JPH1074345A - Channel selecting method in video recording reservation, recording device using the method and video recording reservation system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To simplify the channel selecting operation and to easily comprehend the number of the channel being selected without updating the channel by operating channel up and down keys and releasing audio mute. SOLUTION: When a channel selection menu is selected and a channel up key 6 or a channel down key 4 is pushed and a confirmation is made for the operation of a first key (a control flag F=0), no change is made for the channel of a TV tuner and audio mute is released. Thus, the omission of a mute release is prevented and the presently selected channel is confirmed by voice. If no change is required for the currently selected channel, the channel selection menu is closed. If other channel is to be selected, the up or the down key is operated. If the flag F is not 0 for the operations after the first one, the audio mute is released, the audio signals of the selected channel are outputted and the confirmration of the channel is made by voice with the channel selection operation.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a channel selection method in a recording reservation in which a recorded program can be reserved using a telephone line, a recording apparatus and a recording reservation system using the same. In detail, when the channel selection menu is selected and the channel up / down key is operated by remote control, the mute of the audio output is released without updating the channel, so that the current channel is selected. It is easy to check the channels inside.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A recording device (telephone video) such as a video tape recorder that can be controlled by a telephone line and a recording reservation system using the recording device perform recording while remotely controlling the recording device using the telephone line. This is a system for reserving programs to be used.

In order to reserve, cancel, or change a program or confirm a channel selection while controlling the recording means with a remote control signal, a response message from the recording apparatus (a message (operation guide message)) is used. In order to make a recording reservation, etc., by sequentially operating the answers.

In order to make such a recording reservation, the TV tuner built in the recording device is controlled in advance to an operating state, so that the sound from the TV tuner is transmitted during the reservation operation based on the response message. , The response message and the voice may overlap, making it difficult to hear the message. Therefore, in order to reliably perform the reservation, the voice on the VTR side is usually muted when using such a response message.

[0005]

When making a recording reservation remotely using a telephone line or the like, there are cases where it is desired to confirm the channel to be recorded. By using a telephone line, by selecting a target channel and directly listening to the sound, it is possible to confirm for the first time whether or not the channel is to be selected.

[0006] For that purpose, the mute for the audio performed on the television audio must be released.
However, if the user does not forget to release the mute for the audio, even if a channel selection operation is performed, the audio of that channel cannot be heard, so that the channel to be recorded cannot be confirmed. Regardless of the system configuration in which a response message is prepared in advance and a guide to select a channel is made after releasing the mute state, otherwise, it is not possible to confirm the channel selected by voice (such as a recording channel).

[0007] Even if the audio mute is released, the channel is immediately updated (channel up or channel down) by operating the channel selection button (up / down key). If you want to record, you have to do the channel return operation again. Therefore, checking the channel is unexpectedly troublesome.

Therefore, the present invention solves such a problem, and associates a channel up / down key with an audio mute, and also sets a channel up / down key immediately after a channel selection menu is selected. The present invention proposes a channel selection method in recording reservation in which audio mute is released without updating a channel in operation, a recording apparatus and a recording reservation system using this confirmation method.

[0009]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a channel selection method for recording reservation, wherein a channel selection menu for raising and lowering a channel is selected. When the up key or the down key is pressed for the first time, the muting of the sound output is released without updating the channel selected, and the sound of the channel selected at that time is output, and the next time and thereafter, In a state in which the audio mute is released, channel up and down are performed, and an updated audio of the selected channel is output.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording means, a line control means, a memory means for recording contents, and a control means for controlling them, and remote control of the recording means from the line side. The recording reservation contents stored in the memory means are set on the basis of the signal, and when the channel selection menu is selected on the basis of the remote control signal, the number of operation of the channel up / down key on the line side is set. Is checked, and when an up / down key is first pressed, the audio mute of the channel is released without updating the channel.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording reservation system in which recording contents can be remotely reserved by using a telephone line.
It has a line control means, a memory means for recorded contents, and a control means for controlling them, and a procedure guide according to a reservation procedure by a call from a caller using a telephone line is used as a voice signal as a caller. When the channel selection menu is selected based on the remote control signal from the telephone line, the number of channel up / down key operations on the line is checked, and the up / down keys are pressed first. When it is performed, the audio mute of the channel is released without updating the channel.

