JP2003333484A - Program recording/reproducing system, method therefor and program thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a program recording/reproducing system which searches whether or not program recording is completed, or whether or not the program is recorded onto a specified portion and is in a state of viewing, and displays it to enable broadcasting of the program. <P>SOLUTION: A program which has already finished being broadcasted or a program which is on the air is searched in the inside of a program recording/ reproducing apparatus or an external recording apparatus, etc., over a network by using program information as a searching key, a portion equivalent to a present time is clearly expressed on a time axis being the whole length of the total time of the program, and depicting processing such as changing the color of a band is applied to a place capable of being viewed which is a portion where the broadcasting is finished before the present time (a time band where an image is present). Also, an electronic program guide concerning to a program which can be viewed although its broadcast has been finished is created and displayed together with programs which is on the air and is not broadcasted yet, thereby enabling viewers to view these programs. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a program recording / playback system, a program recording / playback method, and a program recording / playback program for recording and playing a program, and particularly when a program is provided with a time shift function or when recording is performed on a network. The present invention relates to a suitable program recording / playback system, program recording / playback method, and program recording / playback program.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Various program recording / playback devices have been developed which are equipped with a randomly accessible memory such as a hard disk in place of a conventional video tape. By using these program recording / playback apparatuses, it is possible to record a program transmitted from a television broadcasting station while viewing the already recorded portion of the program. In addition, since a program recording / playback system can be used to buffer such a program for a relatively long time, even if the viewer does not perform a recording operation, the program is already broadcast. You will be able to watch the part. Such a function of watching the currently broadcast television program backwards in time or from the beginning of the program is generally called a time slip function or a time shift function. In this specification, this will be referred to as a time shift function.

When the time shift function is used, the user can watch the program from the beginning while recording the program, or temporarily stop the viewing while watching the program being broadcast in real time and resume it later. It becomes possible to do. On the other hand, while using the time shift function,
It is necessary to realize a method of presenting information and an operation method that are not considered in the conventional program recording / playback system such as the difference between the current time and the viewing time. For example, 10 minutes ago or 30
Since it is possible to see the already broadcasted part such as minutes ago, it is possible to make a misunderstanding that the time before the current time is the current time from the time displayed as the current time on the screen or the progress of the program There is a nature.

Further, when a program recording / playback system having such a time shift function becomes common and the amount of memory for storing programs becomes large, the programs including those currently being broadcast are already broadcast. You can freely accumulate and watch the parts of the program. Therefore, the idea that which program will be broadcast when will fade from the viewer side. As a result, the user himself or herself may recognize that there is a program that can be viewed even though the broadcasting has already ended or that the program can be watched by the operation of another user or automatically by the system. Even if there is no intentional instruction of, it becomes necessary to clearly indicate to the user.

Conventionally, a technique relating to a program recording / playback system having a time shift function or a display method thereof has been disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 07-216321 and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-119.
669, JP 2001-111964, JP 2000-
322450, JP 05-204571 A, JP 06 06
-083877 and JP-A-02-032473. In addition, this kind of product is a product of Sony Corporation "C
lip-On "," NV-HD "from Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
R1000 "," SH-DTR1 "of Pioneer Corporation
000 "," HM-HDS1 "from Victor Company of Japan, Ltd.
It is sold as etc.

[0006]

However, in these prior arts or products, the program which has already been broadcasted in this way is actively displayed, and the user of the program recording / playback apparatus uses such a television. I can't search for John programs. Therefore, the user of the program recording / playback apparatus needs to check the programs that are currently viewable by looking at the program table.

In some cases, the program recording / playback apparatus does not directly record the program therein, but temporarily stores the program in an external storage device via the network. In such a program recording / playback apparatus or program recording / playback system (hereinafter, simply referred to as a program recording / playback system), if a date to be temporarily stored in an external storage device is specified, this is used. Must be copied to its program recording / playback device by the due date, or the program cannot be viewed unless the so-called streaming is viewed by the due date. Even with the conventional technology described above,
We cannot cope with such a situation.

[0008] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to search and display whether or not recording of a program has been completed or whether or not recording is being performed at a predetermined location so that the program can be viewed. It is to obtain a program recording / playback system capable of enabling the following.

[0009]

According to the invention described in claim 1, (a) program information acquisition means for acquiring program information such as broadcast time and program name of a television program broadcast by a television broadcasting station; (B) Based on one or more recording means for recording a television program and (c) the program information acquired by the program information acquisition means, the desired television program already recorded by the recording means can be viewed. Recording location search means to find a suitable recording location,
(D) A recording location display means for displaying a recording location that can be viewed by the recording location search means, and (e) a television program found by the recording location search means is acquired from the recording location and broadcast. The program recording and reproducing system is provided with the broadcasting means for performing the program.

That is, in the invention described in claim 1, the program information acquisition means acquires program information such as a broadcasting time and a program name of a television program broadcast by a television broadcasting station, and based on the acquired program information. The recording location search means finds a recording location where the television program recorded by one or more recording means can be viewed. Here, the search for a place means, for example, a place where a television program is recorded or a device where a television program is recorded, such as recording inside a physical recording device or recording to another place via a network. Says search. The recording location display means, when the recording location search means finds a recording location that can be viewed, displays the recording location using the color of the band or the like. Therefore, the broadcasting means can acquire the television program found by the recording location searching means from the recording location and broadcast it.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the program recording / playback system according to the first aspect includes a program receiving / recording means for directly receiving and recording a television program from a television broadcasting station, as one of the recording means. There is a plurality of recording means, at least one of which is a network recording means for recording a television program on a network, and the recording location searching means holds the recorded desired television program so that it can be viewed at this moment. It is characterized by searching for a recording means that can be viewed.

That is, according to the second aspect of the present invention, one of the plurality of recording means directly receives a television program from a television broadcasting station without going through the network, and at least one of the recording means is a television on the network. Under the premise that it is a network recording means for recording a John program, the recording location searching means includes a viewable recording means that holds a desired recorded television program at the present time, including the network recording means. I'm going to search. As a result, it is possible to search a wide range of television programs that can be broadcast.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the program recording / playback system according to the first aspect, at least one of the recording means allows the television program currently being broadcast to go backward in time or from the beginning of the program. With a time shift function that allows viewing, a broadcasted video search means for searching a broadcasted part of a program based on the program information acquired by the program information acquisition means, and this broadcasted video search means It is characterized by further comprising first program time axis display means for displaying, on the time axis of the program, the position of the video of the portion where the television program as a result of the search has finished being broadcast.

That is, in the invention described in claim 3, at least one of the recording means is provided with a time shift function that allows the television program currently being broadcast to be watched backward or from the beginning of the program. It is assumed that If the time shift function is present, if a part of the program that has already been broadcast is searched for based on the program information acquired by the program information acquisition means, it is possible to go back and watch the part up to that part. Of course, subsequent viewing from the current position is also possible. Therefore, the first program time axis display means decides to display the position of the image of the portion where the television program has been broadcast as a result of the search on the time axis of the program. As a result, efficient viewing according to the program becomes possible, for example, in the case of a television program in which the contents are simply checked, the viewing is started when the program approaches the end to some extent.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the program recording / playback system according to the first aspect, a viewing portion drawing means for displaying the portion currently being viewed by the user on the program axis as the time axis of the program. A second program time axis display means having a current partial drawing means for displaying the current time on the program axis is provided.

That is, in the invention according to the fourth aspect, the second program time axis display means displays on the program axis so that the position of the portion currently being viewed by the user can be known and the current time is displayed. , It is possible to give a sense of time especially when the current time is known and the time shift function is utilized. The second program time axis display means can also be used as the first program time axis display means, or can be displayed as a display means independent of this.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the program recording / reproducing system according to the second aspect, (a) the television program recorded by the program receiving / recording means and the television program recorded by the network recording means are viewed. A program selecting means for selecting a program, and (b) the broadcasting means broadcasts the television program recorded by the network recording means when the program selecting means selects the television program recorded by the network recording means. Is characterized by.

That is, the invention according to claim 5 is provided with program selecting means for selecting a program to be viewed from among the television program recorded by the program receiving and recording means and the television program recorded by the network recording means. When a television program recorded by the network recording means is selected, it will be broadcast. This broadcasting also has a mode of broadcasting defined in the following claim 6,
There are some that are directly output from the network recording means and broadcast.

According to a sixth aspect of the invention, in the program recording / playback system according to the fifth aspect, when the program selecting means selects a television program recorded by the network recording means,
It is characterized in that the recorded portion is duplicated and broadcast on the program receiving and recording means.

That is, in the invention described in claim 6, as described in claim 5, the image recorded by the network image recording means is once duplicated in the program receiving / recording means and is broadcast. As a result, even if the recorded contents of the network recording means are erased thereafter, the recorded contents can be broadcast. The duplication can be performed intuitively, for example, by dragging the time axis itself with a pointing device such as a mouse.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the program recording / playback system according to the first aspect, the viewing characteristic display means for displaying the viewing characteristics of the network recording means and the viewing characteristic display means are provided from the network recording means. A streaming viewing presence / absence display means for displaying whether or not streaming viewing is being performed at the time when the streaming viewing of displaying the video acquired via the network without recording by the broadcasting means is displayed. It is characterized by having.

That is, in the invention described in claim 7, it is premised that there are various network recording means, and the viewing characteristics of the network recording means are displayed by the viewing characteristic display means. Then, when the streaming viewing is permitted, the user can do this, and the user can know whether the streaming viewing is being performed at that time. For example,
At the time of streaming viewing, a drawing process is performed so as to branch from the time axis indicating the recording location of the video image being viewed and join the time axis indicating the program recording / playback system itself (internal recording device).

According to the invention described in claim 8, in the program recording / reproducing system according to claim 2, the number of broadcasted images by the network recording means is calculated for each television program searched by the recording location searching means, and this is calculated. It is characterized by comprising an attention degree calculation means for calculating the attention degree of the television program and an attention degree display means for displaying the attention degree calculated by the attention degree calculation means.

That is, according to the present invention, the degree of attention of each television program can be calculated and displayed from the number of images that have been broadcast by the network recording means. This is one factor for the user to determine whether or not to watch.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the program recording / playback system according to the eighth aspect, the bookmark is set based on the result calculated by the attention degree calculating means so that the user can directly specify the viewing. A third program time axis display means including a setting means and a bookmark drawing means for displaying the bookmark set by the bookmark setting means on the program axis as the time axis of the program is provided. .

That is, according to the ninth aspect of the invention, the bookmark can be set so that the user can directly designate the viewing based on the result calculated by the attention degree calculating means. For example, by setting a bookmark for an item with a high degree of attention, it is possible to easily access a television program that has received a great deal of attention. The third
The program time axis display means can also be used as the first program time axis display means or the second program time axis display means, or can be displayed as an independent display means.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the program recording / playback system according to the eighth aspect, (a) a video acquisition means for acquiring a predetermined video of the program, and (b) a video acquired by the video acquisition means. A thumbnail image generating means for generating a thumbnail image, and (c) fourth program time axis display means for displaying the thumbnail image generated by the thumbnail image generating means on the program axis as the time axis of the program. It is characterized by that.

That is, according to the tenth aspect of the present invention, a thumbnail image for displaying the contents of a specific television program is created from a predetermined video of the program so that the contents of the specific television program can be visually identified. The axis display means displays the program on the axis. The fourth program time axis display means can be used as a part or all of the first to third program time axis display means, or the thumbnail image can be displayed as a display means independent of these.

According to the invention of claim 11, in the program recording / reproducing system according to claim 3, (b) each of the program information acquired from the program information acquisition means and the part where the broadcasting is finished by the broadcasted video searching means. Program guide generation means for generating a program guide that can be viewed by combining programs which are recording locations viewable by the recording location search means,
(B) The program guide display means for displaying the program guide generated by the program guide generation means is further provided.

That is, in the invention described in claim 11, a program guide is created for each program of the part of which the broadcasting is finished and which is set as a recording location that can be viewed by the recording location searching means, and the user Makes it easy to select from among the programs currently available for viewing. In addition,
When displaying the program guide, the characteristics (color, transparency, shape, shape, etc.) of the cell in which the information of the program is described are displayed according to the state of the program (whether it is being broadcast, being viewed, not being broadcast, or being broadcast). The size, etc.) may be determined. Also, for programs that have been broadcast but are still available for viewing,
Ratio of total program time to total viewable video time and number of broadcasted video search results (amount of broadcasted video of program)
The saturation and transparency of the color of the program cell may be continuously determined based on the above. The created program cells are arranged according to the program information, for example, with attributes such as time and channel as the axis to form a program table.

According to the twelfth aspect of the invention, (a) a program information acquisition step for acquiring program information such as a broadcast time and a program name of a television program broadcast by a television broadcasting station; and (b) this program information. A recording location searching step of finding a recording location that can be viewed with respect to a desired television program already recorded by one or a plurality of recording units for recording a television program based on the program information acquired by the acquisition step; C) A recording location display step for displaying a recording location that can be viewed by this recording location search step, and (d) a television program found by the recording location search step is acquired from that recording location and broadcasted. A broadcasting step is included in the program recording / playback method.

That is, according to the twelfth aspect of the invention, in the program information acquisition step, program information such as the broadcast time and the program name of the television program broadcast by the television broadcasting station is acquired, and based on the acquired program information. In the recording place searching step, a viewable recording place in a television program recorded by one or more recording means is found. Here, the search for a place means, for example, a place where a television program is recorded or a device where a television program is recorded, such as recording inside a physical recording device or recording to another place via a network. Says search.
In the recording location display step, when a recording location that can be viewed is found in the recording location searching step, this is displayed using the color of the band or the like. Therefore, in the broadcasting step, the television program found by the recording location searching means can be acquired from the recording location and broadcast.

In the thirteenth aspect of the present invention, the program recording / playback method according to the twelfth aspect is provided with a program receiving / recording section for directly receiving and recording a television program from a television broadcasting station, as one of the recording sections. At least one of the one or more recording units is a network recording unit that records a television program on the network, and the recording location searching step holds the recorded desired television program so that it can be viewed at this moment. The feature is that it searches for a recording unit that can be viewed.

That is, in the invention described in claim 13, at least one of the plurality of recording means receives the television program directly from the television broadcasting station without going through the network, and at least one of the recording means is on the network. Assuming that the network recording means is a network recording means for recording a television program, a viewable recording means that holds the desired television program already recorded in the recording location searching step at the present time is also a network recording means. I will include it in the search. As a result, it is possible to search a wide range of television programs that can be broadcast.

According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, in the program recording / playback method according to the twelfth aspect, at least one of the recording units is
It is equipped with a time shift function that allows you to watch a television program currently being broadcast retroactively or from the beginning of the program, and the program has already been broadcast based on the program information acquired by the program information acquisition step. The step of displaying the broadcasted video searching step for searching the part of the program and the position of the video of the part where the broadcasting of the television program as a result of the search by the broadcasted video searching step is finished on the time axis of the program. It is characterized in that it further comprises one program time axis display step.

That is, in the invention as set forth in claim 14, at least one of the recording means is provided with a time shift function that allows the television program currently being broadcast to be watched backward or from the beginning of the program. It is assumed that If the time shift function is present, if a portion of the program that has already been aired is searched for based on the program information acquired in the program information acquisition step, it is possible to go back and watch that portion. Of course, subsequent viewing from the current position is also possible. Therefore, in the first program time axis display step, the position of the image of the portion where the television program as a result of the search on the time axis of the program has ended is displayed. As a result, efficient viewing according to the program becomes possible, for example, in the case of a television program in which the contents are simply checked, the viewing is started when the program approaches the end to some extent.

According to the fifteenth aspect of the present invention, in the program recording / playback method according to the twelfth aspect, there is provided a viewing portion drawing step of displaying the portion currently being viewed by the user on the program axis as the time axis of the program. , And a second program time axis display step including a current partial drawing step for displaying the current time on the program axis.

That is, according to the invention of claim 15, the second
In the program time axis display step of, the display is made on the program axis so that the position of the portion currently being viewed by the user can be understood,
Since the current time is displayed, the current time is known, and it is possible to give a sense of time especially when the time shift function is used.

According to the sixteenth aspect of the present invention, in the program recording and reproducing method according to the thirteenth aspect, a program to be viewed is selected from the television program recorded by the program receiving and recording section and the television program recorded by the network recording section. And a broadcasting step, in which the television program recorded by the network recording section is broadcast when the program selecting step selects the television program recorded by the network recording section.

That is, the invention according to claim 16 is provided with a program selecting step of selecting a program to be viewed from the television programs recorded by the program receiving / recording section and the television programs recorded by the network recording section. When a television program recorded by the network recording unit is selected, it will be broadcast.
This broadcasting also includes a broadcasting mode defined in claim 17 and a broadcasting mode which is directly output from the network recording means.

According to a seventeenth aspect of the invention, in the program recording and reproducing method according to the sixteenth aspect, when the television program recorded by the network recording section is selected in the program selecting step, the recorded portion is recorded in the program receiving and recording step. The feature is that it is reproduced and aired.

That is, in the invention as set forth in claim 17, as described in claim 16, the image recorded by the network image recording section is once duplicated in the program receiving and recording step and is broadcast. As a result, even if the recorded contents of the network recording unit are erased thereafter, the recorded contents can be broadcast.

According to the eighteenth aspect of the present invention, in the program recording / playback method according to the twelfth aspect, (b) a viewing characteristic display step of displaying characteristics when the network recording section is viewed.
(B) Streaming viewing is performed at that time when streaming viewing is displayed at the viewing characteristic display step, in which the video acquired from the network recording unit via the network without being recorded at the broadcasting step is displayed. It is characterized by further comprising a streaming viewing presence / absence display step of displaying whether or not there is.

That is, in the eighteenth aspect of the invention, it is premised that various network recording means can be present.
The viewing characteristics of the network recording unit are displayed in the viewing characteristics display step. Then, when the streaming viewing is permitted, the user can do this, and the user can know whether the streaming viewing is being performed at that time.

According to the nineteenth aspect of the invention, in the program recording and reproducing method according to the thirteenth aspect, the number of broadcasted images by the network recording section is obtained for each television program searched in the recording location searching step (a). , An attention degree calculation step of calculating this as the attention degree of the television program,
(B) An attention degree display step for displaying the attention degree calculated in this attention degree calculation step is further provided.

That is, according to the invention described in claim 19, the degree of attention of each television program is calculated and displayed from the number of already-transmitted images by the network recording section. This is one factor for the user to determine whether or not to watch.

According to a twentieth aspect of the invention, in the program recording / playback method according to the nineteenth aspect, the bookmark is set based on the result calculated in the attention degree calculation step so that the user can directly specify the viewing. It is characterized by further comprising a third program time axis display step including a setting step and a bookmark drawing step for displaying the bookmark set in this bookmark setting step on the program axis as the time axis of the program. .

That is, according to the twentieth aspect of the invention, based on the result calculated in the attention level calculation step, the bookmark can be set so that the user can directly designate the viewing. For example, by setting a bookmark for an item with a high degree of attention, it is possible to easily access a television program that has received a great deal of attention.

According to the twenty-first aspect of the invention, in the program recording / playback method of the nineteenth aspect, (a) a video acquisition step of acquiring a predetermined video of the program, and (b) a video acquired in the video acquisition step. The method further comprises a thumbnail image generation step of generating a thumbnail image, and (c) a fourth program time axis display step of displaying the thumbnail image generated in this thumbnail image generation step on the program axis as the time axis of the program. It is characterized by that.

That is, according to the twenty-first aspect of the present invention, a thumbnail image for displaying the contents of a specific television program is created from a predetermined video of the program so that the contents of the specific television program can be visually identified, and a fourth program time is created. The program is displayed on the program axis in the axis display step.

According to the twenty-second aspect of the invention, in the program recording / playback method according to the fourteenth aspect, the program information acquired in (b) the program information acquisition step and the part where the broadcasting is finished by the already-exposed video searching step are set. And a program table generation step for generating a program table that can be viewed by combining the programs that are the recording locations that can be viewed by the recording location search step, and (b) the program generated by this program table generation step. A program guide display step of displaying a table is further provided.

That is, according to the invention of claim 22, a program guide is created for each program of the part of which the broadcasting is finished and which is set as a recording location which can be viewed by the recording location searching means, and the user Makes it easy to select from among the programs currently available for viewing.

In the program recording / playback program according to the twenty-third aspect of the present invention, the program information acquisition processing for acquiring (b) program information such as a broadcasting time and a program name of a television program broadcast by a television broadcasting station on a computer When,
(B) Recording for finding a recording location where a desired television program already recorded by one or a plurality of recording units for recording a television program can be viewed based on the program information acquired by the program information acquisition processing. Location search processing, (c) Recording location display processing that displays a recording location that can be viewed by this recording location search processing, and (d) the television program found by the recording location search processing is recorded at that recording location. It is characterized in that it performs a broadcasting process of acquiring and broadcasting from.

That is, in the invention of claim 23, the program information such as the broadcast time and the program name of the television program broadcast by the television broadcasting station is acquired in the program information acquisition processing, and based on the acquired program information. It is intended to find a viewable recording place in a television program recorded by one or a plurality of recording units by the recording place searching process. Here, the search for a place means, for example, a place where a television program is recorded or a device where a television program is recorded, such as recording inside a physical recording device or recording to another place via a network. Says search. In the recording place display processing, when a recording place that can be viewed is found by the recording place searching means, this is displayed. Therefore,
In the broadcast processing, the television program found by the recording location search means can be acquired from the recording location and broadcast.

In a twenty-fourth aspect of the invention, the program recording / playback program according to the twenty-third aspect is provided with a program receiving / recording section for directly receiving and recording a television program from a television broadcasting station, and At least one of the one or more recording units is a network recording unit that records a television program on the network, and in the recording location searching process, a desired recorded television program is retained so that it can be viewed at this time. The feature is that it searches for a recording unit that can be viewed.

