KR20020014288A - Method and apparatus for selecting program of TV - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A selecting method of TV programs is provided for plural viewers to watch TV equally through a game. CONSTITUTION: A menu page for inputting the necessary data for games such as the number of individuals or groups having the same desired programs and the watching time for winners is displayed(S10). The necessary data are inputted to the displayed menu(S11). Another menu is displayed(S12) to input the desired programs and passwords of each individual or group(S13). All of game lists for the individuals or groups to play are displayed(S14). The users of the individuals or groups select and play games to decide a winner individual or group(S15). A program preset by the winner is read out(S16). If a channel changing key is inputted(S17), the winner inputs a password(S18). If the password is agreed with the pre-input password, the current channel is changed to one having the preset program(S21). If the watching time of the program has expired(S20), the current channel is changed without regard to agreement of a password(S22). Therefore, the reliability of viewers for watching TV is improved.

Description

TV apparatus and method for selecting a program {Method and apparatus for selecting program of TV}

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a TV, and more particularly, to an apparatus and method for program selection of a TV.

In general, a TV is a device that enables a viewer to watch a broadcast signal containing a broadcast program through a series of signal processing.

These TVs have created many content providers due to the increasing demand for multimedia technology and cultural benefits of users, and the broadcasting environment has also seen dozens or hundreds of broadcasts compared to the past, where only a few broadcasts could be watched. The environment has been changed to view.

On the other hand, the TV such as watching a program or a picture in picture (PIP) from among a plurality of TV programs that can watch the current broadcast output on the screen according to the number of tuners (tuners) that can receive satellite or airwave signals Or two programs in the form of double windows can be viewed simultaneously.

However, when several people watched a TV in one place at the same time, it was difficult to select a program that matched people's preferences.

Hereinafter, the configuration of the TV according to the prior art will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a TV according to the prior art.

First, as shown in FIG. 1, the TV according to the related art includes an external connector 3 for inputting / outputting data to / from an external device, a tuner 4 for tuning a broadcast signal by a user, and the external connector. (3) a signal switching unit (5) for distinguishing a signal input from the tuner (4), a video signal among the signals input through the signal switching unit is extracted, and the extracted video signal to match the image format A video control unit and mixer 6 for converting and outputting the CPT control unit 7 for controlling the video signal converted according to a predetermined format by the video control unit and mixer 6 to be output to the CPT, and the tuner ( 4) an audio control unit 8 for selecting an audio signal among the signals output from 4) and converting the audio signal into a signal that can be output from a speaker or a headphone; An audio switching unit 9 for selecting and outputting an erroneous signal from a speaker or a headphone according to a user's request, and classifying a video and audio signal among the signals output from the tuner 4 according to a user's request and through the speaker and the CPT. It consists of a microcomputer 1 for outputting control signals for outputting video and audio, and a memory 2.

Looking at the operation of a general TV configured as described above are as follows.

First, as shown in FIG. 1, under the control of the microcomputer 1, the tuner 4 selects one or more programs according to a user's request.

At this time, the number of screens displayed on the CPT is determined according to the number of tuners 4, but even if the number of the tuners 4 is large, a method of identifying voice information is usually a speaker (not shown) or a headphone output. Usually there are only two TV programs on the screen.

Meanwhile, the signal converter 8 extracts a signal output from the tuner from the broadcast signal selected through the tuner 4 and a signal input through an external connector 3 from an external device through the signal converter 8. do.

The video signal is extracted from the signal extracted by the signal converter 8 through the video controller and the mixer 6, and the extracted video signal is converted into a signal having a form suitable for an image format.

Subsequently, the image signal converted and output by the image control unit and the mixer 6 according to the image format is controlled to be output from the CPT 8 through the CPT control unit 7.

The CPT control unit 7 displays the video signal on the CPT 10 in a single screen or a dual screen according to a user's request.

That is, one or a plurality of programs currently broadcast can be selected and output according to the user's selection.

However, the TV program selection method according to the related art described above has the following problems.

First, although it is functionally possible to watch a plurality of broadcast programs on one screen, there is a problem that it is difficult to actually watch two or more programs on one screen.

Second, when a plurality of users simultaneously watch a small number of TVs, it is difficult to simultaneously view all broadcast programs that match the preferences of the plurality of users.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and method for selecting a program for a TV, which allows a plurality of viewers to watch the TV evenly through a game.

1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a TV according to the prior art

2 is a block diagram showing an apparatus for selecting a program of a television according to the present invention.

3 is a flowchart showing a program selection method of a TV according to the present invention.

TV program selection apparatus according to the present invention for achieving the above object, in the TV having a key input unit and a speaker, the number of individuals and groups participating in the game, the password setting value and the program you want to watch, exclusive viewing time of the program A memory for storing the information and a winner information extracted after executing a game selected by the participant stored in the memory, read from the memory, and moving to the corresponding program. A microcomputer for controlling whether to match the pre-stored winner password and switching to a corresponding channel, a voice processor for extracting a voice signal from the broadcast signal of the switched channel and processing the signal as a speaker output signal; Extract the video signal from the broadcast signal of the switched channel And a program selection device of a TV, characterized in that it comprises an image processing unit for processing a signal that can be displayed on a screen.

TV program selection method according to the present invention for achieving the above object comprises the steps of storing the number of game participants, the program exclusive viewing time, the program participants want to watch each and the password specified by the game participants, When the game participant information is stored, selecting and executing a desired game by the game participant, extracting a winner, moving the extracted winner to a selected program, determining whether to input a channel switch key, and the moved program And receiving a password of the winner when the channel switching key is input on the screen, and switching to a channel corresponding to the input of the channel switching key when the input winner's password and the stored winner's password match. It is done.

Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of a TV program selection method according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 2 is a block diagram showing a program selection apparatus of the TV according to the present invention, Figure 3 is a flow chart showing a program selection method of the TV according to the present invention.

TV program selection apparatus according to the present invention, as shown in Figure 2, the key input device 100 for inputting the user's request command, the number of individuals and groups participating in the game, the password setting value and the program you want to watch In addition, the memory 120 storing information of a program exclusive viewing time and the winner information extracted after executing a game selected by a participant stored in the memory 120 are read from the memory and moved to the corresponding program. When the channel switch key is input, the microcomputer 110 controls to switch to the corresponding channel by determining whether the winner's password matches the pre-stored winner's password, and a tuner for tuning a broadcast signal under the control of the microcomputer. 130 and extracts an audio signal from the broadcast signal of the switched channel to be a signal capable of outputting the speaker That is configured to include an audio processing unit 160, image processing unit 140 that extracts a video signal from the broadcast signal of the switched channel processed signal can displayed on a screen.

Looking at the operation of the program selection device of the TV according to the present invention configured as described above are as follows.

First, as shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of individuals or groups of users in a small number of TVs are positioned around the TVs to watch TVs. In this case, a plurality of individuals or group users are broadcasted to watch a broadcasting program that matches their preferences. Participate in a game to select a program.

At this time, before the game is executed, firstly, the information necessary for the progress of the game, that is, the number of groups of individuals who match the individual or broadcast program to be watched and the time when the winner or the winning group can watch exclusively at the end of the game are determined. Participants display a menu screen to enter in agreement (S10).

The number of individuals or groups who will participate in the game and the exclusive viewing time of the broadcast program of the winner or the winner group agreed by the game participants are input to the displayed menu screen (S11).

The number of individuals or groups who participated in the game is then followed by a menu for entering personal information of the users of the individuals or groups who participate in the game, that is, the broadcast programs that the users of the individual or groups want to watch, and a unique password assigned by each person or group. Display as much as on the screen (S12).

The personal information of the individual or group user who participates in the game, that is, the broadcast program and the unique password designated by the individual or group that the user of the individual or group wants to watch are input to the menu displayed on the screen (S13).

Therefore, all the information of the individual or group user to participate in the game to be provided before the game is input so that the user information can be utilized when the game proceeds or the game ends.

Subsequently, when all the information of the individual or group user necessary for the game is input, game lists for selecting a game to be played by users of the individual or group who will participate in the game are displayed on the screen (S14).

Then, among the game list displayed on the screen, a user of an individual or a group to participate in the game selects a game to be executed in agreement, and executes the selected game to extract a winner or a group among the participants (S15).

The game may be variously added by the designer in software or hardware, and may be composed of one or more various games.

As a reward for winning the game, the program moves to a program to be watched by an individual or a group who has won the game from information input by the individual or group users who participated in the game before the game is executed (S16).

Subsequently, it is determined whether an individual or a group who wins the game inputs a channel switch key for watching a broadcast program on a program to be watched (S16).

On the other hand, when the determination result (S16), when the channel switch key is input, the password input menu is displayed on the screen and the individual or group user who has won the game enters the password (S18), and enters the password entered in the menu It compares with the password entered before the game to determine whether it matches (S19).

The reason for determining whether the password is matched is to determine whether a user other than the individual or group user who has won the game attempts to switch the TV channel. The individual or group user who has won the game during the program exclusive viewing time All channel options are delegated to him.

When the determination result (S17), the channel switching key for the individual or group user who won the game to watch other broadcast program is not input, the step is performed again (S17).

Subsequently, when the determination result (S19), the password entered in the menu is matched with the password entered before the game, the broadcast channel is switched to the broadcast program corresponding to the channel switching key (S21), and the steps are performed again. (S17 to S19).

On the other hand, if the determination result (S19), the password entered in the menu does not match compared with the password entered before the game, it is determined whether the current program viewing time exceeds the program exclusive viewing time (S20).

As a result of the determination (S20), if the current program viewing time does not exceed the program exclusive viewing time, the program continues to watch the currently viewed program without switching to the broadcast program corresponding to the channel switching key input and continues the steps. (S17 to S20).

As a result of the determination (S20), if the current program viewing time exceeds the program exclusive viewing time, the channel is switched to the broadcast program corresponding to the channel switching key regardless of whether the encryption key matches (S22).

As described above, the TV's program selection method according to the present invention enables a user to select a broadcast program that matches the preferences of a plurality of users using a method such as a game, thereby increasing the user's reliability in watching TV.

Claims (5)

In the TV having a key input and a speaker, A memory for storing information of the number of individuals and groups participating in the game, the password setting value and the program to be watched, and the program exclusive viewing time; After executing the game selected by the participant stored in the memory, the extracted winner information is read from the memory and moved to the corresponding program.If a channel switching key is input on the moved program, whether the winner's password matches the pre-stored winner password. A microcomputer controlling whether to determine whether to switch to a corresponding channel; A voice processor extracting a voice signal from the broadcast signal of the switched channel and processing the voice signal into a signal capable of outputting the speaker; And And a video processing unit which extracts a video signal from the broadcast signal of the switched channel and processes the video signal into a displayable signal on the screen. Storing a number of game participants, a program exclusive viewing time, a program that the game participants want to watch, and a password designated by the game participants; If the game participant information is stored, extracting a winner by selecting and executing a desired game of the game participants; Moving the extracted winner to a selected program and determining whether a channel switch key is input; Receiving a password of a winner when a channel switch key is input on the moved program; And And switching to a channel corresponding to the input of the channel switch key when the input winner's password and the pre-stored winner's password coincide with each other. The method of claim 2, Storing the number of game participants, a program exclusive viewing time, a program that each game participant wants to watch, and a password designated by the game participant Displaying a menu for inputting information about the number of individuals and groups to participate in the game and the exclusive viewing time of the program; Inputting information on the number of individuals and groups to participate in the game and the exclusive viewing time of the program in the displayed menu; If the information is stored, displaying the number of participants in the game by displaying a menu screen on which a game participant wants to watch a program and a password specified by the game participant, And when the plurality of menu screens are displayed, inputting a program and a password each of which the game participants want to watch on the menu, respectively. The method of claim 2, The game participants extract the winner by selecting a desired game and executing it. Displaying a list of games; In the displayed game list, the game participants select the desired game, And selecting a winner by executing the selected game. The method of claim 2, And if the input winner password and the pre-stored winner password do not match, moving the program to the corresponding channel according to whether or not the pre-stored exclusive viewing time has elapsed.