KR20070118736A - Method for controlling a recording image quality in broadcasting recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

A method for adjusting a recording image quality in a broadcasting recording appliance is provided to employ an automatic recording image quality adjusting function and a manual recording image quality adjusting function to adjustably change the recording image quality on the basis of a reference bit rate. If a recording mode is selected, a recording image quality mode and a reference bit rate are received so that mode setting is performed, and it is determined if an automatic recording image quality adjusting function is selected(S10,S11). If the automatic recording image quality adjusting function is selected, the image quality of a received broadcasting signal is analyzed(S13). If the image quality of the received broadcasting signal is lower than image quality representing the reference bit rate, the recording image quality of the broadcasting signal is adjusted to the image quality of the reference bit rate(S14,S15).

Description

Method for controlling a recording image quality in broadcasting recorder

1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a broadcast recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

2 is an exemplary view showing a recording quality mode setting screen and a recording quality (Bitrate) selection screen according to the present invention.

Figure 3 is an exemplary view showing a recording quality (Bitrate) change selection screen according to the present invention.

4 is a flowchart illustrating a method for varying recording quality in a broadcast recording apparatus according to the present invention.

Explanation of symbols on the main parts of the drawings

       10 tuner 11 signal processing unit

       12: MPEG decoder 13: micom

       14: memory 15: OSD generating unit

       16: HDD record system

The present invention relates to a method for varying the recording quality in a broadcast recording apparatus. For example, in various types of broadcasting recording apparatuses such as a set-top box equipped with a hard disk recorder, the user directly selects the recording quality or automatically broadcasts a signal. The present invention relates to a method for varying the recording quality of a broadcast recording apparatus, by performing a video recording operation by variably adjusting the image quality to an optimal bit rate.

Currently, broadcast recording apparatuses that receive and record broadcast programs include video tape recorders (VTRs) that store broadcast signals on magnetic tapes, and digital broadcast recorders, which record and reproduce information on a hard disk. (PVR: Personal Video Recorder) has been released and widely spread.

The digital broadcast recording device (PVR) is a set-top box or a personal computer and a hard disk drive built in a television main body to record and play a predetermined amount of broadcast programs according to capacity. do.

As described above, in order to record the broadcast program, the user selects a recording menu for a predetermined broadcast program, and according to the remaining capacity of the hard disk, for example, VBR (Variable Bitrate) mode and CBR (Costrained Bitrate). After selecting the mode and CVBR (Costrained Variable Bitrate) mode, the user can select the recording while watching the currently received broadcast program, or set the reservation information for the corresponding broadcast program to be scheduled for recording.

On the other hand, the VBR mode is an automatic adjustment bitrate that automatically adjusts the bitrate according to the input broadcast signal, the CBR mode is a fixed bitrate using a fixed bitrate from the beginning to the end, the CVBR mode, It is a bit rate having the upper limit Max and the minimum limit Min to the automatic adjustment bit rate of the VBR mode.

Since broadcast programs selected and recorded by the user have a screen with a lot of motion, such as a sports game, and a screen with a lot of motion, such as news, a video data transmitted to a program having a lot of motion or a complex broadcast program is generally used. Since a large amount is used, a high bit rate is used, and a minimum bit rate is used in a case where a broadcast program is relatively in motion, thereby minimizing a capacity for recording a broadcast program on a storage medium such as a hard disk.

However, while the VBR mode has an advantage of automatically adjusting the bitrate according to the input broadcast signal, it is difficult to predict the use of the storage space of the hard disk, and the CBR mode has a fixed bitrate. Although it uses less storage capacity, it is difficult to improve image quality. In addition, the CVBR mode has a problem in that an upper limit (Max) bit rate is limited, which limits the improvement in image quality.

Accordingly, the present invention has been created to solve the above problems. For example, when a recording mode is selected by a user in a broadcast recording device, a mode is set by receiving a recording quality mode and a reference bitrate, and setting the recording quality. When the automatic adjustment function is selected, the image quality of the input image is analyzed and the image quality lower than the reference bit rate is variably adjusted to the reference bit rate, and the image quality higher than the reference bit rate is variably adjusted to the image quality higher than the reference bit rate. In addition to performing the recording operation, when the manual adjustment of the recording quality is selected, the purpose of the present invention is to provide a method of varying the recording quality in a broadcast recording apparatus that performs the recording operation by variably adjusting the recording quality according to the selected bit rate. will be.

According to the present invention, a method for changing a recording quality in a broadcast recording apparatus according to the present invention includes selecting a recording quality mode and a reference bitrate, setting a mode, and selecting an automatic recording quality adjustment function when a recording mode is selected. In step 1 of checking whether the automatic adjustment of the recording quality is selected, the quality of the received broadcast signal is analyzed, and when the quality of the broadcast signal is lower than the reference bit rate, the recording quality of the broadcast signal is determined. And performing a recording operation by variably adjusting to a reference bitrate image quality.

In the second step, if the image quality of the analyzed broadcast signal is higher than the reference bit rate, performing the recording operation by variably adjusting the recording quality of the broadcast signal to a higher image quality than the reference bit rate Characterized in that it further comprises.

The present invention is characterized in that in the step 2, if the recording quality manual adjustment function is selected, and further comprising the step of performing a recording operation by variably adjusting the recording quality according to the selected bit rate, the bit rate is , High definition (XP), standard definition (SP), neutral (LP), low quality (EP) is characterized in that any one.

According to another aspect of the present invention, if the recording mode is selected, the first step of setting the mode by receiving the recording quality mode and the reference bitrate, and checking whether the automatic recording quality adjustment function is selected, and the automatic recording quality adjustment function is selected. In the case of analyzing the image quality of the received broadcast signal, step 2 of performing a recording operation according to the automatic recording quality adjustment function, and in the recording operation state, if the recording quality manual adjustment function is selected, according to the bit rate that is selected and specified And changing the recording quality to perform the recording operation.

The present invention may further comprise the step of performing a recording operation by variably adjusting the recording quality to the reference bit rate when the quality of the analyzed broadcast signal is lower than the reference bit rate. In the step 2, if the image quality of the analyzed broadcast signal is higher than the reference bit rate, the step of performing a recording operation by variably adjusting the recording quality to a higher image quality than the reference bit rate It is characterized by comprising.

Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of a method for varying recording quality in a broadcast recording apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a broadcast recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied, and FIG. 2 is an exemplary view showing a recording quality mode setting screen and a recording quality selection screen according to the present invention.

First, the variable recording quality according to the present invention can be applied to various types of broadcast recording apparatuses such as a set top box equipped with a hard disk recorder or a television with a built in hard disk recorder. As shown in FIG. 1, a broadcast recording apparatus equipped with a hard disk recorder includes a tuner 10, a signal processing unit 11, an MPEG decoder 12, a microcomputer 13, a memory 14, and an OSD generator. 15, and the HDD record system 16 and the like.

The tuner 10 tunes a broadcast channel requested by a user, receives a broadcast signal provided through the broadcast channel, and the signal processor 11 processes the broadcast signal into an audio and video signal. The MPEG decoder 12 restores and decodes the audio and video signals, and outputs the original audio and video signals to an external connection device such as a television.

The microcomputer 13 stores various service information (SI) provided intermittently through the broadcast channel in the memory 14, and then reads the service information and reads the service information. By controlling the operation 15, additional information on various broadcast programs that are currently being broadcasted or scheduled to be broadcast, such as EPG information such as a broadcast channel, a broadcast program name, and broadcast start time and end time information, can be obtained. The output will be displayed on an external device such as a television.

Meanwhile, the microcomputer 13 performs a broadcast reception operation by controlling the tuner 10, the signal processor 11, and the MPEG decoder 12 according to a user's recording request, and the HDD record system. Operation 16 is performed to perform a broadcast program recording operation of recording and storing a corresponding broadcast signal on a hard disk.

In addition, when the recording mode is selected, the microcomputer 13 receives the recording quality mode and the reference bit rate, which are selected and designated by the user, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B. Save and set the recording quality mode status and reference bitrate, and confirm whether the automatic recording quality adjustment function is selected.

Here, the recording quality mode is a VBR mode, a CBR mode, a CVBR mode, and the like, and the bit rate includes high quality (XP: 9.4 Mbps), standard quality (SP: 4.5 Mbps), medium quality (LP: 2 Mbps), It is displayed in low quality (EP: 1.2 Mbps).

In this case, when the automatic picture quality adjustment function is selected, the microcomputer 13 analyzes the picture quality of the broadcast signal, and when the picture quality of the analyzed broadcast signal is higher than the reference bit rate, the picture quality is determined based on the reference quality. If the image quality is higher than the bit rate, and the image quality is lower than the reference bit rate, the recording operation is performed by variably adjusting the recording quality to the reference bit rate image quality.

In addition, when the manual recording quality control function is selected by the user, the microcomputer 13 performs the recording operation by variably adjusting the recording quality according to a bit rate that is selected and designated.

An operation process of the broadcast recording apparatus to which the variable recording quality according to the present invention configured as described above is applied will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.

FIG. 3 is an exemplary view showing a screen for selecting a video quality change according to the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method for changing a video quality in a broadcast recording apparatus according to the present invention.

First, as shown in FIG. 4, in the recording quality variable method according to the present invention, when the recording mode is selected by the user, the microcomputer 13 operates and controls the tuner 10 and the signal processor 11. In addition to performing a broadcast receiving operation, the OSD generating unit 15 is operated to control the recording quality mode setting screen and the recording quality selection screen as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B. After creation, the output is displayed on an external connection device such as a television.

The microcomputer 13 enters the memory 14 when a recording quality mode (for example, CBR) and a reference bit rate (for example, standard definition: SP) are selected and designated by a user in a recording mode. The recording quality mode and the reference bitrate are stored and set (S10), and whether the automatic recording quality adjustment function is selected (S11).

Here, when the automatic recording quality adjustment function is not selected, the microcomputer 13 operates the HDD record system 16 to control the received broadcast signal to the hard disk according to the set recording quality mode (CBR). A series of program recording operations for recording and storing are performed (S12).

On the other hand, when the automatic recording quality adjustment function is selected, the microcomputer 13 operates the HDD record system 16 to record and store the received broadcast signal on the hard disk according to the set recording quality mode (CBR). In addition to performing a recording operation to analyze the image quality of the broadcast signal (S13).

The microcomputer 13 compares the image quality of the analyzed broadcast signal with the set reference bit rate (S14). When the image quality of the broadcast signal is lower than the reference bit rate, the micom 13 records the recording quality of the broadcast signal. The recording operation is performed by variably adjusting the reference bitrate image quality.

In addition, when the image quality of the broadcast signal is higher than the reference bit rate, the microcomputer 13 performs a recording operation by variably adjusting the recording quality of the broadcast signal to a higher image quality than the reference bit rate.

For example, when the reference bit rate is 4.5 Mbps and the broadcast signal quality is 8.0 Mbps, the recording operation is performed to variably adjust the recording quality of the broadcast signal to high quality 9.4 Mbps or 8.0 Mbps.

Thereafter, the microcomputer 13 checks whether the manual recording quality adjustment function is selected by the user (S16). When the manual recording quality adjustment function is not selected, the microcomputer 13 transmits a broadcast signal according to the set recording quality mode. The recording operation for recording and recording is performed.

In addition, when the recording quality manual adjustment function is selected, the microcomputer 13 operates the OSD generating unit 15 to generate a recording quality change selection screen as shown in FIG. The output will be displayed on the same external connection device.

The microcomputer 13 stores and sets the reference bit rate of the recording quality in the memory 14 when an arbitrary bit rate (for example, high image quality: XP) is selected and designated by the user. A recording operation of recording and storing a broadcast signal is performed according to the bit rate of S17.

The microcomputer 13 checks whether the recording end is selected by the user (S18). When the recording end is selected, the micom 13 controls the HDD record system 16 to end the recording operation on the received broadcast signal. (S19).

Therefore, according to the present invention, the image quality mode and the reference bit rate set by the user are input, the mode is set, and when the automatic image quality adjustment function is selected, the image quality lower than the reference bit rate is analyzed by analyzing the image quality of the broadcast signal. At the rate, the high picture quality is variably adjusted to a higher picture quality than the reference bit rate, and the picture quality is changed according to the bit rate selected by the user when the picture quality manual adjustment function is selected. To perform the recording operation.

As mentioned above, preferred embodiments of the present invention described above are disclosed for the purpose of illustration, and those skilled in the art can improve other various embodiments within the spirit and technical scope of the present invention disclosed in the appended claims below. Changes, substitutions or additions will be possible.

In the broadcast recording apparatus according to the present invention made as described above, the recording quality variable method, for example, in the various types of broadcast recording apparatus, such as a set-top box equipped with a hard disk recorder, when the recording mode is selected by the user, Set the mode by receiving the recording quality mode and the reference bitrate, check whether the automatic recording quality adjustment function is selected, and analyze the quality of the received broadcast signal. If the image quality is higher than the reference bit rate, the recording operation is performed by variably adjusting the recording quality to the image quality higher than the reference bit rate, and when the manual recording quality manual adjustment function is selected, According to the user by performing the recording operation by variably adjusting the recording quality according to It analyzes the image quality of the broadcast signal according to the selected video quality automatic or manual adjustment function, and performs the recording operation by variably adjusting the video quality of the broadcast signal to the optimal bit rate. At the same time, there is an effect that can be guaranteed.

Claims (8)

If the recording mode is selected, receiving a recording quality mode and a reference bitrate, setting a mode, and checking whether the automatic recording quality adjustment function is selected; When the automatic picture quality adjustment function is selected, the quality of the received broadcast signal is analyzed, and when the quality of the broadcast signal is lower than the reference bit rate, the recording quality of the broadcast signal is variably adjusted to the reference bit rate quality. A variable recording quality in a broadcast recording device comprising the step of performing a recording operation. The method of claim 1, In the step 2, if the image quality of the analyzed broadcast signal is higher than the reference bit rate, the step of performing a recording operation by variably adjusting the recording quality of the broadcast signal to a higher image quality than the reference bit rate Method of varying the recording quality of a broadcast recording device, characterized in that made. The method of claim 1, In the step 2, if the recording quality manual adjustment function is selected, the recording quality variable in the broadcast recording device, characterized in that further comprising the step of performing a recording operation by variablely adjusting the recording quality according to the selected bit rate Way. The method according to claim 1 or 3, The bit rate is a high quality (XP), standard definition (SP), medium quality (LP), low quality (EP), characterized in that the recording quality variable method in a broadcast recording device. If the recording mode is selected, receiving a recording quality mode and a reference bitrate, setting a mode, and checking whether the automatic recording quality adjustment function is selected; If the automatic recording quality adjustment function is selected, analyzing the quality of the received broadcast signal and performing a recording operation according to the automatic recording quality adjustment function; And In the recording operation state, if the manual recording quality control function is selected, recording quality of the broadcast recording device comprising the step of performing a recording operation by changing the recording quality according to the selected bit rate selected Variable method. The method of claim 5, In the step 2, if the image quality of the analyzed broadcast signal is lower than the reference bit rate, further comprising the step of performing a recording operation by variably adjusting the recording quality to the reference bit rate How to change the recording quality in broadcast recording equipment. The method of claim 5, In the step 2, if the image quality of the analyzed broadcast signal is higher than the reference bit rate, and further comprising the step of performing a recording operation by variably adjusting the recording quality to a higher image quality than the reference bit rate A variable recording quality in a broadcast recording device characterized in that. The method of claim 5, The bit rate is a high quality (XP), standard definition (SP), medium quality (LP), low quality (EP), characterized in that the recording quality variable method in a broadcast recording device.

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