JPH02260775A - Video signal recording system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To attain the recording contents to be quickly recorded by recording the video signal and sound signal of the contents observed/listened by a user at present or only the video signal by depressing a button on a TV receiver body or a button mounted on a remote control device. CONSTITUTION:At the time of detecting recording start operation, a microcomputer 8 in the TV receiver 1 decides what is a signal displayed at present on the screen of the receiver 1, and when the signal is a signal outputted from a recording apparatus 2, outputs an instruction for commanding a signal generating means built in the apparatus 2 to execute recording to the apparatus 2. At the time of deciding the start enable state of recording operation, a microcomputer 17 in the apparatus 2 starts recording in accordance with the specified instruction and outputs an instruction for outputting a display informing the start of recording on the screen of the receiver 1. Consequently, the user can record the required contents.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a combination system of a television receiver and a video tape recorder (hereinafter referred to as VTR), a video recording device such as a video printer, etc. [Technology] Conventionally, when attempting to record the TV program/content that is currently being watched on a VTR, the following operations are required.

■Turn on the VTR.

■Tune the VTR to the same channel as the TV you are currently watching.

■Place the VTR in recording mode.

The above procedure is performed when the VTR contains a recording tape and
This is an example showing the operation from a state where TR is off. This VTR operation can be performed using the operation buttons on the VTR body or
This can be done using the R remote control device.

As for the remote control, there is currently a remote control unit that can be used for both TV and VTR.

An example of this is "Television Technology 19" published by Denshi Gijutsu Shuppansha.
88. It is introduced on pages 14 and 15 of the October special issue.

In addition to adjusting the VTR channel to the TV channel during the above procedure, if you are using a TV equipped with an external output terminal, you can also connect the TV's external output to the VTR's external input. By selecting external input, you can record what you are watching on TV.

This type of connection between a TV and a VTR is described in "rAV System Technology" published by the Television Reception Improvement Committee, pages 167 to 175.
Discussed on page.

However, this requires an operation to select the external input of the VTR, which does not reduce the number of steps.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

In the above-mentioned conventional technology, in order to record the content of the TV currently being watched, a series of VTR operations must be performed.
It took some time before recording actually started. For example, when it is necessary to start recording in a short time, such as a list of ingredients for a cooking program or the address of an application postcard, the target screen may be switched depending on the operation time.

The reasons for the long operation time are: 1) When using the buttons on the VTR itself, the place where the VTR is stored is recessed.

■When operating the VTR remote control, the location of the remote control is inconsistent and cannot be found.

■Even if a TV remote control is equipped with VTR operation buttons, multiple buttons must be operated in order.

Things like this can be mentioned.

However, before you can start recording on your VTR, you need to adjust the VTR's receiving channel to match the TV channel you are currently watching. For this reason,
If you forget to perform this preparatory operation and perform a recording operation, problems are likely to occur, such as a channel different from the one you desired being recorded.

An object of the present invention is to shorten the above-mentioned time and to prevent the occurrence of erroneous recording.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to achieve the above purpose, the television receiver is provided with an operation button and its processing circuit that generate a control signal that causes the television receiver to start recording the information currently being viewed, and a recording start command is sent to the external recording device. The recording device receives the output and starts recording.

In addition, in order to correctly record the information currently being viewed, the device is equipped with means for outputting external inputs other than signals from the recording device and signals built into the television receiver, and the recording device is provided with a means for outputting the signals from the above output. A command to specify which of the internal signals of the device is to be recorded is now output.

The recording device receives the above command, determines whether recording can be started, and if recording is possible, turns on the recording device, starts recording, and displays a recording start message on the television receiver. I provided them with a means of issuing commands so that they could do so. If recording is not possible, a means is provided to display the cause on the screen of the television receiver.

[Effect]

When the microcomputer in the television receiver detects a recording start operation, it determines what the signal is currently displayed on the screen of the television receiver, and if it is a signal other than the signal from the recording device, it , outputs to the recording device a command specifying to record a signal from a terminal that outputs a signal other than the input signal from the recording device from a television receiver connected to an external signal input of the recording device; Further, when the signal displayed on the screen is a signal from the recording device, the microcomputer outputs a command to the recording device to designate a signal generating means built in the recording device to record.

As a result, if the microcomputer in the recording device determines that it is ready to start recording, it will start recording according to the specified commands above, and will output a display announcing the start of recording on the screen of the television receiver. Outputs instructions to .

As described above, the user can record the desired content simply by activating the recording start operation means provided on the television receiver, and can confirm that recording has started, so that the user can record the desired content by simply activating the recording start operation means included in the television receiver. Time and effort are simplified. Furthermore, there is no need for the user to perform an operation to match the content being viewed with the content to be recorded, and erroneous recording can be prevented.

Furthermore, if the microcomputer in the recording device cannot start the recording operation at the time when the recording start command is input,
Since the system is controlled so that a message informing the cause of the failure is displayed on the screen of the television receiver, the user can start recording again by following the displayed message and removing the cause, thereby preventing recording failures. It can be prevented.

〔Example〕

The present invention will be explained in detail below.

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the invention.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a television receiver, and a channel selection command selected by the user by a remote control transmitter 6 for the television receiver is converted into a digital electrical signal by a remote control light receiving circuit 7 and sent to a microprocessor 8. is input. The microprocessor 8 controls the tuner section 9 in order to receive the designated channel according to the input digital signal. The video signal from the tuner section 9 is input to a signal switching circuit 11. The microprocessor 8 controls the internal switches of the signal switching circuit 11 to connect as shown by solid lines in the figure in order to transmit the signal from the tuner section 9 to the video signal processing circuit 12. The signal switching circuit 11 is configured so that in addition to the signals from the tuner section 9, signals from external input terminals 15 and 16 can also be input. In the figure, the first external input 15 is connected to the VTR 2, and the second external input 16 is connected to the second external input such as a video disc player or BS tuner.
is connected to an external device 26. Reference numeral 27 denotes a character generator unit for displaying channel numbers, etc. The contents to be displayed are controlled by the microprocessor 8, and the output is combined with the signal output on the screen by the video signal processing circuit 12. 14 is the first external input terminal 15
via the video signal processing circuit 12 except for input signals from
This is an output terminal that outputs the same signal as the signal displayed on the cathode ray tube 13.

2 is a VTR in which a signal from a tuner section 19 and a signal from an external input terminal U can be selected by a microprocessor 17 and a signal switching circuit 18 in the same way as a television, and the selected output is sent from a magnetic head and a recording/reproducing circuit. The data is input to the recording section 20, and can be recorded and recorded under the control of the microprocessor 17. 22 is the input from the signal switching circuit and VT
This is an output section for synthesizing the input from the character generator section 21 for displaying the operating state of R, etc., and outputting the synthesized signal to the external output terminal n. 10 and 25 are antennas connected to a tuner section 9.19. 29 is a group of operation buttons equipped on the main body of the VTR2. television l
The external output terminal 14 of the VTR 2 is connected to the external input terminal of the VTR 2.
The external output terminal 1000 of the TR2 is connected to the first external input terminal 15 of the television l.

3 and 4 are control terminals for bidirectional communication between the microprocessor 8 of the television 1 and the microprocessor 17 of the VTR 2.
is connected.

As an example, the operation will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. In FIG. 2, the portion surrounded by a broken line is the operation by the microprocessor 17 of the VTR 2 and other operations by the microprocessor 8 of the television 1.

VT of the content of the first channel that the user is currently watching
When attempting to record on R2, the operation can be started by pressing the record button 5 on the television main body shown in FIG. 1 or the record button provided on the remote control device 6.

The operation when the recording button 5 is pressed will be described below.

