JPH11341372A - Program reservation controller, digital broadcasting receiver and program reservation controlling method for digital broadcasting receiver - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To preferentially perform the reservation execution of a program which a user wants to view, even when the broadcasting time of plural reserved programs overlap with respect to a digital broadcasting receiver which receives program guide information. SOLUTION: A tuner part 101 selects a broadcast signal received by an antenna according to a channel selection instruction and receives data signals, such as program guide information and other information, including video information and sound information. A user interface part 102 receives an input about program reservation from a user. Not only program identifier information which is for designating a reservation program but also priority information which is for deciding the execution priority of a reservation program are inputted from the part 102. The part 101 also receives version information, and when a program reservation controlling part 105 detects the updating of the program guide information based on the version information, new program guide information and new version information are stored in a program guide information storing part 103.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a program reservation control device for controlling reservation when receiving multi-channel broadcast waves and their program guide information, and a digital broadcast receiver.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art ETSI (European Telecommunacation S) is a broadcasting system standardization organization in Europe.
The Tandards Institute defines a transmission format of service information (SI) data including program guide information according to ETS300468 (commonly known as DVB standard) for a digital broadcasting system. In a broadcasting system based on this standard, for example, program guide information including information such as a broadcast channel, a scheduled broadcast time, and a program name for each program is constantly transmitted from a broadcast station as information on a program to be broadcast. The program guide information transmitted by the broadcasting station can be updated at any time. Further, according to the DVB standard, all transmitted program guide information includes version information. By monitoring the version information on the receiving terminal side, the receiving terminal side has been received and held in the past. It is possible to determine whether the program guide information is the latest one.

A receiving terminal used in a digital broadcasting system based on the DVB standard, for example, a television receiver,
In a video deck or the like, program reservation can be made based on program guide information. However, if the program guide information is updated after the user sets the program reservation, the program reservation may be executed based on the program guide information not recognized by the user. That is, even if the user reserves a plurality of programs to be broadcast at different time zones,
Thereafter, the program guide information is updated, and as a result, if the broadcast times of the programs overlap, a situation occurs in which the program reservation of the program that the user wants to view is not executed (broadcast or recorded).

FIG. 18 is a block diagram showing an example of a conventional program reservation control device for a digital television broadcast receiver.

In FIG. 18, reference numeral 501 denotes a tuner section,
02, a user interface unit; 503, a program guide information storage unit; 504, a reserved program identifier information storage unit;
5 is a program reservation control unit, and 506 is a time management unit.

[0006] The digital broadcasting system usually broadcasts program guide information including a name of a program broadcasted for about one week, a broadcast channel, and a scheduled broadcast time together with video and audio signals. The tuner section 501 receives data broadcasting including program guide information together with video information and audio information.

[0007] In a digital broadcast receiver on which such program guide information is broadcast, when a program is reserved, the user interface section 502 receives an input from the user regarding program reservation. The user makes a program reservation by designating a program to be reserved. The reserved program identifier information storage unit 504 stores the program identifier information of the reserved program input from the user interface unit 502.

The program guide information storage unit 503 stores the program guide information received by the tuner unit 501 and the version information of the program guide. If the program guide information is changed between the time of program reservation and the broadcast time of the reserved program, the time for executing the reservation and the broadcast channel are also changed according to the changed program guide information. The program guide information is transmitted together with version information indicating the update status of the program guide information. By monitoring this version information, the update of the program guide information can be detected. The control related to such program reservation is as follows.
This is performed by the program reservation control unit 505. Time management unit 5
At 06, the time management of the reserved program is performed according to the reservation execution schedule controlled by the program reservation control unit 505.

FIG. 19 and FIG. 20 are diagrams showing an example of a program table formed based on the received program guide information.

In the program table shown in FIG.
Only the programs scheduled to be broadcast in the time zone from 19:00 to 23:00 on the channel are shown. Based on this program guide, the user can use the “Professional Baseball Relay” 601 to be broadcast from 9:00 to 21:00 on channel 217 and the “Drama A” to be broadcast from channel 21:00 to 22:00 on channel 220. The case where "602" is reserved will be described.

[0011] According to the reservation execution schedule in such a case, from 9:00 to 21:00, "professional baseball broadcast" of 217 channels is executed (broadcast or recorded), and
"Drama A" on channel 304 from 1:00 to 22:00
Is executed (broadcast or recorded).

However, the program guide information is updated after the user's program reservation, and as shown in the program table shown in FIG.
The program “Professional Baseball Relay” 601 that was scheduled to be broadcast on Channel 17 from 19:00 to 21:00 was extended by 30 minutes to 1
If the broadcast schedule is changed from 9 o'clock to 21:30, the "Professional baseball broadcast" will be performed between 21:00 and 21:30.
The scheduled broadcast times of the two programs 701 and “Drama A” 702 overlap.

In a conventional program reservation control device of a digital broadcast receiver, a reservation schedule is calculated with priority given to a program whose broadcast start time is short, and the program reservation is executed. Therefore, in the case described above, 21:00 to 21
Until 1:30, the program reservation of “Pro-baseball relay” 701 broadcast on channel 217 is continuously executed, and 220
Channel “Drama A” 702 program reservation is 21:03
It was only executed after 0 minutes.

[0014]

As described above, in the conventional program reservation control device of a digital broadcast receiver, when a user reserves a plurality of programs having overlapping broadcast times, the broadcast start time of the program whose broadcast start time precedes it is reduced. Reservation was executed with priority, and reservation of a program with a late start time was not executed.

When the user has reserved a plurality of programs, the program guide information is changed after the reservation of the program, so that the broadcast times of the plurality of programs overlap on the changed broadcast schedule. sell. Also in this case, the reservation of the preceding program was executed, and the reservation of the program started later was not executed. For this reason, there has been a problem that the user must reserve only the program that he / she prefers to view or change the program reservation every time the broadcast schedule is changed.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and has a program reservation control device, a digital broadcast receiver, and a digital broadcast receiver capable of executing a reserved program simply and quickly according to the viewer's will. It is an object of the present invention to provide a program reservation control method for a device.

[0017]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a program reservation control device for receiving information on a program to be broadcast (hereinafter referred to as program guide information);
Program guide information storage means for storing the received program guide information and program guide version information (hereinafter referred to as version information) indicating the update status of the program guide information;
User interface means for inputting program identifier information for each program selected as a reserved program from programs scheduled to be broadcast, and priority information for determining a reservation execution priority between the reserved programs; program identifier information and priority information; Means for storing program identifier information, execution priority information, and updated program guide information stored in the reservation information storage means, while updating the program guide information stored in the program guide information storage means. Control means for controlling the schedule execution schedule based on the information; and a schedule execution schedule so that the schedule execution schedule set to a higher schedule execution priority is preferentially executed when the broadcast time of the schedule schedule program overlaps. And time management means for managing the time of the reserved program along the line.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a program reservation control device, comprising: receiving means for receiving program guide information; program guide version information storing means for storing version information of the program guide information; User interface means for inputting program identifier information for each program selected as a reserved program, and priority information for determining a reservation execution priority between the reserved programs, and reservation information storage means for storing the program identifier information and the priority information The control means for controlling the reservation execution schedule based on the program identifier information, execution priority information stored in the reservation information storage means and the program guide information received by the receiving means, and the broadcast time of the reserved program overlaps If the program has been set, the scheduled program with the higher scheduled execution priority will be executed with priority. It is obtained by a time management means for performing time management of about programs.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a program reservation control device, wherein the reservation information storage means stores broadcast information of the reserved program in addition to the program identifier information and the execution priority information. And updating the reservation execution schedule based on the broadcast information, the program identifier information, and the execution priority information of the reserved program.

In the program reservation control device according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the broadcast information is broadcast channel information and scheduled broadcast time information.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a digital broadcast receiver according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the digital broadcast receiver receives the digital broadcast signal and reproduces a video, audio, or data signal. And a program reservation control device.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a program reservation control method for a digital broadcast receiver which receives program guide information and performs time management of a reserved program according to a reservation execution schedule of the reserved program designated by a user. In the program reservation control method of the broadcast receiver, the program guide information is stored, the update of the program guide information is detected, or the program identifier information of the reserved program is changed, or the reservation execution priority of the reserved program is changed. Is detected, a new reservation execution schedule is calculated based on the program identifier information of the reserved program, its priority information, and the program guide information.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a digital broadcast receiver program reservation control method which receives version information and performs time management of a reserved program according to a reservation execution schedule of the reserved program designated by a user. In the program reservation control method of the receiver, when the update of the program guide information is detected, or the program identifier information of the reserved program is changed, or the reservation execution priority of the reserved program is changed, the program guide Information is received, and a new reservation execution schedule is calculated based on the program identifier information of the reserved program, its priority information, and the program guide information.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a program reservation control method for a digital broadcast receiver, wherein each time a reserved program is designated by a user, the program guide information is searched for the broadcast information of the reserved program, and the retrieved broadcast information is retrieved. It is stored together with or instead of the program guide information.

[0025]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG.
An embodiment of the present invention will be described.

Embodiment 1 FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a program reservation control device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 101 denotes a tuner unit, 10
2 is a user interface unit, 103 is a program guide information storage unit, 104 is a reserved program identifier information storage unit, 105
Denotes a program reservation control unit, and 106 denotes a time management unit. 107
Is a reservation execution priority information storage unit that stores the reservation execution priority of the reserved program input from the user interface unit 102, and is newly provided in the program reservation control device of the first embodiment. These blocks 101 to 107
Are connected to each other via a data bus 110.

The tuner section 101 selects a broadcast signal received by an antenna according to a channel selection command, and receives data signals including video information, audio information, and program guide information. The user interface unit 102 receives an input from a user regarding program reservation. Conventionally, only information for designating a program to be reserved has been input from the user interface unit 102. However, here, the program identifier information for designating the reserved program and the priority for determining the execution priority of the reserved program are used. Information is also entered. The tuner unit 101 also receives version information, and the program reservation control unit 1 based on the version information.
When the update of the program guide information is detected in 05, new program guide information and new version information are stored in the program guide information storage unit 103.

