KR20040066593A - Method for automatic setting volume and image quality by channel of personal video recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A method for automatically adjusting volume and quality set values by channel of a PVR(Personal Video Recorder) is provided to realize volume and quality wanted by a user regardless of strength and characteristics of signals inputted to a receiver. CONSTITUTION: A CPU judges whether volume and quality set values are changed. If so, the CPU judges whether the changed volume and quality set values are to be stored(S10,S20). In the case that a user selects to store the volume and quality set values, the adjusted volume and quality set values are stored on a hard disk(S30). It is judged whether the user changes an input terminal or channel(S40). If so, the CPU judges the existence of volume and quality set values stored on the hard disk(S50). If so, volume and quality of the selected input terminal or channel are adjusted by the stored values(S60). If not, volume and quality of the selected input terminal or channel are adjusted by basic values(S70).

Description

Automatic adjustment of volume and quality setting value by channel of PVR device {METHOD FOR AUTOMATIC SETTING VOLUME AND IMAGE QUALITY BY CHANNEL OF PERSONAL VIDEO RECORDER}

The present invention relates to a method for automatically adjusting volume and image quality setting values for each channel of a PVR device, and more particularly, after the volume and image quality setting values set for each input terminal and channel are stored in the PVR device. When selected, it automatically adjusts the stored volume and quality settings so that the user can watch the desired volume and quality regardless of the signal strength and characteristics of the receiver. It is about.

Generally, a personal video recorder (PVR) device is digital in real time, unlike receiving a signal from a broadcast signal transmitted from a broadcasting station or a device such as a television and storing an analog signal on a cassette tape. Personal information that converts information, compresses the digital data to hard disk (HD), which is a mass storage device built into the device, and saves it by MPEG2 method, and then reads the stored recording information and sends the decoded image to the display device in real time. It is a video recording and playback device.

This general PVR apparatus will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 as follows.

1 is a system configuration diagram in which a general PVR device is installed.

As shown here, the PVR apparatus 20 performs a function of receiving and reproducing over-the-air broadcast signals transmitted from a broadcasting station through the aerial antenna 21, or recording them later when requested by a user. Then, various kinds of point-to-point (PPP) information about a broadcast schedule is transmitted from a broadcasting station using a communication line through a telephone line. In addition, the PVR apparatus 20 is connected to the cable converter 40 to receive various cable broadcast signals transmitted from the cable broadcasting station 41. In this case, the type of cable converter 40 connected to the PVR device 20 is preset in the setup mode of the PVR device 20. The cable converter 40 receives the cable broadcast signal applied from the cable broadcasting station 41 and processes the signal, and applies the AV (Audio / video) signal thus obtained to the PVR device 20. The PVR device 20 records broadcast information when a user requests through an AV signal applied from the cable converter 40.

For example, when a user wants to record a video while watching a cable broadcast, the user presses a number and a record button of a broadcast channel to be recorded through an operation panel (not shown) provided in the PVR device 20. In addition, when scheduled recording of a broadcast to be watched is pressed through the operation panel of the PVR device 20, the number and broadcast time of the broadcast channel to be recorded are pressed. At this time, the PVR device 20 transmits the broadcast recording request information input by the user to the IR transmitter 50 when the recording button is input or the scheduled broadcast time arrives. The IR transmitter 50 transmits the broadcast recording request information set by the user as a remote controller to a cable converter 40 and the cable converter 40 includes a remote controller receiver (not shown). The cable broadcasting signal of the channel received through the IR transmitter 50 is output to the PVR device 20. The PVR device 20 records and plays back a cable broadcast signal of a selected channel in real time through an AV signal applied from the cable converter 40. The video signal output from the PVR device 20 is input to the TV 10 so that the user can watch the image reproduced through the TV 10 in real time.

2 is a block diagram illustrating a general PVR device.

