JP2006080799A - Program recording apparatus and program guide generating method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a program recording apparatus capable of generating a program guide resulting from collecting EPG data of EPG sources congenial to a user by each broadcast channel. <P>SOLUTION: The program recording apparatus manages assigned contents of the EPG sources by each broadcast channel by using a management table and generates the program guide by using the EPG data from the EPG sources assigned by each broadcast channel on the basis of the contents of this management table. Further, if the program recording apparatus cannot acquire the EPG data of one EPG source, the recording apparatus can make up the program guide by the EPG data of the other EPG source so as to ensure the program guide. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a program recording apparatus capable of setting recording of a program using an electronic program guide and a method for creating a program guide for each broadcast channel from information of the electronic program guide.

  With the spread of television broadcasts such as terrestrial broadcasts and satellite broadcasts, program recording apparatuses for recording and playing back broadcast programs of television broadcasts have become widespread. Conventionally, most of the program recording devices record video signals and audio signals on a tape medium or the like, but with the development of digital signal processing technology, broadcast programs are recorded as digital signals on a recording medium such as a hard disk or an optical disk. A program recording device has also appeared. In general, a program recording apparatus has a built-in timer and the like, and has a recording reservation function for automatically recording a program by specifying a date and time in advance.

Conventionally, for recording reservation, the user himself / herself has to set the date and time when a desired broadcast program is broadcast to a timer device or the like. As a method for reducing the burden on the user, there is an electronic program guide (EPG). The program recording apparatus can acquire the EPG data from a broadcast wave or the Internet and store it inside, and can extract the data for each broadcast channel from the EPG data to create and display a program guide. When a desired broadcast program is selected by the user from the displayed program guide and recording reservation is instructed, the program recording device stores data such as the broadcast station and date / time of the instructed broadcast program. The EPG data is searched and set to the recording reservation function (for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2004-088282 A

  Currently, EPG distribution services include a service form that distributes EPG data over broadcast waves, a form that distributes EPG data over the Internet, and other services that use telephone lines. Each of these services has its characteristics, and there are differences in details of information, the number of broadcast channels provided, and the like. There are also services specialized for specific broadcasts.

  However, in a conventional program recording apparatus, the range of combinations of EPG data that can be acquired from a type of EPG distribution service (hereinafter referred to as “EPG source”) fixedly determined by the apparatus and a group of receivable broadcast channels I could only get the program guide. That is, the user cannot select a desired EPG source for each broadcast channel or each use environment.

  In view of such circumstances, the present invention provides a program recording apparatus capable of creating a program guide composed of EPG data of an EPG source suitable for the user's preference for each broadcast channel, and a program guide creation method thereof. And

  In order to achieve such an object, the program recording apparatus of the present invention includes an acquisition unit that acquires program information provided from a plurality of program information providing services, a storage unit that stores the acquired program information, and a broadcast channel. Management means for managing allocation of program information providing service that is a program information providing source, and program information providing service assigned for each broadcast channel from program information stored in storage means based on the contents of the assignment by the management means It is characterized by comprising creation means for taking out the program information and creating a program guide, and display means for displaying the created program guide.

  Further, in the program recording apparatus of the present invention, the management means allocates a plurality of program information providing services for each broadcast channel and manages the priority order among the plurality of program information providing services. The program information of one program information providing service is selected for each broadcast channel on the basis of the priority order managed in the above, and a program guide is created.

  Further, in the program recording apparatus of the present invention, the program means provides the program information providing service with the next highest priority when the program information of the program information providing service to be selected based on the priority order is not stored in the storage means. The program information is selected.

  Furthermore, the program recording apparatus of the present invention is further characterized by further comprising changing means for changing the priority order based on a command from the user.

  According to the program recording apparatus and the program guide creation method of the present invention, it is possible to create a program guide composed of EPG source EPG data that suits the user's preference for each broadcast channel.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a program recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
As shown in the figure, the program recording apparatus 100 of this embodiment has a system control unit 1 that controls the entire system. The system control unit 1 includes a CPU 2, a ROM 3 in which firmware and various data are fixedly stored, and a RAM 4 that is used as a work area of the CPU 2. An EPG management unit 6, a remote control interface unit 7, a tuner unit 8, an information recording / playback unit 9, an EPG screen configuration unit 10, a network connection unit 11, and the like are connected to the system control unit 1 through a bus 5.

  The EPG management unit 6 includes an EPG data acquisition unit 12, an EPG data storage unit 13, a program guide creation unit 14, a program guide information storage unit 15, a channel / EPG source allocation management table (hereinafter referred to as “management table”) 16, and the like. Have. The EPG data acquisition unit 12 acquires EPG data distributed by broadcast waves and EPG data provided on the Internet, and records them in the EPG data storage unit 13. The management table 16 is a table for managing the allocation of EPG sources (program information providing service) for each broadcast channel and the priority among a plurality of allocated EPG sources. The program guide creation unit 14 creates program guide information to be provided to the user using the information in the management table 16 and the EPG data (program information) stored in the EPG data storage unit 13. The program guide information storage unit 15 stores information on the program guide created by the program guide creation unit 14.

  The remote control interface unit 7 is an interface unit with a remote controller (hereinafter referred to as “remote control”) 17 for inputting an instruction from the user. The tuner unit 8 selects a desired broadcast wave from digital broadcast broadcast waves taken from the antenna 18 or the like. Moreover, the broadcast wave of digital broadcasting is not restricted to what is taken in from the antenna 18, but is taken in via a cable from a cable television station etc.

  The demultiplexer 19 separates the audio signal, the video signal, and the EPG source signal multiplexed on the broadcast wave, and outputs them to the decoder 20. The decoding unit 20 decodes the audio signal, video signal and EPG data signal separated by the demultiplexing unit 19, respectively, and outputs the digital audio signal, digital video signal and digital EPG data signal as an output control unit 21, information recording / reproduction Output to the unit 9 and the bus 5. The EPG screen composition unit 10 composes program guide screen information from the program guide information stored in the program guide information storage unit 15 of the EPG management unit 6, and the channel / EPG source allocation confirmation screen from the contents of the management table 16. This is means for configuring various screens. The output control unit 21 converts the decoded digital audio signal and digital video signal into an output audio signal and video signal. The audio output unit 22 outputs an audio signal for output from the output control unit 21 to an audio output device (not shown) such as a speaker. The image output unit 23 outputs the video signal for output from the output control unit 21 to a display device (not shown) such as a liquid crystal display.

  The information recording / reproducing unit 9 has a rewritable recording medium such as a hard disk drive or a DVD, for example, and records the digital audio signal and digital video signal decoded by the decoding unit 20 on the recording medium. The digital audio signal and digital video signal recorded in the above are reproduced and output to the decoding unit 20.

  The network connection unit 11 is means for connecting to the Internet in order to download EPG data published on the Internet.

  Next, the operation of the program recording apparatus 100 will be described.

  In the program recording apparatus 100, a plurality of types of EPG sources are allocated for each broadcast channel, and the contents of the allocation are managed in the management table 16 together with the priorities among the plurality of types of EPG sources.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the management table 16. Here, examples of EPG sources include ADAMS-EPG, iNET-EPG, DIGITAL-EPG, and the like, but the present invention is not limited to adopting these EPG sources. In this management table 16, the terrestrial broadcast channel “1” is assigned two ADAMS-EPG and iNET-EPG as EPG sources, and the priority of these two EPG sources is ADAMS-EPG No. 1, iNET. -EPG is number 2. Further, iNET-EPG and DIGITAL-EPG are assigned to the BS digital broadcast channel “120”, and the priorities of these are DIGITAL-EPG No. 1 and iNET-EPG No. 2. The setting contents of the management table 16 are prepared by default in the program recording apparatus 100, but the user can arbitrarily change the setting contents. The changing method will be described later.

  By default, the priority order of the EPG source by broadcast waves, that is, ADAMS-EPG, DIGITAL-EPG, etc. is set higher than the EPG source by the Internet, that is, iNET-EPG, because of the merit of information accuracy. However, since iNET-EPG is more detailed than ADAMS-EPG and DIGITAL-EPG and covers program information for a long number of days, a user who places importance on this point sets the priority of iNET-EPG to ADAMS- The setting can be changed to be higher than EPG and DIGITAL-EPG.

  In addition to the management table 16, for example, as shown in FIG. 3, an EPG source / channel code correspondence table, a channel / channel name correspondence table (not shown), and the like are also stored in the program recording apparatus 100 in advance. It is prepared.

  Next, an interface for allowing the user to confirm the setting contents of the EPG source allocation and the priority order for each broadcast channel and to change the setting contents will be described. When a user gives an instruction to display an EPG source assignment screen for each broadcast channel to the system control unit 1 using the remote controller 17 or the like, the system control unit 1 passes the command to the EPG management unit 6. The EPG management unit 6 transfers the contents of the management table 16 to the EPG screen configuration unit 10 in accordance with this command. The EPG screen configuration unit 10 refers to the contents of the management table 16, the correspondence table between the EPG source and the channel code, the correspondence table between the channel and the channel name shown in FIG. Configure. Information of the configured channel / EPG source allocation confirmation screen is displayed on a display device (not shown) through the output control unit 21 and the image output unit 23.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the terrestrial broadcast of the channel / EPG source allocation confirmation screen 24.
On this channel / EPG source assignment confirmation screen 24, registration, position, reception channel (reception CH), channel logo (CH logo), display channel (display CH), channel code (CH code) for each broadcast channel. , Channel name and other items are provided. In the registration item, a check 25 is put in accordance with an instruction from the user to validate the default contents of the management table 16 described above. The position is an assignment of the channel button number of the remote controller 17 of the program recording apparatus 100. The reception channel (reception CH) is a number assigned to the broadcast channel. The channel logo (CH logo) is a logo mark that identifies the type of broadcast media (terrestrial broadcast, BS digital, etc.). The display channel (display CH) is a channel name shortened for identification display. The channel code (CH code) is a code that designates a broadcast channel. The channel name is an official broadcast channel name. At the right end of the channel name, a logo mark 26 indicating the type of EPG source with the highest priority among the EPG sources assigned to the broadcast channel is displayed.

  Also, at the bottom of the channel / EPG source assignment confirmation screen 24, help information 27 for posting the contents of the command associated with the operation button of the remote controller 17 to the user is displayed. For example, the help information 27 indicates that an item can be selected using the up / down / left / right cursor buttons of the remote controller 17 and the selection content is determined by operating a determination button between the up / down / left / right cursor buttons. ing. In the operation procedure indicated by the help information 27, for example, the user can selectively put a check 25 in the registration item for each broadcast channel on the channel / EPG source assignment confirmation screen 24. The default contents of the management table 16 are valid for broadcast channels whose registration items have a check 25. Furthermore, if a button labeled “mode” is pressed on the remote controller 17, the priority order among a plurality of EPG sources assigned to the selected broadcast channel can be changed. For example, when ADAMS-EPG and iNET-EPG are assigned to a certain broadcast channel, and the priority of ADAMS-EPG is set high, if the mode button is pressed once, the relationship between the priorities is reversed. The logo mark 26 indicating the type of EPG source displayed on the channel / EPG source assignment confirmation screen is changed from ADAMS-EPG to iNET-EPG. When the desired logo mark 26 appears on the channel / EPG source assignment confirmation screen 24, the update content of the acquisition source EPG source becomes valid by pressing the above determination button, and the update content is displayed in the management table 16. It has been reflected.

Next, an operation for acquiring EPG data will be described.
There are two EPG data acquisition procedures: a procedure for acquiring from broadcast waves and a procedure for acquiring from the Internet. The time zone in which EPG data is broadcast is determined. The EPG data acquisition unit 12 of the EPG management unit 6 selects the broadcast wave including the EPG data by controlling the tuner unit 8 when the broadcast time of the EPG data is reached. The signal including the EPG data output from the tuner unit 8 is decrypted and then separated into an audio signal, a video signal, and an EPG data signal by the demultiplexing unit 19. The separated EPG data signal is demodulated into a digital signal by the decoding unit 20 and sent to the EPG management unit 6. The EPG data acquisition unit 12 of the EPG management unit 6 stores the acquired EPG data in the EPG data storage unit 13. When acquiring EPG data on the Internet, the EPG data acquisition unit 12 of the EPG management unit 6 transmits a request for EPG data through the network connection unit 11 to a server that provides an EPG distribution service on the Internet. By doing so, the EPG data is downloaded. The downloaded EPG data is stored in the EPG data storage unit 13 of the EPG management unit 6.

  Next, an operation for creating a program table based on the management table 16 from EPG data stored in the EPG data storage unit 13 will be described.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the program table creation operation. As an example, a program guide for 28 days is created. The number of days of 28 days is a default, and the user can change to other days.

  When receiving the program table creation command, the program table creation unit 14 of the EPG management unit 6 reads the contents of the head (channel number “1”) of the management table 16 and reads a plurality of types assigned to the broadcast channel. The priority order between the EPG source and these types of EPG sources is confirmed. The EPG sources assigned to the channel number “1” are ADAMS-EPG and iNET-EPG, and the priority of these two EPG sources is ADAMS-EPG No. 1 and iNET-EPG No. 2. Therefore, the program guide creation unit 14 searches the EPG data for the channel number “1” and the date of the first day of 28 days from the EPG data of the ADAMS-EPG stored in the EPG data storage unit 13. (Step 503), and this is recorded in the program guide information storage unit 15 as a part of information constituting the program guide (Step 505). Here, acquisition of EPG data of ADAMS-EPG may fail due to radio wave conditions or the like, and EPG data necessary for EPG data storage unit 13 may not be stored. In this case (NO in step 503), the program guide creation unit 14 relates to the channel number “1” from the EPG data of the iNET-EPG having the second priority, and the date of the first day of 28 days. EPG data is retrieved (step 504), and if the corresponding EPG data is retrieved successfully (YES in step 504), the EPG data is recorded in the program guide information storage unit 15 (step 505). Here, if the corresponding EPG data cannot be retrieved from any kind of EPG source assigned to the channel number “1” (NO in step 504), the date of the first day is not present. (Step 506).

  Next, for the same channel number “1”, the EPG data on the date of the second day of 28 days is searched in the same manner as described above, and this is repeated for 28 days. As a result, the program information for 28 days related to the channel number “1” is recorded in the program guide information storage unit 15. Subsequently, for the next channel number (channel number “3”) in the management table 16 as well, EPG data for 28 days is searched in accordance with the priority order among the EPG sources assigned to the broadcast channel, and the program guide information. Record in the storage unit 15. In this way, the program information is searched for all the channel numbers registered in the management table 16 and recorded in the program guide information storage unit 15.

  When a program guide display command is input by the user using the remote controller 17 or the like, the program information of each broadcast channel stored in the program guide information storage unit 15 is sent to the EPG screen configuration unit 10, and the EPG screen configuration unit 10. Configures screen information of the program guide from the acquired program information. The screen information of the configured program guide is displayed on a display device (not shown) through the output control unit 21 and the image output unit 23.

  Thereafter, the user can refer to the program guide displayed on the display device and use the remote controller 17 or the like to select a broadcast channel, program tuning, recording setting, and the like. The system control unit 1 executes a recording process based on the recording setting. That is, the system control unit 1 instructs the tuner unit 8 to select a broadcast channel when the broadcast time of a program reserved for recording comes. The broadcast signal selected by the tuner unit 8 in accordance with this instruction is decrypted and then separated into an audio signal, a video signal, and the like by the demultiplexing unit 19, and a digital audio signal and a digital signal are respectively decoded by the decoding unit 20. A video signal is recorded on the recording medium by the information recording / reproducing unit 9.

  As described above, according to the program recording apparatus 100 of this embodiment, it is possible to create a program table that collects EPG data from EPG sources that suits the user's preference for each broadcast channel. If EPG data of one EPG source cannot be acquired, the program guide can be filled with EPG data of another EPG source, and the program guide can be secured.

  It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the illustrated examples described above, and it is needless to say that various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the program recording apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the management table of FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of the corresponding | compatible table of an EPG source and a channel code. It is a figure which shows a channel / EPG source allocation confirmation screen. It is a flowchart which shows the production | generation operation | movement of a program schedule.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... System control part, 6 ... EPG management part, 8 ... Tuner part, 9 ... Information recording / reproducing part, 10 ... EPG screen structure part, 11 ... Network connection part, 12 ... EPG data acquisition part, 13 ... EPG data storage part , 14... Program table creation unit, 15... Program table information storage unit, 16... Management table, 100.

Claims (8)

Obtaining means for obtaining program information provided from a plurality of program information providing services;
Storage means for storing the acquired program information;
Management means for managing allocation of the program information providing service that is a provider of the program information for each broadcast channel;
Creating means for taking out the program information of the program information providing service assigned to each broadcast channel from the program information stored in the storage means based on the content of the assignment by the management means and creating a program table; ,
A program recording apparatus, comprising: a display unit configured to display the created program guide. The management means allocates a plurality of program information providing services for each of the broadcast channels and manages a priority order among the plurality of program information providing services,
2. The creation unit selects program information of one program information providing service for each broadcast channel based on the priority order managed by the management unit, and creates the program table. The program recording device described in 1.   The creating means selects program information of a program information providing service with the next highest priority when program information of a program information providing service to be selected based on the priority is not stored in the storage means. The program recording apparatus according to claim 2.   5. The program recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising changing means for changing the priority order based on a command from a user. Acquiring program information provided from a plurality of program information providing services by an acquisition means and storing the program information in a storage means;
The program information providing service, which is the provider of the program information for each broadcast channel, is allocated, and the program information providing service is allocated for each broadcast channel from the program information stored in the storage unit by the creating unit Retrieving program information for and creating a program guide;
And a step of displaying the created program table by a display means. In addition to assigning a plurality of program information providing services for each broadcast channel, defining a priority order among the plurality of program information providing services,
6. The program table is created by selecting the program information of one program information providing service for each broadcast channel based on the defined priority, and creating the program table. How to create a program guide.   When the program information of the program information providing service to be selected based on the priority is not stored in the storage means, the program information of the program information providing service having the next highest priority is selected by the creating means The program table creation method according to claim 6, wherein a table is created.   8. The program guide creation method according to claim 5, further comprising a step of changing the priority based on a command from a user by a changing unit. 9.

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