Next, the operation of the above-configured program reservation control device will be described.

In this program reservation control device, the program identifier information of the reserved program input from the user interface unit 102 is stored in the reserved program identifier information storage unit 104,
The priority information of the reserved program is stored in the reservation execution priority information storage unit 10.
7 is stored. When the update of the received program guide information is detected, the program identifier information is updated by user input, or the priority information is updated by user input, the program reservation control unit At 105, a reservation execution schedule is newly calculated. The time management unit 106 performs time management according to the reservation execution schedule calculated by the program reservation control unit 105.

By the way, in a digital broadcasting system,
A system in which the program guide information is transmitted along with the version information on all broadcast frequencies and the receiver can always receive the program guide information, and a program guide information is transmitted only at a specific frequency and the tuner of the receiver is transmitted. Part 10
There are some systems that cannot be received without tuning 1. Each system has a different procedure for receiving the program guide information, and the program reservation operation is slightly different for each system based on the procedure. Here, in the latter system, the update of the program guide information is detected after the program identifier information of the reserved program and the priority information for determining the execution priority of the reserved program are input to the program reservation control device.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation after the program reservation control unit detects the update of the program guide information.

This flowchart is changed to a new program guide when it is determined that the version information is different from the version information stored in the program guide information storage unit 103 when the tuner unit 101 receives the version information. The process starts when the program reservation control unit 105 detects the update of the program guide information.

In step 1101, the tuner section 101 tunes to the frequency on which the program guide information is currently being broadcast.
To determine if it is done. If it is not tuned to the frequency broadcasting the program guide information, the process proceeds to step 1102, and if it is tuned, the process proceeds to step 1104. When the program reservation is being executed, or when the user is viewing or recording another program, the frequency setting of the tuner unit 101 is independently changed from the program reservation control unit 105. Should not be. Therefore, when the process proceeds to step 1102, the program reservation control unit 105 determines whether the reception frequency can be changed. If the frequency can be changed, step 1103
Proceeds to and terminates if the change is not possible. Step 11
When the process proceeds to 03, the program reservation control unit 105 issues a predetermined channel selection command to the tuner unit 101, and tunes to the frequency on which the program guide information is broadcast.

In step 1104, the received program guide information and version information are stored in the program guide information storage unit 10.
3 is stored.

In step 1105, program identifier information of all reserved programs stored in the reserved program identifier information storage unit 104 is obtained. In step 1106, the priority information for determining the reservation execution priority of all the reserved programs stored in the reservation execution priority information storage unit 107 is obtained. The program identifier information and the priority information are stored in the reserved program identifier information storage unit 104 and the reservation execution priority information storage unit 107, respectively, when designating a reserved program from the user interface unit 102.

In step 1107, step 1104
Then, the program guide information stored in the program guide information storage unit 103 is searched by the program reservation control unit 105 to obtain broadcast channel information and scheduled broadcast time information for all the reserved programs. In step 1108, steps 1106, 1
Based on the priority information, broadcast channel information, and scheduled broadcast time information of the reserved program acquired in 107, the program reservation control unit 105 calculates a reservation execution schedule. Step 1106 prior to step 1108
Needless to say, the order of the steps 1107 and 1107 may be reversed.

In step 1109, step 1108
The automatic reservation command is issued based on the result of the calculation of the reservation execution schedule in. Here, the automatic reservation command is a command issued from the program reservation control unit 105 to the tuner unit 101 to receive a broadcast program of a specified channel at a specified time. The automatic reservation command may include a command for turning on and off the power of the digital receiver.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation after the program reservation control section has accepted a new program reservation.

The same operation is performed in the program reservation control section 105 even when the user inputs an input to change the program reservation information. First, the user interface unit 10
2, the program identifier information of the reserved program and the priority information for determining the reservation execution priority are input.

In step 1201, the program reservation control section 105 determines whether or not the program guide information is being broadcast on the currently received frequency, that is, whether or not the tuner section 101 can receive the program guide information. If the program guide information cannot be received at the frequency currently being received, the process proceeds to step 1202;
Go to 203.

In step 1202, the tuner unit 101
, A predetermined channel selection command is issued from the program reservation control unit 105 to tune to the frequency on which the program guide information is being broadcast. In step 1203, the tuner unit 101
The program reservation control unit 105 determines whether or not the program guide information has been updated by comparing the version information received in step S1 with the version information stored in the program guide information storage unit 103. If the program guide information has been updated, the process proceeds to step 1204. If the program guide information has not been updated, the process proceeds to step 1205.

In step 1204, the received program guide information and version information are stored in the program guide information storage unit 10.
3, the information is updated. In step 1205, the program reservation control unit 105 determines a reserved program list according to the input from the user. FIG. 5 described below shows an example of a reserved program list.

