiving apparatus and digital broadcast receiving method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a digital broadcast receiving apparatus that is mounted on a mobile body such as a car and receives and decodes a digital broadcast, and in particular, scans and holds a physical channel of a broadcast station that can be received at the current position when moving. The present invention relates to a digital broadcast receiving apparatus.

  In digital broadcasting, an encoded image and sound called ES (Elementary Stream) is divided into a certain size into packets called PES (Packetized Elementary Stream), and PES is in a multiple signal format called TS (Transport Stream). Multiplex. TS is obtained by multiplexing PES divided into 188-byte fixed-length packets called transport packets. As a result, it is possible to simultaneously transmit a plurality of programs in one frequency band, and it is possible to broadcast more programs than in the analog system.

  In analog broadcasting, only one program can be transmitted on one physical channel, but in digital broadcasting, a plurality of programs can be transmitted simultaneously on one physical channel. This is called “organization channel” or “service”.

  In mobile-mounted digital broadcast receivers such as in-vehicle digital television, the physical channel that can be received changes every moment as the current position changes. There is a need to keep. When a user wants to select a program to be viewed by remote control (hereinafter referred to as “remote control”) operation on the screen of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus, the receivable physical channel information and organization channel information (hereinafter “ A list of organized channels (hereinafter referred to as “service list”) that can be viewed on the screen is displayed on the screen based on “channel information”), and the user selects this to view the program.

  However, if the current location moves away from the receivable broadcast area, there is a possibility that the service included in the physical channel cannot be received. In this case, even if the user selects a service from the service list, the program of the service broadcast on the channel cannot be viewed. In order to prevent such a situation, there is a need to update the channel information to the latest state by appropriately performing a channel scan so that there is no discrepancy in the information in the service list where the services that can be actually received are displayed. is there.

  However, when the user performs a channel scan by operating the remote controller, there is a problem that the program cannot be viewed during that time. In addition, in a mobile object, since the reception state of radio waves is not stable due to the shadow of a building or passing through a tunnel, it is difficult to accurately scan a receivable channel by a single channel scan.

  In order to solve these problems, a method of automatically performing channel scan and updating channel information when the digital broadcast receiving apparatus is in a standby state is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). ).

  Also, a method of performing channel scanning for mobile reception using a fixed digital broadcast receiver having good antenna characteristics installed at home, etc., acquiring channel information for mobile reception, and transmitting the information to the mobile digital broadcast receiver Is known (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

  In addition, a sub tuner used for channel scanning is provided separately from the main tuner used for program viewing, etc., and the sub tuner scans all frequencies to detect the reception intensity of each frequency, and receives a channel whose reception intensity is greater than or equal to the threshold value. There is known a method of reducing the channel scanning time by scanning only the channels that can be received by the main tuner by making the channels possible (see, for example, Patent Document 3).

JP 2000-332633 A Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-210386 JP 2006-13945 A

  However, with respect to the method of performing the channel scan, the method of Patent Document 1 can obtain an effect that does not hinder the user's broadcast viewing. However, since the automatic channel scan is not performed during the operation of the digital broadcast receiver, for example, There is a problem that the channel information is not updated when the user moves while viewing the program.

  Further, in the method of Patent Document 2, since it is necessary to transmit the result of channel scanning performed by the fixed receiver to the mobile receiver, the fixed receiver can be used in addition to the digital broadcast receiver mounted on the mobile unit that is originally used. And a transmission device are required. In addition, since there is a physical distance difference and transmission delay between the fixed receiving device and the mobile receiving device, the result of the channel scan performed by the fixed receiving device matches the currently receivable channel of the mobile receiving device. There is a problem that may not be done.

  In addition, the method disclosed in Patent Document 3 has an advantage that the scan time performed by the main tuner can be shortened by scanning channels that can be received by the sub tuner while performing operations such as program viewing, but the sub tuner can be used for scanning. Therefore, there is a problem that the product cost becomes high.

  The present invention intends to solve the problems described in Patent Documents 1 to 3 regarding the channel scan execution method. That is, the object of the present invention is to 1) alleviate the problem that channel scanning is possible only when the digital broadcast receiving apparatus is in a standby state, and 2) to require a fixed receiver and transmission apparatus in addition to the digital broadcast receiving apparatus. Furthermore, 3) the present invention is to provide a digital broadcast receiving apparatus that can avoid the problem of high cost because no sub-tuner is required.

The subject of the present invention is a digital broadcast receiving apparatus that is mounted on a mobile body and receives a digital broadcast wave with an antenna, and a tuner unit that performs channel selection using a signal received by the antenna as an input, and the tuner unit A demodulator that demodulates the selected received signal and outputs a transport stream, and performs demultiplex processing on the input transport stream to output video packets and audio from the transport stream A demultiplexing unit that separates and extracts packets; a video / audio decoding unit that decodes video and audio from the video packet and audio packet and outputs a video signal and audio signal; and the video signal and audio signal A video / audio output unit for converting each of the video signals into a predetermined signal format according to the monitor Based on the hardware component, a channel information table that stores information about each transport stream that can be received at the time of channel scan execution, and the information stored in the channel information table Extracting each physical channel included in at least one broadcasting area estimated as the current location and the current location as a physical channel for performing channel scanning based on a frequency list storing information of transmitting stations nationwide, Receiving at the present location from the result of each channel scan by sequentially performing tuning control of tuning to the number of each physical channel extracted to the tuner unit and sequentially performing channel scan. Get and get information about the transport stream A channel scan control unit that updates information in the channel information table by storing information about the transport stream in the channel information table, and at the time of channel selection, the channel selection table is specified with reference to the channel information table. After determining the physical channel by searching for the transport stream to which the service belongs, the tuner unit performs tuning control of tuning to the number of the physical channel, and the channel information table from the tuning result The broadcast station transmitting station information superimposed on the digital broadcast wave is acquired from the demultiplexing unit by controlling the tuner unit at the date and time notified in advance and the channel selection control unit that updates the information of And a download control unit for updating the frequency list.

  According to the subject matter of the present invention, it is possible to shorten the time during which a program cannot be viewed by narrowing down the channels to be scanned, and the channel scan can be executed only when the digital broadcast receiver is in a standby state. The problem of being unable to do so can be alleviated.

  Further, according to the subject of the present invention, a fixed receiver and a transmission device are not required in addition to the digital broadcast receiving device.

  Further, according to the subject of the present invention, the channel scan time can be shortened because the channel scan is performed only for the selected channel, and the effect can be realized without increasing the product cost.

  Hereinafter, various embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail along with the effects and advantages thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings.

3 is a block diagram showing a schematic internal configuration at the time of channel scanning of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic internal configuration at the time of channel selection of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus according to Embodiment 1. FIG. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic internal configuration when the frequency list is updated by the digital broadcast receiving device according to the first embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structure of the channel information table in FIG.1 and FIG.2. It is a figure which shows the structure of the frequency list | wrist in FIG.1 and FIG.3. It is a figure which shows the bit structure of service ID in terrestrial digital broadcasting. It is a figure which shows the classification | category of the area identification field of service ID in terrestrial digital broadcasting. It is a figure which shows the area allocation corresponding to the area identification field of service ID in terrestrial digital broadcasting. It is a flowchart which shows the process of the channel scan control part in FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the present location estimation process of FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing processing of a channel selection control unit in FIG. 2. It is a flowchart which shows the process of the download control part in FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a schematic internal configuration at the time of channel scanning of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus according to Embodiment 2. FIG. It is a figure which shows the concept of the list | wrist which recorded the response | compatibility with each broadcast area and its adjacent area in Japan. It is a flowchart which shows the process of the channel scan control part of FIG. 13 which concerns on Embodiment 2. FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the present location estimation process of FIG. 15 which concerns on Embodiment 2. FIG. FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a schematic internal configuration at the time of channel scanning of a digital broadcast receiving device according to a third embodiment. 12 is a flowchart showing a current position estimation process according to the third embodiment. FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a schematic internal configuration at the time of channel scanning of a digital broadcast receiving device according to a fourth embodiment. It is a figure which shows which prefectural area belongs to which wide area. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a structure of a frequency list A. It is a figure which shows the definition of a series. It is a figure which shows the presence or absence of the broadcasting station which makes the prefectural area the only broadcast area in the prefectural area which comprises a wide area. It is a figure which shows the structure of a prefectural area test | inspection physical channel list. It is a flowchart which shows a channel scan process. It is a flowchart which shows a present location determination process. It is a flowchart which shows a prefectural area test | inspection physical channel extraction process. It is a flowchart which shows a physical channel list registration process. FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a schematic internal configuration at the time of channel scanning of a digital broadcast receiving device according to a fifth embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows a prefectural area test | inspection physical channel extraction process. FIG. 20 is a block diagram showing a schematic internal configuration at the time of channel scanning of a digital broadcast receiving device according to a sixth embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows a physical channel list registration process. FIG. 20 is a block diagram showing a schematic internal configuration at the time of channel scanning of a digital broadcast receiving device according to a seventh embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows a prefectural area test | inspection physical channel extraction process. It is a flowchart which shows a physical channel list registration process. It is a figure which shows the structure of a prefectural area test temporary storage area. FIG. 20 is a block diagram showing a schematic internal configuration at the time of channel scanning of a digital broadcast receiving device according to an eighth embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows a channel scan process. It is a flowchart which shows a present location determination process.

(Embodiment 1)
<Configuration>
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic internal configuration at the time of channel scanning of a digital broadcast receiving apparatus 100 mounted on a mobile body according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic internal configuration of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 100 at the time of channel selection. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a schematic internal configuration of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 100 when the frequency list is updated. Hereinafter, the configuration of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 100 will be described based on FIG. 1, FIG. 2, and FIG. The function of each block is described in the column of operations related to the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 100 described later.

  The digital broadcast receiving apparatus 100 is a digital broadcast receiving apparatus that is mounted on a moving body such as a car and receives a digital broadcast. As shown in FIG. 1, the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 100 includes a hardware configuration unit 119. The hardware configuration unit 119 includes a tuner unit 101 connected to the antenna, a demodulation unit 102 connected to the output unit of the tuner unit 101, a demultiplexing unit 103 connected to the output unit of the demodulation unit 102, and a demultiplexing unit The video / audio decoding unit 104 connected to the output unit 103 and the video / audio output unit 105 connected to the output unit of the video / audio decoding unit 104 are provided. The output unit of the video / audio output unit 105 is connected to a monitor.

  The digital broadcast receiving apparatus 100 further includes a remote control input unit 110 to which a remote control signal for a remote control operation by a user is input, and an output unit of the remote control input unit 110 is connected to a current location estimation unit 115.

  The digital broadcast receiving apparatus 100 further includes a channel scan control unit 120. As shown in FIG. 1, the channel scan control unit 120 is connected to the frequency list 131, the next channel selection channel selection unit 114 connected to the output unit of the frequency list 131, and the output unit of the next channel selection channel selection unit 114. Tuner control unit 111, channel selection result determination unit 112 connected to the output unit of tuner control unit 111, and channel information update unit 113 connected to the output unit of channel selection result determination unit 112.

  The channel scan control unit 120 is connected to the hardware configuration unit 119 as follows. That is, the output unit of the tuner control unit 111 is connected to the tuner unit 101, and the output unit of the demodulation unit 102 and the output unit of the demultiplexing unit 103 are connected to the channel selection result determination unit 112.

  The digital broadcast receiving apparatus 100 further includes a channel information table 130 connected to the output unit of the channel information update unit 113 and a current location estimation unit 115 connected to the output unit of the channel information table 130. The output unit of the estimation unit 115 is connected to the next channel selection channel selection unit 114.

  The channel scan control unit 120, the remote control input unit 110, the current location estimation unit 115, and the channel information table 130 are realized by software processing using a microcomputer or the like. However, these functional units may be realized as hardware.

  2, the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 100 includes the hardware configuration unit 119 and the remote control input unit 110 illustrated in FIG. 1, and further includes a channel selection control unit 121. The channel selection control unit 121 includes a channel information table 130, a tuner control unit 111 and a service control unit 116 connected to the output unit of the channel information table 130, a channel selection result determination unit 112, and a channel information update unit 113. .

  The channel selection control unit 121 is realized by software processing using a microcomputer or the like. However, the function of the unit 121 may be realized as hardware.

  In FIG. 3, the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 100 includes a hardware configuration unit 119 shown in FIG. The digital broadcast receiving apparatus 100 further includes an internal event processing unit 118 to which an internal event signal generated in the apparatus 100 during operation is input. An output unit of the internal event processing unit 118 is a tuner control unit 111. Connected to. Furthermore, the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 100 includes a download control unit 122, and the download control unit 122 includes a frequency list acquisition unit 117 connected to the output unit of the tuner control unit 111.

  The download control unit 122 and the internal event processing unit 118 are realized by software processing using a microcomputer or the like. However, the functions of both units 122 and 118 may be realized as hardware.

<Operation>
Next, the operation of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 100 will be described based on the operation of each block described above.

  First, the operation at the time of channel scanning will be described with reference to FIG.

  In FIG. 1, a tuner unit 101 receives a digital broadcast wave transmitted from a digital broadcast station and receives an RF signal received by an antenna, and selects a channel. That is, the tuner unit 101 receives and selects a digital broadcast wave from a designated broadcast station in response to a tuning instruction from a tuner control unit 111 described later.

  The demodulating unit 102 demodulates the received signal selected by the tuner unit 101 and corrects an error, and refers to a transport stream (hereinafter referred to as “TS”. Here, TS is an abbreviation for Transport Stream). ) Is output to the demultiplexing unit 103. Further, the demodulation unit 102 outputs a frame lock detection signal or a frame unlock detection signal to the channel selection result determination unit 112 as a demodulation result according to the result of the demodulation process.

  The demultiplexing unit 103 performs demultiplexing processing on the input TS. That is, from the TS, the part 103 calls program identification information (hereinafter referred to as “PSI”. PSI is an abbreviation for Program Specific Information) and program arrangement information (hereinafter referred to as “service information” or “SI”). SI is an abbreviation for Service Information), and the program information is output to the channel selection result determination unit 112. Further, the same unit 103 uses the extracted PSI and SI to identify each TS packet identifier of the video TS packet and the audio TS packet in the TS (hereinafter referred to as “PID”. PID is an abbreviation for Packet Identifier). The video TS packet and the audio TS packet are separated and extracted by filtering the TS with each PID and output to the video / audio decoding unit 104.

  The video / audio decoding unit 104 decodes video and audio from the video TS packet and audio TS packet, and outputs the video signal and audio signal to the video / audio output unit 105.

  The video / audio output unit 105 converts the decoded video signal and audio signal into a video signal and audio signal having a predetermined signal format corresponding to the monitor, and uses the converted video signal and audio signal as a monitor. Output.

  As described above, the hardware configuration unit 119 performs broadcast signal reception and video / audio decoding processing for program viewing.

  The channel information table 130 is a recording unit that records information about TSs that can be received at the time of channel scan execution. For each TS, a physical channel and TS_ID (TS identifier and TS IDENTIFICATION abbreviation). In addition, the service ID of each service in the TS is recorded.

  The current location estimation unit 115 estimates the current position based on the information in the channel information table 130 in response to a request for current location estimation from the remote control input unit 110, and outputs the estimation result to the next channel selection channel selection unit 114. To do.

  The next channel selection unit 114 refers to the frequency list 131 based on the current position information transmitted from the current position estimation unit 115 and extracts a physical channel that can be received at the current position.

  The frequency list 131 is a recording unit that records information on transmission stations throughout the country, and records the transmission location, transmission output, channel number, and the like for each TS. Note that these pieces of information are transmitted from broadcast stations irregularly on broadcast waves, and the digital broadcast receiver 100 always monitors and updates the information recorded in the frequency list 131 to the latest information. It has been updated.

  The remote control input unit 110 receives a remote control signal by a remote control operation by the user, interprets the operation content, and outputs a channel scan request to the current location estimation unit 115. Upon receiving the channel scan request, the current location estimating unit 115 estimates the area number of the current location with reference to the channel information table 130, and transmits the data of the estimated current location area number to the next channel selection channel selecting unit 114. The next channel selection unit 114 refers to the frequency list 131 based on the estimated area number of the current location, and acquires the data of the physical channel number at the start of the channel scan. The tuner control unit 111 acquires data of the physical channel number at the start of channel scanning from the next channel selection channel selection unit 114, and performs tuner control by sending a tuning instruction to the tuner unit 101. . In addition, the tuner control unit 111 receives the data of the physical channel number selected by the next channel selection channel selection unit 114, that is, the data indicating which physical channel has been selected, and the channel selection result determination unit 112. Send to. By this transmission, the channel selection result determination unit 112 can know to which physical channel the data of information input from the units 102 and 103 is the channel selection result.

  The channel selection result determination unit 112 determines the channel selection result based on the demodulation result obtained from the demodulation unit 102 and the presence / absence of the PSI obtained from the demultiplexing unit 103.

  If the channel selection result of the channel selection result determination unit 112 is well received, the channel information update unit 113 uses the program information output from the demultiplexing unit 103 (corresponding to the information shown in FIG. 4). The information table 130 is updated. On the other hand, if the channel selection result of the channel selection result determination unit 112 cannot be received, the channel information update unit 113 does not update the channel information table 130. When the channel information update unit 113 finishes the process of whether or not the channel information table 130 for the physical channel is updated, the physical channel to be selected (scanned) next is selected with respect to the next channel selection unit 114. A signal instructing to perform the selection process is output (corresponding to the process in the case of NO in step S07 in FIG. 9 described later).

  The next channel selection unit 114 receives the end of the processing of the channel information update unit 113, selects the next physical channel from the physical channels that can be received at the current position extracted in advance, and selects the selected next channel. A signal indicating the physical channel is output to the tuner control unit 111.

  As described above, in the channel scan control unit 120, the next channel selection channel selection unit 114 extracts the physical channel for channel scanning based on the frequency list 131, and the tuner control unit 111 uses the physical channel to adjust the tuner. Channel information is scanned by controlling the unit 101, and from the channel selection result, the channel information update unit 113 acquires program information (TS information) that can be received at the current position, and stores the program information in the channel information table 130. To do.

  Next, the operation at the time of channel selection will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 2, the operation of the hardware configuration unit 119 is the same as that in FIG.

  Remote control input unit 110 receives a remote control signal issued by a remote control operation by a user, interprets the operation content, and outputs a channel selection request to tuner control unit 111.

  Upon receiving the channel selection request, the tuner control unit 111 acquires a physical channel from the channel information table 130 and performs tuner control by sending a tuning instruction to the tuner unit 101. In addition, the tuner control unit 111 transmits data on the acquired physical channel number, that is, data indicating which physical channel has been selected, to the channel selection result determination unit 112. By this transmission, the channel selection result determination unit 112 can know to which physical channel the data of information input from the units 102 and 103 is the channel selection result.

  The channel selection result determination unit 112 determines the channel selection result based on the demodulation result obtained from the demodulation unit 102 and the presence or absence of PSI obtained from the demultiplexing unit 103.

  The channel information update unit 113 reflects the channel selection result of the channel selection result determination unit 112 in the channel information table 130. Specifically, the channel information update unit 113 updates the reception state of the channel and the update date / time (see reference numerals 16 and 17 in FIG. 4).

  The service control unit 116 selects a service based on the service information stored in the channel information table 130 when the channel selection result of the channel selection result determining unit 112 is good reception, and the video / audio decoding unit 104 The video and audio PIDs are designated and decoding is instructed. As a result, the video / audio decoding unit 104 starts decoding, and an image is displayed on the monitor screen via the video / audio output unit 105 and audio is output from the monitor.

  Next, the operation when updating the frequency list will be described with reference to FIG. The operation of the hardware configuration unit 119 in FIG. 3 is the same as the operation of the hardware configuration unit 119 in FIG.

  The internal event processing unit 118 acquires the date and time when the transmitting station information of the broadcast station is superimposed on the broadcast wave and distributes it, and outputs a channel selection request to the tuner control unit 111 at the date and time. Receiving the channel selection request, the tuner control unit 111 acquires the physical channel on which the transmission station information of the broadcast station is superimposed on the broadcast wave from the setting information of the receiving apparatus 100, and instructs the tuner unit 101 to tune in to tuning. Tuner control is performed by sending.

  Via the demodulating unit 102, the demultiplexing unit 103 extracts the PSI including the transmitting station information of the broadcasting station. Then, the frequency list acquisition unit 117 transmits the broadcasting station information from the demultiplexing unit 103 (“transmitting station information” is a term that collectively refers to information 34, 35, 36, and 37 in FIG. 5 described later). And the frequency list 131 is updated based on the transmitting station information.

  As described above, the download control unit 122 includes the tuner control unit 111, the frequency list acquisition unit 117, and the frequency list 131.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the structure of the channel information table 130. Each record 12 in the channel information table 130 has a one-to-one correspondence with the TS. One record 12 includes an identifier TS_ID 13 assigned to the TS, an area number 14 indicating the area where the TS is transmitted, a physical channel number 15 used for transmission, the latest reception state 16 of this TS, and reception. It consists of an update date and time 17 indicating the timing at which the state 16 is stored and j pieces of service information 18. Note that the value of j is defined by the technical document TR-B14 established by the Radio Industry Association (hereinafter referred to as “ARIB”).

  Further, each service information included in the j pieces of service information 18 includes SERVICE_ID 19 which is an identifier for identifying each service in the TS, a representative service identification 20 indicating whether the service is a representative service, and a service name. The service name 21 shown, and the broadcast type 22 representing whether it is a television broadcast or a data broadcast. Here, the “representative service” refers to a service assigned to a numeric number of the remote controller among a plurality of services in the TS.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the structure of the frequency list 131. Each record 32 in the frequency list 131 corresponds to a broadcast area. This broadcast area is defined by ARIB and is used in SI. Specific use cases will be described later. Since a plurality of TSs can be received in one broadcast area, n pieces of TS information 33 are assigned to one record 32. Further, each TS information included in the n pieces of TS information 33 is transmitted with a transmitting station ID 34 for identifying the transmitting station, a postal code 35 indicating the location of the transmitting station, and a physical channel number 36 used for transmission. It is comprised with the transmission output 37 of an electromagnetic wave.

  In SI included in TS (ARIB standard) broadcasted in Japan, NIT (Network Information Table) that is information on a network to be transmitted and SDT (definition of attributes of services broadcast in each TS) Service Description Table) exists, and the broadcasting area of TS is specified by the area code included in the NIT's terrestrial distribution system descriptor or the unique value called the area identification that is the upper bit of the service ID included in SDT. be able to. That is, the area identification code included in the NIT or SDT defined by the ARIB standard is the area identification information.

  6 shows the bit structure of the service ID in terrestrial digital broadcasting, FIG. 7 shows the classification of region identification in terrestrial digital broadcasting, and FIG. 8 shows the region for the identification code of region identification in terrestrial digital broadcasting. Each assignment is shown. For the area identification code obtained from the NIT or SDT, for example, by using the table shown in FIG. 8, the broadcast area corresponding to the area identification code can be acquired.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing processing of the channel scan control unit 120 in the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 100 of FIG. Hereinafter, the operation of the channel scan control unit 120 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 4, 5, and 9.

  The remote control input unit 110 receives a remote control signal output from the remote controller by a user operation, analyzes the remote control signal, and if the remote control signal is a signal indicating a channel scan request, the current location estimation unit 115. Request an estimated location. In response to this request, the current location estimating unit 115 refers to the channel information table 130 and estimates the area code of the current location (step S01).

  The next channel selection unit 114 receives the area code of the current location from the current location estimation unit 115, and refers to the frequency list 131 having the value as the record 32 (step S02). The record 32 stores a plurality of TS information, and describes the physical channel number for transmitting each TS.

  The next channel selection unit 114 sequentially extracts the physical channel numbers sequentially from the physical channel number included in the higher-order TS information of the record (step S03).

  The tuner control unit 111 acquires the physical channel number extracted from the frequency list 131 by the next channel selection unit 114 from the next channel selection unit 114 and transmits the physical channel number to the tuner unit 101 from the next channel selection unit 114. Tuning control is performed on the acquired physical channel number (step S04).

  Next, the received signal is transmitted to demodulation section 102, which performs demodulation and error correction, and notifies the channel selection result determination section 112 of the result. Further, the signal demodulated by the demodulator 102 is transmitted to the demultiplexer 103, and the demultiplexer 103 extracts PSI and SI information from the TS.

  Since PAT (Program Association Table) and PMT (Program Map Table) included in the PSI are information sent at regular intervals, if these information cannot be received for a certain period of time, the demultiplexer unit 103 is deteriorated in reception state. The channel selection result determination unit 112 is notified that PAT and PMT cannot be received. On the other hand, when the PAT and the PMT are received within a predetermined time, the demultiplexer unit 103 transmits the PAT and PMT data to the channel selection result determination unit 112.

  The channel selection result determination unit 112 determines whether or not a TS is detected based on each information received from the demodulation unit 102 and the demultiplexer unit 103 (step S05). On the other hand, when the channel selection result determination unit 112 can detect the TS (YES in step S05), the channel information update unit 113 stores the information collected from the PAT and PMT in the channel information table. It is stored in 130 (step S06). On the other hand, if the channel selection result determination unit 112 cannot detect the TS (NO in step S05), the channel information update unit 113 does not perform the storage process in the channel information table 130. Thereafter, upon receiving a completion command from the channel information update unit 113, the next channel selection unit 114 proceeds to the next process.

  Subsequently, the next channel selection unit 114 determines whether the channel scan has been completed for all target physical channels (step S07). That is, the next channel selection channel selection unit 114 refers to the TS information stored in the record 32 of the frequency list 131 in order from the top, and TS information that has not been channel-scanned remains below. In this case, it is determined that the channel scan has not been completed (NO in step S07). Then, the next channel selection unit 114 selects the physical channel number included in the next TS information (step S08), and the tuner control unit 111 causes the next channel selection unit 114 to select the next physical channel from the frequency list 131. After acquiring the physical channel number selected and extracted as the channel number, tuning control for the tuner unit 101 is performed (step S04). On the other hand, when the next channel selection channel selection unit 114 refers to all the TS information stored in the record 32 of the frequency list 131, the next channel selection channel selection unit 114 indicates that the channel scan is completed. Judgment is made (in the case of YES in step S07), and the process is terminated.

  As described above, only the physical channels that can be received in the broadcast area estimated as the current location are scanned.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a specific process of the current position estimation process (step S01) shown in FIG. Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 1, FIG. 4 and FIG. 10, the processing content of the current location estimation processing (step S01) will be described.

  The channel information table 130 stores TS information that can be selected with the numeric buttons and the channel UP / DOWN button of the remote controller, and for each TS, the latest reception state 16 and the date and time 17 when the reception state is updated are stored. include. As the reception state 16, one of a C / N ratio (carrier-to-noise ratio), reception power, and PER (packet error rate), or a plurality of these is used. The current location estimating unit 115 extracts, from the channel information table 130, TSs that belong to the reception state 16 having a better reception state than a preset threshold value (S11).

  Next, the current location estimation unit 115 determines whether one or more corresponding TSs have been extracted (step S12). When one or more corresponding TSs are extracted (YES in step S12), the current location estimation unit 115 selects the TS with the latest update date and time 17 from the corresponding TSs, and the area. Number 14 is estimated as the area code of the current location (step S13). If no corresponding TS is extracted (NO in step S12), the current location estimation unit 115 estimates the area number of the region selected in the initial setting as the area code of the current location ( Step S14) and the process is terminated.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing processing of the channel selection control unit 121 in the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 100 of FIG. Hereinafter, the operation of the channel selection control unit 121 will be described with reference to FIG. 2, FIG. 4, and FIG.

  Remote control input unit 110 analyzes a remote control signal input by a user's remote control operation, and outputs a channel selection request to tuner control unit 111 when it is a channel selection request accompanying a change in physical channel. .

  In response to the channel selection request from the remote control input unit 110, the tuner control unit 111 refers to the channel information table 130 to search for a TS to which the service designated for channel selection belongs, and determines its physical channel (step S21). . Then, the tuner control unit 111 performs tuning control to the tuner unit 101 to the determined physical channel number (step S22).

  Next, the received signal is transmitted to demodulation section 102, which performs demodulation and error correction, and notifies channel selection result determination section 112 of the result. Further, the signal demodulated by the demodulation unit 102 is transmitted to the demultiplexer unit 103. The demultiplexer unit 103 extracts PSI and SI information from the TS. Since the PAT (Program Association Table) and PMT (Program Map Table) included in the PSI are information sent at regular intervals, the demultiplexer unit 103 receives the PAT and PMT information if they cannot be received for a certain period of time. It is determined that the state has deteriorated and notifies the channel selection result determination unit 112 that PAT and PMT cannot be received. On the other hand, when the PAT and PMT information is received, the demultiplexer unit 103 transmits the PAT and PMT data to the channel selection result determination unit 112.

  The channel selection result determination unit 112 determines whether or not a TS is detected based on the information received from the demodulation unit 102 and the demultiplexer unit 103 (step S23). If the channel selection result determination unit 112 can detect the TS (YES in step S23), the service control unit 116 receives the result and selects a plurality of TS information from the TS information in the channel information table 130. The service information 18 is searched, a service having a significant representative service identification 20 is selected, and the video / audio decoding unit 104 is instructed to select the service (step S24). On the other hand, when the channel selection result determination unit 112 cannot detect the TS (NO in step S23), the channel information update unit 113 proceeds to the next process.

  Subsequently, the channel information update unit 113 updates the reception state 16 of the selected TS along with the update date and time regardless of whether or not a TS is detected (step S25). Thereby, a series of processes when receiving the channel selection request is completed.

  FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing processing of the download control unit 122 in the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 100 of FIG. Hereinafter, the operation of the download control unit 122 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 12.

  The internal event processing unit 118 acquires and holds the date and time when the frequency list is delivered by being superimposed on the broadcast wave, and outputs a channel selection request to the tuner control unit 111 at the date and time. In response to the channel selection request from the internal event processing unit 118, the tuner control unit 111 acquires the physical channel on which the frequency list is superimposed on the broadcast wave from the setting information of the receiving apparatus 100 (step S31). Then, the tuner control unit 111 performs tuning control to the physical channel number (step S32).