According to the present invention, when the channel up key or the down key is pressed when the channel selection menu is selected, if the first key operation is confirmed, the channel change of the TV tuner is not performed. That is, only the audio mute is released without updating the channel. By doing so, the audio mute is automatically canceled and the channel itself currently selected first can be confirmed by the audio. If the current channel selection channel is acceptable, the channel selection menu may be closed as it is.

To select another channel, the user operates the up key or the down key. Since the audio mute is released for the second and subsequent operations, the updated channel audio is output as it is, so that the channel can be confirmed by audio simultaneously with the channel operation. Once the user exits the channel selection menu, the sound returns to a muted state, so that the influence on the response message can be eliminated.

[0014]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Next, an embodiment of a channel selection method in a recording reservation according to the present invention, a recording apparatus and a recording reservation system using the channel selection method will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of the overall configuration of a recording reservation system including a recording device according to the present invention. Here, a VTR is exemplified as a recording unit constituting the recording apparatus, and a touch-tone type (output as a DTMF signal) telephone is exemplified as the telephone.

This VTR, which is a recording device, comprises a VTR original function unit 1 and a recording reservation unit 20 by telephone. Although not shown, the VTR function unit 1 includes a TV tuner,
It is assumed that it has a tape drive unit, a recording / reproducing unit, etc., and includes all parts that operate as a normal VTR.

The recording reservation section 20 performs various controls for transmission and reception of signals with the telephone 11, that is, setting / setting of the current time.
The microcomputer 2 controls updating, setting / execution / confirmation of scheduled recording, and the like.

The set reservation contents are stored in a memory (for example, RAM) 22 of the microcomputer 2,
The scheduled recording is executed in comparison with the current time in the box.
Setting or changing the reservation is realized by setting or changing the contents of the memory 22.

The calling telephone 11 and the recording reservation unit 20 are connected by a public line (telephone line) 21. The outgoing call signal is detected by the incoming call detecting means 10, and the detected incoming call detection signal is sent to the microcomputer 2. When the microcomputer 2 recognizes the call detection signal, the closing means 9 constituted by a relay or the like is closed, and the connection of the line 21 is completed.

The key operation signal from the calling side telephone set 11 is guided to the DTMF decoding means 3, and the DTMF decoding means 3 converts the DTMF signal into a digital signal and inputs the digital signal to the microcomputer 2. As a result, the microcomputer 2 performs a process of identifying a DTMF signal from the calling side telephone set 11, and identifies an operation button (10 keys and function keys) and analyzes a specific command based on a combination of the operation buttons.

The transmission signal to the transmission amplifier 7 is of two types: an audio signal output from the audio synthesizer 5 and an audio signal output from the VTR function unit 1. The voice synthesizing means 5 stores voice data of a predetermined word (message for operation procedure) in a ROM (not shown) provided therein, and can be arbitrarily specified by specifying its address from the microcomputer 2. The audio data is synthesized at the timing described above, and an audio signal indicating specific contents is output.

The audio signal output from the VTR function unit 1 is the same as the audio that can be heard when the VTR is connected to the monitor, and the program (channel) selected by the tuner during recording or when the tape is stopped. ), And when the tape is being reproduced, it is a reproduced audio signal from the tape.

The output state of the output audio signal from the VTR function section 1 is controlled by a mute means 12. When the operation procedure message is being sent to the caller, the voice signal must be muted before the message can be heard correctly. In such a case, the mute processing is performed based on the control signal from the microcomputer 2. Is executed. The output audio signal from the VTR function unit 1 passes through the low-pass filter 13 and is transmitted to the caller's telephone 11 together with the audio output signal of the audio synthesizing means 5.

A memory (ROM) built in the microcomputer 2
(Not shown) include information on how many seconds the telephone video responds after receiving the call, information for recording reservation, various control programs for reservation recording for canceling or changing the reservation, and various programs. Contains a control prism for realizing simple channel selection for performing audio mute.

When the recording apparatus as shown in FIG. 1 is remotely controlled from outside using the telephone line 21, the number button of the telephone 11 connected to the telephone line 21 is also used as a key for remote control. FIG. 2 shows an example. In this example, when the telephone 11 is used as a remote control commander, the specifications are as follows.

At the time of menu selection, numbers "1" to
"3" and "9" are used. The number “1” is a key for setting a recording reservation, “2” is a key for canceling a recording reservation, and “3” is a channel selection or VTR function unit 1.
Is a key for a control signal. "9" is a key for disconnecting the telephone line.

When the VTR function unit 1 is remotely operated, the numbers "1" correspond to the fast forward mode, "2" corresponds to the playback mode, "3" corresponds to the rewind mode, and "5" corresponds to the stop mode. . The number “9” is a menu selection key, “4” is a channel down key,
“6” is also used as a channel up key.

Next, the reservation recording process in the recording reservation system configured as described above will be described with reference to FIGS.

Referring to the flowchart of FIG. 3, since the recording apparatus is waiting for a call, if the caller calls the recording apparatus by operating the telephone 11, this is detected in step 31. When the incoming call is detected, the time until the recording device answers is counted (step 3).
2) And the count value R is stored in the ROM in the microcomputer 2.
Is compared with the number of seconds until the response is stored in step (step 33). If the receiving state continues for more than the number of seconds to answer, a closing operation is performed to connect the line 21 (step 34). When the line 21 is closed, a voice guide such as "Please have a password ID" is transmitted to the caller (step 35).

When the transmission of the voice guide information is completed, the system waits for a password (step 36). Also in this case, the time is counted after the voice guide is transmitted, and the monitoring of the specified number of seconds N (5 seconds in this example) is performed (step 3).
7, 38). If the password has not been input even after the lapse of the specified number of seconds, the line release processing is performed on the recording apparatus side, and the apparatus returns to the state of waiting for a call (steps 39 and 31).

Based on the voice guide, the caller can call the telephone 11
Is operated by operating the key (number button) (step 36). The DTMF signal relating to the key corresponding to the key operation is transmitted through the telephone line 21 to the microcomputer 2.
Sent to the side. If the passwords do not match, the line is opened. If the passwords match, the process proceeds to the menu selection procedure shown in FIG. 4 (steps 40, 39, 41).

In the menu selection, first, a voice guide such as "Please select a menu number" is played and the input operation of the caller is awaited (step 41). Also in this case, the time is counted after the voice guide is transmitted, and the monitoring of the specified number of seconds M (5 seconds in this example) is performed (step 4).
3, 44). If the menu number has not been input after the lapse of the specified number of seconds, the line release processing is performed, and the process returns to the state of waiting for a call (steps 39 and 31).

When a menu number is input, a menu corresponding to the number is selected. When the menu number is "1", a recording reservation setting menu (mode) is set (steps 45 and 46), and the corresponding setting processing procedure is executed. Scheduled recording is performed using a so-called time-designated reservation method for sequentially designating a reserved time or a channel, or a so-called G-code method in which the time or channel is shortened.

An example of a reservation procedure based on time designation is shown below. First, a voice guide (message) saying “Please start recording” is sent, and in response to this, the caller presses a specific key (for example, the 1 button) to send a 24-hour reservation start time. A voice guide "Please enter the recording end time" is transmitted. Thereby, the 24-hour reservation end time is designated. Next, a channel number is designated by an audio guide "Please enter a channel with two digits". In addition, if necessary, a date and a recording speed are specified.

When the reservation video recording information designation is completed in the above procedure, the mode becomes the menu number selection mode (step 4).
1) Here, when the menu number "9" is pressed, the processing transits to the line disconnection processing, and the reservation by telephone ends (step 49,
50). Similarly, when the menu number "2" is selected, the recording mode is canceled (steps 47 and 4).
8). When the menu number “3” is operated, a voice guide “Please enter the operation number” flows (step 5).
3), transition to the processing shown in FIG.

In FIG. 5, first, the input of the operation number is confirmed. For this confirmation, the relationship between the time count and the specified time Q is determined (steps 55 and 56), and if no input is made within the specified time, the line is opened (step 3).
9).

When an operation number is input within a specified time (step 54), a process corresponding to the input number is executed. In this example, as described with reference to FIG.
Is input, the audio signal from the VTR function unit 1 is muted, and the control flag F for canceling the audio mute state is reset (= 0) (FIG. 4).
Steps 60, 61, 62). After that, there is a voice guide to "rewind", and the rewind mode is set (steps 63 and 64).

When the number "2" is input, the audio signal is muted and the control flag F is reset (steps 65, 66 and 67). This control flag F is the same as the flag used in step 62. The same applies hereinafter. Then, after a voice guide of "Play" appears, the playback mode is set (steps 68 and 69).

When the number "3" is input, the mute processing of the audio signal and the reset processing of the control flag F are performed (steps 70, 71, 72). Then, after receiving a voice guide saying "Fast forward", the mode is set to the fast forward mode (steps 73 and 74).

When the operation number "9" is input after steps 64, 69, and 74, mute processing of the audio signal and reset processing of the control flag F are performed (steps 75, 7).
6, 77), and then there is a voice guide saying "Return to menu", and the mode is set to the fast forward mode (steps 78, 4).
2).

When the number "4" or "6" is selected for such remote control of the VTR function section 1, the processing shifts to the processing shown in FIG. First, when the number "4" corresponding to the channel down is input, the sound from the VTR function unit 1 is muted (step 80,
81), the state of the control flag F is determined (step 8)
2). When the channel selection menu is selected for the first time, the control flags F are all in the original state (= 0) as shown in FIG.
In this case, the control flag F is set (= 1) in step 83.

Then, while the voice of the channel number currently selected is guided, the audio mute is released and the voice of the selected channel is output (steps 84, 85, 8).
6). In other words, the audio mute state is automatically released, and the audio of the currently selected channel is output as it is, so that it is possible to prevent forgetting to release the audio mute and to prevent the audio from being forgotten. By listening to the output, you can grasp the current channel selection.

Thereafter, when the number "4" is operated again, the channel down process is performed because the control flag F is not 0 (steps 82 and 86), and the channel number after the channel down is guided by voice (steps 82 and 86). Step 84).
For example, when the current channel is “8”, a guide “6 channels” is sent. Thereafter, the audio mute is released and the audio of the channel actually selected is output (steps 85 and 86).

By repeating this operation, the selected channel is successively updated (rotated) in the direction of channel down, and the updated new channel number is guided by voice each time, whereby the currently selected channel is voiced. You can check it.

Contrary to this channel selection operation, the number "6"
, The operation proceeds to the channel up operation. This channel update operation is exactly the same as steps 80 to 86, except that the channel is changed in the channel up direction. Therefore, a processing step configuration for executing the operation completely with steps 80 to 86 (steps 90 to 9)
6).

Since the control flag F shown in step 92 is the same as the flag in step 82, when the number "6" is selected before the number "4", the control flag F
Is F = 0, the channel up operation is not performed, the audio mute is released, and the audio of the currently selected channel is output. In the example above,
The sound of channel 8 is output.

However, once the number "6" is selected, the control flag F is no longer 0, so that the channel up operation (from channel 8 to channel 10) is started and the sound of the selected channel is output. Is done. When the number “4” is selected and the channel down operation is performed, and when the number “6” is selected, the control flag F is set to 0.
Therefore, in this case, the channel up operation is performed immediately (steps 92 and 96). For example, when the channel is changed from 8 channel → 6 channel → 4 channel and the number “6” is pressed, the channel is changed from 4 channel to 6 channel.

Similarly, when the number "6" is selected and the channel up operation is performed, and when the number "4" is selected, the channel down operation is immediately performed (steps 82 and 86). For example, 8 channels → 10 channels →
When the number “4” is pressed when the channel is changed to 12 channels, the channel is changed from 12 channels to 10 channels.

If, for example, the number for controlling the VTR function unit 1 is operated without operating the number "4" or "6" during channel selection, steps 62 and 6 in FIG.
As shown at 7, 72, and 77, the control flag F is always reset (= 0). Therefore, when the number "4" or "6" is pressed again, the program passes through steps 82 and 83 (steps 92 and 93), so that the sound of the channel selected immediately before is output together with the sound mute processing. As a result, the currently selected channel can be easily confirmed.

As described above, the mute release operation of the TV sound and the channel change operation can be performed by the two operation buttons of channel up and channel down.
Also, when this channel selection operation is performed after listening to a tape playback sound or the like, the previously selected channel can be heard as it is, and the operation can be performed without discomfort.

The recording apparatus according to the present invention is configured not only in a form in which the entirety is incorporated in a video tape recorder main body, but also in an adapter form (dedicated recording-dedicated machine) in which a part is divided into a plurality of housings. It can also be realized with something. In this case, the dedicated device can be built in the home telephone.

D as an operation signal from the sender's telephone
The TMF signal is output even when the push dial of the caller telephone 11 is pressed, and the DTM signal such as a tone dialer is output.
The output of the device that generates the F signal may be transmitted through the caller-side telephone 11. In addition, an operation signal or a voice instruction via a modem may be used.

In the above embodiment, the recording means is exemplified as the controlled means which can be controlled from the telephone line.
The present invention can be applied to other controlled means. For example, in the case of a radio receiver, a radio station is preset and registered in advance, and the present invention can be applied to a case where a broadcast station is selected by key operation such as + or-.

In the case where the controlled means is a video deck, LD, CD, DVD playback device or the like that can be controlled from a telephone line, in addition to the above-described channel selection operation, a plurality of tapes and a plurality of disks are selected. In addition, the present invention can be applied to the case of performing a + or-key operation.

In the above example, a guide based on speech synthesis,
The method of performing an operation by a DTMF signal responding to the above is described. In addition to the above, an instruction is given by voice, the content is detected by a voice recognition circuit, the operation is performed, the operation is performed via a modem, etc. The present invention can also be applied to a case where communication is performed only by using the communication method.

[0056]

As described above, according to the present invention, when the channel up key or the down key is pressed when the channel selection menu is selected, if it is confirmed that this is the first key operation, the TV is operated. The channel of the tuner is not changed, that is, only the audio mute is released without updating the channel.

In this way, the currently selected channel can be confirmed by voice. If the current channel selection channel is acceptable, the channel selection menu may be closed as it is.

To select another channel, the user operates the up key or the down key. Since the audio mute is released for the second and subsequent operations, the updated channel audio is output as it is, so that the channel can be confirmed by audio simultaneously with the channel operation. Once the user exits the channel selection menu, the sound returns to a muted state, so that the influence on the response message can be eliminated. Even in the channel selection operation after operating the VTR itself, the channel is not updated, so that the selection of the selected channel can be easily performed.

As described above, according to the channel selection method, the recording apparatus and the recording reservation system using the channel selection method according to the present invention, the operator is free from complicated operations and the operation method is simple. The feature is that the use time can be reduced, and the call charge can be saved accordingly.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a main part showing an embodiment of a recording reservation system using a recording device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration shared with telephone numbers.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart (1/4) showing an example of a reserved recording setting procedure.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart (2/4) showing an example of a reservation recording setting procedure.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart (3/4) showing an example of a reservation recording setting procedure.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart (4/4) showing an example of a reservation recording setting procedure.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... VTR function part, 2 ... microcomputer, 3 ... D
TMF decoding means, 5 ... voice synthesis means, 6 ...
Reception amplifier, 7: Transmission amplifier, 8: Line transformer, 9: Closing means, 13: Low-pass filter, 20: Recording reservation unit

Claims (7)

[Claims] When a channel selection menu for raising and lowering a channel is selected, and when the up key or the down key is first pressed,
The mute of the audio output is released without updating the selected channel, the sound of the selected channel is output at that time, and the up and down of the channel will be performed with the audio mute released after the next time. A channel selection method in a recording reservation, wherein the method is adapted to output an updated sound of a selected channel. 2. The channel selection method according to claim 1, wherein said recording reservation is made through a telephone line. 3. A mute release flag is prepared, and the contents of the mute release flag are changed by operating the first channel selection channel key, and the mute release flag is returned to the original state when the channel selection menu is released. 2. The channel selection method in a recording reservation according to claim 1, wherein: 4. A recording means, a line control means, a memory means for recording contents, and a control means for controlling them, wherein the memory means is controlled based on a remote control signal from the line side to the recording means. When the channel selection menu is selected based on the remote control signal, the number of channel up / down key operations on the line side is checked. A recording device wherein when a down key is pressed, the audio mute of a channel is released without updating the channel. 5. The recording apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said recording means uses a VTR. 6. A recording reservation system which allows reservation of recording contents remotely using a telephone line, wherein the recording device comprises a recording means, a line control means, a memory means for recording contents, and A control means for controlling, wherein a procedure guide according to a reservation procedure is transmitted to the caller as an audio signal by calling from the caller using the telephone line, and a remote control signal from the telephone line is provided. When the channel selection menu is selected based on, the number of channel up / down key operations on the line side is checked, and when the up / down key is pressed for the first time, the channel is updated without updating the channel. A recording reservation system, wherein audio mute is released. 7. The recording reservation system according to claim 6, wherein a number key of a telephone is used as said channel up / down key.