JPH10164487A - Program reservation managing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To simplify a program reserving operation for a video tape recorder(VTR), and to surely execute program recording reservation without errors. SOLUTION: This managing device is provided with a program information fetching means, which fetches program information 31 indicating the broadcasting schedule of a television(TV), schedule chart preparing means 15 which prepares program broadcasting schedule charts 32 and 33 in a prescribed period based on the fetched program information, schedule chart file 16 which stores the prepared program broadcasting charts, broadcasting schedule chart display outputting means 19 which display outputs program broadcasting schedule charts 32 and 33 stored in the schedule chart file 16, a reservation registering means 20 which registers a program designated by a program reserving operation on a display screen as a scheduled program in a state that the program broadcasting charts are displayed, and scheduled broadcasting transmitting means 21 which transmits the reserved scheduled program to a VTR 2.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a program reservation management apparatus for allowing a viewer to perform program reservation management for a VTR when recording a TV (television) broadcast program using a VTR (video tape recorder). About.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art At present, in a general method in which a viewer makes a recording reservation of a TV broadcast program using a VTR, the method is slightly different depending on a program reservation function mounted on the VTR. Look at the program broadcast schedule of information magazines, etc.
The channel (broadcasting station), the broadcast date (day of the week), the start time, the end time, and the like of the program to be recorded are registered by manual operation using the switches and buttons on the operation panel of the TR.

[0003] Since this manual operation is very complicated and liable to be erroneously operated, in recent years, a G code written along with a program name in a program broadcast schedule has been read and registered.
A technique of reading and registering a barcode specifying a corresponding program written along with the program name in the program broadcast schedule with a barcode scanner or the like is adopted.

[0004]

However, in the method of registering using the G code, the viewer reads the number of the G code consisting of a large number of digits, and again reads the number of the large number of digits into the G code terminal or the VTR main body. Must be input manually, and there is a concern that an erroneous operation may occur in this process.

[0005] Some newspapers do not include the G code in the program broadcast schedule. Furthermore, the newspaper has a program broadcast schedule on the day of issue, but does not include a program broadcast schedule on a date earlier than the issue date.

[0006] In addition, newspapers and TVs on which bar codes are written.
Program information magazines are very limited and uncommon. on the other hand,
2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, personal computers have become widespread in homes, and it has been proposed to use this personal computer to manage various types of information including household budget in each home.

[0007] As a part of these, terrestrial TV, satellite TV, CATV, telephone, T
Multimedia management for exchanging information using a V-phone, electronic mail, facsimile, the Internet, and the like has been proposed.

However, since a TV program itself is analog information, it cannot be directly displayed on a display screen of a personal computer. For this reason, there is an organic coupling between a combination of a TV and a VTR and a personal computer. Did not exist.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and creates a program broadcast schedule for a predetermined period from fetched program information, displays the program schedule, and displays a recorded program to a viewer on a display screen. By letting the viewer specify,
An object of the present invention is to provide a program reservation management device in which a program reservation operation is simplified and a program recording reservation can be reliably executed without error.

[0010]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a program reservation management apparatus, comprising: a program information fetching means for fetching program information indicating a TV broadcast schedule; and a program information fetching means. A schedule table creating means for creating a program broadcast schedule within a predetermined time period based on the program information captured in the above, a schedule file storing the created program broadcast schedule, and a schedule file stored in the schedule file. Broadcast schedule table display output means for displaying and outputting a program broadcast schedule; and reservation registering means for registering a program designated by a program reservation operation on a display screen as a reserved program while the program broadcast schedule is displayed, The reserved program registered and reserved by the reservation register
Means for transmitting a reserved program to the TR.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the program information acquisition means in the program reservation management apparatus of the first aspect, every time a predetermined period elapses, the program information of the predetermined period is transmitted to the TV via the Internet. It is taken in from a program information providing server of a program information providing company.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the program reservation management apparatus according to the second aspect, wherein the program change information is further fetched from the program information providing server every time a period shorter than the prescribed period elapses. A fetching means and a broadcast schedule correcting means for correcting the program broadcast schedule already stored in the schedule file using the program change information fetched by the program change information fetching means are added.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording result fetching means for receiving each recording result for each reserved program transmitted from the VTR to the program reservation management apparatus of the first to third aspects,
A recording result editing means for editing each received recording result into a recording result list for each same program name, a recording table file for storing the edited recording result list, and a display command operation specifying a program name And a recording result display output means for displaying and outputting a recording result list corresponding to the designated program name stored in the recording table file.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the program reservation management apparatus according to the fourth aspect, wherein the recording corresponding to the specified program name stored in the recording table file is performed in response to a print command operation specifying the program name. A label printing means for printing out the result list as a label of a recorded video cassette is added.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the program reservation management device according to the fourth or fifth aspect, wherein the transmission of the reserved program to the VTR is performed.
The reception of the recording result from the corresponding VTR is performed by wireless communication.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the program information fetching means in the program reservation management apparatus of the first aspect, the program name and the scheduled broadcast time described in the printed program broadcast schedule are image-scanned. The program information is read and converted into the program information.

[0018] The invention of claim 8 corresponds to the program reservation management device according to claims 1 to 7, in which the program broadcast schedule is displayed and the program designated by the program designation operation on the display screen. A TV remote control means for transmitting a channel switching instruction to a channel to a TV is added.

A ninth aspect of the present invention is a machine-readable recording medium recording a program to be executed by a computer. The program includes means for acquiring program information indicating a TV broadcast schedule to a computer, means for creating a program broadcast schedule within a predetermined period based on the acquired program information, Means for storing the created program broadcast schedule in a schedule file, means for displaying and outputting the program broadcast schedule stored in the schedule file, and a display screen with the program broadcast schedule displayed. A means for registering a program designated by the above program reservation operation as a reserved program and a means for transmitting the reserved program registered and reserved to the VTR are executed.

In the thus configured program reservation management device, when program information indicating a TV broadcast schedule is fetched from outside, for example, one program is set based on the fetched program information.
A program broadcast schedule for a predetermined period such as a week is automatically created and stored in a schedule file.

When a viewer (user) makes a program reservation using this program reservation management device, the program broadcast schedule stored in the schedule file is read out on a display screen and, for example, a mouse or a cursor key is used. When a program to be reserved for recording is designated on the display screen by using, the designated program is registered as a reserved program. Then, the registered reserved program is transmitted to the VTR.

When the VTR reaches the recording start time specified by the reserved program received by the clock circuit incorporated therein, the VTR starts recording for the program of the specified channel, and the specified end time becomes Upon arrival, the recording ends.

As described above, since the viewer only needs to designate the program he wants to record in the displayed program broadcast schedule, the recording reservation of the corresponding program is completed. Program reservation can be performed as if clicking with a mouse, operability can be greatly improved, and the probability of occurrence of a recording error due to an operation error can be reduced.

In another invention, a program information providing server of a TV program information providing company transmits program information for creating a program broadcast schedule via the Internet every time a specified period such as one month elapses. I try to take in from.

Therefore, the viewer does not need to perform any special operation to capture the program information, so that the operability can be further improved. Further, every time a period shorter than the specified period elapses, the program change information is fetched from the program information providing server to correct the program broadcast schedule. That is, the programs actually broadcast on the TV are often changed. Therefore, when the program information is fetched every time the specified period such as one month elapses, the program changed within the one month period in the once created program broadcast schedule is corrected to change the program information. This makes it possible to prevent a program which has become a recording program from being accidentally reserved for recording, or to cancel a reserved program that has been reserved for recording.

Further, in the program reservation management apparatus of the present invention, a recording result indicating whether or not each reserved program has been reliably recorded on the VTR is obtained from the VTR. Then, a recording result list is created for each program name. Therefore, the viewer can display the recording result list on the display screen as necessary to check the recording result.

Further, it is possible to print out the recorded result list for each program name as a label of the video cassette. Therefore, the viewer can easily manage the recorded video cassette by attaching the label to the recorded video cassette.

Further, by transmitting information between the program reservation management device and the VTR wirelessly, the work of connecting signal lines can be omitted, and the operability can be improved. Further, the program information for creating the program broadcast schedule is converted into program information by reading the program name and the scheduled broadcast time described in the program broadcast schedule printed on a newspaper or a program information magazine with an image scanner. ing. In this case, it is necessary for the viewer to perform the reading operation, but the communication cost and the information provision fee are not required, and the maintenance cost of the entire apparatus can be reduced.

When a program designation operation is performed on the display screen while the program broadcast schedule is displayed, channel switching to a channel corresponding to the program designated by the TV directly from the program reservation management apparatus of the present invention. An instruction is sent. Therefore, the TV can be remotely controlled directly from the program reservation management device.

Further, by using a recording medium on which a program for realizing the above-mentioned functions is recorded, the above-mentioned program reservation management function can be easily added to, for example, a commercially available personal computer.

[0030]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an external view showing a program reservation management device according to an embodiment of the present invention. For example, a VTR 2 is transmitted to a program reservation management apparatus 1 constituted by a personal computer.
And TV3 are connected. Then, in the program reservation management device 1, the CRT display device 5
, A keyboard 6, a mouse 7, and a printer 8 are connected.

The program reservation management device 1 constituted by this personal computer reads a program recorded on a recording medium such as a magnetic disk, and executes various operations according to the program. Then, as shown in FIG. 2, the program reservation management device 1
0 can be connected to the Internet 11. A program information providing server 12 of a TV program information providing company is connected to the Internet 11. Therefore,
The program reservation management device 1 can access the homepage of the program information providing server 12 via the Internet 11 and collectively download, for example, one month's worth of program information indicating the broadcast schedule of each TV broadcast station to its own device. It is.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the program reservation management device 1. The program information 31 for one month shown in FIG. 6A input to the input / output interface 13 via the modem 9 is temporarily stored in the program information buffer 14. The program information 31 includes a flag indicating a new (inserted) I, a deleted D, an updated U, a scheduled broadcast date, a change flag (0; normal, 1: changed) and a channel (CH) shown in FIG. ) 7-digit program code including number, broadcast start time,
The broadcast end time, the program name, and the like are included.

The schedule table creation unit 15 stores the program information buffer 1
4, the program information 31 for one month is read out, and a program broadcast schedule 33 for all channels (broadcasting stations) every day (24 hours) shown in FIG. 8 and each channel shown in FIG. (Broadcasting station) Program broadcast schedule 32 for one week for each
Is created and registered in the schedule file 16.

The program change information 34 shown in FIG. 6B, which is input to the input / output interface 13 via the modem 9, is temporarily stored in the program change information buffer 17. The broadcast schedule correction unit 18 corrects each of the program broadcast schedules 32 and 33 stored in the schedule file 16 with the program change information 34 written in the program change information buffer 17. Specifically, the daily program table latest information 35 shown in FIG. 6C is once created, and the program broadcast schedules 32 and 33 are updated with the daily program table latest information 35.

The broadcast schedule display output section 19 converts each program broadcast schedule 32, 33 stored in the schedule file 16 into a CR.
The display is output to the T display device 5. The reservation registration unit 20 uses the CR
With the respective program broadcast schedules 32 and 33 displayed on the T display device 5, recording reservation for a program specified by the mouse 7 or the keyboard 6 is performed.

The reserved program transmitting section 21 incorporates the reserved program reserved and registered by the reservation registering section 20 into a predetermined transmission frame 36 shown in FIG. 13 and transmits it to the VRT 2 via the input / output interface 22.

In the transmission frame 36, a reservation number including an operation date, a recording start date, a recording end date, a date designation such as a day of the week, a recording start time, a recording end indication time, a channel (broadcasting station), a tape number , A recording mode, a recording result (0: unrecorded, 1: recording ended normally, 9: tape cut (abnormal)), and the like.

The VRT 2 incorporates a tuner and a recording reservation memory, extracts a reservation program incorporated in the transmission frame 36 received from the program reservation management device 1, and registers the reservation program in the recording reservation memory. Then, when the start time of the program registered in the program reservation memory comes, the recording of the program is automatically started.

When the recording of the program is completed, the VRT 2 transmits the recording result to the transmission frame 36 shown in FIG.
And sends it to the input / output interface 22 of the program reservation management device 1.

The recording result incorporated in the transmission frame 36 input to the input / output interface 22 of the program reservation management device 1 is temporarily written in the recording result buffer 23. The image result editing unit 24 additionally registers the recording result in, for example, a recording result list 37 for each same program name shown in FIG. 16 stored in the recording table file 25.

The recording result display output section 26 displays the program broadcasting schedule table displayed and output on the CRT display device 5 as shown in FIG. Recording result display 39 highlighted
And Further, the recording result display output unit 26 displays and outputs the recording result list 37 for each same program name stored in the recording result buffer 23 to the CRT display device 5.

