JP2008270872A - Broadcast reception device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To suppress an increase in capacity of a nonvolatile memory in a broadcast reception device which stores data on setup information for applying restrictions on viewing. <P>SOLUTION: The broadcast reception device includes a tuner unit, an OSD (On-Screen Display) composition unit, a D/A converter, and a controller. A system decoder of the tuner unit outputs an EIT (Event Information Table) being the data of broadcast program information to the controller. The controller generates an EPG (Electronic Program Guide) based upon the EIT, and the OSD composition unit receives a command of the controller and outputs the EPG. A ROM of the controller is stored with subroutines for thumbnail motion picture recording processing, broadcast program display processing, and deletion processing. Through the thumbnail motion picture recording processing, a motion picture of a thumbnail is previously recorded in the beginning of a broadcast program. Through the broadcast program display processing, a broadcast program having the same channel, the same day of the week, and nearly the same time and name with a broadcast program of the last week is retrieved and displayed. Through the deletion processing, unnecessary video recording data in the past among video recording data recorded through the thumbnail motion picture recording processing 723 are deleted. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a broadcast receiving apparatus that receives a broadcast program and program information and displays the program information.

  Conventionally, a digital broadcast receiving apparatus that outputs an EPG (Electronic Program Guide) has been put into practical use. A digital broadcast is transmitted in the form of a TS (transport stream) in which a plurality of broadcasts are packetized, and one of these packets is PSI (Program Specific Information) or SI (Service Information). ) Is transmitted. The PSI / SI includes an EIT (Event Information Table). Information related to the program, such as the program name, broadcast date and time, and broadcast content, is included. EPG is mainly created using EIT. This EIT includes information on a broadcast program to be received for a maximum of about 3 hours.

  Also, a recording apparatus such as a DVD recorder having a function of displaying an EPG, selecting a program from the EPG, and receiving a recording instruction from a user has been put into practical use. According to this function, a program can be recorded without specifying a start time, an end time, and a broadcast channel.

Patent Documents 1 to 3 disclose a configuration for displaying a broadcast program guide with thumbnail images. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-133867 describes that detailed information is displayed if the program designated by the cursor is a broadcast program to be broadcast in the future. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-228688 describes that if there is a program that is reserved for a broadcast program, the thumbnail image is thinned. Patent Document 3 describes that the user can adjust which time the thumbnail image displayed after recording is to be an image from the recording start time.
JP-A-9-37180 JP 2003-101916 A JP 2004-336443 A

  However, even if an electronic program guide with thumbnail still images is displayed, there is a problem that it is difficult to grasp the contents of the broadcast program. If it is a still image, it is not necessarily accurate to show the broadcast program.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a broadcast receiving apparatus that can easily grasp the contents of a broadcast program.

  In the present invention, means for solving the above-described problems are configured as follows.

(1) In a broadcast receiving apparatus that receives a broadcast program of a predetermined channel,
The broadcast program is partially received in all the channels that can be received or in a predetermined channel in all time periods or in a predetermined time period, and broadcast program information related to the broadcast programs is received. Receiving means;
Recording each of the partially received broadcast programs by the receiving means as thumbnail videos, and thumbnail video recording means for recording broadcast program information related to the thumbnail videos together;
Electronic program guide output means for receiving and outputting data of an electronic program guide that is a list of broadcast program information;
Selection means for receiving selection of a broadcast program from the electronic program guide and outputting a highlight display in a column of the selected broadcast program;
Search means for searching for a broadcast program recorded as the thumbnail video, the broadcast program having the same channel and day of the week as the selected broadcast program, and having substantially the same name and broadcast time,
Reproducing means for reproducing the thumbnail moving image of the broadcast program searched by the searching means as a moving image in the highlighted broadcast program column or at a position outside the electronic program guide.

  In this configuration, the thumbnail moving image unit records the thumbnail moving image in advance. The search means searches for a broadcast program having substantially the same content for the broadcast program in the electronic program guide selected by the selection means. The reproduction means reproduces the searched broadcast program as a moving image. Therefore, the user can easily grasp the contents of the broadcast program based on the broadcast program having the substantially identical content last week.

(2) The search means searches for the broadcast program not only for the selected broadcast program but also for each program displayed in the electronic program guide,
For the broadcast programs other than the selected broadcast program, the reproduction means reproduces the broadcast program searched by the search means in each column of the electronic program guide as a thumbnail still image.

  In this configuration, not only the selected broadcast program but also each program displayed in the electronic program guide is searched for the broadcast program. Since the playback means plays back as a thumbnail still image among the broadcast programs recorded as thumbnail videos, the contents of unselected broadcast programs can be displayed in detail, and the contents of unselected broadcast programs can be displayed easily. it can.

  (3) The thumbnail video recording means records the broadcast program only when there is a remaining capacity in the recording capacity and recording of the broadcast program to be recorded is not prohibited. It may be.

  For example, “recording is prohibited” includes parental lock, copyright relationship, and the like.

  (4) The thumbnail video recording means is on the condition that (A) one week has elapsed from the date when the broadcast program was recorded, and the storage capacity for recording the broadcast program is less than a predetermined capacity. The broadcast program recorded as the thumbnail still image or the thumbnail movie may be deleted.

  In order to organize the recorded data that accumulates, if one week has passed, there is a high possibility that thumbnail videos will not be used for broadcasts prior to last week. Therefore, when the storage capacity is less than the predetermined capacity, it may be deleted.

  (5) The thumbnail moving image recording means may record the thumbnail still image or the thumbnail moving image on a hard disk.

  According to the broadcast receiving apparatus of the present invention, the content of the broadcast program is displayed using the thumbnail video recorded in advance, so that the content of the broadcast program can be easily grasped.

  The configuration of the DVD recorder 1 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The DVD recorder 1 is a recording device that receives a digital broadcast and records the received program.

  The DVD recorder 1 includes a tuner unit 2, a recording unit 3, D / A converters 61 and 62, an OSD (On-Screen Display) synthesis unit 5, D / A converters 61 and 62, a control unit 7, and remote control light reception. Part 8 is provided. A remote controller 80 and a display 102 are provided outside the DVD recorder 1.

  The antenna 101 receives radio waves. The tuner unit 2 (corresponding to the tuner unit of the present invention) includes a tuner 20 and a TV decoder 25. The tuner 20 includes a nonvolatile memory, a tuner pack, a terrestrial digital module, a television decoder 25, and a system decoder 26.

  The nonvolatile memory stores a tuning map for tuning by the tuner 20. Channel information for selecting each channel is registered in the channel selection map. The channel selection map assigns virtual channels by auto preset processing (not shown) by the control unit 7. Normally, the auto preset process is executed by the user at the start of use of the DVD recorder 1, and channel information is registered in a channel map of a nonvolatile memory (not shown) in the tuner unit 2.

  The tuner pack includes an IF filter, an IF amplifier, and the like. An IF filter (intermediate frequency) passes a signal of a predetermined physical channel. At this time, the tuner pack 21 refers to the tuning map of the nonvolatile memory in the tuner unit 2. Therefore, the tuner 20 can only select a channel registered in the channel map.

  The IF amplifier amplifies the signal output from the IF filter. With these configurations, the tuner unit 21 extracts the broadcast signal of the channel and outputs it to the terrestrial digital module 22.

  The terrestrial digital module includes a demodulation circuit, an error correction circuit, a multiplexer, and a buffer memory. The demodulating circuit demodulates the input broadcast signal into digital data TS (transport stream) by OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing) and outputs the demodulated signal to the error correction circuit. The error correction circuit corrects error information of the input TS (transport stream).

  A plurality of virtual channel programs are multiplexed and transmitted in the TS. The demultiplexer extracts a packet of one channel out of these virtual channels, stores the data stored in the extracted packet in the buffer memory, and outputs the channel number information to the control unit 7.

  The TS includes a PSI (Program Specific Information) or SI (Service Information) packet (hereinafter referred to as PSI / SI). The demultiplexer separates the PSI / SI from the TS, and the buffer memory stores it.

  The TV decoder 25 appropriately reads data stored in the buffer memory in the tuner 20. Then, video data and audio data are separated from the read data. The TV decoder 25 decompresses video data and audio data and outputs them.

  The system decoder 26 decodes the PSI / SI packet separated by the demultiplexer. The PSI / SI includes an EIT (Event Information Table). The EIT includes information related to a receivable program such as the program name, broadcast date and time, and broadcast content. The EIT includes broadcast program information of up to about 3 hours to be broadcast in the future. The system decoder 26 outputs these EIT and RRT information to the control unit 7.

  The recording unit 32 includes an encoder, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), an HD (Hard Disk), and a decoder as a configuration for recording a broadcast program. The encoder inputs and encodes the video signal output from the TV decoder 25. For example, it can be encoded in MPEG format. The HDD drives the HD. The HD records an encoded video signal. Here, recording a video signal of a broadcast program is referred to as “recording a broadcast program” or “recording a broadcast program”.

  The OSD synthesis unit 5 outputs a video signal of a character figure for displaying various settings of the DVD recorder 1. The OSD composition unit 5 includes an OSD image memory, and generates and outputs a video signal of characters or graphics stored in the OSD image memory based on a command given from the control unit 7. When a video signal is output from the TV decoder 25 or the decoder in the recording unit 32, the OSD synthesis unit 5 synthesizes this video signal. When the OSD synthesis unit 5 displays an EPG, the OSD synthesis unit 5 synthesizes and displays the EPG image without displaying the video signal output from these decoders.

  Note that the OSD synthesis unit 5 may be configured by a system IC combined with the control unit 7. Further, an OSD synthesis unit 5 may be provided in the tuner unit 2 and may be configured by a system IC combined with a microcomputer that controls the tuner unit 2 (not shown).

  The D / A conversion unit 61 converts the video signal output from the OSD synthesis unit 5 into an analog video signal and outputs the analog video signal to an external display 102 (such as a television receiver). The D / A converter 62 converts the audio signal output from the TV decoder 25 or the decoder 33 into an analog audio signal and outputs the analog audio signal to the speaker 103.

  The control unit 7 includes a microcomputer, and includes a CPU, a ROM (not shown) for storing subprograms in the control unit 7, and a RAM 73 for temporarily storing calculation results of the control unit 7. To control.

  In addition, the control unit 7 records a subroutine for performing thumbnail moving image recording processing 723, broadcast program display processing 724, and deletion processing 725 in the ROM. The control unit 7 creates an EPG (Electronic Program Guide) mainly using the EIT input from the system decoder 26.

  The remote control light receiving unit 8 receives an infrared signal from the remote control. The operation unit 8 receives a control input for operating the control unit 7. When the operator of the DVD recorder 1 or the remote controller is depressed, a predetermined control input is input to the control unit 7.

  In this embodiment, the D / A converters 61 and 62 are provided. However, when a digital signal compatible television is connected to the outside, the D / A converters 61 and 62 need not be provided. In this embodiment, the signal is received from the antenna 101, but may be received via a cable television transmission network.

  Next, the recording process performed by the thumbnail moving image recording process 723 of the present embodiment will be described using the flowchart of FIG. This process represents a preliminary process for displaying a thumbnail image displayed in the electronic program guide displayed in the broadcast program display process 724 as a moving image. Currently, future broadcast programs are different from broadcast programs that have already been broadcast. However, if the broadcast program is broadcast periodically, the content is similar. It becomes easy. Therefore, the following processing is performed.

In ST1, it is determined whether any of the receivable broadcast programs is the broadcast start time, and this process is in a standby state until the broadcast start time is reached (NO in ST1). When the broadcast start time comes (YES in ST1), the process moves to ST2. ST1 can be determined by, for example, searching for a program to be broadcast in the EPG data in advance, and causing a timer interruption when the searched program reaches the broadcast time.
In ST2, it is determined whether or not recording is currently possible. The recordable state refers to a case where all of the following states (A) to (C) are satisfied.

(A) The recording medium in the recording unit 32 used for the thumbnail moving image recording process 723, for example, a hard disk, is in a state where recording is possible. For example, another recording process is performed according to a user instruction, and the storage medium cannot be accessed.
(B) The storage medium in the recording unit 32 used for the thumbnail moving image recording process 723, for example, the remaining capacity of the hard disk is present.
(C) Due to copyright protection, etc., the video should not be prohibited from recording.

  In ST2, the above (A) to (C) are determined, and the process waits until recording is possible (NO in ST2). If recording is possible, that is, if all of (A) to (C) are satisfied (YES in ST2), the process moves to ST3.

  In ST3, recording is performed for display as thumbnails in later processing. Since the recording time of ST3 is displayed as a thumbnail, it may be about 1 minute, for example.

  In ST4, it is determined whether or not the recording in ST3 is completed. This determination may be terminated based on, for example, a timer interrupt in implementation. If the recording in ST3 is completed (YES in ST4), the recording is ended in ST5. When recording in the flow up to ST5, it is recorded in the recording unit of the recording unit 32 simultaneously with the name of the broadcast program.

  If there are a plurality of broadcast programs that match ST1, the flow of ST2 to ST5 is repeated, and the broadcast programs that match ST2 are selected and recorded in order. Further, the above flow may be periodically repeated with a timer interrupt, for example, every 5 minutes or 10 minutes, or the above flow is executed when the recording start time comes with reference to the EPG data. Interrupt processing may be performed.

  In the following, video that is recorded as shown in the flow of FIG. 2 and part of the broadcast program is recorded is referred to as a thumbnail video.

  A display example by the broadcast program display processing 724 will be described with reference to FIGS. When the remote control light receiving unit 8 receives a predetermined signal by a predetermined operation of the remote controller 80, an EPG representing channels CH1 to CH4 (horizontal axis) and time (vertical axis) in a matrix form as shown in FIGS. Is displayed. Each of the outer frames in FIGS. 3 to 5 represents an outer frame of the screen.

  In the example of FIG. 3, a broadcast program can be selected by the cursor key 81 in the EPG 91. That is, each time the key input of the cursor key 81 is received, the highlighted portion is moved. The highlight is displayed so that it can be seen that it is currently selected, such as bold or blinking. For the currently selected broadcast program (referred to as the broadcast program displayed in the highlight, the same applies hereinafter), the thumbnail video 52 recorded last week by the thumbnail video recording processing 723 is displayed outside the EPG 91. To do. Here, the thumbnail video 52 to be displayed is a broadcast program broadcast last week, and has substantially the same content. In order to search for contents having substantially the same content, specifically, the EPG 91 data is compared with the broadcast program recorded by the thumbnail video recording process 723, and the same channel is provided and is substantially the same as last week. Select a time zone that is a broadcast program with the same or similar name. By displaying the retrieved contents together with the EPG 91, the contents of the broadcast program can be shown to the user as a moving image with the last week's broadcast program as a clue. Further, the information 53 of the selected broadcast program may be displayed, but is not essential. In the example of FIG. 3, no thumbnail image is displayed in the EPG 91.

  In the display example of FIG. 4, thumbnail images 541 to 548 and a moving image 55 are displayed inside the EPG 92. The thumbnail moving image 51 is not displayed outside the EPG 92. Similar to the example of FIG. 3, the thumbnail images 541 to 545 compare the data of the EPG 92 with the name of the broadcast program recorded by the thumbnail moving image recording process 723, and are the same time zone and the same channel last week. It shall be limited to a broadcast program with a similar name.

  The data to be displayed as the thumbnail images 541 to 547 is a still image. If the thumbnail moving image recorded in the thumbnail moving image recording processing 723 is, for example, in the MPEG format, this still image can be obtained by extracting an MPEG I picture. As to which part of the I picture is to be extracted, for example, the first I picture in the recorded data can be used. Further, an operation for selecting an I picture in the middle of a thumbnail video may be received from the user, and a scene in the middle may be displayed.

  Further, when the highlight 521 is moved by operating the cursor key 81, the moving image 55 is changed to a still image. For example, the still picture immediately before the cursor key 81 is pressed is displayed as an I picture. On the other hand, for the part where the cursor key 81 is newly pressed, the reproduction of the recording data extracted with the thumbnail image is started from the frame where the still image of the thumbnail moving image is displayed.

  Since the thumbnail images 541 to 547 are displayed as still images for the unselected portion, the approximate broadcast program content can be grasped with the still images. Further, the reduced moving image 55 is displayed in the selected portion (highlight 521 portion). Further, since the moving image is displayed in the selected portion, more detailed broadcast program information can be provided, so that the user can more easily grasp the contents of the program.

  In the example of FIG. 5, in addition to the moving image 52 shown in FIG. 3, the thumbnail images 541 to 547 shown in FIG. 4 are displayed. At this time, as shown in FIG. 4, the thumbnail moving image may be reproduced also for the highlight portion inside the EPG.

  The number of thumbnail images 541 to 547 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 is not limited to seven. That is, as described above, the same number of broadcast programs having the same or similar names in the same time zone and the same channel as last week are displayed.

  Next, the flow of the broadcast program display processing 724 will be described using the flowchart of FIG. In ST11, a predetermined broadcast program in the EPG is selected, and this broadcast program is compared with the broadcast program information of the broadcast program recorded in the thumbnail video recording process 723, and the channel and day of the week are the same and the time is the same. Search for almost identical thumbnail videos.

  Here, the “predetermined broadcast program” selected in ST11 is a broadcast program in the highlighted portion in the display example of FIG. In the example of FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, it is one of the broadcast programs in each column. In the examples of FIGS. 4 and 5, the thumbnails 541 to 545 are respectively displayed, so that the entire flow of FIG. 6 is repeatedly executed by the number of broadcast program frames.

In ST12, it is determined whether or not the thumbnail moving image searched in ST11 exists. If the thumbnail moving image searched in ST11 does not exist (NO in ST2), the flow in FIG. 6 ends. If there is a thumbnail movie searched in ST11 (YES in ST), the process moves to ST13.
In ST13, it is determined whether the name of the broadcast program selected in ST11 is substantially the same as the name of the broadcast program searched in ST11. Here, “substantially the same” means that the broadcast program recorded in the thumbnail video recording process 723 is compared with the character string of the broadcast program selected in ST1, and the same one and a predetermined rate (for example, 80% or more) ) A case where the above matches. At this time, only the subject at the beginning may be compared. The distinction between the opening theme and the subtitle is determined using, for example, punctuation marks and “series” as a delimiter.

  If it is determined in ST13 that the broadcast program names searched in ST11 are substantially the same (YES in ST13), the process moves to ST14.

If the name of the broadcast program selected in ST11 is not substantially the same as the name of the broadcast program searched in ST11 (NO in ST13), the flow ends.

  In ST14, the recorded data searched in ST11 is displayed as a thumbnail still image or a moving image. In the example of FIG. 3, the recorded data is reproduced as a moving image in the thumbnail moving image 51 column. In the example of FIGS. 4 and 5, thumbnail images corresponding to the respective columns inside the EPGs 92 and 93 are combined and displayed in these columns. In order to display as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the above flow of FIG. 6 is executed for the number of columns that can be displayed on the screen.

  Next, the deletion process 725 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. This process is a post-process of the flow of FIG. That is, this process is a process for preventing the recording medium such as a hard disk in the recording unit 32 from being filled with the data recorded in the thumbnail moving image recording process 723.

  In ST21, it is determined whether or not there is a thumbnail moving image that has passed for one week after being recorded in the thumbnail moving image recording process 723. When recording in the thumbnail moving image recording process 723, the date and time of recording are also recorded and compared with this time. When one week has passed after recording, the broadcast program that is substantially the same as the broadcast program recorded one week ago is finished, and there is no need to display it in the broadcast program display processing 724. Therefore, since it is unnecessary data, this is judged. If there is recording data that has passed for one week after recording in the thumbnail moving image recording processing 723 (YES in ST21), the process moves to ST22 and this recording data is deleted. If it does not exist (NO in ST21), the process moves to ST23.

  If the capacity of the storage medium such as a hard disk is small in ST23 (YES in ST23), the recorded data is deleted from the oldest in ST22 even if one week has not passed since recording.

  In addition, as EPG91-93, all the channels may be displayed, selection may be received beforehand and the selected channel may be displayed. Regarding the time zone displayed in the EPG 91 to 93, selection may be accepted and only the time zone may be displayed.

  When a broadcast program is selected with the cursor key 81 on the EPG, a predetermined broadcast program, for example, the upper left broadcast program may be displayed by default without pressing any key. In this case, the broadcast program displayed by default corresponds to the “broadcast program selected by the“ selection means ”in the present invention.

  The recording unit 32 includes an HD (hard disk) and an HDD (hard disk drive). However, any medium can be used as long as the capacity is sufficient, such as a DVD drive, an optical disk drive, and a flash memory.

Configuration of broadcast receiving apparatus according to the first embodiment Configuration of broadcast receiving apparatus according to the first embodiment The figure showing the example of the initial setting process of the broadcast receiving apparatus of 1st Embodiment. Flow diagram of the reception restriction process of the broadcast receiving apparatus of the first embodiment The figure showing the example of a screen display at the time of the display process of the broadcast receiving apparatus of 1st Embodiment. Flow of broadcast program display processing at the time of display processing of the broadcast receiving apparatus of the first embodiment The flowchart showing the deletion process of the broadcast receiving apparatus of 1st Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

1-DVD recorder, 2-tuner section, 20-tuner, 25-TV decoder,
26-system decoder, 32-recording unit, 5-OSD synthesis unit,
541-547-thumbnail images, 55-thumbnail videos,
61-D / A converter, 62-D / A converter,
7-control unit, 71-nonvolatile memory, 72-ROM,
723-thumbnail video recording process, 724-broadcast program display process, 725-deletion process,
73-RAM, 8-Remote receiver, 80-Remote control, 81-Cursor keys,
83-Enter key, 101-Antenna, 102-Display

Claims (5)

In a broadcast receiving apparatus that receives a broadcast program of a predetermined channel,
The broadcast program is partially received in all the channels that can be received or in a predetermined channel in all time periods or in a predetermined time period, and broadcast program information related to the broadcast programs is received. Receiving means;
Recording each of the partially received broadcast programs by the receiving means as thumbnail videos, and thumbnail video recording means for recording broadcast program information related to the thumbnail videos together;
Electronic program guide output means for receiving and outputting data of an electronic program guide that is a list of broadcast program information;
Selection means for receiving selection of a broadcast program from the electronic program guide and outputting a highlight display in a column of the selected broadcast program;
Search means for searching for a broadcast program recorded as the thumbnail video, the broadcast program having the same channel and day of the week as the selected broadcast program, and having substantially the same name and broadcast time,
A broadcast receiving apparatus comprising: playback means for playing back a thumbnail video of a broadcast program searched by the search means as a video in the highlighted broadcast program column or at a position outside the electronic program guide. The search means searches for the broadcast program not only for the selected broadcast program but also for each program displayed in the electronic program guide,
2. The broadcast according to claim 1, wherein for the broadcast program other than the selected broadcast program, the reproduction unit reproduces each broadcast program searched by the search unit as a thumbnail still image in each column of the electronic program guide. Receiver device.   The thumbnail video recording means records the broadcast program only when there is a remaining capacity in the recording capacity and recording of the broadcast program to be recorded is not prohibited. The broadcast receiving apparatus according to any one of 2 above.   The thumbnail moving image recording means is (A) the thumbnail still image on the condition that one week has elapsed from the recording date of the broadcast program and that the storage capacity for recording the broadcast program is less than a predetermined capacity. The broadcast receiving apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a broadcast program recorded as a picture or a thumbnail video is deleted.   The broadcast receiving apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the thumbnail moving image recording unit records the thumbnail still image or the thumbnail moving image on a hard disk.

Images