KR100782221B1 - Digital TV having the function of management record program and control method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention discloses a digital television receiver having a recording program management function capable of effectively managing a recorded program stored in a storage medium.

A digital television receiver having a recorded program management function includes: a television signal receiver for receiving digital television broadcast programs; A recording medium for storing digital television programs; An input unit for inputting a command from a user; And in response to a command from the input unit, controlling the operation of the digital television programs recorded on the recording medium, including the recording of the digital television program received by the television signal receiving unit to the recording medium; And a control unit for creating a recorded electronic program guide including a history and managing digital television programs recorded on the recording medium by the recorded electronic program guide.

DTV, Record Electronic Program Guide, Management

Description

 Digital television having a recording program management function and its control method {Digital TV having the function of management record program and control method}

1 is a block diagram showing a digital television receiver having a recorded program management function according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a flowchart illustrating a method of controlling a digital television receiver having a recorded program management function according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a diagram illustrating a REPG table used in a digital television receiver according to an embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a flowchart illustrating a step-by-step method of controlling a digital television receiver having a program search function according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a search result of a program searched by FIG. 4.

<Explanation of symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

11: tuner 12: demodulator

21: Demultiplexer 22: Voice Decoder

23: video decoder 31: speaker

32: display processing unit 33: display unit

41: recording / playback processing section 42: CPU

43: peripheral control unit 50: HDD

61: communication module 62: relay module

63: DVD writer 71: key input unit

72: IR receiver

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a digital television receiver for receiving digital broadcasting, and more particularly, to a digital television receiver having a storage medium such as a hard disk drive (HDD) and a control method thereof. It is about.

The television broadcasting system is classified into an analog television broadcasting system and a digital television broadcasting system according to a transmission form of a television signal. The analog television broadcasting system transmits an analog television signal as it is, and thus is greatly affected by noise and it is difficult to reproduce the original image. On the other hand, digital television broadcasting systems transmit analog television signals in digital form, thereby minimizing the effects of noise and facilitating the reproduction of original images.

In addition, recent advances in the compression technology of video information allow digital television signals to be transmitted over narrow bandwidths. Accordingly, the digital television broadcasting system can provide the viewers with more television broadcasting programs than the analog television broadcasting system. In other words, digital television broadcasting systems increase the number of television broadcast channels through which television signals can be transmitted.

From this point of view, the television broadcasting system is changing from an analog transmission method to a digital transmission method. In addition, a receiver for receiving a television signal is also being replaced with a digital television receiver from an existing analog television receiver.

In digital television receivers that receive digital television signals, additional functions have been added as a way to enhance the viewer's convenience. For example, during the viewing of a television program being watched, there is a function of a time shift that allows a user to watch again from a part of a certain time ago, and a recording function for storing a television program that is being broadcasted or broadcasted on its own. Can be mentioned. Such addition of time shift and recording functions could be realized by mounting a recording medium driver such as a hard disk driver in a digital television receiver.

Furthermore, the recent rapid increase in the recording capacity of recording media makes it possible to store many television programs on a recording medium such as a hard disk included in a digital television receiver. For example, recent digital television receivers store dozens or hundreds of television broadcast programs on their own hard disks.

As such, many television programs can be stored in a recording medium in a digital television receiver. Therefore, a viewer can spend a lot of time because he has to find and select a television program recorded on the recording medium in order to watch a desired television program stored in the recording medium. Sometimes you can't find a program you want to watch. In addition, when a stored program is moved to an external device, it may not be viewed because the mobile program does not know whether the mobile program exists. In addition, a program may be re-recorded without recognizing the existence of a program stored in the storage medium.

Accordingly, an aspect of the present invention is to provide a digital television receiver having a recorded program management function capable of effectively managing a recorded program by storing an operation history of a recorded program stored in a storage medium, and a method of controlling the same.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a control method of a digital television receiver having a program search function for searching a recorded program.

In order to achieve the above object, a digital television receiver having a recorded program management function according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: a television signal receiver for receiving digital television broadcast programs; A recording medium for storing digital television programs; An input unit for inputting a command from a user; And in response to a command from the input unit, controlling the operation of the digital television programs recorded on the recording medium, including the recording of the digital television program received by the television signal receiving unit to the recording medium; And a control unit for creating a recorded electronic program guide including a history and managing digital television programs recorded on the recording medium by the recorded electronic program guide.

Even if the digital television program is deleted from the recording medium, the controller may store the operation history of the deleted digital television program in the recording electronic program guide.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of controlling a digital television receiver having a recorded program management function, by using a recording electronic program guide including an operation history for each of the digital television programs recorded on a recording medium. Manage digital television programs

According to another aspect of the present invention, a method of controlling a digital television receiver having a recorded program management function includes: inputting a command from an input unit; In response to a command from the input, controlling the operation of digital television programs recorded on the recording medium, including recording of the digital television program received by the television signal receiving unit to the recording medium, and recording electronic program including the operation history thereof. Creating a guide; Causing the digital television programs recorded on the recording medium to be displayed on a display unit based on the recorded electronic program guide.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a search method of a digital television receiver having a recording medium includes: inputting a keyword relating to a digital television program to be searched through an input unit; Retrieving information about the digital television program corresponding to the keyword from a recording electronic program guide including an operation history for the digital television programs recorded on the recording medium; And providing the search results to a user.

The searching step may include searching for information on a digital television program corresponding to the keyword in an electronic program guide provided from the outside.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of main parts of a digital television receiver having a recorded program management function according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, a digital television receiver according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a receiver 10, a signal processor 20, a signal output unit 30, a controller 40, an HDD 50, a communication unit 60, and a user. And an input unit 70.

The receiver 10 extracts a high frequency signal existing in a bandwidth (channel) designated by a user from a high frequency signal received through an antenna (or a transmission line) and outputs the extracted high frequency signal, and the tuner ( And a demodulator 12 for demodulating the tuned high frequency signal from 11) to restore the transport stream containing the television signal. The transport stream includes video information, audio information, and additional information.

The signal processor 20 demultiplexes a transport stream input through the demodulator to separate voice information, video information, and voice information, respectively, and is separated from the demultiplexer 21. The audio decoder 22 which decodes the voice information and supplies the decoded voice signal to the signal output unit 30, and decodes the image information separated by the demultiplexer 21 and decodes the decoded image data to the signal output unit 30. And a video decoder 23 for supplying. As a result, the signal processing unit 20 performs the function of the television signal receiving module together with the signal receiving unit 10.

The output unit 30 displays a speaker 32 that provides a user with an audio signal output through the audio decoder 22, and image data (or video signal) decoded by the image decoder 23. And a display processing unit 32 for processing in a form requested by the user, and a display unit 33 for displaying image data (or image signal) processed by the display processing unit 32. The display processor 32 may display text, text, and graphic data supplied from a central processing unit (hereinafter, referred to as a “CPU”) 42 in the controller 40 in a partial region of an image. Display (hereinafter referred to as "OSD") may be processed.

The hard disk driver (hereinafter referred to as "HDD") 50 is a mass storage device that stores a television broadcast program and various data.

The communication unit 60 is a device for communicating with a digital television receiver and an external device. The communication unit 60 is a communication module 61 for communicating with the Internet and a telephone communication network, a relay module 62 for transmitting a program stored in the HDD 50 to a PC, and a program stored in the HDD 50 on a DVD. And a DVD writer 63 for permanent storage. The user may transmit and record a program to an external device through the communication unit 60.

The user input unit 70 includes a key input unit 71 for inputting a key at the request of a user such as a remote controller, and an IR receiver 72 for receiving key data coming from an infrared signal through the key input unit 71. do.

The control unit 40 includes a recording / playback processing unit 41, a CPU 42, and a peripheral device control unit 42. The key data input to the IR receiver 72 is transferred to the CPU 42 through the peripheral device controller 42. The CPU 42 recognizes the input key data, checks the command corresponding to the key data, and controls the command corresponding to each part to be executed. If the key data is a recording command, the CPU 42 instructs the recording / playback processing unit 41 to store a broadcast signal in the form of a transport stream received through the receiving unit 10. The recording / playback processing unit 41 transmits the video information and the audio information to the peripheral device control unit 43 in the transport stream including the additional information, the video information and the audio information. At this time, the CPU 42 outputs a control signal so that the program to be stored is stored in the set place of the HDD 50, and the peripheral device controller 42 records and reproduces the HDD on the HDD 50 according to the control signal of the CPU 42. A broadcast signal including video information and audio information input through 41 is stored.

At this time, the CPU 42 transmits the additional information of the program input through the demultiplexer 21 to the peripheral controller 43, and includes a broadcast including video information and audio information input through the recording / playback processing unit 41. Store additional information with signal. When the recording is completed, the CPU 42 records the operation history information of the recording program such as the recording date and time, the file number, and the like on the recording program additional information.

If the key data input to the CPU 42 is checked and the key data is for a playback command, the CPU 42 designates a program to be played among the programs stored in the HDD 50 and plays it to the recording / playback processing unit 41. Pass the signal. The recording / playback processing unit 41 receives the playback program from the peripheral device control unit 41 and processes the signal to be output through the signal processing unit 20 so as to be output through the signal output unit 30.

In addition, if the key data input to the CPU 42 is inspected and the key data is for external movement, the CPU 42 designates a program to be moved among the programs stored in the HDD 50 and moves it to the peripheral control unit 43. Outputs a control signal according to the command. Peripheral control unit 43 checks whether there is a PC connected to relay module 62 according to the control signal of CPU 42, and transfers the mobile program to the PC and permanently stores it in media such as DVD. If it is an external recording command, the external recording program is copied to an external device connected to the DVD writer 62.

The CPU 42 also records a Record Electric Program Guide (REPG), which is additional information of a program stored in the HDD 50. The REPG records the operation history information for the program, such as recording, playback, and movement, together with an electric program guide (EPG), which is broadcast program information. In the case of a recording command, additional information of the storage program such as recording date and time, file number, etc. is recorded on the REPG together with the EPG information. In the case of the reproduction command, additional information such as the reproduction date and time and the number of reproductions are recorded on the REPG. In the case of an external movement command, additional information such as an external movement medium name, a movement date, and a movement frequency is recorded on the REPG.

In addition, the CPU 42 continuously manages the REPG. That is, when a program stored in the HDD 50 is moved to an external device, even when the program stored in the HDD 50 is deleted, the REPG information for the program is continuously deleted without being deleted. This makes it easy to find and watch mobile programs later.

With the above configuration, the digital television receiver having the management function of the recorded program according to the present invention enables continuous management of the already recorded program. Furthermore, the mobile program can be managed even when the recorded program is moved to an external device. As a result, it is possible to easily find and watch a program that has already been recorded and a program that has been moved to an external device.

2 is a flowchart illustrating a step-by-step method of controlling a digital television receiver having a recording program function in a digital television receiver according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 2 is executed by the CPU 20 shown in FIG. For convenience, FIG. 2 will be described in detail in conjunction with FIG. 1.

At every predetermined period, the CPU 42 checks whether key data input through the peripheral device controller 43 exists (step S110). When a user inputs a key through a key input unit 71 such as a remote controller, the IR receiver 72 receives key data input in the form of an infrared signal and transmits the key data to the CPU 42 through the peripheral device controller 43. If there is no key data to be input, the CPU 42 waits until there is a key input. If there is input key data, the CPU 42 analyzes the input key data.

After performing step S110, if the input key data is a command key for recording (step S120), the CPU 42 determines whether a program to record is designated (step S121). In other words, it is determined whether key data is stored in the HDD 50. If key data is temporarily stored in the HDD 50, the key data is transmitted through the peripheral device controller 43. If the key data stored in the storage unit 50 does not exist, the user records the data through the key input unit 71. When the program name to be inputted is inputted, the IR receiver 72 receives the key data input as an infrared signal and transmits the key data to the CPU 42 through the peripheral device controller 43 (step S122). If the recording program is designated after the step S121 is performed, the CPU 42 sends a recording command signal to the recording / playback processing unit 41, and designates the position where the program is to be stored in the peripheral device control unit 43. The recording / playback processing section 41 transmits the video information and the audio information of the transport stream input through the demodulation section 12 to the peripheral control section 43 according to the control signal of the CPU 42. The peripheral device controller 43 stores the received broadcast signal at a designated location according to the control signal of the CPU 42 (step S123).

After performing the step S123, the CPU 42 sends a signal to the recording / playback processing unit 41 every time to ask whether or not the recording is completed, and the recording / playback processing section 41 determines whether or not the recording of the program has been completed and signals the CPU42. Send (step S124). The CPU 42 checks the signal input through the recording / playback processing section 41, and outputs a control signal so that recording continues if the recording is not completed. In addition, even if the recording is not completed, the CPU 42 checks whether the recording stop key data is input (step S125). When the user enters a recording stop command via the IR receiver 72, the CPU 42 sends a recording stop signal to the recording / playback processing section 41 to end the recording (step S126). If recording is ended after performing step S124 or after performing step S126, the CPU 42 checks whether the recorded program is stored (step S127). When the user inputs the program key through the key input unit 71 after the step S127, the IR receiver 72 transfers the input key data to the CPU 42 through the peripheral device controller 43. The CPU 42 checks the input key data, and if there is a stored signal, records additional information such as recording date and time, file number, etc. together with the EPG information on the REPG (step S128).

After performing step S110, the CPU 42 checks whether a program for external recording is designated if the input key data is key data for external recording (copying to a DVD, CD, etc.) (step S130). Step S121). In other words, it is determined whether key data is stored in the HDD 50. After performing step S121, if the key data stored in the HDD 50 exists, the key data is received through the peripheral device controller 43, and if there is no key data stored in the storage 50, the CPU 42 Check whether there is input key data. At this time, the user inputs the name of the program to be recorded externally through the key input unit 71, the IR receiver 72 receives the input key data, and transmits the input key data to the CPU 42 through the peripheral device control unit 43 (Step S132). If the external recording program is designated after the step S132, the CPU 42 sends an external recording signal to the peripheral device controller 43.

The peripheral control unit 43 sends an external recording signal to the DVD writer 63 for externally recording the designated program according to the control signal of the CPU 42. The CPU 42 checks whether the external recording preparation has been completed, and if the preparation is completed, sends an external recording start signal of the designated program, and the peripheral device control unit 43 in accordance with the control signal of the CPU 42 writes the DVD writer 63. A recording start signal is sent to the network and recording is started (step S133). After performing the step S133, the CPU 42 determines whether the external recording is completed to continue the external recording or complete the external recording (step S134). If the external recording is completed after performing the step S134, the CPU 42 records additional information such as an external recording medium name, an external recording date and time, and an increase in the number of external recordings by "1" on the REPG (step S155).

After the operation S110 is performed, the CPU 42 checks whether the program to be transmitted is designated if the input key data is the key data for the transmission (step S140) (step S141). In other words, it is determined whether key data is stored in the HDD 50. After performing step S121, if the key data stored in the HDD 50 exists, the key data is received through the peripheral device controller 43, and if there is no key data stored in the storage 50, the CPU 42 Check whether there is input key data. At this time, the user inputs the name of the program to be recorded externally through the key input unit 71, the IR receiver 72 receives the input key data, and transmits the input key data to the CPU 42 through the peripheral device control unit 43 (Step S132). If the external recording program is designated after the operation of step S142, the CPU 42 sends a transmission signal to the peripheral device controller 43.

The peripheral control unit 43 sends a transmission signal to the relay 62 to transmit a designated program according to the control signal of the CPU 42. At this time, the CPU 42 checks whether the transmission is ready and if the transmission is ready, sends a transmission start signal of the designated program, and the peripheral device control unit 43 writes to the relay module 63 according to the control signal of the CPU 42. A start signal is sent and transmission starts (step S143). After performing step S143, the CPU 42 determines whether or not the transfer is completed and continues to perform external recording or completes the transfer (step S144). If the external recording is completed after the step S144 is performed, the CPU 42 records additional information such as a transmission medium name, a transmission date and time, and a "1" increase in the number of transmissions on the REPG (step S145).

If the key data input after performing step S110 is a search command key for searching (step S150), the CPU 42 checks whether a search keyword to be searched exists. If the entered search keyword does not exist, the user inputs the search keyword through the key input unit 71, and the IR receiver 72 receives the search keyword and inputs the key data input through the peripheral device controller 43 to the CPU 42. (Step S151). If the search word is input after the step S151, the CPU 42 sends a search command signal.

The search is started based on the REPG information and the EPG information according to the control signal of the CPU 42 (step S152). After performing step S152, the CPU 42 compares the search result on the REPG with the search result on the EPG (step S153). After performing step S153, it is checked whether there is matching information (step S154). If there is matching information after performing step S154, the CPU 42 deletes a search result matching the REPG information of the EPG information (step S155). The CPU 42 controls the search result of the EPG information and the REPG information to be output through the signal output unit 30 after performing step S155 (step S156).

After the operation S110 is performed, the CPU 42 checks whether a program to be reproduced is designated if the input key data is the key data for reproducing (step S160). In other words, it is determined whether key data is stored in the HDD 50. After performing step S121, if the key data stored in the HDD 50 exists, the key data is received through the peripheral device controller 43, and if there is no key data stored in the storage 50, the CPU 42 Check whether there is input key data. At this time, the user inputs the name of the program to be reproduced through the key input unit 71 and the IR receiver 72 receives the input key data and transmits the input key data to the CPU 42 through the peripheral device control unit 43 ( Step S162). If the playback program is designated after the step S162, the CPU 42 sends a playback signal to the recording and playback processing section 41. The recording / playback processing unit 41 may receive a playback program from the peripheral device control unit 43 according to the control signal of the CPU 41 and process the signal in the signal processing unit 20 to be provided to the user through the signal output unit 30. The path is controlled so that the control can be performed (Step S163).

After performing step S163, the CPU 42 sends a signal to the recording / playback processing section 41 every time to ask whether or not the playback is complete, and the recording / playback processing section 41 checks whether or not the playback of the program is completed and sends a signal to the CPU 42. (Step S164). The CPU 42 judges the signal input through the recording / playback processing section 41, and outputs a control signal so that playback continues if the playback is not completed. Further, even if playback is not completed, the CPU 42 checks whether or not playback stop key data is input (step S165). When the user inputs a key to stop playback through the key input unit 71, the IR receiver 72 receives the input key data and transmits the key data to the CPU 42 through the peripheral device control unit 43. When the reproduction stop command is received, the CPU 42 sends a reproduction stop signal to the recording / playback processing unit 41 to terminate playback (step S166). If playback is finished after performing step S164 or after performing step S166, the CPU 42 records additional information such as the playback date and time, and the number of times of playback on the REPG (step S167).

After performing step S110, the CPU 42 examines the input key data and outputs a control signal to perform a function corresponding to the checked key data (step S170).

3 is a diagram illustrating management of REPG information necessary for the configuration of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 3, the file number 210, the recording date and time 220, the number of playbacks 230, the external recording mode 240, the transmission mode 250, and the EPG information 260 are displayed. The file number 210 is a management number of a program recorded by the user, and is determined by adding a number set by the user and a number basically given by a system in which the user manages the program. For example, S05 in S05U08111 (211) is a number given by default in the system, and U08111 is a number set directly by the user. The number given basically in the system can be set as the channel number, and can be set in various ways by the user's choice such as airing date, time, and grade. In addition, the number determined by the user may be determined based on the date, and the user may arbitrarily decide using numbers and symbols.

The recording date and time 220 records the date when the program is stored, and the recording date and time information is the same date as the broadcast date of the EPG information.

The external recording mode 240 stores the external recording medium name 241, the external recording date and time 241, and the external recording count 243. The transmission mode 250 stores the transmission medium name 251 of the recording program and the transmission date and time. 252, the number of transmissions 253 can be stored to easily manage the mobile program.

4 is a flowchart illustrating a retrieval method for a recorded program of a digital television receiver according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

When the user inputs a search keyword such as a program name to be searched through the key input unit 71, the IR receiver 72 receives the search keyword and inputs the key data input through the peripheral device control unit 43 to the CPU 42. Transfer to step (S310). If a search word is input after the step S310 is performed, the CPU 42 sends a search command signal.

The search is started based on the REPG information and the EPG information according to the control signal of the CPU 42 (step S320). After performing step S320, the CPU 42 compares the search result on the REPG with the search result on the EPG (step S330). After performing step S330, the CPU 42 checks whether there is matching information (step S340). If there is matching information after performing step S340, the CPU 42 deletes a search result matching the REPG information of the EPG information (step S350). The CPU 42 controls the search result of the EPG information and the REPG information to be output through the signal output unit 30 after performing step S350 (step S360).

Here, the method of providing the search result to the user through the display unit 33 will be described with reference to FIG. 5, where the program search result is a search keyword 401, a location 402, 403, 404, a broadcast date 405, a program name ( 406) is displayed. In addition, the search result is already stored when the program is stored in the internal storage medium (402), when it is transferred to the PC (403), when it is recorded on the DVD (404) or when moving to an external medium. One mark shows the location of the program, and in the case of a program that will be broadcast in the future, it displays and displays the broadcast date 405.

In addition, the program search result screen may include a menu item 407, a selection item 408, a previous screen key item 409, a next screen key item 410, and the like. The menu item 407 is an item for executing a user search start, a search end, a re-search, etc. The selection item 407 is an item for selecting a desired program from a search result and provides detailed information on the selected program. This item is visible. The previous screen key item 409 is an item for viewing the previous screen of the program search result, and the next screen key item 410 is an item for viewing the next screen of the program search result.

So far, the present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments, and those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains to the detailed description of the present invention and other forms of embodiments within the essential technical scope of the present invention. Could be implemented.

As described above, the present invention continuously manages REPG, which is operation record information, for a program that has already been recorded.

As a result, it is possible to more effectively manage the programs stored in the storage medium by the management apparatus and method for the recorded programs in the digital television according to the present invention.

Also, already recorded programs are outputted with preset marks, and if the same program as the one to be broadcasted is stored, the program to be recorded in the future will not be displayed. If you transfer and record to an external device, you can find the history about it so you can easily find and watch the program you want.

In addition, you can search for programs that have already been recorded, instead of searching for only upcoming programs, providing more comprehensive information to users.

Claims (6)

A television signal receiver for receiving digital television broadcast programs; A recording medium for storing digital television programs; An input unit for inputting a command from a user; And In response to a command from the input unit, controlling the operation of the digital television programs recorded on the recording medium, including recording of the digital television program received by the television signal receiving unit to the recording medium; A recording electronic program guide including an operation history including any one of a playback history of a city, an external movement history of an external movement command, and a transmission history of an external movement command, and recording on the recording medium by the recording electronic program guide And a control unit for managing the digital television programs. The method of claim 1, And the control unit keeps the operation history of the deleted digital television program in the recording electronic program guide even when the digital television program is deleted from the recording medium. Inputting a command from an input unit; In response to a command from the input unit, controlling the operation of digital television programs recorded on the recording medium, including recording of the digital television program received by the television signal receiving unit to the recording medium; Creating a recorded electronic program guide including an operation history including any one of a reproduction history at the time of a reproduction command, an external movement history at the time of an external movement command and a transmission history at the time of a transmission command; And displaying the current status of digital television programs recorded on the recording medium on the display unit based on the recorded electronic program guide. delete Inputting a keyword relating to a digital television program to be searched through the input unit; Retrieving information about a digital television program corresponding to the keyword from a recording electronic program guide including an operating history of digital television programs recorded on a recording medium; A search method for a digital television receiver having a recording medium comprising providing the search result to a user. The method of claim 5, And the retrieving step comprises retrieving information on a digital television program corresponding to the keyword from an electronic program guide provided from the outside.

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