The label print output unit 27 re-edits the recording result list 37 of the program name stored in the recording table file 25 for each video tape number based on a print command designating the viewer's program name. Then, the printer 8 prints and outputs the label 28 to be attached to the video cassette 40 shown in FIG.

The TV remote control unit 29 outputs a channel switching signal to a channel corresponding to a program specified by the viewer using the keyboard 6 or the keyboard 7 via the output interface 30.
To the TV 3 via.

The program reservation management device 1 configured as described above
The overall processing operation will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. S
(Step) When a predetermined date such as the first day of the month of a month as a predetermined period arrives at step (1), S
At 2, the program information download / program table creation processing shown in FIG.

In FIG. 5A, the Internet 11
(P1), and downloads the program information 31 for each broadcasting station (channel) for one month shown in FIG. (P2). When the download process ends, the connection to the Internet 11 is released (P3).

Then, the schedule table creator 15 is started, data conversion is performed (P4), the basic layout of the program schedule tables 32 and 33 shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 is created (P5), and each channel (broadcast) is created. A program broadcast schedule 33 for one week for each station is created (P6). Further, a program broadcast schedule 32 is created for each day of all channels (broadcast stations) (P
7). Then, the created program broadcast schedules 32 and 33 are written into the schedule file 16 (P8).

In S3 of FIG. 4, when a predetermined time such as midnight, for example, at midnight, which is shorter than one month as a predetermined period, is reached, a program correction process shown in FIG. 5B is performed in S4. In FIG. 5B, the homepage of the program information providing server 12 is accessed via the Internet 11 (Q1), and the current program change information 34 shown in FIG. Download (Q2). When the download process is completed, the connection to the Internet 11 is released (Q3).

Then, the broadcast schedule correcting unit 18 is started to activate the program change information 34 written in the program change information buffer 17.
, Each program broadcast schedule 3 stored in the schedule file 16
Correct the stored contents of 2, 33 (Q5).

In S5 of FIG. 4, when the viewer starts a program reservation operation with the keyboard 6, the process proceeds to S6, where the reservation registration unit 2
0 is started to start the reservation registration process shown in FIG. In FIG. 9, when the display mode for each of the program broadcast schedules 32 and 33 is designated (R1), the program broadcast schedules 32 and 33 corresponding to the designated channel (broadcasting station) or the designated day are displayed. Read from reservation table file 16 and read CR
The display is output to the T display device 5 (R2). As the display mode, a program broadcast schedule 32a in the day designation mode shown in FIG. 10 and a program broadcast schedule in the station designation mode (not shown) are prepared.

The program broadcast schedule 3 shown in FIG. 10 is displayed.
In the area 2a, three business modes of [reservation registration], [reservation change], and [transmission] can be executed by clicking with the mouse 7.

When the reservation registration mode is designated (R3), a window 41a for reservation registration is displayed on the display screen as shown in FIG. Then, when a program to be recorded is clicked with the mouse 7 (R4), the scheduled broadcast date, broadcast time, channel, program name, etc. of the program are displayed in a window 41.
It is displayed in a. Furthermore, when the viewer specifies the number (video number) of the video cassette 40 used for recording,
A [Confirmation] dialog is displayed (R5). Then, when the viewer clicks [Confirm (OK)] (R6), the corresponding program in the program broadcast schedule 32a is highlighted (R6).
7) The corresponding program set in the window 41a is reserved and registered (R8).

When the viewer selects the reservation change / delete mode (R9), a window 41b for change / deletion is displayed on the display screen as shown in FIG. When the program to be changed / deleted is clicked with the mouse 7 (R10), the scheduled broadcast date, broadcast time, channel, program name, etc. of the program are displayed in the window 41b.

Further, when the viewer specifies the number (video number) of the video cassette 40 used for recording which has already been registered, a [confirmation] dialog is displayed (R1).
1). When the viewer clicks [Confirm (OK)] (R12), the corresponding program in the program broadcast schedule 32a is highlighted (R13), and the corresponding program set in the window 41b is changed / deleted. (R14).

Then, when the viewer clicks [Transmission Business Mode] (R15), a dialog of [Confirmation] is displayed (R16). Then, when the viewer clicks [Confirm (OK)] (R17), a window 41c indicating that transmission is in progress is displayed on the display screen as shown in FIG. Then, the registered program reservation information and the changed / deleted program information are incorporated into the transmission frame 36 shown in FIG.
Transmit to TR2 (R17).

