KR20060082654A - Method for controlling channel in display device - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a channel switching method in a video device that automatically switches to the nearest adjacent channel when the user selects a channel without a signal when a channel adjustment command is input. As described above, the present invention provides a channel switching method of a video apparatus, in which a broadcast is displayed by automatically switching to the nearest channel of a corresponding channel when there is no broadcast in a corresponding channel to which a channel adjustment command is input. Therefore, when there is no broadcast or terminates in the channel selected by the user, the user can automatically switch to the adjacent channel, and when the user prefers to recognize the channel, the user can easily find it.

Channel switching

Description

Channel switching method in video device {Method for controlling channel in display device}

1 is a block diagram illustrating a video device according to the present invention;

2 is a flowchart for explaining a channel switching method in an imaging apparatus according to the present invention.

* Description of the symbols for the main parts of the drawings *

10 tuner and channel decoder 20 control unit

30: data processing unit 40: display unit

50: audio output unit 60: memory unit

The present invention relates to channel switching in a video device, and more particularly, to a channel switching method in a video device that automatically switches to the nearest adjacent channel when a user selects a channel without a signal when a channel adjustment command is input.

In modern people, electronic devices are used in various ways. Among them, video equipment such as TV is a necessity of modern people, and usually one or more are provided in one household.                         

Currently, analog TVs are being introduced to consumers in various forms, starting with small models such as 14 inches and projection TVs over 60 inches.

However, as the analog TV becomes larger and more functional, digital TV emerges as a part of complementing and revealing various problems such as deterioration of image quality, limitation of broadcasting channel, limitation of unidirectional media, and saturation of analog TV market. It became.

After color TV broadcasting, stereo sound, remote control device, subtitle broadcasting, data broadcasting, etc. have adopted some digital technologies. In the 90's, computer and network technologies have been spreading more rapidly, so that the broadcasting field can realize high-definition and multifunctional TV. The pursuit of digital TV was made.

Broadcasting is a mass media that targets an unspecified number, which is advantageous because it can be compressed like computer data compression because all elements (video, audio, data) are treated digitally.

Therefore, it is possible to transmit one program of HDTV class and three or more programs of SDTV class to one channel, and to enjoy a much clearer screen by digitally transmitting and processing signals.

In addition, the screen overlapping (ghost) phenomenon, in which radio waves are reflected on obstacles, can be solved on its own, and HDTV channels can enjoy realistic screens and stereoscopic sound that were only enjoyed in movie theaters at home.

Digital signal processing of digital TV video and audio becomes the same digital data format, and additional data can be added and sent.

For example, multimedia related services such as information related to the program or real time information such as stocks, exchange rates, weather forecasts, and internet information can be enabled.

The digital TV that has emerged like this has undergone many technological developments, and has reached the stage where a test broadcast or a main broadcast can be performed.

In addition, digital TV is provided with an OSD (On Screen Display) menu screen that is improved compared to analog TV in terms of basic video and audio as well as graphics.

Looking at the current status of digital TV (DTV) broadcasting in Korea, after the pilot broadcast in 2000, the metropolitan area is performing the main broadcast in 2002, the metropolitan area is scheduled for 2004, and all the DTV broadcasting conversion will be completed by 2010. Is expected.

In addition, the process of setting and adjusting the function of the DTV is performed through an OSD (On Screen Display) menu function. The reason for this is that as the configuration and functions of the DTV have recently become more complicated, a description of the functions and configurations is required.

Most of these functions are provided in the form of a manual. However, the OSD menu function makes the use of the OSD menu function more common because users can perform functions more conveniently. In other words, the user can view the help contents of the desired menu item along with the OSD menu on the screen without the hassle of browsing the manual.

In addition, the expected number of channels of digital television is tens of times higher than that of current analog television, and there are about 100 channels in the United States where digital TV is actually broadcast.

Therefore, in digital broadcasting, the provision of tens to hundreds of channels increases the viewer's choice and makes the program selection more complicated.

At present, there are also studies to use such digital TVs in various ways.

One of the results of this study is the preferred channel.

The preference channel is to set a channel preferred by the user for each channel and genre, and there may be a method of separately collecting only channels preferred by the user or collecting preference channels for each genre.

The user determines whether or not to set a preferred channel for the selected channel.

Therefore, when a user wants to switch channels on the current broadcast channel when watching not only digital broadcasting but also over-the-air broadcasting and cable broadcasting, when a user inputs a favorite channel key through a remote controller or a key panel, the channel is switched in the order of the channels.

For example, when the favorite channel specified by the user is CH1, CH7, CH12, CH20, CH25, CH31, CH35, CH44, CH57, if the favorite channel UP key is inputted, CH1-> CH7-> CH12-> CH20-> CH25-> CH31-> CH35-> CH44-> CH57 and the channel is switched in order.If the Down key is pressed, CH57-> CH44-> CH35-> CH31-> CH25-> The channel is switched in the order of CH20-> CH12-> CH7-> CH1.

However, in such a conventional digital TV, when the user does not clearly remember the number of the specific channel that is excessive while channel up / down, for example, the user actually tries to watch the channel 38, which is actually 36 and 37 , No. 38 and No. 39 If there is no broadcast, when the user selects No. 38 there was a problem such as up / down the channel again, or re-enter the number of a specific channel.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and when the channel adjustment command input from the user is a switch command for a channel without a signal, the image device is automatically switched to the nearest adjacent channel. The purpose is to provide a channel switching method.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a channel switching method of a video apparatus, characterized in that the broadcast is displayed by automatically switching to the nearest channel of the corresponding channel when the broadcast does not exist in the corresponding channel to which the channel adjustment command is input. To provide.

In this case, when the channel adjustment command is input, determining whether the automatic channel switching is set or switching the channel when the automatic channel switching is set according to the determination result.

When displaying the broadcast by the automatic switching, it is preferable to display the reason for the automatic switching in a predetermined area of the display unit of the video apparatus.

In addition, when the closest channel is a channel existing in the middle of the upper and lower channels of the channel number to be switched, it is preferable to switch to a channel frequently used by the user of the video apparatus.

Preferably, the channel adjustment command is a case where a specific channel number is input from a remote controller controlling the video device or a local key attached to the video device.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Hereinafter, a channel switching method in an imaging apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a video device according to the present invention.

The TV according to the present invention includes a tuner and a channel decoder 10, a controller 20, a data processor 30, a display 40, a voice output unit 50, and a memory unit 60.

The tuner and channel decoder 10 decodes a tuner for tuning a channel desired by a user and a broadcast signal input through the tuned channel in the form of a transport stream.

The data processor 30 encodes and / or decodes the tuner and the channel decoder 10 to reproduce and store data decoded in the form of a transport stream.

The display unit 40 displays the image and caption data processed by the data processor 30.

The voice output unit 50 outputs the voice data processed by the data processor 30.

The memory unit 60 stores a user's preferred channel, a channel (number) where a broadcast exists, and a channel (number) mainly used by the user among channels other than the preferred channel.

The control unit 20 controls the entire TV including the data processing unit 30, and if a specific channel number is input from the user by using a channel switching command, especially a key button of a remote controller or a local key, there is a broadcast of the channel requesting the switching. Search for and perform the channel change command set by the user according to the result or switch to the adjacent channel if there is no broadcast.

In this case, when the adjacent channel is a channel existing in the middle of the up and down channels of the channel number to be switched, the memory channel 60 is switched to the preferred channel among them, and both the up and down channels are the preferred channels or the preferred channels. If not, switch to a channel frequently used by the user of the video device.

In the TV according to the related art, when a user selects a TV channel using a remote controller or a local key button, the channel decoder of the tuner and the channel decoder 10 decodes a broadcast signal input through the tuned channel into a transport stream. In addition, the data processor 30 outputs the same to the display unit 40 and the audio output unit 50.

2 is a flowchart illustrating a channel switching method in an image device according to the present invention.

In the channel switching method of the video device according to the present invention, if a user inputs a channel adjustment command for inputting a specific channel number using a remote key or a local key attached to the video device (S10), the control unit broadcasts the corresponding channel. It is determined whether there exists (S20).

As a result of the determination (S20), if a broadcast exists in the corresponding channel, the broadcast is displayed by switching to the corresponding channel (S30).

However, in the determination result (S30), if there is no broadcast in the corresponding channel, it is determined whether or not to automatically switch to the adjacent channel (S40). In other words, when the automatic channel switching is set by adding the automatic channel switching menu item of the menu of the video device, the automatic channel switching is performed. Otherwise, the channel without broadcasting is displayed without changing the automatic channel switching.

If the determination result (S40), if the automatic channel switching is set to switch to the adjacent channel to display the corresponding broadcast, and display the reason for switching ('no broadcast', 'end of broadcasting', etc.) (S50). In this case, when the adjacent channel is a channel existing in the middle of the up and down channels of the channel number to be switched, the memory channel 60 is switched to the preferred channel among them, and both the up and down channels are the preferred channels or the preferred channels. If not, switch to a channel frequently used by the user of the video device.

However, if it is determined that the automatic channel switching is not set (S40), the channel without broadcasting is displayed (S60).

The channel switching method of the video apparatus of the present invention described above has the following effects.

First, when there is no broadcast or terminates in the channel selected by the user, the user can automatically switch to the adjacent channel.

Second, if a user misrecognizes a favorite channel, it can be easily found.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

Therefore, the technical scope of the present invention should not be limited to the contents described in the embodiments, but should be defined by the claims.

Claims (5)

If a broadcast does not exist in the corresponding channel to which the channel adjustment command is input, the channel switching method of the video apparatus, characterized by automatically switching to the nearest channel of the corresponding channel to display the broadcast. The method of claim 1, Determining whether the automatic channel switching is set when the channel adjustment command is input; and switching the channel when the automatic channel switching is set according to the determination result. The method of claim 1, And displaying the reason for the automatic switching in a predetermined area of the display unit of the imaging apparatus when displaying the broadcast by the automatic switching. The method of claim 1, And when the closest channel is a channel existing in the middle of the up and down channels of the channel number to be switched, switching to a channel frequently used by the video apparatus user. The method of claim 1, The channel adjustment command is a case of inputting a specific channel number from a remote control for controlling the video device or a local key attached to the video device.

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