CN103379378A - Method for displaying electronic program guide - Google Patents

Abstract

A method for displaying electronic program guide is suitable for a digital television device. The method comprises the following steps: obtaining a program data and an image data according to the digital signal; selecting a temporary storage area from the storage unit, wherein the temporary storage area comprises an information block and an image block different from the information block; writing the program data into the information block; writing the image data into the image block; selecting a display area from the temporary storage area, and generating a display picture for display according to the display area, wherein the display area comprises the information block and a part of the image block, and the display picture comprises an electronic program guide corresponding to the program data and an image picture corresponding to the image data.

Description

Method for displaying electronic program guide

technical field

The invention relates to a method for displaying digital television information, in particular to a method for displaying an electronic program guide.

Background technique

In recent years, compared with the existing TV programs using analog signals, TV programs using digital signals have advantages such as higher resolution and better picture quality, so digital TV programs have gradually become the mainstream of the market.

A digital TV signal usually includes two parts: an Electronic Program Guide (EPG) and a digital picture. Generally speaking, the user can present the above-mentioned digital screen through the digital television device, and can simultaneously present the electronic program guide through the digital television device by using the corresponding special key function of the remote controller.

Since the display area of a digital television device is fixed, that is to say, the size of the screen limits the range of the display area, how to properly and efficiently present the electronic program guide and digital images synchronously has become one of the important issues. one.

The existing method is to overlap the electronic program guide and the digital screen one after the other, or present them in a semi-transparent manner. However, no matter whether the electronic program guide is completely covered on the digital screen by overlapping, or the electronic program guide is partially covered on the digital screen by a semi-transparent method, the digital screen will be affected to varying degrees due to the display of the electronic program guide. Influence, causing troubles when users watch digital images. In addition, the above-mentioned method also makes the digital TV device generally need to spend extra time to deal with the complex image overlapping problem.

Contents of the invention

The object of the present invention is to provide a method for displaying an electronic program guide.

The method for displaying the electronic program guide of the present invention is suitable for a digital television device for receiving digital signals. The digital television device includes a picture processor, a display, and a storage unit. The method includes the following steps: (A) the image processor obtains a program data and an image data according to the received digital signal; (B) the image processor selects a temporary storage area from the storage unit, and the temporary storage area including an information block and an image block different from the information block; (C) the picture processor writes the program data into the information block; (D) the picture processor writes the image data into the an image block; and (E) the image processor selects a display area from the temporary storage area, and generates a display image for displaying by the display according to the display area, wherein the display area includes the information block and As a part of the image block, the display frame includes an electronic program guide corresponding to the program data and an image frame corresponding to the image data.

Preferably, in step (C), the information block has a start position and an end position, and the picture processor writes the program data into the information block according to the start position and end position of the information block .

Preferably, in step (D), the image block has a start position and an end position, and the image processor writes the image data into the image block according to the start position and end position of the image block .

Preferably, in step (E), the display area has a start position equal to the start position of the information block, the start position of the image block is adjacent to the end position of the information block, the The picture processor generates the display picture according to the initial position of the display area.

Preferably, in step (E), the display area has a start position equal to the start position of the image block, the end position of the image block is adjacent to the start position of the information block, and the The picture processor generates the display picture according to the initial position of the display area.

Preferably, a step (F) is also included between step (A) and step (B): a remote control device controlling the digital TV device transmits a corresponding remote control device for the digital TV device to receive according to the user's operation. signal.

Preferably, in step (B), the image processor selects the temporary storage area from the storage unit according to the remote control signal.

Preferably, in step (E), the electronic program guide includes a channel list and a program description table.

Preferably, in step (E), the electronic program guide includes a program flow table.

The beneficial effect of the present invention is that: by writing the electronic program guide and the image picture into independent information blocks and image blocks respectively, the user will not be affected by watching the image picture due to viewing the electronic program guide; in addition, the digital TV device There is also no need to spend extra time dealing with image overlapping issues.

Description of drawings

FIG. 1 is a system diagram illustrating a digital television device corresponding to the method for displaying an electronic program guide of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a preferred embodiment of the method for displaying an electronic program guide according to the present invention;

Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating the video frame of the preferred embodiment;

Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating the display screen of the preferred embodiment;

Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating the display screen of the preferred embodiment;

Fig. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating the display screen of the preferred embodiment;

Fig. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating the display screen of this preferred embodiment;

Fig. 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating the display screen of this preferred embodiment;

Fig. 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating the display screen of this preferred embodiment;

Fig. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating the display screen of this preferred embodiment;

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram illustrating the display screen of the preferred embodiment.

Detailed ways

The present invention will be described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a preferred embodiment of the method for displaying an electronic program guide of the present invention is applicable to a digital television device 1 for receiving digital signals. The digital television device 1 includes an infrared receiver 11 , a digital signal receiver 12 , a tuner (Tuner) 13 , a picture processor 14 , a display 15 , and a storage unit 16 .

The infrared receiver 11 receives a remote control signal transmitted by a remote control device (not shown) for controlling the digital television device 1 . Of course, the digital TV device 1 can also be controlled in other ways, such as an On-Screen Display (OSD), or other existing technologies that can be easily conceived, and are not limited to the preferred embodiment. public.

The digital signal receiver 12 is used for receiving digital TV signals transmitted by a base station (not shown).

The tuner 13 and the picture processor 14 are used to jointly process the digital TV signal received by the digital signal receiver 12 . In this preferred embodiment, the tuner 13 is an existing channel selector, and the image processor 14 is an existing scaler for adjusting image resolution.

The display 15 is used for displaying the images generated by the image processor 14 .

The storage unit 16 is used for storing data generated by the picture processor 14 during processing digital TV signals. In this preferred embodiment, the storage unit 16 is a Random Access Memory (RAM). Of course, the storage unit 16 can also be other memory with the same and similar functions, which is not limited to the one disclosed in this preferred embodiment.

With an application example, the method for displaying the electronic program guide of the present invention and the operation among the above-mentioned infrared receiver 11, digital signal receiver 12, tuner 13, picture processor 14, display 15 and storage unit 16 will be further described. .

Firstly, after the user turns on the digital TV device 1, the digital signal receiver 12 starts to receive the digital signal transmitted by the base station.

As shown in step S21, the tuner 13 and the image processor 14 obtain a program data and an image data according to the received digital signal. In this preferred embodiment, the digital signal is an Advanced Television Systems Committee (AT SC) signal and includes a number of Program and System Information Protocol (PSIP) tables. The program data obtained by the picture processor 14 from the program system information protocol tables include a program flow table (EventInformation Table, EIT), a channel list (Virtual Channel Table, VCT), and a program description table (Extended Text Table, ETT) etc. However, the details of the digital signal processing by the tuner 13 and the image processor 14 are easily understood by those skilled in the art, and are not the focus of the present invention, so they will not be repeated here.

As shown in step S22, the remote control device controlling the digital TV device 1 transmits a corresponding remote control signal received by the infrared receiver 11 of the digital TV device 1 according to the user's operation. That is to say, when the user uses the remote control device and selects a special function button, such as "Channel-Tab" or "Display", the remote control device will send the corresponding message for the infrared receiver 11 of the digital television device 1 to receive.

As shown in step S23, the image processor 14 selects a temporary storage area from the storage unit 16 according to the remote control signal. The temporary storage area includes an information block and an image block different from the information block. That is to say, the image processor 14 selects a certain location (Address) range in the storage unit 16 as the temporary storage area. The positions of the information block and the image block in the temporary storage area are independent of each other and do not overlap.

Moreover, the information block has a start position and an end position, and the image block also has a start position and an end position.

As shown in step S24, the picture processor 14 writes the program data into the information block. That is to say, the picture processor 14 writes the program data into the information block according to the start position and the end position of the information block.

As shown in step S25, the frame processor 14 writes the image data into the image block. That is to say, the frame processor 14 writes the image data into the image block according to the start position and the end position of the image block.

From the above two steps, it can be seen that since the program data and the image data are respectively written into independent position intervals, when the digital TV device 1 intends to output a display image including the two, there is no need to additionally deal with complicated image overlapping issues .

As shown in step S26, the image processor 14 selects a display area from the temporary storage area. Of course, the display area also has a start position and an end position. The display area means that the data located in the display area will be processed by the image processor 14 and output to the display 15 .

As shown in step S27, the image processor 14 generates a display image for the display 15 according to the display area. Wherein the display area includes the information block and a part of the image block. The display frame includes an electronic program guide corresponding to the program data and an image frame corresponding to the image data. That is to say, the image processor 14 generates the display image according to the start position and the end position of the display area. The location interval covered by the display area includes the complete information block and part of the image block.

In this preferred embodiment, the electronic program guide includes at least one of the above-mentioned program flow table, channel list, and program description table. The following will be further described in conjunction with application examples, and will be explained according to the special function keys selected by the user.

User select program information key:

Referring to FIG. 3 , it represents the image frame generated by the image processor 14 according to the image data.

Referring to FIG. 4 , when the user presses the "program information key", the image processor 14 will generate the display image 41 . Wherein the display frame 41 includes the electronic program guide and the image frame 43 located below the electronic program guide. The EPG includes the program flow table 42 . The content of the program flow table 42 includes the program flow of the channel.

It is worth mentioning that the display area has a start position equal to the start position of the information block, and the start position of the image block is adjacent to the end position of the information block. In other words, when the display 15 displays the display screen 41, the user can clearly view the electronic program guide and watch the video screen 43 at the same time. Displaying the program flow table 42 is affected.

Certainly, the arrangement of the EPG and the video image 43 by the image processor 14 is not the only display method. The user can also adjust the relative positional relationship between the EPG and the image frame 43 through other keys (eg, arrow keys) of the remote control device.

For example, referring to FIG. 5 , when the user presses the "program information key", the image processor 14 will generate the display image 51 . Wherein the display frame 51 includes the electronic program guide and the image frame 53 above the electronic program guide. The EPG includes the program flow table 52 .

It is worth mentioning that the display area has a start position equal to the start position of the image block, the end position of the image block is adjacent to the start position of the information block, and the picture processor 14 The display frame is generated according to the initial position of the display area. In other words, when the display 15 displays the display screen 51, the user can clearly view the electronic program guide and watch the video screen 53 at the same time. Displaying the program flow table 52 is affected.

For example, referring to FIG. 6 , when the user presses the "program information key", the image processor 14 will generate the display image 61 . The display screen 61 includes the EPG and the image screen 63 on the right side of the EPG. The EPG includes the program flow table 62 . And when the user watches the video frame 63 , it will not be affected by the display of the program flow table 62 on the display 15 .

For example, referring to FIG. 7 , when the user presses the "program information key", the image processor 14 will generate the display image 71 . The display screen 71 includes the EPG and the image screen 73 on the left of the EPG. The EPG includes the program flow table 72 . And when the user watches the video frame 73 , it will not be affected by the display of the program flow table 72 on the display 15 .

User select channel list key:

Referring to FIG. 8 , when the user presses the "channel list key", the image processor 14 will generate the display image 81 . The display screen 81 includes the EPG and the image screen 84 located at the bottom right of the EPG. The EPG includes the program description table 82 and the channel list 83 . And when the user watches the video frame 84 , it will not be affected by the display 15 displaying the program description table 82 and the channel list 83 .

Referring to FIG. 9 , when the user presses the "channel list key", the screen processor 14 will generate the display screen 91 . The display screen 91 includes the EPG and the image screen 94 located at the upper left of the EPG. The EPG includes the program description table 92 and the channel list 93 . And when the user watches the video frame 94 , it will not be affected by the display 15 displaying the program description table 92 and the channel list 93 .

Referring to FIG. 10 , when the user presses the "channel list key", the screen processor 14 will generate the display screen 101 . The display screen 101 includes the EPG and the image screen 104 located at the bottom left of the EPG. The EPG includes the program description table 102 and the channel list 103 . And when the user watches the video frame 104, it will not be affected by the display 15 displaying the program description table 102 and the channel list 103.

Referring to FIG. 11 , when the user presses the "channel list key", the image processor 14 will generate the display image 111 . The display screen 111 includes the EPG and the image screen 114 located at the upper right of the EPG. The EPG includes the program description table 112 and the channel list 113 . And when the user watches the video frame 114 , it will not be affected by the display 15 displaying the program description list 112 and the channel list 113 .

It is worth mentioning that the user can use other keys (for example, arrow keys) of the remote control device to browse each channel in the channel list. At this time, the relevant program description will be displayed on the program description table corresponding to the channel to be browsed. . However, the display screen still includes the video screen of the channel before browsing. Therefore, when the user watches the image picture related to a certain channel, he can also browse the program contents of other channels in advance through the channel list and the program description list.

Of course, if the user browses the program content he likes, he can also select the channel he wants to watch in the channel list through the input button (for example, Enter key) of the remote control device. At this time, the display screen includes only the user The video screen of the selected channel.

As can be seen from the above description, the design of the present invention has the following effects:

Since the EPG and the image frame are respectively written into the information block and the image block of different position ranges, there is no need to additionally deal with the problem of image overlapping when displaying the corresponding display frame. And because the electronic program guide and the video screen in the display screen are independently displayed, it will not happen that part of the video screen is covered to cause trouble for the user when watching.

Claims (9)

1. a method that shows electronic program guides is applicable to one for the digital television apparatus that receives digital signal, and this digital television apparatus comprises a picture processor, a display, and a storage element; It is characterized in that the method includes the steps of: (A) this picture processor obtains a program data and an image data according to the digital signal that receives; (B) this picture processor is from the selected working area of this storage element, and this working area comprises that an information block and differs from the image block of this information block; (C) this picture processor writes this information block with this program data; (D) this picture processor writes this image block with this image data; And (E) this picture processor from this working area a selected viewing area, and according to the display frame of this viewing area generation one for this display demonstration of confession, wherein this viewing area comprises the wherein part of this information block and this image block, and this display frame comprises a pair of electronic program guides and a pair of image frame that should image data that should program data.

2. the method for demonstration electronic program guides according to claim 1, it is characterized in that: this information block has an initial position and an end position in step (C), this picture processor writes this information block according to original position and the end position of this information block with this program data.

3. the method for demonstration electronic program guides according to claim 2, it is characterized in that: this image block has an initial position and an end position in step (D), this picture processor writes this image block according to original position and the end position of this image block with this image data.

4. the method for demonstration electronic program guides according to claim 3, it is characterized in that: this viewing area has an original position that equates with the original position of this information block in step (E), the final position of the original position of this image block and this information block is adjacent, and this picture processor produces this display frame according to the original position of this viewing area.

5. the method for demonstration electronic program guides according to claim 3, it is characterized in that: this viewing area has an original position that equates with the original position of this image block in step (E), the original position of the final position of this image block and this information block is adjacent, and this picture processor produces this display frame according to the original position of this viewing area.

6. the method for demonstration electronic program guides according to claim 1, it is characterized in that: also comprise a step (F) between step (A) and step (B): the remote control of this digital television apparatus of control is according to user's operation, transmits a remote control signal corresponding and that receive for this digital television apparatus.

7. the method for demonstration electronic program guides according to claim 6 is characterized in that: in step (B), this picture processor according to this remote control signal from selected this working area of this storage element.

8. the method for demonstration electronic program guides according to claim 1, it is characterized in that: this electronic program guides comprises a channel list and a program specific table in step (E).

9. the method for demonstration electronic program guides according to claim 1, it is characterized in that: this electronic program guides comprises a program flow table in step (E).

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