KR20030067954A - Method and apparatus for controlling selection of channel in a television unit - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A method and system for controlling channel tuning of a broadcasting receiver are provided to tune a channel while sequentially confirming tunable channels. CONSTITUTION: A broadcasting signal received through a channel currently being watched is output through a main picture, and broadcasting signals received through other channels are output through a plurality of sub-pictures according to a predetermined channel arrangement rule in the case that a predetermined PIP channel tuning command is inputted(201,202). When one of the plurality of sub-pictures is selected(203), the selected sub-picture is changed into a main picture and output, and channels of the sub-pictures are reconstructed and output according to the channel arrangement rule(204). In the case that a predetermined PIP channel cancellation command is inputted(205), a PIP mode is canceled and only the broadcasting signal received through a selected channel is output through the main picture(206).

Description

Method and apparatus for controlling channel channeling of a broadcast receiver {Method and apparatus for controlling selection of channel in a television unit}

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for controlling a broadcast receiver. In particular, the present invention relates to a PIP screen for outputting multi-channel video signals that can be tuned simultaneously while watching a currently set channel, and checking a broadcast of another channel through a PIP sub-screen. A channel tuning control method and apparatus of a broadcast receiver for controlling to tune.

In general, in order to tune a channel in a broadcast receiver, a channel number to be watched is directly input or a channel to be watched is selected by using a channel UP / DOWN key. In addition, the channel scan function was used to check a broadcast program received on a stored broadcast channel, and then select a channel. In this case, the channel scan function sequentially searches the channels stored in advance, processes the broadcast signals received in real time with the found channels, and outputs them on the screen for a relatively short time so that the user can easily select a channel. it means.

As described above, according to the related art, the channel cannot be changed while watching a broadcast program of a channel currently tuned at the time of channel switching and at the same time confirming a broadcast program received on another channel, which causes inconvenience in channel selection. In addition, even when the PIP function is used for channel selection, a key change according to channel selection is complicated by changing the channel again after executing channel search.

The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to solve the above problems by watching the current channel by a simple key operation and at the same time by outputting the broadcast channel of the multi-channel selectable channel on the PIP screen to check the tunable channels sequentially A channel tuning control method and apparatus for a broadcast receiver for tuning.

1 is a block diagram of a channel selection control apparatus of a broadcast receiver according to the present invention.

2 is a flowchart of a channel tuning control method of a broadcast receiver according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a flowchart illustrating a channel tuning control method of a broadcast receiver according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

4 (a) to 4 (d) show an example of a PIP screen configuration according to execution of the multi-channel PIP ON / OFF mode according to the present invention.

In order to achieve the above technical problem, in the channel tuning method of the broadcast receiver according to the first embodiment of the present invention, in the channel tuning method, (a) when a predetermined PIP channel tuning command is input, the channel is currently being viewed. Outputting the received broadcast signal to the main screen, and controlling to output the broadcast signals received to the other channels stored in the plurality of sub-screens according to a predetermined channel arrangement rule; and (b) one of the plurality of sub-screens. Controlling the sub-screen to be reconfigured and outputted according to the predetermined channel arrangement rule when the sub-screen of the selected sub-screen is selected, and (c) resetting and outputting the channels of the sub-screen according to the predetermined channel arrangement rule; Canceling the PIP mode when the release command is input and tuning and outputting only the broadcast signal received on the channel selected as the main picture; Characterized by including.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for controlling channel channel selection by a broadcast receiver in a channel channel selection method, the method including: (a) determining whether a predetermined channel change command is input; In the case where the predetermined channel change command is input as a result of the determination in step (a), if the multi-channel PIP ON state is confirmed by checking the value of the multi-channel determination flag, the multi-channel PIP OFF state is shifted to the multi-channel PIP OFF state. Is displayed in the multi-channel PIP ON state, the broadcast signal received through the currently viewed channel is output to the main screen, and the broadcast signals received through the other stored channels are output to the plurality of sub-screens according to a predetermined channel arrangement rule. (C) determining whether one sub-screen is selected from the plurality of sub-screens, and (d) selecting the sub-screen. The display state change to the screen and to the output, characterized in that it comprises the step of controlling so as to output the reconstructed channels of the sub-screen according to the predetermined arrangement rule channel.

In order to achieve the above another technical problem, the channel selection control apparatus of the broadcast receiver according to the present invention is composed of two tuners (first and second tuners) in the channel tuning apparatus, and the first and second tuners are each independently. A broadcast receiver for tuning and outputting a broadcast signal of a channel set by a channel tuning control signal, and processing and outputting a video signal included in the broadcast signal output from the first and second tuners according to a predetermined signal processing standard, respectively. A PIP control signal by inputting first and second image processing units, a memory for storing signals output from the second image processing unit, image signals output from the first and second image processing units, and image signals read from the memory PIP processing unit, the first image processing unit and the image for editing the image signals input to be displayed on the main screen and the plurality of sub-screens according to The broadcasting signal received on the channel currently being watched is read according to the read result by reading the switching unit for inputting the signals processed by the PIP processing unit and selecting and outputting one input signal according to the switching control signal. Outputs to the screen, and outputs the broadcast signals received on the other channels stored to the plurality of sub-screens according to a predetermined channel arrangement rule, and when one sub-screen is selected from the plurality of sub-screens, the selected sub-screen is main. The broadcast signal received on the channel selected as the main screen by releasing the multi-channel PIP ON mode and the multi-channel PIP mode for controlling the output of the screen after changing to the screen and reconfiguring and outputting the channels of the sub-screen according to the predetermined channel arrangement rule. To execute the multi-channel PIP OFF mode, which controls tuning to output only the bay. It characterized in that it comprises a control unit for generating a control signal.

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

As shown in FIG. 1, the channel tuning apparatus of the broadcast receiver according to the present invention includes an antenna 101, first and second tuners 102 and 103, first and second image processing units 104 and 105, and a PIP processing unit ( 106, a switching unit 107, a combining unit 108, a display unit 109, a key input unit 110, a control unit 111, a memory 112, and a graphic processing unit 113.

The circuit block composed of the first and second image processing units 104 and 105, the PIP processing unit 106, the switching unit 107, and the combining unit 108 is called an image signal processing block 1000. The circuit block composed of the first and second tuners 102 and 103 is called a broadcast receiving unit.

First, the operation of each of the constituent means is as follows.

In the present invention, the first tuner 102 operates as a main tuner and operates as a tuner for tuning the main picture broadcast signal in the PIP ON mode. The second tuner 103 operates as a sub tuner and operates as a tuner for tuning the broadcast signal of the sub picture in the PIP ON mode. The first and second tuners 102 and 103 independently tune and output a broadcast signal of a channel set by the channel tuning control signal generated by the control unit 111, respectively.

The first and second image processing units 104 and 105 perform signal processing for separating and restoring only the image signal from the broadcast signals input from the first and second tuners 102 and 103, respectively.

The memory 112 stores the multi-channel image signals that are switched and output by the second image processor 105.

The PIP processing unit 106 inputs the image signals output from the first and second image processing units 104 and 105 and the image signals read from the memory 112 and generates an example according to the PIP control signal generated by the control unit 111. As shown in Figs. 4B and 4C, signal processing for editing video signals inputted to display a broadcast signal received on a main screen and a plurality of selectable channels on a plurality of sub-screens is executed. do.

The switching unit 107 inputs signals processed by the first image processing unit 104 and the PIP processing unit 106, and selects and outputs one input signal according to a switching control signal applied from the control unit 111.

The graphic processor 113 may graphically process an OSD signal including a channel number to be displayed on the screen.

The synthesizing unit 108 synthesizes an image signal output from the switching unit 107 and an OSD graphic signal output from the graphic processing unit 113 and outputs the synthesized OSD signal to the display unit 109.

The key input unit 110 is provided with various command keys for operating the broadcast receiving device, and transmits a key command input by the user to the control unit 111.

The control unit 111 reads out the key commands input from the key input unit 110 and executes the multi-channel PIP ON mode when the PIP tuning channel tuning command is read according to the read result, and when the PIP channel release command is read. The multichannel PIP OFF mode is activated.

First, a control operation performed by the controller 111 in the multi-channel PIP ON mode will be described.

In the multi-channel PIP ON mode, the searched front and rear channel numbers centered on the channel number output to the main screen currently being watched among the stored channel numbers are sequentially searched one by one at a predetermined time interval. A second tuner channel tune control signal for switching tuning is generated.

That is, the multi-channel PIP ON mode is executed when the stored channels are 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, and 15, and the channel number currently being viewed is 7, as shown in Fig. 4 (a). In the second tuner 103, the second tuner tuning control signal is switched so that the channel 3, 5, which is the front channel, and the channel 9, 11, which are the rear channel, are switched at predetermined intervals, respectively. The control unit 111 generates.