As shown here, the functions of the PVR apparatus 20 can be largely classified. As a first function, after receiving and playing an airwave broadcasting signal transmitted from a broadcasting station through the air antenna 21, or recording a user's request, The second function is to reproduce the AV signal received from the cable broadcasting station 41 through the cable converter 40 as a second function.

First, as an element related to the first function of reproducing and recording an airwave broadcasting signal, the public antenna 21, the tuner unit 24, the signal encoder 34, the MPEG encoder 25, the MPEG decoder 27, There is a video processor 28, an A / V switching unit 29, a CPU 30, a hard disk 26, a ROM 31, a RAM 32, and a modem 33.

The CPU 30, which is a system controller, has a function of controlling the entire system by being connected to control lines that control each component. The ROM 31 is a part in which a driven program is stored. As the program is executed, the operation of the device is performed.

The tuner 24 tunes the broadcast signal input through the antenna 21 and tunes to a desired specific frequency under the control of a system controller (not shown), thereby allowing the video input processor 35 and the audio input processor 36 to tune. Output AV signal through The output AV signal is input to the MPEG encoder 25 and the A / V converter 29, which are signal processing units 34. When the AV signal is input to the MPEG encoder 25, the AV signal is a path for playback after recording. When directly input to the switching unit 29 is a path for direct reproduction.

At this time, the video input processing unit 35 adjusts the video quality by adjusting the input video signal, and the audio input processing unit 36 adjusts the volume of the input audio signal.

As an element for reproduction after recording, the MPEG encoder 25, which is a signal processor 34, converts an analog broadcast signal into a digital signal by embedding an analog digital converter (ADC). In other words, the MPEG encoder 25 receives the AV signal from the tuner unit 24, digitizes it in real time, codes it into compressed MPEG data, and outputs it to the hard disk 26, which is a storage location for storing MPEG data.

In addition, the MPEG decoder 27 receives the MPEG data stored in the hard disk 26 and decodes the signal to generate an image signal. That is, the MPEG decoder 27 incorporates a digital analog converter (DAC) to convert digital data stored in the hard disk 26 into an analog signal. The analog signal converted by the MPEG decoder 27 is output to the A / V switching unit 29.

On the other hand, the video processor 28, which is a signal processor 34, composes a screen other than a broadcast screen such as a reservation recording function and outputs the screen to the A / V switch unit 29. In addition, the video processor 28 has a picture-in-picture (PIP) function to simultaneously output two screens on one screen of the TV, or has an alpha-blending function to translucent the image together. Subtitles may be output on the screen of the TV 10.

At this time, the A / V switching unit 29 synthesizes an analog signal from the MPEG decoder 27 and a screen other than the broadcast screen from the video processor 28 and outputs it to the input terminal of the TV 10.

The PVR apparatus 20 generally includes a function of displaying broadcast programming information to a user in order to provide a recording function. A modem 33 is connected to a communication connection line via a telephone line and is required for scheduled recording from a broadcasting station. It is responsible for receiving information. The transmitted broadcast program information is temporarily stored in the RAM 32 and then outputs the stored broadcast information to the video processor 28 under the control of the CPU 30. The RAM 32 also functions as a temporary storage location for storing data necessary during program execution.

In the following, the components related to the second function of the PVR apparatus 20 for reproducing the AV signal received from the cable broadcasting station 41 through the cable converter 40 will be described.

The external device AV signal input terminal 23 is a terminal for receiving an AV signal from the cable converter 40. The AV signal input terminal 23 connects the video input processor 35 and the audio input processor 36 to an AV signal applied from the cable converter 40. It receives through the input and outputs to the A / V switching unit (29). The A / V switching unit 29 selects the video input from the external device AV signal input terminal 23 under the control of the CPU 30, and outputs the selected cable broadcast signal to the TV 10.

As described above, the A / V switching unit 29 includes an AV signal for direct playback applied from the tuner unit 24, a recorded analog broadcast signal applied from the MPEG decoder 27, and an AV signal input terminal of an external device ( 23, one of the AV signals applied from the cable converter 40 is selectively processed. That is, the A / V switching unit 29 selects one video signal from the three video signals input under the control of a central processing unit (CPU) 30.

Finally, the external device control port 22 is a port connected to the IR transmitter 50, and transmits the recording request information set by the user to the IR transmitter 50 under the control of the CPU 30.

The conventional PVR apparatus having such a configuration and operation records several channels of over-the-air broadcasts transmitted from broadcasting stations and cables of several channels transmitted from cable broadcasting stations 41.

However, when the AV signal transmitted from the over-the-air broadcasting station input through the tuner unit 24 and the AV signal transmitted from the cable broadcasting station 41 input through the external device AV signal input terminal 23 are received. The strength and characteristics are different, and the signal strength and characteristics are different for each channel. Therefore, when changing the input terminal or changing the channel, the same volume and quality settings set in the previous input terminal and the previous channel are applied. In some channels, the sound is very loud, while in some channels, the sound is very small, as well as the quality and quality are different.

Therefore, in this case, the user adjusts to the desired volume or image quality setting to watch. However, if the user changes to another input terminal or channel and then changes to the corresponding input terminal or channel again, the user must change the volume and image quality setting again to the desired volume. And there is a problem that can be viewed in image quality.

The present invention was created to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to store the volume and image quality setting values set for each input terminal and channel in a PVR device, and then automatically when the corresponding input terminal and channel are selected. The present invention provides a method for automatically adjusting volume and image quality setting values for each channel of a PVR device that allows a user to watch at a desired volume and quality regardless of the strength and characteristics of a signal received by the receiver.

1 is a system configuration diagram in which a general PVR device is installed.

2 is a block diagram illustrating a general PVR device.

3 is a flowchart illustrating a method for automatically adjusting volume and image quality setting values for respective channels of a PVR device according to the present invention.

-Explanation of symbols for the main parts of the drawings-

10: TV 20: PVR device

21: antenna 22: external device control port

23: AV signal input terminal of external device

24: Tuner part 25: MPEG encoder

26: hard disk 27: MPEG decoder

28: video processor 29: A / V switching unit

30: CPU 31: ROM

32: RAM 33: Modem

34: signal processor 35: video input processor

36: audio input processor 40: cable converter

41: cable broadcasting station 50: IR transmitter

According to the present invention for realizing the above object, the AV signal is converted into digital information in real time, compressed and stored in a built-in mass storage device, and the stored recording information is read and decoded in real time to the display device. In the transmitting PVR device, determining whether the volume or image quality setting value is changed, determining whether to select storage when the volume or image quality setting value is changed, and when the storage is selected, adjusted according to the input terminal and channel. Storing the volume and image quality setting values; determining whether the input terminal or channel is changed; determining whether the volume and image quality setting values are stored according to the corresponding input terminal and channel when the input terminal or channel is changed; If the volume and quality settings according to the channel are stored, the volume and Adjusting the image quality and if not stored, characterized in that the step consisting of adjusting the volume and image quality according to the default setting value.

If the storage is not selected after changing the volume or image quality setting values set above, the method may further include a step of returning to determining whether the input terminal or the channel has been changed without storing the changed value.

In addition, when the input terminal or the channel is not changed, the method further comprises the step of returning to the step of determining whether the volume or image quality setting value has changed.

Further, in the step of storing the volume and image quality setting value adjusted according to the input terminal and the channel, the volume and image quality setting value are stored in the hard disk according to the input terminal and the channel.

When the user adjusts the volume and image quality while watching TV through the PVR device, the present invention made as described above stores the volume and image quality setting values adjusted according to the input terminal and the channel, and then selects the corresponding input terminal and the channel again. By adjusting the volume and image quality automatically according to the volume and image quality setting values, the user can watch the desired volume and image quality regardless of the strength and characteristics of the received signal.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In addition, the present embodiment is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention, but is presented by way of example only and the same parts as in the conventional configuration using the same reference numerals and names.

3 is a flowchart illustrating a method for automatically adjusting volume and image quality setting values for respective channels of a PVR device according to the present invention.

First, the user inputs through an AV signal or an external device AV signal input terminal 23 transmitted from an airwave broadcasting station input through the tuner unit 24 while selecting and watching an input terminal and a channel through the PVR device shown in FIG. 2. If a difference in volume and image quality occurs according to the strength and characteristics of the AV signal received from the cable broadcasting station 41, the user sets his or her desired volume and image quality (S10).

Then, the video signal is output from the signal processor 34 to the video input processor 35 and the audio input processor 36 to output a video control signal for adjusting the picture quality and an audio control signal for adjusting the size of the audio signal. The audio signal is adjusted to allow the user to watch at the desired volume and quality.

Then, the CPU 30 determines whether the volume and image quality setting value has changed, and when the volume and image quality setting value is changed, it is checked whether to store the value (S20).

Thus, in this case, when the user selects save to store the adjusted volume and image quality setting values, the volume and image quality setting values adjusted according to the current input terminal and channel are stored in the hard disk 26 (S30).

After that, it is determined whether the user changes the input terminal or the channel (S40).

Thus, if the user does not change the input terminal or channel, it is determined whether the user adjusts the volume or image quality continuously, but if the user changes the input terminal or channel, it is stored in the hard disk 26 according to the corresponding input terminal and channel. It is determined whether there is a value (S50).

If the volume and image quality setting values corresponding to the selected input terminal and channel are stored in the hard disk 26, the volume and image quality of the selected input terminal and channel are adjusted according to the stored values (S60).

However, if the volume and image quality setting values corresponding to the selected input terminal and channel are not stored in the hard disk 26, the volume and image quality of the selected input terminal and channel are adjusted according to the basic setting values (S70).

Meanwhile, the volume and the image quality may be adjusted by the volume and the image quality setting values set in the input terminal and the channel before the change to the basic setting value.

As described above, the present invention stores the volume and image quality setting values set for each input terminal and channel in the PVR device, and when the corresponding input terminal and channel is selected, the receiver automatically adjusts to the stored volume and image quality setting values. Regardless of the strength and characteristics of the signal, there is an advantage that the user can watch at a desired volume and quality.

Claims (4)

In a PVR device that receives an AV signal, converts it into digital information in real time, compresses and stores it in a built-in mass storage device, reads out the recorded recording information, and transmits the decoded image to a display device in real time. Determining whether the volume or image quality setting has changed; Determining whether to select storage when the volume or image quality setting value is changed; Storing the volume and image quality setting values adjusted according to the input terminal and the channel when the storage is selected; Determining whether an input terminal or a channel has been changed, Determining whether the volume and image quality setting values are stored according to the corresponding input terminal and channel when the input terminal or channel is changed; Adjusting the volume and the image quality according to the stored value when the volume and the image quality setting value according to the input terminal and the channel is stored, and adjusting the volume and the image quality by the default setting value if not stored Automatically adjusting the volume and image quality setting value for each channel of the PVR device, characterized in that consisting of. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step of returning to the step of determining whether the input terminal or the channel has been changed without storing the changed value if the storage is not selected after changing the set volume or image quality setting value. Automatically adjusting the volume and image quality setting value for each channel of the PVR device characterized in that it further comprises. The method of claim 1, wherein if the input terminal or the channel is not changed, the method returns to the step of determining whether the volume or image quality setting value has changed. Automatically adjusting the volume and image quality setting value for each channel of the PVR device characterized in that it further comprises. The channel of claim 1, wherein the volume and image quality setting values are stored in the hard disk according to the input terminal and the channel in the step of storing the volume and image quality setting values adjusted according to the input terminal and the channel. Automatic adjustment of volume and quality settings.