JP2001128143A - Method and device for tv schedule management - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To simultaneously display an electronic program guide EPG of TV data and an EPG of user's personal schedule on a TV schedule management device. SOLUTION: The TV schedule management device is provided with an EPG display means, which performs processing to generate and display an EPG for TV by a program information table EIT for TV which is extracted and preserved from broadcasting information, and a schedule information input/ output management means 8 which generates and preserves an EIT for personal schedule from code information which is generated from inputted personal schedule information by conversion, and the EPG display means performs processing to generate and display an EPG for personal schedule by the EIT for personal schedule.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a television (or television) device, and an electronic programming guide (EP) for television broadcasting.
The present invention relates to a television schedule management device and method for enabling a viewer (or a user) or a person concerned to browse a schedule in the same display format as an EPG when browsing G).

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In television broadcasting, various methods have been proposed for an EPG for displaying program information on a screen in a table format. FIG. 9 shows a conventional EPG.
EP in a user interface system using
9 shows an example of the screen display information of G. In the EPG display 100 shown in FIG.
Row 102 of 01 represents the available channels, column 10
Reference numeral 3 denotes a time slot for each predetermined duration.
Each item specified in the row and column of the table 101 is an icon indicating a category of the television program,
Each of the icons 104 is a colored block indicating a specific category of the program. Icons 105 and 106 on which specific symbols are superimposed indicate a movie and a music program, respectively. By performing a predetermined operation, the user performs an enlargement table 1 indicating the contents of a specific column.
07 can be displayed. In the expansion table 107, each item 108 indicates the content of the program. The display 100 is provided with various instruction buttons 109 for setting a program that the user wants to view. In addition, such an EPG
The display is described in detail in JP-T-11-505097.

[0003] Further, there is a known system for displaying and managing a personal schedule on a screen. FIG. 10 shows an example of the personal schedule management device. In the personal schedule management device shown in FIG. 10, information about each individual is stored in advance in the user information memory 150, and the user information search unit 15
1 is searched through. If the user selects the nearest terminal 15
When the user accesses from step 2 and inputs a self-planning table display command and a reference date, the self-planning table creation unit 15
3 searches the schedule memory 154 and displays a self-schedule table within a predetermined number of days from the reference date on the terminal 152 on a screen. When the user specifies a specific date, a schedule confirmation table creation unit 155 creates a schedule confirmation table for that date and displays it on the screen. When a command for performing schedule registration is input, the schedule registration unit 156 The self schedule table in the schedule memory 154 is updated. In addition, when the other person's schedule table display command is input, the other person's schedule table creation unit 156 displays the other person's schedule table indicating the schedule of another person, and according to the specification of the specific date, the schedule confirmation table creation unit 155. Creates a schedule confirmation table for that date and inputs a schedule registration command, and the schedule registration unit 156 causes the schedule memory 1
The 54 own schedule table is updated. Further, in response to the input of the group schedule table display command, the group schedule table creation unit 158 displays a group schedule table indicating the schedules of a plurality of persons, and according to the designation of a specific date, the schedule confirmation table of each person on that date is displayed. Created
By inputting the schedule registration command, the group schedule table in the schedule memory 154 is updated. Integrated control unit 159
Uses the user information to control each unit to create a scheduled memory. The user can manage the schedule information of himself / herself, others, and the group by accessing the schedule memory 154 from each terminal via the integrated control unit 159. It should be noted that such a personal schedule management device is disclosed in
This is described in detail in the official gazette.

[0004]

However, in the conventional television schedule management system based on the EPG, an EPG having an excellent user interface is provided, and even if the EPG is displayed on the television side, the user can select a desired program. In order to view the schedule, the user must check the schedule of the user himself / herself, and there is a problem that another system must be prepared in order to manage the schedule of the user. That is, if the user's schedule management is inadequate or the schedule is forgotten, the program time and the user's schedule overlap, so that even if the viewing reservation is made, Will not be able to watch. Furthermore, it is troublesome to check the schedule at all times. In addition, when a plurality of people intend to use the same schedule system, it is necessary for all the members to match the operation system (OS) of the device and the software of the schedule.
When an individual changes the group to which the individual belongs, there is a problem that a completely different schedule management system must be used. This is because the format of the data for managing the schedule is not standardized, and the developers of the schedule software design the data formats for each. Therefore, if the schedule system is different, not only the user interface but also the data format will be different. This is because if you bring the user interface software to another group, you will not be able to browse the schedules of other members, and it will be difficult to use the original data. .

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and when using a television schedule management system based on EPG, it is not necessary to manage a user's own schedule, and a plurality of users can use the same schedule. It is an object of the present invention to provide a television schedule management device and method that do not require a unified schedule management method when using the schedule system.

[0006]

Means for Solving the Problems To solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention according to claim 1 relates to a television schedule management device, and a television program information table (hereinafter referred to as EIT) extracted from broadcast information and stored. Abbreviated)
EPG display means for generating and displaying an electronic program guide (hereinafter, abbreviated as EPG) for television is used to convert EID for personal schedule from code information generated by converting input personal schedule information.
A schedule information input / output management means for generating and storing the EPG for the personal schedule.
It is characterized in that it is configured to perform processing for generating and displaying an EPG for personal schedule by IT.

The invention according to claim 2 relates to the television schedule management device according to claim 1, wherein
The PG display means is configured to display the EPG for television and the EPG for personal schedule on the same screen.

[0008] The invention according to claim 3 relates to the television schedule management device according to claim 1 or 2,
A code conversion means is provided for the schedule information input / output management means, and the character code of the input personal schedule information is converted into the character code of the television EIT to generate the personal schedule EIT. It is characterized by having.

The invention according to claim 4 relates to the television schedule management device according to claim 3, wherein the EIT for personal schedule has the same data format as the EIT for television.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the television schedule management apparatus according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the schedule information input / output management means is provided with an EIT conversion means, It is characterized in that the display format is converted from the EIT for personal schedule to generate the EPG for personal schedule.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the television schedule management device according to the fifth aspect, wherein the personal schedule EPG has the same display format as the television EPG.

The invention according to claim 7 relates to a television schedule management method, in which a television EPG displaying television program information and a personal schedule EPG displaying personal schedule information are displayed on the same screen. Is displayed.

The invention according to claim 8 relates to the television schedule management method according to claim 7, wherein the time of the displayed personal schedule EPG and the time of viewing reservation in the television EPG are set. When a collision occurs, a message indicating the collision is displayed.

[0014]

In the construction of the present invention, the television tuner 1, the input / output means 2, the storage means 3, the television EIT extraction means 4, the television EIT storage means 5, and the EPG display means 6
Schedule input / output means 7 for personal schedule, schedule information input / output management means 8, code conversion means 9, EI
A T conversion means 10, a personal EIT storage means 11, and a control means 12 are provided. The television broadcast information includes technical standards (ARIB) for displaying program information as an EPG.
A program information table (Event Information Table: EIT) standardized by STD-B10) is inserted. Broadcast information input from the TV tuner 1
By inputting via the input / output means 2, the EIT is extracted by the television EIT extraction means 4, stored in the television EIT storage means 5, displayed on the input / output means 2 by the EPG display means 6, and the schedule is displayed. According to the personal schedule information input from the input / output means 7,
The schedule information input / output management unit 8 causes the code conversion unit 9 to perform a process of converting the character code of the input data into a character code that can be handled as an EPG for television,
A process for converting the converted code information into an EIT table format is performed by the EIT conversion means 10.
The personal schedule EIT storage means 11 is stored.
The control means 12 displays the EIT for television on the EPG display means 6.
By the TV EIT stored in the storage means 5,
After displaying EPG for TV, E for personal schedule
Since the EPG for personal schedule is displayed by the EIT for personal schedule stored in the IT storage means 11, the user does not need to manage his / her own schedule, and when a plurality of persons use the same schedule system. In addition, there is no need to unify schedule management methods. The control means 12 further includes an EPG for personal schedule.
And the time when the viewing reservation in the television EPG collides, a message to that effect can be displayed. Thus, the user can store the program reserved for viewing in the storage unit 3 by changing the viewing reservation to the storage reservation.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The description will be specifically made using an embodiment. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a television schedule management device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an image diagram showing a data structure of a program EIT, and FIG. 3 is an image diagram of a short format descriptor. 4 is a flowchart showing the flow of EIT storage processing of program information, FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the flow of program storage processing, FIG. 6 is an image diagram showing the data structure of the EIT for personal schedule, and FIG. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the flow of the information EIT storage processing, and FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the processing of the EPG display of the EIT data for personal schedule and the processing at the time of collision between viewing reservation and personal schedule.

As shown in FIG. 1, the television schedule management apparatus of this embodiment includes a television tuner 1, an input / output unit 2, a storage unit 3, and a television EIT extraction unit 4.
EIT storage means 5 for television, and EPG display means 6
Schedule input / output means 7, schedule information input / output management means 8, code conversion means 9, EIT conversion means 10, personal EIT storage means 11, control means 12
It is roughly constituted from. The television tuner 1 receives a television signal, separates a desired channel, and outputs it as video data. The input / output unit 2 includes an input unit for inputting various operations / instructions performed by a user, input devices such as a keyboard, a mouse, a remote controller, and a push button, and a display as an output unit for a television image and an EPG image. Have. The storage unit 3 stores video data of the program reserved for viewing. TV EIT extraction means 4
Extracts a TV EIT from video data according to identification information indicating a table number. The TV EIT storage unit 5 stores the extracted EIT. The EPG display means 6 generates EPG display data from the EIT data in the television EIT storage means 5, whereby the input / output means 2 displays the EPG. Schedule input / output means 7
Input information of the user's personal schedule via the input / output means 2, for example. The schedule information input / output management means 8 is based on the input personal schedule information.
Code conversion processing in code conversion means 9 and EIT
It manages data format conversion processing in the conversion means 10 and storage of EIT information in the personal EIT storage means 11. The code conversion means 9 converts the character code of the input personal schedule information into a character code to be displayed as an EPG. EIT conversion means 10
Converts the character code data converted by the code conversion means 9 into an EIT table format. The personal EIT storage unit 11 stores the personal schedule EIT information generated by the EIT conversion unit 10. The control unit 12 controls the operation of each unit, and adds information on the name of the program to be reserved and the time to the EPG according to the viewing reservation and the storage reservation of the specific program performed by the user via the input / output unit 2. Processing is performed, and processing such as displaying a message when the viewing reservation and the personal schedule temporally collide is performed.

Next, with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5, the contents of the EIT and the EI when displaying the TV EPG in this example will be described.
The operation of generating T and displaying EPG will be described. The table format of the EIT for displaying the EPG for the television is as shown in FIG. It is assumed that the TV EIT table 20 stores ID values ““ 4E ”to“ 6F ”” as table identifiers 21.
The start time 23 and the duration time 24 are stored in the repetition part 22, and the program name and the like are stored in the descriptor area 25 in the form of a descriptor. Repeat part 2
2 is repeatedly provided in an arbitrary number according to the number of programs. The service identification 26 stores a broadcast station name and the like. Also, it descriptors descriptor area 25, for example as shown in FIG. 3, the short-format descriptor (shor t even t descript
or). As shown in FIG. 3, the short format descriptor 30 includes descriptor number information 31, descriptor length information 32, language code 33, program name length information 34, program name description information 35, text length information 36, text description It consists of information 37.

When generating the TV EIT, first, as shown in FIG. 4, broadcast information is input from the TV tuner 1 (step S101). Next, EIT data is extracted from the broadcast information by the TV EIT extraction means 4 (step S102), and the extracted EIT data is stored in the TV EIT storage means 5 (step S10).
3). Next, when the EPG is displayed, as shown in FIG.
The PG display means 6 generates EPG display data from the EIT data stored in the television EIT storage means 5, and the input / output means 2 displays the EPG thereby (step S201). When the user instructs storage of a program from the input / output unit 2 (step S202), the program desired to be stored is stored in the storage unit 3 under the control of the control unit 12 (step S203).

Next, with reference to FIGS. 1 and 6, the contents of the EIT for the personal schedule and the operation of generating the EIT when the EPG for the personal schedule is displayed in this example will be described. The table format of the personal schedule EIT is as shown in FIG. In the personal schedule EIT 40, ID values ““ 4E ”to“ 6F ”” are stored as the table identifier 41. In the repetition part 42, for example, "AM10.00"
Is stored, and for example, “1 hour” is stored in the duration 44. Further, in the descriptor area 45, for example, “XX conference” is stored. The repetition part 42 is repeatedly provided in an arbitrary number according to the number of schedules. Also,
The service identification 46 stores, for example, “Mr. Sato” as personal name information. The information of the "○○ Conference", in short form descriptors shown in FIG. 3, is stored in the Even t name c har storing the program name.

At the time of generating the EIT for personal schedule, first, as shown in FIG. 7, personal schedule data is inputted from the schedule input / output means 7 (step S30).
1). That is, the user name "Mr. Sato" is input as data of the service identification 46, "AM10.00" is input as data of the start time 43, "1 hour" is input as data of the duration 44, and the descriptor area is input. “XX conference” is input as the data of 45. At the end of the input, the schedule information input / output management unit 8 causes the code conversion unit 9 to convert the character code (step S302), thereby converting the character code of the input information into a character code for displaying as an EPG. After that, the character code data is converted into the EIT by causing the EIT conversion means 10 to convert the data format (step S303).
To the table format. At this time, in the data structure shown in FIG. 6, the user name “Mr. Sato” is the service identification 46 and “AM10.00” is the start time 43
Then, “1 hour” is stored in the duration 44, and “XX conference” is input to the descriptor area 45 as data. Further, the schedule information input / output management unit 8 causes the personal EIT storage unit 11 to store the personal schedule information converted into the EIT in this manner.

Next, with reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. 8, a description will be given of a flow of processing for displaying EPG of EIT data for personal schedule and a processing at the time of collision between viewing reservation and personal schedule.
The control means 12 causes the EPG display means 6 to display the data in the television EIT storage means 5 on the input / output means 2 in an EPG manner (step S401). At this time,
The control means 12 checks whether or not the personal schedule EIT is stored in the personal EIT storage means 11 (step S402). If the EIT is not stored, the process is terminated. EIT storage means 11
The personal schedule EIT is also displayed as an EPG on the input / output means 2 by the EPG display means 6 (step S403). At this time, it is desirable that the television EPG and the personal schedule EPG are displayed side by side and simultaneously on the screen of the input / output unit 2. Further, when information indicating a previously reserved viewing of a program is added to the EPG for television, is the time of the program reserved for viewing indicated by the EPG and the personal schedule overlapping in time? It is determined whether or not (step S404)
If they do not overlap, the process is terminated. If they do overlap, a message asking "whether or not to change from viewing reservation to storage reservation" is displayed for all overlapping programs (step S405). . In response to this message, the user issues an instruction to change from viewing reservation to storage reservation,
When the control is performed via the input / output unit 2, the control unit 12 performs the process of storing reservation of the designated program, and adds information indicating the reservation of storing the program to the EPG for television to be displayed (step S406). .

According to such a processing flow, the EPG for the personal schedule and the EPG for the television are displayed on the display screen of the input / output means 2, and the viewing reservation and accumulation of the television program in consideration of the user's schedule are performed. Reservations can be managed using the EPG.

Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to this embodiment, and there are design changes and the like without departing from the gist of the present invention. Even this is included in the present invention. For example, in the embodiment, the input / output unit 2 includes a display. However, the input / output unit and the display may be separated from each other, and only the EPG may be constantly displayed on the input / output unit. Also, the display of the television EPG and the display of the personal schedule EPG are not displayed side by side on the same screen.
You may make it display sequentially and separately. Further, when the time of the EPG for the personal schedule and the time of the viewing reservation in the TV EPG collide with each other, the viewing reservation may be automatically changed to the storage reservation.

[0024]

As described above, according to the television schedule management apparatus and method of the present invention, the television EPG and the user's personal schedule EPG can be viewed side by side at the same time. Even if a schedule table or the like is not separately prepared, it is possible to easily confirm whether or not the television program overlaps with the personal schedule, and make a viewing reservation and a storage reservation without error. In addition, the system automatically checks the overlap between the television program and the personal schedule, and displays a message to that effect at the time of the overlap, so that the user can change from viewing reservation to storage reservation, , Can be prevented from being overlooked. Also, since the EIT used at this time is standardized, even when a plurality of people manage / view the same schedule, it is not necessary for all the members to match the OS and the schedule software of the television schedule management device, and the respective schedules are not changed. Movement of schedule data between devices is facilitated.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a television schedule management device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an image diagram showing a data structure of an EIT.

FIG. 3 is an image diagram of a short-form descriptor.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the flow of an EIT storing process of program information.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the flow of a program accumulation process.

FIG. 6 is an image diagram showing a data structure of a personal schedule EIT.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a flow of an EIT saving process of personal schedule information.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing for displaying an EPG of EIT data for a personal schedule and a processing at the time of collision between a viewing reservation and a personal schedule.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of EPG screen display information in a conventional user interface system using an EPG.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a personal schedule management device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 TV tuner 2 Input / output means 3 Storage means 4 TV EIT extraction means 5 TV EIT storage means 6 EPG display means 7 Schedule input / output means 8 Schedule information input / output management means 9 Code conversion means 10 EIT conversion means 11 Personal EIT Storage means 12 Control means

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A television program information table (hereinafter abbreviated as EIT) extracted from broadcast information and stored.
EPG display means for generating and displaying an electronic program guide (hereinafter abbreviated as "EPG") for a television is converted to EIT for personal schedule from code information generated by converting the input schedule information of an individual. A schedule information input / output management means for generating and storing the EPG for personal schedule, wherein the EPG display means is configured to perform processing for generating and displaying an EPG for personal schedule by the EIT for personal schedule. Television schedule management device. 2. The television set according to claim 1, wherein said EPG display means comprises:
2. The television schedule management device according to claim 1, wherein the PG and the EPG for personal schedule are displayed on the same screen. 3. A code conversion means is provided for the schedule information input / output management means, and a character code of the input personal schedule information is converted into a character code of the television EIT to generate a personal schedule EIT. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein
The television schedule management device according to the above. 4. The television schedule management device according to claim 3, wherein the personal schedule EIT has the same data format as the television EIT. 5. An EIT conversion means is provided for the schedule information input / output management means, and the display format is converted from the EIT for personal schedule to generate the EPG for personal schedule. The television schedule management device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein: 6. The television schedule management device according to claim 5, wherein the personal schedule EPG has the same display format as the television EPG. 7. A television schedule management method, wherein a television EPG displaying television program information and a personal schedule EPG displaying individual schedule information are displayed on the same screen. 8. The displayed personal schedule EP.
8. The television schedule management method according to claim 7, wherein when the time of G and the time reserved for viewing in the television EPG collide, a message indicating the collision is displayed.