JPH0730446A - Automatic recorder and automatic recording method - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make it possible to easily set up reservation in the case of automatically recording satellite broadcasting by a VTR, to attain automatic recording even by a different kind of VTR and to attain recording independently of set time even in the case of subscription broadcasting. CONSTITUTION:This automatic recorder has a receiver 20 provided with a microcomputer circuit part 23 for judging time information P1 or demodulated allowable time band information P2 for subscription broadcasting, starting the setting of recording based upon program reservation information, setting up the receiver 20, and outputting a remote control code for a VTR 30, a memory part 21 led by the circuit part 23 and allowed to store a power supply ON/OFF signal or a remote control code corresponding to the VTR 30 of each manufacturer, and a remote control signal transmitting part 22 for converting a remote control code outputted from the circuit part 23 into a remote control signal, an infrared ray emitting part 27 for converting a remote control signal outputted from the transmitting part 22 into infrared rays and the VTR 30 provided with a receiving part 31 for receiving the remote control signal from the emitting part 27.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic recording device,
Particularly, the present invention relates to an automatic recording device and an automatic recording method by a video tape recorder (hereinafter referred to as VTR) using a satellite broadcasting receiver as a receiver.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art At present, satellite broadcasting is carried out in addition to terrestrial broadcasting, and the broadcasting format is different from terrestrial broadcasting. For example, it may be broadcast 24 hours a day, may be a broadcast that specializes in movies, sports, music, etc., or may be a paid broadcast. Furthermore, in recent years, the number of satellites broadcasting is also increasing, and the diversification of broadcasting is progressing.

In such diversified broadcasting forms, recording by satellite VTR, particularly automatic recording, is indispensable.

2 and 3 are conceptual diagrams showing such a conventional automatic recording apparatus, showing a method of automatically recording satellite broadcasts. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 1 is a satellite broadcast receiver, and this satellite broadcast receiver 1 has a reservation setting function 1a and a timer function 1b. Further, reference numeral 2 is a video tape recorder (hereinafter referred to as VTR).
The R2 also has a reservation setting function 2a and a timer function 2b.

Although not shown, the power sources of the satellite broadcast receiver 1 and the VTR 2 having such a function are supplied by respective power cords, or as shown in FIG. The satellite broadcast receiver 1 is supplied with power by plugging the power cord 4 from the device 1 into the power outlet 5 of the VTR 2. still,
In this case, the VTR2 is always supplied with power by the power outlet 2d on the VTR2 side. Further, the video and audio signals received by the tuner circuit 1d of the satellite broadcast receiver 1 are supplied to the VTR 2 by an AV output cable 4 connecting the satellite broadcast receiver 1 and the VTR 2 to each other, Recording circuit 2 of this VTR2
It is designed to be recorded at c.

For example, when automatic recording is performed by the automatic recording apparatus having such a configuration, conventionally, the satellite broadcast receiver 1 makes a reservation setting for automatic recording, and further, VT.
Reservation settings were also made in R2. In this way, automatic recording is enabled by making reservation settings for each of the above-mentioned individual devices (satellite broadcast receiver 1 and VTR 2). Next, a method of starting recording in the conventional automatic recording apparatus having such a configuration will be described with reference to FIG. For example, the satellite broadcast receiver 1 and the VTR 3 each have a timer function 1b,
If 2b is provided, these timer functions 1
b, 2b each of the equipment satellite broadcasting receiver 1 and VT
The power of R3 is turned on. Then, the information set in advance by the reservation setting functions 1a and 2a is set, and at the same time, the VTR is set in accordance with the information on the VTR2 side.
2 becomes a recordable state, and the tuner circuit 1d operates in accordance with the information on the side of the satellite broadcast receiver, and the output signal (video and audio signal) of this tuner circuit 1d is supplied to the VTR 2 via the AV output cable 3. , This VTR
Recording is started by the second recording circuit 2c.

On the other hand, when the power cord 4 of the satellite broadcasting receiver 1 is inserted and connected to the power outlet 5 of the VTR 3, the timer function 2b provided in the VTR 3 is provided.
The VTR3 is turned on by the VTR3 at this time.
Change in the current of the power outlet 5 of the satellite broadcasting receiver 1 is detected by the detection circuit 1c of the satellite broadcasting receiver 1 to turn on the satellite broadcasting receiver 1 and preset by the reservation setting function 1a. At the same time as the information, the VTR 2 becomes recordable according to the information on the VTR 2 side, and the tuner circuit 1d operates according to the information on the satellite broadcast receiver side.
The output signal (video and audio signal) of d is supplied to the VTR 2 via the AV output cable 3, and recording is started by the recording circuit 2c of this VTR 2.

In the conventional automatic recording apparatus which operates as described above and automatically records, as described above, the satellite broadcast receivers 1 and V are used.
TR3 had to be reserved and set, which made the operation complicated and inconvenient. FIG. 3 is a conceptual view showing another conventional example of the automatic recording apparatus, and the point different from the automatic recording apparatus of FIG. 2 is that the automatic recording from the satellite broadcast receiver 6 is enabled by the operation only on the VTR 7 side. .

In FIG. 3, reference numeral 6 is a satellite broadcast receiver, and this satellite broadcast receiver 6 is provided with a control circuit 6a for controlling a control signal from the VTR side. Reference numeral 7 is a VTR, and this VTR 7 has a reservation setting function 7
a and a timer function 7b.

Further, the VTR 7 is provided with a control signal output terminal 10 for controlling the satellite broadcast receiver 6. The satellite broadcast receiver 6 is also provided with a control signal input terminal 9 for inputting the control signal of the VTR 7.
By connecting these control terminals 9 and 10 using the control signal line 8, the satellite broadcast receiver 6 can be controlled from the VTR 7. Further, the satellite broadcast receiver 6
The video and audio signals received by the tuner circuit 6b are supplied to the VTR 7 by the AV output cable 3 connecting the satellite broadcast receiver 6 and the VTR 7 to the recording circuit 2c of the VTR 2. It is designed to be recorded.

In this case, as the power source, the VTR 7 is always supplied with power by the power outlet 7d on the VTR 7 side.

Next, the operation and the recording start method of the conventional automatic recording apparatus having such a configuration will be described. First, in the above-mentioned VTR 7, a reservation setting operation is performed by the reservation setting function 7a. When the timer function 7b is turned on, this VTR 7 is turned on. At the same time, although not shown, a control signal transmission circuit of the VTR 7 supplies a control signal to the control output terminal 10. This control signal is output to the control signal input terminal 9 of the satellite broadcast receiver 6 via the control signal line 8.
The control signals used here include control signals such as a power on / off signal, a set information signal (channel signal), and a volume signal.

By inputting such a control signal from the control input terminal 9 of the satellite broadcast receiver 6, the control circuit 6a of the satellite broadcast receiver 6 is activated. The control circuit 6a turns on the satellite broadcast receiver 6 by the control signal and controls the tuner circuit 6b based on the information set in the VTR 7 in advance. The output signal (video and audio signal) of the tuner circuit 6b is supplied to the VTR 7 via the AV output cable 3, and recording is started by the recording circuit 7c of the VTR 7.

In such a conventional automatic recording apparatus, the VT
Automatic recording can be enabled only by setting the R7 reservation, but since it is operated using a control signal, it can only be used with devices from the same manufacturer, and the usable range was limited. . Also in FIG. 2, as described above, both the satellite broadcast receiver 1 and the VTR 2 must be reserved and set, which makes the operation complicated and inconvenient. Further, in the above-mentioned automatic recording apparatus as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, in the case of automatically recording, for example, a sports relay program, the broadcast is often extended. However, even in such a case, it is impossible to record until the end of the program because the recording is performed only within a preset time. On the contrary, a program to be originally recorded may be delayed in the start time of the program due to the extension of the previous program. Even in such a case, it is impossible to record the program to be originally recorded because the recording is performed only for a preset time as described above.

Also, the number of satellites in the near future tends to increase,
In such cases, you must select the satellite you want to record. That is, it becomes necessary to move the antenna in order to point it at the satellite to be recorded. However, when recording in such a situation, since the satellite broadcast receiver and the VTR are turned on at the same time in the above-described conventional recording method, a noisy image is recorded while the antenna is moving. That is, there is a problem that the recording is useless.

[0016]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In the above-mentioned conventional automatic recording apparatus, the broadcast received by the satellite broadcast receiver is transmitted to the VTR.
In case of automatic recording, it was necessary to make a reservation setting for each device, which made the operation complicated and inconvenient. In addition, some devices can enable automatic recording only by setting the VTR reservation, but since they are operated using control signals, they cannot be used unless the devices are from the same manufacturer, and the usable range is limited. It had been done. Furthermore, in the case of pay broadcasting, the time setting was limited and it was impossible to record the program to be recorded.

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and the broadcasting received by the satellite broadcasting receiver is VT.
An automatic recording device that makes it possible to easily make a reservation setting when automatically recording by R, and enables automatic recording even for manufacturers with different devices, and enables recording regardless of time setting even in the case of pay broadcasting. The purpose is to provide an automatic recording method.

[0018]

An automatic recording apparatus according to the present invention according to claim 1 is a reservation time zone setting means for setting program reservation information for receiving a desired program, and an automatic recording apparatus for recording the program. The recording means and the control signal output means for causing the recording means to wirelessly output a control signal for starting or ending the recording operation based on the program reservation information are provided.

In the automatic recording method according to the present invention as set forth in claim 2, the recording operation of the recording means for setting the program reservation information for receiving a desired program and recording the program based on the program reservation information. It is characterized in that a control signal for starting or ending is wirelessly output.

[0020]

In the present invention, for example, when a VTR automatically records a broadcast received by a satellite broadcast receiver, the remote control signal transmitted from the satellite broadcast receiver is transmitted to the VTR by using infrared rays. You can Further, by using the microcomputer circuit section and the memory section, reservation setting can be easily performed, and even manufacturers having different devices can control the VTR only by operating the satellite broadcast receiver.

Further, the transmission signal transmitted by superposing the permission time zone information indicating the time zone in which the reception is permitted at least is received and demodulated, and the signal of the demodulated permission time zone information is described above. The recording time zone can be set automatically by making a determination in the microcomputer circuit section. Therefore, it is not necessary to set the recording start / end time.

[0022]

EXAMPLES Examples will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an automatic recording apparatus according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, the automatic recording apparatus of the present invention is
For example, when the satellite broadcast receiver 20 is used as the receiver, it is composed of the satellite broadcast receiver 20 for receiving the satellite broadcast and the VTR 30 as a recording means connected thereto.
Although not shown, the satellite broadcast receiver 20 is provided with an antenna for rotating and receiving radio waves transmitted from a plurality of satellites according to the satellite directions. By means of the means, the radio waves transmitted from a plurality of satellites are rotated and received in the direction of arrival, and this rotation operation is controlled by the microcomputer circuit section described later.

Further, the satellite broadcast receiver 20 is provided with a microcomputer circuit section 23. This microcomputer circuit section 2
Reference numeral 3 denotes a program reservation information, that is, information P1 such as time, or satellite from a setting input unit (not shown) provided as a reservation time zone setting means for making reservation setting of program reservation information for automatic recording. The information P2 such as the permitted time zone included in the signal from the
Information (remote control code for controlling the VTR of each maker) from the memory unit 21 connected to is also input. The permission time zone information P2
Is input to the microcomputer circuit section 23, although not shown, it is demodulated by demodulation means for demodulating the permission time zone information P2 from a signal transmitted from a satellite, and the demodulated permission time zone information P2 is obtained. It is input to the microcomputer circuit section 23.

The output of the microcomputer circuit section 23 is supplied to the remote control signal transmission section 22.
After being converted into a remote control signal in 2, the signal is output to the remote control signal output terminal 25. This remote control signal output terminal 25
The remote control signal output from is supplied to the infrared emitting section 27 via the remote control signal line 26. The remote control signal input to the infrared light emitting section 27 is converted into infrared rays here, and the infrared light emitting section 27 is attached to the remote control light receiving section 31 of the VTR 30, for example, or is transmitted by infrared rays.
The remote control signal converted into infrared rays is transmitted to the VTR 30.

Further, as described above, the remote control code for controlling the VTR of each maker, that is, the remote control code such as the power-on / off signal and recording is previously stored in the memory section 21.

By the way, the microcomputer circuit section 23 outputs a control signal to the remote control signal transmission section 22 and at the same time controls the tuner circuit 24 based on the program reservation setting information inputted thereto. This tuner circuit section 23
The video and audio signals received by are supplied to the recording circuit 32 of the VTR 30 via the AV output cable 3.

On the other hand, the VTR 30 as a recording means is mainly composed of a remote control light receiving section 31 and a recording circuit 32. The remote control light receiving unit 31 is adapted to receive the remote control signal from the satellite broadcast receiver 20 by connecting the infrared light emitting unit 27 to the remote control light receiving unit 31 or by transmitting the infrared light. That is, the remote control signal controls the VTR 30 to turn it on, and the recording circuit 32 enables automatic recording. In this way, an infrared remote control system is formed, for example, to constitute an automatic recording device.

Next, the operation of the automatic recording apparatus having such a configuration will be described in detail with reference to FIG. First, the satellite broadcast receiver 20 sets program reservation information for automatic recording. The reservation setting parameters at this time are the start and end times of recording desired by the user, the manufacturer setting of the VTR, and the setting of the program to be recorded.

Based on this set information, although not shown, the satellite broadcast receiver 20 is turned on by the timer function of the satellite broadcast receiver 20. At the same time, the microcomputer circuit section 23 operates, and this microcomputer circuit section 23
A remote control code such as power-on corresponding to the set maker's VTR and recording based on reserved program information is called from the memory section 21, and these remote control codes are output to the remote control signal transmission section 22.

The remote control code input to the remote control signal transmission section 22 is converted into a remote control signal here,
It is output to the remote control signal output terminal 25. The remote control signal output from the remote control signal output terminal 25 is supplied to the infrared light emitting section 27 via the remote control signal line 26. The remote control signal input to the infrared light emitting unit 27 is converted into infrared light here, and the remote control signal converted to the infrared light is then attached to the remote control light receiving unit 31 of the VTR 30 as described above. Are connected to each other or transmitted by infrared rays, so that they are transmitted to the remote control light receiving unit 31 of the VTR 30. Therefore, the remote control signal output from the satellite broadcast receiver 20 is input from the remote control light receiving unit 31,
The VTR 30 is turned on and the recording circuit 32 starts recording.

Next, the end of automatic recording will be described.
In this case also, the operation is similar to that when the automatic recording is started. Therefore, the satellite broadcast receiver 20 is turned off based on the set recording end time, and at the same time, the remote control code for turning off the power supply corresponding to the manufacturer's VTR set by the microcomputer circuit section 23 is set. The remote control signal is called from the memory section 21 and the remote control code is supplied to the remote control signal transmission section 22. The remote control code input to the remote control signal transmission section 22 is converted into a remote control signal here, and the remote control signal output terminal 25.
Is output to. The remote control signal output from the remote control signal output terminal 25 is supplied to the infrared light emitting section 27 via the remote control signal line 26. The remote control signal input to the infrared emitting section 27 is converted into infrared here. Then, the remote control signal converted into infrared rays is transmitted to the remote control light receiving section 31 of the VTR 30 by the infrared light emitting section 27 being attached and connected to the remote control light receiving section 31 of the VTR 30 as described above or being transmitted by infrared rays. To be done. Therefore, the remote control signal output from the satellite broadcast receiver 20 is input from the remote control light receiving unit 31, the VTR 30 is turned off, the recording is completed by the recording circuit 32, and the automatic recording is completed.

Therefore, as described above, in this embodiment,
By transmitting a remote control signal from the satellite broadcast receiver 20 to the VTR 30 by infrared rays, the VTR 30 is controlled only by operating the satellite broadcast receiver 20 and automatic recording is enabled.

Next, the automatic recording method will be described in detail. For example, in the case of taking into consideration the parameter at the time of automatic recording setting in the present embodiment, this parameter has settings such as the start / end of recording of a program desired by the user, and this parameter is input to the microcomputer circuit section 23. It is the information P1 of the time to be played or the permitted time zone information P2 at the time of pay broadcasting.

The permitted time zone information P2 described here is
In the case of a system such as PAY-PER-VIEW (a system that pays a fee for each program, which will be referred to as PPV hereinafter), it indicates information for determining whether or not the program can be viewed. , This information is included in the signal sent by the satellite.

For example, when the time information P1 input to the microcomputer circuit section 23 is used as a parameter, an operation for recording a terrestrial wave by a normal VTR can be performed on the satellite broadcast receiver 20 side. That is, the automatic recording can be performed by setting only the satellite broadcast receiver 20 side, and the operation becomes easy. In addition, the satellite broadcast receiver 20 stores the remote control code corresponding to the VTR of each manufacturer in advance,
VTR from the satellite receiver 20 side using infrared rays
Therefore, the VTR connected to the satellite broadcast receiver 20 can be used by any manufacturer, that is, the usable range is improved.

