JP4323112B2 - Program guide device, digital broadcast receiver, program reservation receiving method, and digital broadcast receiving method - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a program guide device, a digital broadcast receiver, a program reservation receiving method, and a digital broadcast receiving method.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, digitalization and high-efficiency compression coding have progressed in the broadcasting field, and accordingly, various digital broadcasting services that can broadcast a large number of programs using multiple channels have been started around the world. Since many programs can be broadcast due to the increase in the number of channels, the program selection range is expanded for the user. In such digital broadcasting, data related to a program can be transmitted together with video and audio. There is a service called an electronic program guide that makes it easy for a user to select a desired program using this data.
[0003]
The electronic program guide is such that, for example, as shown in FIG. 3, programs for several channels are displayed on a screen of a television or the like for several hours. In FIG. 3, channels “101” to “103” in the displayable range are targeted, and each time zone from 14:00 to 17:00 is displayed. From such an electronic program guide, the user can obtain program information of each time zone for each channel, for example, the title and description of the program, and select a desired channel. It is also possible to view a list of programs a few days ahead by changing the channel and time in the electronic program guide displayed on the screen. The user can reserve viewing of a program several days ahead via the displayed electronic program guide.
[0004]
In conventional electronic program guides, for example, in the case of satellite broadcasting, almost all data transmitted from a transponder, for example, one week of program data are electronically edited and displayed. Therefore, it is necessary for the user to select only the portion of the data to be displayed from all the data. For this purpose, the user selects and displays the contents of the program guide, or moves the cursor to select the program. When going, the reaction speed tends to become worse.
[0005]
On the other hand, there is also a program table in a form as shown in FIG. 1 in which only programs currently being broadcast, that is, programs being viewed or programs being broadcast on other channels are displayed as back programs. In the figure, 1 is the channel number of each channel indicated in the program information, 2 is the name assigned to each channel number, 3 is the title of the program of each channel currently being broadcast, 4 is the end time of each program 5 is the current time. However, if only the program that is currently being broadcast is displayed, the title of the program that will end soon will be displayed at the turn of the program, and you will get the information you want to know most, that is, the information of the program you are about to watch I can't.
[0006]
In view of this, there has been proposed a program guide that displays information on a program that is about to start, as shown in FIG. In the figure, 1, 2 and 5 are the same channel number, channel name and current time as in FIG. 6 is the title of the program to be broadcast next in each channel, and 7 is the start time of those programs. That is, this program table includes a current program table indicating a currently broadcast program title in program data supplied from a content supply source via a broadcast wave, and a next program title scheduled to be broadcast next in the program data. The program table is composed of a program guide, and either the current program guide or the next program guide is selectively displayed on the TV screen or the like. Thereby, not only the program currently broadcast in the program data but also the program that is about to start can be confirmed.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
An object of the present invention is to provide a program guide device, a digital broadcast receiver, a program reservation receiving method, and a digital broadcast receiving method that are more convenient.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve this object, the program guide device according to the first invention receives means for displaying a program guide based on program information relating to a program being broadcast or scheduled to be broadcast, and accepts reservations for viewing the program via this display. Means for displaying a program guide for a program to be broadcast next to a program that is currently being broadcasted without receiving an instruction for a display range based on the program information. The reservation accepting means includes means for accepting a reservation for viewing the next broadcasted program via this display.
[0009]
Here, as a program guide device, for example, an EPG (electronic program guide) is displayed based on an EIT (event information table) supplied as SI (service information) by data broadcasting in digital broadcasting, and a program reservation is accepted. Applicable. As the program information, in addition to this EIT, for example, information supplied via the Internet or the like also corresponds. The program table includes, for example, information on the title, channel, and broadcast time of each program. The program broadcast next to the currently broadcast program refers to a program broadcast next to the program currently broadcast on each channel indicated in the program information. The display range refers to a time zone or a channel range to be displayed.
