KR20000028449A - Apparatus for selecting channels for broadcasting receiver - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: An apparatus for selecting channels in a broadcasting receiver is provided to set up a bar-code for each channel and program, and to select channel a program by the interpreted bar-code. CONSTITUTION: An apparatus for selecting channels in a broadcasting receiver comprises a paper keyboard(100), a storage unit(500), a bar code reader(200), a decoder(300), a micon(400), and a key signal generator(600). The paper keyboard is composed of bar codes where channel information is recorded. Key codes corresponding to each bar code is stored in the storage unit. The bar code reader converts the bar codes into electrical signals. The decoder restores the electrical signals to the channel information. The micom searches the key codes corresponding to the restored channel information from the storage unit, and controls generation of key signals corresponding to the key codes. The key signal generator generates predetermined key signals by key signal generation control of the micom.

Description

Channel selector of the broadcast receiver

The present invention relates to a channel selection apparatus and method of a broadcast receiver, and more particularly, to a channel selection apparatus of a broadcast receiver configured to directly select a desired channel using a bar code. .

As is well known, broadcast receivers such as televisions, satellite broadcasting receivers, cable televisions, and composite broadcasting receivers are allocated to channels by dividing a given frequency band into predetermined units. The broadcast signal of each broadcasting station is transmitted and received in units of the allocated channels.

Among the above-mentioned broadcast receivers, since televisions (traditional terrestrial broadcast signal receivers) have few channels actually provided (for example, about ten), the number corresponding to each channel can be operated by directly operating the remote control or the key panel attached to the television ( That is, a channel can be sufficiently selected only by directly inputting a numeric key or by operating a direction key (up / down key), and the broadcasting information assigned to each channel can be easily understood.

In addition, conventional televisions have not only a small number of channels provided, but also have a simple difficulty in their use.

However, in recent years, in accordance with the development of broadcast media and advances in electronic technology, the spread of cable broadcasting and satellite broadcasting methods has spread, and as composite broadcast receivers incorporating such broadcasting methods have been developed, The number of broadcast channels has increased significantly compared to the prior art.

For example, the satellite broadcasting method provides a broadcast signal to a wider area by using a satellite (communication satellite) located at an altitude of about tens to hundreds of kilos on the surface of the earth, and in such a satellite broadcasting method, hundreds of channels Is assigned.

In addition, the cable broadcasting method provides a broadcast signal through a cable broadcasting tuner provided in each home by using a cable, and the cable broadcasting method supports hundreds of channels.

In addition, the composite broadcast method is a method for integrating the above-mentioned terrestrial broadcast, cable broadcast, and satellite broadcast into one, which also supports hundreds of channels.

As mentioned above, in many of its supported cases, it is virtually impossible for a user to know and use the programs provided in each of the supported channels. Also, even if it is possible to understand, very few will be able to take advantage of such a full channel.

In addition, in the case of the complex broadcast method, since channels repeatedly allocated between the respective broadcast methods exist, there are many problems in selecting a desired channel only by operating a direction key or a numeric key.

Therefore, conventional satellite broadcast receivers, composite broadcast receivers, and the like have developed and provided separate user interfaces. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, by providing a program guide screen, a broadcaster corresponding to each channel, program information for each time zone, and the like are provided. The broadcast program of the channel is selected.

However, since the program guide screen provided by the above-described conventional satellite broadcast receiver, composite broadcast receiver, or the like has a limited range (for example, 7 lines or 4 lines) displayed on one screen, an actual desired program is provided. In order to select a broadcast channel to be used, a plurality of key manipulations are inevitable, and a user who is unfamiliar with the above-described program guide screen has a more severe problem.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to set a bar code for each channel or broadcast program, and read the set bar code directly with a bar code reader to provide a desired broadcast program. An apparatus and method for selecting a channel of a broadcast receiver configured to select is provided.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for selecting a desired channel from a plurality of channels provided by a broadcast receiver, the apparatus comprising: a paper keyboard comprising a plurality of bar codes in which channel information corresponding to each of the channels is recorded; A storage unit storing key codes corresponding to each of the plurality of barcodes; A barcode reader for reading the barcode into an electrical signal; A decoder for restoring the electrical signal read by the barcode reading unit to the channel information; A microcomputer for retrieving a key code corresponding to the channel information restored by the decoder from the storage unit and controlling generation of a key signal corresponding to the retrieved key code; Provided is a channel selection apparatus of a broadcast receiver having a key signal generator for generating a predetermined key signal by the key signal generation control of the microcomputer.

