KR20040105305A - Recording control method for broadcasting signal - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A method for controlling recording of broadcasting signals is provided to completely record the entire part of a broadcasting program a user wants to record by confirming capacity of a recording medium before the broadcasting program is recorded. CONSTITUTION: A broadcasting program to be recorded is selected(109). The total broadcasting time of the selected broadcasting program is recognized from electronic program guide service, and the quantity of data to be recorded in a recording medium is calculated based on the recognized total broadcasting time(112). The calculated quantity of data is compared to a recordable region of the recording medium(115) and, when the recordable region of the recording medium is insufficient, control for securing a recording region is carried out(119). Control information for controlling recording of the selected broadcasting program is stored(121), and the selected broadcasting program is recorded based on the control information(127).

Description

Recording control method for broadcasting signal

The present invention relates to a broadcast signal recording control method, and more particularly, to recording a broadcast signal using a program guide information service (Electronic Program Guide), checking a remaining capacity of a recording medium to record a broadcast signal. It relates to a control method.

Record media that are easily encountered around us include tapes, hard disks, CDs and DVDs. These recording media are implemented to store various types of signals through many recording devices.

Broadcast signals broadcast through a broadcast channel of a television can also be stored using the recording devices. Recently, information related to a broadcast program to be broadcast through a television broadcast channel has been provided to a consumer in advance through a program guide information service. Therefore, consumers watch a program that they want to watch through the program guide information service or make a reservation recording using a reservation recording function.

FIG. 1 is a control block diagram of a general recording apparatus capable of storing a broadcast program using a program guide information service.

The recording apparatus is provided with a tuner 15 for receiving a broadcast channel signal, a program guide information service, and the like through an antenna. And a memory 10 for storing a program guide information service received through the tuner 15. And a key input unit 20 for inputting a program selection signal or the like by the user.

The display unit 25 is configured to display a program guide information service and various broadcast programs stored in the memory 10 so that a user can watch. The program guide information service received through the tuner 15 is also displayed on the display unit 25.

The recording apparatus includes a control unit 30. The control unit 30 controls the reception of the broadcast signal by the tuner 15, controls the display of the broadcast signal on the display unit 25, and controls the data storage in the memory 10. In addition, the key signal received through the key input unit 20 is decrypted to perform necessary control accordingly.

Under the control of the controller 30, a broadcast program of a specific channel is recorded on a recording medium (not shown) through the recording unit 40. At this time, the user selects a broadcast program to be recorded through the key input unit 20. When a broadcast program to be recorded is selected through the key input unit 20, the controller 30 controls control data required for recording the selected broadcast program, that is, a start time, an end time, a broadcast channel, The total broadcast time information and the like are recorded in the broadcast record information memory 45. The information recorded in the memory 45 is used to control the recording of the broadcast program reserved by the control unit 30.

In addition, the recording unit 40 may be an integral type provided in the recording apparatus or may be a separate type connected separately through the interface 35.

Next, a process of controlling the recording of a broadcast signal in the conventional recording device having the above configuration will be described.

The program guide information service is an information service that informs in advance which broadcast program is to be broadcast before the broadcast starts. The program guide information service includes start time, end time, broadcast channel, and total broadcast time information of a broadcast program.

Therefore, while the tuner 15 is adjusted to receive the broadcast signal, the program guide information service included in the signal received through the antenna is stored in the memory 10 under the control of the controller 30.

Then, when the user requests the program guide information service through the key signal of the key input unit 20, the controller 30 controls the program guide information service stored in the memory 10 to be displayed on the display unit 25. . The user is provided with the program guide information service displayed on the display unit 25, and watches the desired program or sets the scheduled recording of the program.

The reserved broadcast program set by the user is recognized by the controller 30, and the controller 30 reads out the control information about the program to be reserved and recorded in the memory 45. Thereafter, the controller 30 controls the recording to be performed through the recording unit 40 when the broadcast time of the program reserved by the user is reached based on the information stored in the memory 45.