In step 1206, the program identifier information of each reserved program is stored in the reserved program identifier information storage unit 104 from the determined reserved program list. In step 1207, the program reservation control unit 105 according to the input from the user
Determines the reservation execution priority for each reserved program. In step 1208, the determined priority information of the reserved program is stored in the reservation execution priority information storage unit 107. These steps 1206, 1207, 12
For step 08, step 12 is performed more than step 1207.
If 08 is the order to be executed later, these orders may be changed and executed.

In step 1209, the program identifier information of all the reserved programs stored in the reserved program identifier information storage unit 104 is obtained. In step 1210, the priority information of all the reserved programs stored in the reservation execution priority information storage unit 107 is obtained. In step 1211, the program guide information stored in the program guide information storage unit 103 is searched by the program reservation control unit 105, and broadcast channel information and scheduled broadcast time information on all the reserved programs are obtained. In step 1212, the program reservation control unit 105 calculates a reservation execution schedule based on the priority information, broadcast channel information, and scheduled broadcast time information of the reserved program acquired in steps 1210 and 1211. Step 1210 and step 121 prior to step 1212
Needless to say, the order of execution may be reversed.

In step 1213, step 1212
The automatic reservation command is issued based on the result of the calculation of the reservation execution schedule in. Step 1209 may be executed anywhere after step 1206 and before step 1212. Also, in a system that can always receive program guide information and version information, steps 1201 and 12
02, step 1203, and step 1204 may be omitted. Further, in any system, the determination in step 1201 may be omitted. Furthermore, it goes without saying that the determination in step 1203 may be omitted in any system.

Next, a method of calculating the reservation execution schedule in step 1212 will be described.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a program guide (program guide) configured based on the received program guide information. Here, the program C and the program D whose scheduled broadcast times overlap will be described. For example, 19: 3 on 217 channel
The reservation execution priority of the program C to be broadcasted from 0 minute to 21:30 is set low, and 20:00 on channel 220.
It is assumed that the reservation execution priority of the program D to be broadcast from the minutes to 21:00 is set high. When such a reservation setting is made, the reservation execution schedules of the programs C and D are as follows.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a reservation program list for creating a reservation execution schedule, and FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an execution program list based on the reservation execution schedule.

As shown in FIG. 6, the program reservation of the program C whose broadcast start time is short is executed from 19:30 to 20:00, and the program with high priority information is executed from 20:00 to 21:00. The program reservation of D is executed. 21:00
From minute to 21:30, the program reservation of program C is executed again. In this example, the reservation execution priority is set in two stages of “high” and “low”. However, the configuration may be such that the reservation execution priority can be set in any number of stages as long as there are two or more stages.

As described above, the program reservation control unit 105 manages the time of the reserved program according to the reservation execution schedule. At this time, if the broadcast times of the plurality of reserved programs do not overlap, the program reservation is executed at the broadcast time of each reserved program. If the broadcast time of a plurality of reserved programs overlaps, the program with the earlier broadcast start time takes precedence. If there are multiple programs with the same broadcast start time, the program reservation of the reserved program with a higher reservation execution priority takes precedence. Is done. During the execution of the program reservation, when the broadcast start time of a reserved program having a higher reservation execution priority than the currently executed reserved program comes, the program reservation of the reserved program having a higher reservation execution priority is started. A method of executing a program reservation from the middle of the program if another reserved program is being broadcast at the time when the broadcast end time of the reserved program is reached;
A method in which program reservation is not executed in the middle of a program is possible. Here, the program reservation is executed from the middle of the program C after the end of the program D, but either method may be adopted.

Next, the difference between a program reservation control method based on a reservation execution schedule between the apparatus of the first embodiment and the conventional apparatus will be described again with reference to the program tables of FIGS. 19 and 20 again.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a reserved program list including priorities, and FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an executed program list created when the program table is changed as shown in FIG.

In the conventional apparatus, when the user makes a reservation based on the program guide shown in FIG. 19 and then updates the program guide as shown in FIG. The reservation will not be executed. In the conventional program reservation control device of the digital broadcast receiver, the user is more likely to use “drama A” 602 than “professional baseball relay” 601.
"Drama A" 60
It was necessary to reserve only 2 or change the program reservation when the program guide was updated.

That is, in the program table shown in FIG.
Professional baseball live broadcast on channel 217 from 19:00 to 21:00, and 21:00 to 22:00
Even if the program is reserved for drama A broadcasted on channel 220 until 0 minute, in the case of the conventional device in which the priority is not set, if the program table shown in FIG. Until 1:30, the broadcast time of the reserved program overlapped, and it was impossible to watch the entire drama A.

However, in the device according to the first embodiment of the present invention, if the user wants to view drama A more, the reservation execution priority of drama A is set higher as shown in FIG. be able to. Therefore, even when the program table shown in FIG. 20 is updated, as shown in FIG. 8, the program reservation for drama A is executed from 21:00 at the start of broadcasting to 22:00 at the end of broadcasting, and Can be viewed.

As described above, in the apparatus according to the first embodiment, as a result of the change of the program guide information after the program reservation, a plurality of programs having overlapping broadcast times are reserved, or the broadcast time is initially set by the user. Even if a plurality of overlapping programs are reserved, it is possible to easily and quickly execute the reserved programs according to the viewer's will.