The controller 111 stores the image signal processed by the second image processor 105 in the memory 112 on a frame-by-frame basis every time the channel selection of the channel is switched on the second tuner 103. A write / read control signal for reading video signals is generated.

Next, the controller 111 outputs the video signal processed by the first image processor 104 to the main screen of the PIP and outputs the video signals of the plurality of channels read from the memory 112 to the plurality of sub-screens. Generates a PIP control signal that controls editing. In addition, the control unit 111 generates a switching control signal for outputting a signal input from the PIP processing unit 106 and applies it to the switching unit 107.

Accordingly, in the multi-channel PIP ON mode, the PIP screen for channel selection as shown in Fig. 4B is edited and output.

If the user selects 11 channels of sub-screens as shown in FIG. 4 (b) by using the up / down keys installed in the key input unit 110, the channel of the first tuner 102 is selected as the channel of the selected sub-screen. After generating a first tuner channel tuning control signal for changing a channel, a second tuner channel tuning control signal is newly generated to output the broadcast signal of the front / rear channel to the sub picture centering on the channel of the selected sub picture. 2 is applied to the tuner 103. Accordingly, the PIP screen for channel selection is switched from FIG. 4 (b) to FIG. 4 (c).

Next, a control operation performed by the controller 111 when the multi-channel PIP ON mode is switched to the multi-channel PIP OFF mode will be described.

When a key command to be converted to the multi-channel PIP OFF mode is input, the control unit 111 turns off the PIP processing unit 106 and generates a switching control signal for selecting and outputting a signal input from the first image processing unit 104. Applied to the switching unit 107. Accordingly, the screen is converted from FIG. 4 (c) to FIG. 4 (d) so that the viewing channel is switched from 7 channels to 11 channels.

The input key of the PIP channel selection command and the input key of the channel release command design the key input unit 110 to use a single key, and the control unit 111 releases the PIP channel selection command and channel release from the key input unit 110. It can be designed to invert the multi-channel PIP ON / OFF mode whenever a single key of the command is entered.

In addition, a single key of the PIP channel selection command and the channel release command may be assigned to a key having a different function, and may be programmed to determine the type of the input command at a time when the keys are continuously input.

Next, a method for controlling channel channel selection by the broadcast receiver according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the configuration diagram of FIG. 1.

First, the control unit 111 determines whether a PIP channel selection key command is input from the key input unit 110 (step 201).

When the PIP channel selection key command is inputted as a result of the determination in step 201, the execution mode is switched to the multi-channel PIP ON mode (step 202).

In the multi-channel PIP ON mode, as shown in FIG. 4 (b), a broadcast signal received through a channel currently being viewed tuned by the first tuner 102, which is the main tuner, is output to the main screen and centered on the main screen channel. In this mode, channel selection is possible by selecting the sub picture by displaying the video signals of the broadcast received with the searched front / rear channel number on a plurality of sub screens by searching the pre / post channel numbers.

If 11 sub-screens are selected in the multi-channel PIP ON screen as shown in FIG. 4B (step 203), the channel of the selected sub-screen is changed to the channel of the main screen, and the channel of the selected sub-screen is also changed. The PIP screen is reconfigured as shown in FIG.

Then, the control unit 111 determines whether a PIP channel release command is input (step 205), and executes the multi-channel PIP OFF mode when the PIP channel release command is input, which is illustrated in FIG. As shown in d), the sub-screens of the plurality of channels displayed for channel selection disappear, and only the broadcast signal tuned to the channel of the main screen is output (step 206).

Next, a channel tuning control method of the broadcast receiver according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the configuration diagram of FIG.

The second embodiment of the present invention is designed to be able to input the PIP channel selection command and the channel release command with a single key, and to be used in combination with a key having other functions. As an example, a key for inputting a PIP channel selection command and a channel release command and a channel change key (channel up / down key) are designed as a single key.

First, the control unit 111 determines whether a channel change key command is input from the key input unit 110 (step 301).

When the channel change key command is input as a result of the determination in step 301, the controller 111 determines whether the value of the multi-channel flag M_CH_FLAG is zero (step 302). According to an embodiment of the present invention, when the multi-channel flag value is 0, the multi-channel PIP OFF state is displayed, and when the multi-channel flag value is 1, the multi-channel PIP ON state is displayed.

