KR20070030783A - Channel switching device and channel switching method - Google Patents

Abstract

In the set-top box 41 having the content acquiring unit 411 for receiving the content or reading the received content, the transfer request signal and the skip request signal are acquired based on the user's operation, and the content is returned in response to the transfer request signal. The channel specifying the content received or read by the acquisition unit is switched. When switching channels, in response to a switching request signal, the channels are switched in the order of channel numbers, the channel numbers are displayed, and when a skip request signal is obtained, a group name based on the contents or attribute information related to the channel. Switch channels in order. Thereby, the zapping operation at the time of selecting a desired content from a plurality of contents can be realized by a simple user interface and operation.

Description

Channel Switching Device and Channel Switching Method {CHANNEL SWITCHING DEVICE AND CHANNEL SWITCHING METHOD}

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a channel switching device and a channel switching method for a receiver that displays and outputs Internet distribution content by terrestrial wave, satellite broadcasting, cable TV, Video On Demand (VOD), and the like.

Conventionally, when viewing a television or the like, when a channel or a program to be watched is not determined in advance, the viewer uses a remote controller or the like to turn the channels in numerical order for a short time to watch a program of each channel for a short time, and then the most interesting program. In other words, a zapping operation is performed.

In recent years, however, CS broadcasting has been added to terrestrial broadcasting and BS broadcasting, and the number of channels has increased due to the spread of cable TV and distribution of VOD contents through the Internet. When the number of channels increases in this manner, the zapping operation described above is also difficult.

On the other hand, the technique of supporting the operation of the viewer which selects a desired program, and making a program selection easy is proposed (for example, refer Unexamined-Japanese-Patent No. 2002-335459).

In the technique disclosed in the above document, program information indicating program contents is stored in a storage unit, the program information is retrieved from the storage unit based on a search key input by a user operation such as moving a cursor on the screen, and the content of the retrieved program. Alternatively, the program information is presented to the user in sequence to perform zapping operations.

However, the technique disclosed in the above-mentioned document has a problem that its operation is complicated because a search key is input on the screen. In particular, since delicate operations such as cursor movement and click are involved, it takes a long time to perform the above operations by remote control operation, and there is a problem that the operation is too complicated for the elderly.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a channel switching device and a channel switching method for realizing a zapping operation when selecting a desired content from a plurality of contents by a simple user interface and operation. do.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention, in the content receiver having a content acquisition unit for receiving the content or reading the content from the content accumulation unit for accumulating the received content, the switching request signal and the skip request signal based on the user operation And the channel of the content received or read by the content acquisition unit is switched in response to the transfer request signal.

In particular, when switching a channel, in response to a transfer request signal, the channel is switched in the order of a character string indicating the channel, and a character string indicating the channel is displayed in conjunction with the switching of the channel, and the skip request signal is changed. In the case of acquisition, the channel is switched in the order of a string representing the group by changing to channel switching in units of groups based on the content or attribute information related to the channel.

According to the present invention as described above, it is possible to select whether to switch channels in the order of channel numbers or for each group based on a user's arbitrary operation, and can quickly access a desired program.

In the present invention, it is preferable that the skip request signal is a switching request signal acquired continuously for a predetermined time or more. In this case, for example, by continuously pressing the channel switching button of the remote controller, the switching request signal can be continued to automatically shift from normal switching to skip switching, thereby simplifying the operation.

In the present invention described above, when the acquisition of the skip request signal is interrupted while the character string indicating the group is displayed, it is preferable to switch to the channel representing the displayed group. In this case, it is possible to recognize the reached group immediately by using the representative channel as the representative channel when the skip processing is interrupted.

In the present invention, when the skip request signal is stopped while the character string indicating the group is displayed, and the transfer request signal is acquired within a predetermined time after the interruption, the channels belonging to the displayed group are switched. It is preferable to switch sequentially in the order of the string notation.

In this case, immediately after zapping in group units, only channels belonging to the group can be switched sequentially, detailed selection can be made after selecting a large category, and faster channel switching can be performed.

In the present invention, it is preferable that the channel display unit displays the contents of the changed channel or the contents related to the changed group. In this case, it is possible to display the contents related to the group, for example, a moving picture or a still picture which succinctly shows the contents of the group, and can surely recognize the group during the skip.

1 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of a VOD system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

2 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of a set-top box according to an embodiment of the present invention,

3 is an explanatory diagram showing channel grouping according to an embodiment of the present invention;

4 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of a VOD system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, a case where the channel switching device according to the present invention is applied to a VOD system will be described as an example. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of a VOD system according to the present embodiment.

[Overall Configuration of VOD System]

As shown in FIG. 1, the VOD system is, for example, a system installed in a user's home, and includes a set-top box 41 that receives an end device 100u connected to an IP network 1, a broadcast program, and the like. The monitor device 44 which displays the moving image received by the set top box 41 is provided.

The IP network 1 is a distributed communication network constructed by interconnecting various communication lines (public lines such as telephone lines, ISDN lines, ADSL lines, optical lines, dedicated lines, and wireless communication networks) using the communication protocol TCP / IP. The IP network 1 also includes a LAN such as an intranet (intra-corporate network) or a home network by 10BASE-T or 100BASE-TX. In the embodiment of the present invention, the content distribution server 11, the content database server 12, and the distribution management server 13 are disposed on the IP network 1.

 The content delivery server 11 is a server computer that transmits content such as HTML (HyperText Markup Language) files, image files, music files, or the like in a document system such as the World Wide Web (WWW), in addition to video streaming distribution using the VOD method. It is software having such a function, and distributes the content data accumulated in the content database server 12 via the IP network 1 in accordance with a request from the set-top box 41.

The distribution management server 13 collects information about cable TV, terrestrial broadcasting, satellite broadcasting, contents distribution program contents by the content distribution server 11, broadcasting time, broadcasting channel, data address, and the like, and the contents or channel. A server device for generating related attribute information and transmitting the generated attribute information to the set top box 41.

The terminating device 100u is a device for connecting a terminal device such as a personal computer or an IP telephone to the IP network 1, and the modulation and demodulation and ADSL lines for mutual conversion of digital data and voice signals when connecting to a telephone line. The signal conversion for converting the ADSL signal and the LAN line is performed at the time of connection to. In addition, the terminator 100u has a VoIP function for converting a voice signal and an IP packet, and an IP telephone can be made using the telephone terminal 70u connected thereto.

The monitor device 44 can use a TV receiver, a display of a personal computer, or the like, and outputs the content received and accumulated by the set top box 41.

The set-top box 41 receives, accumulates and selectively monitors contents distributed through a receiving antenna 42, a cable TV station, and additionally an IP network 1 for receiving contents broadcast by terrestrial or phase broadcasting waves. The device outputs to the device 44.

2 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration of the set top box 41. First, the set top box 41 includes a content acquisition unit 411 that receives content or accumulates the received content.

In the present embodiment, the content acquisition unit 411 is a cable TV or a reception antenna 42, a reception unit 411a for receiving content from the IP network 1, and an accumulation unit for accumulating content received by the reception unit 411a ( 411b, and outputs the content received by the receiver 411a or the content read out from the accumulation unit 411b to the output switching unit 414. In addition, the receiving unit 411a has a function of receiving channel attribute information distributed by the distribution management server 13 on the IP network 1 and outputting the received channel attribute information to the attribute information obtaining unit 412. .

The output switching unit 414 selectively transmits the content received by the receiving unit 411a or the content read out from the accumulation unit 411b to the output interface 415 based on the channel control by the channel control unit 417. Module.

In this embodiment, the channel means a URL address and file name for specifying the content downloaded from the IP network 1 by VOD, in addition to a channel for receiving content broadcast from a broadcasting station such as terrestrial wave, phase broadcast wave or cable TV. And the content file name downloaded and accumulated in the storage unit 411b.

The output interface 415 is, for example, a module to which the monitor device 44 is connected to perform video or audio output. In the output interface 415, for example, a temporary storage device such as a video buffer may be provided to adjust video output.

The set top box 41 is a module for performing channel switching, and includes a channel control unit 417, a request signal acquisition unit 418, a channel display unit 416, an infrared signal reception unit 419, an attribute information acquisition unit 412, and the like. The grouping part 413 is provided.

The request signal acquiring unit 418 is a module for acquiring a switching request signal and a skip request signal based on a user's operation by the remote controller 43 or the like through the infrared signal receiving unit 419. In this embodiment, the skip request signal is a switching request signal that is continuously acquired for a predetermined time or more, and the request signal acquisition unit 418 measures the time when the switching request signal is continuously received, and skips when it is received for a predetermined time or more. Judging from the signal. The infrared signal receiving unit 419 is a sensor that receives a switching request signal or a skip request signal transmitted from the remote controller 43. The received signal is sent to the request signal acquisition unit 418. In addition, a radio wave receiver or the like may be used instead of the infrared signal receiver.

The channel display unit 416 normally displays a character string (channel number or file name) indicating a channel transferred according to the channel switching by the channel control unit 417, and when skipped, displays the genre name or zapping display data to which the channel belongs. The module to display.

The channel controller 417 is a module for switching a channel received or read by the content acquisition unit 411 in response to a transfer request signal. In general, the channel control unit 417 switches the channels in the order of a character string (channel number or file name) indicating the channel in response to the transfer request signal, and displays the current channel name by the channel display unit 416.

In addition, when the skip request signal is acquired by the request signal acquisition unit 418, the channel control unit 417 sequentially displays a character string indicating a group by the channel display unit 416. In addition, in the present embodiment, the character string indicating a group is a genre name that succinctly indicates program contents. In addition, while the genre name is displayed, skipping between channels representing the genre is performed to display the program of the skipped channel.

In the embodiment of the present invention, it is provided with the acceleration mode function which interrupts switching of a channel by the channel control part 417 and switches only genre name display by the channel display part 416 at the time of a skip process. In the acceleration mode, since the read time by the output switching unit 414 can be omitted, the channel switching operation can be accelerated. In the acceleration mode, the channel control unit 417 performs switching when the skip request signal (continuously received transfer request signal) is interrupted while the genre name is displayed.

In addition, in the acceleration mode, the channel display unit 416 may display zapping display data relating to the channel content or genre. The zapping display data includes a video or audio that can visually identify the genre, is distributed from the distribution management server 13 and is retained in the set top box 41. In this case, since the contents of the program can be visually and audibly recognized while eliminating the reading time by the output switching unit 414, the user's convenience is not impaired while accelerating the channel switching operation.

In addition, the channel control unit 417 stops acquiring the skip request signal while displaying the genre name. If the transfer request signal is acquired within a predetermined time after the interruption, the channel control unit 417 selects the channels belonging to the displayed genres in the order of the channel names. Alternate sequentially.

The attribute information acquisition unit 412 is a module for acquiring, from the delivery management server 13, an attribute table in which the genre and keywords of a program (channel or content) currently broadcasted or distributed in each media are stored. As the contents of the attribute table, for example, the information shown in Table 1 is included.

TABLE 1

media Channel or address Airtime genre keyword Terrestrial Terrestrial Terrestrial BS BS CATV BB BB BB CH1 CH2 CH3 BS1 BS2 CII1 http: //xxxxx.xxxx/xxxx1 http: //xxxxx.xxxx/xxxx2 http: //xxxxx.xxxx/xxxx3 18: 00-18: 30 18: 00-18: 30 18: 00-18: 30 18: 00-18: 30 18: 00-18: 30 18: 00-18: 30 Sports News Variety Education News Movie Drama Sports News Baseball, football, ... politics, stock prices, ... talent A, ... English, ... politics, stock prices, ... actor B, ... actress C, ... player D, .. Politics, stocks, ...

As shown in FIG. 3, the grouping unit 413 divides channels or contents into groups based on attribute tables which are attribute information associated with each program, and lists them in order of program names (channel numbers or contents names). At the same time, the module to determine the representative channel.

This grouping is notified to the channel control section 417, and the channel control section 417 performs channel switching in accordance with the grouping related to the skip processing. Each grouping can be associated with zapping indication data.

The grouping or enumeration in the grouping unit 413, the determination of the representative channel, the group name string, and the zapping display data can be set by a user operation by the remote controller 43. That is, the user can set the conditions of grouping, enumeration, and representative channel by, for example, a keyword.

[Operation of VOD system]

By operating the VOD system having the above structure, the channel switching method of the present invention can be implemented. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the VOD system according to the present embodiment.

First, when the user presses the channel switching button by the remote controller 43 (S201), the channel switching request signal is acquired from the remote controller 43 via the infrared signal receiver 419 by the request signal acquisition unit 418 (S101). ). The channel controller 417 up-downs the channels in order of channel number in response to the switching request signal (S102).

Subsequently, the request signal acquisition unit 418 determines the continuity of the switching request signal (S103). For example, when it is determined that the transfer request signal has not been received continuously for a predetermined time or more, such as when the user presses the short time channel switching button ("N" in step S103), the step S101 is repeated and the channel is switched. Up down in number order.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S103 that the transfer request signal has been received continuously for a predetermined time or more (" Y " in step S103), the skip processing is started as the skip request signal has been received (S104), and the grouping unit 413 In accordance with the group division of, skip between representative channels for each genre. When the acceleration mode is set during the skip processing, the channel switching by the channel control unit 417 is stopped to display only the channel number or the zapping display data.

When the button is stopped by the remote controller 43 during the skip processing (when reception of the transfer request signal is stopped), a channel representing the genre at that time is displayed (S202, S105). At this time, the measurement of the elapsed time since the representative channel is displayed is started.

Thereafter, when the transfer request signal is received from the remote controller 43 again (S203, S106), it is determined whether the elapsed time after the representative channel is displayed is a predetermined time or more (S107). When a predetermined time elapses or more (" Y " in step S107), the processing after S102 is executed as a normal channel switching. On the other hand, when it is determined in step S107 that the predetermined time has not elapsed (" N " in step S107), the skip processing is continued and the switching between the channels belonging to the current genre is switched (S108).

[Change example]

In addition, in the above embodiment, the skip request signal is transmitted by successive switching signals. For example, a skip dedicated button may be provided on the remote controller side, and normal switching and skip switching may be selected by pressing the buttons separately.

[Effects of the present embodiment]

According to the channel switching apparatus and the channel switching method according to the present embodiment described above, it is possible to select whether to switch the channels in the order of channel numbers or for each group based on a user's arbitrary operation, and to quickly access a desired program. Can be.

In addition, in this embodiment, the skip request signal is a switch request signal acquired continuously for a predetermined time or longer, so that the switch request signal is continuously pressed by continuously pressing the channel switch button of the remote controller to automatically switch from normal switching to skip switching. It is possible to simplify the operation.

In addition, in the present embodiment, it is possible to recognize the reached group immediately by using the representative channel as the representative channel at the time when the skip processing is stopped. In addition, since the representative channel can be set in the distribution management server 13, it is possible to present the recommended program on the distribution side.

In addition, in the present embodiment, when the transfer request signal is received again within a predetermined time after the skipping is skipped, the transfer is sequentially performed among the channels belonging to the displayed genre. Therefore, the channel belonging to the genre immediately after the zapping by genre unit is performed. Only bays can be switched sequentially, detailed selections can be made after a large category of selections, and faster channel switching can be performed.

In addition, in the present embodiment, since the channel display unit 416 displays the zapping display data relating to the genre, it is possible to reliably recognize the genre during the skip.

[ Industrial availability ]

According to the present invention, channel switching, skipping, and the like can be performed by the order and continuity of the switching request signal and the skip signal for switching the channel, so that zapping can be performed by a simple user interface and operation.

Claims (7)

A content acquisition unit that receives the content or reads the content from the content accumulation unit that accumulates the received content; A request signal acquisition unit for acquiring a switching request signal and a skip request signal based on a user operation; A channel controller for switching a channel specifying content received or read by the content acquisition unit in response to the transfer request signal; A channel grouping unit for dividing the corresponding channel into groups based on the attribute information related to the channel, and In accordance with the switching of the channel by the channel control unit, a channel display unit for displaying a character string indicating the transferred channel or a character string indicating the group to which the channel belongs; In response to the switching request signal, the channel control unit switches the channel in the character string order for indicating the channel, and displays a character string indicating the switched channel by the channel display unit. And when the skip request signal is acquired, channel switching and display are sequentially performed according to a character string indicating a group by the channel display unit. The channel switching device according to claim 1, wherein the skip request signal is a switching request signal acquired continuously for a predetermined time or more. 2. The channel switching of claim 1, wherein when the acquisition of the skip request signal is interrupted while the character string indicating the group is displayed, the channel control unit switches to a channel representing the group being displayed. Device. The channel control unit according to claim 1, wherein the acquisition of the skip request signal is interrupted while the character string indicating the group is displayed, and the transfer control signal is acquired within a predetermined time after the interruption. Channel switching device, characterized in that for sequentially switching between the belonging channel in the order of the string indicating the channel. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the channel display unit displays contents of the changed channel or contents related to the changed group. A channel switching method in a content receiver including a content acquisition unit that receives content or reads content from a content accumulator that accumulates the received content, A first step of acquiring a switching request signal and a skip request signal based on a user operation, and And a second step of switching a channel specifying content received or read by the content acquisition unit in response to the transfer request signal. In the second step, In response to the transfer request signal, transfer the channel in the character string order of the channel, and display a character string indicating the transferred channel; And when the skip request signal is acquired, the channels are switched in the order of a string representing a group based on the contents or attribute information related to the channel.  7. The channel switching method according to claim 6, wherein the skip request signal is the transfer request signal acquired continuously for a predetermined time or more.

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