Embodiment 2 FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing an example of a program reservation control device according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

In FIG. 9, reference numeral 201 denotes a tuner unit;
2 is a user interface unit, 208 is a program guide version information storage unit, 204 is a reserved program identifier information storage unit, 205 is a program reservation control unit, 206 is a time management unit,
Reference numeral 07 denotes a reservation execution priority information storage unit. Each of these blocks 201, 202, 204 to 208 is connected to the data bus 21.
0 are connected to each other.

In the program reservation control device (FIG. 1) of the digital broadcast receiver according to the first embodiment, the program guide information storage unit 1
03 is the program guide information received by the tuner unit 101;
The version information of the program guide was stored. Means for storing such information has a problem that the cost is high because the size of the program guide information is generally very large.

Therefore, the program guide version information storage unit 208 of the second embodiment is configured to store only the version information received by the tuner unit 201. That is, when the update of the received program guide information is detected, the new version information is stored in the program guide version information storage unit 208. When the update of the received program guide information is detected, the program identifier information is updated by user input, or the priority information is updated by user input, the program reservation control unit At 205, a new reservation execution schedule is calculated. In other respects, it operates similarly to the device of the first embodiment.

Next, the operation of the above-configured program reservation control device will be described.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the operation after the program reservation control section detects the update of the program guide information.

In the flowchart of FIG. 10, when the version information is received by the tuner unit 201, it is determined that the version information is different from the version information stored in the program guide version information storage unit 208, and the program reservation control unit 2
05 starts when the program guide information is updated. In this respect, the operation is the same as the operation of the flowchart (FIG. 2) described in the first embodiment, and the same reference numerals are given to the corresponding steps below.

In step 2101, it is determined whether or not the frequency at which the program guide information is being broadcast is tuned. If it is not tuned to the frequency broadcasting the program guide information, the process proceeds to step 2102, and if it is tuned, the process proceeds to step 2104. In step 2102, the process ends if the user is watching or the program reservation is being executed and the reception frequency cannot be changed. However, if the reception frequency can be changed, the process proceeds to step 2103.

In step 2103, the tuner section 201
, A predetermined channel selection command is issued from the program reservation control unit 205 to tune to the frequency on which the program guide information is being broadcast.
To synchronize.

In step 2104, the received version information is stored in the version information storage unit 208.

At steps 1105 and 1106, program identifier information and priority information of all reserved programs are obtained, respectively, which are the same as the steps described in the first embodiment. In step 2107, the program reservation control unit 205 searches for the program guide information received by the tuner unit 201, and acquires broadcast channel information and scheduled broadcast time information for all the reserved programs. In steps 1108 and 1109, a reservation execution schedule is calculated, and an automatic reservation command is issued based on the calculation result. These are the same as the steps described in the first embodiment. Needless to say, the order of step 1106 and step 2107 prior to step 1108 may be reversed.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an operation after a new program reservation is accepted in the program reservation control section. This flowchart corresponds to the flowchart (FIG. 3) described in the first embodiment.
In the following, corresponding steps are denoted by the same reference numerals.

In step 2201, the program reservation control unit 205 determines whether or not the program guide information is being broadcast at the currently received frequency and the program guide information can be received. If the program guide information cannot be received at the frequency currently being received, the process proceeds to step 2202; otherwise, the process proceeds to step 2203. Next step 220
2, the program reservation control unit 20
5 to issue a predetermined channel selection instruction to tune to the frequency on which the program guide information is being broadcast.

In step 2203, the tuner section 201
By comparing the received version information with the version information stored in the program guide version information storage unit 208, the program reservation control unit 205 determines whether the program guide information has been updated. If the program guide information has been updated, the process proceeds to step 2204, and if the program guide information has not been updated, the process proceeds to step 2205.
Proceed to.

In step 2204, the received version information is stored in the program guide version information storage unit 208, and the old version information is updated. However, in a system that can always receive the program guide information and the version information, any of steps 2201 to 2204 can be omitted. Also, in any system, step 2
The determination at 201 may be omitted. Furthermore, it goes without saying that the determination in step 2203 may be omitted in any system.

At steps 1205 to 1210, the reservation program list is determined, the program identifier information is stored, the reservation execution priority is determined, the priority information is stored, the program identifier information is obtained, and the priority information is obtained. These are the same as the steps described in the first embodiment.

In step 2211, the tuner 201
The program guide information received by the program reservation control unit 205
To obtain broadcast channel information and scheduled broadcast time information for all the reserved programs. Step 1212,
In step 1213, a reservation execution schedule is calculated, and an automatic reservation command is issued based on the calculation result. These are the same as the steps described in the first embodiment. Step 1212 prior to step 1212
It goes without saying that the order of 10 and step 2211 may be reversed.

The calculation method of the reservation execution schedule in step 1212 is the same as that described in the first embodiment.

As described above, the apparatus according to the second embodiment is characterized in that the program guide information itself is not stored, as compared with the apparatus according to the first embodiment. Means can be omitted, and costs can be reduced. However, if program guide information is needed, it must be received again each time.

Embodiment 3 In the program reservation control devices according to the first and second embodiments described above, when calculating the reservation execution schedule, the program guide must be updated in order to obtain the information on the broadcast channel and the scheduled broadcast time of the reserved program. Since the information has to be referred to, the time required to calculate the reservation execution schedule becomes longer.

Therefore, in the program reservation control device of the digital broadcast receiver according to the third embodiment, a reserved program broadcast information storage unit for storing information (reserved program broadcast information) such as a broadcast channel of a reserved program and a scheduled broadcast time is provided. In addition, by updating the reserved program information when the program guide information on the reserved program is updated, the reservation execution schedule can be quickly calculated.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing an example of a program reservation control device according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

In FIG. 12, reference numeral 301 denotes a tuner unit;
02, a user interface unit; 303, a program guide information storage unit; 304, a reserved program identifier information storage unit;
5 is a program reservation control unit, 306 is a time management unit, and 307 is a reservation execution priority information storage unit. Reference numeral 309 denotes a reserved program broadcast information storage unit that stores the broadcast channel information and the scheduled broadcast time of the reserved program, and is newly provided in the program reservation control device of the third embodiment. Set broadcast information storage unit 309
Are connected to each other via the data bus 310 together with the blocks 301 to 307.

Next, the operation of the above-configured program reservation control device will be described.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the operation after the program reservation control section detects the update of the program guide information.

This flowchart is different from the program reservation control unit 3 in that when the version information is received by the tuner unit 301, it is determined that the version information is different from the version information stored in the program guide information storage unit 303.
05 starts when the program guide information is updated. Then, step 1105, step 1106
The procedure for obtaining the program identifier information and priority information of all the reserved programs is the same as the operation of the flowchart (FIG. 2) described in the first embodiment, and the corresponding steps are denoted by the same reference numerals. And descriptions thereof are omitted.

Hereinafter, steps 3107, 1108, and 1109 following step 1106 will be described.

In step 3107, step 1105
, Broadcast channel information and scheduled broadcast time information for all the reserved programs reserved at that time are searched for and stored in the reserved program broadcast information storage unit 309 as the reserved program broadcast information. You.
Therefore, this step 3107 is equivalent to step 110
6 may be reversed.

In step 1108, step 110
The program reservation control unit 105 calculates a reservation execution schedule based on the priority information, broadcast channel information, and scheduled broadcast time information of the reserved program acquired in steps 6 and 3107. In step 1109, an automatic reservation command is issued based on the calculation result of the reservation execution schedule. Steps 1109 and 1108 are the same as those described in the first embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing an operation after a new program reservation is accepted in the program reservation control section.

The operation of the program reservation control unit 305 shown in this flowchart is started when a new program reservation is input or when a change in the priority information of a reserved program that has already been reserved is input. Then, step 1209,
The procedure up to the acquisition of the program identifier information and the priority information of the newly reserved program in step 1210 is the same as the operation shown in FIG. 3 in the first embodiment.
Corresponding steps have the same reference characters allotted, and description thereof will be omitted.

In the following, steps 3211 and 3212 following step 1210 will be described.

In step 3211, the program guide information stored in the program guide information storage unit 303 is searched by the program reservation control unit 305, and the broadcast channel information and the scheduled broadcast time information of only the new reserved program are broadcast. The information is stored in the information storage unit 309. In step 3212, the broadcast channel information and the scheduled broadcast time information of all the reserved programs updated in step 3211 are acquired from the reserved program broadcast information storage unit 309.

In step 1212, step 121
The program reservation control unit 305 calculates a reservation execution schedule based on the priority information of the reserved program acquired in steps 0 and 3212, the broadcast channel information and the scheduled broadcast time information. This step 1212 and the next step 1213 are the same as those described in the first embodiment. Step 3211 is the same as step 1
After the reserved program is determined in 205 and before step 3212, the program may be executed in any order. Similarly, step 3212 is also executed in step 3211.
After that, and before the calculation of the reservation execution schedule in step 1212, the execution may be performed in any order.

As described above, the apparatus of the third embodiment is different from the apparatus of the first embodiment in that the broadcast information of the reserved program, such as the broadcast channel of the reserved program and the scheduled broadcast time, is different from the program guide information. A reserved program broadcast information storage unit 309 that is separately stored is provided, and the reserved program broadcast information is always updated when the program guide information on the reserved program is updated. Prior to calculating the execution schedule, there is no need to search for the reserved program broadcast information again by referring to the program guide information, and the reserved execution schedule can be calculated quickly.

Further, when the program reservation control unit detects that the received program guide information is updated (FIG. 13), the reserved program broadcast information such as the reserved program identifier information or the priority information is updated by the user input. Even in the case (FIG. 14), the program guide information stored in the program guide information storage unit 303 is searched for the broadcast channel information and the scheduled broadcast time of the reserved program, and the search result is used as the reserved program information. The information is stored in the broadcast information storage unit 309 (steps 3107 and 3211), and a reservation execution schedule can be calculated according to the viewer's will. Moreover, when the program guide information has not been updated, it is only necessary to search the program guide information for new reserved program broadcast information, and the calculation of the reservation execution schedule can be performed quickly.