When the transmission frame 36 shown in FIG. 13 is received from the VTR 2 in S7 of FIG.
The recording result editing process shown in FIG. In FIG.
The reservation number, start time, end time, channel, tape number, and the like included in the transmission frame 36 received from the VTR 2
A recording result including presence / absence of recording is extracted (T1). Then, the corresponding program 38 in one of the program broadcast schedules 32 and 33 including the relevant program is highlighted from the schedule file 16 and displayed on the CRT display device 5 as a program recording display result 39 as shown in FIG. Output (T2).

Then, the recording table file 25 is searched by the corresponding recorded program name (T3). When the recording result list 37 of the corresponding program name is not detected, the process proceeds to T5, where the recording result list 37 of the newly recorded program name is created and newly set in the recording table file 25.

When the recording result list 37 of the corresponding program name is detected, or when a new recording result list 37 is newly registered, the recording result received this time is additionally written into the corresponding recording result list 37. (T6).

Next, a video cassette management process is performed at T7. That is, the menu screen 42 shown in FIG. 17 is displayed on the CRT display device 5. On this menu screen 42, [Video Information Management] and [Label Printing] can be selected. When the viewer clicks [Video Information Management], as shown in FIG. 18, a recording result list 43 in which recording results are totaled for each video cassette number, and a program number (the same program name) as shown in FIG. ), A recording result list 44 in which the recording results are totaled can be selected.

At S9 in FIG. 4, when the viewer performs a recording result display operation specifying the program name via the keyboard 6,
FIG. 1 of the corresponding program name stored in the recording table file 25
6 is displayed and output (S1).
0).

At S11, when the viewer clicks [Label Printing] while the menu screen 42 shown in FIG. 17 is displayed, the recorded video re-edited with the same program name and the same cassette number in FIG. 18 is displayed. The result list 43 is printed out on the label 28 in the format shown in FIG. 20 (S12).
Separately, only the title (program name) is expanded to label 4
Print on 5.

As shown in FIG. 20, the viewer affixes the label 28 on which the recording result is printed and the label 45 on which the title (program name) is printed to the recorded video cassette 40 taken out of the VTR 2. I just need.

In S13, while the program broadcast schedule 32, 33 including today's date is displayed, the program including the current time is clicked with the mouse 7, and in S14,
The TV operation unit 29 is activated, and sends out a channel switching signal to the channel to which the program belongs to the TV 3 via the output interface 30. As a result, the channel of the TV 3 is automatically switched. Therefore, the TV program 3 can be remotely controlled by the program reservation management device 1.

The program reservation management device 1 configured as described above
Once a month via the Internet 11
Program information 31 indicating a TV broadcast schedule for one month is taken from the program information providing server 12 of the V program information providing company.
Based on the acquired program information 31, a program broadcast schedule 33 for each channel (broadcasting station) for a predetermined period, such as one week, and a daily program broadcasting schedule including all channels (broadcasting stations) 32 are automatically created and stored in the schedule file 16.

Then, the viewer sets the program reservation management device 1
In order to make a program reservation using the program schedule table 32a, the program broadcast schedule table 32a corresponding to each of the program broadcast schedule tables 32 and 33 stored in the schedule table file 16 is read out on the display screen of the CRT display device 5 and, for example, When a program to be reserved for recording is designated on the display screen by using the cursor keys of the keyboard 6 or the like, the designated program is registered as a reserved program.
Then, the registered reserved program is incorporated in a predetermined transmission frame 36 and the V
Sent to TR2.

As a result, when the recording start time specified by the reserved program included in the received transmission frame 36 has been reached, the VTR 2 starts recording the corresponding program on the specified channel, and when the specified end time comes. , End the recording.

The VTR 2 embeds the recording result in the transmission frame 36 and returns it to the program reservation management device 1. If necessary, the recording result is displayed on the CRT display device 5, or the recording result is edited for each of the same program name and for each of the same video numbers and printed on the label 28.

As described above, the viewer simply designates the program he / she wants to record in the displayed program broadcast schedule 32a, thereby completing the recording reservation, reservation change and reservation deletion of the corresponding program. The program reservation can be made as if clicking a selection menu item with a mouse, the operability of the program reservation management device 1 can be greatly improved, and the probability of occurrence of a recording error due to an operation error can be reduced.

The program information 31 for creating the program broadcast schedules 32 and 33 is transmitted via the Internet 11.
It is taken in from the program information providing server 12. Therefore, the viewer does not need to perform any special operation to capture the program information 31, so that the operability can be further improved.

Further, the program information providing server 12
From the program broadcast schedule table 32,
33 is modified. Therefore, even if T
Even if the broadcast schedule program of V3 is frequently changed, the changed program in the once created program broadcast schedule 32.33 is automatically corrected.

As a result, it is possible to prevent the viewer from making a reservation for recording without knowing the changed program or to easily cancel the reservation program for which recording has been reserved. Further, a recording result indicating whether or not each reserved program has been reliably recorded on the VTR 2 is obtained from the VTR 2, and a recording result list 37 is created for each program name. Then, the viewer can display the recording result list 37 on the display screen of the CRT display device 5 as necessary to check the recording result.

In this case, since the program titles are displayed in the form of a list for each program name, the result of recording a serial drama or a series can be checked at a glance. Further, the recording result list 37, 43 for each program name described above is stored in the label 2 of the video cassette 40.
8 can be printed out. Therefore,
The viewer can attach the label 28 to the recorded video cassette 4
0, the recorded video cassette 40
Management becomes easy.

When a program to be watched at present is clicked with the mouse 7 while the program broadcast schedule 32 a is displayed on the CRT display device 5, the program reservation management device 1 directly sends the TV 3.
A channel switching instruction is automatically transmitted to. Therefore, the TV 3 can be remotely controlled directly from the program reservation management device 1.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. In the embodiment, the information exchange between the program reservation management device 1, the VTR 2, and the TV 3 is T
It is implemented by wire using CP / IP protocol,
For example, as shown in FIG. 21, information can be exchanged using a wireless LAN. In this case, the work of connecting signal lines between the devices can be omitted, and the operability of the program reservation management device 1 can be improved.

Further, a portable image scanner and a character recognizing device are provided in place of the modem 9 in FIG. 3, and the program name written on the program broadcast schedule printed on a newspaper or a program information magazine by this image scanner is provided. , A scheduled broadcast time, a channel number, and the like, the read image is converted into program information 31 by a character recognition device, and written into the program information buffer 14 via the input / output interface 13.

In the program reservation management apparatus having such a configuration, it is necessary for the viewer to perform a reading operation using an image scanner. However, compared with the case where the Internet 11 is used, the communication cost and the information provision fee are higher. And maintenance costs of the entire apparatus can be reduced.

Since it is complicated to read all the programs on all the channels (broadcasting stations) with the image scanner, it is only necessary for the viewer to read only each program of the channel to which the program to be reserved for recording belongs. Furthermore, in extreme cases, only the program that the viewer wants to reserve for recording may be read by the image scanner.

[0077]

As described above, in the program reservation management apparatus of the present invention, a program broadcast schedule for a predetermined period is created from the fetched program information and displayed on the display device to display the recorded program to the viewer. It is specified on the display screen.

Therefore, the viewer can perform a program reservation operation as if clicking on a menu screen of a normal personal computer, greatly simplifying the reservation operation, and reliably performing the program recording reservation for the VTR without error. it can.

Further, program information for creating a program broadcast schedule is taken in from a program information providing server of a TV program information providing company via the Internet every time a prescribed period such as one month elapses. Therefore, the viewer does not need to perform any special operation to capture the program information, so that the operability of program reservation can be further improved.

Further, the program change information is fetched from the program information providing server in a short cycle to correct the program broadcast schedule. Therefore, by correcting a program that has been changed within a one-month period, for example, in a once created program broadcast schedule, it is possible to prevent the changed program from being erroneously reserved for recording, or to prevent recording reservation. It will be possible to cancel the reservation silver included. If necessary, it is also possible to print out a list of necessary recording results on a label attached to a recorded video cassette.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view showing a program reservation management device, a VTR, and a TV according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a connection relationship between the program reservation management device and the Internet.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the program reservation management device.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an overall processing operation in the program reservation management device.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing download processing and program guide creation processing in the program reservation management device.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing program information and program change information input from the Internet to the program reservation management device.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a one-day program broadcast schedule for all channels (broadcast stations) created by the program reservation management device.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a program broadcast schedule of the same channel (broadcasting station) for one week created by the program reservation management device.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a reservation registration processing operation in the program reservation management device.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a program broadcast schedule displayed in a reservation registration mode in the program reservation management device.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a program broadcast schedule displayed in a reservation change / deletion mode in the program reservation management device.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a program broadcast schedule displayed in a transmission mode in the program reservation management device.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a transmission format in which information transmitted and received between the program reservation management device and the VTR is incorporated.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing a recording result editing processing operation in the program reservation management device.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a program recording result displayed on a CRT display device in the program reservation management device.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a recording result list created by the program reservation management device.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a menu screen displayed on a CRT display device in the program reservation management device.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a list of recording results for each video number created by the program reservation management device.