However, the conventional recording apparatus operating as described above knows the time information of the broadcast program to be reserved and recorded, but does not include a method for checking the remaining capacity of the recording medium using the same. Therefore, if the recording time of the broadcast program to be recorded is 1 hour, and the recording capacity of the provided recording medium is 30 minutes, the recording was interrupted in the middle, there was a problem that can not provide a complete broadcast program to the consumer.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a broadcast signal recording control method capable of controlling recording of a broadcast program by checking a recording time of a broadcast program to be reserved and recorded and a recordable capacity of a recording medium based on a program guide information service. have.

1 is a control block diagram of a general broadcast signal recording control apparatus;

2 is an operation flowchart for broadcast signal recording control according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

3 is an exemplary view according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

4 is an operation flowchart for broadcast signal recording control according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

5 is an exemplary view according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

6 is an operation flowchart for broadcast signal recording control according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

7 is an exemplary view according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols on the main parts of the drawings

10: program guide service memory 15: tuner

20: key input unit 25: display unit

30 control unit 35 interface

40: recorder 45: broadcast record information memory

In the broadcast signal recording control method according to the present invention for achieving the above object, a broadcast signal recording control apparatus that can receive a broadcast program guide information service and can check a recordable area of a recording medium: A selection step of selecting; A broadcast signal recording control apparatus capable of receiving a broadcast program guide information service and identifying a recordable area of a recording medium, comprising: a selection step of selecting a broadcast program to be recorded; A calculating step of recognizing the total broadcasting time of the selected broadcasting program from the broadcasting program guide information service and calculating the amount of data to be recorded on the recording medium based on the recognized total broadcasting time; A recording area securing control step of comparing the data amount calculated in the calculating step with the recordable area of the recording medium and performing control to secure the recording area when the recordable area of the recording medium is insufficient; And a recording control step of storing control information for recording control of the selected broadcast program and recording the selected broadcast program based on the control information.

The recording area securing control step may include: a message outputting step of outputting a warning message in response to insufficient recording area; And an erasable data designation step for designating a data erasable area.

The erasable data specifying step is characterized in that it is specified only as necessary for recording the selected program.

The control information stored in the recording control step may include a channel of the selected broadcast program, a start time, and an area to be recorded on the recording medium.

When the broadcast program selected in the selection step is scheduled recording, the recording control step may include monitoring whether the start time of the selected broadcast program is reached.

The calculating step may be obtained by multiplying the bit rate by the total broadcast time.

The selecting step is characterized by selecting a broadcast program in real time broadcasting.

The selecting step may further include an output control step of controlling the output of the selected broadcast program on the PIP screen.

Hereinafter, a broadcast signal recording control method according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The recording apparatus of the present invention is the same as the configuration shown in Fig. 1, but there is a slight difference in the control method for controlling this. Therefore, referring to FIG. 1, the recording apparatus of the present invention is provided with a tuner 15 for receiving a broadcast channel signal, a program guide information service, and the like through an antenna. And a memory 10 for storing a program guide information service received through the tuner 15. And a key input unit 20 for inputting a program selection signal or the like by the user.

The display unit 25 is configured to display a program guide information service and various broadcast programs stored in the memory 10 so that a user can watch. The program guide information service received through the tuner 15 is also displayed on the display unit 25.

The recording apparatus includes a control unit 30. The control unit 30 controls the reception of the broadcast signal by the tuner 15, controls the display of the broadcast signal on the display unit 25, and controls the data storage in the memory 10. In addition, the key signal received through the key input unit 20 is decrypted to perform necessary control accordingly.

When a broadcast program to be recorded is selected through the key input unit 20, the controller 30 broadcasts control data necessary for recording of the selected broadcast program, that is, a start time of a selected broadcast program, a broadcast channel, and the like. The data is recorded in the information memory 45. In the present invention, the memory 45 stores information corresponding to the recordable area of the recording medium. The information is obtained by checking the header information of the recording medium. In addition, information on an erasable data area is also stored in the storage data of the recording medium. This is to save new data while erasing data already stored when the broadcast program to be recorded exceeds the remaining storage available area. The information recorded in the memory 45 in this way is used to control the recording of the broadcast program reserved by the control unit 30.

Under the control of the controller 30, a broadcast program of a specific channel is recorded on a recording medium (not shown) through the recording unit 40. At this time, the user selects a broadcast program to be recorded through the key input unit 20. The recording unit 40 may be an integrated type provided in the recording device, or may be a separate type connected separately through the interface 35.

However, in the present invention, the recording unit 40 is composed of a recording device capable of identifying header information such as TOC (Table of Contents) information of the recording medium. The header information includes the number of information stored, the capacity of each information, the start and end time of each information, and the like. That is, the recording apparatus may use a CD / DVD-R, a CD / DVD-RW, a hard disk, a D-RAM, a flash memory, or the like.

Next, a process of controlling recording of a broadcast signal in the present invention having the above configuration will be described.

2 is an operation flowchart for controlling recording of a broadcast signal according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a display state diagram of a program guide information service for explaining an operation process according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

The controller 30 receives the program guide information service by adjusting the broadcast channel of the tuner 15 and stores it in the memory 10 (step 100). The program guide information service stored in step 100 is various control information for a broadcast program to be broadcast in various broadcast channels.

When there is a broadcast program to reserve recording, the user requests the display of the program guide information service through the key input unit 20 (step 103). When the display of the program guide information service is requested in step 103, the controller 30 reads the program guide information service stored in the memory 10 and displays it on the display unit 25 (step 106). The state thus displayed is shown in FIG.

The user selects a broadcast program to be recorded while checking the program guide information service displayed in step 106. If the user selects a broadcast program for recording (step 109), the controller 30 recognizes the broadcast program selected in step 109. At this time, the recognized information is control information of a broadcast program.

The controller 30 calculates the amount of data to be recorded on the recording medium on the basis of the total broadcast time of the program selected in the step 109 (step 112). That is, the start time and end time of the broadcast program selected from the program guide information service are recognized. In this process, the controller 30 may calculate the total broadcast time of the selected broadcast program and the amount of data to be recorded.

In general, a digital broadcast signal is composed of an MPEG video stream, and the current bit rate (transmission rate) is defined in the video header portion. This rate can vary over time, but is always extracted during decoding. However, in general broadcasting, a fixed bit rate is used, and ATSC uses about 18M bit / second. So a 60-minute program is about,

60 minutes × 60 seconds × 18Mbit = 64800M bit = 8.1GByte capacity is required.

If the user selects the movie program "EVERYDAY" of channel 44, hatched in the program guide information service of FIG. 3, since the broadcast time is one hour, if the bit rate is the same as the ATSC, the 8.1GByte It is recognizable that capacity is needed.

In this process, the control unit 30 calculates the amount of data to be recorded in step 112 and compares it with the remaining capacity of the recording medium (step 115). In step 115, the remaining capacity of the recording medium should be known to the controller 30. As described above, since the present invention is performed with respect to a recording medium and a recording apparatus capable of recognizing the TOC portion of the recording medium, the control unit 30 performs a control to confirm the TOC of the recording medium. In addition, it is determined whether the program to be reserved and recorded is sufficiently recordable in comparison with the remaining capacity of the recording medium.

When the recording space of the program to be reserved and recorded is not enough in the remaining capacity of the recording medium in step 115, the controller 30 outputs a warning message for exceeding the capacity for notifying the user (step 118). . In the step 118, the controller 30 outputs a message corresponding to a capacity exceeded, an amount exceeded, and the like to the display unit 25. It is also desirable to check the data already stored and output a message asking whether it is possible to overwrite or erase the data. Of course, in case of overwriting or erasing of data, erasing can be performed only as much as necessary for recording. It is also possible to set the priority of data which is irrelevant even if overwritten. That is, the control unit 30 performs the control necessary to secure enough space to store the reserved recorded program. Then, a necessary space is secured through the user's confirmation of overwriting and erasing (step 119).

When enough space is available to store the reserved recording program in this manner, the controller 30 stores the channel, start time, area to be recorded on the recording medium, etc. of the selected broadcast program in the broadcast recording information memory 45. (Step 121). In particular, in step 121, a recording area of a recording medium on which the broadcast program is to be recorded is allocated in advance. For example, in the case where the recording medium for recording data is a hard disk, allocating storage space in advance is very convenient for information storage and information retrieval.

The controller 30 monitors whether the current time reaches the start time of the selected broadcast program based on the control information stored in the memory 45 (step 124). The broadcast signal recorder 40 is controlled to record the reserved broadcast program on a recording medium (not shown). At this time, the recording of the broadcast program is stored in the recording area allocated in step 121 above.

That is, according to the first embodiment of the present invention, when recording a broadcast signal, the remaining capacity of the recording medium and the capacity of the broadcast program to be recorded are checked in advance to control the recording of the broadcast program. A recording area of a recording medium for recording a broadcast program is allocated in advance. With such control, the first embodiment of the present invention prevents incomplete recording due to lack of recording capacity.

Next, FIG. 4 is a control process diagram for recording a broadcast signal according to a second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is an operation state diagram according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

A second embodiment of the present invention is a control process diagram performed when a user wants to record a broadcast program currently being viewed in real time while watching a specific broadcast program.

The controller 30 receives a program guide information service by adjusting a broadcast channel of the tuner 15 and stores the program guide information service in the memory 10. The stored program guide information service is various control information for a broadcast program to be broadcast in various broadcast channels.

On the other hand, the user selects the broadcast program he wants to watch through the key input unit 20, the controller 30 recognizes the broadcast program selected by the user to adjust the channel frequency of the tuner 15. The broadcast signal received through the tuner 15 is displayed on the display unit 25 after the predetermined signal processing under the control of the control unit 30 (step 200).

In a state in which a broadcast program is output in real time in step 200, the controller 30 monitors whether a key signal for recording is input from the key input unit 20 (step 203).

When a signal for recording is input from the user in step 203, the controller 30 recognizes control information stored in the program guide information service memory 10 with respect to a broadcast program currently in an output state (step 206). .

The controller 30 then calculates the amount of data to be recorded on the recording medium based on the total broadcast time of the program selected in step 206 (step 209). That is, it recognizes the start time and end time of the broadcast program selected from the program guide information service. In this process, the controller 30 can calculate the total broadcast time of the selected broadcast program and the amount of data to be recorded (this process is the same as in the first embodiment of the present invention).

In this process, the controller 30 calculates the amount of data to be recorded in step 209 and compares it with the remaining capacity of the recording medium (step 212). In step 212, the remaining capacity of the recording medium must be known to the controller 30. As described above, since the present invention is performed with respect to a recording medium and a recording apparatus capable of recognizing the TOC portion of the recording medium, the control unit 30 performs a control to confirm the TOC of the recording medium. In addition, it is determined whether the program to be reserved and recorded is sufficiently recordable in comparison with the remaining capacity of the recording medium.

In the remaining capacity of the recording medium in step 212, if the recording space of the program to be recorded is not enough, the controller 30 outputs a warning message for exceeding the capacity to inform the user (step 215). In step 215, the controller 30 outputs a message corresponding to a capacity exceeded, an amount exceeded, and the like to the display unit 25. It is also desirable to check the data already stored and output a message asking whether it is possible to overwrite or erase the data. Of course, in case of overwriting or erasing of data, erasing can be performed only as much as necessary for recording. It is also possible to set the priority of data which is irrelevant even if overwritten. That is, the controller 30 performs the control necessary to secure enough space for storing the broadcast program. The required space is secured through the user's confirmation of overwriting and erasing (step 218).

When enough space is secured to store the broadcast program in this process, the controller 30 controls the broadcast signal recording unit 40 to record the broadcast program in the current output state on a recording medium (not shown). (Step 221).

As described above, the second embodiment of the present invention is characterized by recording (recording) a broadcast program currently in a broadcast state in real time. Even in this case, the present invention controls the recording of a program by checking the total broadcast time and data amount of the broadcast program based on the control information included in the program guide information service, and checking the remaining storage space of the recording medium. There is a characteristic.

As an embodiment of recording a broadcast program broadcast in real time as described above, the following control is also possible.

As shown in FIG. 5, when the broadcast time by a scroll bar is displayed among the display information of the broadcast program currently displayed on the display part 25, it is also possible to control recording based on this information. That is, since information on the currently displayed time is displayed for the scroll bar and the entire time, the total broadcast time, the current broadcast time, the time to be broadcasted, etc. are checked using the control information of the scroll bar, and the recording medium is recorded. It is also possible to control the recording of the broadcast program by comparing the possible areas.

Next, FIG. 6 is a process chart for controlling the recording of a broadcast program according to the third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 7 is an exemplary view illustrating the operation according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

The controller 30 receives the program guide information service by adjusting the broadcast channel of the tuner 15 and stores it in the memory 10 (step 300). The stored program guide information service is various control information for a broadcast program to be broadcast in various broadcast channels.

When the user wants to receive the program guide information, the user requests the display of the program guide information service through the key input unit 20 (step 303). When the display of the program guide information service is requested in step 303, the controller 30 reads the program guide information service stored in the memory 10 and displays it on the display unit 25 (step 306).

The user identifies a broadcast program to be broadcast for each channel through the program guide information service displayed in step 306. When it is desired to check the broadcast program displayed in step 306 on the actual broadcast screen, a PIP screen output is requested (step 309).

If the PIP screen output is requested in step 309, in the case of a broadcast program currently broadcasting in real time, the real time broadcast output is controlled and output as the PIP screen output (step 312). However, in the case of a broadcast program that is not currently in a real-time output state, display information (representative screen information of the program) included in the program guide information service is output.

When the PIP screen output of the program selected in step 312 is performed, the program guide information service displayed in step 306 is also configured on one screen. The screen configuration state at this time is shown in FIG. That is, as shown in Fig. 7, the broadcast program in the broadcast state is output to the PIP screen 60a in real time, and the PIP screens 60b and 60c of other broadcast programs are also output. The program guide information service 70 is displayed on a part of the screen.

When the screen is configured as described above, the user checks a program and selects a broadcast program to be recorded. If the user selects a broadcast program for recording (step 315), the controller 30 recognizes the broadcast program selected in step 315. At this time, the recognized information is control information included in the program guide information service.

The control unit 30 calculates the amount of data to be recorded on the recording medium based on the total broadcast time of the program selected in step 315 (step 318). That is, it recognizes the start time and end time of the broadcast program selected from the program guide information service. In this process, the controller 30 may calculate the total broadcast time of the selected broadcast program and the amount of data to be recorded (this process is the same as in the first embodiment).

In this process, the controller 30 calculates the amount of data to be recorded in step 318 and compares it with the remaining capacity of the recording medium (step 321). In step 321, the controller 30 needs to know the remaining capacity of the recording medium. As described above, since the present invention is performed with respect to a recording medium and a recording apparatus capable of recognizing the TOC portion of the recording medium, the control unit 30 performs a control to confirm the TOC of the recording medium. In addition, it is determined whether the program to be recorded is sufficiently recordable by comparing with the remaining capacity of the recording medium.

In the remaining capacity of the recording medium in step 321, if the recording space of the program to be recorded is not enough, the controller 30 outputs a warning message for exceeding the capacity to inform the user (step 324). In step 324, the controller 30 outputs a message corresponding to an excess capacity, an excess capacity, and the like to the display unit 25. It is also desirable to check the data already stored and output a message asking whether it is possible to overwrite or erase the data. Of course, in case of overwriting or erasing of data, erasing can be performed only as much as necessary for recording. It is also possible to set the priority of data which is irrelevant even if overwritten. That is, the controller 30 performs the control necessary to secure enough space for storing the program to be recorded. The necessary space is secured through the user's confirmation of overwriting and erasing (step 327).

If enough space is secured to store a program to be recorded by this process, the controller 30 checks whether the selected broadcast program is a program currently in a broadcast state (step 330).

When the condition of the step 330 is not satisfied, the controller 30 stores information such as a channel, a start time, and the like of the selected broadcast program in the broadcast recording information memory 45 (step 333).

The controller 30 monitors whether the current time reaches the start time of the selected broadcast program based on the control information stored in the memory 45 (step 336). In operation 337, the broadcast signal recording unit 40 is controlled to record the reserved broadcast program on a recording medium (not shown).

However, when the condition is satisfied in step 330, that is, when the selected broadcast program is in the current broadcast state, the controller 30 controls the broadcast signal recording unit 40 to record the selected broadcast program on the recording medium. Of course, at this time, the display output state as shown in FIG. 7 is continuously controlled by the display unit 25.

As described above, the method of controlling recording of a broadcast program according to the third embodiment of the present invention includes a shortage of storage space for real-time broadcast programs in a state in which a broadcast program selected by a user is output on a PIP screen in a program guide information service screen output state. Its feature is that it can be controlled without saving. With such control, the present invention can control the desired broadcast program to be stored as desired without running out of the recording area.

In addition, the present invention stores a start time, a channel, a recording area of a recording medium, and erasable data information. Therefore, the end time, the total broadcast time information, and the like do not need to be recorded in the broadcast record information memory as conventionally.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the technical spirit of the present invention. Therefore, the technical scope of the present invention should not be limited to the contents described in the detailed description of the specification but should be defined by the claims.

In the broadcast signal recording control method according to the present invention described above, since the recordable capacity of the recording medium is checked before the recording or recording of a specific broadcast program, the user records without incomplete recording due to the lack of the recording capacity. Alternatively, it is possible to always completely record the program to be recorded. Furthermore, the present invention controls the storage capacity to be secured, such as designating an overwriteable area when the recording capacity is insufficient, thereby achieving an effect such as increased satisfaction due to improved product performance.

Claims (8)

A broadcast signal recording control apparatus provided with a broadcast program guide information service and capable of identifying a recordable area of a recording medium: A selection step of selecting a broadcast program to be recorded; A calculating step of recognizing the total broadcasting time of the selected broadcasting program from the broadcasting program guide information service and calculating the amount of data to be recorded on the recording medium based on the recognized total broadcasting time; A recording area securing control step of comparing the data amount calculated in the calculating step with the recordable area of the recording medium and performing control to secure the recording area when the recordable area of the recording medium is insufficient; And a recording control step of storing control information for recording control of the selected broadcast program and recording the selected broadcast program on the basis of the control information. The method of claim 1, The recording area securing control step may include: a message outputting step of outputting a warning message in response to insufficient recording area; And an erasable data designation step of designating a data erasable region. The method of claim 2, The erasable data designation step is specified only as necessary for recording the selected program. The method of claim 1, And the control information stored in the recording control step includes a channel of a selected broadcast program, a start time, and an area to be recorded on a recording medium. The method of claim 1, When the broadcast program selected in the selecting step is reserved recording, The recording control step includes a step of monitoring whether the start time of the selected broadcast program comprises a broadcast signal recording control method. The method of claim 1, And the calculating step is obtained by multiplying the bit rate by the total broadcast time. The method of claim 1, The selecting step is a broadcast signal recording control method, characterized in that for selecting a broadcast program in real time broadcasting. The method of claim 1, The selecting step further comprises an output control step of controlling the output of the selected broadcast program on the PIP screen.