Embodiment 4 In the above-described program reservation control device of the third embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the program guide information received by the program guide information
Since the version information of the program guide is stored and the reserved program broadcast information storage unit for storing the reserved program broadcast information is provided, the calculation of the reservation execution schedule is quick, but the size of the program guide information is large. Becoming
The more programs that are reserved, the higher the cost. Therefore, in the fourth embodiment, only the version information received by the tuner unit is stored in the program guide version information storage unit.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing an example of a program reservation control device according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention.

In FIG. 15, reference numeral 401 denotes a tuner unit,
02 is a user interface unit, 404 is a reserved program identifier information storage unit, 405 is a program reservation control unit, 406 is a time management unit, 407 is a reservation execution priority information storage unit, 408
Denotes a program guide version information storage unit, and 409 denotes a reserved program broadcast information storage unit. Each of these blocks 401 and 40
2, 404 to 409 are connected to each other via a data bus 410.

This program reservation control apparatus stores only the version information received by tuner section 201 in program guide version information storage section 408, as in the second embodiment.
Further, similarly to the third embodiment, the reserved program broadcast information storage unit 409 is configured to store the reserved program broadcast information such as the reserved program broadcast channel and the scheduled broadcast time. Other configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment, and thus detailed description is omitted.

Next, the operation of the program reservation control device having the above configuration will be described.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing the operation after the program reservation control section detects the update of the program guide information, and FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing the operation after receiving a new program reservation.

In FIG. 16, steps 2101 to 21
04 is the same as that described in the second embodiment (FIG. 10), and in step 2104, the program reservation control unit 405
Compares the version information in the program guide version information storage unit 408 with the received version information, and stores the new version information in the program guide version information storage unit 408 when the update of the program guide information is detected. .

Steps 1105 and 1106 are the same as those described in the first embodiment (FIG. 2), and respectively acquire program identifier information and priority information of all reserved programs. In step 4107, based on the program identifier information acquired in step 1105, broadcast channel information and scheduled broadcast time information of all reserved programs reserved at that time are searched from the received program guide information, and the search result is displayed. Are stored in the reserved program broadcast information storage unit 409 as reserved program broadcast information. Step 110
6 and step 3107 may be reversed.
The next steps 1108 and 1109 are the same as those described in the first embodiment.

In FIG. 17, steps 2201-2204
Is the same as that described in the second embodiment (FIG. 11). In step 2204, the received version information is stored in the program guide version information storage unit 408, and the old version information is updated. Step 1205
12 to 1210, respectively, determine the reserved program list, store the program identifier information, determine the reservation execution priority, store the priority information, acquire the program identifier information, and acquire the priority information. The steps are the same as those described in the first embodiment.

In step 4211, step 1209 is executed.
On the basis of the program identifier information obtained in the above, the broadcast channel information and the scheduled broadcast time information of all the reserved programs reserved at that time are searched from the received program guide information, and the search result is used as the reserved program broadcast information. It is stored in the reserved program broadcast information storage unit 409.

At step 4212, step 4211
Broadcast channel information and scheduled broadcast time information of all the reserved programs updated in
09. In the next steps 1212 and 1213, a reservation execution schedule is calculated, and an automatic reservation command is issued based on the calculation result. These are the same as those described in the first embodiment (FIG. 3). When the update of the program guide information is detected as described above (FIG. 16)
Or when a new program reservation is accepted by a user input or when the reserved program identifier information is updated (FIG. 1).
7), the program guide information is received at that time, the broadcast channel information of the reserved program and the scheduled broadcast time are searched from the received program guide information, and the search result is stored in the reserved program broadcast information storage unit 409. , And calculates a reservation execution schedule. Also, when the priority information is updated by a user input, the reservation execution schedule can be calculated in the same procedure.

As described above, in the device of the fourth embodiment, when compared with the devices of the first and second embodiments, not only the program guide information itself is not stored but also the broadcast channel and the broadcast channel of the reserved program. It is characterized in that the information of the scheduled time is stored in the reserved program broadcast information storage unit 409, so that the storage means for storing the program guide information can be omitted, and the cost and the processing time can be reduced.

In each of the above embodiments, only the program reservation control device has been described. However, any of them can be incorporated in a digital broadcast receiver and used, and the same effects can be obtained. Although a digital broadcast receiver is assumed to receive a television broadcast signal, the present invention can be similarly applied to a receiver that receives only a text broadcast or an audio broadcast.

[0107]

According to the program reservation control device of the present invention, the user sets the reservation execution priority as priority information for each reservation program, and executes the program reservation execution schedule from the priority information. Is calculated and the program reservation is executed. Therefore, even when the broadcast times of a plurality of reserved programs overlap, the program that the user wants to view more and more based on the priority information specified for each reserved program by the user. This has the effect of making a reservation.

Further, according to the program reservation control device of the present invention, there is no need for a storage means for storing the entire program guide information, so that the cost of the program reservation control device can be reduced.

Further, according to the program reservation control device of the present invention, the storage means for storing the broadcast channel and the scheduled broadcast time of the reserved program separately from the program guide information allows each time the reservation execution schedule is calculated. Since it is not necessary to refer to the broadcast channel and the scheduled broadcast time of the reserved program from the program guide information, there is an effect that the calculation speed of the reservation execution schedule is increased.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a program reservation control device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation after detecting update of program guide information in the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation after accepting a new program reservation in the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a program guide (program guide) configured based on received program guide information.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a reserved program list for creating a reserved execution schedule.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an execution program list based on a reservation execution schedule.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a reserved program list including priorities.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an executed program list created when a program table is changed.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing an example of a program reservation control device according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an operation after detecting update of program guide information in the second embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an operation after accepting a new program reservation in the second embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing an example of a program reservation control device according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing an operation after detecting update of program guide information in the third embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing an operation after accepting a new program reservation in the third embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing an example of a program reservation control device according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing an operation after detecting update of program guide information in the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing an operation after accepting a new program reservation in the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 18 is a block diagram showing an example of a conventional program reservation control device of a digital television broadcast receiver.

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing an example of a program table configured based on program guide information. It is an example of a program guide.

FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating an example of a program table configured based on updated program guide information.

[Explanation of symbols]

101, 201, 301, 401 Tuner section, 10
2, 202, 302, 402 User interface unit, 103, 303 Program guide information storage unit, 10
4, 204, 304, 404 reserved program identifier information storage unit, 105, 205, 305, 405 program reservation control unit, 106, 206, 306, 406 time management unit,
107, 207, 307, 407 reservation execution priority information storage unit, 208, 408 version information storage unit,
309, 409 Reserved program broadcast information storage unit.

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A receiving means for receiving information relating to a program to be broadcast (hereinafter referred to as program guide information); program guide version information (hereinafter, referred to as the program guide information) indicating the received program guide information and the update status of the program guide information. , Version information.), Program identifier information for each program selected as a reserved program from the programs to be broadcast, and priority for determining a reservation execution priority between the reserved programs. User interface means for inputting degree information; reservation information storage means for storing the program identifier information and the priority information; updating the program guide information stored in the program guide information storage means; Based on the program identifier information, the execution priority information, and the updated program guide information stored in the storage means. Control means for controlling the reservation execution schedule, and wherein when the broadcast time of the reservation program overlaps, the reservation execution schedule is set so as to preferentially execute the reservation program set with the higher reservation execution priority. And a time management means for managing the time of the reserved program along the line. 2. A receiving means for receiving program guide information; a program guide version information storing means for storing version information of the program guide information; and a program for each program selected as a reserved program from the programs to be broadcast. User interface means for inputting program identifier information and priority information for determining a reservation execution priority between the reserved programs; reservation information storage means for storing the program identifier information and the priority information; Control means for controlling a reservation execution schedule based on the program identifier information, the execution priority information, and the program guide information received by the receiving means, wherein the broadcast time of the reserved program overlaps The reservation execution schedule so that the reservation program set with the higher reservation execution priority is executed with priority. Program reservation control apparatus characterized by comprising a time management means for performing time management of reserved programs along Le. 3. The reserved information storage means stores broadcast information of the reserved program in addition to the program identifier information and the execution priority information. The control means further updates the broadcast information of the reserved program. 3. The program reservation control device according to claim 1, wherein the reservation execution schedule is controlled based on broadcast information of the reserved program, the program identifier information, and the execution priority information. 4. 4. The program reservation control device according to claim 3, wherein the broadcast information is broadcast channel information and scheduled broadcast time information. 5. A program reservation controller for receiving a digital broadcast signal and reproducing a video, audio, or data signal, and a program reservation control device according to any one of claims 1 to 4. Digital broadcast receiver. 6. A program reservation control method for a digital broadcast receiver for receiving program guide information and performing time management of the reserved program according to a reservation execution schedule of the reserved program specified by a user. When the update of the program guide information is detected, or when it is detected that the program identifier information of the reserved program is changed, or that the reservation execution priority of the reserved program is changed, the program of the reserved program is stored. A program reservation control method for a digital broadcast receiver, which newly calculates a reservation execution schedule based on identifier information, its priority information, and the program guide information. 7. A program reservation control method for a digital broadcast receiver for receiving version information and performing time management of the reserved program according to a reservation execution schedule of the reserved program designated by a user. Detecting, or detecting that the program identifier information of the reserved program has been changed or that the reservation execution priority of the reserved program has been changed, receiving the program guide information; and the program identifier information of the reserved program. And calculating a new reservation execution schedule based on the priority information and the program guide information. 8. Each time a reserved program is specified by a user, the broadcast information of the reserved program is searched from the program guide information, and the searched broadcast information is replaced with the program guide information or instead of the program guide information. 8. The program reservation control method for a digital broadcast receiver according to claim 6, wherein the program reservation is stored.