JP2003009012A - Receiver, reception method, program, and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a receiver which reflects contents of a program to switch a channel at the time of recording or watching program data received by a lot of channels. SOLUTION: After initialization of channel selection, the recording time rate of each channel, and the total continuous recording time of each channel, a channel is switched to, and reception data of the channel is recorded in a video disk 11 together with the channel number (S606). The recording time is measured, and recording is continued till the total continuous recording time passes (S607). When the total continuous recording time has passed, the next channel is prepared (S609), and reception data of the next channel is recorded in the same manner, and then the number of channels is discriminated (S610). When the number of channels exceeds a set number, recording and display of the first channel are started again. Reception data of channels of which the number has been set are successively recorded and displayed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a receiving device, a receiving method, a program and a storage medium for switching a plurality of channels and receiving program data representing the contents of a program broadcast on each channel.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As this type of receiving apparatus, a digital broadcasting receiving apparatus for receiving digital broadcasting is known. When recording a television broadcast program received by this digital broadcast receiving device in a recording device, a digital broadcast receiving device having only one tuner can select only one channel program at the same time, and record other programs. I couldn't.

On the other hand, as a method of recording a program of a plurality of channels using a conventional apparatus, there is a method of recording a program in the same time zone having a number of channels larger than the number of tuners by switching the channels in small steps. Proposed. With this method, for example, even one tuner can record two programs, the front and the back.

[0004]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional device, the channel is simply switched in small increments, and the screen is switched regardless of the content of the program, so that the user cannot expect the user's expectation. There wasn't.

Further, in the case of reserved recording, the time can be set to only one minute at the shortest. Furthermore, all channels were switched over at the same time, which did not reflect the content of the program.

Therefore, according to the present invention, when recording or viewing the program data respectively received on a plurality of channels, the contents of the program are reflected to switch the channels,
An object of the present invention is to provide a receiving device, a receiving method, a program, and a storage medium that can efficiently record or view a program broadcast on a plurality of channels.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, the receiving apparatus of the present invention is a receiving means for receiving program data of programs respectively broadcast on a plurality of channels, and the receiving means. Switching means for switching the channel of the program data, display means for displaying the video of the program data received by the receiving means, and cyclically switching the plurality of channels based on the content of each program of the plurality of channels. Timing determining means for determining the timing for the display, and the display so as to cyclically switch the plurality of channels by the switching means at the determined timing and to cyclically display the video of the program data of the plurality of channels. Control means for controlling the means.

Further, the receiving apparatus of the present invention comprises a receiving means for receiving program data of a program broadcast on a plurality of channels, a selecting means for selecting a plurality of channels of the program data received by the receiving means, and Switching means for switching the channels, timing determining means for determining the channel switching timing according to the contents of the programs respectively broadcast on the plurality of channels selected by the selecting means, and the plurality of channels selected by the selecting means And a control means for controlling so as to cyclically receive the program data of the programs respectively broadcast on the plurality of channels by switching between the timings determined by the timing determination means.

Further, the receiving method of the present invention includes the steps of receiving program data of programs broadcast on a plurality of channels, switching the channel of the received program data, and receiving the received program data. Displaying an image, determining a timing for cyclically switching the plurality of channels based on contents of programs of the plurality of channels, and circulating the plurality of channels at the determined timing. And switching to control so that the images of the program data of the plurality of channels are cyclically displayed.

Further, the receiving method of the present invention comprises the steps of receiving program data of programs broadcast on a plurality of channels, selecting a plurality of channels of the program data to be received, and switching the channels. A step of deciding a channel switching timing according to contents of a program respectively broadcast on the selected plurality of channels, and a step of switching between the selected plurality of channels at the determined timing. And controlling to cyclically receive the program data of the programs respectively broadcast.

[0011]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of a receiving apparatus, a receiving method, a program and a storage medium of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, a case where the present invention is applied to a digital broadcast recording device will be described.

[First Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of a digital broadcast recording apparatus according to the first embodiment. In the figure, reference numeral 1 is a CPU (central processing unit), which is connected to the following parts via a bus line (BL) 8 and controls these parts. 2 is the operation panel (P
ANL), and has switches and keys for executing various controls. The operation panel 2 also has a key for selecting a channel of a tuner described later.

3 is a color liquid crystal display (LCD),
The characters and images written in the VRAM 4, which is a write-only memory for display, are displayed as a font pattern or image image described later. Reference numeral 5 is an antenna (ANT) for receiving digital broadcasting. 6 is the antenna 5
It is a single tuner (TUNR) that processes broadcast signals received through. The selection of the broadcast signal is performed by the keys provided on the operation panel 2 as described above.

Reference numeral 7 is a speaker (SPK) for outputting voice. Reference numeral 9 is a ROM that functions as a read-only memory, and is a program (PRG) for executing various controls.
9a and a font pattern (FONT) 9b for displaying characters / symbols are stored. Reference numeral 10 denotes a RAM that functions as a writable memory, and is used for temporarily storing received data such as an image and used as a temporary work area and a save area when a program is executed. RAM10
The interior of is divided into several areas.

Reference numeral 10a is a work area (WORK) for temporarily storing images, variable data and other information as the program 9a is executed. 10b is a channel table (C which holds the channel number reserved for recording.
This is an area for storing (HTBL). 10c is a recording time rate (RAT) indicating the ratio of the recording time of each channel.
This is an area for storing E). An area 10d stores a recording unit table (UNIT) which is the minimum unit of recording time. 10e is a continuous total recording time (CTOTAL) of one channel, which is a product of the recording time rate 10c and the recording unit 10d. 10f is a parameter (counter) I of various tables. For example, when indicating the I-th content of the channel table (CHTBL) 10b, it is expressed as CHTBL (I).

Reference numeral 11 denotes a video disk (VDISK) as an external storage device, which stores image, voice and character information.

Reference numeral 12 is a signal processing circuit (DPC) including a descrambler, a demultiplexer, a decoder and the like, which performs various processes on the broadcast signal received by the tuner 6.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the structure of the channel table (CHTBL) 10b stored in the RAM 10. Four channels are registered in the channel table 10b. In the figure, reference numeral 21 is a cell in which a channel number is stored.
Is stored.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a recording time rate (RATE) 10c stored in the RAM 10. The recording time rate (RATE) 10c is the ratio of the recording time for each channel. In the figure, 31 is a cell in which a recording time rate is stored. In the cell 31, information "1", "2", "2", "5" indicating the time ratio is stored in order from the top, and the channel number "11", respectively.
It corresponds to "25", "37", and "48". That is, for recording unit 10d, 11 channels are 10%, 25 channels are 20%, and 37 channels are 2%, respectively.
It is shown that 0% and 48 channels are recorded at a rate of 50%.

The received data of each channel is the above-mentioned CH.
The recording time is determined based on the TBL 10b, the RATE 10c, and the recording unit 10d, and is recorded in the VDISK 11. The details will be described later.

FIG. 4 shows a video disk (VDISK) 11
It is a figure which shows the data stored in. The received data is stored together with the channel number. In the figure, 41 is data indicating the channel number 11, and 42 is the reception content of the channel. Similarly, 43, 45, 47
Are channel numbers "25", "37", and "4", respectively.
8 ”, and 44, 46, and 48 are the reception contents of the corresponding channels, respectively. Also, 49 is 2
Data showing the channel number 11 of the cycle,
Reference numeral 50 is the received content.

Since the channel number and the received data are integrally stored in this manner, it is possible to extract and output only the received data of a specific channel during reproduction.

The basic operation of the digital broadcast recording apparatus having the above configuration will be described. In this digital broadcast recording apparatus, when the power is turned on, the program 9a stored in the ROM 9 is executed and various controls are performed.

The digital broadcast data received via the antenna 5 is multiplexed with packetized data such as image data, audio data, character data, etc. and input as a transport stream. The tuner 6 is controlled to receive the transport stream in which the data of the channel selected by the operation panel 2 is multiplexed, and the received transport stream is processed by the signal processing circuit (DP).
C) Output to 12.

The signal processing circuit (DPC) 12 performs a descrambling process on the input transport stream, extracts the data of the designated channel, and separates the data into image data, audio data, character data and the like.
Further, after decoding each data, the display data is enlarged or reduced according to the size of the color liquid crystal display (LCD) 3 and written in the display VRAM 4, and is output to the display 3.

The audio data extracted in the DCP 12 and subjected to the decoding process is D / A converted and output to the speaker 7. The character data extracted by the DCP 12 is expanded into a font pattern stored in the ROM 10 and displayed on the LCD 3.

Next, the recording operation will be described. When a recording instruction is given by a user operation on the operation panel (PNL) 2, the received data including image / sound / character data output from the DPC 12 is stored in the video disc 11. Here, as will be described later, the received data is recorded while the channel is switched at the timing determined based on the recording-reserved channel and the recording rate thereof.

In the present embodiment, the timing of switching channels is determined based on the recording time rate 10c and recording unit time 10d of each channel. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a reception pattern in the case of receiving the reception data of a plurality of channels in a time division manner. In the figure, 51 is a channel number. Here, four channels “1
Reception patterns are shown for the case of receiving 1 "," 25 "," 37 ", and" 48 "in a time division manner. Reference numeral 52 indicates one cycle consisting of reception of four channels, and a horizontal bar in the drawing indicates a state of receiving each channel. Assuming that the reception time of channel 11 is 1, the reception time of channels 25 and 37 is 2, and the reception time of channel 48 is 5.

For example, programs on channel 11 are weather forecasts and program guides that can be seen from time to time, and the reception time thereof is 10% of the total reception time of one cycle. Also,
The programs on channels 25 and 37 are news and news programs, and their reception time is 20% of the total reception time of one cycle. Further, the program of 48 channels is a slow-tempo drama or variety program, and the reception time thereof accounts for 50% of the total reception time of one cycle.
In this way, when recording programs on four channels,
Each channel is weighted and recorded.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing a channel switching processing procedure. This processing program is included in the program (PRG) 9a in the ROM 9, and the CPU 1
Executed by

First, initial setting is performed. By default,
When the user selects a channel, the selected channel is registered in the channel table (CHTBL) 10b (step S601). Further, when the user sets the weight of each channel, the set weight is registered in the recording time rate (RATE) 10c (step S).
602). At this time, the total value of all recording time rates to be recorded is set to 10.

After the channel and its weight are registered, when the user sets the minimum unit time of weighting, the set minimum unit time is registered in the recording unit (UNIT) 10d (step S603). For example, assuming that the minimum unit time is 1 minute, channel 11 has 1 out of 10 minutes.
Minutes are recorded, but if a blank of 9 minutes occurs and it is judged that this blank is too long, if the minimum unit time is set to 1 second, only 1 second is recorded every 10 seconds, so the blank is 9 seconds. It's done. In this way, recording unit (UNIT)
Depending on the setting of, the continuity and the degree of missing of the program are determined.

In step S604, the recording time rate (RA
TE) 10c and recording unit (UNIT) 10d are used to calculate the continuous total recording time (CTOTAL) of each channel registered in the channel table, and RA
Store in CTOTAL 10d of M10. For example, if the recording time rate is 2 and the minimum unit time is 3 minutes, the continuous recording time of this channel is 6 minutes, and one cycle is 30 minutes.

Next, the channel counter I for counting the number of channels and the time counter C for counting the recording time are reset (step S605).

After the initial setting is completed as described above, if the recording start time is not set, the recording is started by switching to the channel registered in the channel table, and the channel is switched at the timing according to the initial setting. To do. Further, if the recording start time is set at the time of initial setting, the system waits until the recording start time, and when the recording start time comes, recording is performed while switching channels according to the initial settings.

That is, in S606, the channel is switched to the I-th channel in the channel table, and the received data of that channel is recorded in the video disk (VDISK) 11 together with the channel number (step S607).

Then, the recording time is counted by the time counter C, and the count value indicates continuous total recording (CTO).
TAL) time is determined (step S6)
08). When the continuous total recording time (CTOTAL) has not been reached, the process of step S607 is repeated. When the continuous total recording time (CTOTAL) is reached, the counter I is incremented (step S609) and the next channel is prepared.

Thereafter, the value of the channel counter I is the number of channels registered in the channel table (here,
4) It is determined whether or not the following (step S61)
0). If the count value is less than or equal to the number of channels registered in the channel table, the process returns to the channel switching process of step S606. On the other hand, when the count value is larger than the number of channels registered in the channel table, it is determined whether or not the reception is completed (step S611). If reception has not ended, the process returns to step S604,
Recording continues from the first channel again. On the other hand, if the reception has ended, this process ends. In this way, the reception data of the four channels are sequentially (circularly) recorded based on each recording time rate (RATE) 10c as shown in FIG.

In the above embodiment, the case where the four channels are sequentially switched and the received data of the program broadcast on each channel is recorded is shown. However, the received data may be further displayed, or only recorded or displayed. Of course, you may just go.

According to this embodiment, one tuner (T
UNR) 6 only 4 channels “11”, “2”
It is possible to weight and record the recording time of the broadcast programs “5”, “37”, and “48” according to the contents of the program, and sequentially switch and record / display. Therefore, even when there are a plurality of desired programs, those programs can be efficiently recorded / viewed. Further, the recording time cycle of each channel can be set for each channel. Furthermore, when playing back recorded programs, it is possible to extract the received data of each program and watch it continuously.

[Second Embodiment] In the first embodiment, the channel switching timing is set such that the recording time rate (RATE) 10c and the minimum unit time (UNIT) 1 are set.
Although it is determined based on 0d, the timing may be automatically determined based on the content of the received data. For example, the timing of channel switching may be determined based on the audio signal of the channel. In this method, the channel is recorded as long as the audio continues, and the channel is switched to another channel when the audio is interrupted. As described above, the second embodiment is characterized in that the timing of switching channels is performed depending on the presence or absence of sound. Further, the configuration of the digital broadcast recording apparatus in the second embodiment is the same as that in the first embodiment, so the same reference numerals are used and the description thereof is omitted.

FIG. 7 is a timing chart showing the channel switching processing in the second embodiment. 2 in the figure
Audio signals of two channels A and B are shown. First, when recording of the reception data of the A channel is started, the audio signal remains in the ON state, and during this period, the reception data of the A channel is recorded.

When the audio signal is turned off at time point 71, B
Switch to the channel and record the received data. When the sound of the B channel is cut off at time point 72, the channel is switched to the A channel again. Similarly, it keeps recording that channel until the audio is discontinued. Such channel switching is effective when recording a program or the like in which audio has an important meaning and audio should not be interrupted.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing a channel switching processing procedure. This processing program is the program (PRG) 9 in the ROM 9 as in the first embodiment.
It is included in a and is executed by the CPU 1.

First, the channel counter I is set to the initial value 1 (step S801), and the channel is switched to the channel table (CHTBL) 10b (I) (step S802). When switched, the received data of the channel is recorded on the video disk (VDISK) 11 together with the channel number (step S802).

Next, the presence / absence of a voice signal is checked (step S803). Step S until there is a voice signal
When the audio signal is interrupted by repeating the processing of 803, the value 1 is added to the counter I (step S804), and the next channel is prepared.

Then, the count value of the channel counter I is determined (step S805), and if the count value is less than or equal to the number of channels registered in the channel table, the flow returns to the channel switching in step S802. on the other hand,
If the count value is larger than the number of channels registered in the channel table, it is determined whether or not the reception is completed (step S806). If the reception is not completed, the process returns to step S801 and recording is continued from the first channel again. . By this processing, it is possible to continue recording the same channel as long as the audio continues.

According to the second embodiment, the switching timing of recording of each channel can be automatically set according to the received contents (presence or absence of voice) instead of time. Further, when playing back a recorded program, it is possible to extract the received data of each program and watch them continuously.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the configurations of these embodiments, and the functions shown in the claims or the configurations of the embodiments are not limited thereto. Any structure can be applied as long as it can achieve the function it has.

For example, in the second embodiment, the channel switching timing is determined by the presence / absence of the audio signal, but it may be another event. For example, the following event may be used as the channel switching timing. Also,
The timing of channel switching may be determined based on received data other than voice.

When the sound becomes stereo, switch the channel.

When the sound becomes monaural, the channel is switched.

When the voice is turned on, the channel is switched.

When the caption appears, that is, when character data appears in the received data, the channel is switched.

When the subtitle disappears, that is, when the character data disappears from the received data, the channel is switched.

When the image becomes full data from compressed differential data, the channel is switched.

When the image changes from full data to differential data for compression, the channel is switched.

When the signal peculiar to the image, voice and character information is input, the channel is switched.

Further, the channel switching timing may be determined according to the content of the character data. In this way, the channel switching timing can be set according to various events, and in any case, it is feasible.

In the first and second embodiments, the case where the number of channels is set to 4 has been described, but the number may be more or less than this. When receiving a broadcast from an antenna, it may be received by a cable, or signals may be taken in from a plurality of reproducing devices instead of the antenna.

Further, it is needless to say that the present invention can be applied to a case where it is achieved by supplying a program to an apparatus using a recording medium storing a program code of software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments. Nor. In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the novel function of the present invention, and the program itself and the storage medium storing the program constitute the present invention.

In the above embodiment, the program code shown in the flow charts of FIGS. 6 and 8 is a ROM which is a storage medium.
It is stored in. The storage medium for supplying the program code is not limited to ROM, but may be, for example, a flexible disk, a hard disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a DV.
D, a magnetic tape, a non-volatile memory card, etc. can be used.

[0063]

According to the present invention, when recording or viewing program data respectively received on a plurality of channels, by switching the channels by reflecting the content of the program,
It is possible to efficiently record or watch a program broadcast on a plurality of channels.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a digital broadcast recording device according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of a channel table (CHTBL) 10b stored in a RAM 10.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a recording time rate (RATE) 10c stored in a RAM 10.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing data stored in a video disk (VDISK) 11.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a reception pattern in the case of receiving reception data of a plurality of channels in a time division manner.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a channel switching processing procedure.

FIG. 7 is a timing chart showing a channel switching process according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a channel switching processing procedure.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 CPU 2 Operation panel (PANL) 3 color liquid crystal display (LCD) 6 Tuner (TUNR) 9 ROM 10 RAM 11 Video Disc (VDISK)

Claims (18)

[Claims] 1. Receiving means for receiving program data of programs respectively broadcast on a plurality of channels, switching means for switching channels of program data received by the receiving means, and program data received by the receiving means. Display means for displaying the video of the above, and timing determination means for determining timing for cyclically switching the plurality of channels based on the contents of each program of the plurality of channels, and the switching at the determined timing. And a control means for controlling the display means so as to cyclically switch the plurality of channels by means and cyclically display the video of the program data of the plurality of channels. 2. Receiving means for receiving program data of programs respectively broadcast on a plurality of channels, selecting means for selecting a plurality of channels of program data to be received by the receiving means, and switching means for switching the channels. Timing determining means for determining the channel switching timing according to the contents of the programs respectively broadcasted on the plurality of channels selected by the selecting means, and the timing determining means between the plurality of channels selected by the selecting means. A receiving device, comprising: a control unit that switches at a determined timing and controls so as to cyclically receive the program data of the programs respectively broadcast on the plurality of channels. 3. The timing determination means sets a continuous reception time for each channel according to the content of the program, and the time for which the program data of each channel is continuously received by the reception means is set. The receiving device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a time when a continuous reception time is reached is determined as the timing. 4. The receiving apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the timing determining means has a manual setting means for setting information regarding continuous reception time for each channel. 5. The receiving apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the timing determining means determines, as the timing, a time when a sound included in the program data received by the receiving means is interrupted. . 6. The timing determining means determines the timing when a sound included in the program data received by the receiving means is switched from stereo to monaural or from monaural to stereo. The receiving device according to claim 2. 7. The timing determining means determines the timing when the character data appears in the program data received by the receiving means or when the character data disappears from the program data. The receiving device according to claim 1 or claim 2. 8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the timing determining unit determines the timing according to the content of the character data included in the program data received by the receiving unit. Receiver. 9. A step of receiving program data of a program broadcast on each of a plurality of channels, a step of switching channels of the received program data, and a step of displaying a video of the received program data. Determining a timing for cyclically switching the plurality of channels based on contents of respective programs of the plurality of channels; and cyclically switching the plurality of channels at the determined timing. And a step of controlling so as to cyclically display the video of the program data of the channel. 10. A step of receiving program data of a program broadcast on each of a plurality of channels, a step of selecting a plurality of channels of the program data to be received, a step of switching the channels, and a plurality of the selected plurality of channels. Determining the channel switching timing according to the contents of the programs respectively broadcast on the channels, and switching between the selected plurality of channels at the determined timings and the program broadcast on the plurality of channels respectively. Controlling the program data to be received cyclically. 11. The step of determining the timing comprises:
The continuous reception time for each channel is set according to the content of the program, and in the step of receiving the program data, the time when the program data of each channel is continuously received reaches the continuous reception time. The receiving method according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the timing is determined. 12. The receiving method according to claim 11, wherein the step of determining the timing includes a step of manually setting information on continuous reception time for each channel. 13. The step of determining the timing comprises:
10. The timing is determined when the sound included in the received program data is interrupted.
Alternatively, the receiving method according to claim 10. 14. In the step of determining the timing,
10. The timing is determined when the audio included in the received program data is switched from stereo to monaural or from monaural to stereo.
Alternatively, the receiving method according to claim 10. 15. The step of determining the timing comprises:
11. The receiving method according to claim 9, wherein the timing is determined when character data appears in the received program data or when character data disappears from the program data. 16. The step of determining the timing comprises:
The receiving method according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the timing is determined according to the content of the character data included in the received program data. 17. A storage medium holding a program code for implementing the receiving method according to claim 9. Description: 18. A program having a program code for realizing the receiving method according to claim 9. Description: