JPH11187325A - Digital television broadcast receiver - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a digital television broadcast receiver capable of acquiring program guide information, etc., transmitted to an after-mentioned special channel without interrupting a present viewing program when a channel only for providing program information is provided. SOLUTION: At the digital television broadcast receiver at a digital television broadcast system where a private channel for providing program information exists, first and second tuner 11 and 21 are provided. In addition, A control means 24 controlling the respective tuners 11 and 21 is provided to allow the first tuner 11 to tune a program designated by a user and to allow the second tuner 21 to always tune a private channel for providing program information.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a digital television broadcast receiver for receiving digital television broadcasts such as digital satellite broadcasts.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In digital television broadcasting such as digital satellite broadcasting, guide information (program information) on a program is transmitted in addition to the original program contents. The program information includes a channel for each program, broadcast time, information indicating its genre, and the like. A digital television broadcast receiver capable of receiving digital satellite broadcasting has a function of displaying a program guide screen (program guide table) based on program guide information.

[0003] For example, in PerfecTV, the program information transmits information about a program currently being broadcast and a program to be broadcast next.
The pf-EIT is transmitted separately from the s-EIT that transmits information on all programs. The s-EIT is transmitted in units called segments, as shown in FIG. One segment is in units of three hours. According to the standard, transmission up to a maximum of 21 days from today is possible.

Further, in PerfecTV, there is a special channel called a promo channel for transmitting program information. In this promo channel, program information that is wider in time than program information transmitted in another channel is transmitted, and detailed information that is not transmitted in another channel is transmitted.

That is, a transponder (relay) that does not include a promo channel transmits program information for 6 hours, while a transponder that includes a promo channel transmits program information for up to 21 days. Is done. Further, from the transponder including the promo channel, detailed information indicating the detailed contents of the program is transmitted for three days. Such detailed information is not transmitted from a transponder that does not include a promo channel.

Therefore, in order to display detailed information or to display a program guide for a program after six hours, a transponder including a promo channel must be selected.

When a transponder that does not include a promo channel is selected, detailed information is displayed,
To display a program guide for a program after six hours, it is necessary to switch the transponder so as to select a transponder including a promo channel. Then, there is a problem that the program currently being viewed is interrupted.

In addition, since the retransmission cycle of program information sent from a transponder that does not include a promo channel is relatively long, there is a problem that it takes time from when an acquisition request is made to when it is actually acquired and displayed.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a PerfecTV
In a digital television broadcasting system provided with a dedicated channel for providing program information, such as a promo channel, a program guide transmitted to the special channel without interrupting the program currently being viewed. It is an object to provide a digital television broadcast receiver capable of acquiring information and the like.

The present invention relates to a digital television broadcasting system provided with a dedicated channel for providing program information, such as a Promo channel of PerfecTV,
It is an object of the present invention to provide a digital television broadcast receiver that can quickly display program information when necessary.

[0011]

A first digital television broadcast receiver according to the present invention is a digital television broadcast receiver in a digital television broadcast system having a dedicated channel for providing program information. , The second tuner device, and each tuner device so that the second tuner device always selects a dedicated channel for providing program information so that the first tuner device selects a program specified by the user. Is provided with control means for controlling

[0012] A second digital television broadcast receiver according to the present invention is a digital television broadcast receiver in a digital television broadcast system having a dedicated channel for providing program information. In a digital television broadcast receiver having a two-screen display mode for splitting into two and displaying two programs simultaneously on separate split screens, a first tuner device, a second tuner device,
In the two-screen display mode, the 2
First control means for controlling each tuner device so that one of the programs is selected by the first tuner device and the other by the second tuner device, and in the one-screen display mode,
Second control means for controlling each tuner device so that the second tuner device always selects a dedicated channel for providing program information so that the first tuner device selects a program specified by the user. , Is provided.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a PerfecTV will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[1] Description of First Embodiment

Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a digital satellite television broadcast receiver.

In this digital satellite television broadcasting receiver, a digital CS tuner and a CS digital signal processing unit
Two sets are provided.

The first digital CS tuner 11 and the first CS digital signal processing unit 12 are used for displaying an original program. The second digital CS tuner 21 always selects a promo channel, and the second digital CS tuner 21 and the second CS digital signal processing unit 22 are used only for obtaining program information.

Radio waves from a communication satellite are received by an antenna 10. The radio waves from the satellite include a horizontal polarization and a vertical polarization, and the antenna 10 includes two systems of receiving units so as to be able to receive both of these polarizations.