[0010]
Conventionally, for example, a program guide based on program information for one week is displayed for a desired time and channel while the user changes the display range on the screen, and the viewing of the program is reserved. When it is desired to reserve viewing of a program that is broadcast next to the program that is currently broadcast, it takes time and effort to display the portion of the program that is broadcast next. On the other hand, in the present invention, since there is provided a means for displaying a program table for a program that is broadcast next to a program that is currently broadcast based on program information without having to receive an instruction about the display range, the user can display Even if an instruction is not given for the range, a program guide for a program to be broadcast next can be displayed to reserve viewing.
[0011]
A digital broadcast receiver according to a second aspect of the present invention is a digital broadcast receiver for receiving a reservation for viewing a program broadcast next to a program currently being broadcast based on program information included in the digital broadcast. The program guide device according to Item 1, and means for selecting a channel according to a reservation for viewing the received program.
[0012]
The digital broadcast receiver according to a third aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the second aspect of the invention, there is provided means for setting whether or not to perform channel selection according to the reservation even when the program currently being viewed is not finished. Features.
[0013]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a program reservation accepting method comprising: a step of displaying a program guide based on program information relating to a program being broadcast or scheduled to be broadcast; and a step of accepting a program viewing reservation via the display. In the reservation accepting method, the display step includes a step of displaying a program guide for a program to be broadcast next to a currently broadcasted program without receiving an instruction on a display range based on the program information, The reservation accepting step has a step of accepting a reservation for viewing the next broadcasted program through this display.
[0014]
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a digital broadcast receiving method which is broadcast next to a currently broadcasted program by the program reservation accepting method of claim 4 based on the step of receiving the digital broadcast and the program information included in the digital broadcast. Receiving a reservation for viewing the program, and selecting a channel according to the reservation for viewing the received program.
[0015]
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a digital broadcast receiving method according to the fifth aspect, further comprising a step of accepting a setting as to whether or not to perform channel selection according to the reservation even when a program currently being viewed is not ended. It is characterized by.
[0016]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
A TV broadcast receiver according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a microcomputer, and present and next information EIT [p / p] in an event information table that is part of program information transmitted together with video and audio of a program from a transponder. f] is processed by the microcomputer to obtain information on the title and the program start time of the current program and the next program in each station, and the current program guide and the next program guide are displayed on the TV screen. The current program guide and the next program guide can be switched and displayed by operating buttons or the like on the remote controller.
[0017]
FIG. 1 shows a current program guide. In the figure, 1 is the channel number of each channel indicated in the program information, 2 is the name assigned to each channel number, 3 is the title of the program of each channel currently being broadcast, 4 is the end time of each program 5 is the current time.
[0018]
FIG. 2 shows the next program guide. In the figure, 1, 2 and 5 are the channel number, channel name and current time, respectively, which are the same as in FIG. 6 is a title of a program to be broadcast next in each channel, 7 is a start time of those programs, and 8 is a cursor for designating each channel.
[0019]
In these program guides, the titles and the like of each program are displayed so that they can be satisfactorily listed for each channel. The cursor 8 can be moved in the vertical direction of the screen by a key operation of the remote controller attached to the receiver or the receiver main body so that the instruction of each channel can be performed.
[0020]
The user can browse the program guide by pressing a browsing display button provided on the remote controller. That is, when the user presses the display button while watching a TV program, the microcomputer of the receiver activates the program guide browser in response to this, and based on the received event information table, the current program guide in FIG. To display. The user can confirm the title of the program currently being viewed and know the title of the program currently being broadcast on other channels by looking at the program guide.
[0021]
Next, when the user operates a predetermined button on the remote controller or the receiver main body, the microcomputer displays the next program guide in FIG. 2 on the TV screen. The user can know the title of the program broadcast on each channel by looking at this program guide. In addition, if there is a program to be viewed next, the viewing can be reserved. The reservation can be made by operating the cursor movement key on the remote controller or the receiver main body to move the cursor 8 to the position of the next program to be viewed and pressing the reservation button.
[0022]
When the reservation button is pressed, the microcomputer recognizes the reserved program based on the position of the cursor 8 and stores the broadcast start time, channel, and the like of the program. Thereafter, when the user presses the display button, the microcomputer again starts receiving the channel of the program being viewed, and the user can start viewing the program that was being viewed again. Then, based on the broadcast start time and channel of the stored program, the microcomputer selects the channel when the broadcast start time of the reserved program comes, so that the program can be viewed.
[0023]
According to the present embodiment, only the current program guide and the next program guide are switched and displayed based on information on the current and next programs in the EIT, and the program to be viewed in the next broadcast program through the next program guide is displayed. Since it is now possible to make a reservation for viewing, the next program information is selected from a large amount of program information to be displayed and then broadcasted in comparison with the prior art that requires reservation. It is possible to easily make a reservation for viewing a program to be viewed among the programs.
[0024]
Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be appropriately modified and implemented. For example, in the above description, when the broadcast start time of the reserved program is reached, the channel of the reserved program is selected unconditionally regardless of the end of the currently viewed program. Even when the currently viewed program has not ended, it may be possible to set whether or not to select the channel at the start time of the reserved program.
[0025]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, based on program information, it is not necessary to receive an instruction about a display range, and a program guide for a program to be broadcast next to a currently broadcast program is displayed and then broadcasted. Since a reservation for viewing a program to be broadcast is accepted, a reservation for viewing a program to be broadcast next can be made extremely easily. The ability to easily reserve a program to be broadcast next greatly improves the convenience of program reservation.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a current program guide displayed by a TV broadcast receiver according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a next program guide displayed by the TV broadcast receiver according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a conventional electronic program guide.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a conventional next program guide.
[Explanation of symbols]
1: Channel, 2: Name of channel, 3: Title of program currently being broadcast, 4: End time of program, 5: Current time, 6: Title of program to be broadcast next, 7: End time of program, 8: Cursor.

Claims (2)

Means for receiving a digital broadcast, a program guide device for accepting a reservation for viewing a program broadcast next to a program currently being broadcast based on program information included in the digital broadcast, and a reservation for viewing the received program a digital broadcast receiver and a means for performing a channel selection was and follow at the time of該番set of broadcast start,
The program guide device comprises means for displaying a program guide based on program information relating to a program being broadcast or scheduled to be broadcast, and means for accepting reservations for viewing a program via this display,
The display means includes means for displaying a program guide for a program to be broadcast next to a program that is currently being broadcast without receiving an instruction about a display range based on the program information,
The reservation receiving means is intended to accept a reservation for viewing a program to be subsequently broadcasted through the display,
The digital broadcast receiver further, the reservation by the receiving means when the broadcast start of the program accepts the reservation can with the currently viewed program is not finished, means for setting whether to perform channel selection in accordance with the reservation A digital broadcast receiver comprising: A step of receiving a digital broadcast, a step of accepting a reservation for viewing a program to be broadcast next to a program currently being broadcast by a predetermined program reservation acceptance method based on program information included in the digital broadcast, and an accepted program a digital broadcast receiving method that includes a step of performing to the viewing reservation tuning was and follow at the time of該番set of broadcast start,
The program reservation accepting method includes a step of displaying a program guide based on program information relating to a program being broadcast or scheduled to be broadcast, and a step of accepting a reservation for viewing a program via this display,
The display step includes a step of displaying a program guide for a program that is broadcast next to a program that is currently being broadcast without receiving an instruction about a display range based on the program information,
The reservation acceptance process is intended to accept a reservation of viewing of programs broadcasted then through the display,
The digital broadcast receiving method further wherein when broadcast start of the program accepts the reservation in the reservation acceptance process can and the currently viewed program is not finished, accept the setting of whether to perform channel selection in accordance with the reservation A digital broadcast receiving method comprising the steps of:

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