  Next, the received signal is transmitted to the demodulation unit 102, the demodulation unit 102 performs demodulation and error correction, and the signal demodulated by the demodulation unit 102 is transmitted to the demultiplexer unit 103. Extract PSI and SI information from TS.

  When the frequency list acquisition unit 117 can detect the SDTT (Software Download Trigger Table) included in the PSI (in the case of YES in step S33), the unit 117 reads the frequency list information from the SDTT. (Step S34), the frequency list 131 is updated (step S35), and the process is terminated. On the other hand, when the frequency list acquisition unit 117 cannot detect the SDTT (NO in step S33), the frequency list acquisition unit 117 performs processing without updating the frequency list 131. finish.

<Effect>
With the configuration and operation of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 100 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention described above, it is possible to alleviate the above-described problems of the prior art. That is, when the channel scan described in Patent Document 1 is executed, the program cannot be viewed during that time. In the present embodiment, the program cannot be viewed by narrowing down the channel scan target channels. The time can be shortened, and the problem that the channel scan can be executed only when the digital broadcast receiving apparatus is in a standby state can be alleviated.

  In addition, the present embodiment does not require a fixed receiver and a transmission device in addition to the digital broadcast receiving device as in Patent Document 2.

  In addition, when a sub-tuner is used as in Patent Document 3, the channel scan time performed by the main tuner can be shortened, but there is a problem in that the product cost increases. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the channel scan time can be shortened because the channel scan is performed only for the selected channel, and the channel scan can be realized in a short time without increasing the product cost. It is possible.

(Embodiment 2)
As described above, the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 100 according to Embodiment 1 extracts TSs belonging to a better reception state than a preset threshold for the estimation of the current location, and there are a plurality of TSs. If it is, the TS with the latest update date / time is selected, and the area number is estimated as the current location.

  However, if the current location is close to the adjacent area of the broadcast area and the mobile object is moving out of the broadcast area, if the mobile object exceeds the broadcast area after a while, the channel scan is performed first. The information of the receivable physical channel obtained in this way loses its effectiveness. The present embodiment proposes a digital broadcast receiving device 100A that solves this problem.

<Configuration>
A schematic internal configuration of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 100A at the time of channel scanning according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  Although the current location estimation unit 115 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 100 according to Embodiment 1 outputs one area code as the estimated current location, the current location estimation unit 115A according to the present embodiment At the same time, the adjacent area of the estimated current location is also output. For this purpose, information on adjacent areas corresponding to each broadcast area is required. Accordingly, an adjacent area map in Japan as shown in FIG. 14 is created in advance, and the adjacent area map is stored in the adjacent area map table 150 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 100A. The adjacent area map is electronic data in which a broadcast area adjacent to each broadcast area indicated by the area identification code is described as an adjacent area. For example, FIG. 14 shows that the Kyoto area, the Hyogo area, the Nara area, and the Wakayama area exist as the adjacent areas of the Osaka area. By using such an adjacent area map, the current location estimation unit 115A according to the present embodiment can acquire information on the adjacent area for the broadcast area of the estimated current location.

  In addition, the channel scan control unit 120A according to the present embodiment refers to the frequency list 131 based on the estimated current location area output by the current location estimation unit 115A and its adjacent area, and is a physical channel to be subjected to channel scanning. Is extracted, the tuner unit 101 is controlled, and the channel information table 130 is updated from the reception result. Since other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment, detailed description thereof is omitted here.

<Operation>
FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing processing of the channel scan control unit 120A in the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 100A of FIG. Hereinafter, the operation of the channel scan control unit 120A according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 4, FIG. 5, FIG. 13, and FIG.

  The remote control input unit 110 analyzes a remote control signal input by a user's remote control operation, and if the remote control signal is a signal requesting a channel scan, requests the estimated current location from the current location estimation unit 115A. . In response to this request, the current location estimating unit 115A refers to the channel information table 130 and the adjacent area map table 150 to estimate the area code of the current location and its adjacent area code (step S20).

  The next channel selection unit 114 receives a signal giving the current location area code and its adjacent area code from the current location estimation unit 115A, selects one area code from a plurality of area codes, and records the value. The frequency list 131 to be 32 is referred to (step S02). The record 32 stores a plurality of TS information, and describes the physical channel number for transmitting each TS (see FIG. 5). Therefore, the next channel selection unit 114 extracts the physical channel number in order from the physical channel number included in the higher TS information of the record 32 (step S03).

  The tuner control unit 111 acquires the physical channel number extracted from the frequency list 131 by the next channel selection channel selection unit 114 from the next channel selection channel selection unit 114, and then transmits the next channel selection channel selection unit to the tuner unit 101. Tuning control to the physical channel number acquired from 114 is performed (step S04).

  Next, the received signal is transmitted to demodulation section 102, which performs demodulation and error correction, and notifies the channel selection result determination section 112 of the result. Further, the signal demodulated by the demodulation unit 102 is transmitted to the demultiplexer unit 103, and the demultiplexer unit 103 extracts each information of PSI and SI from the TS.

  Since the PAT (Program Association Table) and PMT (Program Map Table) included in the PSI are information sent at regular intervals, the demultiplexer unit 103 is in a receiving state if the PAT and PMT information cannot be received for a certain period of time. The channel selection result determination unit 112 is notified that PAT and PMT cannot be received. On the other hand, when receiving the PAT and the PMT, the demultiplexer unit 103 transmits the data to the channel selection result determination unit 112.

  The channel selection result determination unit 112 determines whether TS is detected based on the information received from the demodulation unit 102 and the demultiplexer unit 103 (step S05). If the unit 112 can detect the TS (YES in step S05), the channel information update unit 113 stores and updates the information collected from the PAT and PMT in the channel information table 130 ( Step S06). If TS is not detected (NO in step S05), the process proceeds to the next process.

  Subsequently, the next channel selection channel selection unit 114 determines whether or not the channel scan has been completed for all target channels (step S07). That is, the part 114 refers to the TS information stored in the record 32 of the frequency list 131 in order from the top, and determines that the channel scan has not been completed if the information remains below. (In the case of NO in step S07), the physical channel number included in the next TS information is selected (step S08), and the tuner control unit 111 performs the control of the tuner unit 101 described above (step S04). . On the other hand, if all the TS information stored in the record 32 of the frequency list 131 is referenced, the next channel selection unit 114 determines that the channel scan of the area selected in step S02 is completed (step S02). In the case of YES in S07).

  Next, the next channel selection unit 114 determines whether the channel scan has been completed for all target areas (step S09). If the area output by the current location estimation unit 115A still remains in step S20, the next channel selection channel selection unit 114 determines that the channel scan has not been completed (NO in step S09). The next area is selected (step S10), and the frequency list 131 whose value is the record 32 is referred to (step S02). On the other hand, if the processing for the physical channel number acquired in step S20 has been completed for all areas, the next channel selection unit 114 determines that the channel scan is complete (YES in step S09). If so), the process ends.

  As described above, the channel scan control unit 120A scans only the physical channel that can be received in the estimated current location and the broadcast area in the adjacent location.

  FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing a specific process of the current location estimation process (step S20) of FIG. 15 in the present embodiment. Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 16, it describes about the processing content of a present location estimation process (step S20).

  The channel information table 130 stores TS information that can be selected with the numeric buttons and the channel UP / DOWN button of the remote controller, and for each TS, the latest reception state 16 and the date and time 17 when the reception state is updated are stored. Included (see FIG. 4). As the reception state 16, any one of a C / N ratio (carrier-to-noise ratio), reception power, PER (packet error rate), or a plurality of them is used. The current location estimating unit 115A in FIG. 13 extracts TSs whose reception state 16 has a better reception state than a preset threshold value (step S11).

  Next, the current location estimation unit 115A determines whether one or more corresponding TSs have been extracted (step S12). When one or more TSs are extracted (YES in step S12), the same unit 115A selects the TS with the latest update date and time 17 and determines the area number as the current location (step). S13). On the other hand, if no TS is extracted (NO in step S12), the same section 115A determines the area number of the area selected in the initial setting as the current position (step S14).

  Subsequently, the current location estimating unit 115A selects the adjacent area of the area determined as the current location with reference to the adjacent area information shown in FIG. 14 recorded in the broadcast area map table 150 (step S15), and the current location The estimation process ends.

<Effect>
The digital broadcast receiving apparatus 100A according to the present embodiment can avoid the loss of effectiveness of receivable channel information in a short time by making the adjacent area in addition to the estimated current location the subject of the channel scan. . This can reduce the number of channel scans during long-distance movement, and therefore has the effect of shortening the time that cannot be viewed by channel scan.

(Embodiment 3)
Digital broadcast receiving apparatus 100 according to Embodiment 1 extracts a TS belonging to a better reception state than a preset threshold value in the estimation of the current location, and a plurality of TSs exist. , The TS with the latest update date is selected, and the area number is estimated as the current location. However, if the current location is close to the adjacent area of the broadcast area, there is a possibility that TSs belonging to the one having a better reception state than the preset threshold may include those of multiple broadcast areas. Yes, if only the area of the TS with the latest update date and time is selected, a receivable physical channel may be missed. The present embodiment shows a digital broadcast receiving apparatus 100B that solves such problems.

<Configuration>
A schematic internal configuration of digital broadcast receiving apparatus 100B according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The digital broadcast receiving apparatus 100B in FIG. 17 is different from the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 100 in FIG. 1 in the current location estimation unit 115B and the channel scan control unit 120B.

  The current location estimating unit 115 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment outputs one area code as the estimated current location, but the current location estimating unit 115B according to the present embodiment is set in advance. Among the TSs belonging to the better reception state than the threshold, the area code whose update date and time is within a certain period is output as the estimated current location.

  Further, the channel scan control unit 120B according to the present embodiment extracts each physical channel to be subjected to the channel scan with reference to the frequency list 131 based on the plurality of estimated current location areas output from the current location estimation unit 115B. The tuner unit 101 is controlled above, and the channel information table 130 is updated from the reception result. Since other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment, detailed description thereof is omitted here.

<Operation>
Since the operation of the channel scan control unit 120B in the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 100B of FIG. 17 is the same as that of the channel scan control unit 120A of FIG. 13 according to the second embodiment, in this embodiment, the channel scan control unit 120B FIG. 15 is used as a flowchart showing the processing.

  FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing a specific process of the current location estimation process (step S20) of FIG. 15 in the present embodiment. Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 4, FIG. 17, and FIG. 18, the processing content of the current location estimation processing (step S20) according to the present embodiment will be described.

  The channel information table 130 stores TS information that can be selected with the numeric buttons and the channel UP / DOWN button of the remote controller. The latest reception state 16 and the date and time 17 when the reception state 16 is updated for each TS. And are included. As the reception state 16, any one of a C / N ratio (carrier-to-noise ratio), reception power, PER (packet error rate), or a plurality of them is used.

  The current location estimation unit 115B extracts TSs whose reception state 16 has a better reception state than a preset threshold (step S11).

  Next, the current location estimation unit 115B determines whether one or more corresponding TSs have been extracted (step S12). When one or more corresponding TSs are extracted (in the case of YES in step S12), the current location estimation unit 115B selects a TS whose update date and time 17 is within a certain period and sets the area number as the current location. (Step S16). Therefore, the current location estimation unit 115B allows a plurality of broadcast areas estimated as the current location to exist. On the other hand, if no corresponding TS is extracted (NO in step S12), the current location estimation unit 115B estimates the area number of the region selected by the initial setting as the current location (step S14). Thus, the current position estimation unit 115B ends the current position estimation process.

<Effect>
The digital broadcast receiving apparatus 100B according to the present embodiment can avoid missing of receivable physical channel information by setting all the broadcast areas that can be estimated as the current location to be subject to channel scanning. This can reduce the number of channel scans during long-distance movement, and therefore has the effect of shortening the time that cannot be viewed by channel scan.

(Embodiment 4)
By the way, a method is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-318152 that has a list of receivable channels for each region, compares the list with the actual scan result, and determines the most consistent region as the current location. Has been. The method according to the publication further discloses a method of preferentially scanning a channel existing in the channel list of the area to which the determined current location belongs and the adjacent area.

  In the method according to the publication, as a result of comparing the scanned result and the list of receivable channels for each area, the most coincident area cannot be specified as one, and there may be a plurality of areas. In particular, when a prefecture area cannot be specified in a wide area broadcasting area such as Kanto, Kinki, and Chukyo, there is a problem that the number of search target channels increases in the method according to the publication.

  Further, the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 100 according to Embodiment 1 of the present application extracts TSs belonging to a better reception state than a preset threshold with respect to estimation of the current location. If a plurality of TSs exist, the TS with the latest update date and time is selected, and the area number is estimated as the current location.

  However, as shown in FIG. 7, there are two types of areas meaning areas: a wide area (an area composed of a plurality of prefectures within a predetermined area) and a prefecture. Since one wide area is composed of a plurality of prefectures, if the selected TS is a wide area, the number of physical channels to be subjected to channel scanning increases.

  As can be seen from the above, any technique has a problem that the number of physical channels to be subjected to channel scanning increases when it is estimated to be a wide area.

  In the present embodiment, the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 100C that solves the problem that the number of physical channels that are subject to channel scanning increases and the channel scanning time becomes longer when the wide area is estimated as described above. suggest.

<Configuration>
FIG. 19 is a block diagram showing a schematic internal configuration of digital broadcast receiving apparatus 100C at the time of channel scanning according to the present embodiment.

  The digital broadcast receiving device 100C further includes a current location determination unit 123C in addition to the configuration of the digital broadcast receiving device 100 at the time of channel scanning shown in FIG. The frequency list 131 shown in FIG. 1 is replaced with a frequency list A 132 in FIG.

  The current location determination unit 123C includes a frequency list A132, a prefectural region verification physical channel extraction unit 140C connected to the output unit of the frequency list A132, a prefectural region verification physical channel list 133 connected to the output unit of the prefectural region verification physical channel extraction unit 140C, The channel selection channel selection unit 141 connected to the output unit of the verification physical channel extraction unit 140C, the tuner control unit 111C connected to the channel selection channel selection unit 141 so that signals can be transmitted and received, and the output unit of the tuner control unit 111C. And a region identification determination unit 143 connected to the output unit of the channel selection result determination unit 142.

  The output unit of the current location estimation unit 115 is connected to the prefectural area verification physical channel extraction unit 140C, and the output unit of the prefectural area verification physical channel list 133 is connected to the channel selection channel selection unit 141. The output unit is connected to the channel selection channel unit 141.

  The output unit of the frequency list A 132 is connected to the next channel selection unit 114 of the channel scan control unit 120, and the output unit of the region identification determination unit 143 is the next channel selection unit 114 of the channel scan control unit 120. The output unit of the area identification determination unit 143 is connected to the channel information table 130.

  The current location determination unit 123C is connected to the hardware configuration unit 119 as follows. That is, the output unit of the tuner control unit 111C is connected to the tuner unit 101, and the output unit of the demodulation unit 102 and the output unit of the demultiplexing unit 103 are connected to the channel selection result determination unit 142.

  Since the configuration of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus according to the present embodiment other than the above is the same as the configuration of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus according to the first embodiment, detailed description of other configurations is omitted.

<Operation>
Next, the operation of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 100C will be described based on the operation of each block described above.

