JP3332228B2 - Image recording system - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information recording apparatus and method, an information providing apparatus and method, and an image recording system, and more particularly to an information recording apparatus for receiving a predetermined broadcast and making a scheduled recording or a scheduled recording. The present invention relates to a method, an information providing apparatus and method, and an image recording system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A tuner is built in a personal computer, receives image and audio signals from a television broadcasting station, converts the received images and audio into predetermined digital data, and records the digital data on a recording medium such as a hard disk. And
The technology of reproducing as needed is being used.

[0003]

In such a personal computer, the setting of the reservation recording is very troublesome and troublesome.

[0004] The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and an object of the present invention is to make it possible to set reservation recording easily and quickly.

[0005]

According to the present invention, there is provided an information recording apparatus for inputting recording reservation data, which is text data, including a recording start time and a first character string specifying a channel of a broadcast station. Input means, signal acquisition means for acquiring a signal broadcast from a broadcast station, recording means for recording the signal acquired by the signal acquisition means, a first character string included in the recording reservation data, One broadcast station for determining a match between the first character string and the first character string included in the data indicating the correspondence between the first character string and the channel of the broadcast station based on the data indicating the correspondence with the channel Of the plurality of second character strings associated with the channel
Converting means for converting the first character string included in the recording reservation data into data indicating the channel of the broadcast station when the two character strings match the first character string; Recording operation control means for controlling the scheduled recording operation of the recording means based on the data indicating

An information recording method according to the present invention includes a data input step of inputting recording reservation data, which is text data, including a recording start time and a first character string specifying a channel of a broadcast station; A signal acquiring step of acquiring a signal broadcasted from the CDMA, a recording step of recording the signal acquired in the signal acquiring step, and a correspondence between the first character string included in the recording reservation data and the channel of the broadcasting station. Based on the data, the first character string is associated with a channel of one broadcasting station for determining a match with the first character string included in the data indicating the correspondence between the broadcasting station and the channel. If one of the plurality of second character strings matches the first character string, the first character string included in the recording reservation data is converted to data indicating the channel of the broadcast station. conversion A conversion step that according to the data indicating the channel of the transformed broadcast stations, characterized in that it comprises a recording operation control step for controlling the operation of programmed recording in the recording step.

[0007] An information recording apparatus according to the present invention displays a program table in which buttons operated when requesting recording reservation data for recording reservation of a program are arranged in correspondence with the display of the program. A schedule information receiving unit that receives a signal including program guide data from an information providing device that provides data; and, based on an output of the schedule information receiving unit, the information providing device corresponds to the button in response to a button operation. Information request signal transmitting means for transmitting an information request signal requesting recording reservation data for making a recording reservation for a program to be recorded, and an information request signal transmitted from the information providing apparatus in response to the information request signal transmitted by the information request signal transmitting means. Inputting recording reservation data, which is text data, including a recording start time and a first character string specifying a channel of a broadcast station. Stage, signal acquisition means for acquiring a signal broadcast from the broadcast station, recording means for recording the signal acquired by the signal acquisition means, a first character string included in the recording reservation data, and a channel of the broadcast station. Based on data indicating the correspondence between the first character string and the first character string included in the data indicating the correspondence between the first character string and the channel of the broadcast station. If one of the plurality of second character strings associated with the channel matches the first character string, the first character string included in the recording reservation data is replaced by the broadcast station's It is characterized by including conversion means for converting to data indicating a channel, and recording operation control means for controlling a scheduled recording operation of the recording means based on the converted data indicating the channel of the broadcasting station.

According to the information recording method of the present invention, there is provided a program table displaying a program table in which buttons operated when requesting recording reservation data for recording a program are arranged in correspondence with the display of the program. A schedule information receiving step of receiving a signal including program guide data from an information providing apparatus for providing data; and, based on the data received in the schedule information receiving step, the information providing apparatus includes a button An information request signal transmitting step of transmitting an information request signal requesting recording reservation data for making a recording reservation of a program corresponding to the program, and an information providing apparatus corresponding to the information request signal transmitted in the information request signal transmitting step. Recording reservation data, which is text data, including the transmitted recording start time and the first character string specifying the channel of the broadcast station. A data input step of inputting, a signal obtaining step of obtaining a signal broadcast from a broadcast station, a recording step of recording the signal obtained in the signal obtaining step, a first character string included in the recording reservation data, Based on the data indicating the correspondence with the broadcaster's channel,
A plurality of first character strings associated with one broadcast station channel for determining a match with the first character string included in the data indicating the correspondence between the first character string and the broadcast station channel. A conversion step of converting the first character string included in the recording reservation data into data indicating a channel of a broadcast station when one of the character strings of the second character string matches the first character string; And a recording operation control step of controlling the scheduled recording operation in the recording step according to the converted data indicating the channel of the broadcasting station.

[0009] An information providing apparatus according to the present invention displays a program guide on which buttons operated when requesting recording reservation data for recording reservation of a program are displayed in correspondence with the display of the program. A schedule information transmitting means for transmitting data to the information processing apparatus; a receiving means for receiving a request signal corresponding to a button operation, which is output from the information processing apparatus based on an output of the schedule information transmitting means; Correspondingly, a first character string specifying the recording start time and the channel of the broadcast station, which is included in data indicating the correspondence between the first character string and the channel of the broadcast station in the information processing apparatus. , One of a plurality of second character strings associated with a channel of one broadcast station to determine a match with the first character string;
And a signal output means for outputting recording reservation data, which is text data, to the information processing device, including a data which is converted into data indicating a channel of a broadcast station when the first character string matches. And

[0010] The information providing method according to the present invention provides a program guide displaying a program guide in which buttons operated when requesting recording reservation data for recording reservation of a program are arranged in correspondence with the display of the program. A schedule information transmitting step of transmitting data to the information processing apparatus; a receiving step of receiving a request signal corresponding to a button operation, which is output from the information processing apparatus based on the program guide data transmitted in the schedule information transmitting step; In response to the request signal received in the step, a recording start time and a first character string for specifying the channel of the broadcast station, wherein the information processing apparatus has the first character string and the channel of the broadcast station. A plurality of second sentences associated with one broadcast station channel for determining a match with the first character string included in the data indicating the correspondence When one of the strings matches the first character string, the recording reservation data, which is text data, including data converted to data indicating the channel of the broadcast station, is output to the information processing device. And a signal output step.

[0011] In the image recording system according to the present invention, there is provided a program table in which a button operated when the information providing device requests recording reservation data for recording reservation of a program in association with display of the program. Schedule information transmitting means for transmitting program guide data for displaying to the information recording device;
Receiving means for receiving a request signal corresponding to a button operation, which is output from the information recording device based on the output of the schedule information transmitting means; and, according to the output of the receiving means, the recording start time and the channel of the broadcast station. Signal recording means for outputting recording reservation data, which is text data, including the first character string to be specified to the information recording device, wherein the information recording device specifies the recording start time and the channel of the broadcasting station. Data input means for inputting recording reservation data including a character string of "1", signal acquisition means for acquiring a signal broadcast from a broadcasting station, recording means for recording a signal acquired by the signal acquisition means, recording reservation Based on the data indicating the correspondence between the first character string included in the data and the channel of the broadcast station, the data is included in the data indicating the correspondence between the first character string and the channel of the broadcast station. One of a plurality of second character strings associated with a channel of one broadcast station for determining a match with the first character string matches the first character string. In the case, the first
And a recording operation control means for controlling a scheduled recording operation of the recording means based on the converted data indicating the broadcast station channel. It is characterized by the following.

[0012] In the first information recording apparatus and method according to the present invention, recording reservation data as text data including a recording start time and a first character string specifying a channel of a broadcast station is input, A signal broadcast from a broadcast station is obtained, the obtained signal is recorded, and a first character string is recorded on the basis of data indicating a correspondence between the first character string included in the recording reservation data and the channel of the broadcast station. A plurality of second character strings associated with one broadcast station channel for determining a match with the first character string included in the data indicating the correspondence between the column and the broadcast station channel One of
If the two character strings match the first character string, the first character string included in the recording reservation data is converted into data indicating the channel of the broadcasting station, and the converted data indicating the channel of the broadcasting station is converted. , The operation of the scheduled recording is controlled. In the second information recording apparatus and recording method according to the present invention, a program table in which a button operated when requesting recording reservation data for recording reservation of a program is arranged in correspondence with display of the program is displayed. A signal including the program guide data from the information providing device that provides the program guide data to be displayed is received, and in response to the operation of the button, the information providing device
An information request signal requesting recording reservation data for making a recording reservation of a program corresponding to the button is transmitted, and the recording start time and the channel of the broadcast station transmitted from the information providing device in response to the information request signal are transmitted. Recording reservation data, which is text data, including a first character string to be specified is input, a signal broadcast from a broadcasting station is obtained, the obtained signal is recorded, and the first signal included in the recording reservation data is recorded. Based on the data indicating the correspondence between the character string and the channel of the broadcasting station, it is determined whether the first character string matches the first character string included in the data indicating the correspondence with the channel of the broadcasting station. For example, if one of a plurality of second character strings associated with a channel of one broadcast station matches the first character string, the first character string included in the recording reservation data Is the broadcast station Is converted into the data indicating the channel, based on the data indicating the channel of the converted broadcasting station, the operation of programmed recording is controlled.

[0013] In the information providing apparatus and the information providing method according to the present invention, a program table in which a button operated when requesting recording reservation data for reserving recording of a program is arranged corresponding to the display of the program. Is transmitted to the information processing apparatus, a request signal corresponding to the operation of the button, which is output from the information processing apparatus, is received, and the recording start time and the first character string specifying the channel of the broadcast station are transmitted. In the information processing apparatus, a channel of one broadcast station for determining a match between the first character string and the first character string included in the data indicating the correspondence between the first character string and the channel of the broadcast station If one of a plurality of second character strings associated with the first character string matches the first character string, the character string is converted into data indicating a channel of a broadcast station. The recording reservation data is Todeta is output to the information processing apparatus. In the image recording system according to the present invention, program table data for displaying a program table in which a button operated when requesting recording reservation data for recording a program is arranged in correspondence with the display of the program is provided. A request signal corresponding to a button operation transmitted to the information recording device and output from the information recording device is received, and includes text data including a recording start time and a first character string specifying a channel of a broadcast station. Certain recording reservation data is output to the information recording device, recording reservation data including a recording start time and a first character string specifying a channel of a broadcast station is input, and a signal broadcast from the broadcast station is obtained.
The acquired signal is recorded, and the correspondence between the first character string and the channel of the broadcast station is determined based on data indicating the correspondence between the first character string included in the recording reservation data and the channel of the broadcast station. One of a plurality of second character strings associated with a channel of one broadcast station for determining a match with the first character string included in the indicated data;
When the first character string matches, the first character string included in the recording reservation data is converted into data indicating the channel of the broadcast station, and the first character string is converted based on the converted data indicating the channel of the broadcast station. The operation of recording is controlled.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of an image recording / reproducing system according to the present invention. The personal computer 1-1 receives a signal supplied from the antenna 2 that has received a radio wave transmitted from a predetermined television broadcasting station, and reproduces predetermined images and sounds (so-called program images and sounds). Record the image and sound. Also, the personal computer 1-1 has a VCR (Video Cassett
e Recorder) Analog signal supplied from 3 or IEEE
(Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers)
DVCR (Digital) via a network 5 such as 1394
An image and a sound corresponding to the digital data supplied from the Video Cassette Recorder 4 are reproduced, and the image and the sound are recorded.

The personal computer 1-1 converts analog signals corresponding to the recorded voice and image into VCR3.
Or the digital data corresponding to the recorded audio and video are supplied to the DVCR 4.

Further, the personal computer 1-1 includes:
HTTP (Hypertext Transfer) via a network 6 such as a local area network or the Internet.
Protocol) and other data (hereinafter referred to as data for reservation of recording of a predetermined program of a predetermined television broadcasting station).
A message requesting transmission of recording reservation data) is transmitted to the server 7. The server 7 is a so-called Web
The server receives a message transmitted from the personal computer 1-1 and requesting transmission of recording reservation data for recording reservation of a predetermined program of a predetermined television broadcasting station. Is transmitted to the personal computer 1-1 for making a recording reservation of a predetermined program of the television broadcast station.

The personal computer 1-1 receives data for reservation of recording of a predetermined program of a predetermined television broadcasting station, and executes reservation recording of a predetermined program based on the data.

The personal computer 1-2 attaches recording reservation data for recording reservation of a predetermined program of a predetermined television broadcasting station to an electronic mail, and transmits the electronic mail to the personal computer 1-1 via the network 6. I do. The personal computer 1-1 receives the e-mail transmitted from the personal computer 1-2, and executes the pre-programmed recording of a predetermined program using the pre-recording data attached to the e-mail.

Further, in FIG. 2, the personal computer 1 has a mobile phone 17 having a predetermined browser function.
In response to a call from the user (dial call), the mobile phone 17 is connected to the mobile phone 17 via the telephone network 16. The personal computer 1 is an HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Pr
Based on a procedure such as otocol), data for recording reservation is input or data for selecting the setting of recording reservation is transmitted to the mobile phone 17, and a predetermined television broadcast supplied from the mobile phone 17 is transmitted. Receives data for recording reservation of a predetermined program of a station (hereinafter, referred to as recording reservation data), and based on the received recording reservation data,
Set up scheduled recording. The personal computer 1
Based on the setting of the scheduled recording, the scheduled recording of a predetermined program is executed.

The mobile phone 17 is a mobile phone having a browser function. The mobile phone 17 calls the personal computer 1 via the base station 18 and the telephone network 16 and, based on data supplied from the personal computer 1, transmits a predetermined text. Or display a figure. A user of the mobile phone 17 (also a user of the personal computer 1) reserves a predetermined program of a predetermined television broadcasting station for recording based on a predetermined text or a figure displayed on the mobile phone 17 by a browser function. Enter the settings for

The mobile phone 17 responds to a predetermined operation,
Based on the setting for recording reservation of a predetermined program of a predetermined television broadcasting station input, predetermined recording reservation data is generated and transmitted to the personal computer 1 via the base station 18 and the telephone network 16. Send recording reservation data.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the personal computer 1-1. CPU (central pro
The processing unit 21 actually executes various application programs and a basic OS (operating system). A ROM (read-only memory) 22 generally has a C
It stores basically fixed data of programs used by the PU 21 and parameters for calculation. RAM (rando
The m-access memory 23 stores a program used in the execution of the CPU 21 and parameters that change as appropriate in the execution. These are interconnected by a host bus 24 composed of a CPU bus or a memory bus.

The host bus 24 is connected via a bridge 25 to a PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect / Ihter).
face) and an external bus 26 such as a bus.

The keyboard 28 is operated by the user when inputting various commands to the CPU 21. Mouse 2
Reference numeral 9 is operated by the user when a point on the screen of a CRT (cathode ray tube) 30 is designated or selected.
The CRT 30 displays various information as text or images. HDD (hard disk drive) 31 and FDD (floppy d
The isk drive 32 drives a hard disk or a flexible disk, and records or reproduces a program or information executed by the CPU 21 on the hard disk or the flexible disk. The speaker 33 reproduces a predetermined sound. The keyboard 28 to the speaker 33 are connected to the interface 27, and the interface 27 is connected to the external bus 2
6. CPU via bridge 25 and host bus 24
71.

Under the control of the CPU 21, the image processing board 34 receives a signal supplied from the antenna 2, an analog image or audio signal supplied from the VCR 3, or a DVCR 4 or DVCR 5 via the network 6-1. Based on the supplied image or audio digital data, predetermined image or audio data is generated and output to the HDD 31 via the external bus 26 and the interface 27.

The image processing board 34 is connected to the external bus 2
6 and the interface 27, input image or audio data recorded in the HDD 31, generate an analog signal corresponding to the input image or audio data, and supply it to the VCR 3 or input the analog signal. Digital data corresponding to image or audio data is generated and supplied to the DVCR 4 via the network 5.

The image processing board 34 is connected to the CPU 71 via the external bus 26, the bridge 25, and the host bus 24.

The communication board 35 is a device for connecting to the network 6 and is specifically constituted by an Ethernet board / modem board or the like, and is connected to the CPU 71 via the external bus 26, the bridge 25, and the host bus 24. Have been.

Next, the configuration of the image processing board 34 will be described. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the image processing board 34. The 1394 interface 51 has a configuration corresponding to the IEEE 1394 standard, is connected to the network 5, and is based on a protocol compliant with the IEEE 1394 standard.
It receives image or audio DVCR format digital data supplied from VCR4 or DVCR5,
(Degital Video) Data is supplied to the data interface 52.

The 1394 interface 51 is
The image or audio DVCR format digital data supplied from the DV data interface 52 is
DVCR based on the protocol corresponding to EE1394
4

The DV data interface 52
The digital data of the image or sound in the DVCR format supplied from the 94 interface 51 or the digital data of the image or sound supplied from the digital selector 57 (for example, uncompressed digital data such as so-called 4: 1: 1) ) Is output to the DV data compression / expansion circuit 53, and the image or audio digital data in the DVCR format supplied from the DV data compression / expansion circuit 53 is output to the 1394 interface 51.
The image or audio digital data (uncompressed) supplied from the digital selector 57 supplied from the data compression / decompression circuit 53 is output to the digital selector 57.

The DV data compression / decompression circuit 53 decompresses the DVCR format image or audio digital data supplied from the DV data interface 52 into uncompressed image or audio digital data, and
It outputs to the data interface 52 or compresses the uncompressed image or sound digital data supplied from the DV data interface 52 into digital data of image or sound in the DVCR format, and outputs it to the DV data interface 52.

The tuner 54 receives an RF (radio frequency) signal supplied from the antenna 2, and outputs an image and audio analog signal of a predetermined channel to the analog selector 55. The analog selector 55 includes the tuner 5
4, VCR3 or D / A (Digital / Analog) conversion circuit 6
Either the image or audio analog signal supplied from 1 is selected and output to the A / D (Analog / Digital) conversion circuit 56 or the VCR 3.

The A / D conversion circuit 56 converts the image and audio analog signals supplied from the analog selector 55 into digital data (for example, so-called image data such as 4: 1: 1). 57. The digital selector 57 includes a DV data interface 52, an A / D conversion circuit 56, or an MPEG (Movin)
g Picture Experts Group) The digital data of the image and the sound output from the decoder 60 is input, any digital data of the image and the sound is selected, and the DV data interface 52, the MPEG encoder 58, or the D / D
Output to the A conversion circuit 61 and output to the bridge 59.

The MPEG encoder 58 compresses the digital image and audio data supplied from the digital selector 57 into digital data of the MPEG system, and outputs it to the bridge 59. Further, the MPEG encoder 58 converts the scene switching image into a still image and outputs the still image to the bridge 59.

The bridge 59 converts the image and audio digital data (uncompressed) supplied from the digital selector 57 through the PCI bus 26 and the interface 27 of the personal computer 1 on which the image processing board 34 is mounted. , CRT30. The bridge 59 uses the MPE supplied from the MPEG encoder 58.
The G-system image or audio digital data is transferred to the HDD 31 or the CPU 21 via the PCI bus 26 of the personal computer 1 on which the image processing board 34 is mounted.
Output to Further, the bridge 59 is connected to the HDD 31 of the personal computer 1 via the PCI bus 26,
It receives digital data of MPEG image or sound and outputs it to the MPEG decoder 60.

The MPEG decoder 60 expands the MPEG image or audio digital data supplied from the bridge 59 and outputs the uncompressed image or audio digital data to the digital selector 57.

The D / A conversion circuit 61 converts the image and audio digital data supplied from the digital selector 57
The signal is converted into an analog signal and output to the analog selector 55.

The MPEG encoder 58 or MPE
The processing corresponding to the G decoder 60 may be executed by the CPU 21 according to a predetermined program.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the configuration of the server 7. The CPU 81 actually executes various application programs and a basic OS. The ROM 82 generally stores basically fixed data of programs used by the CPU 81 and calculation parameters.
The RAM 83 stores a program used in the execution of the CPU 81 and parameters that change as appropriate in the execution. These are mutually connected by a host bus 84 composed of a CPU bus or a memory bus.

The host bus 84 is connected to an external bus 86 such as a PCI bus via a bridge 85.

The keyboard 88 is operated by the user when inputting various commands to the CPU 81. Mouse 8
Reference numeral 9 is operated by the user when instructing or selecting a point on the screen of the CRT 90. The CRT 90 displays various information as text or images. The HDD 91 and the FDD 92 drive a hard disk or a flexible disk, respectively, and record or reproduce a program or information executed by the CPU 81 on the hard disk or the flexible disk. These keyboards 88 to FDD 92 are connected to the interface 8
7 through an external bus 86, a bridge 85, and a host bus 84.
It is connected to PU71.

The communication board 93 is a device for connecting to the network 6, and is specifically constituted by an Ethernet board or the like, and is connected to the CPU 71 via an external bus 86, a bridge 85, and a host bus 84. .

The configuration of the personal computer 1-2 is as follows.
The description is omitted because it is the same as the server 7.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining an application program executed by the personal computer 1-1. The recording / playback program 101 is executed by the image processing board 34
The analog signal of the image and the sound of the predetermined channel received by the tuner 54, the analog signal of the image and the sound supplied from the VCR 3, or the network 5
One of the image and audio digital data supplied from the DVCR 4 is selected, and the selected analog signal or digital data is converted into MPEG image or audio digital data, and is composed of one or more files of a predetermined format. AV (Audio Visual) content
DD31 is recorded.

The recording / reproducing program 101 expands AV content recorded in the HDD 31 as one or more files of a predetermined format on the image processing board 34 to generate a predetermined uncompressed image or audio. Digital data is generated, an image is displayed on the CRT 30, and sound is reproduced on the speaker 33.

AV content management search program 102
Displays predetermined information such as the content of the AV content recorded on the HDD 31 or the date of recording. Further, the AV content management / search program 102 instructs the recording / playback program 101 to play back predetermined AV content, selects an AV content to be edited, and transmits information of the selected AV content to the AV content editing program 103. To the timer recording setting program 104 to instruct the timer recording.

The AV content editing program 103
Based on the AV content recorded on the HDD 31, a predetermined image and audio of the selected AV content are edited (the images and audio included in the predetermined AV content are joined), and the edited image or audio is output. Generate AV content of a predetermined format to be reproduced.

The AV contents are, as described later,
Selected A without digital image or audio data
The recording / reproducing program 10 includes information for specifying V-contents and information for specifying images and sounds to be used.
1 can be played.

The timer recording setting program 104 generates AV contents for executing timer recording based on the settings. This AV content corresponds to the setting (recording mode for determining the recording time and image quality) and secures a storage area of the HDD 31 in advance. Also, the timer recording setting program 10
Reference numeral 4 generates AV contents for executing scheduled recording based on the recording reservation data supplied from a WWW (World Wide Web) browser 106 or an e-mail program (not shown).

When the personal computer 1 is operating (when the OS is operating), the reservation monitoring program 105 always operates (so-called resident), and the reservation recording setting program 104 generates the reservation recording program. Content to be executed, and an RTC (Real Ti
Executes scheduled recording based on the time supplied from me Clock). Further, the reservation monitoring program 105 changes the setting of the AV content for executing the reservation recording.

WWW (World Wide Web) Browser 106
Requests the server 7 to transmit predetermined recording reservation data, receives predetermined recording reservation data, and supplies it to the reservation recording setting program 104 based on a predetermined procedure such as HTTP.

The CGI program 106 ′ is a program described in a predetermined script. The CGI program 106 ′ is a program for displaying a predetermined menu and setting a recording reservation based on a predetermined procedure such as HTTP via a web server 125 described later. Or personal computer 1
To the mobile phone 17. The CGI program 106 ′ receives predetermined recording reservation data from the mobile phone 17 and supplies it to the reservation recording setting program 104.

FIG. 7 shows an application program executed by the personal computer 1-1, middleware,
FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the configuration of a driver and the like. The middleware operates predetermined drivers in response to a request from an application program. The drivers actually operate predetermined hardware resources such as the MPEG encoder 58 of the image processing board 34.

The hardware interface 121 is
Recording / playback program 101, AV content management search program 102, AV content editing program 10
3. Arbitrate the use of hardware resources requested by the reservation recording setting program 104, the reservation monitoring program 105, or the WWW browser 106, and the application program appropriately allocates the predetermined hardware resources based on settings such as various priorities. Make it available to you.

The content database 122 manages data such as the attribute of the AV content, which will be described later. The recording / reproducing program 101, the AV content management / retrieval program 102, the AV content editing program 103, the scheduled recording setting program 104, or the scheduled monitoring program 1
05, attribute data described later of the AV content,
Alternatively, it is a database that provides data specifying a file that stores image or audio digital data corresponding to AV content.

The file I / O (Input / Output) 123 is
The recording / playback program 101 and the AV content management / search program 10 via the content database 122
2. In response to a read or write request for predetermined AV content (consisting of one or more files) of the AV content editing program 103, the scheduled recording setting program 104, or the scheduled monitoring program 105,
Actually, data is read from or written to a predetermined file.

The encode 126 is used for the image processing board 34.
And controls the MPEG encoder 58 to compress the image or audio data input from the digital selector 57 into MPEG digital data.

The decode 127 performs a process of expanding the MPEG image or audio digital data input from the bridge 59 to the MPEG decoder 60 of the image processing board 34.

The output switching 128 is performed by the image processing board 3
4 operates the analog selector 55 and the 1394 interface 51 to control the output of analog signals from the image processing board 34 or digital data via the network 5.

The input switching 129 is performed by the image processing board 3
4 operates the analog selector 55, the 1394 interface 51, the DV data interface 52, and the digital selector 57 to select an analog signal or digital data input to the image processing board 34.

The screen display 130 is a digital selector 57
And the bridge 59 and the like are operated to control the display of an image on the CRT 30.

The driver 131 includes an encode 126, a decode 127, an output switch 128, and an input switch 12
9 and a program for actually operating the image processing board 34 in response to the request of the screen display 130.

[0065] TCP (Transmission Control Protocol)
/ IP (Internet Protocol) 132 is a communication board 35
Is executed to connect to the network 6.

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the configuration of application programs, middleware, and drivers executed by the personal computer 1. Middleware responds to requests from application programs,
Operate predetermined drivers. The drivers actually operate predetermined hardware resources such as the MPEG encoder 58 of the image processing board 34.

The hardware interface 121 is
Recording / playback program 101, AV content management search program 102, AV content editing program 10
3. Arbitrate the use of hardware resources requested by the scheduled recording setting program 104 or the scheduled monitoring program 105 so that the application program can appropriately use the predetermined hardware resources based on various priorities and other settings. To

The content database 122 manages data such as the attribute of the AV content, which will be described later. The recording / reproducing program 101, the AV content management / retrieval program 102, the AV content editing program 103, the scheduled recording setting program 104, or the scheduled monitoring program 1
05, attribute data described later of the AV content,
Alternatively, it is a database that provides data specifying a file that stores image or audio digital data corresponding to AV content.

The file I / O (Input / Output) 123 is
The recording / playback program 101 and the AV content management / search program 10 via the content database 122
2. In response to a read or write request for predetermined AV content (consisting of one or more files) of the AV content editing program 103, the scheduled recording setting program 104, or the scheduled monitoring program 105,
Actually, data is read from or written to a predetermined file.

The dial-up server 124 sends a predetermined IP (Internet Protocol) to the mobile phone 17 via the telephone network 16 in response to a call from the mobile phone 17.
The mobile phone 1 performs processing such as supplying an address.
7 and the communication path between the personal computer 1 are set,
The web server 125 can provide data to the mobile phone 17. The web server 125 uses TCP (Tra
nsmission control Protocol) / IP132
In response to a request received from the mobile phone 17, predetermined data is transmitted to the mobile phone 17 or data supplied from the CGI program 106 ′ is transmitted to the mobile phone 17 based on a procedure such as HTTP. Web server 1
25 supplies the recording reservation data received from the mobile phone 17 to the CGI program 106 '.

The encode 126 is used for the image processing board 34
And controls the MPEG encoder 58 to compress the image or audio data input from the digital selector 57 into MPEG digital data.

The decode 127 controls the MPEG decoder 60 of the image processing board 34 to decompress the MPEG image or audio digital data input from the bridge 59.

The output switching 128 is performed by the image processing board 3
4 operates the analog selector 55 and the 1394 interface 51 to control the output of analog signals from the image processing board 34 or digital data via the network 5.

The input switching 129 is performed by the image processing board 3
4 operates the analog selector 55, the 1394 interface 51, the DV data interface 52, and the digital selector 57 to select an analog signal or digital data input to the image processing board 34.

The screen display 130 is a digital selector 57
And the bridge 59 and the like are operated to control the display of an image on the CRT 30.

The driver 131 includes an encode 126, a decode 127, an output switch 128, and an input switch 12
9 and a program for actually operating the image processing board 34 in response to the request of the screen display 130.

The TCP / IP 132 is a predetermined communication processing protocol.
Execute the process for connecting to

In the following, the description of the processing related to audio will be omitted.

FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining an example of the configuration of AV content. In the content database 122 recorded on the HDD 31, attributes of each AV content are recorded. The AV content attribute record 152-1 recorded in the content database 122 is A
Name, ID (Ide
ntification data), creation date, modification date, recording time,
Data such as a channel name, a recording mode, a state, an expiration date (indicated by date and time), an erroneous deletion prevention setting, presence or absence of an error, a two-dimensional barcode, and memo are stored. The AV content attribute record 152-2 recorded in the content database 122 includes the following attributes of the AV content 151-2: name, ID, creation date and time, change date and time, recording time, channel name, recording mode,
It stores data such as status, expiration date, setting for preventing accidental deletion, presence / absence of error, and memo.

The recording mode data stored in the AV content attribute record 152-1 is such that the moving image data files 161-1-1 to 161-1-3 are compatible with high quality, standard, or video CD compatible (image data). Is MPEG1 system). Similarly, the data stored in the AV content attribute record 152-1 is that the AV content 151-1 is waiting for reservation, during recording, during recording / reproduction (recording, and reproducing the data of the recorded image. ), Not being played back, being played back, or being played back.

For example, the error is that the personal computer 1-1 failed during the recording, and the recording was only partially performed, the reception state during the recording was poor, and the image could not be reproduced by the signal input from the antenna 2. Or a state of the AV content 151-1 such as a part of the moving image data file 161-1-1 being missing.

Neither the expiration date nor the erroneous deletion prevention is set, or either of them is set, and neither the expiration date nor the erroneous deletion prevention is set at the same time.

The recording mode data stored in the AV content attribute record 152-2 is such that the moving image data files 161-2-1 to 161-2-3 are either of high quality, standard, or video CD compatible. Indicates that there is.
Similarly, the data stored in the AV content attribute record 152-2 is the AV content 151-2.
Waiting for reservation, recording, recording / playback, unplayed, playing,
Or, it indicates that it has been reproduced.

The AV contents 151-1 are stored in the HDD 31
Moving image data file 161-1-1 recorded in
To 161-1-3 and still image data files 162-1-1 to 162-1 recorded on the HDD 31
-3. Moving image data file 161-1
-1 to 161-1-3 store MPEG image data. Moving image data file 161-1
The image corresponding to the image data stored at the head of No. 2 is continuous with the image corresponding to the image data stored at the end of the moving image data file 161-1-1.
Similarly, an image corresponding to the image data stored at the head of the moving image data file 161-1-3 is an image corresponding to the image data stored at the end of the moving image data file 161-1-2. It is continuous.

Still image data file 162-1-1
Stores image data obtained by converting a scene switching image of the image data stored in the moving image data file 161-1-1 into a still image, and data of the scene switching time. The still image data file 162-1-2 is a moving image data file 161.
Image data obtained by converting a scene switching image of the image data stored in -1-2 into a still image, and
The data of the switching time of the scene is stored. The still image data file 162-1-3 includes image data obtained by converting a scene switching image of image data stored in the moving image data file 161-1-3 into a still image, and a scene switching image. Time data is stored.

The AV contents 151-2 are composed of moving image data files 161-2-1 and 161-2-2, and still image data files 162-2-1 and 162-2-2.
2 and is the same as in the case of the AV content 151-1, so description thereof will be omitted.

Hereinafter, the AV contents 151-1 or AV
When there is no need to individually distinguish the contents 151-2, they are simply referred to as AV contents 151. Hereinafter, when there is no need to individually distinguish the AV content attribute record 152-1 or the AV content attribute record 152-2, it is simply referred to as the AV content attribute record 152.
Hereinafter, the moving image data files 161-1-1 to 161-1-3, or the moving image data files 161-2-1 or 161
When it is not necessary to individually distinguish -2-2, it is simply referred to as a moving image data file 161. Hereinafter, the still image data file 162-1-1 to the still image data file 1
62-1-3 or still image data file 162-2
When it is not necessary to individually distinguish one or the still image data file 162-2-2, it is simply referred to as a still image data file 162.

Next, a screen displayed by the recording / reproducing program 101 on the CRT 30 of the personal computer 1 will be described. FIG. 10 shows the recording / playback program 101
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a screen displayed on the CRT 30 of the personal computer 1 when a recording operation is possible.

In the recording window 181, a channel to be recorded, a recording mode, and the like are set. When recording is started, the recording / playback program 101 sets the operation of the tuner 54 or the MPEG encoder 58 of the image processing board 34 based on the setting of the recording window 181,
A predetermined AV content 151 and an AV content attribute record 152 are generated and recorded on the HDD 31.

When the recording window 181 is selected and active, the recording button 182 and the stop button 18
3 becomes active and can be operated. That is, when the recording window 181 is selected and active, the recording / playback program 101
When 2 is clicked, start recording and stop button 1
Recording stops when 83 is clicked.

On the other hand, when the recording window 181 is selected,
When active, the play button 184 and the pause button 185 become inactive, and the recording / playback program 101 executes the play button 184 or the pause button 1
It does not work when 85 is clicked.

FIG. 11 shows that the recording / playback program 101
When recording is started, the CR of the personal computer 1
It is a figure explaining the screen displayed on T30. The recording window 181 displays the elapsed time from the start of recording, the current time, and the like, in addition to the channel to be recorded and the recording mode.

When disclosing recording, the record button 182 is
The button is changed to a recording time change button 191. The recording time is
Each time the recording time change button 191 is clicked, it is changed.

Next, the recording / reproducing program 101
Predetermined AV content 151 or AV content 121
The screen for reproducing is described. FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a screen displayed on the CRT 30 of the personal computer 1 when the recording / reproducing program 101 can perform a reproducing operation.

In the reproduction window 201, the AV to be reproduced
The content recording mode and the like are displayed. When the play window 201 is selected and active, the stop button 183, the play button 184, and the pause button 18
5 becomes active and can be operated. That is, when the playback window 201 is selected and active, the recording / playback program 101
When the user clicks on the button 4, the reproduction is started. When the pause button 185 is clicked, the reproduction is paused. When the stop button 183 is clicked, the reproduction is stopped.

On the other hand, when the playback window 201 is selected,
When active, the recording button 182 becomes inactive, and the recording / reproducing program 101 does not operate even if the recording button 182 is clicked.

As described above, in response to the selection of the recording window 181 or the reproduction window 201, the recording / reproduction program 101 executes the recording button 182, the stop button 183,
By changing the play button 184 or the pause button 185 to either the active state or the inactive state, the user can surely know what can be operated, so that the user can operate quickly. Further, erroneous operation can be prevented.

Next, recording reservation will be described. FIG.
3 to 15 are diagrams illustrating screens displayed on the CRT 30 when the scheduled recording setting program 104 is activated. When the scheduled recording setting program 104 is activated, the scheduled recording setting program 104 first
As shown in (1), a window for setting the channel to be recorded and the recording start date and time is displayed. The user sets a channel to be recorded and a recording start date and start time (in the example of the figure, hours and minutes are set in different fields, respectively) in each of predetermined fields of this window.

After setting the channel to be recorded, the recording start date and the recording start time, and clicking a predetermined button (in the example of the figure, a button displayed as “next”), the reserved recording setting program 104 Reads the data of the recording channel and the recording start date and the disclosure time respectively set in the predetermined fields, and changes the window to the window for setting the end time and the recording mode shown in FIG.

The programmed recording setting program 104 displays the set recording channel and the data of the recording start date and start time in the window for setting the end time and the recording mode, and displays the end time (in this example, The hours and minutes are set in different fields, respectively) and fields for setting the recording mode are displayed.

When the end time and the recording mode are set in this window, the reservation recording setting program 104
It displays data as a guide for setting, such as the recording time and the usage amount of the HDD 31. When the end time and the recording mode are set and a predetermined button (a button displayed as “next”) is clicked, the scheduled recording setting program 104 stores the end time and the recording mode data set in the predetermined fields. The read window is changed to the window shown in FIG. 15 for confirming the settings.

The reserved recording setting program 104 displays data such as the set recording channel, recording start date and start time, recording end date and end time, and recording mode in a window for confirming the settings. indicate. Here, when a predetermined button (a button displayed as “completed”) is clicked, the timer recording setting program 104 is clicked.
Sets the AV content 151 for executing the scheduled recording to the HD
D31, and the AV content attribute record 152 corresponding to the recorded AV content 151 is registered in the content database 122.

AV content 15 for executing scheduled recording
1 has a moving image data file 161 having a recording area corresponding to a recording time and a recording mode in advance. For example, the amount of image data per second in the standard mode is 5
If it is M bits, the scheduled recording setting program 104 set to record for 4 hours in the standard mode is 4
Since the time is equal to 14400 seconds, one or more moving image data files 161 having a storage area of 9 Gbytes in total are generated on the HDD 31 as calculated by the following equation.

14400 seconds * (5 Mbits / sec) / (8 bits / byte) = 9 GB Next, the scheduled recording setting program 104 executes the scheduled recording based on the predetermined recording reservation data downloaded from the server 7. An operation of generating the AV content 151 to be performed will be described. When the user activates the WWW browser 106, the personal computer 1-1 transmits the HTML (H) provided from the server 7 via the network 6.
A predetermined screen is displayed based on a predetermined file described in Ypertext Markup Language or the like.

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating a screen displayed on the CRT 30 by the personal computer 1-1 operating the WWW browser 106 based on a predetermined file provided from the server 7. The personal computer 1-1 displays a so-called program guide. In this program table, predetermined recording reservation data download buttons 251-1 to 251-11 are arranged so as to correspond to each program.

For example, when a recording reservation data download button 251-1 is clicked, recording reservation data for reservation recording of "7:00 News" of NHK (registered trademark) is downloaded to the personal computer 1-1. . Recording reservation data download button 251-
When the user clicks on 2, the recording reservation data for reservation recording of the "TV map" of NHK General is downloaded to the personal computer 1-1. Clicking on the recording reservation data download button 251-3 causes the NH
Recording reservation data for reservation recording of a K drama "drama" is downloaded to the personal computer 1-1. When the recording reservation data download button 251-4 is clicked, recording reservation data for reservation recording of "weather in each place" of NHK General is downloaded to the personal computer 1-1.

Recording reservation data download button 251
Click on -5 for NHK Education "Grab After School"
Is programmed to the personal computer 1-1. Clicking on the recording reservation data download button 251-6 results in N
Recording reservation data for reservation recording of the "sign language corner" of HK education is downloaded to the personal computer 1-1. Recording reservation data download button 2
When the user clicks on 51-7, the recording reservation data for reservation recording of "health of tomorrow" of NHK education is downloaded to the personal computer 1-1.

[0108] Recording reservation data download button 251
When -8 is clicked, the recording reservation data for reservation recording of "tonight with you" of NHK Education is downloaded to the personal computer 1-1. When the recording reservation data download button 251-9 is clicked, the recording reservation data for reserved recording of "Let's learn Braille" of NHK education is downloaded to the personal computer 1-1.

[0111] Recording reservation data download button 251
Click -10 to display the "Nippon Television (registered trademark)"
The recording reservation data for reserved recording of “pro-baseball” is downloaded to the personal computer 1-1. When the recording reservation data download button 251-11 is clicked, “Sunday 1 on Friday TV” of TBS (registered trademark) is displayed. Recording reservation data for reservation recording is downloaded to the personal computer 1-1.

Since the recording reservation data includes data necessary for the recording reservation described with reference to FIGS. 13 to 15 except for the recording mode, if the recording mode is set in advance, the personal computer 1-1 can execute the recording reservation. If the recording reservation data downloaded by operating the data download buttons 251-1 to 25-11 is used, the AV content 151 for executing the reservation recording can be set to H even if there is no setting from the user.
DD31 can be recorded.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing an example of recording reservation data. The recording reservation data is composed of text data.

The first line of the recording reservation data indicates "
Content-type: application / x-tv-program-info; chars
“et = shift_jis” indicates that this data is recording reservation data.
Data for specifying the channel to be recorded is described after “ation:”. For example, in “station: Nippon Television” in FIG. 17, the data for specifying the channel to be recorded is “Nippon Television”. It is.

The data for specifying the channel to be recorded can have an ambiguous description in a predetermined range.
The data is converted into data specifying a predetermined channel (broadcasting station) by the process using the channel conversion file shown in FIG.

The channel conversion file, for example, "
4, 0, 0, 4, Nippon Television, Nippon Television, Nippon Television (registered trademark), Nippon Television Broadcasting Network, NTV (registered trademark) "has a first character string from the left, that is," 4 ". A number identifying the channel, a number located to the right of the third comma from the left, ie, “4” is channel display data, a character string located to the right of the fourth comma from the left, That is, “NTV” is the data for displaying the channel name.Comma-separated character strings (“NTV”, “NTV”, “NTV”) located to the right of the fifth comma from the left Broadcast network "," NTV "
Are character strings associated with a channel of one broadcast station for matching with a predetermined character string of the recording reservation data. Note that Tokyo Broadcasting, Fuji Television, TV Asahi, TV-Asahi, ANB, TV Tokyo, TVTOKYO, and TX shown in FIG. 18 are registered trademarks.

For example, in the third line of the recording reservation data, "stat
If "ion: Nippon Television" is described, the scheduled recording setting program 104 indicates that the character string "Nippon Television" following "station:" is located to the right of the fifth comma from the left in the channel conversion file. Determines whether to match the character string.

As shown in the example of FIG. 18, if the channel conversion file contains a character string of "4, 0, 0, 4, Nippon Television, Nippon Television, Nippon Television, Nippon Television Network, NTV" The reservation recording setting program 104 determines that the character string “NTV” (located to the right of the fifth comma from the left) matches the character string of the channel conversion file.

When the character string of the recording reservation data matches the character string of the channel conversion file, the reservation recording setting program 104 sets, as a channel, data specifying the channel in the same column of the matched channel conversion file.

For example, "4, 0, 0, 4, Nippon Television,
When the character string of Nippon Television, NTV, Nippon Television Broadcasting Network, NTV "matches the character string of the recording reservation data, the channel is set to 4.

Therefore, for example, if the character string for designating the channel of the recording reservation data is “NTV”, “NTV”, “NTV” or “NT”
V ”, the timer recording setting program 104
Can set the channel to 4 based on the recording reservation data.

As described above, even if the character string specifying the channel of the recording reservation data is somewhat ambiguous, the reservation recording setting program 104 can set a predetermined channel based on the recording reservation data.

Similarly, in the fourth to seventh lines of the recording reservation data, data specifying the date and time to start recording are described, and in the eighth line, data specifying the time to end recording are described. Is described.

In addition to downloading the recording reservation data from the server 7, the user of the personal computer 1-2 can attach the recording reservation data to an e-mail and transmit it to the personal computer 1-1. it can. Since the recording reservation data is composed of character string data, the user of the personal computer 1-2 can easily create the recording reservation data using a general-purpose application program such as a word processor or a text editor. it can.

When the personal computer 1-1 having received the e-mail displays the data of the e-mail by a predetermined e-mail program, the e-mail program attaches, for example, the recording reservation data as shown in FIG. Icon 281 indicating that the operation has been performed.

When the icon 281 is clicked, the recording reservation data is stored in the reservation recording setting program 104, and the reservation recording setting program 104 of the personal computer 1-1 can use the recording reservation data.

Thus, the personal computer 1-
By transmitting the recording reservation data, the second user can easily cause the user of the personal computer 1-1 to record a predetermined program.

Next, the scheduled recording setting program 104
The operation of generating the AV content 151 for executing the scheduled recording based on the predetermined recording reservation data received from the mobile phone 17 will be described. When the mobile phone 17 calls the personal computer 1 via the telephone network 16, the personal computer 1 sends an IP to the mobile phone 17 by the resident dial-up server 124.
A connection with the mobile phone 17 is set by executing a process such as supplying an address. After the connection with the mobile phone 17 is set, the web server 125 of the personal computer 1 transmits a predetermined file described in HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) or the like, or the CGI program 1
The data supplied from 06 ′ is transmitted to the mobile phone 17.

FIG. 20 is a view for explaining a screen displayed by the mobile phone 17 operating a predetermined browser based on a predetermined file provided from the web server 125 of the personal computer 1.

After the mobile phone 17 calls the personal computer 1 via the telephone line network 16, the web server 125 of the personal computer 1 displays the menu on the mobile phone 17 as shown in FIG. The data for displaying the image for selecting is transmitted. The user of the mobile phone 17 can use the menu shown in FIG. 20A to set a reservation, check the AV content recorded by the recording reservation, or display the amount of HDD consumption (a measure of recording time by the recording reservation). Can be selected.

In response to the selection of the menu shown in FIG. 20A, the cellular phone 17 sets the reservation (“reservation” in the drawing).
(Corresponding to the command displayed as ")", and confirming the AV content recorded by the recording reservation ("Recorded"
(Corresponding to the command displayed as ")", or a message requesting the display of the HDD consumption (a measure of recording time by recording reservation) (corresponding to the command displayed as "HDD consumption" in the figure) Is transmitted to the personal computer 1.

[0130] The user selects "" in the menu shown in FIG.
When the mobile phone 17 transmits to the personal computer 1 a message corresponding to the reservation setting request by selecting the command displayed as “reservation”, the CGI program 106 ′ of the personal computer 1 transmits the message via the web server 125. FIG.
Data for displaying an image for selecting a menu for adding or deleting a reservation as shown in (B) is transmitted. FIG.
When the command indicating “add reservation” shown in the example of (B) is selected, the mobile phone 17 transmits a message to the effect that a reservation for recording is added to the personal computer 1.

"1999" shown in the example of FIG.
4/25/19 19: 00-19: 30 (8) Wonderland Arins "indicates the contents of the scheduled recording which has already been set in the personal computer 1, and the personal computer 1 was set on April 25, 1999. This shows that a program that is broadcast on eight channels from 19:00 to 19:30 and has a title of “Alliance in Wonderland” is scheduled to be recorded, and similarly, “1999/04/06 1”.
9:00 to 20:00 (4) Giant (registered trademark) to Hanshin (trademark) "indicates the contents of the scheduled recording already set in the personal computer 1, and the personal computer 1 was registered on April 6, 1999. From 19:00 to 20: 0
0 indicates that the program broadcast on four channels and whose title is “Giant to Hanshin” is scheduled to be recorded.

[0132] When the user selects "" in the menu shown in FIG.
When the mobile phone 17 sends a message to add a reservation to the personal computer 1 by selecting a command displayed as "add reservation" and the mobile phone 17 sends the message to the personal computer 1, the web server 125 of the personal computer 1 A screen for inputting a program title, broadcast date and time, channel, recording quality, and memo as shown in FIG. 20C is displayed.

FIG. 20 (C) shows the data on April 7, 1999.
An example is shown in which the mobile phone 17 is instructed to perform high-quality scheduled recording of a program with the title “Giant-Hanshin” broadcast on four channels from 9:00 to 20:00. In this state, when an operation of instructing the mobile phone 17 to make a reservation for recording is performed, the mobile phone 17 generates reservation recording data based on the input text, and issues a recording reservation message including the reservation recording data. Is transmitted to the personal computer 1. Personal computer 1
Web server 125 supplies a recording reservation message including the reservation recording data to the CGI program 106 ′, and the CGI program 106 ′ supplies the reservation recording data to the reservation recording setting program 104 to make the recording reservation.

Next, the programmed recording setting program 104 and the WWW browser 106 are loaded into the RAM 23, and the
When U21 executes the scheduled recording setting program 104 and the WWW browser 106, the process of the scheduled recording is described in FIG.
This will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Step S1
In 1, the WWW browser 106 transmits a message requesting recording reservation data corresponding to a predetermined program to the server 7 according to a user operation. In step S12, the WWW browser 106 determines whether or not the recording reservation data has been transmitted from the server 7, and if it is determined that the recording reservation data has not been transmitted from the server 7, the processing returns to step S12 and the recording reservation data Is repeated until is transmitted from the server 7.

If it is determined in step S12 that the recording reservation data has been transmitted from the server 7, the process proceeds to step S13, where the WWW browser 106 receives the recording reservation data, and transmits the received recording reservation data to the reservation recording setting program 104. To supply.

[0136] In step S14, the programmed recording setting program 104 generates the programmed recording data based on the supplied programmed recording data.
Execute the channel setting process. Details of the channel setting process will be described with reference to FIG.

In step S15, the timer recording setting program 104 displays a message for confirming the timer setting in the window shown in FIG. 15, for example.

[0138] In step S16, the programmed recording setting program 104 generates the programmed recording data based on the supplied programmed recording data.
The AV content 151 waiting for reservation including the moving image data file 161 in which a predetermined area of the HDD 31 is secured is recorded. In step S17, the scheduled recording setting program 104 stores the AV content attribute record 152 corresponding to the AV content 151 waiting for the reservation based on the supplied recording reservation data into the content database 152.
And the process ends.

As described above, the timer recording setting program 10
4 and the WWW browser 106 can quickly execute recording reservation of a predetermined program.

Next, channel setting processing corresponding to step S14 in FIG. 21 will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG. In step S21, the timer recording setting program 104 reads the timer recording data supplied from the WWW browser 106. Step S22
In, the timer recording setting program 104 reads a character string following “station” of the timer recording data.

In step S23, the programmed recording setting program 104 reads a character string having a predetermined channel name from the channel conversion file. In step S24, the scheduled recording setting program 104 sets "station"
It is determined whether or not the character string following "" matches the character string of the predetermined channel name. If it is determined that the character string following "station" matches the character string of the predetermined channel name,
Proceeding to step S25, a channel corresponding to a character string having a predetermined channel name is set.

In step S26, the reservation recording setting program 104 sets the channel display corresponding to the channel set in step S25 (sets channel display data and channel name display data), and the process ends. I do.

If it is determined in step S24 that the character string following "station" does not match the character string of the predetermined channel name, the procedure proceeds to step S27.
The reserved recording setting program 104 determines whether or not the character strings of all the channel names have been read out. If it is determined that the character strings of all the channel names have been read out, the process proceeds to step S28, where it is determined that the channel has not been found. An error message is displayed on the CRT 30, and the process ends.

If it is determined in step S27 that the character strings of all the channel names have not been read, the flow advances to step S29 to set the programmed recording setting program 104.
Reads the character string of another channel name and
Returning to step 24, the processing for determining the matching of the character strings is repeated.

As described above, the timer recording setting program 1
In 04, a predetermined channel can be set even if the character string following "station" of the recording reservation data is somewhat ambiguous.

Next, the Web server program is stored in the RAM 8
The process of providing the recording reservation data of the server 7 when the CPU 81 executes the Web server program loaded into the server 3 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
In step S51, the Web server program
A message is received from the personal computer 1-1 based on HTTP or the like. In step S52, W
The eb server program is a personal computer 1-
It is determined whether or not the message received from the personal computer 1-1 is a message requesting predetermined recording reservation data, and it is determined that the message received from the personal computer 1-1 is a message requesting predetermined recording reservation data. Then, the process proceeds to step S53, where predetermined recording reservation data corresponding to the message is transmitted to the personal computer 1-1, and the process ends.

If it is determined in step S52 that the message received from the personal computer 1-1 is not a message requesting predetermined recording reservation data, step S53 is skipped and the process ends.

As described above, the server 7 provides predetermined recording reservation data to the personal computer 1-1.

Next, the process of transmitting the recording reservation data of the mobile phone 17 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In step S111, the mobile phone 17
After calling by the telephone number corresponding to the personal computer 1, the user's name or a predetermined password is transmitted to connect to the personal computer 1. In step S112, the mobile phone 17 determines whether or not to set the recording reservation based on the menu selection input or the like. If it is determined that the recording reservation is not to be set, the process returns to step S112 and the recording reservation is set. Repeat the process until it is set.

If it is determined in step S112 that a recording reservation is to be set, the flow advances to step S113, where the mobile phone 17 requests the personal computer 1 for data for creating recording reservation data.

In step S114, the mobile phone 1
Reference numeral 7 displays a predetermined screen based on the data for recording reservation data received from the personal computer 1, and accepts input of recording reservation settings. In step S115, the mobile phone 17 determines whether or not to transmit the recording reservation data based on an input of a predetermined button or the like.
Returning to 114, the process of inputting the setting of the recording reservation is repeated.

If it is determined in step S115 that the recording reservation data is to be transmitted, the process proceeds to step S116, where the cellular phone 17 generates recording reservation data based on the input recording reservation setting. In step S117, the mobile phone 17 stores the recording reservation data generated in the process of step S116 in the personal computer 1.
And the process ends.

As described above, the cellular phone 17 can transmit predetermined recording reservation data to the personal computer 1.

Next, the process of receiving recording reservation data by the personal computer 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In step S131, the dial-up server 124 of the personal computer 1 determines whether or not a connection has been requested from the mobile phone 17, and determines that no connection has been requested from the mobile phone 17, by processing corresponding to step S111. If the connection has been made, the process returns to step S131, and the process is repeated until a connection is requested from the mobile phone 17.

At step S131, the mobile phone 17
If it is determined that a connection has been requested from, the process proceeds to step S132, and the dial-up server 124 of the personal computer 1 connects to the mobile phone 17. In step S133, the web server 125 of the personal computer 1 transmits the
It is determined whether or not the data for recording reservation data creation corresponding to 113 has been requested. If it is determined that the data for recording reservation data creation has not been requested from the mobile phone 17, the process returns to step S133, and the The processing is repeated until the telephone set 17 requests data for recording reservation data creation.

In step S133, the mobile phone 1
7, it is determined that the data for creating the recording reservation data has been requested, the process proceeds to step S134, and the CGI program 106 ′ of the personal computer 1 executes the processing in step S11 via the web server 125.
In step 4, data for recording reservation data creation is transmitted so that input of recording reservation settings can be accepted. In step S135, C of the personal computer 1
The GI program 106 ′ receives the recording reservation data and supplies the received recording reservation data to the reservation recording setting program 104 in response to the processing in step S 117.

In step S136, the reservation recording setting program 104 of the personal computer 1 sets the AV contents 1 waiting for reservation based on the received recording reservation data.
Record 51. In step S137, the scheduled recording setting program 104 of the personal computer 1
AV content 1 waiting for reservation generated in step S136
Then, the AV content attribute record 152 corresponding to 51 is generated, and the process ends.

As described above, the personal computer 1
Can set a recording reservation based on the recording reservation data supplied from the mobile phone 17.

In order to make a reservation according to the above procedure, the API (appplicat) on windows (trademark) is executed as follows.
ion program interface).

A dynamic library having a file name of srr.dll contains a number of APIs, which can be called using the C language.

There are the following APIs, and how to use each API will be described.

SrrOpen () API use start SrrClose () API use end SrrGetFirstChannel () Get first channel list SrrGetNextChannel () Get next channel list SrrGetFirstReservation () Get first reservation list SrrGetNextReservation () Get next reservation list Get SrrSetReservation () Set a reservation SrrDeleteReservation () Delete a reservation that has already been set To read registered information using srr.dll, use an API whose name starts with “SrrGetFirst” and “SrrGetN”
Read using two APIs whose names start with "ext". For example, to read channel information, use "Sr
Use “rGetFirstChannel” and “SrrGetNextChannel”.

SrrGetFirstChannel reads the first channel information. Depending on the return value of SrrGetFirstChannel, if there is still channel information to read,
The next information is acquired by SrrGetNextChannel.

1. Read the first information with SrrGetFirst * ().

[0165] 2. If there is no data to read, end.

3. Read the next information with SrrGetNext * ().

Return to 4.2.

When reading the information on the video capsule, the information is basically read in the same sequence.

SrrVirtualChannel (Channel Information Structure) SrrVirtualChannel is a structure for exchanging channel information. API to get channel information
SrrR for handling video capsule information in addition to those used in
Also used as a member of ecordInfo.

Typedef struct _SrrVirtualChannel ｛WORD wVersion; // Version information WORD wCh; // Channel (frequency) WORD wDispCh; // (Virtual) channel number for display BYTE bCaption [SRR_MAX_CHANNEL_CAPTION]; // Caption for channel｝ SrrVirtualChannel; #define SRR_VCHANNEL_VERSION (1) #define SRR_MAX_CHANNEL_CAPTION (256) Basically, the value of this structure is not created by the program. A for SrrGetFirstChannel and SrrGetNextChannel
Use PI to get channel information in this structure,
Take advantage of it.

If data is created on the program side, SRR_VCHANNEL_VERSION is substituted for wVersion.

SrrTime (Structure for Date / Time Information) SrrDatel is a structure for exchanging date / time information such as a reservation date / time and a recording date / time. There is no API that handles this data by itself, and it is only used as a member for holding the start date and time and the end date and time in SrrRecordInfo. typedef struct _SrrTime ｛WORD wVersion; // version information USHORT year; // year (year) BYTE month; // month BYTE day; // day BYTE hour; // hour BYTE minute; // minute｝ SrrTime; #define SRR_TIME_VERSION (1) When creating data on the program side, set wVersion to SR.
Assign R_TIME_VERSION beforehand.

SrrRecordInfo (Structure for Video Capsule Information) SrrRecordInfo is a structure for exchanging video capsule information. Among APIs, those that handle reserved video capsules and recorded video capsules exchange information with this structure. typedef struct _SrrRecordInfo ｛WORD wVersion; // Version information DWORD dwID; // ID that uniquely determines the video capsule SrrTime startTime; // Recording start time SrrTime endTime; // Recording end time WORD wRecMode; // Recording mode (quality) SrrVirtualChannel svCh; // Recording channel information BYTE bProgramName [SRR_MAX_PROGRAM_NAME]; // Program name BYTE bProgramMemo [SRR_MAX_PROGRAM_MEMO]; // Program memo｝ SrrRecordInfo; / wVersion #define SRR_REC_MODE_HIGH (1) // wRecMode = MPEG2 8Mbps #define SRR_REC_MODE_NORMAL (2) // wRecMode = MPEG2 4Mbps #define SRR_REC_MODE_VIDEOCD (3) // wRecMode = MPEG1 1.5Mbps (VideoCD compatible) Any video among API API to specify capsule
Then, the video capsule is specified using the dwID of this structure.

When creating data on the program side,
Assign SRR_RECORDINFO_VERSION to wVersion.

The dwID is an ID for identifying a video capsule automatically generated on the srr.dll side. Even though they are referenced, the program does not assign any values.

In wRecMode, one of constants starting with SRR_REC_MODE is specified. SrrOpen () (Start use of API) Content Open API, initialize, and return ID for API access. Format SRRAPI SRRRESULT_stdcall SrrOpen (DWORD * dwID) Input * dwID: Pass a pointer to ID variable. Output * dwID: Opened ID It is necessary to pass this ID variable as an argument to all API calls until SrrClose (). Return value 0: Success Negative value: Failure (error code) SrrClose () (End of API use) Description Ends the use of the API. Format SRRAPI SRRRESULT_stdcall SrrClose (DWORD dwID); Input dwID: ID obtained by SrrOpen Output None. Return value 0: Success Negative value: Failure (error code) SrrGetFirstChannel () (Get the beginning of the channel list) Description Acquires the information of the set reception channel.

This API acquires the information for the first channel of the channel list. To retrieve the next channel information in order, use SrrGetNextChannel.
At that time, pass the lpdwIndex returned by this function as an argument.

When there is no channel information to be obtained, an error (SRRERR_NOMORE_CHANNEL) is returned as a return value. Format SRRAPI SRRRESULT_stdcall SrrGetFirstChannel (DWORD dwID, DWORD * lpdwIndex, SrrVirtualChannel * lpVChannel); Input dwID: ID obtained by SrrOpen lpdwIndex: Pointer to variable to store index to channel list lpVChannel: Structure of virtual data information Pointer Output lpdwIndex: Pointer to the variable that stores the index to the channel list lpVChannel: Pointer to the structure that stores the virtual channel information Return value 0: Success Negative value: Failure (error code) SrrGetNextChannel (Get the next in the channel list) Description Acquires the information of the set receiving channel.

After calling SrrGetFirstChannel, this API
Are repeatedly called to acquire channel information for each channel.

LpdwIndex is initially SrrGetFirstChannel
Then, the value acquired by this API is set.

When there is no channel information to be obtained, an error (SRRERR_NOMORE_CHANNEL) is returned as a return value. Format SRRAPI SRRRESULT_stdcall SrrGetNextChannel (DWORD dwID, DWORD * lpdwIndex, SrrVirtualChannel * lpVChannel); Input dwID: ID obtained by SrrOpen lpdwIndex: Pointer to the variable that stores the index to the channel list Pointer Output lpdwIndex: Pointer to the variable that stores the index to the channel list lpVChannel: Pointer to the structure that stores the virtual channel information Return value 0: Success Negative value: Failure (error code) Usage example / * Registered channel * / DWORD srrID; DWORD index; SrrVirtualChannel vch; SrrOpen (&srrID); if (! SrrGetFirstChannel (srrID, & index, & vch)) ｛do ｛printf (″ Ch:% d, Ch:% for display d, caption:% s ￥
n ″, vch.wCh, vch.wDispCh, vch.bCaption);｝ while (! SrrGetNextChannel (srrID, & index, &vch));｝ SrrClose (srrID); SrrGetFirstReservation () (get first reservation list) Get the information of the reservation video capsule.

This API acquires the first piece of reservation information in the reservation list. To retrieve the next reservation information in order,
Use SrrGetNextReservation. At this time, the API
Pass the lpdwIndex returned by as an argument.

If there is no available reservation information, an error (SRRERR_NOMORE_RESERVATION) is returned as a return value. Format SRRAPI SRRRESULT_stdcall SrrGetFirstReservation (DWORD dwID, DWORD * lpdwIndex, SrrRecordInfo * lpReservation); Input dwID: ID obtained by SrrOpen lpdwIndex: Pointer to variable to store index to channel list lpReservation: Pointer to structure to store reservation information Output lpdwIndex: Pointer to the variable that stores the index to the channel list lpReservation: Pointer to the structure that stores the reservation information Return value 0: Success Negative value: Failure (error code) SrrGetNextReservation () (Get the next of the reservation list) Details Acquires the information of the set reserved video capsule.

After calling SrrGetFirstReservation, this A
By repeatedly calling the PI, the reservation information is acquired one by one.

LpdwIndex is initially SrrGetFirstReservat
The value acquired by ion is set, and thereafter, the value acquired by this API is set.

If there is no reservation information to be obtained, an error (SRRERR_NOMORE_RESERVATION) is returned as a return value. Format SRRAPI SRRRESULT_stdcall SrrGetNextReservation (DWORD dwID, DWORD * lpdwIndex, SrrRecordInfo * lpReservation); Input dwID: ID obtained by SrrOpen lpdwIndex: Pointer to a variable that stores the index to the channel list lpReservation: Pointer to the structure that stores the reservation information Output lpdwIndex: Pointer to the variable that stores the index to the reservation list lpReservation: Pointer to the structure that stores the reservation information Return value 0: Success Negative value: Failure (error code) Example of use / * Output all * / char * mode; DWORD srrID; DWORD index; SrrRecordInfo recInfo; SrrOpen (&srrID); if (! SrrGetFirstReservation (srrID, & index, & recInf
o)) ｛do ｛switch (recInfo.wRecMode) ｛case SRR_REC_MODE_HIGH: mode = ″ MPEG2 8Mbps ″; break; case SRR_REC_MODE_NORMAL: mode = ″ MPEG2 4Mbps ″; break; case SRR_REC_MODE_VIDEOCD: mode = ″ MPEG1 1.5Mbps ″; break; default: mode = ″ Unknowen mode ″;｝ printf (″% 04d /% 02d /% 02d% 02d:% 02d 〜% 04d /% 02d /% 02
d% 02d:% 02d ￥ n ″, recInfo.startTime.year, recInfo.startTime.month, r
ecInfo.startTime.day, recInfo.startTime.hour, recInfo.startTime.minute, recInfo.endTime.year, recInfo.endTime.month, recIn
fo.endTime.day, recInfo.endTime.hour, recInfo.endTime.minute); printf (″% 2dch (% s) d ￥ n ″, recInfo.svCh.DispCh, mo
de); printf (″% s ￥ n ″, recInfo.bProgramName); printf (″% s ￥ n ″, recInfo.bProgramMemo); printf (″ ----- ￥ n ″);｝ while (! SrrGetNextReservation ( srrID, & index, & re
cInfo));｝ SrrClose (srrID); SrrSetReservation () (set reservation) Content Registers SrrRecordInfo in which reservation information is set in advance in the reservation list.

[0187] Of SrrRecordInfo, bProgramName and bPr
ogramMemo can be omitted. It is not necessary to set a value for dwID.

SvCh is basically SrrGetFirstChannel and
Set the value obtained by SrrGetNextChannel. Format SRRAPI SRRRESULT_stdcall SrrSetReservation (DWORD dwID, SrrRecordInfo * lpReservation); Input dwID: ID obtained by SrrOpen lpReservation: Pointer to structure that stores reservation information Output lpReservation: Pointer to structure that stores reservation information Returns with the value set in dwID. Return value 0: Success Negative value: Failure (error code) Example of use / * Reserve recording at the moment of the 21st century * / char * mode; DWORD srrID; DWORD index; SrrRecordInfo recInfo; SrrVirtualChannel vch; SrrOpen (&srrID); SrrGetFirstChannel ( srrID, & index, &vch); recInfo.startTime.year = 2000; recInfo.startTime.month = 12; recInfo.startTime.day = 31; recInfo.startTime.hour = 23; recInfo.startTime.minute = 30; recInfo.endTime .year = 2001; recInfo.endTime.month = 1; recInfo.endTime.day = 1; recInfo.endTime.hour = 0; recInfo.endTime.minute = 30; recInfo.svCh.DispCh = vch; strcpy (recInfo.bProgramName , "21st Century Moment"); strcpy (recInfo.bProgramMemo, "Historical 1 hour switch from 20th Century to 21st Century"); SrrSetReservation (srrID, &recInfo); srrClose (srrID); SrrDeleteReservation () (already set Deletes the reserved video capsule that has already been set.

In dwReservationID, SrrGetFirstReserv
and SrrRecco obtained by SrrGetNextReservation etc.
Specify dwID of rdInfo. Format SRRAPI SRRRESULT_stdcall SrrDeleteReservation (DWORD dwID, DWORD dwReservationID); Input dwID: ID obtained by SrrOpen dwReservationID ID of reserved video capsule (SrrRecord
Info dwID) Output None Return value 0: Success Negative value: Failure (error code) Example of use / * Delete the first one in the reservation list * / DWORD srrID; DWORD index; SrrRecordInfo recInfo; SrrOpen (&srrID); if (! SrrGetFirstReservation (srrID, & index, & recInf
o)) ｛SrrDeleteReservation (srrID, recInfo.dwID);｝ SrrClose (srrID); Next, the reservation monitoring program 1 resident in the RAM 23
A description will now be given, with reference to the flowchart in FIG. 26, of a scheduled recording process when the CPU 21 executes step 05.

In step S71, the reservation monitoring program 105 reads the current time from an RTC (not shown). In step S72, the AV content attribute record 152 corresponding to the AV content 151 waiting for a predetermined reservation is read.

In step S73, the reservation monitoring program 105 compares the current time with the recording start time included in the AV content attribute record 152, determines whether or not to start the scheduled recording, and determines that the scheduled recording is to be started. If so, the process proceeds to step S74 to start recording. The reservation monitoring program 105 overwrites the image data generated on the image processing board 34 into the moving image data file 161 recorded in advance.

In step S75, the reservation monitoring program 105 reads the current time from an RTC (not shown). In step S76, the reservation monitoring program 10
5 compares the current time with the recording end time included in the AV content attribute record 152, determines whether to end the scheduled recording, and if it is determined not to end the scheduled recording, continues the recording; Proceeding to step S75, the process of determining the end time is repeated.

[0193] If it is determined in step S76 that the scheduled recording is to be ended, the flow advances to step S77, where the reservation monitoring program 105 determines whether the AV content attribute record 1
After a predetermined process such as changing the data of 52 to a predetermined value, the recording ends, and the process ends.

If it is determined in step S73 that reservation recording is not to be started, the procedure proceeds to step S78, where the reservation monitoring program 105 sends all reservation waiting A
It is determined whether or not the AV content attribute record 152 corresponding to the V content 151 has been read, and if it is determined that the AV content attribute records 152 corresponding to all the reservation waiting AV content 151 have not been read, the process proceeds to step S79. . In step S79,
The reservation monitoring program 105 stores the AV content attribute record 1 corresponding to the AV content 151 waiting for another reservation.
52, the process returns to step S73, and the process of determining the start of scheduled recording is repeated.

If it is determined in step S78 that the AV content attribute records 152 corresponding to all the AV contents 151 waiting for reservation have been read, there is no AV content 151 to be reserved for recording, so that the recording is not executed and the processing ends. I do.

As described above, the reservation monitoring program 105
Executes the scheduled recording based on the AV content 151 waiting for the reservation and the current time.

Next, the process of transmitting the recording reservation data by the electronic mail program of the personal computer 1-2 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In step S91, the email program of the personal computer 1-2 attaches the recording reservation data to the email. In step S92, the electronic mail program of the personal computer 1-2 transmits the electronic mail with the recording reservation data attached to the personal computer 1-1, and the process ends.

As described above, the personal computer 1
The -2 e-mail program can transmit recording reservation data to the personal computer 1-1. The personal computer 1-1 that has received the e-mail to which the recording reservation data is attached can make a recording reservation by the same processing as the processing described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

Next, referring to FIG. 28, a program for executing the above-described series of processing is stored in the personal computer 1.
A description will be given of a medium that is installed in the personal computer 1-2 or the server 7 so as to be executable by the personal computer 1-1, the personal computer 1-2 or the server 7.

As shown in FIG. 28A, a program is stored in a hard disk 302 (HDD3 in FIG. 3) as a recording medium built in a personal computer 301.
1 corresponding to a built-in hard disk) or installed in the semiconductor memory 303 in advance.

Alternatively, the program is executed as shown in FIG.
As shown in (B), the flexible disk 311, C
D-ROM (Compact Disk-Read Only Disk) 312, M
O (Magneto-Optical) disk 313, DVD (Digital
Versatile Disk) 314, magnetic disk 315, semiconductor memory 316, etc., can be temporarily or permanently stored in a recording medium and provided as package software.

Further, as shown in FIG. 28C, the program is wirelessly transferred from a download site 321 to a personal computer 323 via an artificial satellite 322 for digital satellite broadcasting, or transmitted to a local area network or the Internet. Network 331
, And can be transferred to the personal computer 323 by wire, and stored in a built-in hard disk or the like in the personal computer 323.

The medium in the present specification means a broad concept including all these media.

[0204] In this specification, the step of describing a program provided by a medium is not limited to processing performed in chronological order according to the described order, but is not necessarily performed in chronological order. It also includes processes that are executed individually or individually.

[0205] In this specification, the system is
It represents the entire device composed of a plurality of devices.

[0206]

As described above, the first embodiment according to the present invention is described.
According to the information recording apparatus and method, a recording start time,
A first character string identifying the channel of the broadcast station.
Recording reservation data, which is text data, is input, a signal broadcast from a broadcasting station is obtained, the obtained signal is recorded, and the correspondence between the first character string included in the recording reservation data and the channel of the broadcasting station is obtained. For determining the match between the first character string and the first character string included in the data indicating the correspondence between the first character string and the channel of the broadcast station, based on the data indicating
If one of the plurality of second character strings associated with the channel of one broadcast station matches the first character string, the first character string included in the recording reservation data is , Is converted to data indicating the channel of the broadcasting station, and based on the converted data indicating the channel of the broadcasting station, the operation of the scheduled recording is controlled.
Easy and quick to set up.

Further, according to the second information recording apparatus and the recording method of the present invention, a button operated when requesting recording reservation data for making a recording reservation of a program is arranged in correspondence with the display of the program. A signal including program table data is received from an information providing apparatus that provides program table data for displaying a program table that is displayed, and in response to the operation of the button, the information providing apparatus instructs the information providing apparatus to record a program corresponding to the button. An information request signal for requesting recording reservation data for performing the recording is transmitted, and a recording start time and a first character string specifying a channel of a broadcast station are transmitted from the information providing apparatus in response to the information request signal. And recording recording data that is text data is input, a signal broadcast from a broadcast station is obtained, the obtained signal is recorded, and a first character string included in the recording reservation data; Based on the data indicating the correspondence with the channel of the transmitting station, the first character string is used to determine a match with the first character string included in the data indicating the correspondence with the channel of the broadcasting station. If one of the plurality of second character strings associated with the channel of one broadcast station matches the first character string, the first character string included in the recording reservation data is Since the operation of the scheduled recording is controlled based on the converted data indicating the channel of the broadcasting station, the operation of the scheduled recording is easily and quickly set. become able to.

According to the information providing apparatus and the information providing method of the present invention, a button operated when requesting recording reservation data for recording a program is arranged in correspondence with the display of the program. The program guide data for displaying the program guide is transmitted to the information processing apparatus, the request signal corresponding to the button operation issued from the information processing apparatus is received, and the recording start time and the first channel for specifying the channel of the broadcasting station are received. One broadcast in the information processing apparatus for determining a match between the first character string and the first character string included in the data indicating the correspondence between the first character string and the channel of the broadcast station. A plurality of secondary channels associated with the station channel
If one of the character strings matches the first character string, the recording reservation data, which is text data, including data that is converted to data indicating a channel of a broadcast station. , So that the scheduled recording can be set easily and quickly.

Further, according to the image recording system of the present invention, a program table in which a button operated when requesting recording reservation data for making a recording reservation of a program is arranged in correspondence with the display of the program. The program guide data to be displayed is transmitted to the information recording device, a request signal corresponding to the operation of the button, which is output from the information recording device, is received, and the recording start time and the first character string specifying the channel of the broadcasting station are displayed. Recording reservation data that is text data is output to the information recording device, and recording reservation data including a recording start time and a first character string specifying a channel of the broadcast station is input and broadcasted from the broadcast station. The acquired signal is recorded, the acquired signal is recorded, and the first character string is stored on the basis of the data indicating the correspondence between the first character string included in the recording reservation data and the channel of the broadcasting station. Of the plurality of second character strings associated with one broadcast station channel for determining a match with the first character string included in the data indicating the correspondence with the broadcast station channel If one character string matches the first character string, the first character string included in the recording reservation data
Is converted into data indicating the channel of the broadcast station, and the operation of the scheduled recording is controlled based on the converted data indicating the channel of the broadcast station. Can be set up easily and quickly. [Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of an image recording / reproducing system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an embodiment of an image recording / reproducing system according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a personal computer.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image processing board.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a server.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an application program executed by a personal computer.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an application program, middleware, and drivers executed by a personal computer.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an application program, middleware, and drivers executed by a personal computer.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of AV content.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a screen displayed on a CRT of a personal computer when a recording / playback program allows a recording operation.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a screen displayed on a CRT of a personal computer when a recording / playback program starts recording.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a screen displayed on a CRT of a personal computer when a recording / playback program allows a playback operation.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a screen according to a programmed recording setting program.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a screen according to a programmed recording setting program.

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating a screen according to a programmed recording setting program.

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating a screen displayed by a WWW browser.

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating an example of recording reservation data.

FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating an example of a channel conversion file.

FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating a screen for displaying e-mail data attached with recording reservation data by an e-mail program.

FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating a screen for displaying e-mail data attached with recording reservation data by an e-mail program.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart illustrating a recording reservation process.

FIG. 22 is a flowchart illustrating a channel setting process.

FIG. 23 is a flowchart illustrating a process of providing recording reservation data of a server.

FIG. 24 is a flowchart illustrating a process of transmitting recording reservation data of the mobile phone.

FIG. 25 is a flowchart illustrating a process of receiving recording reservation data by a personal computer.

FIG. 26 is a flowchart illustrating a scheduled recording process.

FIG. 27 is a flowchart illustrating a process of transmitting recording reservation data by an e-mail program.

FIG. 28 is a diagram illustrating a medium.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Eiichi Watanabe, Inventor 6-7-35 Kita-Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo, Japan Inside Sony Corporation (72) Inventor Nobuaki Yamaguchi 6-chome, Kita-Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo, Japan 7-35 Inside Sony Corporation (72) Kumiko Sasaki, Inventor 6-35 Kita-Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo, Japan 7-35 Inside Sony Corporation (72) Makoto Niijima 6, Chome, Kita-Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo, Japan No. 7-35 within Sony Corporation (72) Inventor Ai Suzuki 6-35 Kita-Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo, Japan 7-35 Within Sony Corporation (72) Shinya Fujii, 6-chome Kita-Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo, Japan 7-35 Sony Corporation Examiner Tatsuya Yamazaki (56) References JP-A-57-112125 (JP, A) JP-A-10-289205 (JP, A) JP-A 10-269754 ( JP, A 10-261251 (JP, A) JP, 10-247345 (JP, A) JP, 10-222889 (JP, A) JP, 10-200847 (JP, A) JP JP 10-177777 (JP, A) JP 10-155131 (JP, A) JP 10-32802 (JP, A) JP 9-298775 (JP, A) JP 9-247598 (JP JP-A 9-37180 (JP, A) JP-A 8-214282 (JP, A) JP-A 8-102107 (JP, A) JP-A 7-298369 (JP, A) 7-212732 (JP, A) JP-A-6-162252 (JP, A) JP-A-6-14288 (JP, A) JP-A-1-305716 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. H04N 7/10 H04N ^7/ 14-7/173 H04N ^7/ 20-7/22

Claims (7)

(57) [Claims] 1. An information recording apparatus for preprogrammed recording of a predetermined program of a predetermined broadcasting station, comprising: a recording reservation which is text data including a recording start time and a first character string specifying a channel of the broadcasting station. A data input unit for inputting data; a signal acquisition unit for acquiring a signal broadcast from the broadcast station; a recording unit for recording a signal acquired by the signal acquisition unit; 1 based on the data indicating the correspondence between the character string and the channel of the broadcast station. The first character string is included in the data indicating the correspondence between the channel of the broadcast station and the first character string. One of a plurality of second character strings associated with the channel of one of the broadcast stations and a first character string for determining a match with the first character string Match A conversion unit that converts the first character string included in the recording reservation data into data indicating the channel of the broadcast station; and An information recording apparatus, comprising: a recording operation control unit that controls a scheduled recording operation of the recording unit. 2. An information recording method for making a scheduled recording of a predetermined program of a predetermined broadcasting station, comprising: a recording reservation which is text data, including a recording start time and a first character string specifying a channel of the broadcasting station. A data input step of inputting data; a signal obtaining step of obtaining a signal broadcast from the broadcast station; a recording step of recording the signal obtained in the signal obtaining step; 1 based on the data indicating the correspondence between the character string and the channel of the broadcast station. The first character string is included in the data indicating the correspondence between the channel of the broadcast station and the first character string. One of a plurality of second character strings associated with the channel of one of the broadcast stations to determine a match with the first character string; And a conversion step of converting the first character string included in the recording reservation data into data indicating the channel of the broadcast station; and converting the data indicating the channel of the broadcast station into the converted data. A recording operation control step of controlling a reserved recording operation in the recording step. 3. An information recording apparatus for pre-recording a predetermined program of a predetermined broadcast station, wherein the button is operated when requesting recording reservation data for reserving recording of the program in association with display of the program. A schedule information receiving unit that receives a signal including the program table data from an information providing apparatus that provides program table data for displaying a program table in which the button is arranged; and Information request signal transmitting means for transmitting, to the information providing apparatus, an information request signal requesting the recording reservation data for making a recording reservation of the program corresponding to the button, in response to the operation of: Transmitted from the information providing device in response to the information request signal transmitted by the signal transmitting means,
Data input means for inputting the recording reservation data, which is text data, including a recording start time and a first character string specifying a channel of the broadcast station; and a signal for acquiring a signal broadcast from the broadcast station. Acquiring means; recording means for recording the signal acquired by the signal acquiring means; and data indicating a correspondence between the first character string included in the recording reservation data and the channel of the broadcast station. , For determining a match between the first character string and the first character string included in the data indicating the correspondence between the channel of the broadcast station and the channel of the broadcast station. If one of a plurality of associated second character strings matches the first character string, the first character string included in the recording reservation data is transmitted to the broadcast In front of the station Conversion means for converting to data indicating a channel; and recording operation control means for controlling a scheduled recording operation of the recording means based on the converted data indicating the channel of the broadcasting station. Information recording device. 4. An information recording method for pre-recording a predetermined program of a predetermined broadcast station, comprising: a button operated when requesting recording reservation data for recording reservation of the program in association with display of the program. A schedule information receiving step of receiving a signal including the program table data from an information providing apparatus that provides program table data for displaying a program table in which the program table is arranged, and based on the data received in the schedule information receiving step. In response to the operation of the button, an information request signal transmitting step of transmitting, to the information providing device, an information request signal requesting the recording reservation data for making a recording reservation of the program corresponding to the button, A recording start time transmitted from the information providing device in response to the information request signal transmitted in the information request signal transmitting step, , A first channel for specifying the channel of the broadcasting station
A data input step of inputting recording reservation data that is text data, a signal obtaining step of obtaining a signal broadcast from the broadcast station, and recording the signal obtained in the signal obtaining step. A recording step, based on data indicating a correspondence between the first character string included in the recording reservation data and the channel of the broadcast station, the first character string, and the channel of the broadcast station. One of a plurality of second character strings associated with the channel of one broadcast station for determining a match with the first character string included in the data indicating the correspondence If the two character strings match the first character string, the conversion step converts the first character string included in the recording reservation data into data indicating the channel of the broadcast station. When, in accordance with the data indicating the channel converted the broadcast station, the information recording method characterized by comprising a recording operation control step for controlling the operation of timer recording in said recording step. 5. An information providing apparatus for providing recording reservation data for reserving recording of a program of a predetermined broadcasting station, wherein the recording reservation data for reserving recording of the program is associated with display of the program. Schedule information transmitting means for transmitting to the information processing apparatus program table data for displaying a program table on which a button operated when making a request is arranged; and outputting from the information processing apparatus based on an output of the schedule information transmitting means. Receiving means for receiving a request signal corresponding to an operation of the button; and a first character string for specifying a recording start time and a channel of the broadcast station in response to an output of the receiving means.
In the information processing device, the first character string is included in the data indicating a correspondence between the channel of the broadcast station and the first character string.
When one of a plurality of second character strings associated with the channel of one of the broadcast stations matches the first character string, the channel indicates the channel of the broadcast station. And a signal output means for outputting the recording reservation data, which is text data, to the information processing device, including a signal to be converted into data. 6. An information providing method for providing recording reservation data for recording reservation of a program of a predetermined broadcasting station, wherein the recording reservation data for reservation of recording of the program is associated with display of the program. A schedule information transmitting step of transmitting program table data for displaying a program table on which a button operated when making a request is arranged to an information processing apparatus; and the information based on the program table data transmitted in the schedule information transmitting step. A receiving step of receiving a request signal corresponding to the operation of the button, which is output from a processing device; and a first step of specifying a recording start time and a channel of the broadcast station in response to the request signal received in the receiving step. The information processing device, wherein the first character string is
Included in the data indicating the correspondence between the character string of the broadcast station and the channel of the broadcast station, in correspondence with the channel of one of the broadcast stations to determine a match with the first character string. Text data, including one that is converted into data indicating the channel of the broadcast station when one of the plurality of second character strings matches the first character string. A signal output step of outputting the recording reservation data to the information processing apparatus. 7. An image recording system comprising: an information providing device for providing recording reservation data for recording recording of a program of a predetermined broadcasting station; and an information recording device for performing reservation recording based on the recording reservation data. The information providing device is configured to display program guide data on which a button operated when requesting the recording reservation data for recording reservation of the program is displayed in correspondence with the display of the program. Schedule information transmitting means for transmitting to the recording device; receiving means for receiving a request signal corresponding to the operation of the button, which is output from the information recording device based on the output of the schedule information transmitting means; output of the receiving means And a first character string for specifying a channel of the broadcast station.
Signal output means for outputting the recording reservation data as text data to the information recording device, wherein the information recording device transmits the recording start time and a first character string specifying a channel of the broadcast station. A data input unit for inputting the recording reservation data including: a signal acquisition unit for acquiring a signal broadcast from the broadcast station; a recording unit for recording the signal acquired by the signal acquisition unit; Based on the data indicating the correspondence between the included first character string and the channel of the broadcasting station, the data is included in the data indicating the correspondence between the first character string and the channel of the broadcasting station. , One of a plurality of second character strings associated with the channel of one of the broadcast stations to determine a match with the first character string; A conversion unit that converts the first character string included in the recording reservation data into data indicating the channel of the broadcast station when the character string matches the channel string of the broadcast station; Recording operation control means for controlling the operation of programmed recording of the recording means based on data indicating the following.