The microb 9 setter 8 constantly monitors whether the record button 5 connected to the microprocessor 8 is pressed. (Flowchart Fig. 2 4) When the record button 5 is pressed, the microprocessor 8
As a result, the input signal of the recording circuit 20 to the VTR 2 becomes V
It outputs a command specifying the signal to be input from the external output terminal of TR2. (FIG. 2 41) Furthermore, a command is sent to the control terminal 3 for the VTR 2 to start recording. (FIG. 2 42) The above command is input to the microprocessor 17 of the VTR 2 since the control terminals 3 and 4 are connected.

When the microprocessor 17 receives the command 42, it checks whether the VTR 2 can start recording at that time.

The state in which recording can be started includes the following cases: a recordable tape is already loaded, the power is turned off, and the tape running operation has stopped.

Conditions in which recording cannot be started include: 1) a recordable tape is not trapped, 2) the tape is already in a recording state, 2) the tape is being played back, and 2) the tape is in a timer reservation state.

Judgment of these states is made as shown in FIG. 2, and a detailed example is shown in the flowchart of FIG.

First, in FIG. 2, a case will be described in which it is determined that recording can be started. (YES branch in FIG. 2, 43) Since the VTR 2 is ready to start recording, the microprocessor 17 turns on 111 of the VTR 2 (FIG. 2, 54), and in accordance with the instruction 41, outputs data from the external input signal. The signal switching circuit 18 is controlled to be connected as shown by the solid line in the figure so that the input signal is input to the recording section 2o. (
[Fig. 2 44] After this, a command to start printing is sent to the recording unit 2°. (Fig. 2 45) Through the above operations, the content currently being viewed by the user, that is, the content of the first channel displayed on the cathode ray tube 13, is transferred to the external output terminal 1 of the television 2 by pressing the record button 5. ,V
The result is that the signal is input to the recorder via the external input terminal of TR2 and the signal switching circuit 18 and is recorded.

Further, by continuing the operations shown in FIGS. 47 to 49 in FIG. 2, it becomes possible to confirm the start of recording and to terminate the recording. This will be briefly described below.

After starting the recording operation, the microprocessor 17 of the VTR 2 outputs a signal or command to the control terminal 4 to the television l indicating that recording has started. (FIG. 2 46) This command is input to the microprocessor 8 of the television 1 via the control terminal 3. Thereby, in order to output a message on the screen so that the user can confirm the start of recording, the microprocessor 8 performs necessary control on the character generator section 27 to output a message character signal. This message character signal is combined with the signal from the tuner section 9 in the video signal processing circuit 12 and displayed on the screen. The message to be displayed may be, for example, "Recording has started." (FIG. 2 47) Also, according to the instruction, the microprocessor 8 uses the internal flip-flop operation to process the next operation of the record button 5 to operate as a function to stop recording of the VTR 2. Therefore, the user can press the recording button 5 to stop the recording operation. (FIG. 2 48) The microprocessor 8 detects the operation of the second recording button 5 and outputs a recording stop command to the control terminal 3 to the VTR 2. The microprocessor 17 of the VTR 2 receives this command and controls the recording section to stop recording.

Regarding the stop operation of recording, if the control line according to the present invention is configured so that it does not interfere with the operation of the operation button detailed recording equipped on the main body of the VTR, the VTR can be stopped.
This can also be done using the stop button on the TR body. However, in this case, in order to reset the flip-flop operation of the microprocessor 8 of the television 1, the VT
The microprocessor 17 of R2 needs to output a command to the control terminal 4 indicating that the recording operation has stopped.

Next, referring to FIG. 2 and 4, the operation when the VTR'2 cannot start recording will be described. (Branch of 43 NO in FIG. 2) Since recording cannot be started when a recording tape is not installed in the VTR 2, the microprocessor 17 sends a message to the microprocessor 8 of the television 1 via the control terminal 4. A command to switch the viewing mode to a mode in which the signal from the first external input terminal 15 of the television 1 can be viewed is output. (Fig. 2 50) The microprocessor 8 of the television 1, in response to the instruction in the above (capital), changes the internal connections of the signal switching circuit 11 so that the part a in the figure remains in the solid line state and the part b in the broken line state. switching,
While outputting the signal being viewed to the external output terminal 14,
The first external human power 15 is placed in a state where it can be viewed.

Next, the microprocessor 17 of the VTR 2 controls the character generator section 21 to output a message character so as to output a message that cannot start recording, and sends this message character signal and the signal from the external output terminal Sae to the output section 21. Control is performed so that the signal switching circuit 18 is connected as shown by the solid line in the figure so that the signals can be synthesized. As a result, a signal obtained by combining the signal currently being viewed and the message is sent to the first external input terminal 15 of the external terminal n1 television 1.
, signal switching circuit 11, video signal processing circuit 12. The signal is output on the screen via the cathode ray tube 13. (Fig. 2 51,
52) This operation allows the user to know the necessary measures, such as loading a tape on the VTR.

In the above description, an example has been described in which the recording button 5 is pressed, but it can also be executed by pressing the recording button 4 provided on the remote control device 6. Although the description of the audio signal is omitted in this explanation, the audio signal is also recorded through the same operation as described above.

Next, in FIG. 1, the user transmits the signal selected by the tuner section 19 built in the VTR 2 to the signal switching circuit 180, through the path indicated by the broken line in the figure, to the output section 22, to the external output terminal, and to the first external terminal of the television 1. The flowchart in FIG. 3 shows an outline of the operation when viewing is performed through the path of the input terminal 15, the signal switching circuit 11, shown by the broken line in the lower part of the figure, the video signal processing circuit 12, and the cathode ray tube 13.

The parts of the operation in FIG. 3 that are different from the operations described in FIG.

The user is currently watching tuner section 1 of VTR2.
9, and in order to record it correctly, the microprocessor 8 of the television 1 inputs it to the control terminal 3 as an input signal to the recording section of the VTRI at 61.
It outputs a command specifying that the signal from the tuner section 19 be input. If the VTR 2 is capable of recording, the microprocessor 17 determines whether the signal from the tuner section 19 is connected to the recording section or not. The state ζ shown by the broken line in the figure is changed so that the output is output to O. However, since this state is already switched from the time when the user is viewing the signal from the tuner section 9 of the VTR 2, it can be omitted.

The operations other than those described above are the same as those in the flowchart shown in FIG. 2 described above, and will therefore be omitted.

As described above, even when the user is watching with the tuner of the VTR, the recorder 8 controls the signal switching circuit 11 in the television 1 so that the content that the user is currently watching is controlled by the VTR.
It is clear that TR2 can be commanded which signals to record. That is, the first external input terminal 15
If you are watching on the TV, specify the tuner 19 in the VTR 2, and if you are watching on the tuner 9 in the television or the second external input terminal 16, specify the VTR 2.
By specifying the external input terminal of TR2, you can record what you are watching.

Additionally, in FIG. 3, by causing the microprocessor 17 to determine that the state of the signal switching circuit 18 should be left unchanged, the next recording button is switched from the field state in the flowchart of FIG. By the operation 5, it is possible to record from the state where the video is being viewed using the external input terminal of the VTR.

In addition, in the configuration shown in FIG. 1, if the reception channel selection methods of the tuner section 9 of the television 1 and the tuner section 19 of the VTR 2 are always in a one-to-l correspondence, for example, a frequency synthesizer method may be used. In this case, by sending the frequency information of the channel being received by the tuner section 9 of the television 1 to the microprocessor 17 of the VTR 2, the tuner section 19 can select the same broadcast channel, so the connection of the signal switching circuit 18 can be changed. The same content that the user is viewing can be recorded even if the state shown by the broken line in the figure is maintained.

An example of this case is shown in the flowchart of FIG. In FIG. 4, reference numeral 91 indicates the operation of transmitting the channel number or channel frequency of the channel being received by the tuner section 9, and reference numeral 94 indicates the operation of the microprocessor 17 of the VTR 2, which has received the command from the tuner section 19, to send the channel number or channel frequency of the channel being received by the tuner section 9. This operation is to control the signal switching circuit 18 to select a reception channel and input the signal to the recording circuit 4, and other operations are the same as in FIG.

FIG. 6 shows a second embodiment according to the present invention. In FIG. 6, l is a television receiver, the main parts of which are the same as in FIG. 1, and the output from the external output terminal 14 is as follows:
This is an example of a configuration in which only signals from the tuner section 9 are received. The printer is a video printer, and the signals input from an external input terminal 31 are sequentially stored in a field memory section.

The field memory unit is controlled by a microprocessor, the output of which is input to the printing unit. The printing unit U is also controlled by the microprocessor A, and starts printing on print paper in response to a control signal from the microprocessor A. For more information on printer parts,
Since it is not directly related to the present invention, it will be omitted.

Referring to FIG. 6, the control terminal 3 is connected to a control terminal 32 of a video printer 30, and the control terminal 32 is connected to a microprocessor 35. Further, the external output terminal 14 of the television 1 is connected to the external input terminal 31 of the video printer 30.

Microprocessor 8 with control terminals 3.35
．． It is assumed that the operation of 35 is similar to that in the example shown in FIG. 1 described above.

In this configuration, when the recording button 5 is pressed, the input is input to the printer J of the tuner section 9 that is viewing the video, and the printing operation is started by the operation of the microprocessor 35. The operation to record the content being viewed is performed.The same applies to the operation by the remote control device 6.

〔Effect of the invention〕

According to the present invention, by pressing a button on the television receiver body or a button provided on a remote control device, the video signal, audio signal, or video signal of the content currently being viewed by the user can be recorded. This allows you to perform recording and recording start operations, which conventionally required multiple button operations, with a single button operation, allowing you to record content that needs to be recorded quickly, such as dishes that are only available for a short period of time. This technology is effective for recording and recording information such as program material lists and application postcard addresses. In the case of VTRs, it is common that it currently takes time from the recording operation to the actual recording on the tape due to the tape loading mechanism of the VTR. Furthermore, in the past, in order to record what was being viewed, it was necessary to perform a preparatory operation to adjust the state of the VTR so that the same signal as the content being viewed was recorded correctly. The user can view the desired content in place of this preparatory action, and there is no need to perform this preparatory action, which also solves the problem of erroneous recording.

Furthermore, if the VTR cannot record, the reason and solution will be displayed as a message on the TV screen, which has the advantage of making it easier for users who have previously avoided operating the VTR. .

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram of a first embodiment according to the present invention, FIG.
3 and 4 are operational flowcharts of the embodiment in the configuration of FIG. 1, and FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a detailed operational example of the operation of flow 43 in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4. 6 are circuit diagrams of a second embodiment of the present invention. l...Television receiver 4...VTR 3, 4...Control terminal 5...Record button 6 equipped on the television receiver body...Remote control device for the television receiver 8.17.
・Microprocessor

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A television receiver (1), and means (5, 6, 7, 8), means (8) for generating a control signal for starting recording from the output terminal of the television receiver in response to a start instruction control signal from the control signal generating means; A video signal recording system comprising a recording means (2) to which a recording start control signal is input and for recording the video signal in response to the recording start control signal. 2. In claim 1, the image information displayed on the screen of the television receiver is image information selected by a channel selection means inside the television receiver, and in response to the start instruction signal, A video signal recording system characterized in that the video signal from the channel selection means is sent to the recording means. 3. In claim 1, the image information displayed on the screen of the television receiver is image information selected by the channel selection means within the recording means, and the image information displayed on the screen of the television receiver is the image information selected by the channel selection means within the recording means, and A video signal recording system characterized in that the recording means records the video signal from the channel selection means. 4. In claim 1, the image information displayed on the screen of the television receiver is an external device that outputs a video signal, and the video signal from the external device is output in response to the start instruction signal. A video signal recording system characterized in that the recording means records. 5. The video signal recording system according to claim 4, wherein the external device is a video disc player. 6. The video signal recording system according to claim 4, wherein the external device is a satellite broadcast tuner. 7. The video signal recording system according to claim 1, wherein the recording means further comprises means for determining whether or not the recording means is in a recordable state. 8. In claim 7, the determining means includes means for transmitting a status signal to the television receiver when determining whether or not recording is possible, and the television receiver transmits this status signal to the television receiver. A video signal recording system characterized in that the video signal is displayed on a receiver. 9. The video signal recording system according to claim 7, further comprising control means for turning on the power of the recording means when the determining means determines that the power of the recording means is turned off. 10. The video signal recording system according to claim 8, further comprising display control means for displaying a recording start message on the screen of the television receiver when the determination means determines that recording is possible. . 11. The video according to claim 8, further comprising display control means for displaying a message on the screen of the television receiver indicating the reason why recording is not possible when the determining means determines that recording is not possible. Signal recording system. 12. The video signal recording system according to claim 11, wherein the message indicating the reason why recording is not possible is "recording in progress." 13. The video signal recording system according to claim 11, wherein the message indicating the reason why recording is not possible is "reproducing". 14. The video signal recording system according to claim 11, wherein the message causing the recording failure is "timer reservation available." 15. The video signal recording system according to claim 11, wherein the message indicating the reason why recording is not possible is "no tape". 16. A television receiver (1) and means (5, 6, 7, 8) for generating a control signal to instruct the start of recording of image information displayed on the screen of this television receiver.
and means (8) for generating a control signal for starting recording from an output terminal of the television receiver in response to a start instruction control signal from the control signal generating means. Signal transmission system. 17. In claim 16, the image information displayed on the screen of the television receiver is image information selected by a channel selection means inside the television receiver, and in response to the start instruction signal, A video signal sending system characterized in that a video signal from the channel selection means is sent to the recording means. 18. In claim 16, the image information displayed on the screen of the television receiver is an external device that outputs a video signal, and the video signal from the external device is output in response to the start instruction signal. A video signal transmission system characterized by transmitting. 19. The video signal transmission system according to claim 18, wherein the external device is a video disc player. 20. The video signal recording system according to claim 18, wherein the external device is a satellite broadcast tuner. 21. A recording means (2) which receives a control signal for starting recording of image information displayed on the screen of the television receiver and records the video signal in response to this recording start control signal. A video signal recording system characterized by: 22. In claim 20, the image information displayed on the screen of the television receiver is image information selected by a channel selection means inside the television receiver, and in response to the start instruction signal, A video signal recording system characterized by recording a video signal sent from this channel selection means. 23. In claim 21, the image information displayed on the screen of the television receiver is image information selected by the channel selection means within the recording means, and the image information displayed on the screen of the television receiver is image information selected by the channel selection means within the recording means, and A video signal recording system characterized in that the recording means records the video signal from the channel selection means. 24. In claim 21, the image information displayed on the screen of the television receiver is an external device that outputs a video signal, and the video signal from the external device is output in response to the start instruction signal. A video signal recording system characterized in that the recording means records. 25. The video signal recording system according to claim 23, wherein the external device is a video disc player. 26. The video signal recording system according to claim 23, wherein the external device is a satellite broadcast tuner. 26. A television receiver (1), means for generating a control signal for instructing the start of recording of image information displayed on the screen of the television receiver, When the displayed image information is image information selected by the channel selection means inside the television receiver, means (5, 6,
7, 8), the recording start control signal and the channel selection information are input, and the image information selected by the internal channel selection means based on this channel selection information is selected by the channel selection means inside the television receiver. means for recording the image information in response to the start control signal; and means (2) for recording the image information in response to the start control signal.
A video signal recording system comprising: