JP7538273B2 - Video display device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an image display device.

Generally, video display devices such as television sets allow the user of the video display device to adjust image quality such as brightness, contrast, and color to suit their own preferences. However, when the user tries to adjust the image quality of the video display device, the user must manually change each setting value while checking the image displayed on the video display device, which requires time and effort. One method for reducing this time and effort is the technology described in Patent Document 1 below.

The following Patent Document 1 describes a technology in which "when two sample images are selected with an image quality adjustment screen showing N sample images with different values of the image quality parameter displayed on the display unit, N is an integer equal to or greater than 3, the image quality adjustment screen is changed to show N or less than N sample images whose image quality parameter values are between the values of the two sample images, and when one sample image is selected with an image quality adjustment screen showing N or less than N sample images displayed on the display unit, the value of the image quality parameter of the image displayed on the display unit is set to the value of the selected sample image," which allows easy image quality setting according to the selected sample image.

JP 2007-147828 A

When the image display device is a television device or the like placed in a living room, the user is not limited, and it is conceivable that multiple users will share the image display device. If there are multiple users and each user has different preferences for settings such as image quality, each user must choose between using the image display device while accepting settings that do not suit his or her preferences, or setting the image quality, etc. every time the image display device is used, which is not user-friendly.

In the above situation, it is desirable for the video display device to identify each user and automatically change the settings according to each identified user. However, the above problem is not taken into consideration in Patent Document 1. Also, even when the video display device has a function for recording digital broadcast programs and displays a list of recorded programs, if the video display device identifies each user and automatically sets the display method of the content corresponding to each identified user, the video display device will be more user-friendly.

The object of the present invention is to take the above problems into consideration and provide an image display device that is easy to use even when shared by multiple users.

As a means for solving the above problem, the present invention may use, for example, an image display device having the configuration described in the claims.

As an example, a video display device capable of displaying content comprises a tuner that receives broadcast program content via digital broadcasting, a communication unit that communicates with a mobile information terminal via a home network and acquires content via an external network, a display unit capable of displaying the content received by the tuner or the content acquired by the communication unit, a memory unit that acquires and stores operator information about the person operating the mobile information terminal from the mobile information terminal via the communication unit and associates and stores the settings for the setting items of the video display device with the operator information about the person operating the mobile information terminal, and a controller. The controller may be configured to compare the operating person information about the new operating person acquired from the new mobile information terminal via the communication unit with the operating person information about the operating person stored in the storage unit to perform an identification process of the operating person, and if the identification process identifies that the operating person information about the new operating person is an operating person corresponding to the operating person information stored in the storage unit, perform a first control to display settings based on the settings for the setting items of the video display device corresponding to the operating person information of the operating person, and if the identification process identifies that the operating person information about the new operating person is an operating person not corresponding to the operating person information stored in the storage unit, perform a second control to display settings with the settings for the setting items of the video display device set to standard settings.

By using the technology of the present invention, it is possible to provide a more user-friendly image display device, even when it is shared by multiple users.

1 is a block diagram of a video display device according to an embodiment; 11A and 11B are conceptual diagrams illustrating an operator identification process according to an embodiment. 11A and 11B are conceptual diagrams illustrating an operator identification process according to an embodiment. 11A and 11B are conceptual diagrams illustrating an operator identification process according to an embodiment. FIG. 11 is a screen diagram illustrating an OSD display for clearly indicating an operator in the embodiment. 11A and 11B are conceptual diagrams illustrating an operator identification process according to an embodiment. 11A and 11B are conceptual diagrams illustrating an operator identification process according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a portable information terminal according to an embodiment. FIG. 11 is a screen diagram illustrating an OSD display for clearly indicating an operator in the embodiment. 11A and 11B are conceptual diagrams illustrating an operator identification process according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a remote control according to an embodiment. 11A and 11B are conceptual diagrams illustrating a setting change process performed in accordance with an operator identified in an operator identification process in the embodiment. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a setting change process performed in accordance with an operator identified in an operator identification process according to an embodiment. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an update process of individual settings and a storage process of new operator information according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a configuration of a setting menu of the video display device in the embodiment. FIG. 11 is a conceptual diagram illustrating individual settings related to display of recorded content in the embodiment. FIG. 11 is a conceptual diagram illustrating individual settings regarding a display layout in the embodiment.

Below, an example embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

Figure 1 is a block diagram of the video display device of this embodiment. The video display device 100 is composed of a main control unit 101, a system bus 102, a ROM 103, a RAM 104, a broadcast receiving unit 110, a display unit 121, a display processing unit 122, a speaker 123, an audio processing unit 124, a storage unit 130, a video input unit 141, an operator identification unit 142, an audio input unit 143, an external interface 150, and an operation unit 160.

The video display device 100 may be a television device with a recording function that has a built-in recording and playback function for digital broadcast programs, or a recording-compatible television device that does not have a built-in recording and playback function and can record and play back digital broadcast programs on an externally connected HDD (Hard Disc Drive) device. It may also be an Internet-compatible television device that can display video content stored by a content server connected to a network such as the Internet. It may also be a tablet terminal, a stationary/portable PC (Personal Computer), a game console, etc. that has a digital broadcast receiving function and a recording and playback function for received digital broadcast programs. It may also be a tablet terminal, a stationary/portable PC, a game console, etc. that can display video content stored by a content server connected to a network such as the Internet. It may also be a combination of a recording and playback device such as an HDD recorder or a BD (Blu-ray Disc) recorder and a monitor device. It may be a combination of a monitor device and an STB (Set Top Box) that can receive digital broadcasts and/or video content stored by a content server connected to a network such as the Internet. It may also be a display device with a touch panel that can display and output figures and characters input using a touch panel.

The main control unit 101 is a microprocessor unit that controls the entire image display device 100 according to a predetermined program. The system bus 102 is a data communication path for transmitting and receiving data between the main control unit 101 and each unit in the image display device 100. The ROM (Read Only Memory) 103 is a memory in which the basic operation programs of the image display device 100, such as an operating system and a predetermined application program, are stored, and a rewritable ROM such as an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable ROM) or a flash ROM is used. It is assumed that the basic operation program can be upgraded or its functions expanded by updating the program stored in the ROM 103. Note that the ROM 103 does not have to be an independent configuration as shown in FIG. 1, and may use a part of the storage area in the storage unit 130 described later. The RAM (Random Access Memory) 104 serves as a work area for executing basic operation programs or applications. The ROM 103 and RAM 104 may be integrated with the main control unit 101.

The broadcast receiving unit 110 performs signal processing such as receiving and decoding digital broadcast waves. In particular, the tuner 111 extracts the signal of the channel selected by the user who operates the video display device 100 from the broadcast wave received by an antenna (not shown), and demodulates the TS (Transport Stream) signal. The separation unit 112 separates the TS signal into packetized video data, audio data, and associated information data, and outputs the video data to the video decoder 113, the audio data to the audio decoder 114, and the associated information data to the information decoder 115. The video decoder 113 decodes the video data output from the separation unit 112 and outputs it to the display processing unit 122 as a video signal. The audio decoder 114 decodes the audio data output from the separation unit 112 and outputs it to the audio processing unit 124 as an audio signal. The information decoder 115 processes the associated information data output from the separation unit 112, and in particular acquires SI (Service Information) information, which includes program information such as the program name, genre, and broadcast start/end dates and times of each program.

The display unit 121 is a display device such as a liquid crystal panel, and provides the video signal processed by the display processing unit 122 to the user of the video display device 100. The display processing unit 122 also performs format conversion and superimposition processing of menus and other OSD (On Screen Display) signals on the input video signal as necessary. The speaker 123 provides the audio signal processed by the audio processing unit 124 to the user of the video display device 100.

The storage unit 130 is used to store the various operational settings of the video display device 100, information on the user of the video display device 100, and various applications that run on the video display device 100, as well as for recording digital broadcast programs. The storage unit 130 is composed of an individual information storage area 131 that stores operator information of the video display device 100 and information on individual settings for each operator, a program recording area 132 that stores recording of digital broadcast programs and information related to the recording of digital broadcast programs (reservation information, etc.), and an other information storage area 133.

Note that a portion of the other information storage area 133 may replace all or part of the functions of the ROM 103. The video display device 100 is also capable of expanding its functions by downloading new applications from an application server connected to a network such as the Internet. At this time, the downloaded new applications are stored in the other information storage area 133. The new applications stored in the other information storage area 133 are deployed on the RAM 104 and executed, thereby enabling the video display device 100 to realize a variety of new functions.

The storage unit 130 needs to retain the stored information even when power is not being supplied to the image display device 100. Therefore, devices such as flash ROM, SSD (Solid State Drive), and HDD are used.

The video input unit 141 is a camera that inputs image data of the surroundings or an object by converting light input from a lens into an electrical signal. The video input unit 141 may be built into the video display device 100 and configured as an integrated unit, or may be a separate camera connected to a USB interface or the like described below. The operator identification unit 142 performs a process (hereinafter referred to as operator identification process) to identify the person who operates the video display device 100 or the terminal device used to operate the video display device 100 (hereinafter, the person and the terminal device are collectively referred to as the operator). The details of the operator identification process will be described later. In FIG. 1, the operator identification unit 142 is described as an independent configuration, but the main control unit 101 may operate to realize the same function using the RAM 104 as a work area. The audio input unit 143 is, for example, a microphone, and converts the user's voice, etc. into audio data and inputs it. The audio input unit 143 may be built into the video display device 100 as an integrated unit, or may be a separate microphone connected to a USB interface, which will be described later.

The external interface 150 is a group of interfaces for expanding the functions of the video display device 100, and in this embodiment, is composed of a LAN (Local Area Network) interface 151, an audio input/output unit 152, a video input/output unit 153, and a USB (Universal Serial Bus) interface 154. The LAN interface 151 is connected to a network such as the Internet via wired or wireless communication to send and receive information. The LAN interface 151 is equipped with an encoding circuit, a decoding circuit, etc. The audio input/output unit 152 and the video input/output unit 153 input audio signals/video signals from an external audio/video output device, and output audio signals/video signals to an external audio/video input device. If the video display device 100 is an HDD recorder, BD recorder, or STB, a monitor device can be connected to the audio input/output unit 152 and the video input/output unit 153. The USB interface 154 is used to connect USB devices such as keyboards or memory cards. If the video display device 100 does not have a built-in recording and playback function and records digital broadcast programs on an externally connected HDD device, the HDD device can be connected to the USB interface 154.

The operation unit 160 is an instruction input unit that inputs operation instructions to the image display device 100, and in this embodiment, is composed of an operation key 161 in the form of an array of button switches and a remote control receiver 162 that receives infrared signals from a remote control. Note that instead of the operation key 161, the image display device 100 may be operated using a touch panel placed on top of the display unit 121. Both may be used in combination. The image display device 100 may be operated using a keyboard or the like connected to the USB interface 154. The image display device 100 may be operated using a mobile information terminal or PC connected to a network via the LAN interface 151.

The example configuration of the image display device 100 shown in FIG. 1 includes components that are not essential to the present invention, such as an external interface 150, but the effects of the present invention are not impaired even if these components are not present. In addition, the configuration may further include a communication unit that enables mobile telephone network communication, an email sending/receiving unit, an acceleration sensor, a gyro sensor, a geomagnetic sensor, a GPS (Global Positioning System) receiving unit, etc.

The image display device 100 of this embodiment has a function of performing operator identification processing under the control of the operator identification unit 142 and automatically changing settings according to the identified operator.

An example of the operator identification process being performed by inputting an image of the person operating the image display device 100 is described below.

For example, as shown in FIG. 2, if person A (400a) is an operator who operates the image display device 100 using the remote control 200, first, the image input unit 141 inputs an image of person A (400a), who is the operator of the image display device 100. Furthermore, the operator identification unit 142 extracts face information (operator information) from the input image and performs face recognition processing to compare the extracted face information with face information that the user of the image display device 100 has previously stored in the individual information storage area 131. If person A (400a) has already registered his/her own face information in the individual information storage area 131, the face recognition processing enables the operator identification unit 142 to identify that the operator of the image display device 100 is person A (400a).

Alternatively, the video input unit 141 inputs an image of person A (400a) who is the operator of the video display device 100, and the operator identification unit 142 performs gesture recognition processing to extract gesture information (operator information) of person A (400a) from the input image and compare the extracted gesture information with gesture information that the user of the video display device 100 has stored in advance in the individual information storage area 131. If person A (400a) has already registered his/her own gesture information in the individual information storage area 131, the gesture recognition processing enables the operator identification unit 142 to identify that the operator of the video display device 100 is person A (400a).

When performing operator identification processing using gesture recognition processing, it is preferable to configure the device to recognize that a gesture for operator identification processing has been made after a predetermined operation. Specifically, for example, if the remote control 200 is provided with a "gesture input" button, gesture recognition for operator identification processing can be performed after the "gesture input" button is pressed. Alternatively, the operator can utter a predetermined keyword (e.g., "start gesture input", etc.), and after the image display device 100 recognizes the keyword, the operator can make a gesture for operator identification processing, which is recognized by the image display device 100. In this way, the recognition efficiency in the gesture recognition processing can be improved.

Also, as shown in FIG. 3, when there are multiple people (three people: person A (400a), person B (400b), and person C (400c)) watching the image display device 100, the image input unit 141 inputs images of the multiple people and detects infrared light output by the remote control transmitter 240 of the remote control 200. In this way, the operator identification unit 142 extracts the facial images of the multiple people and the human body positions connected to the facial images from the input images, and further analyzes the positional relationship between the extracted facial images and human body positions and the detected infrared light, thereby making it possible to identify person A (400a) holding the remote control 200 as the operator of the image display device 100. Furthermore, the operator identification unit 142 performs face recognition processing or gesture recognition processing on the identified person A (400a), making it possible to identify that the operator of the image display device 100 is person A (400a).

The face recognition process and gesture recognition process can be carried out using existing publicly known technology, and therefore detailed explanations will be omitted.

The following describes an example of the case where the operator identification process is performed by inputting the voice of the person operating the image display device 100.

For example, as shown in FIG. 4, when person A (400a) is an operator who operates the image display device 100 using the remote control 200, the voice input unit 143 first inputs the voice uttered by person A (400a), who is the operator of the image display device 100. Furthermore, the operator identification unit 142 performs a voice recognition process to extract predetermined keyword information (operator information) from the input voice and compare the extracted keyword information with keyword information that the user of the image display device 100 has previously stored in the individual information storage area 131. When person A (400a) has registered his/her own keyword information in the individual information storage area 131, the voice recognition process enables the operator identification unit 142 to identify that the operator of the image display device 100 is person A (400a).

The keyword information may be phrases such as "I will operate," "start operation," or "launch," or it may be the name of a person or pet, or words such as "mountain" or "river." In addition, in the voice recognition process, the voice quality, etc. do not need to match as long as the keywords match.

Alternatively, the voice input unit 143 inputs the voice uttered by person A (400a) who is the operator of the image display device 100, and the operator identification unit 142 performs a voiceprint analysis process to extract voiceprint information (operator information) by performing a voiceprint analysis on the input voice, and compares the extracted voiceprint information with voiceprint information that the user of the image display device 100 has previously stored in the individual information storage area 131. If person A (400a) has already registered his/her voiceprint information in the individual information storage area 131, the voiceprint analysis process enables the operator identification unit 142 to identify that the operator of the image display device 100 is person A (400a).

The voice used in the voiceprint analysis process may be any phrase or word, but if a predetermined phrase (e.g., "I will operate it") or word is used, the efficiency of the voiceprint analysis process can be improved.

Furthermore, the voice recognition process and the voiceprint analysis process can be carried out using existing publicly known technology, and therefore detailed explanations will be omitted.

If the person operating the image display device 100 has stored his/her own information in advance in the individual information storage area 131, when the person operates the image display device 100, an OSD may be displayed to indicate that the person is operating the image display device 100.

For example, as shown in FIG. 5, if person A (400a), whose operator information has been stored in advance in individual information storage area 131, is identified as the operator of image display device 100 by operator identification processing, when person A (400a) operates image display device 100, OSD display 121-1, which clearly indicates that image display device 100 is being operated by person A (400a), is displayed on display unit 121. In this way, it becomes possible to clarify who is operating image display device 100, particularly when there are multiple people watching image display device 100.

The timing at which the video display device 100 displays the OSD display 121-1 may be every time an operation is performed on the video display device 100, or may be only when a predetermined operation (such as an operation related to changing the settings of the video display device 100) is performed.

The operator identification process may be performed only at a predetermined timing (when the power is turned on, when returning from a sleep state, etc.). Alternatively, the process may be performed every time the image display device 100 receives a control command from the remote control 200, or may be performed periodically at a predetermined time interval.

In recent years, it has become common to use a mobile information terminal such as a smartphone or tablet terminal as a terminal device for operating a television set for receiving digital broadcasts by running a dedicated application.

An example of applying the above technology and performing the operator identification process by inputting sound output from a mobile information terminal (terminal device that operates the image display device 100) owned by the person operating the image display device 100 is described below.

For example, as shown in FIG. 6, if the mobile information terminal 300 has a function of transmitting an infrared signal for operating the image display device 100 in place of the remote control 200, and person A (400a) is an operator who operates the image display device 100 using the mobile information terminal 300, first, the audio input unit 143 inputs the sound output from the mobile information terminal 300 owned by person A (400a), who is the operator of the image display device 100. Furthermore, the operator identification unit 142 performs a sound source analysis process in which the input sound is digitally sampled and converted into sound data (operator information), and the sound data is compared with sound data that the user of the image display device 100 has stored in advance in the individual information storage area 131. If the sound data selected by person A (400a) has already been registered in the individual information storage area 131, the sound source analysis process enables the operator identification unit 142 to identify that the operator of the image display device 100 is person A (400a).

The sound data may be animal cries, musical instrument sounds, popular songs, etc. The sound source analysis process may use existing publicly known technology, and therefore a detailed description will be omitted.

An example of the case where the operator identification process is performed by communication with a terminal device such as a mobile information terminal that operates the image display device 100 is described below.

For example, as shown in FIG. 7, when the mobile information terminal 300 owned by person A (400a) is the operator of the image display device 100, in response to the operation of person A (400a), the mobile information terminal 300 transmits a control command and operator information to the image display device 100 via the router device 360. Meanwhile, in the image display device 100, the main control unit 101 interprets and executes the transmitted control command, and at the same time, the operator identification unit 142 performs operator identification processing using the transmitted operator information.

Specifically, when the portable information terminal 300 of this embodiment has a configuration as shown in the block diagram of FIG. 8, when person A (400a) operates the operation unit 340 of the portable information terminal 300 (which has already established communication with the video display device 100 through authentication processing) on which an application for controlling the video display device is running, the main control unit 301 first converts the operation into a control command for the video display device 100. Next, the main control unit 301 superimposes operator information for identifying the portable information terminal 300 as the operator of the video display device 100 in the operator identification processing in the operator identification unit 142 on the control command and transmits it from the LAN communication unit 352.

In the video display device 100, the control command with the operator information superimposed thereon, transmitted via the router device 360, is received by the LAN interface 151, and the main control unit 101 interprets and executes the received control command. At the same time, the operator identification unit 142 extracts the operator information from the control command with the operator information superimposed thereon received, and performs a process of comparing it with the operator information previously stored in the individual information storage area 131. If the operator information of the mobile information terminal 300 has already been registered in the individual information storage area 131, the comparison process enables the operator identification unit 142 to identify that the operator of the video display device 100 is the mobile information terminal 300.

The operator information may be data such as the product name and model number of the mobile information terminal 300, or data such as a production number and serial number. If the mobile information terminal 300 has a telephone communication function, it may be a telephone number used for the telephone communication function or other unique number data associated with the telephone number. It may be a keyword, passcode, owner number, etc. arbitrarily determined by the owner of the mobile information terminal 300. The operator information may be stored in the ROM 303, RAM 304, or storage unit 310, or may be stored in a memory card (not shown) connected to the memory interface 341. Owner data stored in association with the telephone number or unique number may be downloaded to a data server on the Internet and used as operator information.

It is also desirable that the mobile information terminal 300 has a user authentication function for authenticating the owner of the mobile information terminal 300, and that the operator information is made valid (transmittable) only when the owner of the mobile information terminal 300 is successfully authenticated by the user authentication function.

The process of authenticating the owner of the portable information terminal 300 may be performed by inputting a password or passcode into the operation unit 340. Alternatively, it may be performed by face authentication by inputting a face image into the video input unit 322, or other image authentication. It may be performed by voice recognition or voiceprint analysis by voice input into the voice input unit 324, or sound source analysis by inputting the sound of a musical instrument or a popular song. Alternatively, it may be performed by fingerprint discrimination by inputting a fingerprint into a fingerprint input unit (not shown). It may be performed by biometric authentication that distinguishes patterns such as palm prints, irises, and veins. It may be performed by touch authentication by touching predetermined positions in a predetermined order on a touch panel placed over the operation unit 340.

In this way, by providing the mobile information terminal 300 with a user authentication function, it is possible to prevent a third party other than the owner of the mobile information terminal 300 from using the operator information of the mobile information terminal 300.

In addition, if the mobile information terminal 300 is identified as the operator of the image display device 100 by the operator identification process, when the image display device 100 is operated by the mobile information terminal 300, an OSD display 121-2 may be displayed to indicate that the mobile information terminal 300 is operating the image display device 100, as shown in FIG. 9.

In addition, if information indicating that the owner of the mobile information terminal 300 having the operator information is person A (400a) is further stored in the individual information storage area 131, the operator identification unit 142 can indirectly identify that person A (400a) is the person using the mobile information terminal 300 who is the operator of the image display device 100.

In this case, when the mobile information terminal 300 is identified as the operator of the image display device 100 by the operator identification process and the image display device 100 is operated by the mobile information terminal 300, an OSD display 121-1 may be displayed indicating that person A (400a) is operating the image display device 100.

The timing at which the image display device 100 displays the OSD display 121-2 or the OSD display 121-1 may be every time that the mobile information terminal 300 transmits a control command to the image display device 100 in response to an operation by person A (400a), or may be only when a predetermined operation (such as an operation related to changing the settings of the image display device 100) is performed.

The operator identification process may be performed only at a predetermined timing (when the power is turned on, when returning from a sleep state, when communication is established between the image display device 100 and the mobile information terminal 300, etc.). Alternatively, the process may be performed every time the image display device 100 receives a control command from the mobile information terminal 300, or may be performed periodically at a predetermined time interval. The process may also be performed by the image display device 100 requesting the mobile information terminal 300 to transmit operator information.

Next, an example of performing the operator identification process by storing operator information in advance in the remote control 200 will be described below.

For example, as shown in FIG. 10, if person A (400a) is an operator who operates the image display device 100 using the remote control 200, person A (400a) stores operator information in advance in the remote control 200 to identify himself/herself. Furthermore, the remote control 200 transmits a control command and the operator information to the image display device 100 in response to the operation of person A (400a). Meanwhile, in the image display device 100, the main control unit 101 interprets and executes the transmitted control command, and at the same time, the operator identification unit 142 performs operator identification processing using the transmitted operator information.

The following describes an example of a method for pre-storing operator information in the remote control 200 that allows the image display device 100 to identify person A (400a).

For example, when the remote control 200 of this embodiment has a configuration as shown in the block diagram of FIG. 11, a predetermined access key (operator information) that person A (400a) has previously stored in the individual information storage area 131 can be input from the operation unit 220 of the remote control 200 and stored in the RAM 204. Alternatively, by bringing the mobile information terminal 300 owned by person A (400a) close to the remote control 200, communication can be established between the near-field wireless communication unit 353 of the mobile information terminal 300 and the near-field wireless communication unit 252 of the remote control 200, and the remote control 200 can read out the operator information of the mobile information terminal 300 and store it in the RAM 204. Alternatively, a memory card 260 (or a memory card-like object) on which the predetermined identification information (operator information) that person A (400a) has previously stored in the individual information storage area 131 is recorded can be connected to the memory interface 252 of the remote control 200.

When person A (400a) operates the operation unit 220 of the remote control 200 in which any of the operator information has been stored by the above process, the main control unit 201 superimposes any of the operator information on a control command for controlling the image display device 100, and transmits it as an infrared signal from the remote control transmission unit 240.

In the video display device 100, the control command with the operator information superimposed thereon is received by the remote control receiver 162, and the main control unit 101 interprets and executes the control command. At the same time, the operator identification unit 142 extracts any of the operator information from the control command with the received operator information superimposed thereon, and performs a process of comparing it with the operator information previously stored in the individual information storage area 131. If person A (400a) has previously registered operator information in the individual information storage area 131 for the purpose of identifying himself/herself, the comparison process enables the operator identification unit 142 to identify that the operator of the video display device 100 is the mobile information terminal 300.

When the remote control 200 is used by a person other than person A (400a), the different person will perform a process of storing operator information in the remote control 200 to identify the different person. In this way, it is possible to perform the operator identification process even when multiple people are viewing the image display device 100 and the remote control 200 is shared by the multiple people.

The operator identification process may be performed each time the image display device 100 receives a control command from the remote control 200, or may be performed by the remote control 200 periodically transmitting operator information to the image display device 100 at a predetermined time interval, regardless of the operation of person A (400a).

An example of operator identification processing has been described above using the figures. The methods described in the above examples may be used not only alone, but also in combination with multiple methods. Also, a method different from the above examples may be used. Examples of different methods of operator identification processing include biometric authentication processing that checks fingerprints, palm prints, veins, irises, etc., and input of a login password.

The image display device 100 of this embodiment further performs a setting change process that applies individual settings for each operator according to the operator identified in the above-mentioned operator identification process. Figures 12 and 13 are a diagram and a flowchart explaining the setting change process performed by the image display device 100 according to the operator identified in the operator identification process.

In the image display device 100 shown in FIG. 12, the operator information of person A (400a) and individual settings for person A (400a), the operator information of person B (400b) and individual settings for person B (400b), and the operator information of person C (400c) and individual settings for person C (400c) are stored in advance in the individual information storage area 131 in association with each other as the operator information of the operator of the image display device 100 and the individual settings for the operator.

In this state, when the power supply of the image display device 100 is turned on using a terminal device such as a remote control or a mobile information terminal (S101), the main control unit 101 of the image display device 100 performs startup processing such as initialization of each unit, and at the same time, the operator identification unit 142 performs operator identification processing (S102). The operator identification processing performed in S102 may use the method described in the above example. In the operator identification processing of S102, if the operator is successfully identified (S103) and it is confirmed that the identified operator is pre-stored as the operator of the image display device 100 (S104), that is, if the operator information of the person who operates the image display device 100 or the terminal device used to operate the image display device 100 matches the operator information stored in the individual information storage area 131, the main control unit 101 reads out the individual settings for the identified operator from the individual information storage area 131 (S105) and applies the read individual settings (S106).

For example, if person A (400a) is identified as the operator of the image display device 100 in the series of processes from S102 to S104, the main control unit 101 reads out and applies the individual settings for person A (400a) stored in association with the operator information of person A (400a) in the individual information storage area 131. Similarly, if person B (400b) is identified as the operator of the image display device 100, the individual settings for person B (400b) are read out and applied from the individual information storage area 131, and if person C (400c) is identified, the individual settings for person C (400c) are read out and applied from the individual information storage area 131.

On the other hand, if the series of processes from S102 to S103 does not successfully identify the operator, or if the series of processes from S102 to S104 successfully identifies the operator but it is not confirmed that the operator information of the identified operator is stored in the individual information storage area 131 (for example, if the person identified in the operator identification process is person D (400d), or if the operator information of the identified terminal device is not stored in the individual information storage area 131, etc.), the main control unit 101 reads the standard settings of the image display device 100 from the ROM 103 (S115) and applies the read standard settings (S106).

When the image display device 100 of this embodiment is turned off, or when the operator is changed midway, it performs a process of updating the individual settings for each operator stored in the individual information storage area 131 as necessary (when the process of S105 is selected when executing the flowchart shown in FIG. 13), or a process of newly storing the operator information of a new operator and the individual settings for the new operator in the individual information storage area 131 (when the process of S115 is selected when executing the flowchart shown in FIG. 13). FIG. 14 is a flowchart explaining a process of updating the individual settings for each operator stored in the individual information storage area 131 (FIG. 14(A)), or a process of newly storing the operator information of a new operator and the individual settings for the new operator in the individual information storage area 131 (FIG. 14(B)), which is performed when the image display device 100 is turned off.

When a control command is sent from a terminal device such as a remote control or a mobile information terminal while waiting for a control command, the image display device 100 receives the control command at the remote control receiver 162 or the LAN interface 151 (S201). Next, the main control unit 101 checks whether the received control command is a power-off command (S202). In S202, if the control command received in S201 is not a power-off command, the main control unit 101 executes the received control command, and then the image display device 100 returns to a state of waiting for a control command.

On the other hand, in S202, if the control command received in S201 is a power-off command, the main control unit 101 reads and applies the individual settings for each operator or the standard settings of the image display device 100, and then checks whether the settings of the image display device 100 have been changed by the operator (S203). If it is determined in S203 that the settings have been changed, the main control unit 101 executes a process of updating the individual settings for each operator stored in the individual information storage area 131 (S204: if the process of reading and applying the individual settings for each operator has been performed), or a process of newly storing the operator information of a new operator and the individual settings for the new operator in the individual information storage area 131 (S214: if the process of reading and applying the standard settings of the image display device 100 has been performed). Furthermore, after executing the process of S204 or S214, the main control unit 101 executes a termination process to turn off the power of the image display device 100 (S205).

If it is determined in S203 that no changes have been made to the settings, the process of S204 or S214 is not executed, and a termination process for turning off the power of the image display device 100 is executed.

When the operator of the image display device 100 is changed midway, first, the same processes as S203 and S204 in FIG. 14(A) (when the process of reading and applying the individual settings for each operator has been performed) or the same processes as S203 and S214 in FIG. 14(B) (when the process of reading and applying the standard settings provided in the image display device 100 has been performed) are performed. Then, depending on the newly identified operator, the same processes as S105 and S106 in FIG. 13 (when the operator information of the newly identified operator is pre-stored in the individual information storage area 131) or the same processes as S115 and S106 in FIG. 13 (when the operator information of the newly identified operator is not stored in the individual information storage area 131) may be performed.

By performing the above process, the image display device 100 of this embodiment can perform a setting change process that automatically applies individual settings for the operator identified in the above-mentioned operator identification process.

In the above example, the individual settings for each operator are stored in the individual information storage area 131 of the image display device 100. However, as a different example, the individual settings for each operator may be stored in the storage unit 310 of the mobile information terminal 300.

In this case, in the processing of the flowchart in FIG. 13, if the series of processing from S102 to S104 has succeeded in identifying the operator and it has been confirmed that the operator information of the identified operator is stored in the individual information storage area 131, the main control unit 101 applies the individual settings for the identified operator that have been obtained from the storage unit 310 of the mobile information terminal 300 by communication via the LAN interface 151.

When the settings of the image display device 100 are changed by operating the mobile information terminal 300, the main control unit 301 can recognize the contents of the setting changes made on the image display device 100. Therefore, when individual settings for each operator are stored in the storage unit 310 of the mobile information terminal 300, it is possible to perform a process of updating the individual settings for each operator or a process of newly storing individual settings for a new operator without acquiring information regarding the contents of the setting changes made on the image display device 100 by communicating with the image display device 100.

However, if the image display device 100 is a display device with a touch panel, such as an electronic whiteboard device equipped with a touch panel, the settings of the display device with a touch panel can be changed by operating the touch panel, not by operating the mobile information terminal 300. In this case, when updating the individual settings for each operator or newly storing individual settings for a new operator, the main control unit 301 acquires information regarding the content of the setting changes made on the display device with a touch panel by communicating with the display device with a touch panel in the process of S204 or S214 in FIG. 14.

The following provides an example of the items that can be set in the individual settings for the operator that the image display device 100 of this embodiment applies depending on the operator identified in the operator identification process.

When the video display device 100 is a television device for receiving digital broadcasts, it is common that items such as the image quality, sound quality, and operating mode when viewing digital broadcast programs can be changed according to preference. Therefore, even in the video display device 100 of this embodiment, for example, settings related to image quality such as image brightness, black level, color tone, and color density, settings related to sound quality such as the strength of each range of sound, settings related to device operation such as the operating mode of the built-in frame rate conversion circuit, backlight brightness, and power saving mode on/off, etc. can be stored in the individual information storage area 131 as individual settings for each operator.

In this way, the image display device 100 of this embodiment identifies the operator by the operator identification process, and can read and apply individual settings such as image quality settings, sound quality settings, and operation settings for each device that have been stored in advance in the individual information storage area 131 for the operator according to the identified operator. As a result, the person who operates the image display device 100 or the person who operates the terminal device used to operate the image display device 100 can apply and use the image quality, sound quality, and other settings that he or she has set according to his or her own preferences to the image display device 100 without being affected by setting changes made by others.

However, it is not necessarily necessary to store all of the setting items that can be set by the operator of the video display device 100 in the individual information storage area 131 as individual settings for each operator. For example, if the setting menu configuration of the video display device 100 of this embodiment is as shown in FIG. 15, it is desirable to store the setting contents set according to the preferences of each operator for each item of "video setting" and each item of "audio setting" as individual settings in the individual information storage area 131. On the other hand, the "reception setting" item and the "communication setting" item that are subordinate to "initial setting" are not stored in the individual information storage area 131 as individual settings for each operator, and only one setting content can be stored in the other information storage area 133 as a common setting for the video display device 100.

In other words, in this embodiment, the settings in the "Reception Settings" item are settings related to the area in which the video display device 100 is used, settings related to broadcast stations that can be received in that area, etc., and are not items that are usually changed according to the preferences of each operator. Also, the settings in the "Communication Settings" item are settings related to the IP (Internet Protocol) address, subnet mask, and default gateway of the LAN interface 151 of the video display device 100, and settings related to the DNS (Domain Name System) server, etc., and once the settings are made immediately after the video display device is installed, there is no need to change the settings frequently thereafter.

Therefore, by not storing the settings related to the "reception settings" item and the "communication settings" item in the individual information storage area 131 as individual settings for each operator, it is possible to reduce the required capacity of the individual information storage area 131.

In addition, when the video display device 100 is a television device with a built-in function for recording and playing digital broadcast programs, it generally has a function for displaying a list of recorded digital broadcast programs. Therefore, in the video display device 100 of this embodiment, the settings for the initial display position when displaying a list of recorded programs, etc., can be stored in the individual information storage area 131 as individual settings for each operator.

For example, the folder structure in the list display of recorded programs of the video display device 100 of this embodiment is the structure shown in FIG. 16, and furthermore, the video display device 100 of this embodiment is shared by three people, namely, person A, person B, and person C, and the three people each record digital broadcast programs. In this case, when the video display device 100 of this embodiment identifies person A as the operator by the operator identification process, the individual setting for person A is read from the individual information storage area 131 and applied, so that the setting is changed so that the "Person A's Recorded Programs" folder in the lower layer of the "User" folder is the initial display position in the list display of recorded programs. Similarly, when person B is identified as the operator by the operator identification process, the "Person B's Recorded Programs" folder in the lower layer of the "User" folder is the initial display position. Also, if the operator information of the operator identified by the operator identification process is not stored in the individual information storage area 131, the setting can be changed so that the "All" folder is the initial display position in the list display of recorded programs by reading the standard setting from ROM 103 and applying it. Alternatively, you can choose not to allow list display.

In this way, when a person operating the video display device 100 of this embodiment or a person operating a terminal device used to operate the video display device 100 requests the video display device 100 to display a list of recorded programs, the folder in which the person's recorded programs are stored can be quickly displayed, and the contents can be easily confirmed.

In addition, when the video display device 100 is a television device having a function for connecting to a network such as the Internet, and a function for searching a network or executing other applications, as shown in FIG. 17, it is possible to simultaneously display a digital broadcast program video window 121-3, a window 121-4 listing URLs (Uniform Resource Locators) for Internet access, a window 121-5 listing icons of applications executable on the video display device 100, and the like on the display unit 121. In the video display device 100 of this embodiment, the display positions of the digital broadcast program video window 121-3, the window 121-4 listing URLs for Internet access, and the window 121-5 listing icons of applications can be freely arranged, and the layout of the display positions of each window, etc., can be stored in the individual information storage area 131 as individual settings for each operator.

In addition, each operator may set the initial display channel in the digital broadcast program video window 121-3, the favorite URL in the Internet access URL list window 121-4, the icons of frequently used applications in the application icon list window 121-5, etc., according to his or her preferences, and store these in the individual information storage area 131 as individual settings for each operator.

In this way, the video display device 100 of this embodiment identifies the operator by the operator identification process, and can read and apply individual settings such as the display position of the window for the operator, the initial display channel, favorite URLs, and icons of frequently used applications that have been stored in advance in the individual information storage area 131 according to the identified operator. As a result, the person who operates the video display device 100 or the person who operates the terminal device used to operate the video display device 100 can use the video display device 100 with a window layout that they have set according to their own preferences, without being affected by setting changes made by others.

In addition, if the video display device 100 is a television device capable of displaying video content stored in a content server connected to a network such as the Internet, it is possible to download and store video content from the content server, or purchase paid video content on the content server and stream it. It is also desirable that the video display device 100 not only be able to display a list of a large number of video contents on the content server, but also have a function of displaying a list of only the downloaded video content or a function of displaying a list of only the purchased video content. In this case, the video display device 100 of this embodiment may store a list of the video content downloaded by each operator, a list of the video content purchased, etc., in the individual information storage area 131 as individual settings for each operator.

In this way, the video display device 100 of this embodiment can identify the operator by the operator identification process, and can read out a list of video contents downloaded or purchased by the identified operator from the individual information storage area 131. As a result, when a person operating the video display device 100 or a person operating a terminal device used to operate the video display device 100 requests the video display device 100 to display a list of downloaded video contents or purchased video contents, it becomes possible to extract and display only the video contents downloaded or purchased by the person from among many video contents.

The above describes examples of embodiments of the present invention, but it goes without saying that the configurations for realizing the technology of the present invention are not limited to the above examples. Furthermore, the numerical values and message texts that appear in the text and figures are merely examples, and the effects of the present invention will not be impaired if different ones are used.

The functions of the present invention described above may be realized in part or in whole in hardware, for example by designing them as integrated circuits. They may also be realized in software by a microprocessor or the like interpreting and executing a program that realizes each function. The programs may be stored in advance in the ROM 103 of the video display device 100 or in the other information storage area 133 in the storage unit 130, or may be obtained from an application server on the Internet via the LAN interface 151. The programs stored in a memory card may also be obtained via the USB interface 154.

The control lines and information lines shown in the diagram are those considered necessary for explanation, and do not necessarily show all control lines and information lines in the product. In reality, it can be assumed that almost all components are interconnected.

100: Video display device, 101: Main control unit, 102: System bus, 103: ROM, 104: RAM, 110: Broadcast receiving unit, 111: Tuner, 112: Separation unit, 113: Video decoder, 114: Audio decoder, 115: Information decoder, 121: Display unit, 122: Display processing unit, 123: Speaker, 124: Audio processing unit, 130: Storage unit, 131: Individual information storage area, 132 : program recording area, 133: other information storage area, 141: video input section, 142: operator identification section, 143: audio input section, 150: external interface, 151: LAN interface, 152: audio input section, 153: video input/output section, 154: USB interface, 160: operation section, 161: operation keys, 162: remote control receiving section, 200: remote control, 201: main control section, 202: system bus, 203: ROM, 204: RAM, 210: display section, 220: operation section, 231: acceleration sensor, 232: gyro sensor, 240: remote control transmitting section, 251: near-field wireless communication section, 252: memory interface, 260: memory card, 300: portable information terminal, 301: main control section, 302: system bus, 303: ROM, 304: RAM, 310: storage section, 32 1: Display unit, 322: Video input unit, 323: Speaker, 324: Audio input unit, 331: Acceleration sensor, 332: Gyro sensor, 333: Geomagnetic sensor, 334: GPS receiver, 335: Illuminance sensor, 340: Operation unit, 341: Memory interface, 351: Mobile telephone network communication unit, 352: LAN communication unit, 353: Near field communication unit, 360: Router device, 370: WAN (Wide Area Network)

Claims (5)

A video display device capable of displaying content,
a tuner for receiving broadcast program content via digital broadcast;
a display unit capable of displaying content received by the tuner or content acquired by communicating with a mobile information terminal via a network;
a storage unit that acquires from the portable information terminal and stores operator information related to the operator of the portable information terminal, and stores the setting contents for the setting items of the video display device and the operator information related to the operator of the portable information terminal in association with each other;
A controller;
Equipped with
The controller:
performing an identification process of the operator by comparing operator information relating to the new operator acquired from the new portable information terminal with operator information relating to the operator stored in the storage unit;
When the identification process identifies that the operating person information related to the new operating person corresponds to the operating person information stored in the storage unit, a first control is performed to display settings based on setting contents for setting items of the video display device corresponding to the operating person information of the operating person,
When the identification process identifies that the operator information on the new operator does not correspond to the operator information stored in the storage unit, a second control is performed to display a standard setting different from the setting contents for the setting items of the video display device;
In the second control,
When the setting contents that were set as the standard settings are changed by the new operator, the changed setting contents and the new operator information are associated with each other and stored in the storage unit ;
If the new operator does not change the setting contents set as the standard settings, the new operator information is not stored in the storage unit.
1. A video display device comprising: 2. The image display device according to claim 1,
The video display device, wherein the setting items of the video display device are setting items on a setting menu screen consisting of a plurality of setting items. 2. The image display device according to claim 1,
The video display device is characterized in that the setting items of the video display device include setting items whose setting contents for the setting items of the video display device are set in association with operator information regarding the person operating the mobile information terminal, and setting items whose setting contents for the setting items of the video display device are set in common regardless of operator information regarding the person operating the mobile information terminal. 2. The image display device according to claim 1,
2. The image display device according to claim 1, wherein, when the first control is performed, a display showing the identified operator is performed on the display unit. 2. The image display device according to claim 1,
This video display device is characterized in that when the identification process identifies an operator information about the new operator as being an operator that does not correspond to the operator information stored in the memory unit, it enables a process of newly storing operator information about the new operator in the memory unit.

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