That is, according to the twenty-fourth aspect of the present invention, at least one of the plurality of recording units directly receives the television program from the television broadcasting station without passing through the network, and at least one of the recording means is connected to the network. Under the assumption that it is a network recording unit that records a television program, the network recording unit also includes a viewable recording unit that holds the desired television program that has been recorded in the recording location search process at the present time. I will include it in the search. As a result, it is possible to search a wide range of television programs that can be broadcast.

In the invention of claim 25, in the program recording / playback program of claim 23, (b) at least one of the recording sections allows a television program currently being broadcast to be traced back in time or to be a program. It has a time shift function that can be viewed from the beginning of (b) a broadcasted video search process that searches for a broadcasted part of the program based on the program information acquired by the program information acquisition process,
(C) A first program time axis display process for displaying the position of the video of the part where the television program has been broadcast as a result of the search for the broadcasted video search process on the time axis of the program is further executed. It is characterized by doing.

That is, in the invention as set forth in claim 25, at least one of the recording means is provided with a time shift function that allows a television program currently being broadcast to be traced back in time or to be viewed from the beginning of the program. It is assumed that If the time shift function is present, if a portion of the program that has already been broadcast is searched for based on the program information acquired by the program information acquisition processing, it is possible to go back and watch that portion. Of course, subsequent viewing from the current position is also possible. Therefore, in the first program time axis display processing, it is decided to display the position of the image of the portion where the television program has been broadcast as a result of the search on the time axis of the program. As a result, efficient viewing according to the program becomes possible, for example, in the case of a television program in which the contents are simply checked, the viewing is started when the program approaches the end to some extent.

According to the twenty-sixth aspect of the present invention, the program recording / playback program according to the twenty-third aspect displays the portion (b) the user is currently viewing on the program axis as the time axis of the program. A second program time axis display process for performing drawing processing and (b) current partial drawing processing for displaying the current time on the program axis is further characterized.

That is, according to the invention of claim 26,
In the program time axis display processing of, the position of the part currently being viewed by the user is displayed on the program axis, and the current time is displayed, so the current time is known, and the time shift function is especially utilized. You can have a sense of time when you are.

According to the invention of claim 27, the program recording / playback program according to claim 24 is viewed from (a) the television program recorded by the program receiving / recording section and the television program recorded by the network recording section. A program selection process for selecting a program is executed. In (b) broadcast process, when selecting a television program recorded by the network recording unit in this program selection process, the television program recorded by this network recording unit is broadcast. It is characterized by executing processing.

That is, in the invention described in claim 27, a program selection process for selecting a program to be viewed from the television programs recorded in the program reception recording process and the television programs recorded by the network recording unit is executed. Therefore, when a television program recorded by the network recording means is selected, it is broadcast. This broadcasting also includes a broadcasting mode defined in claim 28 and a broadcasting mode in which it is directly output from the network recording means.

According to the twenty-eighth aspect of the present invention, when the television program recorded by the network recording section is selected by the program selection processing in the program recording / playback program of the twenty-seventh aspect, the recorded portion is copied by the program reception / recording processing. It is characterized in that a process for broadcasting is performed.

That is, according to the invention described in claim 28, as described in claim 27, the image recorded by the network image recording unit is once duplicated by the program reception recording process and is broadcast. As a result, even if the recorded contents of the network recording unit are erased thereafter, the recorded contents can be broadcast.

According to the invention described in claim 29, the program recording / playback program according to claim 23 comprises: (a) viewing characteristic display processing for displaying characteristics when the network recording section is viewed.
(B) Streaming viewing is performed at that point when streaming viewing, which allows the video acquired from the network recording unit via the network in this viewing characteristic display process to be broadcast in the broadcasting process without being recorded, is displayed. It is characterized in that a streaming viewing / listening presence / absence display process for displaying whether or not there is further is executed.

That is, in the invention described in claim 29, the characteristics at the time of viewing of the network recording section are displayed in the viewing characteristic display processing on the assumption that there may be various network recording sections. Then, when the streaming viewing is permitted, the user can do this, and the user can know whether the streaming viewing is being performed at that time.

According to the thirtieth aspect of the invention, the program recording / playback program according to the twenty-fourth aspect obtains the number of broadcasted images by the network recording section for each television program searched in (b) the recording location searching process. , Attention degree calculation processing for calculating this as the attention degree of the television program,
(B) It is characterized in that the attention degree display processing for displaying the attention degree calculated in the attention degree calculation processing is further executed.

That is, according to the thirtieth aspect of the invention, the degree of attention of each television program is calculated and displayed from the number of already-transmitted images by the network recording section. This is one factor for the user to determine whether or not to watch.

According to the thirty-first aspect of the invention, the program recording / playback program of the thirtieth aspect sets a bookmark which allows the user to directly specify viewing based on the result calculated by the attention degree calculation processing. The third program time axis display processing for performing setting processing and bookmark drawing processing for displaying the bookmark set by the bookmark setting processing on the program axis as the time axis of the program is further characterized. There is.

That is, according to the thirty-first aspect of the invention, based on the result calculated by the attention degree calculation process, the bookmark can be set so that the user can directly designate the viewing. For example, by setting a bookmark for an item with a high degree of attention, it is possible to easily access a television program that has received a great deal of attention.

According to a thirty-second aspect of the present invention, the program recording / playback program according to the thirtieth aspect includes: (a) a video acquisition process for acquiring a predetermined video of the program; and (b) a video acquired by the video acquisition process. A thumbnail image generation process for generating a thumbnail image and (c) a fourth program time axis display process for displaying the thumbnail image generated by this thumbnail image generation process on the program axis as the time axis of the program are further executed. It is characterized by doing.

That is, according to the thirty-second aspect of the present invention, a thumbnail image for displaying the contents of a specific television program is created from a predetermined video of the program so that the contents can be visually identified, and a fourth program time is created. The axis is displayed on the program axis in the axis display processing.

According to a thirty-third aspect of the present invention, the program recording / playback program according to the twenty-fifth aspect is a part in which the program information acquired in (a) the program information acquisition process and the aired video search process have ended broadcasting. And a program table generation process for generating a program table that can be viewed by combining the programs that can be viewed by the recording place search process, and (b) a program generated by this program table generation process. It is characterized in that a program guide display process for displaying a table is further executed.

That is, according to the invention described in claim 33, a program guide is created for each of the programs of the part which has been broadcast, and which is set as the recording location that can be viewed by the recording location search process, Makes it easy to select from among the programs currently available for viewing.

[0075]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0076]

EXAMPLES The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to examples.

First embodiment

FIG. 1 shows an outline of a program recording / playback system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The program recording / playback system 100 includes a program recording / playback apparatus 101.
And an input unit 102 and an output unit 103 for inputting or outputting data, an antenna 104 for wirelessly inputting a program, and a network 105 for communication. Network 10
5, an external program information recording means 107 and the first to Nth
The external program video recording means 108 _{1 to} 108 _N are connected.

Such a program recording / playback system 100
Then, the program recording / playback apparatus 101 receives the video via the antenna 104 or the network 105 or the video recorded in the program recording / playback apparatus 101, or the program information accompanying the video, based on the operation of the user by the input means 102. Is output to the output means 103. The input means 102 is a means for the user to input. For example, a mouse, a keyboard, a remote controller, and the like (not shown) correspond to this.

The output means 103 is the program recording / playback apparatus 10.
It is a display unit that performs a display based on an instruction from the video signal control unit 111 in the No. 1. For example, CRT (Cathode Ray Tub
e), LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), TV (TeleV
ision) is equivalent to this. Antenna 104
Is for receiving radio waves transmitted from a television broadcasting station. The network 105 provides a means for accessing external program information recording means 107 and external program video recording means 108 _{1 to} 108 _N outside the program recording / playback apparatus 101. For example, IEEE (Institute of Institute
LAN (Local Area Network) composed of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (1394) and telephone lines
k), the Internet corresponds to this.

The external program information recording means 107 stores EPG (Elec
tronic Program Guide: an electronic program guide), and the program recording / playback apparatus 101 is a network 105.
To obtain program information. The program information may be received from the predetermined television broadcasting station via the antenna 104. The external program video recording means 108 records the program video transmitted from the television broadcasting station, and the program recording / playback apparatus 101 can access the information owned by the external program video recording means 108 via the network 105. It is possible.

The program recording / playback apparatus 101 includes the input means 10.
An input operation determination unit 11 that determines the input operation connected to 2
Equipped with 2. The input operation determination unit 112 uses the input unit 1
02 determines the program to be viewed, changes the playback position, etc. based on the user's operation by 02, and displays the result as the program video control unit 11
4. Broadcast video control unit 115 and program information control unit 11
It is designed to output to 6. Here, the program video control unit 114 receives the program video received via the antenna 104 based on the output of the input operation determination unit 112, the program video recording means 117, and the external program video recording means 108 _1-10.
The video recorded in 8 _N is used as a reproduction target, and the program video is drawn and output to the video signal control unit 111. The program video control unit 114 also sends the program video received via the antenna 104 to the program video recording means 117 for recording.

The program video control section 114 comprises a program video receiving means 121, a program video determining means 122 and a program video drawing means 123. Here, the program image receiving means 12
1 receives a signal transmitted by a television broadcasting station (not shown) via the antenna 104 and reproduces a predetermined image and sound. Then, the image and sound are used as a program image, and the program image drawing means 123 and the program image recording means 1
Output to 17. The program video determining means 122 records the program video received via the antenna 104 (which is being broadcast in real time) and the program video recording means 117 and the external program video recording means 108 _{1 to} 108 _N (already recorded). It is configured to determine which of the program videos (which have been broadcast) is to be output to the output means 103.

The program image drawing means 123 reproduces the image and sound of the program image output to the output means 103 based on the decision of the program image deciding means 122, and the image signal control section 1
Output to 11.

The broadcasted image control section 115 is a part for searching and obtaining a program image which has already been broadcasted, and includes a broadcasted image searching means 125 and a broadcasted image acquiring means 126. The broadcasted video searching means 125 is
In the program video that has already been broadcast, the portion not owned by the program video recording means 117 is recorded in the external program video recording means 1.
08 _1-108 either _N is searched through or the network 105 are owned. At the time of searching, information about the program to be searched is acquired from the program information control unit 116, and a predetermined program is searched using this. In addition, the information of the aired video which is the search result is output to the program axis drawing unit 131. When the broadcasted program image that is the search target is found, the broadcasted image acquisition unit 126 outputs the broadcasted program image to the program image control unit 114 in order to reproduce it, or records it in the program image recording unit 117. It is supposed to do. Here, the program axis drawing unit 131 includes a program axis generating unit 132, a viewing portion drawing unit 133, and a current partial drawing unit 134. These will be described later.

On the other hand, the program information control unit 116 acquires the information (EPG) about the program broadcast by each television broadcasting station and records it in the program information recording means 136. Also, the program information recorded in the program information recording means 136 is broadcasted as necessary to the broadcasted video control section 115.
Or to the program axis drawing unit 131.

The program axis drawing unit 131, based on the broadcasted video information and the program information acquired from the broadcasted video control unit 115 and the program information control unit 116, the viewable portion of the program currently being viewed, the current viewable portion. The present portion and the portion currently being broadcast are arranged on the time axis, drawing is performed, and the drawing result is output to the video signal control unit 111. Further, the program axis generation means 132 in the program axis drawing unit 131 can be viewed by performing drawing processing such as coloring the viewable portion on the time axis having the total time of the program being viewed as the total length. A program axis that specifies the location is generated. The viewing part drawing unit 133 draws a mark such as an icon indicating where on the program axis the part currently being viewed (output to the output unit 103) falls. The current part drawing means 134 draws a mark such as an icon indicating where on the program axis the part currently being broadcast is hit.

The video signal control unit 111, based on the inputs from the program video control unit 114 and the program axis drawing unit 131,
A video signal to be output to the output means 103 is generated and output to the output means 103. The program video recording means 117 records a predetermined program video as an image and a sound based on an input from the program video control unit 114 or the broadcasted video control unit 115. The program information recording unit 136 records the program information based on the input from the program information control unit 116.

Next, an actual operation example of the program recording / playback system having the above-mentioned configuration will be described.

FIG. 2 shows an example of the program information recorded by the program information recording means shown in FIG. The program information 141 has, for each program, information such as a program name, a channel, a broadcasting station, a genre, a broadcast date, a start time, an end time, and an introduction text of the program.

For example, the user may select the program recording / playback apparatus 10
1 is started, and it is assumed that the watching of the program which is aired at 19:20 on January 10, 2002 is started. This time 1
It is assumed that the recording of the program has started before 9:20. The program video control unit 114 outputs the program of the viewing channel currently selected by the user to the video signal control unit 111 as a program video. Here, it is assumed that the user has set the fourth channel as the viewing channel. From the program information recorded in the program information recording means 136, the program information control unit 116 finds that the program 142 (FIG. 2) currently watched by the user is the program “program name A”, and has already started from the start of broadcasting. You can see that 20 minutes have passed. The program information control unit 116 displays the broadcast start time of the program 142 at 19:00.
And the end time 20:00 are output to the program axis drawing unit 131.

The program axis generation means 132 displays the time axis in the default display area of the program video based on this. This time axis will be referred to as a program axis in this specification. Here, the display area is provided in the output unit 103.

FIGS. 3 to 6 are for explaining some of the generation of the program axis in the display area and the display examples thereby. Based on the input from the program information control unit 116 shown in FIG. 1, the program video area 151 shown in FIG. 3 has a program axis 152 with the broadcast start time of the program being viewed as the left end and the end time as the right end. Is generated.

FIG. 4 shows the display state of the display area in the next step. The current partial drawing means 134 shown in FIG. 1 arranges and draws an icon 154 for clearly indicating the current time on the program axis 152 according to the current time. In the example shown in FIG. 4, the total program time is 60 minutes, and since the current time has passed 20 minutes from the start of broadcasting, the icon 154 is arranged at a position of one-third of the entire length of the program axis 152. Will be done. Program axis generation means 13
2 and the current partial drawing unit 134 outputs the drawing result to the video signal control unit 111.

The video signal control unit 111 receives the input from the program video control unit 114 as the default program video area 15 of the program video.
1 and the input from the program axis drawing unit 131 are arranged in the default display area 155 of the program axis and output to the output means 103 as a video signal. In addition, the display area 1 of the program axis
55 may be displayed in a superimposed manner on the program video area 151 as in this example, or may be displayed by giving individual areas in a non-superposed manner. As a result, when the user activates the program recording / playback apparatus 101 to start watching a program, the user can intuitively grasp the total time of the program being watched and the time when the broadcast has already ended. Become.

By the way, the broadcast video searching means 125 shown in FIG. 1 has the video broadcast from the program 142 (FIG. 2) from the time 19:00 to the time 19:20 by the program video recording means 117. Whether or not the external program video recording means 108 _{1 to} 108 _N have it is searched by using the program information of the program 142 as a key.

FIG. 5 shows an example of this search result. The search result table 161 includes items such as program name, recording location, image quality, capacity, broadcast date and time, start time, and end time. In the same recording place, when the video of the same program is discontinuous, for example, in the case of the aired video 162, it has a plurality of start times and end times. The broadcasted video searching means 125 is used to broadcast the broadcasted video 16
3, the broadcasted video 162 and the broadcasted video 164 are discovered, and when these are combined, the time of the program being viewed is 19:00
It can be seen that all the images from 0 to 19:20 exist, that is, can be viewed. Broadcast video search means 1
25 outputs the search result to the program axis drawing unit 131.

FIG. 6 shows an example of the display state of the display area for a program whose broadcasting has not ended. Based on the input from the aired video searching means 125, the program axis generation means 132 shown in FIG. 1 understands that the area 171 in which the aired portion of the currently viewed program can also be viewed can be viewed. Draw so that you can. As a result, the user can immediately understand that the portion from the time 19:00 to the time 19:20 when the broadcasting of the program 142 (FIG. 2) has already ended can be viewed.

It is assumed that the user continues to watch the program 142 as it is. The program video control unit 114 displays the time 19: 2.
The broadcasts after 0 are automatically recorded in the program video recording means 117. The program axis drawing unit 131 performs drawing so that it can be understood that the time from 19:20 to the current time can be similarly viewed via the aired video control unit 115.

FIG. 7 shows the display state of the display area for such an additionally displayable program. In FIG. 6, a bar-shaped region 174 between the display position 173 where the icon 154 was present and the icon 154 displayed at the current time position is drawn so as to be distinguished from the other regions 171 and 175. Therefore, the user is
It can be understood that 4 can be viewed in the same manner. It should be noted that it is also possible to draw so that it is possible to grasp which of the external program video recording means 108 and the program video recording means 117 the broadcast video is based on the hue and saturation of the axis.

Next, the user selects a part different from the current time.
The so-called rewinding is performed by the input means 102 in an attempt to watch.
A case of performing operations such as sushi will be described. Program image determination means 1
22 is an image corresponding to the part (time) specified by the user
Broadcast video that is actually output as program video
Recording means 117 or external program video recording means 108 ₁
~ 108_NDraw any of the broadcasted video groups owned by
It is determined whether to output to the image means 123. Viewing part (when
If the broadcasted video with
It is decided to output the video that has already been shown, but the corresponding aired
When there are multiple videos, inside the program recording / playback device 101.
Of the program video recording means 117 existing in
First. External program video recording means 108₁~ 108_NExist in
For existing aired video, the length and image of the aired video
Prioritize according to quality and output the highest priority
Let's decide. In addition, the priority is the user's favorite
It can be set as follows.

When outputting the broadcast video which the program video recording means 117 has, the program video drawing means 123 acquires the corresponding video from the program video recording means 117, draws it, and outputs it to the video signal control section 111. . When outputting the broadcasted video included in the external program video recording means 108 _{1 to} 108 _N , the broadcasted video acquisition means obtains the information of the broadcasted video to be output, for example, the program name, the place, and the output part (time). Output to 126. The on-air image acquisition means 126 acquires the corresponding on-air image via the network 105.

[0103] Here, there are two types of means assumed for acquisition of the aired image, and either means will be used.
The first is that the broadcast video itself is kept in the external program video recording means 108 _{1 to} 108 _N , the video is acquired via the network at any time, and the program video drawing means 12 is used.
This is so-called streaming viewing, which is output to 3. However, it is necessary that the external program video recording means 108 _{1 to} 108 _N having the corresponding broadcasted video have an environment that enables streaming distribution.

[0104] As a second, after the relevant broadcasted video is once acquired (reproduced) in the program video recording means 117,
After that, it is output to the program video drawing means 123 as the program video recording means 117 has. When both means can be executed, the user can set which means to use.

The viewing part drawing means 133 arranges an icon for clearly indicating the viewing part on the program axis and its part when the viewed part (time) is different from the broadcast part (current time). Draw. FIG. 7 shows, as an example, an icon 176 for clearly indicating the viewing portion.

As described above, according to the program recording / playback system of the first embodiment of the present invention, when the user starts viewing the program, the total time of the program and the length of time already broadcast are broadcasted. It is possible to intuitively understand whether or not is finished, and where the viewable portion in the already finished portion is. Further, even when the currently broadcasted portion (current time) is different from the currently viewed portion, it is possible to intuitively grasp where the user is watching.

That is, the present embodiment is characterized in that the broadcasted image control unit 115 and the program axis drawing unit 131 are provided, and the broadcasted image as the image of the portion of the program which the user is currently watching has already been broadcasted. The video is recorded by the program video recording means 117 in the program recording / playback apparatus 101 or the external program video recording means 108 ₁ to 108 ₁ connected to the network.
In 108 _N , if there is a broadcasted image and there is a broadcasted image, it is intuitively shown on the time axis that the broadcast is already finished but the user can view it.

Second embodiment

FIG. 8 shows an outline of a program recording / playback system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In the second embodiment, when the external program recording means has the broadcasted video of the program currently being viewed by the user, the broadcasted video exists outside the program recording / playback apparatus, and The state of the recording means can be intuitively specified, and the user can easily select which part to watch, which means to watch, and which video to watch when there are multiple external recording means that have the corresponding broadcasted video. I am trying to. Here, the state of the external recording means refers to a state such as which part of the image is included, whether or not recording is in progress, and whether streaming viewing is possible. 8, the same parts as those in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be appropriately omitted.

The program recording / playback system 20 of the second embodiment.
Reference numeral 0 denotes a program recording / playback apparatus 201, input means 102 and output means 103 for inputting or outputting data to the program recording / playback apparatus 201, and an antenna 10 for wirelessly inputting a program.
4 and a network 105 for communication. An external program information recording means 107 and first to Nth external program video recording means 108 _{1 to} 108 _N are connected to the network 105.

In such a program recording / playback system 200, as specifically shown in FIG. 9, the program recording / playback apparatus 2 is used.
In addition to the program axis generation means 132, the viewing part drawing means 133 and the current part drawing means 134, the program axis drawing part 231 in 01 constitutes the program axis drawing part 131 of the first embodiment,
The drawing axis determining means 232, the program axis characteristic drawing means 233, and the program axis branch drawing means 234 are added. Hereinafter, the program recording / playback system 100 according to the first embodiment.
Only the part different from the above will be described.

[0112] The broadcasted image of the program the user is currently watching is displayed.
External program video recording means 108 included ₁~ 108_NThere are multiple
If it exists, the drawing axis determination means 232 determines which
Whether to draw the program axis related to the already broadcasted video
It is a means of making a decision. The program axis to draw is the program recording and playback
Regarding the program image recording means 117 in the device 201,
External program video recording means 108 for drawing the program axis and additionally₁
~ 108_NAbout N (N = 0, 1, 2, 3, ...)
Draw the program axis of. The best of the aired video that draws the program axis
The order of precedence is the unbroken part of the aired video.
It is determined by the continuity of all, the length of the total time, the image quality, etc.

The program axis characteristic drawing means 233 draws the characteristics of each program axis, that is, the information about the means having the broadcast video among the external program video recording means 108 _{1 to} 108 _N. The program axis characteristic is the external program video recording means 108.
_{1 to} 108 _N , which part of the video has, whether recording is in progress, whether streaming can be viewed, whether streaming is being watched, image quality of the aired video,
Network speed etc. can be mentioned. Further, in the case of indicating that streaming viewing is possible with an icon or the like, an operating method is provided by using the icon as an operation button for starting streaming viewing.

The program axis branching and drawing means 234 records once on the program video recording means 117 and reproduces it while watching the broadcasted video streaming from any of the external program video recording means 108 _{1 to} 108 _N. Is not displayed. That is, the external program video recording means 1
The fact that the broadcasted video included in each of 08 _{1 to} 108 _N is directly viewed is shown by drawing so that the program axis of the viewer is branched and merges with the program axis of the program video recording means 117. This drawing is realized by the streaming viewing / listening operation method of drawing the branch or merge of the program axis.

Next, the operation of the program recording / playback system 200 according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be specifically described. Here, as in the first embodiment, the user activates the program recording / playback device 201 by adjusting the channel to “4” at time 19:20 in order to watch the program 142 shown in FIG. And In this case, the broadcasted image searching means 125
As a search result by the broadcasted image 163 shown in FIG.
Broadcast video 162 and broadcast video 164 are listed.

The drawing axis determining means 232 has the third broadcasted video image 164 (FIG. 5) from the broadcasted video image group of the search result, which has all broadcasted video images 164 from the time 19:00 to the time 19:20 when the broadcast has already finished. It is decided to draw the program axis relating to the external program video recording means 108 ₃ . Then, the broadcasted video (external program video recording means 108 _1-
108 _N ) is output to the program axis generation means 132 and the program axis characteristic drawing means 233. In this example, the video total time is used as the reference for setting the priority, but the continuity and image quality of the aired video may be used as the priority setting element.

FIG. 10 shows the display state of the display area in the second embodiment. The program axis generation unit 132 shown in FIG. 9 generates a program axis to be drawn for each recording location based on the input from the drawing axis determination unit 232. In this embodiment, in the default display area 255 of the program axis,
The program axis 252 relating to the broadcast image which the program image recording means 117 has and the program axis 253 relating to the broadcast image 164 (FIG. 5) which the third external program image recording means 108 ₃ have are drawn.

The program axis characteristic drawing means 233 shown in FIG.
By drawing the right end of the band representing the range of the broadcast video 164 on the program axis in the shape of an arrow 261, the third external program video recording means 108 ₃ continues the recording process at the time 19:20. Is shown. Further, the program axis characteristic drawing means 233 draws an icon 262 for copying the broadcast video 164 to the program video recording means 117 and an icon 263 for direct streaming viewing. The streaming viewing icon 263 is displayed only when the corresponding _one of the external program video recording means 108 _{1 to} 108 _N is in an environment that enables streaming viewing.

The user selects an arbitrary program axis from the displayed program axes by selecting an icon using the input means 102 shown in FIG. 8, and makes a copy to the program image recording means 117 or streaming viewing. Perform the operation. The duplication operation can be enabled by a method other than the operation method of selecting the icon 262. For example, when the input means 102 used by the user is a pointing device such as a mouse, it is possible to enable duplication by performing a drag operation on the band indicating the broadcasted image 164.

FIG. 11 shows a case where duplication is performed by a drag operation. The user brings a cursor 271 consisting of an outlined arrow in the figure to the program axis 253 relating to the aired image 164 included in the third external program image recording means 108 ₃ , and the program image recording means 117 shows in the figure. Drag operation 2 to the program axis 252 relating to the already-released video
72. As a result, the program recording / playback device 20
A duplication operation to 1 becomes possible.

The program axis characteristic drawing means 233 shown in FIG.
By drawing the band 273 that follows the drag operation 272, a more intuitive duplication operation to the program video recording means 117 is possible.

FIG. 12 shows an example of the display state when the broadcast video is duplicated on the program recording / playback apparatus side. When the broadcast video 164 is copied to the program video recording means 117, a band 275 indicating that the broadcast video is on the program axis 252 is drawn. Also, the default display area 2 for the program axis
The program axis 253 relating to the third external program video recording means 108 ₃ previously displayed at 55 will be deleted.

FIG. 13 shows another example of the operation related to streaming viewing. Regarding streaming viewing, an operation other than the operation method of selecting the icon 263 can be performed. That is, the input means 1 used by the user
When 02 (see FIG. 8) is a pointing device such as a mouse, streaming viewing can be started by dragging the right end of the band 277 indicating the broadcast video 164 (see FIG. 5) 278. Can be The program axis characteristic drawing means 233 shown in FIG.
Draws a band 279 in which the right end rotates about the left end, following the drag operation 278, thereby enabling a more intuitive streaming viewing operation.

FIG. 14 shows details of the drawing operation. The program axis branching / drawing means 234 shown in FIG. 9 has the program axis 2 having the aired video 164 during streaming viewing.
A band 281 that branches from 53 and merges with the program axis 252 relating to the program video recording means 117 is drawn. The tip of the band 281 indicates the current viewing location 282, and the angle 283 of the band 281 has a value of 90 degrees or less.

As a result, the user can intuitively understand that the broadcasted video is recorded at another place via the network 105 in addition to the fact that the broadcasted portion can be viewed. You can Further, by displaying the icon for performing the operation of duplicating the program video recording means 117 or the streaming viewing on the broadcast video only when the operation is possible, the operation means is provided to the user and externally. The program video recording means 108 _{1 to} 108 _N can immediately grasp whether or not streaming viewing is possible.

Further, the band branched from the program axis that owns the broadcast video that is being viewed during streaming viewing merges with the program axis relating to the program video recording means 117 of the program recording / playback apparatus 201 used by the user. By drawing as if it is doing, the intuition of being a streaming viewing is improved. In the present embodiment, the user can explicitly select the duplication operation to the program video recording means 117 and the streaming viewing, but if the streaming viewing is possible, the streaming viewing is performed and the operation is prioritized in advance. It may be given and the viewing method may be automatically determined.

Next, an example of drawing a plurality of search results as the program axis will be described. Similar to the example described above, the broadcasted image searching means 125 shown in FIG. 8 shows, as a search result, the broadcasted image 163 and the broadcasted image 16 shown in FIG.
2 and aired video 164 are listed.

The drawing axis determining means 232 shown in FIG. 9 performs all the images from the time 19:00 to the time 19:20 on the basis of the total time and the image quality of the aired video for the aired video group of the search result. The broadcasted image 164 having “” is set as the highest priority image. Next, the broadcasted image 163 having a short total time but high image quality is set to the next rank. Although the total time is better than the aired image 163, the aired image 162 is set at the end of the priority order because the image is scattered and the continuity is low and the image quality is low.

FIG. 15 to FIG. 17 show the display state of the respective broadcast videos whose priorities are set in this way. The program axis generation means 132 shown in FIG. 9 first shows the program axis 291 relating to the broadcast video which the program video recording means 117 has in the default display area 255 of the program axis shown in FIG.
To draw. Next, based on the input from the drawing axis determination means 232, the external program video recording means 10 is in accordance with the priority order.
8 _{1 to} 108 _N draw the program axis related to the aired video. In this example, the program axis 292 regarding the first aired program (aired video 164), the program axis 293 related to the second aired program (aired video 163), and the third aired program (aired video 162). Drawing is performed at a position near the program axis 291 in order of the program axis 294. This FIG.
In the example of the display in the display area 255 shown in (4), the user is viewing the viewing portion 304 by streaming the aired video shown by the program axis 293. By selecting the program axis, the user can select any broadcast video from the external program video recording means 108 _{1 to} 108 _N.

Next, the streaming viewing is continued as it is, and the viewing portion 304 displays the end time 1 of the broadcast video 163.
After 9:15, the program is switched to the viewing of the aired image 164 (branch band 295 in FIG. 16) of the program axis 292 having a higher priority among the program axes having the image after the time 19:15. At this time, naturally, the current time 296 advances, and the video broadcasted after the time 19:20 is the program video recording means 1.
17, the viewable portion 297 is drawn on the program axis 291.

Also, the broadcasted image searching means 125 displays the time 1
When the search result obtained at 9:20 is continuously updated, the program axis characteristic drawing means 233 will reflect this on each program axis at any time. Display area 2 shown in FIG.
In the example of 55, the third with the broadcast video 164 (FIG. 5).
The recording of the external program image recording means 108 ₃ is suspended (the right end 298 of the viewable portion). The second external program image recording means 108 ₂ having the aired image 162 is set to the time 1
It can be seen from the right end 299 of the viewable portion that recording is continued after 9:18. Further, since the second external program video recording means 108 ₂ continues recording, the priorities of the broadcasted video 163 and the broadcasted video 162 are reversed,
As shown in FIG. 16, the drawing order of the program axis 294 and the program axis 293 is reversed.

When the input unit 102 is a pointing device such as a mouse, the user may change the drawing order of the program axes by dragging the program axes 311. In this case, the drawing axis determination unit 232 considers that the evaluation standard of the priority order of the program axis is changed, and updates the evaluation standard. In the case of this example, the evaluation standard is changed such that the total time has a higher specific gravity than the image quality.

FIG. 17 shows an example in which the thickness of each program axis is changed according to the image quality of each broadcast video. As shown in FIG. 17, the program axis generation unit 132 shown in FIG. 9 can determine the thickness of each program axis 291 to 294 displayed in the display area 255 according to the image quality of each aired image. . For example, the program axis 293 having the broadcast image 163 having the highest image quality (see FIG. 5) is thick, and the program axis 294 having the broadcast image 162 having the lowest image quality is thin. In the present embodiment, the thickness of the program axis is determined based on the image quality of the aired video, but for example, the program axis that can be comfortably accessed so that the one with high network speed is drawn thick and the one with slow network speed is drawn thin. Is emphasized,
The thickness of the program axis may be determined based on other information.

Therefore, when the program recording / playback system 200 according to the second embodiment is used, a plurality of program axes are set when the video of the portion that has already been broadcast is in the external program video recording means 108 _{1 to} 108 _N. By drawing and providing an operation means for the program axis, there is a broadcast image outside the program recording / playback apparatus 201 currently operated by the user.
Information such as whether or not the external program image recording means 108 _{1 to} 108 _N are recording, and a possible viewing method for the broadcasted image can be immediately grasped. Further, when streaming is viewed, the user draws a branch band that branches from the program axis of the viewing destination and joins with the program axis that represents the user (the program video recording means 117 in the program recording / playback device 201). It is possible to more intuitively understand information regarding streaming viewing and listening, such as a viewing destination, a viewing place (time), and a network speed.

Furthermore, by displaying a list based on a plurality of search results as program axes based on the priority order in which the setting can be changed, the user can evaluate the total time, image quality, continuity, etc. of the broadcast video. Based on, you can easily select and watch the aired video that you want most. In addition, the drawing order of the program axes displayed in a list can be changed intuitively, and the evaluation standard of the program axis is updated by changing the drawing order. It is possible to raise the rank.

Third Embodiment

FIG. 18 shows an outline of the program recording / playback system in the third embodiment of the present invention. The greatest feature of the program recording / playback system 400 in the third embodiment is that the program recording / playback system 400 includes a search result integrating means and an integrated result drawing means. As a result of searching the broadcasted video, if the broadcasted video to be searched has a plurality of external program video recording means, by integrating and displaying all the search results, each broadcasted video portion (time) It is possible to grasp the amount of aired video in, that is, how many people are watching (or recording) each part.
18, the same parts as those in FIG. 1 or 8 are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be appropriately omitted.

The program recording / playback system 40 of the third embodiment.
In 0, the broadcasted video control unit 415 in the program recording / playback apparatus 401 is the broadcasted video control unit 115 in the first embodiment.
It has a configuration in which some means are further added. Also,
Regarding the program axis drawing unit 431, some means different from the program axis drawing unit 231 (FIG. 9) in the second embodiment are changed to the program axis drawing unit 131 (FIG. 1) of the first embodiment. It is composed.

FIG. 19 shows the configuration of the aired picture control section in the third embodiment. The broadcasted video control unit 415 is the broadcasted video control unit 11 in the first embodiment.
5, the search result integrating means 417, the bookmark generating means 418, and the thumbnail generating means 419 are added to the broadcasted video searching means 125 and the broadcasted video acquiring means 126 of FIG.

FIG. 20 shows the structure of the program axis drawing unit in the third embodiment. Program axis drawing unit 431
Has a configuration in which the integration result drawing means 421, the bookmark drawing means 422, and the thumbnail drawing means 423 are added to the program axis drawing unit 131 of the first embodiment.

Here, the search result integration means 417 integrates all the broadcasted video information searched by the broadcasted video search means 125 to calculate the degree of attention in each part (time) of the broadcasted video. The degree of attention may simply mean the total number of broadcasted images of each part, but weighting is set for each of the external program image recording means 108 _{1 to} 108 _N , and the weighting scale factor of each part of the broadcasted video is set. The result of the addition is the attention level. Integration result drawing means 421 in the program axis drawing unit 431
Draws the attention level on the program axis based on the input from the search result integration means 417.

Based on the input from the search result integrating means 417, the bookmark generating means 418 sets, as a bookmark, a portion where the degree of attention has the highest value or a portion where it exceeds a certain threshold value in the aired video. The portion set as the bookmark can be directly designated as a viewing target by providing an appropriate operation method.
This is a so-called cueing operation.

The bookmark drawing means 422 draws an icon indicating that the bookmark is set at the portion (time) set as the bookmark on the program axis based on the input from the bookmark generating means 418. The drawn bookmark icon has a function as a button, and by selecting and pressing this button, it is possible to directly specify the portion indicated by the bookmark and start viewing.

The thumbnail generating means 419 broadcasts the image of the portion set as the bookmark on the basis of the input from the bookmark generating means 418.
The thumbnail image corresponding to the bookmark is recorded in the program information recording unit 136. Thumbnail drawing means 423
Is based on the input from the bookmark generation means 418,
The part (time) set as a bookmark on the program axis
If the thumbnail image corresponding to No. exists in the program information recording unit 136, the corresponding thumbnail image is arranged.

Next, the actual operation of the program recording / playback system 400 according to the third embodiment will be described. As in the case of the first embodiment, the program 142 shown in FIG.
I tried to watch the channel at 4:19 at 20:20.
It is assumed that the program recording / playback device 401 is activated in accordance with the above. As shown in FIG. 5, the broadcasted image searching means 125 displays the broadcasted image 163 and the broadcasted image 162 as search results.
And the aired video 164 is listed.

FIG. 21 shows an example of the attention scale factor at each recording location. The value of the attention scale factor is usually "1.
The value is set to 0 ", and the value can be changed by the user himself freely changing the value or automatically adding a fixed value each time he / she views the broadcasted video in the recording place. The search result integration means 417 shown in 19 calculates the attention degree of each part of the aired video based on the search result by the aired video search means 125 and the attention degree magnification of each recording location. The video No. 08 is owned by the first external program video recording unit 108 ₁ and the third external program video recording unit 108 ₃ , and the degree of interest at each recording location is “0.5” and “1. Therefore, the attention degree at time 19:08 is “0.5 + 1.0 =”.
It becomes 1.5 ".

FIG. 22 shows a state in which the attention level is drawn on the program axis. The integration result drawing means 421 shown in FIG. 20 draws the attention degree on the program axis displayed in the default display area 455 based on the output of the search result integration means 417. The thickness of the program axis is determined according to the degree of attention of each recording location, and the program axes are drawn so as to be stacked. For example, the program axis 441 related to the second external program video recording means 108 ₂ having the attention degree of “2.0” is changed to the program axis 442 related to the third external program video recording means 108 ₃ having the attention degree of “1.0”. It is twice as thick as the comparison. There are various methods for displaying the attention level.

In FIG. 23, as one of them, the degree of attention is displayed in a line graph. Default display area 455
Indicates the degree of attention by the height of the broken line on the program axis.

On the other hand, in FIG. 24, the degree of attention is expressed by the color of the band on one program axis. That is, in the display area 455, the program axis that is color-coded such that the color changes from a cold color to a warm color as the degree of attention increases is displayed.

Returning to FIG. 22, description will be made. The bookmark generating means 418 has time 19: when the degree of attention reaches the maximum value.
Each part 443 of 05 and time 19:10 is set as a bookmark. The bookmark drawing means 422 draws the icon 444 indicating the bookmark on both the time portions 19:05 and 19:10 on the program axis.

FIG. 25 shows how a thumbnail image is generated. The thumbnail generation means 419 shown in FIG. 19 acquires the images at time 19:05 and time 19:10 via the aired video acquisition means 126, respectively, and performs image reduction processing. Then, the thumbnail image 451 at time 19:05 and the thumbnail image 452 at time 19:10 are generated. The thumbnail drawing means 423 displays the generated thumbnail image in the display area 4
They are arranged in time order (bookmark order) on the program axis of 55. In the example shown in FIG. 25, the size of the thumbnails to be arranged is uniform, but the size is not limited to this. For example, the size of the thumbnail may be changed according to the degree of attention of each part, such as displaying the thumbnail of the portion of high attention in a large size.

Therefore, when the program recording / playback system 400 according to the third embodiment is used, when the external program video recording means 108 having the broadcasted video to be searched exists, it is broadcasted. By calculating the degree of attention in each part of the video, the user can intuitively understand which part of the aired video the other person is paying attention to (recording). Then, by providing a bookmark at a place where most people are paying attention, it becomes possible to directly designate the viewing of the corresponding portion. Further, the degree of attention can be made more preferable and highly credible to the user by performing an operation such as setting a high degree of attention to the recording location where the user has determined that the taste is close to the user. is there.

Furthermore, by creating and displaying the thumbnail of the portion set as the bookmark, the user can see the image of the portion of the aired video which was highly noticed before the actual viewing. Therefore, it can be used as a material for determining whether or not to actually watch the broadcasted video.

Fourth Embodiment

FIG. 26 shows an outline of the program recording / playback system in the fourth embodiment of the present invention. The greatest feature of the program recording / playback system 500 in the fourth embodiment is that the broadcasted program guide drawing unit 511 is provided. In the fourth embodiment, when drawing a program guide that is currently being broadcast or is scheduled to be broadcast in the future, the video of a program that has already been broadcast is searched backward from the current time by a predetermined time.
Also, by listing in the program guide even programs that can be viewed even if they have already been aired, the user can list programs that can be viewed regardless of the broadcasting time and programs that will be broadcast in the future. Can be grasped. Further, the program recording / playback system 500 is similar to the program recording / playback system 400 of the third embodiment shown in FIG.
7 and integrated result drawing means 421. As a result of searching the aired video, if at least a part of the plurality of external program video recording means 108 _{1 to} 108 _N has the aired video to be searched, all search results are integrated and displayed. With, it is possible to grasp the amount of the broadcasted video for each portion (time) of the broadcasted video, that is, how many people are watching (or recording) each portion. In FIG. 26, the same parts as those in FIG. 1 or 18 are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be appropriately omitted.

The program recording / playback system 50 of the fourth embodiment.
0 Broadcasting program listing in program recording / playback device 501
The image unit 511 is a broadcast video control unit 415 and program information.
Contains broadcasted program information based on the input of the control unit 116.
The program guide is drawn and output to the video signal control unit 111. Release
The already-displayed program guide drawing unit 511 uses the program information drawing means 521.
And program information arrangement means 522. Program information drawing
The image means 521 indicates that the program is being broadcast, is being viewed, has not been broadcast, or has already been broadcast.
Color, transparency, shape, size according to the status of each program
The characteristics of the cell (program cell) consisting of
Drawing group information. The program information arrangement unit 522 is a program
A program in which the program information generated by the information drawing means 521 is described.
The rule group is arranged according to the information included in each program information. SE
As the program information to be referenced as an axis when arranging
Date and time, channel, genre, program title, program status (release
Broadcasting, watching, unbroadcast, broadcasted), broadcasted video search results
There are numbers, etc. The number of broadcasted video search results is outside the 1st to Nth
Part program video recording means 108 ₁~ 108_NMore of
The higher the program recorded, the higher.

Next, with respect to the fourth embodiment, the operation of the program recording / playback system 500 will be described in detail with a specific example. The user records the program recording / reproducing device 50 at 19:20.
It is assumed that 1 is activated and the program guide is displayed. The broadcasted video control unit 415 includes the program video recording means 117 and the first to the first.
In the Nth external program video recording means 108 _{1 to} 108 _N , the video of the portion where the broadcasting is finished within 2 hours from the current time is searched for, and the thumbnail image of each program is generated. For the program currently being broadcast, thumbnail images may be generated if the video of the portion that has already been broadcast can be acquired.

The program information drawing means 521 creates a program cell based on the input from the aired picture control section 415 and writes the program information on the program cell.

27 to 32 show various display modes of the program cell in which the program information is described. The characteristics of the program cell are determined by the state of the program in which information is written. For example, in the case of a program that is currently being broadcast or has not been broadcast, as shown in FIG. 27, a program cell 531 of a color set according to the genre of each program is used. For example, the news genre is blue.

FIG. 28 shows a display state of a program that cannot be viewed because the broadcasting has already been completed. The color set according to the genre of each program is a dark-colored program cell 532 such as gray with low lightness and the non-transparency is "0", that is, a non-display state, for programs that have not been aired and cannot be viewed. And

Further, in the case of a program for which a partially viewable video is searched for in a broadcasted program, the color saturation of the program cell is determined by the ratio of the total time of the program and the total time of the viewable video. And transparency are set continuously. For example, if the viewable portion is about 30% of the whole, the program cell using a slightly brighter color than the broadcasted program cell 532 (FIG. 28) that cannot be viewed at all, or the non-transparency is increased as shown in FIG. The displayed program cell 533 is displayed.

If the viewable portion occupies a large portion of the whole, a program cell using a brighter color or a program cell 534 as shown in FIG. 30 with a higher degree of non-transparency will be displayed.

In the present embodiment, the color saturation and transparency of the program cells are continuously set or changed based on the ratio of the total time of each program and the total time of viewable video.
Based on the number of broadcasted video search results, it is possible to make a modification such that the more programs recorded in the external program video recording means 108 use brighter colors.

FIG. 31 shows another display mode of the program cell in which the program information is described. Here, the program axis drawing unit 431 (FIG. 26, FIG. 20) has generated the program axis 535 for a program that has already been broadcast but has a video, and by operating this up and down as appropriate, Program information is displayed on the program cell 536. Figure 32
Generates a thumbnail image 537 from the aired video,
13 shows a display mode displayed on a program cell 538.

As described above, by adopting the display mode as described with reference to FIGS. 27 to 32, when the user browses the program table, whether each program is currently being broadcast or not being broadcast,
Know at a glance the cell in which the program information is written to see if the broadcast has already ended, and if the broadcast has ended, how much of the total program time can be viewed at this time. can do. Furthermore, regarding a program that has already ended but has a video, by describing the program axis and thumbnail image on the program cell, the user can see which part of the program the video can be viewed and what video can be viewed. It is possible to obtain information such as whether or not a scene is included.

The program information arrangement unit 522 shown in FIG.
Forms a program table by combining the program cells generated by the program information drawing means 521. This will be described next.

FIG. 33 shows an example of a program table in which the horizontal axis represents channels and the vertical axis represents time. In this program table 541, an emphasis line 542 is drawn between the program group currently being broadcast and the program group having been broadcast, to emphasize the division between the present and the past. The program cell 543 indicating the program currently being viewed is surrounded by a thick frame 544, and an icon 545 indicating the currently viewed portion is drawn on the program axis. Program cell 546 and program cell 5 that are arranged in a dark color and have no program axis
Reference numeral 47 indicates that the program has not been aired and cannot be viewed. Also, the program cell 5 on channel 8 in the figure
If there is a program that can be viewed before the program broadcasted before 47, an icon 549 that clearly indicates that is displayed.

FIG. 34 shows another program table.
In this program table 551, the program cells of programs that have been broadcasted and cannot be viewed are hidden, and the vacant portions are filled in to arrange the broadcasted program cells to be displayed previously. In this program table 551, above the highlight line 552, only the program cells relating to the programs which have been broadcast but are still viewable are displayed in order, and a group of broadcasted programs 553 arranged in a row for each channel. , 554, ... Are not necessarily broadcast at the same time.

For example, the broadcasted program 553 has been broadcast before the program 547 in the program guide 541 shown in FIG. 33 and is not shown in FIG. FIG. 34
Since the program guide 541 shown in FIG. 33 is not displayed in the program guide 551, the programs are displayed side by side next to the programs broadcast on the other channels at 18:00.

FIG. 35 shows still another program table. In this program table 561, time is taken on the vertical axis, and a list of programs that can be viewed without considering channels etc. is displayed. By making the program cell large in the horizontal direction, it is possible to arrange the program axis 562 in detail and draw the thumbnail image 563.

As described in detail above, the fourth aspect of the present invention
When the program recording / playback device 501 of the embodiment is used, when a program guide is drawn based on the program information (EPG) acquired from the outside, whether or not there is a viewable image of the program that has already been broadcast. Is expressed by the color, transparency, size, etc. of the cells that make up the program guide, so that the user can immediately grasp the programs that are currently viewable.
Further, by additionally displaying the program axis and the thumbnail as program information, it becomes possible to present more detailed information of the aired program, and it is possible to grasp the programs that can be viewed and their contents. .

The program recording / playback apparatuses 101, 201, 401 and 50 described in the first to fourth embodiments described above.
1 can be constructed by using a computer for a part or all of them. For example, these program recording / playback apparatuses 101, 201, 401, and 501 have RA (not shown) as well as CPU (Central Processing Unit) (not shown).
M (random access memory) and a non-volatile recording medium such as a hard disk, an optical disk, a floppy disk or a CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read Only M)
emory) or DVD-ROM (Digital Versatile Dis)
k Read Only Memory) is prepared and a control program for realizing various controls is stored in a non-volatile recording medium, whereby an apparatus configuration under computer control can be obtained.

For example, in the case of the program recording / playback apparatus 501 according to the fourth embodiment, the program video control unit 114, the broadcasted video control unit 415, the program information control unit 116, the program axis drawing unit 431 and the broadcasted video are installed inside the computer. A computer program for generating the function of the program guide drawing unit 511 is created, and the CPU reads the recording medium in which this program is recorded to read the program video control unit 1
14, broadcasted video control unit 415, program information control unit 11
6, program axis drawing unit 431 and broadcasted program guide drawing unit 51
The function of 1 can be generated. Further, such a computer program may be recorded in a recording device in a server (not shown) or may be provided via a network.

FIG. 36 shows a schematic flow of the control program when the program recording / playback system is realized by the control program using a computer. First, in this control program, a program information acquisition process for acquiring program information such as a broadcast time and a program name of a television program broadcast by a television broadcasting station is executed (step S601). Then, based on the program information acquired by this program information acquisition processing, a recording place for finding a recording place where a desired television program already recorded by one or a plurality of recording units for recording the television program can be viewed. Search processing is executed (step S60).
2). Next, when a viewable recording location is found by this recording location search processing, recording location display processing for displaying it is executed (step S603), and program selection processing for selecting a desired program from this is executed if necessary. (Step S604), and thereafter, the broadcasting process of acquiring the television program found by the recording place searching process from the recording place and broadcasting it (Step S60).
5).

The above-described processing may be performed on a one-shot basis as shown in FIG. 36, or in steps S601 to S603.
The process may be repeatedly performed with a time interval so that the latest recording location is always displayed. Further, the process of step S602 may be controlled so that it has already been broadcasted. Further step S
In the processing of 603, various program time axes that show the programs that can be broadcast, the current time, etc. are displayed, and in an environment where programs are commonly accessed on the network, the degree of attention of each program is displayed. Then, a process may be performed such that it is used as a material when the user selects a program.

In the program selection process of step S604, the process of copying the recording of the network recording unit on the network to the own device side may be executed at the time of selection.
It is also possible to add a bookmark to a frequently-used program or a program that has been seen halfway, and to execute control so as to easily perform subsequent program selection processing. It is also effective to execute a control program for generating and displaying a program guide of currently viewable programs including recording by the network recording unit.

These more specific controls can be easily realized based on the already described first to fourth embodiments, and the detailed flow chart will not be presented.

[0178]

As described above, claim 1 and claim 1
According to the second and the twenty-third aspects of the present invention, since the recording location where the viewing is possible is searched for and displayed, the user can grasp the currently viewable program regardless of the broadcasting time. Furthermore, if it is possible to display information about the recorded video for each location where the video is recorded and to be able to directly select and operate the display information, the recorded video can be more intuitive. Various information can be grasped and operated.

According to the second, thirteenth and twenty-fourth aspects of the present invention, there are a plurality of recording means, and at least one of them is a network recording means for recording a television program on the network. Not only can one person make recordings on the network to relax the recording capacity limit, but also share the recordings on the network, not only accelerate this kind of business on the network, It is possible to effectively utilize already recorded television programs. Further, since the program receiving and recording means for directly receiving and recording the television program from the television broadcasting station is provided, it is possible to save the recorded contents for a long time and select the image quality at the responsibility of the individual.

Further, according to the inventions of claims 3, 14, and 25, at least one of the recording means is capable of tracing back a currently broadcast television program or at the beginning of the program. Since it has a time shift function that can be viewed from, you can watch only the main points of a television program according to its content and characteristics, or analyze the content by going back in time while viewing the currently received content. The method can be adopted, and in addition to comparing the same kind of television programs on the network, various television programs such as news can be enjoyed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an outline of a program recording / playback system in a first embodiment of the present invention.

2 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of program information recorded by the program information recording means shown in FIG. 1. FIG.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing how a time axis displayed in a display area is generated in this embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a display area showing a state in which the relationship between the total length of a program and the current time is displayed in this embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a search result table showing an example of a search result in this embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing an example of a display state of a display area for a program whose broadcasting has not been finished in this embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing a display state of a display area for a program additionally displayable in the present embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing an outline of a program recording / playback system in a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a specific configuration of a program axis drawing unit in the second embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a plan view showing an example of a display state of a display area in the second embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a plan view of a display area showing a case where copying is performed from the outside to the inside by a drag operation in the second embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a plan view showing an example of a display state when the broadcast video is duplicated on the program recording / playback apparatus side in the second embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a plan view showing a display area when another operation related to streaming viewing is performed in the second embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a plan view showing a display area when a drawing operation is performed in the second embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a plan view showing a state in which each program axis is displayed in a default display area in the second embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a plan view of a display area showing an example of an interrupted state of recording and a reversed state of a broadcasted image in the second embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a plan view of a display area showing an example in which the thickness of each program axis is changed according to the image quality of each broadcast video.

FIG. 18 is a block diagram showing an outline of a program recording / playback system in a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an on-air image control section in the third embodiment.

FIG. 20 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a program axis drawing unit in the third embodiment.

FIG. 21 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an attention scale factor at each recording location.

FIG. 22 is a plan view of a display area showing a state in which attention is drawn on the program axis in the third embodiment.

FIG. 23 is a plan view of the display area showing a state in which the attention level is drawn on the program axis by a polygonal line.

FIG. 24 is a plan view of the display area showing a state in which the attention level is drawn on the program axis by dividing the attention level into colors.

FIG. 25 is a plan view of a display area showing how thumbnail images are generated in the third embodiment.

FIG. 26 is a block diagram showing an outline of a program recording / playback system in a fourth example of the present invention.

FIG. 27 is a plan view showing a first example of a display mode of a program cell in which program information is described in the fourth example.

FIG. 28 is a plan view showing a second example of the display mode of the program cell in which the program information is described in the fourth example.

FIG. 29 is a plan view showing a third example of the display mode of the program cell in which the program information is described in the fourth example.

FIG. 30 is a plan view showing a fourth example of the display mode of the program cell in which the program information is described in the fourth example.

FIG. 31 is a plan view showing a fifth example of a display mode of program cells in which program information is described in the fourth example.

FIG. 32 is a plan view showing a sixth example of the display mode of the program cell in which the program information is described in the fourth example.

FIG. 33 is a plan view showing an example of a program guide created in the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 34 is a plan view showing another example of the program guide created in the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 35 is a plan view showing still another program guide created in the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 36 is a flowchart showing a schematic flow of a control program when a program recording / playback system is realized by the control program using a computer.

[Explanation of symbols]

100, 200, 400, 500 Program recording / reproducing system 101, 201, 401, 501 Program recording / reproducing apparatus 102 Input means 103 Output means 105 Network 107 External program information recording means 108 External program video recording means 111 Video signal control section 114 Video signal control section 114 Program video Control unit 115, 415 Broadcast video control unit 116 Program information control unit 117 Program video recording unit 131, 231, 431 Program axis drawing unit 136 Program information recording unit 151 Program video area 152, 252, 253, 291 to 254 Program axis 155 255, 455 display area 171 area 275, 281 obi 451, 452 thumbnail image 511 aired program guide drawing unit 541, 551 program guide

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) H04N 5/765 H04N 5/91 LF term (reference) 5C025 CA02 CA09 CB05 CB06 CB08 CB09 DA01 DA04 5C052 AA01 AB02 AB03 AC01 AC08 CC01 DD04 DD10 EE03 5C053 FA05 FA23 GB06 HA26 HA29 HA30 JA22 LA06 LA07 LA14 5D077 AA22 AA38 BA08 BA14 BB18 CA02 DC03 DC08 DC16 EA36

Claims (33)

[Claims] 1. A program information acquisition unit for acquiring program information such as a broadcast time and a program name of a television program broadcast by a television broadcasting station; and one or a plurality of recording units for recording the television program. Based on the program information acquired by the program information acquisition means, a recording location searching means for finding a recording location where a desired television program already recorded by the recording means can be viewed, and a recording location searching means Program recording means for displaying a different recording location when it is found, and broadcasting means for acquiring the television program found by the recording location searching means from the recording location and broadcasting it. Recording and playback system. 2. A program reception recording means for directly receiving and recording a television program from a television broadcasting station is provided as one of the recording means, and a plurality of recording means are provided, at least one of which is a television on a network. Network recording means for recording a John program, wherein the recording location searching means searches for a viewable recording means that holds the desired recorded television program at the present time. The program recording / playback system according to claim 1. 3. At least one of the recording means has a time shift function that allows a television program currently being broadcast to be watched backward or from the beginning of the program. A broadcasted video search means for searching a broadcasted part of the program based on the program information acquired by the acquisition means, and a part where the broadcast of the television program as a result of the search by the broadcasted video search means is completed. 2. The program recording / playback system according to claim 1, further comprising a first program time axis display means for displaying the position of the video of the program on the time axis of the program. 4. A viewing part drawing means for displaying a part currently being viewed by a user on a program axis as a time axis of the program, and a current part drawing means for displaying a current time on the program axis. 2. The program recording / playback system according to claim 1, further comprising a second program time axis display means. 5. A program selecting means is provided for selecting a program to be viewed from among the television programs recorded by the program receiving and recording means and the television programs recorded by the network recording means, and the broadcasting means selects the program. 3. The program recording / playback system according to claim 2, wherein when the means selects the television program recorded by the network recording means, the television program recorded by the network recording means is broadcast. 6. The program selection means, when the television program recorded by the network recording means is selected, the recorded portion is duplicated and broadcast on the program reception recording means. Program recording and playback system. 7. A viewing characteristic display means for displaying characteristics when the network recording means is viewed, and the broadcasting means recording the image acquired by the viewing characteristic display means from the network recording means via the network. 3. The program recording according to claim 2, further comprising: a streaming viewing presence / absence display unit that displays whether or not streaming viewing is being performed at that time when the streaming viewing to be broadcasted without being displayed is displayed. Playback system. 8. A degree-of-attention calculating unit that obtains the number of videos that have been broadcast by the network recording unit for each television program targeted by the recording place searching unit and calculates the number as the attention level of the television program. 3. The program recording / playback system according to claim 2, further comprising: an attention degree display means for displaying the attention degree calculated by the attention degree calculation means. 9. A bookmark setting means for setting a bookmark that allows the user to directly specify viewing based on the result calculated by the attention degree calculating means, and a bookmark set by the bookmark setting means for the program. 9. The program recording / playback system according to claim 8, further comprising a third program time axis display means having a bookmark drawing means for displaying on a program axis as a time axis of the program. 10. A video acquisition means for acquiring a predetermined video of a program, a thumbnail image generation means for generating a thumbnail image from the video acquired by the video acquisition means, and a thumbnail image generated by the thumbnail image generation means. 9. The program recording / playback system according to claim 8, further comprising a fourth program time axis display means for displaying on a program axis as a time axis of the program. 11. The program information acquired from the program information acquisition means and each program of the part of which the broadcasting has been completed by the broadcasted video searching means are set as recording locations which can be viewed by the recording location searching means. 4. A program guide generation means for generating a viewable program guide by combining the programs, and a program guide display means for displaying the program guide generated by the program guide generation means. Program recording and playback system. 12. A program information acquisition step for acquiring program information such as a broadcast time and a program name of a television program broadcast by a television broadcasting station, and a television based on the program information acquired by the program information acquisition step. A recording location search step of finding a recording location available for viewing a desired television program that has already been recorded by one or a plurality of recording units that record John programs, and a recording location available for viewing is found by this recording location search step. A program recording / reproducing method, comprising: a recording place displaying step for displaying the same, and a broadcasting step for acquiring and broadcasting the television program found by the recording place searching step from the recording place. 13. A program receiving / recording unit for directly receiving and recording a television program from a television broadcasting station is one of the recording units.
And at least one of the one or more recording units is a network recording unit for recording a television program on the network, and the recording location searching step is the recording of the desired television program already recorded. 13. The program recording / playback method according to claim 12, further comprising: searching for a viewable recording unit held so that the program can be viewed. 14. At least one of the recording units has a time shift function that allows a television program currently being broadcast to be viewed backwards in time or from the beginning of the program. A broadcasted video search step that searches for a broadcasted part of the program based on the program information acquired by the acquisition step, and a part where the broadcast of the television program as a result of the search by the broadcasted video search step ends 13. The program recording / playback method according to claim 12, further comprising a first program time axis display step of displaying the position of the video of the program on the time axis of the program. 15. A viewing part drawing step for displaying a part currently being viewed by a user on a program axis as a time axis of the program, and a current part drawing step for displaying a current time on the program axis. 13. The program recording / playback method according to claim 12, further comprising a second program time axis display step. 16. A program selecting step of selecting a program to be viewed from a television program recorded by the program receiving / recording section and a television program recorded by the network recording section, and the program selecting step in the broadcasting step. 14. The program recording / reproducing method according to claim 13, wherein when the step selects the television program recorded by the network recording section, the television program recorded by the network recording section is broadcast. 17. The television program recorded by the network recording unit is selected in the program selecting step, and the recorded portion is duplicated and broadcast in the program receiving and recording step. Program recording and playback method. 18. A viewing characteristic display step of displaying a characteristic when the network recording section is viewed, and recording an image acquired from the network recording section via the network in the viewing characteristic display step in the broadcasting step. 14. The program according to claim 13, further comprising: a streaming viewing presence / absence displaying step for displaying whether or not streaming viewing is being performed at that time when the streaming viewing to be broadcast without being displayed is displayed. Recording and playback method. 19. A degree-of-attention calculating step of obtaining the number of videos that have been broadcast by the network recording unit for each television program that is the search target in the step of searching the recording location, and calculating this as the degree of attention of the television program. 14. The program recording / playback method according to claim 13, further comprising an attention level display step of displaying the attention level calculated in the attention level calculation step. 20. A bookmark setting step for setting a bookmark that allows the user to directly specify viewing based on the result calculated by the attention degree calculating step, and the bookmark set in this bookmark setting step for the program. 3. A third program time axis display step further comprising a bookmark drawing step for displaying on the program axis as the time axis of the program.
9. The program recording / playback method described in 9. 21. A video acquisition step of acquiring a predetermined video of a program, a thumbnail image generation step of generating a thumbnail image from the video acquired in this video acquisition step, and the thumbnail image generated in this thumbnail image generation step 20. The program recording / reproducing method according to claim 19, further comprising a fourth program time axis display step of displaying on the program axis as a time axis of the program. 22. The program information acquired in the program information acquisition step, and each recording program which is a part of which broadcasting has been completed in the broadcasted video searching step and which can be viewed in the recording location searching step. A program guide generation step of generating a viewable program guide by combining the program guides, and a program guide display step of displaying the program guide generated by this program guide generation step are further included. 14. The program recording / playback method described in 14. 23. A program information acquisition process for acquiring program information such as a broadcast time and a program name of a television program broadcast by a television broadcasting station on a computer, and based on the program information acquired by this program information acquisition process. Recording location search processing for finding a recording location where a desired television program already recorded by one or more recording units for recording a television program can be viewed, and recording recording viewable by this recording location search processing. Program recording / playback characterized by executing a recording location display process of displaying a location when it is found and a broadcasting process of acquiring and broadcasting the television program found by the recording location search process from the recording location program. 24. A program receiving / recording unit for directly receiving and recording a television program from a television broadcasting station is one of the recording units.
And at least one of the one or more recording units is a network recording unit that records a television program on the network. In the recording location search processing, the desired television program that has been recorded is currently recorded. 24. The program recording / playback program according to claim 23, wherein the program recording / playback program is searched for a viewable recording section held so as to be viewable by. 25. At least one of the recording units has a time shift function that allows a television program currently being broadcast to be viewed backward in time or from the beginning of the program. The broadcasted video search process that searches for the broadcasted part of the program based on the program information acquired by the acquisition process, and the part where the broadcast of the television program as a result of the search by the broadcasted video search process has ended 24. The program recording / playback program according to claim 23, further comprising: a first program time axis display process for displaying the position of the video of the program on the time axis of the program. 26. A viewing part drawing process for displaying a part currently being viewed by a user on a program axis as a time axis of the program and a current part drawing process for displaying a current time on the program axis. 24. The program recording / playback program according to claim 23, further comprising a second program time axis display process. 27. A program selection process of selecting a program to be viewed from the television programs recorded by the program reception recording unit and the television programs recorded by the network recording unit is further executed, and in the broadcasting process, 25. The program recording / playback program according to claim 24, wherein the television program recorded by the network recording section is broadcast when the television program recorded by the network recording section is selected in the program selection processing. 28. When the television program recorded by the network recording unit is selected in the program selection process, the recorded portion is duplicated and broadcast by the program reception recording unit. Program recording and playback system. 29. A viewing characteristic display process for displaying a viewing characteristic of the network recording unit, and recording, in the broadcasting process, an image acquired from the network recording unit via the network in the viewing characteristic display process. 24. The program according to claim 23, further comprising a streaming viewing presence / absence display process for displaying whether or not streaming viewing is being performed at that time when the streaming viewing to be broadcast without permission is displayed. Recording and playback program. 30. A degree-of-attention calculating process for obtaining the number of already-transmitted videos by the network recording unit for each television program to be searched in the recording place search process, and calculating this as the degree of attention of the television program. 25. The attention degree display processing for displaying the attention degree calculated by the attention degree calculation processing is further executed.
Program recording and playback program described. 31. A bookmark setting process for setting a bookmark that allows the user to directly specify viewing based on the result calculated by the attention degree calculation process, and a bookmark set by this bookmark setting process for the program. 31. The program recording / playback program according to claim 30, further comprising: a third program time axis display process for performing a bookmark drawing process for displaying the program on the program axis as the time axis. 32. A video acquisition process for acquiring a predetermined video of a program, a thumbnail image generation process for generating a thumbnail image from the video acquired by this video acquisition process, and a thumbnail image generated by this thumbnail image generation process 31. The program recording / playback program according to claim 30, further comprising: fourth program time axis display processing for displaying on a program axis as a time axis of the program. 33. Program information acquired by the program information acquisition process, and a recording place which is a part of which the broadcasting is finished by the broadcasted image searching process and which can be viewed by the recording place searching process. A program guide generation process for generating a viewable program guide by combining the above-mentioned programs and a program guide display process for displaying the program guide generated by this program guide generation process are further executed. 25. A program recording / playback program described in 25.