The horizontal polarization and the vertical polarization received by the antenna 10 are sent to a first digital CS tuner 11 and a second digital CS tuner 21, where high-frequency processing and demodulation are performed.

The first CS digital signal processing section 12 outputs a video signal and an audio signal of the currently selected channel. First CS digital signal processing unit 1
The audio signal output from 2 is sent to the speaker 14 via the audio processing circuit 13. The video signal output from the first CS digital signal processing unit 12 is sent to the display device 16 via the video signal processing circuit 15.

The output of the second digital CS tuner 21 is sent to a second CS digital signal processing unit 22. From the second CS digital signal processing unit 22, program information and detailed information transmitted to the promo channel are output. The program information and the detailed information output from the second CS digital signal processing unit 22 are sent to the system controller 24 via the program information / detailed information processing unit 23.

The system controller 24 outputs a channel selection control signal to each of the digital CS tuners 11 and 21. As described above, the second digital CS tuner 21 is controlled to always select a promo channel. The first digital CS tuner 11 is controlled to select a channel specified by the user.

Various input signals are input to the system controller 24 from the remote controller 30. The remote controller 30 is provided with ten keys 31, a menu key 32, an up key 33, a down key 34, an enter key 35, and the like.

The system controller 24 generates an OSD control signal for on-screen display of a program guide screen and various setting screens based on various input signals from the remote controller 30, program information and detailed information. Output to the screen display circuit 25.

The on-screen display circuit 25 generates and outputs display data corresponding to the on-screen screen specified by the system controller 24. The display data output from the on-screen display circuit 25 is sent to the display device 16 via the video signal processing circuit 15.

In the above embodiment, the first digital CS
Tuner 11 and first CS digital signal processing unit 12
As a result, an audio signal and a video signal for the original program are obtained, and the original program is presented based on the obtained audio signal and video signal.

On the other hand, the second digital CS tuner 21 and the second CS digital signal processor 22 constantly acquire program information and detailed information transmitted to the promo channel. Therefore, the original program currently viewed is not interrupted in order to acquire the program information or the detailed information program. Further, when the program information is required, it is not necessary to obtain the program information again, so that the program guide screen or the like can be quickly displayed.

[2] Description of Second Embodiment

Hereinafter, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 shows the configuration of a digital satellite television broadcast receiver.

In this digital satellite television broadcast receiver,
The display mode includes a one-screen display mode and a two-screen display mode in which a screen is divided into two and two programs are simultaneously displayed on separate divided screens. In order to switch the display mode, the remote controller 30 includes a numeric keypad 3
1, menu key 32, up key 33, down key 3
4. In addition to the enter key 35, a display mode switching key 36 is provided.

Further, in this digital satellite television broadcast receiver, as in the first embodiment, two sets of digital CS tuners and CS digital signal processing units are provided.

(1) Description of operation in one screen mode

In the one-screen mode, as in the first embodiment, the first digital CS tuner 11 and the first CS digital signal processor 12 are used to display an original program. Further, the second digital CS tuner 21 always selects a promo channel, and the second digital CS tuner 21 and the second CS digital signal processing unit 22 are used only for obtaining program information.

The horizontal polarization and the vertical polarization received by the antenna 10 are sent to a first digital CS tuner 11 and a second digital CS tuner 21, where high-frequency processing and demodulation are performed.

The first CS digital signal processing section 12 outputs a video signal and an audio signal of the currently selected channel. First CS digital signal processing unit 1
The audio signal outputted from the second audio processing circuit 13a
And the first speaker 14a via the voice switching circuit 17
And the second speaker 14b. The video signal output from the first CS digital signal processing unit 12 is sent to the two-screen combining circuit 18 via the first video signal processing circuit 15a.

In the one-screen mode, when no display data is sent from the on-screen display circuit 25, the two-screen synthesizing circuit 18 displays the output from the first video signal processing circuit 15a on the display device 16 as it is. . In the one-screen mode, when display data is sent from the on-screen display circuit 25, the two-screen combining circuit 18 outputs the display data from the on-screen display circuit 25 and the output from the first video signal processing circuit 15a. Are combined and displayed on the display device 16.

The output of the second digital CS tuner 21 is sent to a second CS digital signal processor 22. From the second CS digital signal processing unit 22, program information and detailed information transmitted to the promo channel are output. The program information and the detailed information output from the second CS digital signal processing unit 22 are sent to the system controller 24 via the program information / detailed information processing unit 23.

The system controller 24 generates an OSD control signal for displaying a program guide screen and various setting screens on-screen based on various input signals from the remote controller 30, program information and detailed information. Output to the screen display circuit 25.

The on-screen display circuit 25 generates and outputs display data corresponding to the on-screen screen specified by the system controller 24. The display data output from the on-screen display circuit 25 is sent to the display device 16 via the two-screen combining circuit 18.

The system controller 24 outputs a tuning control signal to each of the digital CS tuners 11 and 21. 1
In the screen mode, the second digital CS tuner 21 is controlled to always select a promo channel. The first digital CS tuner 11 is controlled to select a channel specified by the user.

The system controller 24 sends an audio switching signal to the audio switching circuit 17 and also sends a display mode switching signal to the two-screen synthesizing circuit 18. In the one-screen mode, the sound switching circuit 17 outputs the sound signal output from the first sound processing circuit 13a to the first speaker 14a.
And the second speaker 14b. In the one-screen mode, the two-screen synthesizing circuit 18 controls the display data from the on-screen display circuit 25 (this display data may not exist) and the output from the first video signal processing circuit 15a. Is done.

(2) Description of operation in two-screen mode

In the two-screen mode, the first digital CS
Tuner 11 and first CS digital signal processing unit 12
Is used to display the original program (first program). The second digital CS tuner 21 is also used to display another original program (second program).

The horizontal polarization and the vertical polarization received by the antenna 10 are sent to a first digital CS tuner 11 and a second digital CS tuner 21, where high-frequency processing and demodulation are performed.

The first CS digital signal processing section 12 outputs a video signal and an audio signal of the channel of the currently selected first program. Audio signal (audio signal 1) output from first CS digital signal processing unit 12
Is a first audio processing circuit 13a and an audio switching circuit 17
Through the first speaker 14a. The video signal (video signal 1) output from the first CS digital signal processing unit 12 is sent to the two-screen combining circuit 18 via the first video signal processing circuit 15a.

The second CS digital signal processing section 22 outputs the video signal and the audio signal of the channel of the currently selected second program. The audio signal (audio signal 2) output from the second CS digital signal processing unit 22
Is the second audio processing circuit 13b and the audio switching circuit 17
Through the second speaker 14b. The video signal (video signal 2) output from the second CS digital signal processing unit 22 is sent to the two-screen combining circuit 18 via the second video signal processing circuit 15b.

That is, in the two-screen mode, the audio switching circuit 17 outputs the audio signal (audio signal 1) output from the first CS digital signal processing unit 12 based on the audio switching signal from the system controller 24. To the first speaker 14a and the audio signal (audio signal 2) output from the second CS digital signal processing unit 22 to the second speaker 1
4b.

In the two-screen mode, the two-screen synthesizing circuit 18 outputs the first video signal processing circuit 15a based on the display mode switching signal from the system controller 24.
(Video signal 1) is displayed on one of two screens divided into right and left, and the second video signal processing circuit 1
The two video signals are combined and displayed on the display device 16 so that the output (video signal 2) from 5b is displayed on the other of the two screens divided into left and right.

[0049]

According to the present invention, in a digital television broadcasting system provided with a dedicated channel for providing program information, such as a Promo channel of PerfecTV, the program currently being viewed can be interrupted. , The program guide information transmitted to the special channel can be acquired.

Further, according to the present invention, in a digital television broadcasting system provided with a dedicated channel for providing program information, such as a Promo channel of PerfecTV, program information is promptly displayed when necessary. Will be able to do it.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a digital satellite television broadcast receiver according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a digital satellite television broadcast receiver according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an example of contents of s-EIT of PerfecTV.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Antenna 11, 21 Digital CS tuner 12, 22 CS digital signal processing part 24 System controller

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A digital television broadcasting receiver in a digital television broadcasting system having a dedicated channel for providing program information, comprising: a first tuner device, a second tuner device, and a program designated by a user. Control means for controlling each tuner device so that the second tuner device always selects a dedicated channel for providing program information so that the device tunes. Broadcast receiver. 2. A digital television broadcasting receiver in a digital television broadcasting system having a dedicated channel for providing program information, comprising: a one-screen display mode;
In a digital television broadcast receiver provided with a dual screen display mode for dividing a screen into two and displaying two programs simultaneously on separate divided screens, the first tuner device, the second tuner device, 2 specified by
First control means for controlling each tuner device so that one of the programs is selected by the first tuner device and the other by the second tuner device, and in the one-screen display mode,
Second control means for controlling each tuner device so that the second tuner device always selects a dedicated channel for providing program information so that the first tuner device selects a program specified by the user. A digital television broadcast receiver, comprising: