KR100737868B1 - Method of navigating channel and digital television thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed are a channel navigation method for conveniently using electronic program guide information when searching for a broadcast program for a specific channel, and a digital television for performing the same. When the first or second channel button of the input terminal is selected, the digital television searches for broadcast programs of the input channel in ascending or descending order. The digital television extracts and displays the information about the found broadcast program from the electronic program guide information. Accordingly, the user can search for information on broadcast programs corresponding to the input channel by one key operation, and thus the electronic program guide information can be efficiently used for selecting a broadcast program and a channel.

Channel search, electronic program guide

Description

Method of navigating channel and digital television

1 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a digital television according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically illustrating the input terminal shown in FIG. 1.

3 is a flowchart illustrating a channel navigation process in a digital television according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an example of a screen displaying broadcast program information on the image display unit illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a process of displaying broadcast program information shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram schematically illustrating a process of displaying broadcast program information shown in FIG. 5.

Explanation of symbols on the main parts of the drawings

100: digital TV 110: tuner

120: memory 130: input terminal

140: control unit 150: image processing unit

160: OSD processing unit 170: Image display unit

180: voice processing unit 190: voice output unit

The present invention relates to a channel navigation method and a digital television for performing the same. More particularly, the present invention relates to a channel navigation method for displaying information on a broadcast program of a currently selected channel by using a channel selection button of an input terminal. Relates to digital television.

In general, a digital television receives a digital broadcast signal from a broadcast station, displays an image, and outputs a voice corresponding to the broadcast signal. That is, when a user selects a channel by operating a remote controller or a key panel, the digital television tunes the broadcast signal of the selected channel to reproduce video and audio.

The broadcast signal includes an audio stream corresponding to an image, an audio stream corresponding to voice, and electronic program guide (EPG) information. The EPG information includes information about broadcast programs of respective channels, for example, a broadcast program title, a broadcast time, a character, a rating, a storyline, and the like.

Digital television does not display this EPG information with an image, but rather through a separate program guide screen. That is, when the user selects a separate menu button provided on the remote controller or the key panel, the digital television displays the program guide screen on the screen. The program guide screen displays a TV programming table of all channels, or when a user selects a specific channel in the program guide screen, the program guide screen displays a broadcasting schedule of the selected channel. When the user selects a specific broadcast program on the broadcast schedule screen, the digital television displays specific information about the selected broadcast program.

As such, since the EPG information displays broadcast schedules for all channels and broadcast programs of respective channels being broadcasted, the EPG information serves as a guide for the user to select and watch a broadcast program.

However, since the EPG information is provided on a separate program guide screen, the user can always use the program guide screen only in order to view a broadcasting schedule of a channel that the user is currently watching or to view detailed information about the broadcast program. In particular, the EPG information provided on the program guide screen targets broadcast programs of all channels. Therefore, the user has to go through various steps in order to view the EPG information related to the channel currently being viewed or the specific channel, which makes it difficult to use the EPG information.

An object of the present invention is to provide a channel navigation method that can conveniently use the electronic program guide information when searching for a broadcast program for a specific channel.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a digital television which performs the above channel navigation method.

A channel navigation method for searching for a channel and a broadcast program in a digital television according to one feature for realizing the object of the present invention described above, first receives a channel navigation command. It is determined whether the channel navigation command is a program information display command. If it is determined that the channel navigation command is a program information display command, one of the second broadcast program located immediately before the currently displayed first broadcast program and the third broadcast program located immediately after the broadcast channel of the input channel are selected. Information on the selected broadcast program is displayed. If it is determined that the channel navigation command is an input channel change command, one of a channel immediately before the current input channel and a channel immediately after the current input channel is selected in the order of preset channels, and the selected channel is set as the input channel. do.

In addition, in the process of displaying information about a broadcast program, first, electronic program guide information indicating information about broadcast programs of respective channels is stored. If the program information display command is a command for requesting information on the second broadcast program, information about the second broadcast program is extracted from the electronic program guide information and displayed. If the program information display command is a command for requesting information on the third broadcast program, information about the third broadcast program is extracted from the electronic program guide information and displayed.

More preferably, the step of displaying the information on the broadcast program further includes the step of setting the reservation recording for the broadcast program on which the current information is displayed, and the step of setting the reservation viewing on the broadcast program on which the current information is displayed. .

Further, a digital television according to one feature for realizing the above object of the present invention comprises a memory, an image processing unit, an image display unit, an input terminal, and a control unit.

The memory stores electronic program guide information including information about broadcast programs of the channels. The image processor decodes and outputs information about the video stream and the broadcast program. The image display unit receives a signal output from the image processor and displays an image. The input terminal includes first and second channel buttons, and when the first and second channel buttons are selected, the input terminal outputs a program information display command for requesting to display the information on the broadcast program of the current input channel on the video display unit. . As the control unit receives a program information display command from the input terminal, the second broadcast program located immediately before the first broadcast program displayed on the video display unit and the third broadcast located immediately after the broadcast program of the current input channel. Information about any one of the programs is extracted from the electronic program guide information and provided to the image processor.

If the first channel button is selected, the controller extracts information on the second broadcast program from the electronic program guide information and provides the image processing unit. If the second channel button is selected, the controller provides information on the third broadcast program. Extracted from the guide information and provided to the image processor.

According to such a channel navigation method and a digital television for performing the same, information about broadcast programs corresponding to an input channel can be searched with a single key operation, so that the broadcast program and the channel are selected as the information about the broadcast programs. It can be used efficiently.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings, it will be described in detail the present invention.

1 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a digital television according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically illustrating an input terminal shown in FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 1, the digital television 100 according to the present invention includes a tuner 110, a memory 120, an input terminal 130, a controller 140, an image processor 150, and an OSD (On Screen Display) processor. 160, an image display unit 170, an audio processor 180, and an audio output unit 190.

In detail, the tuner 110 tunes an input channel among a plurality of channels and receives a broadcast signal corresponding to the input channel from the antenna 200.

Here, the broadcast signal includes a video stream corresponding to the broadcast program, an audio stream corresponding to the broadcast program, and Electronic Program Guide (EPG) information. The video stream is a signal for outputting an image corresponding to a broadcast program, and the audio stream is a signal for outputting a voice corresponding to the broadcast program. The EPG information includes detailed information about broadcast programs received through respective channels, for example, a broadcast program title, a broadcast time, a character, a storyline, and the like.

The memory 120 receives and stores EPG information separated from the broadcast signal from the tuner 110.

The input terminal 130 includes input buttons for generating and outputting a predetermined command by a user's manipulation. Here, the input terminal 130 may be implemented as a button panel or a remote controller provided in the main body of the digital television 100. The input terminal 130 shown in FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the input terminal 130 implemented as a remote controller.

Referring to FIG. 2, the input buttons include a power button 131 for turning the digital television 100 on and off, numeric buttons 133 for inputting arbitrary numbers such as channel numbers, and first to fourth channel buttons ( 135a, 135b, 135c, and 135d, and volume buttons 137a and 137b for adjusting the volume of the voice output unit 190.

When the first to fourth channel buttons 135a, 135b, 135c, and 135d are selected by a user's manipulation, the input terminal 130 generates a channel navigation command for searching for a channel and a broadcast program. The channel navigation command includes a program information request command for requesting information about broadcast programs corresponding to the input channel, and a channel change command for requesting the tuner 110 to select a new channel to change the input channel.

The first and second channel buttons 135a and 135b face each other and generate a program information request command. The third and fourth channel buttons 135c and 135d face each other and generate a channel change command.

A process of processing a channel navigation command corresponding to each of the first to fourth channel buttons 135a, 135b, 135c, and 135d will be described in detail later with reference to FIG. 4.

Referring back to FIG. 1, the input terminal 130 provides the generated command to the controller 140. The controller 140 outputs a control signal for controlling the tuner 110, the memory 120, the image processor 150, and the OSD processor 160 according to a command received from the input terminal 130.

That is, the controller 140 controls the tuner 110 to set the input channel according to the command received by the input terminal 130. In addition, the controller 140 controls the tuner 110, the memory 120, and the image processor 150 according to a channel navigation command received from the input terminal 130.

The image processor 150 decodes and outputs the video stream received from the tuner 110 or the EPG information received from the memory 120, and the OSD processor 160 processes and outputs OSD characters.

The image display unit 170 receives a video stream or EPG information from the image processor 150 to display an image, and receives an OSD character from the OSD processor 160 to display it.

The voice processor 180 decodes and outputs the audio stream received from the tuner 110, and the voice output unit 190 receives the audio stream output from the voice processor 180 and outputs a voice.

3 is a flowchart illustrating a channel navigation process in a digital television according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is an example of a screen displaying broadcast program information in the image display unit shown in FIG. 1.

1 and 3, first, the tuner 110 receives a broadcast signal through an input channel (step S310). Here, the broadcast signal output from the tuner 110 is separated into a video stream, an audio stream, and EPG information through a predetermined process, the video stream to the image processor 150, the audio stream to the voice processor 180, EPG information is provided to memory 120, respectively.

The image display unit 170 receives a video stream from the image processor 150 to display an image, and the audio output unit 190 receives an audio stream from the voice processor 180 and outputs a voice (step S320). Thus, the digital television 100 displays a broadcast program corresponding to the broadcast signal, and the user can watch the broadcast program.

The controller 140 determines whether a channel navigation command is received from the input terminal 130 (step S330).

If it is determined in step S330 that no channel navigation command is received, the current state is maintained (step S320).

If it is determined in step S340 that the channel navigation command has been received, the controller 140 determines whether the channel navigation command is a program mark display command (step S330).

In operation S340, when it is determined that the channel navigation command is a program information display command, the controller 140 controls a broadcast program positioned immediately before or immediately after the broadcast program displayed on the current image display unit 170 in the broadcast order of the input channel. Information is displayed on the image display unit 170 (step S350). Step S350 showing a process of processing a program information display command in the digital television 100 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6 to be described later.

In operation S350, the screen on which the image display unit 170 displays information about a broadcast program may be configured, for example, as shown in FIG. 4.

Referring to FIG. 4, a partial data screen I1 of a broadcast program, basic information I2 of the broadcast program, and basic plot I3 of the broadcast program may be included. The basic information I2 about the broadcast program includes a title of the broadcast program, a broadcast time, a character, a viewer rating, a field to which the broadcast program belongs, and the like.

In addition, the screen displaying information on the broadcast program further includes a reservation recording menu M1 and a reservation viewing menu M2. The reserved recording menu M1 is a menu for reserving a broadcast program. Even if the user watches a broadcast program of a channel different from the currently reserved broadcast program, the reserved viewing menu M2 automatically converts the channel to the corresponding channel at the beginning of the reserved broadcast program so that the user can watch the reserved broadcast program. .

Referring back to FIGS. 1 and 3, in step S340, when the controller 140 determines that the channel navigation command is a channel change command to change the input channel, the channel change command immediately changes the input channel to the currently set input channel. It is determined whether the command requests to change to the previous channel (step S360).

In step S360, if it is determined that the change channel command is a request to change the input channel to the previous channel of the currently set input channel, the controller 140 positions the input channel immediately before the currently set input channel in the order of preset channels. It generates a control signal to change to the channel to transmit to the tuner 110. The tuner 110 changes the input channel to the immediately preceding channel of the currently set channel according to the control signal received from the controller 140 (step S370). A process of processing a channel change command according to a button operation of the input terminal 130 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 5.

In step S360, if it is determined that the channel change command is a request to change the input channel to a channel subsequent to the currently set input channel, the controller 140 immediately changes the input channel immediately after the currently set input channel in the order of preset channels. A control signal for changing to a channel located is generated and transmitted to the tuner 110. The tuner 110 changes the input channel to a channel immediately after the currently set channel according to the control signal received from the controller 140 (step S370).

As described above, since the digital television 100 can directly display the detailed information about the broadcast programs of the channel currently set as the input channel, on the image display unit 170, the user can broadcast information on all channels and each broadcast program. It is possible to search for information about broadcast programs of a specific channel without having to go through a separate guide screen displaying specific information about the fields.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a process of displaying broadcast program information shown in FIG. 3.

1 and 5, first, the memory 120 stores EPG information separated from a broadcast signal (step S351).

The controller 140 determines whether the program information display command is a command for requesting information about a broadcast program in the immediately preceding order of the broadcast program displayed on the current image display unit 170 based on the currently set broadcast channel order (step S352). ).

In step S352, if it is determined that the program information display command is a command for requesting information about the broadcast program in the immediately previous order, the controller 140 controls the information on the broadcast program in the immediately previous order from the EPG information stored in the memory 120. Is extracted and transmitted to the image processor 150. The image processor 150 decodes the information about the broadcast program and provides the information to the image display unit 170, and the image display unit 170 displays information on the broadcast program in the previous order on a screen as shown in FIG. (Step S353).

In step S352, if it is determined that the program information display command is a command for requesting information about a broadcast program located immediately after the broadcast program displayed on the current video display unit 170 in the broadcast order of the current input channel, the controller 140 Information about broadcast programs in a subsequent sequence is extracted from the EPG information stored in the memory 120 and transmitted to the image processor 150. The image processor 150 decodes the information about the broadcast program and provides the information to the image display unit 170, and the image display unit 170 displays information on the broadcast program in the following order on a screen as shown in FIG. (Step S353).

Hereinafter, a process of processing a program information display command and a channel change command will be described with reference to FIG. 6 in conjunction with a button operation of the input terminal 130.

FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram schematically illustrating a process of displaying broadcast program information shown in FIG. 5.

1 and 6, the input channel set in the current tuner 110 is channel 11, and the N-th broadcast program is displayed in the broadcasting sequence of channel 11 on the screen Dn of the current video display unit 170. Although not shown, the voice output unit 170 outputs a voice corresponding to the N-th broadcast program. Here, N is a natural number of 1 or more.

When the first channel button 135a is selected by a user's manipulation, the input terminal 130 generates a program information display command and sends the same to the controller 140. The controller 140 extracts information on the (N-1) th broadcast program of channel 11 from the EPG information and provides the information to the image processor 150. Accordingly, information on the (N-1) th program is displayed on the screen Dn-1 of the video display unit 170. Here, the (N-1) th broadcast program is a program that is broadcast right before the Nth broadcast program is broadcast in the channel 11 broadcast sequence.

On the other hand, when the first channel button 135a of the input terminal 130 is selected while the information on the (N-1) th program is displayed on the screen Dn-1 of the image display unit 170, the controller 140 ) Extracts information about the (N-2) th broadcast program of channel 11 from the EPG information and provides it to the image processor 150. Accordingly, information about the (N-2) th broadcast program is displayed on the screen Dn-2 of the video display unit 170. Here, the (N-2) th broadcast program of channel 11 is a program that is broadcast just before the (N-1) th broadcast program is broadcasted in the channel 11 broadcast sequence.

As such, the (N-2) th, (N-1) th and Nth broadcast programs are all broadcast programs provided on channel 11 in the same manner. That is, when the first channel button 135a of the input terminal 130 is selected, the digital television 100 displays the current image display unit 170 in the broadcast order of the input channel among the broadcast programs of the channel set as the current input channel. Information about a broadcast program located immediately before the displayed broadcast program is displayed.

Accordingly, the user can search for information on broadcast programs corresponding to the input channel by one key operation, and thus, the user can efficiently use information about broadcast programs in selecting a broadcast program and a channel. Accordingly, it is easy for a user to select a desired channel or broadcast program in a multichannel broadcasting environment.

On the other hand, when the second channel button 135b is selected by the user's operation while the N-th broadcast program of channel 11 is displayed on the screen Dn of the current image display unit 170, the input terminal 130 displays program information. A command is generated and sent to the controller 140.

The controller 140 extracts information on the (N + 1) th broadcast program of channel 11 from the EPG information and provides the information to the image processor 150. Accordingly, information on the (N + 1) th broadcast program is displayed on the screen Dn + 1 of the video display unit 170. Here, the (N + 1) th broadcast program is a program that is broadcast immediately after the N th broadcast program is broadcast in the channel 11 broadcast sequence.

If the second channel button 135b of the input terminal 130 is selected while the information on the (N + 1) th program is displayed on the screen Dn + 1 of the image display unit 170, the controller 140 Information about the (N + 2) th broadcast program of channel 11 is extracted from the EPG information and provided to the image processor 150. Accordingly, information on the (N + 2) th broadcast program is displayed on the screen Dn + 2 of the video display unit 170. Here, the (N + 2) th broadcast program is a program that is broadcast immediately after the (N + 1) th broadcast program is broadcast on the channel 11 broadcast sequence.

In this way, the N-th, (N + 1) -th and (N + 2) -th broadcast programs are all broadcast programs provided on channel 11 in the same manner. That is, when the second channel button 135a of the input terminal 130 is selected, the digital television 100 is displayed on the current image display unit 170 in the broadcast order of the input channel among the broadcast programs of the channel set as the current input channel. Information about a broadcast program located immediately after the broadcast program is displayed.

Accordingly, the user can search for information on broadcast programs corresponding to the input channel by one key operation, and thus, the user can efficiently use information about broadcast programs in selecting a broadcast program and a channel. Accordingly, it is easy for a user to select a desired channel or broadcast program in a multichannel broadcasting environment.

Meanwhile, when the third channel button 135c is selected by the user's operation while the N-th broadcast program of channel 11 is displayed on the screen Dn of the current image display unit 170, the tuner 110 sets the preset channel order. Change the input channel from channel 11 to channel 12 accordingly. Accordingly, an image is displayed on the screen DA of the image display unit 170 in response to the broadcast signal currently received through channel 12.

In addition, when the fourth channel button 135d is selected by the user's operation while the N-th broadcast program of channel 11 is displayed on the screen Dn of the current image display unit 170, the tuner 110 selects an input channel. Change from channel 11 to channel 10. Accordingly, an image is displayed on the screen DA of the image display unit 170 in response to the broadcast signal currently received through channel 10.

Referring back to FIGS. 1 and 5, following step S353 and step S354, the controller 140 determines whether the scheduled recording menu M1 (see FIG. 4) is selected by a user's operation on a screen on which program information is displayed. It is determined (step S355).

If it is determined in step S355 that the reserved recording menu M1 is selected, the controller 140 sets reserved recording for the broadcast program on which the current information is displayed (step S357).

In step S355, it is determined that the reservation recording menu M1 is not selected, or after step S356, the controller 140 controls the reservation viewing menu M2 by a user's operation on the screen on which the program information is displayed (see Fig. 4). ) Is determined (step S357).

If it is determined in step S357 that the reserved viewing menu M2 is selected, the controller 140 sets reserved viewing for the broadcast program in which the current information is displayed (step S358), and selects not to select the reserved viewing menu M2. If it is determined, the current state is maintained.

According to the present invention described above, when the first channel button or the second channel button of the input terminal is selected, the digital television searches for the broadcast programs of the input channel in ascending or descending order using the currently displayed broadcast program as the starting point. Displays information about the found broadcast program.

Accordingly, the user can search for information on broadcast programs corresponding to the input channel with a single key operation, and thus, the user can efficiently use information about broadcast programs in selecting a broadcast program and a channel. Accordingly, it is easy for a user to select a desired channel or broadcast program in a multichannel broadcasting environment.

Although described above with reference to the embodiments, those skilled in the art can be variously modified and changed within the scope of the invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention described in the claims below. I can understand.

Claims (5)

In the channel navigation method for searching for channels and broadcast programs in a digital television, (a) receiving a channel navigation command; (b) determining whether the channel navigation command is a program information display command; (c) In step (b), if it is determined that the channel navigation command is the program information display command, the second broadcast program immediately before the currently displayed first broadcast program in the broadcast order of the input channel and immediately after Selecting one of the third broadcast programs located at and displaying information on the selected broadcast program; And (d) In step (b), if it is determined that the channel navigation command is the input channel change command, any one of a channel immediately preceding the current input channel and a channel immediately following the current input channel in the order of preset channels. Selecting one and setting the selected channel as an input channel. The method of claim 1, wherein step (c) comprises: (c-1) storing electronic program guide information indicating information on broadcast programs of respective channels; (c-2) extracting and displaying information on the second broadcast program from the electronic program guide information if the program information display command is a command for requesting information on the second broadcast program; And (c-3) if the program information display command is a command for requesting information on the third broadcast program, extracting and displaying information on the third broadcast program from the electronic program guide information. Channel navigation method. The method of claim 2, wherein step (c) comprises: (c-4) setting reserved recording for the broadcast program on which the current information is displayed; And and (c-5) setting the reserved viewing for the broadcast program in which the current information is displayed. delete A memory for storing electronic program guide information including information about broadcast programs of respective channels; An image processor for decoding and outputting information about a video stream and a broadcast program; An image display unit for receiving a signal output from the image processor and displaying an image; An input having a first and second channel buttons and outputting a program information display command for requesting to display, on the video display unit, information on a broadcast program of a current input channel as the first and second channel buttons are selected; terminal; And A second broadcast program located immediately before the first broadcast program currently displayed on the video display unit in the broadcast program order of the current input channel, and a second broadcast program located immediately after receiving the program information display command from the input terminal; And a controller configured to extract information about any one of the three broadcast programs from the electronic program guide information and provide the same to the image processor. The controller, when the first channel button is selected, extracts information about the second broadcast program from the electronic program guide information, and provides the image processor to the image processor. When the second channel button is selected, the third broadcast is selected. And information about a program is extracted from the electronic program guide information and provided to the image processing unit.

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