Further, the PP of the above-mentioned permitted time zone information P2
Even in the case of V system, etc., the permission time zone information P
Based on No. 2, automatic recording as described above becomes possible. In other words, the permitted time zone information P2 is sent only to the contracted program, that is, the characteristic of the permitted time zone information P2 is used. For example, in the case of recording a pay broadcast program, the permitted time period information P2 is naturally included in the signal from the satellite as described above. In other words, by inputting this permission time zone information P2 demodulated by demodulation means (not shown) to the microcomputer circuit section 23, the microcomputer circuit section 23 makes a determination and the permission is obtained. By starting the reservation setting based on the time zone information, it is possible to eliminate the need to set the recording start / end time. Further, since the permission time zone information P2 is continuously transmitted during the program, the microcomputer circuit section 23 recognizes and determines the permission time zone information P2 so that even if the program to be recorded is extended, It is possible to record up to. Moreover, even if the program originally intended to be recorded is delayed in time due to the extension of the previous program, it is possible to record from the beginning to the end of the program by performing it based on the permission time zone information P2 as described above. Become.

On the other hand, in the case of automatically recording broadcasts from a plurality of satellites, that is, even when the antenna is moved, in the present embodiment, the radio wave transmitted from a plurality of satellites is controlled by the microcomputer circuit section 23. The satellite broadcast receiver 20 itself has a control function of the VTR 30, that is, the microcomputer circuit section 23, which has a function of automatically rotating the antenna (not shown) in the direction of arrival of the set radio wave. Has a control function of starting or ending the recording operation of the program, the VTR 30 can be put into the recording state after receiving the broadcast even if the antenna moves. Therefore, noise is not recorded while the antenna is moving, and useless recording can be prevented.

Further, since the microcomputer circuit section 23 and the memory section 21 of the present embodiment described above are originally structural requirements for controlling the satellite broadcast receiver itself, they can be used together with the function of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention can be constructed at low cost and can be easily implemented.

In the above embodiment, the infrared light emitting portion 27 of the satellite broadcast receiver 20 and the remote control light receiving portion 31 of the VTR 30 are attached, but the attachment method is a detachable connection corresponding to each manufacturer. A method, for example, a method using a magnet, or a fitting type connection method in which they are formed in a concavo-convex shape and are connected to each other, may be used.

Further, since the remote control signal is transmitted to the remote control light receiving unit 31 by infrared rays, it may be wirelessly transmitted using the infrared rays, and it goes without saying that it can be applied to remote control.

Furthermore, although the infrared remote control system has been described in the above embodiments, the present invention can also be applied to a remote control system using ultrasonic waves as a carrier medium of a remote control signal.

[0042]

As described above, according to the present invention, an infrared remote control system using a microcomputer circuit section and a memory section for a satellite broadcast receiver is used with a simple structure, so that program reservation setting in automatic recording can be performed. The operation can be easily performed, and the VTR connected to the satellite broadcast receiver can be controlled only by operating the satellite broadcast receiver. Also, as for the VTR, it is possible to use the VTR of any manufacturer,
That is, the usable range can be improved. Further, since it is possible to change the direction of the antenna under the control of the microcomputer circuit section, it is possible to interlock with the functions peculiar to satellite broadcasting such as PPV system and antenna movement, so that it is not necessary to set the recording time. Along with that, wide range of automatic recording can be performed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an automatic recording apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram showing a conventional automatic recording device.

FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing another conventional automatic recording device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 3 ... AV output cable 20 ... Satellite broadcast receiver 21 ... Memory section 22 ... Remote control signal transmission section 23 ... Microcomputer circuit section 24 ... Tuner circuit 25 ... Remote control signal output terminal 26 ... Remote control signal line 27 ... Infrared emitting section 30 ... VTR 31 … Remote control light receiving unit 32… Recording circuit P1… Time information P2… Allowed time zone information during pay broadcasting

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. Reservation time zone setting means for setting program reservation information for receiving a desired program, recording means for recording the program, and recording operation in the recording means based on the program reservation information. An automatic recording apparatus comprising: a control signal output unit that wirelessly outputs a control signal for starting or ending the. 2. A program reservation information for receiving a desired program is set, and a control signal for starting or ending a recording operation of a recording means for recording the program is wirelessly set based on the program reservation information. Automatic recording method to output in.