Digital broadcast receiver

One embodiment provides a digital broadcast receiver, including: a video telephone module connected to a communication network; a program table generator configured to generate a program table of broadcast programs; and a display control module configured to display the program table on a screen so as to be superimposed on a video transmitted to the video telephone module at a first predetermined time that comes after the video telephone module has been off-hooked and the video transmitted to the video telephone module has been displayed on the screen.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2011-019240 filed on Jan. 31, 2011, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

Embodiments described herein relate generally to a digital broadcast receiver.

BACKGROUND

In recent years, video telephone systems which perform a communication using video and audio have been spreading by virtue of the miniaturization of video cameras, the increase of communication speeds, and other factors. As one form of a video telephone system terminal, there is developed a digital broadcast receiver having not only a digital broadcast receiving/reproducing function but also a video telephone function.

In a digital TV receiver imparted with a video telephone function, a broadcast program display picture and a video telephone picture share the screen. Therefore, a video telephone picture may cut into a broadcast program display picture. Specifically, the video telephone picture may cut into part of the broadcast program display picture or replace the video telephone picture totally.

When the video telephone picture replaces the broadcast program display picture totally, the user may be devoted to a TV phone conversation and miss a broadcast program unintentionally. Further, if a TV phone call arrives while the user is viewing a TV program, another program the user wanted to view may start during a TV phone conversation with the partner.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In general, one embodiment provides a digital broadcast receiver, including: a video telephone module connected to a communication network; a program table generator configured to generate a program table of broadcast programs; and a display control module configured to display the program table on a screen so as to be superimposed on a video transmitted to the video telephone module at a first predetermined time that comes after the video telephone module has been off-hooked and the video transmitted to the video telephone module has been displayed on the screen.

An embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.FIG. 1illustrates a digital broadcast receiver1according to the embodiment. The digital broadcast receiver1is equipped with a cabinet2and a stand3which supports the cabinet2. A display panel4such as a liquid crystal panel or a PDP (plasma display panel) panel is housed in the cabinet2on the front side, and a frame (not shown) which supports the display panel4is disposed behind the display panel4. The frame is provided with a circuit board (not shown) for driving the display panel4and a power circuit (not shown).

The cabinet2is configured to be enclosed by a front cover5which covers the front surface and parts of the top surface, the bottom surface and both side surfaces and a back cover6which covers the rear surface and the other parts of the top surface, the bottom surface, and the both side surfaces. A screen7is a display portion of the display panel4that occupies the inside of a window5aof the front cover5.

Speakers8are located at a bottom-right portion and a bottom-left portion of the digital broadcast receiver1on its front side. A right speaker8ais disposed inside a net-like cover9awhich occupies a bottom-right portion of the front surface of the front cover5. A left speaker8bis disposed inside a net-like cover9bwhich occupies a bottom-left portion of the front surface of the front cover5. The net-like covers9may be disposed so as to occupy bottom portions or rear portions of the cabinet2depending on an appearance design on the digital broadcast receiver1. The speakers8may be disposed so as to occupy bottom portions or rear portions accordingly and to be directed outward. Net-like covers9may be omitted depending on the shapes or installation positions of the speakers8.

A camera10is disposed on top of the digital broadcast receiver1on its front side. The camera10has a function of taking, mainly, an image of things located in front of the digital broadcast receiver1during a TV phone call and sending a resulting video signal to a camera video processor46(seeFIG. 2) of the digital broadcast receiver1. The camera10is connected by a cable11to a camera input terminal46awhich is provided at a side surface of the cabinet2. The installation position of the camera10is not limited to the top-front position, and the camera10may be disposed so as to be incorporated in the cabinet2of the digital broadcast receiver1.