  First, the operation at the time of channel scanning will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 19, the operations of the hardware configuration unit 119 and the channel scan control unit 120 are the same as those in FIG.

  The current location estimation unit 115 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 100 according to Embodiment 1 outputs the area code output as the estimated current location to the next channel selection channel selection unit 114. On the other hand, if the estimated current location is “wide area”, current location estimating section 115 according to the present embodiment outputs the area code to prefectural area verification physical channel extracting section 140C. Accordingly, FIG. 19 can be understood as showing the internal configuration of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 100C at the time of channel scanning when the estimated current location is a wide area.

  Based on the area code indicating the wide area transmitted from the current location estimation unit 115, the prefectural area verification physical channel extraction unit 140C determines the prefectural area constituting the wide area with reference to FIG. FIG. 20 is a diagram showing which prefectural area belongs to which wide area.

  When the current location estimation unit 115 estimates the current location as a wide area, that is, when the identification (area code) shown in FIG. 8 is 1 to 6, the prefectural region verification physical channel extraction unit 140C receives this, and see FIG. Then, determine the prefectural area belonging to the estimated wide area. For example, since the area code is 3 in the Chukyo area, Aichi, Mie, and Gifu, whose target area is indicated as 3 in FIG. 20, are the prefecture areas that belong to the Chukyo area. Therefore, when referring to the frequency list A132, the prefectural area verification physical channel extraction unit 140C targets 33, 38, and 39 records that are area codes of Aichi, Mie, and Gifu.

  Next, the prefectural area verification physical channel extraction unit 140C refers to the record 32 of the area indicating the prefectural area constituting the wide area in the frequency list A132. FIG. 21 is a diagram showing the structure of the frequency list A132. Each record 32 in the frequency list A 132 corresponds to a broadcast area. This broadcast area is defined by ARIB and is used in NIT or SDT. Since a plurality of TSs can be received in one broadcast area, n pieces of TS information 33 are assigned to one record 32. Further, each TS information included in the n pieces of TS information 33 is transmitted with a transmitting station ID 34 for identifying the transmitting station, a postal code 35 indicating the location of the transmitting station, and a physical channel number 36 used for transmission. It consists of a radio wave transmission output 37 and a sequence identification 38 for identifying the broadcast station sequence to which the TS belongs. Thus, the record 32 has a plurality of TS information, and each TS has a sequence identification 38.

  FIG. 22 is a diagram showing the definition of the sequence identification 38 of the frequency list A132. Japanese broadcasting stations, except for some, belong to a series of key stations whose broadcasting target area is the Kanto wide area centering on Tokyo, and the number indicating this series is a series identification (also called Affiliation ID). . A broadcasting station that does not belong to a series is called an independent UHF broadcasting station, and since a number 7 indicating this is defined, series identification is assigned to all broadcasting stations in Japan.

  FIG. 23 is a diagram showing the presence / absence of a broadcasting station having a prefectural area as the only broadcast area in the prefectural area constituting the wide area. For example, in the case of Tokyo, NHK General, NHK Education, and TV Tokyo have all prefectures in the Kanto area as broadcasting areas, so the area identification code included in the NIT or SDT is in the Kanto area. , It does not correspond to a broadcasting station whose prefectural area is the only broadcasting area. On the other hand, Tokyo Metropolitan Television, which is an independent UHF broadcasting station series, has only Tokyo as the broadcasting area and the area identification code is Tokyo, and therefore corresponds to a broadcasting station having the prefecture area as the only broadcasting area. For all prefectures that make up a wide area, there are one or more broadcasting stations in the four broadcasting lines, NHK General, NHK Education, TV Tokyo, and independent UHF broadcasting stations.

  The prefectural examination physical channel extraction unit 140C extracts the physical channel for channel selection based on the frequency list A132. Specifically, the prefectural area verification physical channel extraction unit 140C extracts a physical channel transmitted by a broadcasting station having one prefectural area as the only broadcast area as a physical channel for channel selection based on the frequency list A132. Therefore, the prefectural area verification physical channel extraction unit 140C extracts the physical channel number 36 of the TS whose series identification 38 is NHK general, NHK education, TV TOKYO, independent UHF broadcasting station, and the extracted one is the prefectural area verification physical channel list. 133 is registered. However, if the physical channel to be registered already exists in the prefectural examination physical channel list 133, it is not registered.

  In addition, the identification of the broadcasting station having one prefecture area as the only broadcasting area is based on whether or not it belongs to a predetermined affiliate broadcasting station (the affiliated identification 38 is NHK General, NHK Education, TV Tokyo, an independent UHF broadcasting station). Although it is determined, the broadcasting station may be identified by using one prefecture area as the only broadcasting area by another method.

  FIG. 24 is a diagram showing the structure of the prefectural examination physical channel list 133. When the current location estimation unit 115 estimates the current location as a wide area, the prefectural verification physical channel list 133 refers to the frequency list A132 when the current location estimation unit 115 estimates the current location, and the series identification 38 is NHK General, NHK Education, TV Tokyo, Sun Television. This is a data structure formed by storing a value obtained by extracting a physical channel of a TS which is an (independent UHF broadcasting station). However, the already stored physical channels are not stored redundantly. The order of storage will be described later. The physical channels stored in the prefectural examination physical channel list 133 are sequentially extracted from the higher level record by the channel selection channel selecting unit 141.

  Therefore, the prefectural area verification physical channel list 133 is a list of physical channels that are selected in order to determine in which prefectural area the current location is located, and there is no duplication of physical channels.

  When registration of the physical channel in the prefectural area verification physical channel list 133 is completed, a creation completion notification of the prefectural area verification physical channel list 133 is output to the channel selection channel selection unit 141.

  The channel selection channel selection unit 141 receives a notification of the completion of the creation of the prefectural region verification physical channel list 133 from the prefectural region verification physical channel extraction unit 140C, and refers to the prefectural region verification physical channel list 133. And the channel selection channel selection part 141 acquires the physical channel number used as the candidate for specifying a prefecture area in an order from a high-order record.

  The tuner control unit 111C acquires a physical channel number at the start of channel selection from the channel selection channel selection unit 141, and sends a tuning instruction to the tuner unit 101. Thus, tuner control is performed. In addition, the tuner control unit 111C transmits the physical channel number selected by the channel selection channel selection unit 141, that is, data indicating which physical channel has been selected to the channel selection result determination unit 142. By this transmission, the channel selection result determination unit 142 can know to which physical channel the data of information input from the units 102 and 103 is the channel selection result.

  The channel selection result determination unit 142 determines the channel selection result based on the demodulation result obtained from the demodulation unit 102 and the presence or absence of PSI obtained from the demultiplexing unit 103. If the channel selection result is good reception, the program information (corresponding to the information shown in FIG. 4) output from the demultiplexing unit 103 is notified to the area identification determination unit 143. On the other hand, if the channel selection result cannot be received, a signal instructing the channel selection unit 141 to select a physical channel to be selected next is output (step of FIG. 26 described later). This corresponds to the processing in the case of NO in S93).

  If the channel selection result of channel selection result determination unit 142 is well received, area identification determination unit 143 updates channel information table 130 using the program information output from demultiplexing unit 103. At this time, the area number 14 can be determined from the area identification code obtained from the NIT or SDT, and the broadcast area at the current location corresponding to the area identification code can be determined by using the table shown in FIG. 8 or FIG. . Next, the area identification determination unit 143 outputs the area code of the current location as the determination result to the next channel selection unit 114.

  On the other hand, the channel selection channel selection unit 141 receives a signal from the channel selection result determination unit 142 that instructs to select a physical channel to be selected, and refers to the prefectural examination physical channel list 133 to determine the next physical channel. Select a channel. Then, the channel selection channel selection unit 141 outputs a signal indicating the selected next physical channel to the tuner control unit 111C.

  The frequency list A132 is a recording unit that records information on transmission stations throughout the country, and records the transmission location, transmission output, channel number, and the like for each TS. As shown in FIG. 21, the difference from the frequency list 131 is that a sequence identification 38 is newly added in the frequency list A132 in order to extract a physical channel of a TS having a specific sequence identification. These pieces of information are sent from broadcast stations irregularly on broadcast waves. Therefore, the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 100C always monitors and updates the information recorded in the frequency list A132 to the latest information.

  As described above, in the current location determination unit 123C, based on the frequency list A132, the prefectural area verification physical channel extraction unit 140C selects a physical channel for channel selection in order to determine in which prefectural area the current location is located. Extract. Then, using the extracted physical channel, the tuner control unit 111C controls the tuner unit 101 to perform channel selection, and the channel selection result determination unit 142 determines the channel selection result. If the result of the determination is good reception, the area identification determination unit 143 acquires program information (TS information) that can be received at the current position, stores the program information in the channel information table 130, and selects the next selected channel. The area code of the current location is output to the selection unit 114. On the other hand, if the determination result cannot be received, the channel selection result determination unit 142 refers to the channel selection channel selection unit 141 for the physical channel to be selected next with reference to the prefectural examination physical channel list 133. Command the selection process.

  FIG. 25 is a flowchart showing processing when channel scanning is executed in the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 100C of FIG. Hereinafter, the channel scan operation will be described with reference to FIG. 19, FIG. 4, FIG. 21, and FIG.

  The remote control input unit 110 receives a remote control signal output from the remote controller by a user operation and analyzes the remote control signal. As a result of the analysis, if the remote control signal is a signal indicating a channel scan request, the current location estimation unit 115 is requested for an estimated current location. In response to this request, the current location estimating unit 115 refers to the channel information table 130 and estimates the area code of the current location (step S01).

  The current location estimating unit 115 according to the present embodiment determines whether or not the estimated area code of the current location is a wide area (step S80). On the other hand, when the current location estimating unit 115 determines that the area code of the current location is a wide area (in the case of YES in step S80), the current location determining unit 123C determines in which prefectural area the wide area is located. Determine (step S90). On the other hand, if the current location estimation unit 115 determines that the area code of the current location is not a wide area but a prefecture (in the case of NO in step S80), since the prefecture is already identified, the current location determination process (step S90) is performed. Not performed (proceed to step S81).

  The prefectural area specified by the area identification of the prefectural area estimated by the current position estimation unit 115 or the prefectural area specified by the area identification of the current position determined by the current position determination unit 123C becomes the channel scan target area. The current location determination unit 123C passes the area code of the channel scan target area (current location) to the next channel selection channel selection unit 114 (step S81).

  The next channel selection unit 114 receives the area code of the current location from the region identification determination unit 143, and refers to the frequency list A132 having the value as the record 32 (step S82). The record 32 stores a plurality of TS information, and describes the physical channel number for transmitting each TS.

  The next channel selection unit 114 sequentially extracts the physical channel numbers sequentially from the physical channel number 36 included in the higher-order TS information 33 of the record 32 (step S83). However, the physical channel already selected for determining the prefecture in the current location determination unit 123C is excluded.

  The tuner control unit 111 acquires the physical channel number extracted from the frequency list A 132 by the next channel selection channel selection unit 114 from the next channel selection channel selection unit 114. Then, the tuner control unit 111 performs tuning control on the physical channel number obtained from the next channel selection unit 114 with respect to the tuner unit 101 (step S04).

  Next, the received signal that has passed through the tuner unit 101 that performs the operation of step S <b> 04 is transmitted to the demodulation unit 102. The demodulation unit 102 performs demodulation and error correction, and notifies the channel selection result determination unit 112 of the result. Further, the signal demodulated by the demodulator 102 is transmitted to the demultiplexer 103, and the demultiplexer 103 extracts PSI and SI information from the TS.

  PAT (Program Association Table) and PMT (Program Map Table) included in the PSI are information sent at regular intervals. Therefore, if these pieces of information cannot be received for a certain time, the demultiplexer unit 103 determines that the reception state has deteriorated, and notifies the channel selection result determination unit 112 that PAT and PMT cannot be received. On the other hand, when the PAT and the PMT are received within a predetermined time, the demultiplexer unit 103 transmits the PAT and PMT data to the channel selection result determination unit 112.

  The channel selection result determination unit 112 determines whether or not a TS is detected based on each information received from the demodulation unit 102 and the demultiplexer unit 103 (step S05). When the channel selection result determination unit 112 can detect the TS (YES in step S05), the channel information update unit 113 stores the information collected from the PAT and PMT in the channel information table 130 ( Step S06). On the other hand, when the channel selection result determination unit 112 cannot detect the TS (NO in step S05), the channel information update unit 113 does not perform the storage process in the channel information table 130. Thereafter, upon receiving a completion command from the channel information update unit 113, the next channel selection unit 114 proceeds to the next process.

  Subsequently, the next channel selection unit 114 determines whether the channel scan has been completed for all target physical channels (step S07). That is, the next channel selection unit 114 refers to the TS information 33 stored in the specified record 32 existing in the frequency list A 132 in order from the top.

  If TS information 33 that has not been channel-scanned still remains in the record 32, it is determined that the channel scan has not been completed (NO in step S07). Then, the next channel selection unit 114 selects the physical channel number 36 included in the next TS information 33 (step S08). Thereafter, the current location determination unit 123C confirms that the channel is not a physical channel already selected for examining the prefecture (step S08). The tuner control unit 111 performs tuning control on the tuner unit 101 after acquiring the next physical channel number 36 selected by the next channel selection unit 114 in step S08 (step S04).

  On the other hand, when the next channel selection unit 114 has already referred to all the TS information 33 stored in the specified record 32 existing in the frequency list A 132, the next channel selection unit 114 It is determined that the channel scan is completed (YES in step S07), and the process is terminated.

  As described above, only the physical channels that can be received in the broadcasting area estimated and determined as the current location are scanned.

  FIG. 26 is a flowchart showing a specific process of the current position determination process (step S90) of FIG. 25 described above. Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 19, FIG. 4, FIG. 24, and FIG. 26, the processing content of the present location determination processing (step S90) will be described.

  Based on the area code indicating the wide area transmitted from the current location estimation unit 115, the prefectural area verification physical channel extraction unit 140C determines the prefectural area constituting the wide area with reference to FIG. Next, the prefectural area verification physical channel extraction unit 140C refers to the frequency list A132, and the sequence identification 38 is NHK general, NHK education, TV TOKYO, independent in the record 32 of the area indicating the prefectural area determined above. The physical channel number 36 of the TS which is a UHF broadcasting station is extracted (that is, a physical channel transmitted by a broadcasting station having one prefecture area as the only broadcasting area is extracted). Then, the prefectural area verification physical channel extraction unit 140 </ b> C registers the extracted physical channel number 36 in the prefectural area verification physical channel list 133. When the registration of the physical channel in the prefectural examination physical channel list 133 is completed, a creation completion notification of the prefectural examination physical channel list 133 is output to the channel selection channel selection unit 141 (step S40).

  The channel selection channel selection unit 141 receives a notification of the completion of the creation of the prefectural region verification physical channel list 133 from the prefectural region verification physical channel extraction unit 140C, and refers to the prefectural region verification physical channel list 133. And the channel selection channel selection part 141 acquires the physical channel number used as the candidate for specifying a prefecture area in an order from a high-order record (step S91).

  The tuner control unit 111C acquires the physical channel number acquired in step S91 from the channel selection channel selection unit 141. Then, the tuner control unit 111C performs tuning control to the tuner unit 101 to the physical channel number acquired from the channel selection channel selection unit 141 (step S92).

  Next, the received signal that has passed through the tuner unit 101 being controlled in step S92 is transmitted to the demodulation unit 102, which performs demodulation and error correction, and notifies the tuning result determination unit 142 of the result. Further, the signal demodulated by the demodulator 102 is transmitted to the demultiplexer 103, and the demultiplexer 103 extracts PSI and SI information from the TS.

  PAT and PMT included in the PSI are information sent at regular intervals. Therefore, if these pieces of information cannot be received for a certain time, the demultiplexer unit 103 determines that the reception state has deteriorated. Then, the demultiplexer unit 103 notifies the channel selection result determination unit 142 that PAT and PMT cannot be received. On the other hand, when the PAT and the PMT are received within a predetermined time, the demultiplexer unit 103 transmits the PAT and PMT data to the channel selection result determination unit 142.

  The channel selection result determination unit 142 determines whether or not TS is detected based on each information received from the demodulation unit 102 and the demultiplexer unit 103 (step S93). If the channel selection result determination unit 142 can detect the TS (YES in step S93), the program information (corresponding to the information shown in FIG. 4) output by the demultiplexing unit 103 is selected. The station result determination unit 142 notifies the area identification determination unit 143. On the other hand, if the channel selection result determination unit 142 cannot detect the TS (NO in step S93), the channel selection result determination unit 142 selects the channel selection channel selection unit 141 next. A signal for instructing to select a physical channel to be stationed is output.

  The channel selection channel selection unit 141 receives the command signal from the channel selection result determination unit 142 and refers to the prefectural area verification physical channel list 133. Then, the channel selection channel selection unit 141 selects the next physical channel according to the list order of FIG. Then, the channel selection channel selection unit 141 outputs a signal indicating the selected next physical channel to the tuner control unit 111C (step S94).

  If the channel selection result of channel selection result determination unit 142 is well received, area identification determination unit 143 updates channel information table 130 using the program information output from demultiplexing unit 103 (step S95). . At this time, the area number 14 can be determined from the area identification code obtained from NIT or SDT based on FIG. 4, and the broadcast area at the current location corresponding to the area identification code can be determined by using the tables shown in FIGS. (Step S96). Thereby, when the area code indicating the wide area is received, the series of current position determination processing (step S90) performed by the current position determination unit 123C to identify the prefecture area ends.

  FIG. 27 is a flowchart showing a specific process of the prefectural area verification physical channel extraction process (step S40) of FIG. Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 19, FIG. 20, FIG. 22, FIG. 24, and FIG. 27, the processing contents of the prefectural area verification physical channel extraction processing (step S40) will be described.

  The prefectural area verification physical channel extraction unit 140C inputs an area code indicating a wide area from the current location estimation unit 115 (step S41). In response to this, the prefectural examination physical channel extraction unit 140C refers to FIG. 20 and extracts prefectural areas belonging to the wide area (step S42). Then, the prefectural area verification physical channel extraction unit 140C selects one of the plurality of prefectural areas extracted in step S42, and refers to the record 32 of the frequency list A132 having the area code of the selected prefectural area as the record number. Then, the prefectural examination physical channel extraction unit 140C refers to the sequence identification 38 assigned to each TS information 33 included in the record 32 being referred to. Then, the prefectural examination physical channel extraction unit 140C extracts the TS information 33 whose sequence identification 38 is NHK general, NHK education, TV Tokyo, and an independent UHF broadcasting station (step S43).

  Thereafter, the prefectural area verification physical channel extraction unit 140C registers the physical channel (reference numeral 36) of the TS information 33 extracted in step S43 in the prefectural area verification physical channel list 133 (step S50). Then, the prefectural examination physical channel extraction unit 140C determines whether or not the series identification 38 of the frequency list A132 has been examined for all prefectural areas belonging to the wide area (step S44).

  When there is a prefecture area where the series identification 38 of the frequency list A132 is not checked (NO in step S44), one is selected from the uninvestigated prefecture areas, and the area code of the prefecture area is set as the record number. Reference is made to the record 32 of the frequency list A132. Then, the physical channel number 36 of the TS information 22 having the above-described sequence identification 38 is extracted (step S43). On the other hand, when the survey of all prefectures belonging to the wide area has been completed, it is determined that the extraction of the physical channel is completed (the completion of the prefectural area verification physical channel list 133) (in the case of YES in step S44). Then, the prefectural examination physical channel extraction process in step S40 is completed.

  FIG. 28 is a flowchart showing a specific process of the physical channel list registration process (step S50) of FIG. 27 described above. Hereinafter, the processing contents of the physical channel list registration processing (step S50) will be described with reference to FIGS.

  The prefectural area certification physical channel extraction unit 140C extracts the physical channel number 36 from all the TS information 33 extracted from the frequency list A132. Then, the prefectural area verification physical channel extraction unit 140C selects the physical channel having the smallest value from the extracted physical channel numbers 36 (step S51).

  The prefectural examination physical channel extraction unit 140C determines whether the physical channel selected in step S51 is already registered in the prefectural examination physical channel list 133 (step S52).

  If the selected physical channel is not registered in the prefectural test physical channel list 133 (NO in step S52), the selection is added to the end of the record already registered in the prefectural test physical channel list 133. The physical channel number 40 of the physical channel is added (step S53). If the selected physical channel is already registered in the prefectural area verification physical channel list 133 (YES in step S52), the prefectural area verification physical channel extraction unit 140C determines the physical channel number of the selected physical channel. Is not registered in the prefectural area certification physical channel list 133.

  After completing the update process of the prefectural area verification physical channel list 133 (after step S53), has the prefectural area verification physical channel extraction unit 140C checked all the TS information 33 to be registered in the prefectural area verification physical channel list 133? Is determined (step S54). If there is an unchecked physical channel (NO in step S54), the physical channel having the smallest value is selected from the remaining physical channels (step S51). If there is no unchecked physical channel (YES in step S54), the physical channel list registration process (step S50) is terminated.

  As described above, in this embodiment, even when the local estimation unit 115 estimates a wide area, the current location determination unit 123C identifies a prefecture area belonging to the wide area. Specifically, in the present embodiment, as can be seen from the flow after step S93 in FIG. 26, the channel is selected with the physical channel as a candidate, and from the region identification included in the SI of the TS that is received first, the reception is good. One prefecture is identified as the current location.

<Effect>
Therefore, the invention according to the present embodiment can limit the channels to be subjected to channel search even when the local estimation unit 115 estimates a wide area (Kanto, Kinki, Chukyo, etc.). Therefore, the invention according to the present embodiment can shorten the channel scan time.

  Further, in the present embodiment, a broadcasting station having one prefecture area as the only broadcasting area based on the frequency list A132 (a broadcasting station whose series identification 38 is NHK general, NHK education, TV Tokyo, independent UHF broadcasting). Is extracted as a physical channel for channel selection.

<Effect>
Therefore, the prefectural examination physical channel extraction unit 140C can extract an optimum physical channel as a channel selection target when specifying a prefectural area belonging to a wide area.

(Embodiment 5)
As described above, the digital broadcast receiving device 100C according to Embodiment 4 refers to the frequency list A132 regarding the extraction of the physical channel to be selected for specifying the prefectural area as the current location, and the sequence identification 38 is NHK general, NHK. The target is TS information 33, which is education, TV Tokyo, and independent UHF broadcasting.

  However, depending on the prefecture that belongs to a wide area, there are prefectures that have a plurality of broadcasting stations with the prefecture as the only broadcasting area. For example, in the case of Kyoto, there are NHK Kyoto affiliated NHK Kyoto and KBS Kyoto affiliated with an independent UHF broadcasting station. When the physical channels of a plurality of broadcasting stations are registered in the prefectural examination physical channel list 133, the number of physical channels to be selected increases and the channel scan time becomes longer. The present embodiment proposes a digital broadcast receiving device 100D that solves this problem.

<Configuration>
A schematic internal configuration of digital broadcast receiving apparatus 100D according to the present embodiment is shown in a block diagram of FIG. The digital broadcast receiving device 100D shown in FIG. 29 is different from the digital broadcast receiving device 100C shown in FIG. 19 in the operation of the prefectural area verification physical channel extraction unit 140D in the current location determination unit 123D.

  The prefectural examination physical channel extraction unit 140C of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 100C according to the fourth embodiment relates to the extraction of the physical channel to be selected for specifying the prefectural area as the current location, with reference to the frequency list A132, the sequence identification 38 is All the TS information 33 which is NHK synthesis, NHK education, TV Tokyo, and independent UHF broadcasting is targeted.

  On the other hand, when there are a plurality of broadcast series having the prefecture area as the only broadcast area, the prefecture area verification physical channel extraction unit 140D according to the present embodiment uses (transmits) each of the plurality of broadcast series. Calculate the total number of physical channels. Further, as a result of the calculation, the prefectural examination physical channel extraction unit 140D targets only the broadcast series TS information 33 having the smallest total number of physical channels of 1 or more.

  Note that only the operation of the prefectural area certification physical channel extraction unit 140D is different, and the other configurations and operations are the same between the digital broadcast receiving device 100D according to the present embodiment and the digital broadcast receiving device 100C according to the fourth embodiment. is there. Therefore, the description of Embodiment 4 should be referred to for the description of the configuration other than the different portions.

<Operation>
The operation of the current location determination unit 123D in the digital broadcast receiving device 100D shown in FIG. 29 has many parts in common with the operation of the current location determination unit 123C shown in FIG. 19 according to the fourth embodiment. Therefore, in description of operation | movement of this Embodiment, FIG. 26 is used as a flowchart which shows the process of the present location determination part 123D.

  FIG. 30 is a flowchart showing a specific process of the prefectural test physical channel extraction process (step S40) of FIG. 26 in the present embodiment. Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 29, FIG. 20 to FIG. 24, and FIG. 30, the processing content of the prefectural examination physical channel extraction processing (step S40) according to the present embodiment will be described.

  The prefectural area verification physical channel extraction unit 140D inputs an area code indicating a wide area from the current location estimation unit 115 (step S41). In response to this, the prefectural examination physical channel extraction unit 140D refers to FIG. 20 and extracts prefectural areas belonging to the wide area (step S42). Furthermore, the prefectural examination physical channel extraction unit 140D selects one from the plurality of prefectural areas extracted in step S42, and refers to the record 32 of the frequency list A132 having the area code of the prefectural area as the record number. The prefectural region certification physical channel extraction unit 140D refers to the sequence identification 38 assigned to each TS information 33 in the referenced record 32, and the sequence identification 38 is NHK general, NHK education, TV Tokyo, independent UHF broadcasting station. TS information 33 is extracted (step S43).

  Next, digital broadcast receiving apparatus 100D according to the present embodiment has two or more broadcasting stations (NHK General, NHK Education, TV Tokyo, independent UHF broadcasting stations) having one prefecture area as the only broadcasting area in one prefecture area. In this case, the following operation is performed.

  First, the prefectural examination physical channel extraction unit 140D refers to the frequency list A132, counts the number of physical channels of the same series, and calculates the total number of physical channels for each series (step S46).

  For example, when the prefectural area is Kyoto, as shown in FIG. 23, two stations of NHK Kyoto, which is an NHK comprehensive series, and KBS Kyoto, which is an independent UHF broadcast station series, are broadcast stations with one prefectural area as the only broadcast area. Exists. In this case, if the prefectural examination physical channel extraction unit 140D performs the operation of step S46, as of May 2009, the prefectural examination physical channel extraction unit 140D has the total number of physical channels transmitted from the NHK Kyoto station as follows. The total number of physical channels transmitted from the KBS Kyoto station is calculated as 4.

  As a result of calculating the total number of physical channels for each series, the prefectural area verification physical channel extraction unit 140D extracts TS information 33 of a series having the smallest total number of physical channels of 1 or more (step S47). For example, when the prefecture area is Kyoto, the total number of physical channels of KBS Kyoto is smaller than the total number of physical channels of NHK Kyoto. Therefore, in this case, the prefectural examination physical channel extraction unit 140D extracts the TS information 33 of KBS Kyoto.

  Next, the prefectural area verification physical channel extraction unit 140D acquires the physical channel number 36 from the TS information 33 extracted in step S47, and registers the acquired information in the prefectural area verification physical channel list 133 (step S50). For details of step S50, refer to the flow of FIG.

  Thereafter, the prefectural examination physical channel extraction unit 140D determines whether the series identification 38 of the frequency list A132 has been examined for all prefectural areas belonging to the wide area (step S44). When there is a prefecture area where the series identification 38 of the frequency list A132 is not checked (NO in step S44), one is selected from the uninvestigated prefecture areas, and the area code of the prefecture area is set as the record number. Reference is made to the record 32 of the frequency list A132. Then, the physical channel number 36 of the TS information 33 having the above-described sequence identification 38 (NHK general, NHK education, TV Tokyo, independent UHF broadcasting station) is extracted (step S43). On the other hand, if the survey of all prefectures belonging to a wide area has been completed, it is determined that the extraction of physical channels is complete (YES in step S44), and the prefecture-area verification physical channel extraction process (step S40) is terminated. To do.

  As described above, in the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 100D according to the present embodiment, when there are two or more broadcasting stations in one prefecture area, the transmission from the two or more broadcasting stations is performed. The one broadcasting station with the smallest total number of physical channels is selected, and the physical channel transmitted by the selected one broadcasting station is extracted as the physical channel to be selected.

<Effect>
Therefore, in the invention according to the present embodiment, the number of physical channels to be selected for specifying the current location is reduced when there are two or more broadcasting stations having one prefectural area as a single broadcasting area. Can do. Therefore, the channel scan time can be shortened.

(Embodiment 6)
As described above, in Embodiments 4 and 5, when the physical channels extracted from the frequency list A132 are registered in the prefectural test physical channel list 133, the physical channels are registered in ascending order (see FIG. 28). .

  By the way, in the case of a TS having a plurality of transmission stations, the transmission output varies depending on the transmission station, and the relay station generally tends to have a small output. Since there is no relationship between the magnitude of the transmission output and the value of the physical channel, when the physical channel values are registered in order from the smallest, there is a possibility that the one with the smaller transmission output is registered first. Since there is a proportional relationship between the transmission output and the broadcast area, a small transmission output is likely to be unreceivable because the broadcast area is narrow. Then, since the number of physical channels to be selected increases, the channel scan time becomes long. The present embodiment proposes a digital broadcast receiving apparatus 100E that solves this problem.

<Configuration>
A schematic internal configuration of digital broadcast receiving apparatus 100E according to the present embodiment is shown in a block diagram of FIG. The digital broadcast receiving device 100E shown in FIG. 31 is different from the digital broadcast receiving device 100C shown in FIG. 19 and the digital broadcast receiving device 100D shown in FIG. 29 in that a prefectural area verification physical channel extraction unit in the current location determination unit 123E. 140E.

  When registering the physical channel extracted from the frequency list A132 in the prefectural area verification physical channel list 133, the prefectural area verification physical channel extraction section 140C according to the fourth embodiment and the prefectural area verification physical channel extraction section 140D according to the fifth embodiment The channel values are registered in ascending order.

  In contrast, the prefectural examination physical channel extraction unit 140E according to the present embodiment refers to the transmission output 37 of the TS extracted from the frequency list A132. Then, the prefectural examination physical channel extraction unit 140E registers in the prefectural examination physical channel list 133 in order from the physical channel of the TS having the largest transmission output. As shown in FIG. 21, in the frequency list A 132, a transmission output 37 representing the strength of radio waves output from the transmitting station is described for each TS information 33.

  Note that only the operation of the prefectural area certification physical channel extraction unit 140E is different, and other configurations and operations are the same as those of the digital broadcast receiving device 100E according to the present embodiment and the digital broadcast receiving devices 100C and 100D according to the fourth and fifth embodiments. And the same. Therefore, the description of Embodiments 4 and 5 should be referred to for the description of the configuration other than the different portions.

<Operation>
The operation of the current location determination unit 123E according to the present embodiment is the same as that of the current location determination units 123C and 123D according to the fourth and fifth embodiments, as shown in FIGS. Therefore, in description of operation | movement of this Embodiment, FIG.26, 27,30 is used as a flowchart which shows the process of the present location determination part 123E.

  In the present embodiment, the detailed flow of step S50 in FIGS. 27 and 30 is different from those in the fourth and fifth embodiments. FIG. 32 is a flowchart showing a specific process of the physical channel list registration process (step S50) of FIGS. 27 and 30 in the present embodiment. Hereinafter, the processing contents of the physical channel list registration processing (step S50) according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 24, FIG. 31, and FIG.

  Note that the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 100E according to the present embodiment, when the prefectural area verification physical channel extraction unit 140E inputs an area code indicating a wide area from the current location estimation unit 115, with reference to FIG. To extract. Next, the prefectural area verification physical channel extraction unit 140E refers to the frequency list A132 for each prefectural area, extracts a physical channel to be selected for determining the current location, and executes the flow shown in FIG. . The specific operation flow of FIG. 32 executed for each prefecture area is as follows.

  The prefectural examination physical channel extraction unit 140E refers to the transmission output 37 in all the TS information 33 extracted from the frequency list A132. Then, the prefectural examination physical channel extraction unit 140E selects the physical channel number 36 having the largest value of the transmission output 37 (step S55). Next, the prefectural examination physical channel extraction unit 140E determines whether the physical channel number 36 selected in step S55 is already registered in the prefectural examination physical channel list 133 (step S52).

  It is assumed that the physical channel number 36 selected in the prefectural area certification physical channel list 133 is not registered (in the case of NO in step S52). In this case, the prefectural examination physical channel extraction unit 140E adds the physical channel number 36 selected in step S55 to the end of the record 40 already registered in the prefectural examination physical channel list 133 (step S53).

  On the other hand, it is assumed that the selected physical channel number 36 is registered in the prefectural area verification physical channel list 133 (in the case of YES in step S52). In this case, the prefectural examination physical channel extraction unit 140E does not register the physical channel number 36 selected in step S55 in the prefectural examination physical channel list 133.

  After steps S52 and 53, the prefectural examination physical channel extraction unit 140E determines whether or not all the TS information 33 to be registered in the prefectural examination physical channel list 133 has been checked in steps S55, S52, and S53. (Step S54).

  If there is unchecked TS information 33 (NO in step S54), the transmission output 37 is referred to in the remaining TS information 33. Then, the prefectural examination physical channel extraction unit 140E selects the physical channel number 36 having the largest value of the transmission output 37 (step S55). If there is no unchecked TS information 33 (YES in step S54), the physical channel list registration process (step S50) ends.

  Note that the digital broadcast receiving device 100E performs tuning control for each physical channel in order of registration with respect to the tuner unit 101 for each prefecture area belonging to a wide area, and sequentially selects a channel.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, each physical channel extracted as a physical channel for channel selection is shown in FIG. 32 for each prefecture area of a plurality of prefecture areas belonging to a predetermined wide area based on the frequency list A132. The operation shown in is performed. That is, the extracted physical channels are registered in the prefectural examination physical channel list 133 in descending order of transmission output 37.

<Effect>
Therefore, digital broadcast receiving apparatus 100E according to the present embodiment can first select a physical channel transmitted to a wide broadcast area, as compared with digital broadcast receiving apparatuses 100C and 100D. Therefore, the probability that the prefecture area can be specified earlier is increased, and as a result, the possibility of shortening the channel scan time is increased.

(Embodiment 7)
As described above, when the prefectural area verification physical channel extraction unit 140E inputs an area code indicating a wide area, the digital broadcast receiving device 100E according to Embodiment 6 extracts a prefectural area belonging to that wide area with reference to FIG. . Next, the prefectural area verification physical channel extraction unit 140E refers to the frequency list A132 for each prefectural area, extracts a physical channel to be selected for determining the current location, and registers the physical channel list shown in FIG. Processing. However, in the case of the method according to the sixth embodiment, since the operation shown in FIG. 32 is performed for each prefecture area, physical channels in the same prefecture area are arranged together in the prefecture area certification physical channel list 133. become.

  For example, it is assumed that an estimated signal indicating “Chukyo Wide Area” is input to the prefectural area verification physical channel extraction unit 140E. In this case, the two physical channels of TV Aichi are registered in the records 0 and 1 of the prefectural examination physical channel list 133 in descending order of transmission output, and the three physical channels of Mie TV are recorded in the records 2, 3, and 4. Channels are registered in descending order of transmission output, and in records 5 and 6, two physical channels of Gifu TV are registered in descending order of transmission output.

  Since there is a proportional relationship between the transmission output and the broadcast area, a small transmission output is likely to be unreceivable because the broadcast area is narrow. On the other hand, since channel selection is performed in order from the top record, if a physical channel with a small transmission output is registered before a physical channel with a large transmission output in the prefectural examination physical channel list 133, a physical channel with a small transmission output Will be selected first. As a result, a physical channel with a high probability of being received is postponed, resulting in an increase in the number of physical channels to be selected and a longer channel scan time. The present embodiment proposes a digital broadcast receiving apparatus 100F that solves this problem.

<Configuration>
A schematic internal configuration of digital broadcast receiving apparatus 100F according to the present embodiment is shown in a block diagram of FIG. The digital broadcast receiving device 100F shown in FIG. 33 is different from the digital broadcast receiving device 100E shown in FIG. 31 in the operation of the prefectural examination physical channel extraction unit 140F in the current location determination unit 123F. In addition, the current location determination unit 123F according to the present embodiment further includes a prefectural region test temporary storage region 134.

  When registering the physical channel extracted from the frequency list A132 in the prefectural verification physical channel list 133, the prefectural verification physical channel extraction unit 140E according to Embodiment 6 sequentially registers from the physical channel of the TS with the largest transmission output for each prefectural area. doing.

  On the other hand, the prefectural examination physical channel extraction unit 140F according to the present embodiment refers to the transmission output 37 of the target TS of all prefectural areas belonging to the wide area regardless of the prefectural area, and the TS information 33 having a large transmission output. The physical channel numbers 33 are registered in order from the prefectural examination physical channel list 133 in order.

  It should be noted that only the operation of the prefectural area verification physical channel extraction unit 140F and the configuration / operation of the prefectural area verification temporary storage area 134 are different. This is the same in the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 100E according to the above. Therefore, the description of Embodiment 6 should be referred to for the description of the configuration other than the different portions.

<Operation>
The operation shown in FIG. 26 can also be used in this embodiment. FIG. 34 is a flowchart showing a specific process of the prefectural test physical channel extraction process (step S40) of FIG. 26 in the present embodiment. FIG. 35 is a flowchart showing a specific process of the physical channel list registration process (step S60) of FIG. Hereinafter, the operation according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 20 to 24 and FIGS. 33 to 35.

  First, the processing content of the prefectural examination physical channel extraction process (step S40) according to the present embodiment will be described.

  The prefectural area verification physical channel extraction unit 140F inputs an area code indicating a wide area from the current location estimation unit 115 (step S41). In response to this, the prefectural area verification physical channel extraction unit 140F refers to FIG. 20 and extracts prefectural areas belonging to the wide area (step S42). Next, the prefectural examination physical channel extraction unit 140F selects one from a plurality of prefectural areas extracted in step S42. Then, the prefectural area verification physical channel extraction unit 140F refers to the record 32 of the frequency list A132 having the area code of the selected prefectural area as the record number. In this reference, the prefectural examination physical channel extraction unit 140F further refers to the sequence identification 38 assigned to each TS information 33. Then, the prefectural area verification physical channel extraction unit 140F extracts TS information 33 in which the sequence identification 38 is NHK general, NHK education, TV Tokyo, and an independent UHF broadcasting station by referring to the sequence identification 38 (step S43).

  Also, in the case where there are two or more broadcast stations in one prefecture area with one prefecture area as the only broadcast area, as in the fifth embodiment, the prefecture area verification physical channel extraction unit 140F determines the number of physical channels in the same series. And the total number of physical channels for each series is calculated (step S46). For example, in the case of Kyoto, as shown in FIG. 23, there are two stations, NHK Kyoto, which is an NHK comprehensive series, and KBS Kyoto, which is an independent UHF broadcasting station series. Referring to the frequency list A132, the total number of physical channels of NHK Kyoto is 5, and the total number of physical channels of KBS Kyoto is 4 (as of May 2009).

  As a result of calculating the total number of physical channels for each series, the prefectural examination physical channel extraction unit 140F extracts the TS information 33 of the series having the smallest total number of physical channels of 1 or more (step S47). For example, in the case of Kyoto, the total number of physical channels of KBS Kyoto is smaller than the total number of physical channels of NHK Kyoto, so the TS of KBS Kyoto is extracted.

  Note that the operations in steps S46 and S47 can be omitted. In this case, the processing after step S48 is executed for all the TS information 33 extracted at step S43.

  Next, the prefectural area verification physical channel extraction unit 140F registers the physical channel number 36 and the transmission output 37 in the extracted TS information 33 in the prefectural area verification temporary storage area 134 (step S48). Next, the prefectural area verification physical channel extraction unit 140F determines whether or not the processing after step S43 has been performed for all prefectural areas belonging to the wide area (step S44). In other words, the prefectural area verification physical channel extraction unit 140F determines whether there is a prefectural area for which the sequence identification 38 of the frequency list A132 is not checked (step S44).

  Assume that there is a prefectural area for which the series identification 38 of the frequency list A132 is not checked (in the case of NO in step S44). In this case, the prefectural examination physical channel extraction unit 140F again selects one of the pre-examined prefectural areas extracted from step S42 and records the frequency list A132 with the area code of the prefectural area as the record number. 32, the TS information 33 having the above-described series identification 38 is extracted (step S43).

  On the other hand, it is assumed that the survey of all prefectures belonging to a wide area has been completed (in the case of YES in step S44). In this case, the prefectural examination physical channel extraction unit 140F determines that the extraction of the TS information 33 is completed, registers the extracted physical channel of the TS information 33 in the prefectural examination physical channel list 133 (step S60), and performs the processing. finish.

  FIG. 36 is a diagram showing the structure of the prefectural area test temporary storage area 134 configured when the flow of FIG. 34 is performed without omitting steps S46 and S47.

  Each record 41 of the prefectural area verification temporary storage area 134 indicates a prefectural area belonging to a wide area selected with reference to FIG. 20 in the prefectural area verification physical channel extraction process. The TS information 42 which is a constituent element of each record 41 is a sequence of which the total number of physical channels for each sequence is the smallest among the TS information whose sequence identification 38 is NHK general, NHK education, TV Tokyo, independent UHF broadcasting station. This is an area for storing TS information. The physical channel number 43 and the transmission output 44 which are constituent elements of each TS information 42 are areas for storing the physical channel number and the transmission output of the corresponding TS information 42.

  Next, a specific process of the physical channel list registration process (step S60) in FIG. 34 will be described with reference to FIG.

  The prefectural area verification physical channel extraction unit 140F refers to all the TS information 42 stored in the prefectural area verification temporary storage area 134, and selects the physical channel number 43 of the TS information 42 having the largest value of the transmission output 44 (step) S61). Then, the prefectural area verification physical channel extraction unit 140F determines whether or not the physical channel number 43 selected in step S61 is registered in the prefectural area verification physical channel list 133 (step S52).

  A case is assumed where the selected physical channel number 43 is not registered in the prefectural area certification physical channel list 133 (in the case of NO in step S52). In this case, the prefectural test physical channel extraction unit 140F adds the physical channel number 43 selected in step S61 to the end of the record already registered in the prefectural test physical channel list 133 (step S53).

  On the other hand, it is assumed that the selected physical channel number 43 is registered in the prefectural examination physical channel list 133 (in the case of YES in step S52). In this case, the prefectural examination physical channel extraction unit 140F does not register the physical channel number 43 selected in step S61 in the prefectural examination physical channel list 133.

  After steps S52 and S53, the prefectural examination physical channel extraction unit 140F determines whether or not the processing after step S61 has been performed on all the TS information 42 stored in the prefectural examination temporary storage area 134 (step S54). ).

  If there is TS information 42 that has not yet been processed (NO in step S54), among the unprocessed TS information 42, the physicality of the TS information 42 having the largest transmission output 44 value. A channel number 44 is selected (step S61). On the other hand, if there is no unprocessed TS information 42 (YES in step S54), the physical channel list registration process (step S60) ends.

  As can be seen from the above description, in this embodiment, based on the frequency list A132, the physical channel numbers are added to the prefectural examination physical channel list 133 in descending order of transmission output over a plurality of prefectural areas belonging to a predetermined wide area. 43 is registered.

  Based on the prefectural examination physical channel list 133 created according to the flow of FIGS. 34 and 35, the digital broadcast receiving device 100F applies to each physical channel in the order registered in the prefectural examination physical channel list 133 with respect to the tuner unit 101. The tuning is performed in sequence by performing the tuning control.

  As described above, in this embodiment, the physical channel numbers 43 are registered in the prefectural examination physical channel list 133 in descending order of transmission output over a plurality of prefectural areas belonging to a predetermined wide area.

<Effect>
Therefore, since digital broadcast receiving apparatus 100F according to the present embodiment selects a channel in descending order of transmission output, a physical channel with a wide broadcast area is selected first. For this reason, the probability that the prefectural area can be identified earlier increases, and as a result, the possibility of shortening the channel scan time increases.

(Embodiment 8)
The digital broadcast receiving apparatus 100C according to the fourth embodiment selects a channel with a candidate of a physical channel of a TS having a predetermined sequence identification 38 of a prefectural area belonging to a wide area with respect to specifying the current location. Then, the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 100C determines one prefectural area as the current location from the area identification included in the SI of the TS with good reception first found.

  However, if the current location is close to the prefectural border and the mobile unit is moving outside the prefectural area determined as the current location, the channel scan will be performed first if the mobile unit exceeds the broadcasting area after a while. The information of the receivable physical channel obtained in this way loses its effectiveness. The present embodiment proposes a digital broadcast receiving device 100G that solves this problem.

<Configuration>
FIG. 37 is a block diagram showing a schematic internal configuration of digital broadcast receiving apparatus 100G in channel scanning according to the present embodiment.

  The digital broadcast receiving device 100G includes a current location determination unit 123G instead of the current location determination unit 123C of the digital broadcast reception device 100C. The configuration other than the local determination unit is the same between the digital broadcast receiving device 100G and the digital broadcast receiving device 100C.

  The current location determination unit 123G includes a frequency list A132G, a prefectural region verification physical channel extraction unit 140G connected to the output unit of the frequency list A132G, a prefectural region verification physical channel list 133G connected to the output unit of the prefectural region verification physical channel extraction unit 140G, The channel selection unit 141G connected to the output unit of the verification physical channel extraction unit 140G, the tuner control unit 111G connected to the channel selection unit 141G so as to be able to transmit and receive signals, and the output unit of the tuner control unit 111G. And a region identification determination unit 143G connected to the output unit of the channel selection result determination unit 142G.

  The output unit of the current location estimation unit 115 is connected to the prefectural area verification physical channel extraction unit 140G, and the output unit of the prefectural area verification physical channel list 133G is connected to the channel selection channel selection unit 141G, and the channel selection result determination unit 142G The output unit is connected to the channel selection channel selection unit 141G.

  The output unit of the frequency list A 132G is connected to the next channel selection unit 114 of the channel scan control unit 120, and the output unit of the area identification determination unit 143G is the next channel selection unit 114 of the channel scan control unit 120. The output unit of the region identification determination unit 143G is connected to the channel information table 130, and the output unit of the channel selection channel selection unit 141 is connected to the region identification determination unit 143G.

  The current location determination unit 123G is connected to the hardware configuration unit 119 as follows. That is, the output unit of the tuner control unit 111G is connected to the tuner unit 101, and the output unit of the demodulation unit 102 and the output unit of the demultiplexing unit 103 are connected to the channel selection result determination unit 142G.

  Since the configuration of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus according to the present embodiment other than the above is similar to the configuration of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 100C according to the fourth embodiment, detailed description of other configurations is omitted.

<Operation>
Next, the operation of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 100G will be described based on the operation of each block described above.

  First, the operation at the time of channel scanning will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 37, the operations of the hardware configuration unit 119 and the channel scan control unit 120 are the same as those in FIG.

  If the estimated current location is “wide area”, current location estimating section 115 according to the eighth embodiment outputs the area code to prefectural area verification physical channel extracting section 140G.

  Based on the area code indicating the wide area transmitted from the current location estimation unit 115, the prefectural area verification physical channel extraction unit 140G determines the prefectural area constituting the wide area with reference to FIG.

  When the current location estimation unit 115 estimates the current location as a wide area, that is, when the identification (area code) shown in FIG. 8 is 1 to 6, the prefectural region verification physical channel extraction unit 140G receives this, see FIG. Then, determine the prefectural area belonging to the estimated wide area. For example, since the area code is 3 in the Chukyo area, Aichi, Mie, and Gifu, whose target area is indicated as 3 in FIG. 20, are the prefecture areas that belong to the Chukyo area. Therefore, when referring to the frequency list A132G, the prefectural area verification physical channel extraction unit 140G targets 33, 38, and 39 records that are area codes of Aichi, Mie, and Gifu. The configurations of the frequency list A132 and the frequency list 132G are the same.

  Next, the prefectural area verification physical channel extraction unit 140G refers to the record 32 of the area indicating the prefectural area constituting the wide area in the frequency list A132G. Here, the record 32 has a plurality of TS information 33, and each TS information 33 has a sequence identification 38.

  Then, the prefectural examination physical channel extraction unit 140G extracts the physical channel for channel selection based on the above reference of the record 32 of the frequency list A 132G. Specifically, the prefectural area verification physical channel extraction unit 140G extracts a physical channel transmitted by a broadcasting station having one prefectural area as the only broadcasting area based on the frequency list A132G as a physical channel for channel selection. Therefore, the prefectural area verification physical channel extraction unit 140G extracts the physical channel number 36 of the TS whose series identification 38 is NHK general, NHK education, TV TOKYO, independent UHF broadcasting station, and the extracted one is the prefectural area verification physical channel list. Register with 133G. However, if the physical channel to be registered already exists in the prefectural examination physical channel list 133G, it is not registered.

  The order of registration in the prefectural examination physical channel list 133G will be described later. The physical channels stored in the prefectural examination physical channel list 133G are sequentially extracted from the higher level record by the channel selection channel selection unit 141G.

  When registration of the physical channel is completed in the prefectural examination physical channel list 133G, a notification of completion of creation of the prefectural examination physical channel list 133G is output to the channel selection channel selection unit 141G.

  The channel selection channel selecting unit 141G receives the notification of the completion of the creation of the prefectural region verification physical channel list 133G from the prefectural region verification physical channel extraction unit 140G, and refers to the prefectural region verification physical channel list 133G. And the channel selection channel selection part 141G acquires the physical channel number used as the candidate for specifying a prefecture area in an order from a high-order record.

  The tuner control unit 111G acquires the physical channel number at the start of channel selection from the channel selection channel selection unit 141G, and sends a tuning instruction to the tuner unit 101. Thus, tuner control is performed. In addition, the tuner control unit 111G transmits the physical channel number selected by the channel selection channel selection unit 141G, that is, data indicating which physical channel has been selected to the channel selection result determination unit 142G. Through this transmission, the channel selection result determination unit 142G can know to which physical channel the data of information input from the units 102 and 103 is the channel selection result.

  The channel selection result determination unit 142G determines the channel selection result based on the demodulation result obtained from the demodulation unit 102 and the presence or absence of the PSI obtained from the demultiplexing unit 103. If the channel selection result is good reception, the program information (corresponding to the information shown in FIG. 4) output from the demultiplexing unit 103 is notified to the area identification determination unit 143G.

  Next, regardless of whether the channel selection result is good or bad, the channel selection result determination unit 142G refers to the channel selection unit 141G to select the physical channel to be selected next with reference to the prefectural examination physical channel list 133G. Command to process.

  The channel selection channel selection unit 141G receives a signal from the channel selection result determination unit 142G that instructs to select a physical channel to be selected, and refers to the prefectural examination physical channel list 133G to determine the next physical channel. select. Then, the channel selection channel selection unit 141G outputs a signal indicating the selected next physical channel to the tuner control unit 111G.

  When all the physical channels registered in the prefectural area verification physical channel list 133G are selected, the channel selection channel selection unit 141G transmits a prefectural area test completion notification to the area identification determination unit 143G.

  If the channel selection result of the channel selection result determination unit 142G is good reception, the region identification determination unit 143G updates the channel information table 130 using the program information output from the demultiplexing unit 103. At this time, the area number 14 can be determined from the area identification code obtained from the NIT or SDT, and the broadcast area at the current location corresponding to the area identification code can be determined by using the table shown in FIG. 8 or FIG. . When receiving the prefectural examination completion notification from the channel selection channel selection unit 141G, the region identification determination unit 143G outputs the area code of the current location to the next channel selection channel selection unit 114. There may be two or more area codes.

  As described above, in the current location determination unit 123G, the prefectural area verification physical channel extraction unit 140G based on the frequency list A132G selects a physical channel to be selected in order to determine in which prefectural area the current location is located. Extract. Then, using the extracted physical channel, the tuner control unit 111G controls the tuner unit 101 to perform channel selection, and the channel selection result determination unit 142G determines the channel selection result. Here, regardless of whether the channel selection result is good or not, the channel selection unit 141G is instructed to perform the process of selecting the physical channel to be selected next with reference to the prefectural examination physical channel list 133G. Yes. As a result, all the physical channels registered in the prefectural examination physical channel list 133G are selected.

  Therefore, the area identification determination unit 143G acquires a plurality of program information (TS information) that can be received at the current position, stores the program information in the channel information table 130, and stores the plurality of program information in the next channel selection channel selection unit 114. The current area code may be output.

  FIG. 38 is a flowchart showing a process when a channel scan is executed in the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 100G of FIG. Hereinafter, the channel scan operation will be described with reference to FIG. 38, FIG. 4, FIG. 21, and FIG.

  The remote control input unit 110 receives a remote control signal output from the remote controller by a user operation and analyzes the remote control signal. As a result of the analysis, if the remote control signal is a signal indicating a channel scan request, the current location estimation unit 115 is requested for an estimated current location. In response to this request, the current location estimating unit 115 refers to the channel information table 130 and estimates the area code of the current location (step S01).

  The current location estimating unit 115 according to the present embodiment determines whether or not the estimated area code of the current location is a wide area (step S80). If the current location estimation unit 115 determines that the area code of the current location is a wide area (YES in step S80), the current location determination unit 123G determines which prefectural area constituting the wide area is located ( Step S100). On the other hand, if the current location estimation unit 115 determines that the area code of the current location is not a wide area but a prefecture (NO in step S80), the current location determination process (step S100) is performed because the prefecture has already been identified. Not performed (proceed to step S84).

  The prefectural area specified by the area identification of the prefectural area estimated by the current position estimation unit 115 or the prefectural area specified by the area identification of the current position determined by the current position determination unit 123G becomes the channel scan target area. The current location determination unit 123G passes the area code of the channel scan target area (current location) to the next channel selection channel selection unit 114 (step S84). Here, the area code is not limited to one and may be two or more.

  The next channel selection channel selection unit 114 receives the area code of the current location from the region identification determination unit 143G, and refers to the frequency list A 132G having the value as the record 32 (step S82). The record 32 stores a plurality of TS information, and describes the physical channel number for transmitting each TS.

  The next channel selection unit 114 sequentially extracts the physical channel numbers sequentially from the physical channel number 36 included in the higher-order TS information 33 of the record 32 (step S83). However, the physical channel already selected for determining the prefecture in the current location determination unit 123G is excluded.

  The tuner control unit 111 acquires the physical channel number extracted from the frequency list A 132G by the next channel selection channel selection unit 114 from the next channel selection channel selection unit 114. Then, the tuner control unit 111 performs tuning control on the physical channel number obtained from the next channel selection unit 114 with respect to the tuner unit 101 (step S04).

  Next, the received signal that has passed through the tuner unit 101 that performs the operation of step S <b> 04 is transmitted to the demodulation unit 102. The demodulation unit 102 performs demodulation and error correction, and notifies the channel selection result determination unit 112 of the result. Further, the signal demodulated by the demodulator 102 is transmitted to the demultiplexer 103, and the demultiplexer 103 extracts PSI and SI information from the TS.

  PAT (Program Association Table) and PMT (Program Map Table) included in the PSI are information sent at regular intervals. Therefore, if these pieces of information cannot be received for a certain time, the demultiplexer unit 103 determines that the reception state has deteriorated, and notifies the channel selection result determination unit 112 that PAT and PMT cannot be received. On the other hand, when the PAT and the PMT are received within a predetermined time, the demultiplexer unit 103 transmits the PAT and PMT data to the channel selection result determination unit 112.

  The channel selection result determination unit 112 determines whether or not a TS is detected based on each information received from the demodulation unit 102 and the demultiplexer unit 103 (step S05). When the channel selection result determination unit 112 can detect the TS (YES in step S05), the channel information update unit 113 stores the information collected from the PAT and PMT in the channel information table 130 ( Step S06). On the other hand, when the channel selection result determination unit 112 cannot detect the TS (NO in step S05), the channel information update unit 113 does not perform the storage process in the channel information table 130. Thereafter, upon receiving a completion command from the channel information update unit 113, the next channel selection unit 114 proceeds to the next process.

  Subsequently, the next channel selection unit 114 determines whether the channel scan has been completed for all target physical channels (step S07). That is, the next channel selection channel selection unit 114 refers to the TS information 33 stored in the specified record 32 existing in the frequency list A 132G in order from the top.

  If TS information 33 that has not been channel-scanned still remains in the record 32, it is determined that the channel scan has not been completed (NO in step S07). Then, the next channel selection unit 114 selects the physical channel number 36 included in the next TS information 33 (step S08). Thereafter, the current location determination unit 123G confirms that it is not a physical channel that has already been selected for examining the prefecture (step S08). The tuner control unit 111 performs tuning control on the tuner unit 101 after acquiring the next physical channel number 36 selected by the next channel selection unit 114 in step S08 (step S04).

  On the other hand, when the next channel selection unit 114 has already referred to all the TS information 33 stored in the specified record 32 existing in the frequency list A 132G, the next channel selection unit 114 The next channel selection channel selection unit 114 determines that the channel scan of the area selected in step S82 is completed (in the case of YES in step S07).

  Next, the next channel selection unit 114 determines whether the channel scan has been completed for all target areas (step S09). If the area output by current location determination unit 123G still remains in step S100, next channel selection channel selection unit 114 determines that the channel scan has not been completed (in the case of NO in step S09). Then, the next channel selection unit 114 selects the next area (step S10), and refers to the frequency list A 132G having the value as the record 32 (step S82). On the other hand, if the processing for the physical channel numbers acquired in step S100 has been completed for all areas, the next channel selection unit 114 determines that the channel scan is complete (YES in step S09). If so), the process ends.

  As described above, only the physical channels that can be received in the broadcasting area estimated and determined as the current location are scanned.

  FIG. 39 is a flowchart showing a specific process of the current position determination process (step S100) of FIG. 38 described above. Hereinafter, the processing content of the current location determination processing (step S100) will be described with reference to FIG.

  Based on the area code indicating the wide area transmitted from the current location estimation unit 115, the prefectural area verification physical channel extraction unit 140G determines the prefectural area constituting the wide area with reference to FIG. Next, the prefectural area verification physical channel extraction unit 140G refers to the frequency list A132G, and among the records 32 of the area indicating the prefectural area determined above, the series identification 38 is NHK general, NHK education, TV TOKYO, independent The physical channel number 36 of the TS which is a UHF broadcasting station is extracted (that is, a physical channel transmitted by a broadcasting station having one prefecture area as the only broadcasting area is extracted). Then, the prefectural area verification physical channel extraction unit 140G registers the extracted physical channel number 36 in the prefectural area verification physical channel list 133G. When the registration of the physical channel is completed in the prefectural examination physical channel list 133G, a notification of completion of creation of the prefectural examination physical channel list 133G is output to the channel selection channel selection unit 141G (step S40).

  Here, for the detailed operation of step S40, refer to the above-described fourth to seventh embodiments (FIGS. 27, 30, 34, etc.). 27, 30 and 34, refer to FIGS. 28, 32 and 35.

  The channel selection channel selecting unit 141G receives the notification of the completion of the creation of the prefectural region verification physical channel list 133G from the prefectural region verification physical channel extraction unit 140G, and refers to the prefectural region verification physical channel list 133G. And the channel selection channel selection part 141G acquires the physical channel number used as the candidate for specifying a prefecture area in an order from a high-order record (step S91).

  The tuner control unit 111G acquires the physical channel number acquired in step S91 from the channel selection channel selection unit 141G. Then, the tuner control unit 111G performs tuning control on the physical channel number acquired from the channel selection channel selection unit 141G with respect to the tuner unit 101 (step S92).

  Next, the received signal that has passed through the tuner unit 101 being controlled in step S92 is transmitted to the demodulation unit 102, which performs demodulation and error correction, and notifies the channel selection result determination unit 142G of the result. Further, the signal demodulated by the demodulator 102 is transmitted to the demultiplexer 103, and the demultiplexer 103 extracts PSI and SI information from the TS.

  PAT and PMT included in the PSI are information sent at regular intervals. Therefore, if these pieces of information cannot be received for a certain time, the demultiplexer unit 103 determines that the reception state has deteriorated. Then, the demultiplexer unit 103 notifies the channel selection result determination unit 142G that PAT and PMT cannot be received. On the other hand, when the PAT and the PMT are received within a predetermined time, the demultiplexer unit 103 transmits the PAT and PMT data to the channel selection result determination unit 142G.

  The channel selection result determination unit 142G determines whether or not a TS is detected based on each information received from the demodulation unit 102 and the demultiplexer unit 103 (step S93). When the channel selection result determination unit 142G can detect the TS (YES in step S93), the program information (corresponding to the information shown in FIG. 4) output from the demultiplexing unit 103 is selected. The station result determination unit 142G notifies the area identification determination unit 143. On the other hand, if the channel selection result determination unit 142G cannot detect the TS (NO in step S93), the region identification determination unit 143G is not notified, and steps S95 and S96 described later are executed. Not. Next, regardless of whether the channel selection result is good or bad, the channel selection result determination unit 142G outputs a signal for instructing the channel selection channel selection unit 141G to select a physical channel to be selected next. To do.

  The channel selection channel selection unit 141G receives the command signal from the channel selection result determination unit 142G and refers to the prefectural area verification physical channel list 133G. Then, the channel selection channel selection unit 141G determines whether all the physical channels registered in the prefectural area verification physical channel list 133G have been selected (step S101).

  When the physical channel to be selected remains (NO in step S101), the selected channel selection unit 141G selects the next physical channel according to the list order of the prefectural examination physical channel list 133G. Then, the channel selection channel selection unit 141G outputs a signal indicating the selected next physical channel to the tuner control unit 111G (step S94).

  On the other hand, when all the physical channels registered in the prefectural area verification physical channel list 133G are selected (in the case of YES in step S101), the channel selection channel selection unit 141G checks the prefectural area determination unit 143G. Send a completion notification.

  If the channel selection result of the channel selection result determination unit 142G is good reception, the region identification determination unit 143G updates the channel information table 130 using the program information output from the demultiplexing unit 103 (step S95). . At this time, the area number 14 can be determined from the area identification code obtained from NIT or SDT based on FIG. 4, and the broadcast area at the current location corresponding to the area identification code can be determined by using the tables shown in FIGS. (Step S96).

  In the above description, when receiving the prefectural examination completion notification from the channel selection channel selection unit 141G, the region identification determination unit 143G outputs the area code of the current location as the determination result to the next channel selection channel selection unit 114. As described above, the area code is not limited to one, and there may be two or more. Thereby, the series of processes of the current location determination unit 123G, which is executed to specify the prefecture area when the area code indicating the wide area is received, ends.

  As described above, in the digital broadcast receiving device 100G according to the present embodiment, when the current location estimation unit 115 estimates a predetermined wide area, each physical channel included in a plurality of prefectural areas belonging to the predetermined wide area is Based on the list A 132G, it is extracted as a physical channel for channel selection (step S91). Furthermore, the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 100G performs tuning control on the extracted physical channels with respect to the tuner unit 101 to perform channel selection sequentially, thereby detecting all of the channel selection results detected to be good. Information about the TS is acquired (see FIG. 39, particularly step S101).

<Effect>
Therefore, the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 100G according to the present embodiment sets a plurality of prefecture areas as the current location for channel scanning in consideration of the possibility that a plurality of prefecture areas belonging to a wide area may be detected near the prefectural border. Can do. Therefore, it is possible to avoid loss of effectiveness of receivable channel information in a short time. This can reduce the number of channel scans during long-distance movement, and therefore has the effect of shortening the time that cannot be viewed by channel scan.

(Appendix)
While the embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed and described in detail above, the above description exemplifies aspects to which the present invention can be applied, and the present invention is not limited thereto. In other words, various modifications and variations to the described aspects can be considered without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, in the embodiment, there is only one hardware component of the digital broadcast receiving device, but two or more hardware components may be present. In that case, it is possible to view the content with the added hardware configuration unit while the channel scan is being performed with the hardware configuration unit described in the embodiment of the present invention.

  The present invention is suitable for application to, for example, a vehicle-mounted digital broadcast receiver.

  100, 100A, 100B, 100C, 100D, 100E, 100F, 100G Digital broadcast receiver, 101 tuner unit, 102 demodulating unit, 103 demultiplexing unit, 104 video / audio decoding unit, 105 video / audio output unit, 110 remote controller Input unit, 111, 111C, 111D, 111F, 111G tuner control unit, 112 channel selection result determination unit, 113 channel information update unit, 114th channel selection channel selection unit, 115, 115A, 115B current location estimation unit, 116 service control unit 117 frequency list acquisition unit, 118 internal event processing unit, 119 hardware configuration unit, 120, 120A, 120B channel scan control unit, 121 channel selection control unit, 122 download control unit, 123C current location determination unit, 130 Tunnel information table, 131 Frequency list, 132 Frequency list A, 133, 133G Prefectural area verification physical channel list, 134 Prefectural area verification temporary storage area, 140C, 140D, 140E, 140F, 140G Prefectural area verification physical channel extractor, 141, 141G Channel selection unit, 142, 142G channel selection result determination unit, 143, 143G area identification determination unit.

Claims (22)

A digital broadcast receiver that is mounted on a mobile body and receives a digital broadcast wave with an antenna,
A tuner unit that performs channel selection using the signal received by the antenna as an input, a demodulator unit that demodulates the received signal selected by the tuner unit and outputs a transport stream, and the transport that is input A demultiplexing unit that performs demultiplexing on the stream to separate and extract video packets and audio packets from the transport stream, and decodes video and audio from the video packets and audio packets A hardware configuration unit comprising: a video / audio decoding unit that outputs a video signal and an audio signal; and a video / audio output unit that converts each of the video signal and the audio signal into a predetermined signal format according to a monitor; ,
A channel information table that stores information about each transport stream that can be received when performing a channel scan;
Based on the information stored in the channel information table, a current location estimating unit for estimating a current location;
Each physical channel included in at least one broadcasting area estimated as the current location is extracted as a physical channel for channel scanning based on a frequency list storing information of transmitting stations nationwide, and the tuner unit The transport stream that can be received at the present location from the result of each channel scan by sequentially performing tuning control of tuning to the number of each physical channel extracted in this manner and sequentially performing channel scan A channel scan control unit that updates the information of the channel information table by storing information about the acquired transport stream in the channel information table, and
At the time of channel selection, a physical channel is determined by referring to the channel information table and searching for a transport stream to which the channel specified service belongs. A tuning control unit that performs tuning control of the channel selection and updates information of the channel information table from a channel selection result;
A download control unit that obtains broadcasting station transmitting station information superimposed on the digital broadcast wave from the demultiplexing unit and updates the frequency list by controlling the tuner unit at a date and time notified in advance. Characterized by comprising
Digital broadcast receiver. The digital broadcast receiver according to claim 1,
The current location estimating unit estimates a broadcast area of a transport stream having the latest update date and time as a current location among transport streams belonging to a better reception state than a preset threshold. It is characterized by
Digital broadcast receiver. The digital broadcast receiver according to claim 1,
The present location estimating unit is adjacent to the broadcast area of the transport stream having the latest update date and time among the transport streams belonging to the better reception state than the preset threshold. The broadcasting area to be estimated as the current location,
The channel scan control unit sequentially performs tuning control of tuning to the number of each physical channel included in each of a plurality of broadcast areas estimated as the current location with respect to the tuner unit, and the channel The information in the information table is updated,
Digital broadcast receiver. The digital broadcast receiver according to claim 1,
The current location estimation unit uses a transport stream broadcast area whose update date and time is within a certain period, among transport streams belonging to a better reception state than a preset threshold as the current location. Estimate
The channel scan control unit sequentially performs tuning control of tuning to the number of each physical channel included in each of a plurality of broadcast areas estimated as the current location with respect to the tuner unit, and the channel The information in the information table is updated,
Digital broadcast receiver. The digital broadcast receiver according to claim 1,
When the current location estimation unit estimates a predetermined wide area, each physical channel included in a plurality of prefectures belonging to the predetermined wide area is extracted as a physical channel for channel selection based on the frequency list, By performing tuning control for each of the extracted physical channels to the tuner unit and sequentially performing channel selection, information on the transport stream that the channel selection result first detected as good is obtained. A current location determination unit that acquires and determines one prefecture area belonging to the predetermined wide area as the current location from the acquired information,
Further comprising:
Digital broadcast receiver. The digital broadcast receiver according to claim 1,
When the current location estimation unit estimates a predetermined wide area, each physical channel included in a plurality of prefectures belonging to the predetermined wide area is extracted as a physical channel for channel selection based on the frequency list, By performing tuning control for each of the extracted physical channels to the tuner unit and sequentially performing channel selection, information on all transport streams that have been detected to be good as a result of the channel selection is obtained. A current location determination unit that acquires and determines one or more prefectures belonging to the predetermined wide area as the current location from the acquired information.
Further comprising:
Digital broadcast receiver. The digital broadcast receiver according to claim 5 or 6,
The current location determination unit
Based on the frequency list, a physical channel transmitted by a broadcasting station having one prefecture area as a single broadcasting area is extracted as a physical channel for performing the channel selection,
Digital broadcast receiver. The digital broadcast receiver according to claim 7,
If the broadcasting station with one prefectural area as the only broadcasting area is 2 or more in one predetermined prefectural area,
The current location determination unit
Based on the frequency list, extracting a physical channel transmitted by the one broadcasting station having the smallest total number of physical channels transmitted by the two or more broadcasting stations as a physical channel for performing the channel selection. Features
Digital broadcast receiver. The digital broadcast receiver according to claim 7 or 8,
The current location determination unit
The identification of the broadcasting station with one prefecture area as the only broadcasting area is determined by whether or not it belongs to a predetermined affiliate broadcasting station,
Digital broadcast receiver. The digital broadcast receiver according to claim 7 or 8,
The current location determination unit
Each physical channel extracted as a physical channel for performing channel selection is based on the frequency list for each prefecture area of the plurality of prefecture areas belonging to the predetermined wide area in order of transmission output in descending order. In each prefecture area, tuning is performed sequentially by performing tuning control to each physical channel in the registered order with respect to the tuner unit,
Digital broadcast receiver. The digital broadcast receiver according to claim 7 or 8,
The current location determination unit
Each physical channel extracted as a physical channel to be selected is registered in the prefectural examination physical channel list in descending order of transmission output over the plurality of prefectural areas belonging to the predetermined wide area based on the frequency list. Then, tuning is performed sequentially by performing tuning control to each physical channel in the registered order with respect to the tuner unit,
Digital broadcast receiver. A current position estimating step for estimating a current position based on the information stored in the channel information table for storing information about each transport stream that can be received when performing a channel scan;
Each physical channel included in at least one broadcasting area estimated as the current location is extracted as a physical channel for channel scanning based on a frequency list storing information on transmitting stations nationwide, and extracted to the tuner. The information about the transport stream that can be received at the present location from the result of each channel scan by performing the channel scan sequentially by sequentially performing tuning control of tuning to the number of each physical channel that has been performed A channel scan control step of updating the information of the channel information table by storing information about the acquired transport stream in the channel information table, and
At the time of channel selection, the physical channel is determined by referring to the channel information table and searching for the transport stream to which the selected service belongs, and then the tuner is assigned the number of the physical channel. A tuning control step of performing tuning control of tuning and updating information of the channel information table from a tuning result;
By controlling the tuner in advance notified date, the demultiplexing processing result, and download control step acquires the transmitting station information of the broadcast station which is superposed on the digital broadcast wave updating the frequency list Characterized by comprising,
Digital broadcast receiving method. A digital broadcast receiving method according to claim 12,
The present location estimating step estimates a broadcast area of a transport stream having the latest update date and time as a current location among transport streams belonging to a better reception state than a preset threshold. It is a step,
Digital broadcast receiving method. A digital broadcast receiving method according to claim 12,
The current location estimation step includes a transport area of the transport stream with the latest update date and time adjacent to the broadcast area belonging to a transport stream having a better reception state than a preset threshold. A broadcasting area to be estimated as the current location,
The channel scan control step sequentially performs tuning control of tuning to the number of each physical channel included in each of a plurality of broadcast areas estimated as the current location for the tuner, and the channel information It is a step to update the information of the table,
Digital broadcast receiving method. A digital broadcast receiving method according to claim 12,
The present location estimating step uses a transport stream broadcast area whose update date and time is within a certain period among transport streams belonging to a better reception state than a preset threshold as the current location. Estimation step,
The channel scan control step sequentially performs tuning control of tuning to the number of each physical channel included in each of a plurality of broadcast areas estimated as the current location for the tuner, and the channel information It is a step to update the information of the table,
Digital broadcast receiving method. A digital broadcast receiving method according to claim 12,
When the current location estimation step estimates a predetermined wide area, each physical channel included in a plurality of prefectures belonging to the predetermined wide area is extracted as a physical channel for channel selection based on the frequency list; By performing tuning control for each of the extracted physical channels to the tuner and performing channel selection sequentially, information on the transport stream that the channel selection result is first detected to be good is acquired. Then, a current location determination step of determining one prefecture area belonging to the predetermined wide area as the current location from the acquired information,
Further comprising:
Digital broadcast receiving method. A digital broadcast receiving method according to claim 12,
When the current location estimation step estimates a predetermined wide area, each physical channel included in a plurality of prefectures belonging to the predetermined wide area is extracted as a physical channel for channel selection based on the frequency list; By performing tuning control for each of the extracted physical channels to the tuner and performing channel selection sequentially, information on all transport streams that have been detected as being good is acquired. Then, a current location determination step of determining one or more prefectures belonging to the predetermined wide area as the current location from the acquired information,
Further comprising:
Digital broadcast receiving method. The digital broadcast receiving method according to claim 16 or 17,
The present location determination step includes:
Based on the frequency list, it is a step of extracting a physical channel transmitted by a broadcasting station having a single prefectural area as a single broadcasting area as a physical channel for performing the channel selection,
Digital broadcast receiving method. The digital broadcast receiving method according to claim 18, comprising:
If the broadcasting station with one prefectural area as the only broadcasting area is 2 or more in one predetermined prefectural area,
The present location determination step includes:
Extracting a physical channel transmitted by the one broadcasting station having the smallest total number of physical channels transmitted by the two or more broadcasting stations as a physical channel for performing channel selection based on the frequency list; It is characterized by being,
Digital broadcast receiving method. The digital broadcast receiving method according to claim 18 or 19,
The identification of the broadcasting station with one prefecture area as the only broadcasting area is determined by whether or not it belongs to a predetermined affiliate broadcasting station,
Digital broadcast receiving method. The digital broadcast receiving method according to claim 18 or 19,
The present location determination step includes:
Each physical channel extracted as a physical channel for performing channel selection is based on the frequency list for each prefecture area of the plurality of prefecture areas belonging to the predetermined wide area in order of transmission output in descending order. In each prefecture area, the tuner is sequentially tuned to the physical channel in the order of registration, and the tuning is performed sequentially.
Digital broadcast receiving method. The digital broadcast receiving method according to claim 18 or 19,
The present location determination step includes:
Each physical channel extracted as a physical channel to be selected is registered in the prefectural examination physical channel list in descending order of transmission output over the plurality of prefectural areas belonging to the predetermined wide area based on the frequency list. In addition, the tuner is sequentially tuned by performing tuning control to the physical channels in the registered order with respect to the tuner,
Digital broadcast receiving method.

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