1 is an exemplary diagram illustrating an example of a program guide screen provided in a conventional general composite broadcast receiver;

2 is a block diagram illustrating a channel selection apparatus of a broadcast receiver according to the present invention;

3 is an exemplary view showing a general barcode structure;

4A and 4B are exemplary views for explaining a process of reading a bar code in a bar code reader in a paper keyboard according to the present invention;

<Description of the code | symbol about the principal part of drawing>

100: paper keyboard 200: bar code reader

300: decoder 400: microcomputer

500: storage unit 600: key signal generator

700: wireless signal transmitter

Hereinafter, a channel selection apparatus of a broadcast receiver according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4.

Figure 2 is a block diagram showing a channel selection apparatus of a broadcast receiver according to the present invention, Figure 3 is an exemplary view showing a general bar code structure, Figures 4a and 4b is a bar code reader in the paper keyboard in accordance with the present invention It is an exemplary diagram for explaining a process of reading a barcode.

Referring to FIG. 2, the channel selection apparatus of the broadcast receiver according to the present invention includes a paper keyboard 100, a barcode reader 200, a decoder 300, a microcomputer 400, a storage unit 500, and a key signal generation. The unit 600 includes a wireless signal transmitter 700, and each individual configuration and function are as follows.

First, the paper keyboard 100 replaces a user's key manipulation using a conventional key pannel or a remote controller. The paper keyboard 100 may include a plurality of channels included in a reception band of a broadcast receiver. It consists of a plurality of bar codes on which channel information is recorded. In this embodiment, the paper keyboard 100 can be composed of newspapers, magazines, and the like. That is, daily or weekly broadcast program guides are provided for the morning and evening newspapers and weekly newspapers generated by each newspaper company. In consultation with each newspaper company, a predetermined section (for example, A barcode may be printed around each broadcast program name and around each broadcast channel). In addition, broadcast program guides are provided in broadcast guide magazines or entertainment magazines, and barcodes may be inserted in the pages of such magazines as in the aforementioned newspaper. When the barcode dddd is inserted into the broadcast program guide page provided on the newspaper or magazine, the user checks the broadcast program information provided on the newspaper or magazine, while the barcode reader describes the barcode corresponding to the desired broadcast program. By simply scanning at 200, a channel on which a corresponding broadcast program is provided may be easily selected. Meanwhile, in another embodiment of the present invention, the paper keyboard 100 may be formed by printing all the bar codes in which information about each broadcaster and a broadcast channel corresponding to the broadcaster are recorded in one page. In the case of forming in this way, it may be usefully used when a broadcaster or a channel providing a desired broadcast program is known.

For reference, as shown in FIG. 3, each barcode printed on the paper keyboard 100 is a portion in which nothing is printed including a letter or the like before entering the start code and is used as a time for preparing to start barcode reading. (start margin), start code indicating the beginning of the barcode, bar code character that is the actual data, check sum for detecting data reading errors at the end of the barcode data, check sum It consists of a stop code for indicating the end and a stop margin in which nothing is recorded like the start margin, and according to the present invention, channel information for distinguishing a plurality of channels ( For example, information on a frequency band and broadcast program information (eg, start / end time of a broadcast program) ) Will be recorded in the barcode character.

Meanwhile, the barcode reader 200 may include a light emitting diode (LDE), a light emitting element such as a laser (not shown), a light receiving element (not shown), such as a photo diode, and a lens. It consists of an optical system (not shown), an analog amplification circuit, a digitizer circuit (not shown), and the like, and as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, bar and space (bar and space, or black and white lines) of the bar code are electrically Convert to a signal (ie a serial signal). In other words, the barcode is encoded as a binary code that is easy to logic data. As shown in 4a, the logic values '1' and '0' are printed with a combination of white and black thick and thin lines, respectively. The barcode reading unit 200 scans the barcode at a constant speed and converts the thick and thin lines into a serial electrical signal having a different pulse width, thereby converting the barcode into a serial signal as shown in FIG. 4B. Convert to (serial signal). The barcode reader 200 may be a pen type scanner (wand), a slot reader, a laser type scanner, a CCD scanner, or the like.

The decoder 300 converts the serial signal converted by the barcode reader 200 into channel information. That is, the barcode signal converted into an electrical signal is converted into a code (for example, an ASCII code) recognizable by the microcomputer 400, and the converted ASCII code is provided to the microcomputer 400. In another embodiment of the present invention, the function of the decoder 300 described above may be configured to be directly performed by the microcomputer 400.

The microcomputer 400 refers to the channel identifier information among the channel information converted into a code (for example, an ASCII code) preset by the decoder 300, and selects a key code for selecting a channel corresponding to the channel identifier information. The key signal generator 600 is controlled to search from the storage 500 and generate a key signal corresponding to the found key code. In this case, the storage unit 500 may store a combination of key signals, that is, key codes, for selecting a channel corresponding to the channel identifier information. That is, a combination of a channel number corresponding to each frequency band obtained by dividing the reception frequency band of the broadcast receiver and a key signal for selecting the channel number will be stored. For example, when the satellite broadcast 523 is selected, the key code is composed of a combination of numeric key signals generated when the numbers 5, 2, and 3 on the key panel provided in the remote controller and the broadcast receiver main body are respectively manipulated. In addition, for a channel commonly used in satellite broadcasting and cable broadcasting as described above, the key code is selected using a selection key signal for selecting satellite broadcasting or cable broadcasting and numeric key signals corresponding to 1, 2, and 3 respectively. Will be set.

The key signal generation unit 600 generates a predetermined key signal under the control of the microcomputer 400. In this case, when the channel selection device is mounted on the main body of the broadcast receiver according to an embodiment of the present invention, the key signal generator 600 performs the same function as a key panel (not shown) provided in the main body of the broadcast receiver. do. That is, the generated key signal is provided to a microcomputer (not shown) provided in the broadcast receiver main body. Meanwhile, in another embodiment of the present invention, the above-described channel selection device is mounted on the remote controller. In this case, the key signal generator 600 provides the generated key signal to the wireless signal transmitter 700.

The wireless signal transmitter 700 converts a key signal or a combination of key signals generated by the key signal generator 600 into a wireless signal and then transmits it to a wireless signal receiver (not shown) provided in the broadcast receiver. .

In the above description, the above-described description has been given by describing a preferred embodiment of the present invention in order to facilitate understanding of the present invention, and the technical idea of selecting a desired channel using the above-described invention, that is, a barcode is easy for radio tuning and the like. In addition, it may be easily applied to ordering of a desired video by inserting a barcode into a catalog of video on demand (VOD).

According to the present invention described above, a bar code including channel information of each broadcast channel is printed on a predetermined section of a program guide page such as a newspaper, magazine, or dedicated paper keyboard, and the channel information printed by the bar code can be read to select a channel. It provides a channel selection device.

Using the provided channel selection device, users can select a channel to which a desired broadcast program is provided only by an operation of reading a barcode included in newspapers, magazines, and dedicated paper keyboards with a barcode reading unit.

Therefore, according to the present invention, by eliminating the trouble of a plurality of key operations, the convenience of channel selection can be enhanced, and the utilization of the broadcast receiver can be enhanced even for a user who is inexperienced in operating a device.

Claims (3)

An apparatus for selecting a desired channel from a plurality of channels provided by a broadcast receiver, A paper keyboard comprising a plurality of bar codes in which channel information corresponding to each of the channels is recorded; A storage unit storing key codes corresponding to each of the plurality of barcodes; A barcode reader for converting the barcode into an electrical signal; A decoder which restores the electrical signal read by the barcode reader to the channel information; retrieves a key code corresponding to the channel information restored by the decoder from the storage, and controls generation of a key signal corresponding to the retrieved key code Micom; And a key signal generator for generating a predetermined key signal by the key signal generation control of the microcomputer. The method of claim 1, wherein the channel selection device, And a remote controller including a wireless signal transmitter for transmitting the key signal as a wireless signal. The method according to claim 1 or 2, The channel information recorded in the bar code includes a channel identifier information for distinguishing each channel through a frequency band.