KR20100018205A - User interface device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A user interface device is provided to supply information about broadcasting programs without a separated user menu. CONSTITUTION: An operating unit(230) generates an actuating signal which varies or selects the displayed information. A display unit(240) indicates the information related to a broadcasting program in a screen. A controller(210) indicates the images related to the programs. A controller displays the information of program, one the broadcasting program is selected according to the actuating signal.

Description

User Interface Device {USER INTERFACE DEVICE}

The present invention relates to a user interface device capable of providing a user with a more convenient program search, channel movement, reservation recording, playback, and the like.

Recently, the broadcasting technology is shifting from the conventional analog method to the digital broadcasting using the digital data to provide a high quality video service. One of the biggest features of digital broadcasting is that the number of available channels is much larger than that of conventional analog broadcasting. Accordingly, digital TVs (DTVs) are being developed to provide multi-channel, high-definition, interactive services, and the like.

In recent years, broadcasting stations provide electronic program guides (EPGs) including various information about digital broadcasting programs in order to provide users with information about digital broadcasting programs provided in many channels. The EPG includes a type of broadcast program, a broadcast time, content of a broadcast program, and the like. Accordingly, there is a need for various technologies that enable a user to intuitively and conveniently recognize and control various channels and information thereof.

1 is a diagram illustrating a form of displaying information about a plurality of broadcast programs according to the prior art.

Referring to FIG. 1, there are a grid type and a popup type for displaying information on a conventional broadcast program. The grid type is a drawing shown on the left in the drawing, and the popup type is a drawing shown on the right in the drawing. The grid type displays information about a broadcast program on a full screen, and the popup type displays information about a broadcast program only on a part of the bottom.

According to the prior art as described above, a user may not easily know specific information regarding a search and a channel of a plurality of programs.

In addition, according to the related art, the user is inconvenient to use a separate menu to view a list of separate programs.

In addition, according to the related art, since the user does not intuitively know the information about the broadcast program, the user may not easily select the information of the broadcast program he / she wants.

An object of the present invention for solving the above problems is to view information about the broadcast programs without the user having to use a separate menu, in order to view a program that has been aired, a program that is currently being broadcast, and a program that will be broadcast in the future. An intuitive user interface device is provided.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a user interface device that allows a user to intuitively recognize and play a recorded program without the need for a separate process.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a user interface device that allows a user to easily search a large amount of programs.

In addition, an object of the present invention is to provide a user interface device that allows a user to easily find a channel by displaying an image related to a broadcast program or a channel that is currently being broadcast.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a user interface device including: an operation unit for generating an operation signal for changing or selecting displayed information, data including broadcast channel information and image information associated with a broadcast program, and scheduled recording A storage unit for storing the recorded program, a display unit for displaying information related to the broadcast program, an image related to the terminated program, an image related to the currently being broadcasted program, and an image related to a program to be broadcasted in the future. And a control unit controlling to be displayed on the display unit at the same time, and to display image information related to a corresponding broadcast program according to an operation signal of the operation unit, wherein the control unit is configured to perform a program terminated by an operation signal of the operation unit. When a program of which recording has been completed is selected, the storage unit receives the recorded program from the storage unit and controls the display unit to display the recorded program, or the controller controls whether the reserved program is recorded among programs to be broadcasted in the future by an operation signal of the operation unit. If selected, it is characterized in that the indication that the reservation recording has been made.

In addition, the control unit, in the display unit, the program that is being broadcast, the program that is being aired in the future and the program to be broadcast in the future in order to display in a horizontal direction, the detailed program list of the selected program of the program to be displayed in an upward direction It is characterized by controlling.

The controller may be configured to display the currently aired program in one or more lines in a horizontal direction, and to control the broadcasted program and the program to be aired in the vertical direction based on the currently aired program. It is done.

The controller may include at least one of information related to a currently selected program such as a program title, a program plot, a cast, and a re-broadcast time, a program list for which recording is completed, or a program list for which reservation recording is performed in a space vacated on the display unit. Is controlled to be displayed.

The controller may control a bar for displaying time to be displayed on the display unit, and the image information related to the program may display a screen of a program currently being broadcast.

The control unit may control to display at least one of a text, an image, and a voice of a program in which recording is completed and a reserved recording program.

The controller may control the number of broadcast programs to be displayed to be changed whenever an operation signal for zoom in or zoom out is input through the manipulation unit.

The controller may be configured to display detailed program lists of a selected item in a circle, triangle, and zigzag form.

In addition, the operation unit may use keys existing in the left and right directions when changing a closed program, a program currently being aired, and a program to be broadcasted in the future, and a key existing in an up and down direction when changing a channel. In the case of selecting a specific program, a key existing in the center is used.

According to the present invention, there is an advantage that a user can simultaneously view a closed program, a currently airing program, and a future airing program without a separate menu.

In addition, the user intuitively recognizes the recorded program without the need for a separate process, and the user can immediately play the program.

In addition, there is an advantage that the user can easily search a large amount of programs.

In addition, the present invention has the advantage that the user can easily recognize the channel by displaying the image associated with the broadcast program or the screen of the channel currently being broadcast.

In addition, the user may display the information related to the broadcast program as desired by the user, there is an advantage that the user can more easily recognize the information related to the broadcast program.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings will be described a preferred embodiment of a user interface device for simultaneously displaying the terminated program, the currently being broadcast program and the program to be broadcast in the future according to the present invention.

2 is a block diagram of a user interface device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, the user interface device according to the present invention may include a controller 210, a storage unit 220, an operation unit 230, and a display unit 240.

The storage unit 220 may store data including broadcast channel information and representative image information of a broadcast program, a recorded broadcast program, and the like.

The operation unit 230 generates an operation signal for changing the information displayed on the display unit. The operation unit 230 may include a key pad, a touch screen, a switch, a mouse, and the like. When using a remote control, a keypad, wheel or touch screen may be applied to the remote control.

The display unit 240 may display various channel broadcast programs, broadcast times, and information about broadcast programs. In addition, the display unit 240 may simultaneously display a terminated program, a program currently being broadcast, and a program to be broadcast in the future. The terminated program may include a broadcast program in which recording is completed, and the program to be broadcasted in the future may include information about a reserved recording program. The recorded program may include a PVR (Personal Video Recorder) system or a broadcast program recorded by a user through scheduled recording or recorded through a VCR (Video Cassette Recorder).

The control unit 210 may receive information from the storage unit 220 and transmit the information to the display unit 240 according to an operation signal of the operation unit 230. In addition, the controller 210 may modify a form displayed on the display unit 240 according to an operation signal of the operation unit 230.

Hereinafter, the information displayed on the display unit 240 will be described through specific embodiments.

3A to 3C are views illustrating shapes of various display units according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3A, the display unit 240 according to the present invention may simultaneously display a terminated program, a program currently being broadcast, and a program to be broadcast in the future. In particular, the display unit 240 displays a terminated program on the left side, a program currently being aired on the center, and a program to be broadcasted on the right side on the right side. By doing so, the user can visually easily know the past, present and future programs. The terminated program may include a program in which recording is completed, and a program to be broadcasted in the future may include a program in which scheduled recording is performed.

When the user selects one of the three types of programs, the various channels of the selected program are displayed in line in the upward direction. 3A shows a case where a program currently being aired is selected.

In addition, the user may change the displayed channel by using the operation key 300 of the operation unit in the up and down direction, and change the terminated program, the currently airing program, and the future airing program by using the left and right directions.

In addition, when the user selects a screen of a program for which recording is completed among the terminated programs, the controller 210 receives the corresponding program that has been recorded in the storage and immediately plays the same in the display 240.

The display of each broadcast program may be displayed by selecting or mixing one of a representative image related to a broadcast program or a screen of a program currently being broadcast. For example, a broadcasted program and a program to be broadcasted in the future may display image information, and a program currently being broadcast may display a screen currently being broadcast.

In addition, the display unit 240 further includes a display bar 310 capable of displaying time, so that the user can easily grasp even the passage of time.

By doing the above, the user can not only view the past, present and future programs at once, but also view the programs that have been scheduled recording and completed programs at once. Therefore, the user can intuitively know various types of programs as well as the information about past and future programs more easily.

Referring to FIG. 3B, when a user selects one program among a closed program, a currently airing program, and a future airing program, various types of channels of the corresponding program may be displayed in a circle. In addition, the various types of channels may be displayed in a triangle, zigzag shape, three-dimensional solid shape, or the like. FIG. 3B is identical to FIG. 3A except for the shape of the channels.

Referring to FIG. 3C, when one program among a broadcasted program, a program currently being aired, and a program to be broadcasted in the future is selected, various types of channels of the corresponding program are displayed in one or more lines in a horizontal direction, and the currently being aired. It displays the programs that are broadcast in the vertical direction based on the channel and the programs that will be broadcasted in the future.

By doing the above, the user has an advantage that it is easier to know the information of the various types of channels of the selected broadcast program.

4A and 4B are diagrams illustrating various display units for displaying reservation recording completion and reservation recording according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4A, the display unit 240 according to the present invention displays a terminated program, a program currently being aired, and a program to be aired in the future. In particular, among the terminated programs, the programs in which recording is completed are indicated by bold borders 400a.

Referring to FIG. 4B, the display unit 240 according to the present invention displays a terminated program, a program currently being broadcast, and a program to be broadcast in the future. In particular, among the programs to be broadcasted in the future, a program in which a reserved recording has been made is displayed with a letter of reserved recording 400b.

In the above, the thick border and the reserved recording may not only apply a two-dimensional image or a three-dimensional image such as a flicker or a clip, but also may apply a voice or vibration.

By doing the above, the user has an advantage of easily distinguishing between a recorded program and a reserved program.

5A and 5B illustrate a display unit according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 5A, when the user selects a desired channel, the display unit according to the present invention shows information 800 such as a title, content, performer, and rebroadcast time of the corresponding channel. The information can be modified into various information.

Referring to FIG. 5B, the display unit according to the present invention may display a program list 900 in which recording is completed and a program list 910 in which scheduled recording is performed.

The channel information, the recording completion list, and the reserved recording list may be selectively displayed.

By doing the above, the user can select the channel and at the same time obtain detailed information about the channel. In addition, since the user can view the list of recorded programs and the list of scheduled recording programs at once, the user can see the information he / she wants at a glance.

6A to 6D illustrate a user interface having a zoom in / zoom out function according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 6A, a user selects one channel to watch a current broadcast.

Referring to FIG. 6B, when a user wants to change a channel, the user manipulates a key, a touch screen, a mouse, a switch, etc. having a zoom out function of the operator 230. The screen displayed by the user's manipulation is changed from FIG. 6A to FIG. 6B. By doing the above, the number of programs displayed on the display unit 240 is changed.

Referring to FIG. 6C, when the user wants to see more channel information, the user may press a key, a touch screen, a mouse, a switch, etc., which have a zoom in or zoom out function of the operation unit 230. To operate. If the user presses zoom out, the displayed screen changes from FIG. 6B to FIG. 6C. On the other hand, if the user presses zoom in, the displayed screen changes from FIG. 6B to FIG. 6A. By doing the above, the number of programs displayed on the display unit 240 is changed.

Referring to FIG. 6D, when the user wants to view more channel information than FIG. 6C, the user may press a key, a touch screen, or a mouse having a zoom in or zoom out function of the operation unit 230. , Switch, etc. If the user presses zoom out, the displayed screen changes from FIG. 6C to FIG. 6D. On the other hand, if the user presses zoom in, the displayed screen changes from FIG. 6D to FIG. 6C. By doing the above, the number of programs displayed on the display unit 240 is changed.

6A to 6D are only preferred embodiments, the step of zooming in / out may be selected in various steps for convenience. In addition, the shape displayed in each step may be variously selected according to convenience.

7 is a diagram illustrating a user setting various contents through a menu in a user interface according to the present invention.

The user may select a display type of the broadcast program through the setting menu (700). That is, the user may select a shape such as a circle, a triangle, a zigzag shape.

In operation 710, the user may select a form in which a program in which scheduled recording is performed and a program in which scheduled recording is completed. That is, the user may select a form of flickering, text display, voice, thick border, and the like.

In addition, the user may select a zoom in / zoom out step (720). That is, the user may select the form of 2 steps, 3 steps, 4 steps, and the like.

In addition, the user may select a display form of each step of zoom in / zoom out (730). For example, the user may select a first stage circular, a second stage zigzag, and a third stage triangular. In addition, the user may set information on the channel, a list of reserved programs, and a list of reserved programs (not shown) using a separate setting menu.

By doing so, the user can display the information related to the broadcast program as desired by the user, so that the user can more easily recognize the information related to the broadcast program.

The user interface device described herein may be applied to a device capable of playing a video or various broadcast channels such as a digital television (DTV), an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV), a PMP, a PDA, an MP3, or the like.

Although the technical spirit of the present invention has been described in detail according to the above-described preferred embodiment, it should be noted that the above-described embodiment is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. In addition, those skilled in the art will understand that various embodiments are possible within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention.

1 is a view of a form of displaying information about a plurality of broadcast programs according to the prior art.

2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a user interface device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

3A to 3C are views of shapes of various display units according to an embodiment of the present invention.

4A and 4B are views illustrating shapes of various display units for indicating whether reservation recording is completed and whether reservation recording is performed according to an embodiment of the present invention.

5A and 5B illustrate a shape of a display unit according to still another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

6A to 6D illustrate a user interface having a zoom in / zoom out function according to the present invention.

7 is a diagram illustrating a user setting various contents through a menu in a user interface according to the present invention.

Claims (7)

An operation unit for generating an operation signal for changing or selecting the displayed information; A storage unit capable of storing data including broadcast channel information and image information related to a broadcast program and a reserved recorded program; A display unit for displaying information related to a broadcast program on a screen; and Images related to each of the terminated program, the currently airing program, and the program to be aired in the future are simultaneously displayed on the display unit, and when a broadcast program is selected according to an operation signal of the operation unit, information of the corresponding program is displayed. A control unit for controlling to include; The controller may control to receive the recorded program from the storage unit and display the recorded program on the display unit when a program of which recording is completed is selected from a program terminated by an operation signal of the operation unit. And when the program to be broadcasted in the future is selected by an operation signal of the operation unit, the control unit switches to a screen for displaying information of a corresponding program or setting a scheduled recording. The method of claim 1, The control unit, Displaying programs that are broadcast left and right based on the currently airing program and programs to be aired in the future, displaying an indication bar for displaying the airing time to the three types of programs, and displaying one of the three types of programs. And when two programs are selected, displaying channels of the selected program in an upward direction. The method of claim 1, The control unit, A program that is broadcasted up and down based on the currently airing program and a program to be aired in the future, a display bar for displaying the airing time to the 3 types of programs, and one of the 3 types of programs And when two programs are selected, displaying channels of the selected program in one or more rows in a horizontal direction. The method of claim 1, The control unit, And displaying at least one of information related to the currently selected program such as a program title, a program plot, a cast and a re-broadcasting time, a list of recorded programs, or a list of reserved recordings in an empty space on the display unit. User interface device. The method of claim 1, The control unit, The user interface device, characterized in that for displaying the program that has been recorded among the terminated programs and the program pre-recorded among the programs to be broadcast in the future by using at least one of a text, an image or a voice. The method of claim 1, The control unit, And displaying the number of the displayed broadcast programs every time an operation signal for zoom in or zoom out is input through the manipulation unit. The method of claim 1, The operation unit, Use the left and right arrow keys to change the live program, the program currently being aired, or the program to be broadcasted in the future, use the up and down arrow keys to change the channel, and to select a specific program. And a user interface device.

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