Patent ID: 8068717
Filing Date: 2011-11-29
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. A television program recording/reproducing device comprising: a tuner for receiving a television broadcast signal transmitted from a broadcast station; a filter for subjecting the television broadcast signal received by the tuner to signal processing to separate, from the received television broadcast signal, video data, audio data and EPG (Electric Program Guide) data of a television program; a program recording unit for recording video data and audio data of each television program, separated by the filter, so as to be readable; a video decoder for subjecting the video data of each television program separated by the filter and video data of each television program read from the program recording unit to signal processing to generate video signals for reproducing video of each television program on a display connected to the television program recording/reproducing device; an audio decoder for subjecting the audio data of each television program separated by the filter and audio data of each television program read from the program recording unit to signal processing to generate audio signals for reproducing audio of each television program to a speaker connected to the television program recording/reproducing device; an operation unit operated to command various operations of the television program recording/reproducing device; a program recording control unit for controlling a recording operation of recording the video data and audio data of each television program separated by the filter onto the program recording unit; a program information display control unit for controlling a display operation of displaying, on the display, information about the video data and audio data of each television program recorded on the program recording unit; and a program reproduction control unit for controlling reading of the video data and audio data of each television program recorded on the program recording unit, and further controlling outputting of these data to the video decoder and the audio decoder, wherein the program recording control unit records, on the program recording unit, the video data and audio data of the each television program separated by the filter by associating these video and audio data of the each television program with a title of the each television program contained in the EPG data of the each television program separated by the filter, wherein the program information display control unit displays, on the display, a title list image containing a list of titles of the television programs recorded on the program recording unit as well as a cursor image for selecting a title of an optional television program from the title list image, and moves the cursor image on the titles of the title list image according to operation of the operation unit, wherein the program reproduction control unit reads, from the program recording unit, video data and audio data of a television program corresponding to the title selected by the cursor image, and outputs the read video data and audio data of the television program to the video decoder and the audio decoder, respectively, wherein the program information display control unit displays the titles of the television programs sequentially in alphabetical order or syllabary order on the title list image, wherein if the title list image has multiple titles having the same initial letter, the program information display control unit displays a frame image of the same initial letter for initial letter selection for the multiple titles having the same initial letter, the cursor image being movable on the frame image(s) for initial letter selection, in which the frame image of the same initial letter for initial letter selection for the multiple titles having the same initial letter is displayed separate from and associated with the multiple titles having the same initial letter on the display, wherein the program information display control unit moves the cursor image on the titles of the title list image and on the frame image(s) for initial letter selection, wherein if the multiple titles having the same initial letter contain multiple titles having the same second letter, the program information display control unit displays a frame image of the same second letter for second letter selection for the multiple titles having the same second letter, the cursor image being movable on the frame image(s) for second letter selection in which the frame image of the same second letter for second letter selection for the multiple titles having the same second letter is displayed separate from and associated with the multiple titles having the same second letter on the display, and wherein the program information display control unit moves the cursor image on the titles of the title list image, and on the frame image(s) for initial letter selection, and further on the frame image(s) for second letter selection.