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing a recording result list for each program number created by the program reservation management device.

FIG. 20 is a view showing a video cassette to which a label printed by the program reservation management device is attached.

FIG. 21 is an external view showing a program reservation management device, a VTR, and a TV according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Program reservation management apparatus, 2 ... VTR, 3 ... TV, 5 ... C
RT display device, 6 ... keyboard, 7 ... mouse, 8 ... printer, 9 ... modem, 11 ... internet, 12 ... program information providing server, 15 ... schedule table creation unit, 16 ... schedule file, 18 ... broadcast schedule correction unit , 19: broadcast schedule display output unit, 20: reservation registration unit, 21: reserved program transmission unit, 24
... Recording result editing unit, 25 ... Recording table file, 26 ... Recording result display output unit, 27 ... Label print output unit, 28 ... Label, 29 ... TV remote control unit, 32,33 ... Program broadcast schedule, 37,43 , 44 ... Recording result list

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A program information fetching means for fetching program information indicating a TV broadcast schedule, and a program broadcast schedule for a predetermined period is created based on the program information fetched by the program information fetching means. Schedule table creating means, a schedule file storing the created program broadcast schedule, a broadcast schedule display output means for displaying and outputting the program broadcast schedule stored in the schedule file, and the program broadcast schedule A reservation registering means for registering a program designated by a program reservation operation on the display screen as a reserved program while the table is displayed, and a reserved program transmission for transmitting the reserved program reserved and registered by the reservation registering means to the VTR. Program reservation management device comprising: 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the program information capturing means captures program information for a predetermined period from a program information providing server of a TV program information providing company via the Internet every time a predetermined period elapses. 2. The program reservation management device according to claim 1, wherein: 3. A program change information fetching means for fetching program change information from the program information providing server every time a period shorter than the prescribed period elapses, and a program fetched by the program change information fetching means. 3. A broadcast schedule modifying means for modifying a program broadcast schedule already stored in the schedule file using the change information.
The program reservation management device described in the above. 4. A recording result fetching means for receiving each recording result for each reserved program transmitted from said VTR, and a recording result for editing each received recording result into a recording result list for each same program name. Editing means, a recording table file storing the edited recording result list, and a recording result corresponding to the specified program name stored in the recording table file in response to a display command operation specifying the program name 4. The program reservation management device according to claim 1, further comprising: a recording result display output unit configured to display and output a list. 5. 5. A label for printing and outputting a recording result list corresponding to a specified program name stored in the recording table file as a label of a recorded video cassette in response to a print command operation specifying a program name. 5. The program reservation management device according to claim 4, further comprising a printing unit. 6. The program reservation management device according to claim 4, wherein transmission of the reserved program to the VTR and reception of a recording result from the VTR are performed by wireless communication. 7. The program information fetching means reads a program name and a scheduled broadcast time described in a printed program broadcast schedule with an image scanner, and converts the program name and the program information into the program information. 1. The program reservation management device according to 1. 8. A TV remote control means for transmitting, to the TV, a channel switching instruction to a channel corresponding to a program designated by a program designation operation on a display screen while the program broadcast schedule is displayed. The program reservation management device according to claim 1. 9. A means for fetching program information indicating a TV broadcast schedule; a means for creating a program broadcast schedule within a predetermined period based on the fetched program information; Means for storing a table in a schedule file; means for displaying and outputting a program broadcast schedule stored in the schedule file; and displaying the program broadcast schedule in a state where the program broadcast schedule is displayed by a program reservation operation on a display screen. A machine-readable recording medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute a means for registering a designated program as a reserved program and a means for transmitting the reserved program registered to a VTR.