KR20100068605A - Electronic program guide display method - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an electronic program guide display method for arranging channels in a tab form in a broadcasting system, confirming broadcast detailed information on an electronic program guide, and reserving a corresponding program. The method of the present invention includes a first step of receiving and storing electronic program guide (EPG) data in a storage unit; If the EPG display is required, the second step is to import the electronic program guide (EPG) data of the date and display one axis as time, the other axis as multiple channels, and display only the program list of one selected channel. ; A third step of displaying only a program list of the newly selected channel when the channel selection of the other axis is changed; And a fourth step of moving the cursor on the time axis when the time selection of the one axis is changed.

The electronic program guide display method according to the present invention adjusts the size of the cell in which each program is displayed in proportion to the time of the corresponding program so that the broadcast time of the corresponding program can be easily understood. In addition, the present invention allows the user to easily recognize each program name by simplifying the configuration, and allows the user to quickly and easily grasp the program and information of each program.

Description

How to display the electronic program guide {ELECTRONIC PROGRAM GUIDE DISPLAY METHOD}

The present invention relates to a method of displaying an electronic program guide (EPG) in a broadcasting system. More particularly, the present invention relates to a channel arrangement in a tab form, and to confirms broadcast program information on an electronic program guide. An electronic program guide display method can be reserved.

In general, an electronic program guide (EPG) displays a schedule of television broadcast programs on a television screen, and the viewer of the television selects a desired program through the schedule, time, title, channel, or genre. It refers to a service that can search for a desired program through such criteria. Typically, EPG data is inserted into an MPEG2 broadcast stream from an EPG server of a broadcast system and transmitted to a set-top box or television receiver.

As the method of displaying the electronic program guide on the screen, a multi-screen type and a grid-based method are known. Of these, the most widely used form of the electronic program guide is the arrangement of channels in one dimension and the other. It is a grid method that arranges cells in two dimensions after each time is arranged in the dimension. The lattice scheme variably configures the length of the cell in which each program name is recorded with respect to the time axis according to the broadcast time of each program.

Prior patents for the lattice method include US Patent No. 5479268 (Registered by Starsight Telecast Inc.), and the form of the electronic program guide according to the registered patent is shown in FIG.

Referring to FIG. 11, broadcast channels are divided on the vertical axis, time is indicated on the horizontal axis, and broadcast program titles of respective channels are displayed on each cell.

However, such a conventional electronic program guide has a problem that it is difficult for the user to check the program at a glance because the configuration is complicated as each program is arranged in a table form by arranging channels on one axis and time on one axis. In particular, when the name of a program is long, there is a problem that the name of the entire program is difficult to be displayed at once on the electronic program guide. For example, when the time is arranged on the horizontal axis as shown in FIG. 11, for example, a 30-minute program has a problem that it is difficult to display all program names in a corresponding cell because all program names must be recorded in a corresponding width.

Therefore, in order to solve such a problem, there is a problem that the recognition rate of the user is lowered because the program name is displayed in the form of a slide in the corresponding cell or in a form in which the part is omitted (for example, the daughter-in-law ...).

The present invention has been proposed to solve the problems of the prior art as described above, an object of the present invention is to easily determine the broadcast time of the program by adjusting the size of the cell in which each program is displayed in proportion to the time of the program. In order to provide an electronic program guide display method for allowing a user to easily recognize each program name and simplify its configuration, the user can quickly and easily grasp the program and information of each program.

In addition, another object of the present invention is to provide an electronic program guide display method that allows a user to select a program on the electronic program guide, and then select various events such as checking broadcast detailed information, watching reservations, and recording reservations for the corresponding program. .

In order to achieve the above object, the method of the present invention includes a first step of receiving and storing the electronic program guide (EPG) data in the storage unit; If the EPG display is required, the second step is to import the electronic program guide (EPG) data of the date and display one axis as time, the other axis as multiple channels, and display only the program list of one selected channel. ; A third step of displaying only a program list of the newly selected channel when the channel selection of the other axis is changed; And a fourth step of moving the cursor on the time axis when the time selection of the one axis is changed.

The electronic program guide display method may further include displaying a broadcast detail screen of the selected program when the program is selected in the second step, or the electronic program guide display method may include selecting an event on the broadcast detail screen. The method may further include displaying a pop-up menu screen for the selected event and processing a corresponding event when an event is selected in the pop-up menu screen.

The electronic program guide display method may further include displaying a pop-up menu screen for a selected event when an event is selected on the selected program after selecting a program in the second step, and processing the corresponding event when the event is selected. It may further comprise a step.

Displaying a pop-up menu screen for an event displays 'baro watch' or 'immediate recording' if the currently selected program is being broadcasted, and processing the event processes 'baro watch' or 'immediate recording'. If the currently selected program is not receiving a broadcast, 'reservation request' or 'reservation recording' is displayed, and the processing of the event is indicated by an icon on the broadcast program after processing the reservation request or reservation recording.

In addition, the second step is to take the electronic program guide (EPG) data of each date and display one axis as time and the other axis as a plurality of channels, and display only the program list of at least two days of the selected channel, When the date is moved, the program list is retrieved by bringing the electronic program guide (EPG) data of the date.

The electronic program guide display method according to the present invention adjusts the size of the cell in which each program is displayed in proportion to the time of the corresponding program so that the broadcast time of the corresponding program can be easily understood. In addition, the present invention allows the user to easily recognize each program name by simplifying the configuration, and allows the user to quickly and easily grasp the program and information of each program.

In addition, in the event processing method using the electronic program guide according to the present invention, after the user selects a program on the electronic program guide, various events such as checking detailed broadcast information, immediately watching, immediately recording, reservation viewing, and reservation recording for the corresponding program can be easily performed. It is convenient to select and use.

The technical problems achieved by the present invention and the practice of the present invention will be more clearly understood by the preferred embodiments of the present invention described below. The following examples are merely illustrative of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

1 is a diagram schematically showing an entire broadcast reception system suitable for applying the present invention.

The broadcast reception system to which the present invention is applied includes a broadcast system 10 including an electronic program guide (EPG) server to insert and transmit EPG data on a broadcast stream, and a broadcast stream to users. It consists of a broadcast medium 20 for transmission, a set top box 30 for receiving a broadcast, and a television receiver 40. When the broadcast medium 20 is a terrestrial broadcast, the television receiver 40 may directly receive EPG data, but in the case of satellite broadcast or IPTV broadcast, the EPG data is generally received through the set top box 30.

The set-top box 30 receives a broadcast stream corresponding to a broadcast medium and stores a broadcast receiver 36 for distinguishing the EPG data and the broadcast content stream, and stores the received EPG data in the storage 34 and the remote controller receiver 32. A controller 33 for receiving an operation of the user's remote control 31 and processing the EPG data into an on-screen display (OSD: 35) to display the electronic program guide display method according to the present invention, and to decode the broadcast content. The decoding unit 37 is composed of an A / V processing unit 38 for processing the decoded digital broadcast content into an audio signal and a video signal, and in combination with the signal received from the on-screen display 35.

2 is a flowchart illustrating the entire procedure of displaying the electronic program guide according to the present invention.

The entire procedure for displaying the electronic program guide according to the present invention is as shown in Figure 2, receiving the EPG program and storing it in the storage unit 34, and when the EPG display request button is input, EPG data of the corresponding date Displaying one axis as time and the other axis as a plurality of channels, and displaying only the program list of one selected channel; and changing the channel according to input of a remote control button, displaying only the program list of the changed channel; Changing the time according to the input of the remote control button consists of moving the cursor on the time axis.

Referring to FIG. 2, when the power of the set-top box 30 is turned on for the first time, the EPG data is received from the broadcasting system 10 through the broadcasting medium 20 and then stored in the storage 34. As shown in the figure, an EPG screen is displayed (S1, S2). In addition, if the remote control signal is received during broadcast reception or other operation, and the result of decoding the remote control signal is a signal for requesting EPG display, the EPG data stored in the storage unit 34 is fetched to display the EPG screen as shown in FIG. S3 ~ S6).

As shown in FIG. 5, in the electronic program guide according to the present invention, time is arranged in a unit of time on one axis (the vertical axis in the embodiment of the present invention), and on the other axis (the horizontal axis in the embodiment of the present invention). Broadcast channels are displayed, where each broadcast channel is displayed in the form of a tab, that is, an index. In FIG. 5, the time from 06 o'clock to 16 o'clock is displayed on the vertical axis, and the channel names such as KTV, SBS, KBS2, KBS1, MBC, EBS, and OCN are displayed on the upper end of the horizontal axis.

5 illustrates a case in which the user selects the 'MBC' 51 among the broadcasting channels, and programs of other broadcasting channels are hidden, and program information of the 'MBC' 51 broadcasting channels is displayed. In addition, the cell 52 indicated by a separate color in FIG. 5 represents a program currently being broadcast among programs of the MBC broadcast.

Referring to FIG. 2 again, when a remote control signal is received on the screen on which the EPG is displayed, the remote control signal is decoded and the EPG screen is moved by moving the cursor on the time axis or the channel axis according to the decoded command (S7 to S9). ). That is, the user can operate the electronic program guide using the remote control 31. For example, by operating the up and down arrow keys of the remote control 31, the user can move time by moving the focus located in the program cell up and down. By operating the direction keys, it is possible to move between the broadcasting channels.

In FIG. 5, the broadcasting time is arranged on the vertical axis and the broadcasting channels are arranged on the horizontal axis. On the contrary, the broadcasting time may be arranged on the horizontal axis and the broadcasting channel may be displayed on the vertical axis.

Meanwhile, the user can select and execute a desired event for each program displayed in the electronic program guide.

3 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of displaying a detailed screen on an electronic program guide display screen according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3, when a user moves a cursor with a remote controller to select a program and presses the OK button of the remote controller 31 while the electronic program guide screen is displayed, the broadcast detail screen of the corresponding program as shown in FIG. 6. Is displayed (S31 to S34).

6 is a diagram illustrating a method of confirming broadcast detail information about a specific program according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 6, the time from 06 to 16:00 is displayed on the vertical axis, and channel names such as KTV, SBS, KBS2, KBS1, MBC, EBS, and OCN are displayed on the top of the horizontal axis. The MBC 51 broadcast channel is selected, and each cell displays an MPC broadcast program. A program called 'Lee Jae-yong's pleasant day' 52 is selected to display the broadcast detail screen 53 of the program. .

In this way, the user operates the up and down buttons on the remote control 31 to place a focus (usually displayed in a separate color) on a desired program, and then presses a specific button (for example, an OK button) to broadcast the corresponding program. Detailed information 53 is displayed. In this case, the broadcast detailed information may be automatically displayed for the program in which the focus is located without pressing a specific button of the remote controller 31.

4 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of displaying an event screen on an electronic program guide display screen according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4, when the electronic program guide screen is displayed, the user moves the cursor to the remote controller 31 to select a program and presses an event button on the remote controller 31 to determine whether the selected program is currently being broadcasted. When broadcasting, as shown in FIG. 7, a pop-up window 54 for immediately viewing or immediately recording is displayed, and the viewing or immediately recording is processed according to the user's remote control operation (S41 to S46).

If the selected program is not currently being broadcasted, as shown in FIG. 8, a popup window 55 for reserved viewing or reserved recording is displayed, and reservation viewing or reserved recording is processed according to the operation of the user's remote controller 31 (S47). , S48).

For example, in order to execute / set an event for a specific program, a user moves and positions the focus in the program using the direction keys of the remote control 31 and then presses a specific button (for example, a function button) on the remote control 31. When pressed, a pop-up window will appear, allowing you to select an executable event with brief information about the selected program.

In this case, when the selected program is a program that is currently being broadcast, as shown in FIG. 7, 'choose right' is displayed as a selectable event, and although not shown, an event such as 'immediate recording' may be included. In addition, when the selected program is not currently being broadcasted, as shown in FIG. 8, 'recording reservation' and 'viewing reservation' are displayed as selectable events.

When the user selects a desired event using a direction key or a numeric key of the remote control 31 on the screen for guiding the event, the corresponding event is executed or set.

In FIG. 7, a popup window 54 is displayed asking whether to watch right away since the program 'Lee Jae-Yong Jeong Seon-Hee's Feeling Good Day' is selected and is currently being broadcasted. . In this state, if the user selects 'watch right', the selected program can be viewed immediately.

In FIG. 8, a popup window asking for 'recording reservation' or 'viewing reservation' is selected since the program 'Lee Jae-Yong Jeong Seon-hee's pleasant day' is selected and is not currently being broadcasted. 55) is displayed.

In this state, when the user selects 'reservation request', a green icon 61 is displayed in front of the program name of the program reserved for viewing as shown in FIG. 9, and when 'reservation recording' is selected, as shown in FIG. In the same manner, a red icon 62 is displayed in front of the program name of the program reserved for recording. The event set as described above is displayed on the electronic program guide so that the user can easily recognize the event. The event display illustrated in FIG. 9 is merely an example and may display an event in various other ways.

Meanwhile, the EPG display screens of FIGS. 5 to 9 illustrate embodiments of displaying only a broadcast schedule of a specific date / day for a channel selected by a user. However, in the case of a user using the electronic program guide, it is often desired to check not only the broadcast schedule or information on the day or a specific day, but also the broadcast schedule and the information for a certain period of time.

Accordingly, in the modified example of the electronic program guide according to the present invention, as shown in FIG. 10, broadcast schedule and information for each date are displayed for the selected channel.

Referring to FIG. 10, another embodiment of the electronic program guide according to the present invention includes arranging broadcast times on a vertical axis and displaying each broadcast channel in a tab form on the upper horizontal axis, and then broadcasting schedules according to dates for the selected channel. And information. In FIG. 10, the time is displayed from 06:00 to 16:00 on the vertical axis, and the channel names such as KTV, SBS, KBS2, KBS1, MBC, EBS, OCN, AKKN, and YTN are displayed at the top of the horizontal axis. Is selected and the broadcast program names of January 8 and January 9 are displayed. And the current date is January 8, the broadcast program displayed in pink represents the program currently being broadcast. In addition, the user can operate the electronic program guide by moving the focus up and down on each program by operating the up and down buttons on the remote control, and by using the left and right buttons on the remote control 31 to move the focus left or right on each program. You can move the date by moving it.

In addition, the movement between each channel tap may raise the focus to the position of the channel tap by using the up and down buttons of the remote controller, and then move the channel by using the left and right buttons. Meanwhile, after assigning a serial number to each channel tap, it is also possible to move to the broadcast information of a corresponding channel by pressing a numeric key of a remote controller corresponding to the order of each channel tap.

The present invention has been described above with reference to one embodiment shown in the drawings, but those skilled in the art will understand that various modifications and equivalent other embodiments are possible therefrom.

1 is a view schematically showing an entire broadcast reception system suitable for applying the present invention;

2 is a flowchart illustrating the entire procedure for displaying an electronic program guide according to the present invention;

3 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of displaying a detailed screen on an electronic program guide display screen according to the present invention;

4 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of displaying an event screen on an electronic program guide display screen according to the present invention;

5 is an example of a screen displaying an electronic program guide according to the present invention;

6 is an example of a screen displaying detailed information in an electronic program guide according to the present invention;

7 is an example of a screen displaying a pop-up window immediately watching in the electronic program guide according to the present invention,

8 is an example of a screen displaying a reservation request pop-up window in the electronic program guide according to the present invention;

9 is an example of a screen showing a reservation program in the electronic program guide according to the present invention;

10 is a modification of a screen displaying an electronic program guide according to the present invention;

11 is an example of a screen displaying a conventional electronic program guide.

DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERENCE NUMERALS

10: broadcasting system 20: broadcasting medium

30: set top box 40: television set

31: remote control 32: remote control receiver

33: controller 34: storage

35: OSD 36: broadcast receiver

37: decoding unit 38: A / V processing unit

Claims (7)

A first step of receiving an electronic program guide (EPG) data and storing it in a storage unit; If the EPG display is required, the second step is to import the electronic program guide (EPG) data of the date and display one axis as time, the other axis as multiple channels, and display only the program list of one selected channel. ; A third step of displaying only a program list of the newly selected channel when the channel selection of the other axis is changed; And And a fourth step of moving the cursor on the time axis when the time selection of the one axis is changed. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic program guide display method comprises: And if the program is selected in the second step, displaying a broadcast detail screen of the selected program. The method of claim 2, wherein the electronic program guide display method comprises: Selecting an event on the broadcast detail screen, displaying a popup menu screen for the selected event; And selecting an event on the pop-up menu screen, processing the corresponding event. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic program guide display method comprises: Selecting a program in the second step and then selecting an event on the selected program, displaying a pop-up menu screen for the selected event; And if the event is selected, processing the corresponding event. The method of claim 4, wherein displaying the pop-up menu screen for the event comprises: If the currently selected program is being broadcasted, display immediately 'recording' or 'immediate recording', and the processing of the event comprises: processing the 'right watching' or 'immediate recording'. The method of claim 4, wherein displaying the pop-up menu screen for the event comprises: If the currently selected program is not receiving a broadcast, displaying 'reservation request' or 'reservation recording', and the processing of the event may include displaying an icon on the broadcast program after processing the reservation viewing or reservation recording. How to display the program guide. The method of claim 1, wherein the second step Display the EPG data of each date and display one axis as time and the other axis as a plurality of channels, and display only the program list of at least two days of the selected channel. When the date is moved by the operation of the remote control, the electronic program guide display method of bringing the electronic program guide (EPG) data of the date to display a program list.

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