If the multi-channel flag value is 1 as a result of the determination in step 302, since the currently executing mode corresponds to the multi-channel PIP ON state, the multi-channel PIP OFF state is changed, and the multi-channel flag value is converted to 0 to convert the multi-channel PIP. Inform that the switch has been turned OFF (steps 308 and 309).

If the multi-channel flag value is 0 as a result of the determination in step 302, it is determined that the mode currently being executed is the multi-channel PIP OFF state, and it is determined whether the channel change key command is continuously input for at least X seconds (step 303). This is to selectively execute two functions with one key.

If the channel change key command is not input for more than X seconds as a result of the determination in step 303, the normal channel change mode is executed (step 310).

However, when the channel change key command is input for more than X seconds as a result of the determination in step 303, the input key command is judged to be a PIP channel tuning command, and the execution mode is switched to the multi-channel PIP ON mode (step 304).

In the multi-channel PIP ON mode, as shown in FIG. 4 (b), a broadcast signal received through a channel currently being viewed tuned by the first tuner 102, which is the main tuner, is output to the main screen and centered on the main screen channel. In this mode, channel selection is possible by selecting the sub picture by displaying the video signals of the broadcast received with the searched front / rear channel number on a plurality of sub screens by searching the pre / post channel numbers.

In the multi-channel PIP ON screen as shown in FIG. 4B, it is determined whether one of the sub-screens is selected by input of an up / down key, and the channel of the selected sub-screen is changed to the channel of the main screen. In addition, the PIP screen is reconfigured as shown in FIG.

Then change the multichannel flag value to 1 to indicate that the multichannel PIP is on.

Through this operation, channels can be conveniently tuned through the PIP screen on which the multi-channel screen is displayed.

The invention can be practiced as a method, apparatus, system, or the like. When implemented in software, the constituent means of the present invention are code segments that necessarily perform the necessary work. The program or code segments may be stored in a processor readable medium or transmitted by a computer data signal coupled with a carrier on a transmission medium or network. Processor readable media includes any medium that can store or transmit information. Examples of processor-readable media include electronic circuits, semiconductor memory devices, ROMs, flash memory, erasable ROM (EROM), floppy disks, optical disks, hard disks, optical fiber media, radio frequency (RF) networks, Etc. Computer data signals include any signal that can propagate over transmission media such as electronic network channels, optical fibers, air, electromagnetic fields, RF networks, and the like.

Specific embodiments shown and described in the accompanying drawings are only to be understood as an example of the present invention, not to limit the scope of the invention, but also within the scope of the technical spirit described in the present invention in the technical field to which the present invention belongs As various other changes may occur, it is obvious that the invention is not limited to the specific constructions and arrangements shown or described.

As described above, according to the present invention, by watching the currently set channel and simultaneously outputting the multi-channel video signals to the PIP screen, and controlling the channel to tune while checking the broadcasting of other channels through the PIP sub-screen, currently watching It is convenient to use while checking the broadcasts of other channels sequentially without changing the channels that exist, and it is possible to tune channels while checking the broadcast signals of adjacent channels on a plurality of sub-screens around the main screen. An effect is generated, as well as an effect that can conveniently change the viewing channel by a simple key operation is generated.

Claims (10)

In the channel selection method, (a) When a predetermined PIP channel selection command is input, a broadcast signal received on a channel currently being viewed is output to the main screen, and a plurality of broadcast signals received on another channel stored according to a predetermined channel arrangement rule are output. Controlling to output to a sub-screen; (b) When one subscreen is selected from the plurality of subscreens, the selected subscreen is changed to the main screen and outputted, and the channels of the subscreen are reconfigured and output according to the predetermined channel arrangement rule. Doing; And and (c) canceling the PIP mode when the predetermined PIP channel release command is input, and tuning and outputting only the broadcast signal received on the channel selected as the main screen. Way. The plurality of sub-screens of claim 1, wherein the predetermined channel arrangement rule searches for the front / rear channel numbers stored around the channel number output as the main screen, and the broadcast signals received with the searched front / rear channel numbers. And a channel tuning control method of a broadcast receiver, characterized in that it is designed to be output to the receiver. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the input key of the predetermined PIP channel selection command and the input key of the predetermined PIP channel release command are designed to use a single key, and the single key is multi-channel PIP ON each time it is input. A channel receiver control method for a broadcast receiver, characterized in that it is programmed to invert / OFF. 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the single key is assigned to a key having a different function, and programmed to determine an input command at a time when the keys are continuously input. In the channel selection method, (a) determining whether a predetermined channel change command is input; (b) When the predetermined channel change command is input as a result of the determination of step (a), if the multi-channel PIP ON state is indicated by checking the value of the multi-channel determination flag, the state is shifted to the multi-channel PIP OFF state. When the channel PIP OFF state is indicated, the multi-channel PIP ON state is transmitted, and the broadcast signal received through the channel currently being viewed is output to the main screen, and the broadcast signals received through the other channels stored in accordance with the predetermined channel arrangement rule are outputted according to a predetermined channel arrangement rule. Controlling to output to the screen; (c) determining whether one subscreen is selected from the plurality of subscreens; and (d) changing the subscreen selected in step (c) to the main screen and outputting the main screen, and controlling to reconfigure and output the channels of the subscreen according to the predetermined channel arrangement rule. Channel channel control method of receiver. The plurality of sub-screens of claim 5, wherein the predetermined channel arrangement rule searches for the front / rear channel numbers stored around the channel numbers output as the main screen, and the broadcast signals received with the searched front / rear channel numbers. And a channel tuning control method of a broadcast receiver, characterized in that it is designed to be output to the receiver. 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the control unit changes the value of the multi-channel determination flag to a value indicating a multi-channel PIP OFF state when the multi-channel PIP OFF state is changed. In the channel tuning apparatus, Two tuners (first and second tuners), each of the first and second tuners are broadcast receiver for tuning and outputting the broadcast signal of the channel set by the channel selection control signal each independently; First and second image processing units configured to signal-process and output image signals included in the broadcast signals output from the first and second tuners, respectively, according to a predetermined signal processing standard; A memory for storing a signal output from the second image processor; A PIP processing unit for inputting the video signals output from the first and second video processing units and the video signals read from the memory and editing the input video signals to be displayed on a main screen and a plurality of sub-screens according to a PIP control signal; A switching unit for inputting signals processed by the first image processing unit and the PIP processing unit to select and output one input signal according to a switching control signal; And According to the read result by reading the inputted key commands, the broadcast signal received on the channel currently being watched is output to the main screen, and the broadcast signals received on the other stored channels are sent to a plurality of sub-screens according to a predetermined channel arrangement rule. And outputting by changing the selected subscreen to the main screen when one subscreen is selected from the plurality of subscreens, and reconfiguring and outputting channels of the subscreen according to the predetermined channel arrangement rule. A control unit for releasing the multi-channel PIP ON mode and the multi-channel PIP mode, and generating various control signals to execute the multi-channel PIP OFF mode for controlling to tune and output only the broadcast signal received on the channel selected as the main screen. Channel tuning device of the broadcast receiver, characterized in that it comprises a. The method of claim 8, wherein in the multi-channel PIP ON mode, a plurality of channel numbers are selected from the stored channel numbers according to a predetermined channel arrangement rule, and one channel is sequentially selected at a predetermined time interval from the selected plurality of channel numbers. A second tuner channel tuning control signal for switching tuning is generated, and each time the tuning of the second tuner is switched, the video signal processed by the second image processing unit is stored in the memory on an output screen basis and stored in the multiple channel video. Generates a recording / reading control signal for controlling the signals to be read, and outputs an image signal output from the first image processor to a main screen of a PIP and outputs a plurality of channel image signals read from the memory to a sub-screen. It generates a PIP control signal for controlling the control, and generates a switching control signal for outputting a signal input from the PIP processing unit When a command for selecting one subscreen from among a plurality of subscreens is input, a first tuner channel tuning control signal for changing the channel of the first tuner to a channel of the selected subscreen is generated. Therefore, a process of generating a new channel tuning control signal of the second tuner is executed. And a controller configured to turn off the PIP processing unit and generate a switching control signal for outputting a signal input from a first image processing unit in the multi-channel PIP OFF mode. . The plurality of sub-screens of claim 8, wherein the predetermined channel arrangement rule searches for the front / rear channel numbers stored around the channel number output as the main screen, and the broadcast signals received at the searched front / rear channel numbers are plural sub-screens. And a channel tuning control device for a broadcast receiver, characterized in that it is designed to be output to the receiver.