KR20080050161A - Remote controller for pre searching channel and method therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

A remote controller having a channel pre-search function and a method thereof are provided to enable a user to switch a channel as previously confirming a desired channel through the remote controller when the user wants to change the channel into another channel as watching a television, thereby conveniently performing channel switching. An input unit(30) outputs plural key signals. A transmitter(24) transmits a control signal for controlling television. A storage(26) stores a channel name set to a channel number. A controller(20) receives a corresponding key signal from the input unit, and receives a channel name assigned to a preset channel number through the input unit. The controller displays the channel name by channel number on a display(22) and stores the channel name by a channel number in the storage. If one of channels displayed on the display is selected by the input unit, the controller outputs the selected channel number to the television through the transmitter.

Description

Remote controller with channel pre-search function and its method {Remote Controller for Pre Searching Channel And Method Therefor}

1 is a block diagram illustrating a conventional channel selection process.

2A to 2D are exemplary diagrams for describing a conventional channel selection process.

3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a remote controller having a channel dictionary search function according to the present invention.

4 is an exemplary view for explaining a process of setting a channel name for each channel number in accordance with the present invention.

5 is an exemplary diagram for explaining a state where a plurality of channels are displayed on a display according to the present invention;

6 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the remote control according to the present invention.

Explanation of symbols on the main parts of the drawings

20: control unit 22: display

24: transmitter 26: memory

30: keypad

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a remote control having a channel pre-search function and a method thereof, and more particularly to a remote control and a method having a channel pre-search function for easily selecting a desired channel of a television having a large number of channels.

In general, with the spread of cable TVs and digital televisions, very many TV channels are broadcasted compared to the existing analog airwave TV broadcasting channels.

Viewers use a method of inputting and selecting a channel number of a desired broadcast by using a remote controller or searching and selecting channels sequentially in order to watch a broadcast on a TV having a large number of channels.

However, since the number of broadcast channels is very large as described above, channel numbers cannot be memorized except for a few broadcast channels, and thus a method of selecting channels through sequential search is mainly used.

In particular, in the case of digital TV broadcasting, an electronic program guide (EPG) or a channel search screen is provided. The EPG can find a desired channel or broadcast program using the arrow keys or the arrow keys of the remote controller, and the channel search screen can be found by inputting the channel name of the desired channel with the remote controller. However, in EPG, it is inconvenient to find a desired channel using a direction key, and it is not easy to input a channel name with a limited key of the remote control in the channel search screen.

Therefore, in order to solve this disadvantage, conventionally, when inputting some characters of the channel name on the channel search screen, there is a channel name auto-completion function that automatically completes and displays the broadcast channel name starting with the input character. Here, the channel name is input by the user in advance for the channel or received from the broadcast channel and stored in the memory.

However, in the conventional channel selection method using the channel name autocompletion function, a list of similar channel names searched based on some characters of the channel name input by the user is not provided. Therefore, there is a disadvantage that the desired channel cannot be easily found when there are a plurality of similar channel names.

In addition, when the channel name itself is uncertain, there is a disadvantage in that it is not easy to check whether the channel corresponding to the autocomplete channel name is the channel desired by the user only by the autocomplete channel name.

In order to solve this problem, a channel selection method and a television receiver using the channel name auto-completion function disclosed on July 28, 2003 are disclosed in Korean Patent Publication No. 2003-62851.

As shown in FIG. 1, the television introduced in Korean Patent Publication No. 2003-62851 includes a control unit 12, a display unit 14, a memory 11, a tuner 13, a remote control receiver 15, and a remote controller ( 10).

A conventional television channel selection process made as described above is displayed on the user input window 14a, the similar channel name list display window 14b and the channel description window 14c of the display unit 14 with reference to FIGS. 2A to 2D. The explanation focuses on the contents.

First, when the user inputs the letter A using the remote controller, as shown in FIG. 2A, the letter A is displayed on the user input window 14a of the display unit 14. Then, the control unit 12 retrieves from the memory 11 a channel name starting with the letter A. FIG. As a result of the search, as shown in FIG. 2B, the control unit 12 displays the similar channel names searched on the similar channel name list display window 14b.

Here, one of the pseudo channel names may be selected by default. In Fig. 2B, the channel name " ABC " 16 is selected and highlighted by default. In this case, the channel corresponding to the channel name "ABC" may be automatically tuned by the automatic tuning function and displayed as a preview on the PIP screen. Here, when the channel name desired by the user is "ABS", the user selects the channel name "ABS" 17 as shown in FIG. 2C using the direction keys of the remote controller. In addition, the channel corresponding to the channel name "ABS" may be automatically tuned by the automatic tuning function and displayed as a preview on the PIP screen. If the channel displayed on the PIP screen is the same as the channel desired by the user, the user can select the channel corresponding to the channel name "ABS" by pressing the confirmation key of the remote controller and watch the channel on the full screen or the main screen.

Meanwhile, in order to help the user select a channel, channels corresponding to the channel names displayed in the list are automatically tuned at predetermined time intervals and displayed sequentially on the PIP screen. That is, in FIG. 2B, the channel name "ABC" 16 is highlighted, and the corresponding channel is displayed on the PIP screen. Also preferably, the channel description window displays a detailed description of the channel displayed on the PIP screen, for example, "ABC channel is a golf-only channel". On the other hand, after being displayed on the PIP screen for the channel name " ABC " 16 shown in Fig. 2B, when a predetermined time has elapsed, the channel name " ABS " 17 is highlighted and the corresponding channel is shown as shown in Fig. 2C. It is displayed on the PIP screen and the detailed description of the channel is displayed on the channel description window. Next, when the predetermined time has elapsed, the process proceeds to the next channel name.

Meanwhile, in FIG. 2B, when the user inputs the letter C using the remote controller, as shown in FIG. 2D, the letter “AC” is displayed on the user input window 14a of the display unit 14, and the similar channel name list display window ( 14B), "ACTV" 18, which is a pseudo channel name searched by the control unit, is selected and selected by default. Similarly, the channel corresponding to the channel name "ACTV" may be automatically tuned by the automatic tuning function and displayed as a preview on the PIP screen. If the channel displayed on the PIP screen is the same as the channel desired by the user, the user can select the channel corresponding to the channel name "ACTV" by pressing the confirmation key of the remote controller and watch the channel on the full screen or the main screen.

However, since the conventional channel selection method made as above is to select a channel by using the channel search function of the remote control and the TV's own function, there is no easy way to select a channel by the remote control itself. There is a problem that cannot be used.

In addition, there is a channel setting method of the TV remote control of the Republic of Korea Patent Publication No. 1997-24872 published on May 30, 1997 as a technique for solving the above problems.

The technique of Korean Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 1997-24872 is a technique of assigning a function key of a remote control to a hotkey and displaying a hotkey and a channel on the LCD to switch channels through the hotkey while checking the LCD.

However, the above-mentioned conventional technology assigns a channel to a few hotkeys limited to function keys arranged on the keypad of the remote controller, so that it is impossible to efficiently manage a channel of a very large number of channels such as CATV or digital TV broadcasting. There is this.

An object of the present invention is to provide a remote control and a method having a channel pre-search function to simplify the channel search by allowing the channel name (broadcasting station) of the corresponding channel to be known in advance by only checking the channel number to be watched without switching channels of the television. To provide.

The present invention to achieve the above object, a display; Input means for outputting a plurality of key signals; Transmitting means for transmitting a control signal for television control; Storage means for storing the channel name set in the channel number; Receives a corresponding key signal from the input means, receives a channel name assigned to a predetermined channel number through the input means, displays the channel name for each channel number on the display, and stores it in the storage means, and stores the input means. Control means for outputting the selected channel number to the television via the transmission means when any one of the channels displayed on the display is selected by the controller; And it provides a remote control having a channel pre-search function, characterized in that it comprises a power supply means for supplying the drive power of the display and the control means.

The input means includes a numeric key of 0 to 9 for input of a channel number, a lift key of a channel number, a lift key of a volume, a storage key for setting a channel name for a channel number, and storing in the storage means, the storage key And a channel switch key for selecting one of the channels set and stored in the channel and converting the channel to a corresponding channel.

The storage means may include a channel name corresponding to each channel number and an actual channel number of the channel number.

The control means is characterized in that to input the channel name by the selection combination of the character table displayed on the display unit.

The storage means is characterized in that for storing the code data for generating a character.

The control means may display the character table stored in the storage means on the display by selecting the function of the input means.

The present invention includes the steps of inputting the channel name and the actual channel number in the channel number to which the channel name is assigned; Displaying the contents input in the step on a display and storing the contents in a storage means; And outputting a real channel number of the selected channel number to a television when any one of the channels displayed on the display is selected.

The input may include a screen for inputting a channel number, a channel name, and an actual channel number, and displaying a text input window for text input on the display. The channel number is input using a numeric key. And after inputting a channel name corresponding to the character through the text input window, inputting an actual channel number using the numeric keys.

The outputting step includes listing all channels input through the inputting step and displaying them on the display, and when selecting one of the channels displayed on the display, outputting the actual channel number of the corresponding channel. It is characterized by.

The setting result of the channel by the input step is stored in the nonvolatile storage means.

(Example)

A remote control having a channel dictionary search function and a method thereof according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings showing a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a block diagram for explaining the configuration of a remote control having a channel pre-search function according to the present invention, Figure 4 is an exemplary view for explaining the process of setting the channel name for each channel number in accordance with the present invention, 5 is an exemplary view for explaining a state where a plurality of channels are displayed on the display according to the present invention, Figure 6 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the remote control according to the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 3, the remote controller having a channel pre-search function according to the present invention comprises a display 22 composed of an LCD, a memory 26 storing a channel number and a channel name, and an infrared LED. A transmission unit 24 for outputting a plurality of keys, a keypad 30 for outputting a key signal for outputting the control signal, and receiving a key signal from the keypad 30 to display a processing result on the display 22 And a control unit 20 for outputting a control signal to the television via the transmission unit 24.

In the present invention, the control unit 20 is implemented as a microprocessor, it is preferable that it is typically configured as a one-chip processor, in this case, a program necessary for the operation of the control unit 20 is mounted in the processor's own memory and operated, Characters displayed on the display 22, as in the invention, are generated using codes stored in the own memory.

The memory 26 is preferably composed of a flash memory (FRAM), which is a nonvolatile memory device, in order to prevent data loss due to replacement of a battery used as a power supply unit (not shown).

And, as shown in Figure 3, the keypad 30, the numeric key 31 for inputting the numbers 0 to 9, the channel lift key 32 for raising and lowering the channel number, the volume up and down Volume up and down key 33 for storing, the storage key 36, the storage key 36 to set the channel number and channel name and the actual channel number of the channel number in the memory 26 to store in the memory 26 It consists of a channel switch key 35 to select the stored channel set by the switch to the corresponding channel, a plurality of function keys 34 provided in the conventional television remote control.

The keypad 30 inputs a key signal generated by a conventional key matrix method to the controller 20.

The function key 34 constituting the keypad 30 is composed of a plurality of keys required for operation of a VCR, a DVD player and the like.

An operation of a remote controller having a channel pre-search function according to the present invention made as described above will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 6.

First, a function that can be operated using the remote control according to the present invention, as shown in Figure 6, the remote control itself with the channel setting that is a feature of the present invention along with the operation for the input of the channel number, the channel ascending, the volume as the general remote control functions In-channel search function is provided. Other ordinary remote control functions are divided into other components and description thereof is omitted.

The controller 20 of the remote controller according to the present invention checks the type of the key signal when the key signal is input from the keypad 30 (S 10).

If the key signal is a channel number input using the numeric key 31 (S11), the input channel number is output to the television through the transmitter 24 (S12), and the channel lift key 32 is pressed. If the channel lift signal is used (S 21), the channel lift signal is output (S 22). If the volume lift key (S 31) is used, the volume lift signal is output (S 32). In addition, since the conventional remote control operations other than the functions described in the present invention are performed according to a conventional procedure, FIG. 6 of the present invention is limited to other (S 61) and other function execution (S 62).

Meanwhile, the channel setting process S 51, which is a feature of the present invention, is a process of setting a channel name for each channel number using the storage key 36 and storing the channel name in the memory 26, which will be described with reference to FIG. 5.

First, when the storage key 36 is pressed, the controller 20 shows the channel setting state stored in the memory 26 through the display 22 as shown in FIG. 4 (S52).

At this time, in the present state, since the channel name 42 of "KBS1" is set in the channel number 40 "01", alphabets, numbers and special characters are inputted to set "KBS2" in the next channel number "02". The text window 44 is displayed at the bottom of the display 22.

At this time, the displayed characters are English alphabet, Korean alphabet, special characters, etc., which are generated by codes stored in the memory under the control of the controller.

The user moves the cursor left and right by using the volume up / down key 33 (or the channel up / down key 32) to select and input “K”, which is the first letter of the channel name 42, and enters “BS2” in this order. ". At this time, the selection of the character should be made by input of another key. For example, in the channel setting process, the channel switching key 35 may be used.

In addition, since the channel number 40 is not an actual channel number of the television, the channel number 40 should include an actual channel number (not shown) in addition to the channel name 42. Input of the channel number is set by using the numeric key 31 (S 53).

When each channel name 42 is set to each channel number 40 as described above, the storage key 36 is pressed again to store the memory 26 in the memory 26 (S54).

As described above, the channel confirmation process (S 41) for channel switching in the state of setting and storing the channel in the memory 26 is performed as described with reference to FIG. 5.

That is, the channel name 42 is set in each channel number 40 using the storage key 36 and the like and stored in the memory 26, and then the channel switch key 35 is pressed once during use. Setting contents of each channel stored in (26) are listed and displayed as shown in FIG. 4 (S 42).

At this time, the user selects the desired channel by moving the cursor up and down using the channel up / down key 32 (or the volume up / down key 33) (S 43), and the channel switch key 35. If is pressed again, the actual channel number of the corresponding channel is withdrawn from the memory 26 and sent to the television via the transmitter 24 (S 44).

On the other hand, since the remote control according to the present invention made as described above is to enable the remote control itself to search the channel irrespective of the manufacturer and type of the television, if it is possible to output multiple control signals for each manufacturer and type, Can be used by application.

The present invention made as described above provides an effect of simplifying channel switching by enabling the user to switch while checking a desired channel with a remote controller in advance when changing to another channel while watching television.

Claims (10)

display; Input means for outputting a plurality of key signals; Transmitting means for transmitting a control signal for television control; Storage means for storing the channel name set in the channel number; Receives a corresponding key signal from the input means, receives a channel name assigned to a predetermined channel number through the input means, displays the channel name for each channel number on the display, and stores it in the storage means, and stores the input means. Control means for outputting the selected channel number to the television via the transmission means when any one of the channels displayed on the display is selected by the controller; And Power supply means for supplying driving power for the display and the control means; Remote control having a channel dictionary search function comprising a. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the input means stores a numeric key of 0-9 for inputting a channel number, a lift key of a channel number, a lift key of a volume, and a channel name for a channel number and stores it in the storage means. And a channel switch key for selecting one channel among the channels stored by the storage key and converting the channel to a corresponding channel. The remote control according to claim 1, wherein the storage means comprises a channel name corresponding to each channel number and an actual channel number of the channel number. The remote control having a channel dictionary search function according to claim 1, wherein the control means inputs a channel name by a selection combination of a character table displayed on a display unit. The remote control according to claim 1, wherein the storage means stores code data for generating characters. The remote control having a channel dictionary search function according to claim 1, wherein the control means displays the character table stored in the storage means on the display unit by selecting a function of the input means. Inputting a channel name and an actual channel number into a channel number to which a channel name is assigned; Displaying the contents input in the step on a display and storing the contents in a storage means; And Outputting an actual channel number of the selected channel number to a television when any one of the channels displayed on the display is selected; Control method of a remote control having a channel dictionary search function comprising a. The method of claim 7, wherein the input step Displaying a screen for inputting a channel number, a channel name, and an actual channel number, and a text input window for text input on the display; Inputting the channel number using a numeric key, inputting a channel name corresponding to the channel number through the text input window, and then inputting an actual channel number using the numeric key. Control method of a remote control having a channel dictionary search function comprising a. The method of claim 7, wherein the outputting step Listing all the channels input through the inputting and displaying them on the display; Selecting one of the channels displayed on the display to output the actual channel number of the corresponding channel; Control method of a remote control having a channel dictionary search function comprising a. 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the result of the channel setting by the inputting step is stored in the non-volatile storage means.

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