U.S. patent application number 12/173593 was filed with the patent office on 2009-02-05 for automatic recording/reproducing method and automatic recording/reproducing apparatus.
This patent application is currently assigned to KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA. Invention is credited to Koji Miyazaki.
Application Number | 20090034934 12/173593 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37187002 |
Filed Date | 2009-02-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090034934 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Miyazaki; Koji |
February 5, 2009 |
AUTOMATIC RECORDING/REPRODUCING METHOD AND AUTOMATIC
RECORDING/REPRODUCING APPARATUS
Abstract
Recording reservation information of a plurality of programs is
grouped and at least the latest program among the programs recorded
on the basis of the reservation information is left on a recording
medium. Therefore, a program information registration unit to
register a plurality of items of recording reservation information
as groups and a reserved program recording control unit to record
the reserved programs onto the recording medium and leave at least
the latest program among the programs recorded on the recording
medium to delete the others on the basis of the reservation
information.
Inventors: |
Miyazaki; Koji; (Hamura-shi,
JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
PILLSBURY WINTHROP SHAW PITTMAN, LLP
P.O. BOX 10500
MCLEAN
VA
22102
US
|
Assignee: |
KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
Tokyo
JP
|
Family ID: |
37187002 |
Appl. No.: |
12/173593 |
Filed: |
July 15, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
11400218 |
Apr 10, 2006 |
|
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12173593 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
386/326 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N 5/782 20130101;
H04N 21/84 20130101; H04N 21/4335 20130101; H04N 21/47214
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
386/83 |
International
Class: |
H04N 5/91 20060101
H04N005/91 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 11, 2005 |
JP |
2005-113661 |
Mar 27, 2006 |
JP |
2006-086284 |
Claims
1. (canceled)
2. A recording control apparatus comprising: a program reservation
information registration unit configured to register a recording
reservation based on program information included in a broadcasting
signal; a recording control unit configured to record reserved
programs corresponding to the recording reservation on a recording
medium; a reproducing control unit configured to reproduce a
program recorded last on the recording medium by the recording
control unit; an output unit configured to alternatively select
between a state to supply a display unit with a program to be
reproduced by the reproducing control unit and a state to supply
the display unit with an on-air signal output from a reception unit
which receives the broadcasting signal, wherein the reproducing
control unit includes a processing unit which performs a resume
reproducing operation when a reproduction state of a last recorded
program is changed to an output state of the on-air signal and then
returned to the reproduction state.
3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the recording
reservation is a recording reservation of programs including a
predetermined content, and the last recording program, which is to
be reproduced by the reproducing control unit, is a last recorded
program of programs which include the predetermined content and
which are recorded on the recording medium.
4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the predetermined
content is at least one of a weather forecast program and a news
program.
5. A method of controlling a recording control apparatus including
a program reservation information registration unit configured to
register a recording reservation based on program information
included in a broadcasting signal and a recording control unit
configured to record reserved programs corresponding to the
recording reservation on a recording medium, comprising:
reproducing a program recorded last on the recording medium and
corresponding to the recording reservation; alternatively selecting
between a state to output a program reproduced by a reproducing
control unit and recorded on the recording medium and a state to
supply a display unit with an on-air signal output from a reception
unit which receives the broadcasting signal; and performing a
resume reproducing operation when the reproduction state is changed
to an output state of the on-air signal and then returned to the
reproduction state.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a divisional of co-pending U.S.
application Ser. No. 11/400,218 filed Apr. 10, 2006, and for which
priority is claimed under 35 U.S.C. .sctn.121. This application is
based upon and claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C.
.sctn. 119 from Japanese Patent Applications No. 2005-113661, filed
Apr. 11, 2005; and No. 2006-086284, filed Mar. 27, 2006. The entire
contents of all applications are incorporated herein by reference
in their entireties.
BACKGROUND
[0002] 1. Field
[0003] Embodiments of the present invention relate to an automatic
recording/reproducing method and an automatic recording/reproducing
apparatus. For example, one embodiment of the present invention
relates to a method or an apparatus which automatically records a
desired program onto a recording medium by using electronic program
guide (EPG) information.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] In recent years, an information recording medium such as a
hard disk and an optical disk as a recording medium has been
increased in its storage capacity. Therefore, a method and an
apparatus for automatically recording a desired program on a
recording medium by connecting recording/reproducing equipment
using such the recording medium to, for example, a television
receiver have been prevailed. Program recording reservation
information is prepared by using the EPG information so as to
realize an automatic recording function and an automatic
recording/reproducing apparatus. It has been taken into
consideration for an apparatus to automatically set the recording
reservation information by automatically searching for a program
related to the concerned category from the EPG information when a
desired category is specified (refer to, for example, Japanese
Patent Application Publication (KOKAI) 2004-220696).
[0006] As mentioned above, the program recording reservation
information (including such as a broadcast start time and a
broadcast ending time of a reserved program) prepared by referring
to the EPG information or an instruction manual is stored on a
memory and the apparatus is brought into a stand-by state. Then,
when a timer detects the broadcast start time of the reserved
program, the apparatus executes recording of the reserved program
in the corresponding broadcast time slot.
[0007] A conventional apparatus; however records all of a plurality
of reserved programs or categories. For example, the reservation
for a plurality of news programs different in time slot causes to
record all these programs.
[0008] However, it may be sufficient for a user to view the latest
news program, so that the recording of old news programs is a waste
of time. And in terms of the weather forecast, it is sufficient for
the user to view the latest forecast program, and thus recording
old whether forecast programs is a waste of time.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] An object of the present invention is to provide an
automatic recording/reproducing method and an automatic
recording/reproducing apparatus.
[0010] One embodiment of the present invention is configured to
reproduce the latest program recorded according to a group
recording reservation on the recording medium when a predetermined
user operation is performed.
[0011] The embodiment of the present invention has a program
reservation information registration unit which registers a group
recording reservation of a part of a plurality of recording
reservations; a recording control unit which records reserved
programs corresponding to the group recording reservation on a
recording medium; a reproduction control unit which reproduces the
program at the last recorded according to the group recording
reservation on the recording medium when a predetermined user
operation is performed; and an output unit which outputs an output
reproduced by the reproduction control unit to a display unit.
[0012] Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be
set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be
obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the
invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be
realized and obtained by means of the instrumentalities and
combinations particularly pointed out hereinafter.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] A general architecture that implements the various feature
of the invention will now be described with reference to the
drawings. The drawings and the associated descriptions are provided
to illustrate embodiments of the invention and not to limit the
scope of the invention.
[0014] FIG. 1 is an exemplary view for explaining an outline of a
digital television broadcast receiver to which the present
invention is adopted;
[0015] FIG. 2 is an exemplary view for further specifically showing
a configuration of the inside of the broadcast receiver in FIG.
1;
[0016] FIG. 3 is an exemplary view for explaining an external view
of a remote controller used in the broadcast receiver of the
present invention;
[0017] FIG. 4 is an exemplary flowchart when the broadcast receiver
in FIG. 1 records a program on the basis of EPG information;
[0018] FIG. 5 is an exemplary view for explaining an example when a
video display unit of the broadcast receiver in FIG. 1 displays
program information;
[0019] FIG. 6 is an exemplary view for explaining an example when
an automatic recording function unit constituting a featured part
of the broadcast receiver regarding the present invention is
operated;
[0020] FIG. 7 is an exemplary view for explaining another example
of a screen when the automatic recording function unit is
operated;
[0021] FIG. 8 is an exemplary view for explaining another example
of a screen and an example of setting and deleting of reservation
information for a "Latest News" program when the automatic
recording function unit constituting the featured part of the
broadcast receiver regarding the present invention is operated;
[0022] FIG. 9 is an exemplary view for explaining yet another
example of a screen and a reproduction situation of a recorded
"Latest News" program when the automatic recording function unit
constituting the featured part of the broadcast receiver regarding
the present invention is operated;
[0023] FIG. 10 is an exemplary view for explaining yet another
example of a screen and an example of setting for the first time of
"Latest News" recording when the automatic recording function unit
constituting the featured part of the broadcast receiver regarding
the present invention is operated;
[0024] FIG. 11 is an exemplary view for explaining further another
example of a screen of a screen and an example of a screen to
perform a chasing reproduction when the automatic recording
function unit constituting the featured part of the broadcast
receiver regarding the present invention is operated;
[0025] FIG. 12 is an exemplary view for explaining an example of a
flowchart when the automatic recording function unit constituting
the featured part of the broadcast receiver regarding the present
invention is operated;
[0026] FIG. 13 is an exemplary view for showing a block diagram of
functions included in the automatic recording function unit
constituting the featured part of the broadcast receiver regarding
the present invention; and
[0027] FIG. 14 is an exemplary view for showing another example of
a block diagram of functions included in the automatic recording
function unit regarding the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0028] Various embodiments according to the invention will be
described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
[0029] FIG. 1 schematically shows an embodiment of the external
appearance of a digital television broadcast receiver 11 of this
embodiment and a network system configured around the broadcast
receiver 11.
[0030] The broadcast receiver 11 is composed mainly of a thin
cabinet 12 and a support base 13, which raises and supports the
cabinet 12. The cabinet 12 is provided with a flat panel type video
display unit 14 composed of a liquid crystal display panel or the
like, a loudspeaker 15, an operation unit 16, and a light receiving
unit 18 to receive operation information transmitted from a remote
controller 17.
[0031] The broadcast receiver 11 is adapted to receive a first
detachable memory card 19 such as a secure digital (SD) memory
card, a multimedia card (MMC) or a memory stick, and performs
recording/reproducing of information about a program or a
photograph, for example, to and from the first memory card 19.
[0032] The broadcast receiver 11 is further adapted to receive a
second detachable memory card (IC card) 20 with, for example,
contract information recorded thereon and performs
recording/reproducing of information to and from the second memory
card 20.
[0033] The broadcast receiver 11 is provided with a first local
area network (LAN) terminal 21, a second LAN terminal 22, a
universal serial bus (USB) terminal 23 and an i.Link (registered
trademark) terminal 24.
[0034] Among these terminals, the first LAN terminal 21 is used as
a LAN-compatible HDD dedicated port. The first LAN terminal 21 is
connected to a LAN-compatible HDD 25 being a network attached
storage (NAS). The first LAN terminal 21 is used to
record/reproduce information via Ethernet (registered
trademark).
[0035] As mentioned above, by providing the first LAN terminal 21
to be the LAN-compatible HDD dedicated port, the broadcast receiver
11 can record a program with a high image quality to the HDD 25
without being influenced by other network environment or the status
of use of the network.
[0036] The second LAN terminal 22 is used as a general
LAN-compatible port using Ethernet. The second LAN terminal 22 is
connected to equipment, for example, a LAN-compatible HDD 27,
personal computer (PC) 28, and a digital versatile disk (DVD)
recorder 29 with a built-in HDD through a hub 26.
[0037] Since digital information communicated through the second
LAN terminal 22 is control information, the DVD recorder 29
utilizes a dedicated analogue transmission path 30 to transmit
analog information of video and sound to the broadcast receiver
11.
[0038] The second LAN terminal 22 is connected to, for example, a
network 32 such as the Internet via a broadband router 31 connected
to the hub 26 and used to communicate information between a PC 33,
a cellular phone 34 or the like, and the broadcast receiver 11 via
the network 32.
[0039] The USB terminal 23 is used as a general USB-compatible
port, connected to, for example, a cellular phone 36, a digital
camera 37, a card reader/writer 38 for a memory card, an HDD 39, or
a keyboard 40. The USB terminal is used to make information
transmissions between the equipment and the broadcast receiver
11.
[0040] The foregoing i.Link terminal 24 serially connects an AV-HDD
41, a digital (D)-video home system (VHS) 42, etc. and supports
information transmissions between the equipment and the broadcast
receiver 11.
[0041] FIG. 2 shows the principle signal processing series of the
foregoing broadcast receiver 11. That is, a satellite digital
television broadcast signal, received at an antenna 43 for
receiving BS/CS digital broadcast, is supplied to a tuner 45 for
satellite digital broadcast through an input terminal 44, and the
tuner 45 tunes a broadcast signal of a desired channel.
[0042] The broadcast signal tuned by the tuner 45 is fed to a phase
shift keying (PSK) demodulator 46 to be demodulated to a digital
video signal and a digital sound signal, which are output to a
signal processor 47.
[0043] The broadcast receiver 11 also has an analog tuner 68 for
receiving a terrestrial analog signal. An analog demodulator 69
demodulates the signal received by the analog tuner 68 to output it
to the signal processor 47.
[0044] A terrestrial digital television broadcast signal, received
at a second antenna 48 for receiving terrestrial digital broadcast,
is supplied to a tuner 50 for the terrestrial digital television
broadcast via an input terminal 49. The tuner 50 tunes the
broadcast signal of the desired channel.
[0045] The broadcast signal tuned by the tuner 50 is supplied to an
orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) demodulator 51 to
be demodulated to a digital video signal and a digital sound signal
then are supplied to the signal processor 47.
[0046] The signal processor 47 selectively conducts prescribed
digital signal processing of the digital video signals and sound
signals supplied from the PSK demodulator 46 and from the OFDM
demodulator 51. The signal processor 47 processes the video signals
and analog signals supplied from the analog demodulator 69 and
further from the line input terminals, and outputs an output signal
to a graphics processor 52 and a sound processor 53.
[0047] Among the processors, the graphics processor 52 has a
function to superimpose an on-screen display (OSD) signal generated
from an OSD signal generator 54 on the digital video signal
supplied from the signal processor 47 to output the superimposed
signal. The graphics processor 52 can selectively output the video
signal output from the signal processor 47 and the OSD signal
output from the signal generator 54 and also combine to output both
outputs so that both outputs configure a half of a screen,
respectively.
[0048] The digital video signal output from the graphics processor
52 is supplied to a video processor 55. The video processor 55
converts the input digital video signal into an analog video signal
in a format possible to be displayed on the video display unit 14
and outputs the analog video signal to the video display unit 14 to
produce a video display.
[0049] The sound processor 53 converts an analog sound signal in a
format that can be reproduced by the loudspeaker 15 and outputs the
analog sound signal to the loudspeaker 15 to make a sound
reproduction.
[0050] As further shown in FIG. 2, the broadcast receiver 11
further comprises a control unit 56. The control unit 56 has a
built-in central processing unit (CPU), which receives operation
information from the operation unit 16, or receives operation
information transmitted from the remote controller 17 and
respectively controls each part so as to reflect operation contents
thereto.
[0051] In this case, the control unit 56 mainly uses a read only
memory (ROM) 57 with a control program to be executed by the CPU
stored thereon, a random access memory (RAM) 58 to provide an
operation area for the CPU, and a nonvolatile memory 59 in which a
variety of items of setting information and control information are
stored.
[0052] The control unit 56 is connected to a card holder 61 to
which the first memory card 19 can be attached through a card
interface 60. The control unit 56 is adapted to support the
exchange of information transmissions with the first memory card 19
attached to the card holder 61 through the card interface 60.
[0053] The control unit 56 is further connected to a card holder 63
to which the second memory card 20 can be attached through a card
interface 62. The control unit 56 thereby can communicate
information with the second memory card 20 attached to the card
holder 63 through the card interface 62.
[0054] The control unit 56 is also connected to the first LAN
terminal 21 through a communication interface 64. The control unit
56 thereby can communicate with the LAN-compatible HDD 25 connected
to the first LAN terminal 21 through the communication interface
64. In this case, the control unit 56 has a dynamic host
configuration protocol (DHCP) server function and assigns an
Internet protocol (IP) address to the LAN-compatible HDD 25
connected to the first LAN terminal 21 to control the HDD 25.
[0055] The control unit 56 is further connected to the second LAN
terminal 22 through a communication interface 65. The control unit
56 thereby can communicate with any equipment (refer to FIG. 1)
connected to the second LAN terminal 22 through the communication
interface 65.
[0056] The control unit 56 is further connected to the USB terminal
23 through a USB interface 66. The control unit 56 thereby can
communicate with any equipment (refer to FIG. 1) connected to the
USB terminal 23 through the USB interface 66.
[0057] Furthermore, the control unit 56 is connected to the i.Link
terminal 24 through an i.Link interface 67. Thereby, the control
unit 56 can communicate with any equipment (refer to FIG. 1)
connected to the i.Link terminal 24 through the i.Link interface
67.
[0058] The control unit 56 includes an automatic recording function
unit 56a functioning as a below-described grouped recording
reservation information processor. The recording function unit 56a
may be referred to as a "Latest News" processor, or a "latest news"
processor. The recording function unit 56a is different from an
ordinary automatic recording function unit (here, referred to as a
second automatic recording function unit) to record and store all
programs reserved for recording in accordance with an electronic
program table and an instruction manual and provided independently
from the second automatic recording function unit. The recording
function unit 56a has a function to automatically delete the old
recorded programs and leave the latest-recorded program. The
recording function unit 56a serves a resume function when the
broadcast receiver 11 returns to a viewing state for the recorded
program after the broadcast receiver 11 is switched to a state of
viewing of a program being now on air. A storage capacity to be
secured on a hard disk by the recording function unit 56a is
sufficiently smaller than that to be secured on the hard disk by
the automatic recording function unit 56b.
[0059] FIG. 3 shows an external view of the remote controller 17.
The remote controller 17 mainly comprises a power key 17a, input
switching keys 17b, direct tuning keys 17c for satellite digital
broadcast channels, direct tuning keys 17d for terrestrial
broadcast channels, a quick key 17e, a cursor key 17f, a
determination key 17g, a program table key 17h, page switching keys
17i, a face net (registered trademark) (navigation) key 17j, a
return key 17k, a terminate key 17l, color keys in blue, red, green
and yellow 17m, a channel up and down key 17n, a sound volume
adjusting key 17o, a "Slight time" key 17q, a "Slight skip" key 17r
and a "Latest News" key 17p, etc.
[0060] FIG. 4 shows a flowchart for explaining the operations of
the broadcast receiver 11 in recording a program into the digital
recording equipment with each of the equipment connected to the
terminals 21-24 of the broadcast receiver 11. When processing is
started resulting form a request of the recording of the program
(step S1), the control unit 56 of FIG. 2 displays the program table
as shown in FIG. 5 on the video display unit 14 on the basis of
electronic program guide (EPG) information acquired from the
broadcast signal (step 2).
[0061] The user then makes recording reservation setting of the
desired programs on the basis of the displayed program table (step
3). In this setting, the broadcast receiver 11 selects the program
to be recorded from the program table and also selects to set the
digital recording equipment to which the reservation-set program is
recorded.
[0062] The control unit 56 executes a recording operation so as to
record the reservation-set program into the reservation-set digital
recording equipment when it has reached the preset time set for the
recording reservation (step S4).
[0063] The control unit 56 then determines whether or not the
program recording operation has normally completed, and if it is
determined that the recording operation has completed normally
(Yes, in step S5), the broadcast receiver 11 records equipment
information (equipment ID, equipment name, shared folder name,
etc.) to specify the digital recording equipment which has
performed recording. The broadcast receiver 11 further records
event information (event ID, channel number, title, content
description, category, recording range, image quality mode, etc.)
related to the recorded program into the nonvolatile memory 59
(step S6) and terminates this processing (step S7).
[0064] If it is determined that the operation has not completed
normally (No, in step S5), the control unit 56 of FIG. 2 displays a
message indicating the fact that the operation has not completed
normally onto the video display unit 14 of FIG. 1 (step S8) and
terminates this processing (step S7).
[0065] According to the above-mentioned recording operations, the
user can arbitrarily select multiple sets of digital recording
equipment connected to each terminal 21-24 of the broadcast
receiver 11 and record programs sequentially.
[0066] FIG. 6 shows another method for making a recording
reservation for programs. The recording function according to this
recording reservation has the following features.
[0067] The recording function is characterized in that it groups a
plurality of items of program recording reservation information,
records the reserved programs onto the recording medium and leaves
at least the latest program among the grouped programs, and deletes
the others.
[0068] The "Latest News" key 17p provided with the remote
controller 17 (FIG. 3) is operated so as to operate this recording
reservation function. The operation of the "Latest News" key 17p
causes to operate the automatic recording function unit 56a in the
control unit 56 and display a screen 601 in FIG. 6. The screen 601
displays, as guides, expressions of "Setting for the first time,
"Setting of terrestrial broadcast channel", "Initial scanning has
completed" and "Do you confirm setting content?" It also indicates
selection buttons of "YES" and "NO", and a mark of the cursor key
17f for usage guidance of this recording function unit 56a. Now, it
is assumed that the user selects the button of "YES" then the
screen 601 switched to a screen 602 to display how the layout of
the screen 602 is.
[0069] The user may switch pages by using the cursor key 17f from
the screen 602. If the user presses the determination key 17g, the
screen 602 is switched to a screen 603. The user can switch the
screen 601 to the screen 603 by selecting the button "NO" on the
screen 601 and press the determination key 17g. The user can also
shift to the screen 603 by selecting the button for "NO" on the
screen 601 to press the determination key 17g.
[0070] The screen 603 displays the following contents, as a guide:
"Setting for the first time, Setting of terrestrial broadcast
channel, You may automatically record `news program right now` from
the content of setting of a terrestrial broadcast channel. "Do you
start automatic recording of `news program right now`?" In the
display state of the screen 603, if the user selects the button
"YES", a list of programs reserved for recording which is set by
default, as shown on a screen 604.
[0071] Here, the user may make a reservation for a plurality of
news programs of the N-1 general channel differing in time slot
with one another. The list is indicated in order of the number of
the direct selection keys 17c of the remote controller 17, the
channel number, the name of the broadcast station, the broadcast
time slot, from the left. If the user presses the determination key
17g in the display state of the screen 604, the news programs
indicated on the screen 604 are registered as the recording
reserved programs. The screen 604 then shifts to a screen of a
favorite program setting state (for example, screen in FIG. 5).
[0072] At this point, following functions or conditions are given
in the above-mentioned setting.
That is:
[0073] (a) News programs to be periodically recorded are set in the
menu of "Setting of `news program right now` ";
[0074] (b) The longest recording time for one program is 90
minutes;
[0075] (c) Recording of 9 program items at maximum is
available;
[0076] (d) Registration of reserved news program is available by
selecting an item of "new registration" (this function will be
described later);
[0077] (e) Selection of cancellation or maintenance of reservations
is available by selecting any item of already registered programs
from a list;
[0078] (f) Display of, for example, "Registration is not available
because the recording times are double-reserved" is indicated if
the programs are overlapped as a result of a new registration;
and
[0079] (g) Display of a message such as "Registration of this
program is not available because of insufficient space on built-in
HDD. Please retry to register it after deleting a recorded
program", if a capacity to record a `news program` cannot be
secured due to the lack of space on the HDD.
[0080] The basic concept of above mentioned invention includes
following matters.
[0081] A program reservation information registration unit
registers a group recording reservation of a part of a plurality of
recording reservations. A recording control unit records reserved
programs corresponding to the group recording reservation on a
recording medium. A reproduction control unit reproduces the
program at the last recorded according to the group recording
reservation on the recording medium when a predetermined user
operation is performed. And an output unit which outputs an output
reproduced by the reproduction control unit to a display unit.
[0082] However, the program reservation information registration
unit may register at least one recording reservation of a part of a
plurality of recording reservations. In this case, the recording
control unit records reserved programs corresponding to the
recording reservation on a recording medium.
[0083] FIG. 7 shows a screen for explaining the method to register
at least one recording reservation or one or more recording
reservation which is a part of the plurality of recording
reservations. The plurality of recording reservations is ordinarily
program recording reservation information.
[0084] Items of "Setting of `news program right now` " and
ordinarily program recording reservation information are displayed
on the screen 611. A user operates the remote controller, and
points the desired program recording reservation information by
moving the cursor. After this operation, the user pushes the
decision key. As the consequence, one or more recording reservation
is resisters.
[0085] FIG. 8 shows an example of a screen for explaining functions
to delete program reservation information registered.
[0086] When the user operates the "Latest News" key 17p, a screen
701 is displayed. At this moment, items of already registered
program reservation information and newly registered items are
indicated. For example, some programs have already been registered
by default. At this time, when the user selects an item 701a of the
reserved program reservation information (indicated on the screen
701 in a highlighted color) by moving the cursor key 17f to press
the determination key 17g, the screen 701 is shifted to a screen
702. The operation of the cursor key 17f causes a movement of the
cursor key 17g. The screen 702 indicates an inquiry about the
interruption of the recording relating to the selected program
reservation information. If the user moves the cursor by using the
cursor key 17f to select the button "YES" and press the
determination key 17g, then the screen 702 is shifted to a screen
703. That is, a state in which the item 701a of the program
reservation information that has already been selected on the
screen 701 is deleted is caused. If the user selects the button
"NO" and presses the determination key 17g, the screen 702 returns
back to the screen 701.
[0087] Next to this, on the screen 701, when the user selects an
item 701b indicated as "New registration" by means of the cursor
key 17f and presses the determination key 17g, the screen 701
shifts to a screen 704.
[0088] On the screen 704, the user decides the kind of a broadcast
to be received (the kind includes BS broadcast, CS broadcast,
terrestrial digital broadcast and terrestrial analog broadcast).
Next, a remote controller number, a receiving channel, etc., are
decided. An operation of the determination key 17g on the screen
704 makes a shift to a screen 705. At this time, the determination
key 17g sets setting of a recording date (every day or day of week)
and time slot (start time and ending time). A press of the
determination key 17g on the screen 705 makes a shift to a screen
706 to display a list of the items of the program reservation
information already registered.
[0089] The user may operate the return key 17k of the remote
controller 17 in order to return back from the screen 705 to the
screen 704 or from the screen 702 to the screen 701. A screen shift
is not executed and an alarm is displayed or an alarm sound is
output, in the case of insufficient setting information when the
screen 704 shifts to the screen 705 and when the screen 705 shifts
to the screen 706, or in the case of a overlapped-reservation of
the recording time slot with other registered time slots.
[0090] FIG. 9 shows an example of the case of viewing of a recorded
program. A screen 801 shows an on-air state of a program. Here, if
the user presses the "Latest News" key 17p of the remote controller
17 the reproduction of the latest-recorded news program is started,
as shown on the screen 802. During an initial period of the
reproduction, a broadcast time slot in which the news program has
been broadcasted is indicated as a situation display at the lower
part of the screen 802. In the example shown in FIG. 9, the
broadcast time slot is that of PM 09:00 to PM 09:15. And, the time
corresponding to a reproduction position is displayed
simultaneously. In the example shown in FIG. 9, the time
corresponding to a reproduction position is PM 09:01. After the
elapse of a prescribed time period, the program information on the
news program disappears from the screen, as shown on a screen
804.
[0091] A pressing of the "Latest News" key 17p on the screen 802 or
the screen 804 causes an on-air display state of the selected
program (refer to the screen 803). In addition, if the user presses
the "Latest News" key 17p on the state (screen 803), the screen 803
returns again to the screen 802 or the screen 804.
[0092] At this time, during the viewing of the `Latest News
program`, when shifting to on-air display then returning back to
the viewing state of the `Latest News program` for the second time,
the broadcast receiver 11 operates the resume function.
[0093] The automatic recording function unit 56a as the "Latest
News" processor greatly differs from usual recording function units
which record and save all programs already reserved for recording.
The recording function unit 56a is independently provided from the
second recording function unit. The recording function unit 56a has
the function to automatically delete the old recorded programs and
leave at least the latest-recorded program. In the reproduction
state of the old recorded programs, in the case of returning to the
viewing state of the recorded programs again after switching to the
viewing of the program being now on air, the resume function is
activated. The recording capacity to be secured on the hard disk by
the recording function unit 56a is sufficiently smaller than that
to be secured on the hard disk by the second recording function
unit.
[0094] FIG. 10 shows a guide example when the "Latest News" key 17p
is pressed without the reservation information by default, as shown
on the screen 701 in FIG. 8. If the "Latest News" key 17p is
pressed on a screen 901 of FIG. 10, the screen 901 shifts to a
screen 902. Here, a guide is indicated while an on-air image is
displayed in a background with a motion image. The guide is
expressed as follows: "`News right now program` has not been
registered. Automatic registration of `Latest News program` is
available by performing setting for the first time. Do you set for
the first time?"
[0095] The selection of the button "NO" on the screen 902 by the
user returns the screen 902 to the screen 901 and the selection of
the button "YES" shifts the screen 902 to a screen 903. The screen
903 indicates the following contents such that "Setting for the
first time. Thank you for your purchasing of the equipment. Now, we
will proceed to necessary setting for receiving a digital broadcast
in the following order. Please refer description of each screen and
the instruction manual." "Terrestrial broadcast channel setting
Favorite program setting Zip code setting Telephone line setting
Easy connection test".
[0096] When pressing the determination key 17g on the screen 903,
the screen 903 shifts to the next screen and the user can generate
the recording reservation information of the desired program in the
manner for the new registration as described for FIG. 8.
[0097] FIG. 11 shows an exemplary view for explaining an example of
other operations of the broadcast receiver 11 regarding the present
invention. The pressing of the "Latest News" key 17p in the midst
of recording of the news program, based on the reservation
information, generates functions as follows.
[0098] A screen 1101 in FIG. 11 is a screen indicating an on-air
state of a program. At this time, it is assumed that, in another
channel, the broadcast receiver 11 is in the midst of current
recording of the news program on the basis of the recording
reservation information of "Latest News". If the "Latest News" key
17p is pressed, the screen 1101 makes a shift to a screen 1102.
Then, the latest-recorded news program is reproduced. This news
program is now in recording, so that the broadcast receiver 11 is
brought into the chasing reproduction state.
[0099] The screen 1102 produces a display state indicating that the
news program is in the middle of recording. A display state
indicates a broadcast time slot in which the news program is
broadcasted. In the example shown in FIG. 11, the time slot is that
of PM 9:00 to PM 9:15. A time corresponding to a reproduction
position is indicated simultaneously. In an example shown in FIG.
11, the time corresponding to the reproduction position is that of
PM 09:01. After the elapse of a prescribed time period, the program
information of the news program disappears from the screen, as
shown on the screen 804.
[0100] However, if the screen 1102 indicates that the current
actual time is AM 9:08, the status of the screens 1102 and 1103 is
the chasing reproduction states. In the chasing reproduction state,
when the user presses the "Latest News" key 17p, the screens 1102
and 1103 shift to an on-air screen 1104. It is assumed that when
the screens 1102 and 1103 shifted to the screen 1104, the current
time is past to AM 9:15 and the recording is terminated. If the
user presses the "Latest News" key 17p again in the state of the
display of the screen 1104, the screen 1104 shifts to a screen 1105
then shifts to the reproduction of the news programs which were
stored previously. Such a time display is effective to make a
reservation for recording, based on grouping of a plurality of
programs. That is, the user can easily determine whether the user
now views the latest-recorded program or views the news programs
which were stored previously.
[0101] FIG. 12 shows an operation example of the automatic
recording function part 56a included in the control unit 56 in FIG.
2. As described for FIG. 8, the recording function unit 56a
compares the start time in the set reservation information to the
time set by the timer (step S11), starts receiving when the
recording start time arrives (step S12) and starts the recording of
the "Latest News" program (step S13). After the termination of the
recording, the recording function unit 56a brings the broadcast
receiver 11 into a recording preparation state of the grouped next
news programs (steps S14 and S11). Subsequently to the step S13
with the recording of the `Latest News` program performed therein,
the recording function unit 56a determines whether an on-air
receiving command (selecting operation) has been issued or not
(step S13'). In the case of issue of the receiving command, the
recording function unit 56a makes a shift to a step S16 to switch
over to an on-air display state. If the recording has not been
terminated yet in the step S14, it is determined whether or not the
receiving command has been issued (step S15). In the case of the
issue of the receiving command in the step S15, the step S15 shifts
to the step S16 to switch over to the on-air display state. In the
case of non-issue of the receiving command, the step S15 shifts to
the step S13' to enter a stand-by state. Next, the recording
function unit 56a determines whether or not a switching command for
making switch-over to a "Latest News" display has been issued (step
S17). If the switching command has not been issued, the on-air
display is maintained unchanged. Otherwise stated, the step S17
shifts to a step S18 to start the reproduction by resuming or the
chasing reproduction. After shifting to the step S18, the broadcast
receiver 11 enters the stand-by state of the step S13'.
[0102] The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned
embodiment. The order of the step S13' and the step S14 may be
changed and the step S15 may be omitted.
[0103] FIG. 13 shows a block diagram of functions included in the
automatic recording function unit 56a constituting the featured
part of the broadcast receiver of the present invention.
[0104] The control unit 56 includes the recording function unit 56a
to function as the grouping recording reservation information
processor. The recording function unit 56a differs from the
ordinary automatic recording function unit (here, it is referred to
as second automatic recording function unit 56b) to record and
store all recording-reserved programs with reference to the
electronic program table and the instruction manual. The recording
function unit 56a is provided independently from the second
recording function unit 56b. The recording reservation setting
method of the second recording function unit 56b has been described
in the description for FIG. 5.
[0105] In FIG. 12, when determining that it is the receiving start
time as a result of comparison, the recording function unit 56a
distinguishes that the reservation information is that of the
ordinary automatic recording function unit or that of belonging to
the recording function unit 56a. Based on the distinction result,
if it is determined that the broadcast receiving 11 is now in the
state of the recording of the `Latest News` program differing in
processing routine, the recording function unit 56a makes the shift
to the flowchart shown in FIG. 12. However, in the case of the
reservation information belonging to the second recording function
unit 56b, the recording function unit 56a makes a shift to a
routine perfectly differing from that of FIG. 12.
[0106] Next to this, the featured parts of the recording function
unit 56a will be described collectively.
[0107] The recording function unit 56a includes a program
reservation information resister 56a1 to register a plurality of
items of program information as groups and set a plurality of
reserved programs. The recording function unit 56a further includes
a reserved program record control unit 56a4. The recording function
unit 56a4 deletes old data among the recorded programs to record a
new program in the vacated area or overwrite the new program onto
the old data, if a recording area has been filled with data of
programs recorded previously when the recording function unit 56a
records a program into a preset recording area on the recording
medium 25, based on the program information.
[0108] The forgoing `preset recording area` may be an area fixed on
the recording medium 25, and also may be an area not specified on
the recording medium 25 and only of which the upper limit capacity
is fixed in advance.
[0109] A latest program reproduction control unit 56a6 of the
recording function unit 56a reproduces the programs recorded on the
recording medium 25. A display output unit 56a9 of the recording
function unit 56a outputs an output reproduced by the reproduction
control unit 56a6 to the video display unit 14. The reservation
program recording unit 56a4 includes a means to record the reserved
programs onto the recording medium 25, leave at least the latest
program among the programs recorded on the recording medium 25 and
delete the others. That is to say, the recording control unit 56a4
has a selecting function 56a5 between programs to be deleted and
preserved.
[0110] The remote controller 17 has a one-touch key or a exclusive
key ("Latest News" key 17p) which outputs a command so as to
reproduce the latest program recorded on the recording medium 25,
as mentioned above.
[0111] The display output unit 56a9 is provided with an
accompanying display output switching function 56a10. The switching
function 56a10 alternately switches over between a first state to
reproduce the latest program recorded on the recording medium 25
and output it to the video display unit 14 and a second state to
output the received signal from the receiving unit as an on-air
output to the video display unit 14 by repeatedly operating the
"Latest News" key 17p.
[0112] An interruption position information processing function
56a7 is further provided with the reproduction control unit 56a6.
The information processing function 56a7 stores interruption
position information of the latest program when the first state has
been switched over to the second state and starts the reproduction
again from the position based on the interruption position
information when the second state has been switched over to the
first state to reproduce the latest program.
[0113] The reproduction control unit 56a6 includes a chasing
reproduction processing function 56a8 to the latest program
recorded on the recording medium is reproduced when an operation of
the one-touch key causes the first state to reproduce the latest
program recorded on the recording medium and output the latest
program to the display unit.
[0114] Although the news program is objected and grouped in the
aforementioned embodiment, a weather forecast program may be useful
instead of the news program. The combination of the weather
forecast program and the news program may also be useful. In the
case that only the latest program is required even if a program is
one other than the news program, it is sufficient to register the
reservation information of the foregoing program.
[0115] The broadcast receiver 11 regarding the present invention
has the following functions. That is, the registration of the
reservation information so as to record a plurality of programs
like the screens 604 and 701 shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7,
respectively, allows the broadcast receiver 11 to specify the
preservation for the plurality of programs. In this case, the
broadcast receiver 11 moves the cursor key 17f to the item of the
desired reservation information to press a specifies key, for
example, the yellow button of the remote controller 17 then
conducts preservation setting. Then, the plurality of programs is
preserved as long as the user does not release the preservation
setting after the programs are recorded once. In other words, these
programs are omitted from objects to be deleted and to be
overwritten.
[0116] The present invention is not limited to the above
embodiments. FIG. 14 shows another example of a block diagram of
functions included in the automatic recording function unit 56. The
automatic recording function unit 56 may be further provided
following means. Now assume a curtain news program is recorded to
the medium according to the group reservation and under the control
of the automatic recording function unit 56. A news title is not
stored if a recording scheduling period (for example ninety minute)
is elapsed during the recording. A completed recording
discrimination function 56a11 discriminates whether whole of the
news program is completely recorded or not, and determines whether
the news tile would be record or not.
[0117] The recoding operation of the recording function unit 56a is
executed without user's senses. The user operation is not limited
and affected by the recoding and reproducing under the control of
the automatic recording function unit 56. For example, there are
case that it differs between a selected channel selected by the
recording function unit 56a and a selected channel selected by the
user operation for an apparatus having a single tuner. In this
case, the user operation is accepted in order of priority. The
priority processing is performed by a user operation priority
processing unit 56c.
[0118] When a news program which is now recording is stopped to
recode in the state incomplete recoding, the news program is not
subjected to register. And the incomplete recoding program is not
subjected to reproduce according to "Latest News" key 17p. These
functions are performed by an incomplete recording program
processing function 56a12. The news program in the state incomplete
recoding is the program which is not completed the record of the
end of the program, during the predetermined period being
elapsed.
[0119] Further, it may be provided an on-air news priority
selection unit 56d which refers the data base of program
information when the "Latest News" key 17p is operated. The on-air
news priority selection unit 56d refers the data base and judges a
news program being broadcasted current, it selects the channel for
the news program. Therefore, the user can view the latest news
program. Further, the reproduction control unit may include
following unit. The unit refers the data base and executes a
chasing reproduction of a program, when it judges the news program
is current broadcasted and recorded on the recording medium.
[0120] Further, it may be provided an outer storage selection unit
56e which accesses an outer storage, if a news program which was
recoded within two hours, for example, in past is not existed on
the recoding medium 25.
[0121] Further, it may be provided a web browser selection unit 56f
which browses a web-sight, if a news program which was recoded
within two hours, for example, in past is not existed on the
recoding medium 25. Further, as another embodiment, a video server
is utilized as the program storage. For example, all programs of a
specified category are recoded a recoding medium in the video
server. When the key 17q is operated, for executing the function of
"Latest News" viewing, the latest news program is selected from the
recording medium and reproduced. In this case, the news program is
associated with category information and recorded on the recoding
medium.
[0122] As another embodiment, the latest bilingual program may be
selected and reproduced. In this case, the program is not need a
program of a part of recording reservation.
[0123] The present invention is not limited to the specific
embodiment just as described above, and in the stage of the
implementation, it is obvious that modifications and variations of
the present invention are possible without departing from the sprit
and the scope of the invention. It is further understood that a
variety of inventions can be formed by appropriately combining a
plurality of constituent elements disclosed in the foregoing
embodiments. For example, some of the constituent elements may be
eliminated from the entire constituent elements shown in the
embodiments. Furthermore, the constituent elements extending over
the different embodiments may be combined appropriately.
[0124] While certain embodiments of the inventions have been
described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example
only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the inventions.
Indeed, the novel methods and systems described herein may be
embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, various
omissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the methods and
systems described herein may be made without departing from the
spirit of the inventions. The accompanying claims and their
equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as
would fall within the scope and spirit of the inventions.
* * * * *