A microphone12is disposed in front of the digital broadcast receiver1. The microphone12has a function of picking up a sound occurring around the digital broadcast receiver1during a TV phone call and sending a resulting audio signal to a microphone audio processor47(seeFIG. 2) of the digital broadcast receiver1. The microphone12is connected by a cable13to a microphone input terminal47awhich is provided at the side surface of the cabinet2. The installation position of the camera10is not limited to the position in front of the digital broadcast receiver1, and the camera10may be disposed so as to be incorporated in the cabinet2of the digital broadcast receiver1. The microphone12may be of a wireless type, in which case the digital broadcast receiver1requires a receiving device for receiving a wireless signal that is sent from the microphone12. A wireless microphone66(seeFIG. 3) which is provided in a remote controller14may be used in place of the microphone12.

The remote controller14is a manipulation device for sending a manipulation signal to a manipulation receiver35of the digital broadcast receiver1by a wireless communication using infrared light, Bluetooth (trademark), etc.

FIG. 2illustrates configuration of the digital broadcast receiver1according to the embodiment. The digital broadcast receiver1functions as both of a broadcast receiver17and a video telephone apparatus18. The broadcast receiver17of the digital broadcast receiver1can receive a digital broadcast and can display video of a broadcast program on the screen7and output a voice through the speakers8. The video telephone apparatus18of the digital broadcast receiver1can display video sent from the partner of a TV phone call, converse with the partner while outputting a voice of the partner through the speakers8, and send an image taken by the camera10to a video telephone system of the partner.

The configuration of the broadcast receiver17will be described below. An antenna19is a ground-wave digital broadcast antenna or a satellite digital broadcast antenna for receiving broadcast waves transmitted from broadcasting stations20. A tuner21tunes in to a broadcast signal(s) on a desired channel(s) from broadcast signals of ground-wave digital broadcasts, satellite digital broadcasts, or cable TV broadcasts. The tuner21is composed of plural tuners and hence can tune in to plural broadcasts simultaneously. The antenna19is connected to an antenna terminal21a.

A demodulator22performs demodulation according to each digital broadcast modulation method. A ground-wave digital broadcast signal is subjected to OFDM (orthogonal frequency division multiplexing) demodulation, and a satellite digital broadcast signal is subjected to PSK (phase shift keying) demodulation. A resulting demodulated signal, that is, an MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group) transport stream (TS), is output to a decoding processor23.

The decoding processor23functions as an MPEG decoder, a video/audio decoder, etc. The decoding processor23decodes program information data by sectioning MPEG-TS data supplied from the demodulator22. The decoding processor23decodes video data and audio data by converting a video PES (packetized elementary stream) and an audio PES into a video ES (elementary stream) and an audio ES, respectively. The decoding processor23also decodes video data and audio data that are input from a recording device24.

The recording device24is a recording module, such as an HDD (hard disk drive), an SSD (solid-state drive), and an ODD (optical disc drive), and is equipped with an encoder and a decoder for recording and reproduction of information. MPEG-TS data is converted via the encoder or decoder into a format that is suitable for a recording/reproduction form and recorded in or reproduced from the recording device24. Reproduced data is decoded by the decoding processor23.

Superimposition processor25plane-manages video data supplied from the decoding processor23, data broadcast data transferred from via a bus29, window drawing data produced by a GUI (graphical user interface) processor38, and telephone video data supplied from a video/audio controller45of the video telephone apparatus18, performs superimposition on the video data, and supplies resulting data to a video processor26.

The video processor26performs conversion into data having such a format (the number of pixels, frame frequency, and scanning method) as to be displayable by a display device27, adjusts the display color arbitrarily, and outputs processed data to the display device27to cause display of video on the screen7.

An audio processor28converts digital audio data supplied from the decoding processor23into analog audio signals that can be reproduced by the speakers8or earphones, and outputs resulting data to the speakers8or earphones to cause reproduction of a sound. Furthermore, the audio processor28outputs audio data supplied from the video/audio controller45of the video telephone apparatus18to the speakers8or earphones to cause reproduction of a voice. The display device27and the speakers8may be disposed outside the digital broadcast receiver1or housed in a cabinet that is separate from the cabinet2of the digital broadcast receiver1.

All operations including the above-described receiving operation of the digital broadcast receiver1are supervised by a controller30. Equipped with an MPU (microprocessing unit)31, the controller30controls the individual components that are connected to it via the bus29. The controller30supervises the components of the video telephone apparatus18, and controls the operation order of the broadcast receiver17and the video telephone apparatus18, the picture display, the audio output, etc.

A RAM (random access memory)32is a read/write memory for storing various data that are necessary for data processing of the controller30, and serves as a buffer memory for storing video data etc. A ROM (read-only memory)33is stored with control programs to be run by the MPU31and other information.

A flash memory34, is a rewritable, nonvolatile semiconductor memory (data stored therein do not disappear even if power supplied it is shut off. The flash memory34has a function of storing program information, recorded program information, recording reservation information, etc.

The manipulation receiver35receives a manipulation signal from a manipulation device36and transfers it to the controller30. For example, the manipulation receiver35is the remote controller14which performs a wireless communication using infrared light, Bluetooth (trademark), etc. or a wireless or wired keyboard.

As shown inFIG. 2, the controller30functions as a recording setting module37, the GUI processor38, and a program table generator39. These functions are implemented as applications that are executed by the MPU31of the controller30. These applications are stored in the ROM33and read and executed by the MPU31when used.

The recording setting module37sets and manages recording of a broadcast program according to a request from the user. The recording setting module37performs processing of recording a reserved program or a program being viewed. Further, the recording setting module37manages programs recorded in the recording device24. The recording setting module37manages information of recorded programs by storing, in the flash memory34or the recording device24, program information (broadcasting station name, broadcast date and time, program name, broadcast summary, persons who appear in the program, details of the program, program classification, etc.) of each recorded program, a recording time slot, information indicating whether the recorded program has been reproduced or not, and other information. Still further, the recording setting module37generates a list of recorded programs and performs reproduction, deletion, edit, etc. on the recorded programs.

The GUI processor38generates GUI (graphical user interface) data and sends the generated GUI data to the superimposition processor25via the bus29. For example, in the superimposition processor25, the GUI data is superimposed on video data of a broadcast program or a TV phone call or processed to generate a GUI solo picture. Resulting data is supplied to the video processor26.

The program table generator39generates program table data based on EPG data. EPG data containing program information is packetized like video data, audio data, etc. and broadcast in a multiplexed state. Program information data is contained in EIT (event information table) of SI (service information, program arrangement information) and includes information relating to each information such as a broadcasting station name, a broadcast date and time, a program name, a broadcast summary, persons who appear in the program, and details of the program. Program table data is supplied from the program table generator39to the GUI processor38and used there for generation of a program table, which is supplied to the superimposition processor25.

The program table display form depends on the broadcast receiver maker and the type of broadcast receiver. In the digital broadcast receiver1, a program table is displayed such that a channel axis extends in the horizontal direction of the screen7and a time axis extends in the vertical direction as in TV program pages of newspapers etc. or vice versa. A program table that is displayed being superimposed on TV phone video being displayed on the screen7is a mini-program table, which is a small program table which is restricted in the number of channels and the total length of time slots. Program table data generated by the program table generator39is displayed on the screen7of the display device27via the GUI processor38, the superimposition processor25, and the video processor26.

Next, the configuration of the video telephone apparatus18will be described. A line controller41is connected to a circuit network42such as an ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network), and performs a transmission control on various signals that are exchanged with the circuit network42. The line controller41is connected to the circuit network42via a line terminal41a.

A network interface43is connected to a network44such as the Internet or a dedicated line. When the network interface43is used, the video telephone apparatus18takes the form of an IP (Internet protocol) telephone. The network interface43is connected to the network44via a network terminal43a.

The video telephone apparatus18may be connected to either one or both of the circuit network42and the network44. Where the video telephone apparatus18is connected to both of the circuit network42and the network44, when the connection to one of the circuit network42and the network44is effective the controller30makes the connection to the other ineffective.

The video/audio controller45has a codec function of compressing/expanding a TV phone video signal and audio signal that are supplied from the line controller41or the network interface43, and supplies the codec-subjected video signal and audio signal to the superimposition processor25and the audio processor28, respectively. Furthermore, the video/audio controller45converts a video signal and an audio signal that are received from a camera video processor46and a microphone audio processor47, respectively, into data to be sent to the circuit network42or the network44.

The camera video processor46encodes a video signal received from the camera10and supplies a resulting video signal to the superimposition processor25or the video/audio controller45via the bus29.

The microphone audio processor47encodes an audio signal received from the microphone12and supplies a resulting audio signal to the audio processor28or the video/audio controller45via the bus29. Incorporating a wireless controller, the microphone audio processor47can receive and encode an audio signal that is sent from the wireless microphone66.

When the video telephone apparatus18has received a termination call, the controller30displays an icon for notification of the reception of the termination call on the screen7. If the user off-hooks the video telephone apparatus18(i.e., connects it to the telephone circuit), the controller30suspends the display of a broadcast program on the screen7and makes switching to display of video of the video telephone apparatus18. If the user on-hooks the video telephone apparatus (i.e., disconnects it from the telephone circuit), the controller30finishes displaying the video of the video telephone apparatus18on the screen7and makes switching to display of a program on the last channel of the broadcast receiver17.

The controller30also functions as a mini-program table automatic display setting module40. The mini-program table automatic display setting module40has a function of setting whether to display a mini-program table such that it is superimposed on TV phone video being displayed on the screen7. The mini-program table automatic display setting module40also has a function of setting the number of channels and a total length of time slots of a mini-program table. Setting items relating to the display of a mini-program table during a video telephone operation are included in various setting items of the digital broadcast receiver1, and can be set by displaying the various setting items prepared in the digital broadcast receiver1by pressing a menu button57of the remote controller14and then selecting an item “mini-program table automatic display setting.”

FIG. 3illustrates an example of the remote controller14. The remote controller14sends a manipulation signal to the manipulation receiver35of the digital broadcast receiver1by a wireless communication using infrared light, Bluetooth, etc. A power button50is used for powering on or off the digital broadcast receiver1. More specifically, the power button50is a button for switching the state of the digital broadcast receiver1from a standby state to an operation state or in the opposite way.

Channel selection buttons51are buttons that are assigned numbers1to12and are used for selecting a broadcast channel directly. In a video telephone operation, the channel selection buttons51function as dial buttons. A channel feed button52is a button for selecting a channel by increasing or decreasing the channel number in order. A volume adjustment button53is a button for adjusting the sound volume of a broadcast program or a TV phone call.

Cursor buttons54are buttons for moving the cursor or causing movement between selection buttons of various items in each of various information windows of a GUI picture displayed on the screen7of the display device27. A leftward cursor button54a, a rightward cursor button54b, an upward cursor button54c, and downward cursor button54dare used for moving the cursor leftward, rightward, upward, or downward, respectively. An enter button55is used for causing execution of an operation corresponding to a destination position or button selected by the cursor buttons54.

A program table button56is a manipulation button which is manipulated to display a program table on the screen7. A menu button57is pressed to display various setting items prepared in the digital broadcast receiver1. The user selects a target setting item from layer-displayed items.

A return button58is used to return to a one-manipulation-step-prior picture. An end button59is manipulated to finish a series of manipulations.

Four color buttons, that is, a blue button60a, a red button60b, a green button60c, and a yellow button60d, are arranged left to right in this order. They are used when items discriminated from each other by colors or selection items using colors are displayed on the screen7. Recording device manipulation buttons61are buttons for causing a playback, a stop, a pause, fast feed, fast rewind, a skip to the next program, a return to the head, and a skip to the preceding program in reproducing programs recorded in the recording device24.

A call start button62is an off-hook button for making a connection to the telephone circuit to initiate or receive a TV phone call. A call end button63is an on-hook button for disconnecting the telephone circuit to finish a TV phone call.

A video telephone button64is manipulated to switch the remote controller14so that it will serve as a remote controller for video telephone. A microphone button65is pressed to use the microphone66. The microphone66is a wireless microphone, and an audio signal that is sent from the remote controller14is received and encoded by the wireless controller of the microphone audio processor47.

FIG. 4illustrates a TV phone picture. When the digital broadcast receiver1receives a termination call and the user off-hooks the video telephone apparatus18, that is, presses the call start button62of the remote controller14, TV phone video70that is transmitted from a TV phone call partner apparatus to the video telephone apparatus18is displayed on the screen7and camera video71taken by the user-side camera10is also displayed on the screen7at a corner. A voice of the partner is output from the speakers8aand8b. If the digital broadcast receiver1receives a termination call while the user is viewing a broadcast program and the user off-hooks the video telephone apparatus18, the display of the screen7is switched from the display of the broadcast program to display of a TV phone display.

FIG. 5illustrates a picture displayed on the screen7in which a mini-program table72is superimposed on TV phone video70being transmitted to the video telephone apparatus18. Where mini-program table automatic display during a video telephone operation is set on, after the video telephone apparatus18has been off-hooked and TV phone video70transmitted to the video telephone apparatus18has been displayed on the screen7, a mini-program table72is displayed so as to be superimposed on the video70at a first predetermined time that comes after the off-hooking.

FIG. 6illustrates display areas of the mini-program table72on the screen. A mini-program table72is displayed in areas74a,74b,74c, or74dthat are adjacent to the top end line, the bottom end line, the left end line, and the right end line of the screen7, respectively. TV phone video70, which is a main display item, occupies a central area of the screen7and the mini-program table72occupies a peripheral area. In the example ofFIG. 5, the mini-program table72is displayed adjacent to the top end line of the screen7.

The first predetermined time is a first-coming exact time at which program switching tends to occur, such as the hour or 30 minutes past the hour. For example, if on-hooking occurs at AM 9:50, AM 10:00 is the first exact time when program switching tends to occur. If on-hooking occurs at AM 10:20, AM 10:30 is the first exact time when program switching tends to occur. More strictly, a mini-program table72is displayed on the screen7after a lapse of several seconds or several tens of seconds before the first predetermined time.

Channels shown in the mini-program table72are several channels including a channel (last channel) a program on which was being viewed when the user off-hooked the video telephone apparatus18. In the example ofFIG. 5, the last channel is channel4and two channels on each side of the last channel are shown (five channels in total). The number of channels shown may be determined as appropriate according to the size of the screen7. Or the digital broadcast receiver1may be configured so that the number of channels shown can be set by a user.

The total length of time slots shown in the mini-program table72is about 30 minutes to 2 hours. This is a relatively short time because the mini-program table72is displayed so as to occupy a peripheral area of the screen7. In the example ofFIG. 5, the total length of time slots is 1 hour (from 10:00 to 11:00). The total length of time slots may be determined as appropriate according to the size of the screen7. Or the digital broadcast receiver1may be configured so that the total length of time slots shown can be set by a user.

The mini-program table72is displayed on the screen7of the display device27such that program table data is generated by the program table generator39, converted into data having a program table form by the GUI processor38, and supplied to the display device27via the superimposition processor25and the video processor26.

The above measure prevents the user from being devoted to a TV phone conversation without caring about passage of time, and can thereby lower the probability of occurrence of an event that the user misses a program he or she wants to view.

In the example ofFIG. 5, when the mini-program table72is displayed on the screen7, the last channel is highlighted and text information and thumbnail video73are displayed for this channel.

FIG. 7illustrates a state that occurs when the rightward cursor button54bis pressed once in the state ofFIG. 5. Since the rightward cursor button54bhas been pressed once, the channel (channel5) that is located one channel on the right of the last channel is highlighted. Thumbnail video75of a program on the highlighted channel is displayed.

FIG. 8illustrates a state that a selected channel window76is displayed on the screen7. If the user selects one channel number shown in a mini-program table72using the cursor buttons54and presses the enter button55, a selected channel window76is displayed. The one selected channel number, text information, and thumbnail video77are displayed in the selected channel window76. A view button78and a record button79are displayed near the selected channel window76.

The view button78is a button to be manipulated to finish the TV phone call and display the program on the channel that is shown in the selected channel window76. The record button79is a button to be manipulated to record, in the recording device24, the program on the channel that is shown in the selected channel window76without finishing the TV phone call.

FIG. 9illustrates a state that a TV phone call end confirmation window80is displayed on the screen7. If the user selects the view button78by manipulating the cursor buttons54of the remote controller14and presses the enter button55of the remote controller14, a TV phone call end confirmation window80is displayed to have the user confirm finishing of the TV phone call.

If the user selects a yes button81and presses the enter button55of the remote controller14, the video telephone apparatus18is on-hooked, the TV phone call is finished, and the broadcast program on the channel shown in the selected channel window76is displayed for viewing. If the user selects a no button82and presses the enter button55, the selected channel window76and the TV phone call end confirmation window80are closed and the TV phone call is continued.

FIG. 10illustrates a mini-program table automatic display process which is executed in association with a video telephone operation. The mini-program table automatic display process is started when the user off-hooks the video telephone apparatus18to make a TV phone originating call or receive a TV phone termination call.

At step S11, the controller30store information relating to the last channel in the RAM32. At step S12, the controller30switches the display of the screen7from display of a broadcast program to display of TV phone video. At step S13, the controller30judges whether or not the mini-program table automatic display setting is on, that is, whether or not the setting of displaying a mini-program table such that it is superimposed on TV phone video being displayed on the screen7is made on by the mini-program table automatic display setting module40. If the mini-program table automatic display setting is on, the process moves to step S14. If not, the process moves to step S15, where a TV phone call state is established. Then, the process is finished.

At step S14, the controller30establishes a TV phone call state. At step S16, the program table generator39generates data of a mini-program table and the GUI processor38generates a mini-program table. At step S17, the controller30sets a timer that is provided in the controller30.

At step S18, the controller30generates a timer interrupt. This is done after the video telephone apparatus18has been off-hooked and video transmitted to the video telephone apparatus18has been displayed on the screen7. More specifically, this is done several seconds to several tens of seconds before a first predetermined time (a first-coming exact time at which program switching tends to occur, such as the hour or 30 minutes past the hour) that comes after the off-hooking. At step S19, the controller30displays a mini-program table72on the screen7of the display device27via the superimposition processor25and the video processor26.

At step S20, the controller30judges whether or not the user has made a manipulation on the displayed mini-program table72. If the user has made a manipulation on the displayed mini-program table72, the process moves to step S21. If the user has made no manipulation on the displayed mini-program table72for a predetermined time, the process moves to step S25, where the controller30erases the mini-program table72. Then, the process is finished. The predetermined time is about 30 seconds, for example. At step S21, the controller30judges whether or not a program shown in the mini-program table72has been selected. If a program shown in the mini-program table72has been selected, the process moves to step S22. If no program shown in the mini-program table72has been selected for a predetermined time, the process moves to step S25. The predetermined time is about 30 seconds, for example.

At step S22, the controller30displays a selected channel window76, a view button78, and a record button79. At step S23, the controller30judges whether or not the user has manipulated the view button78or the record button79. If the view button78has been manipulated, the process moves to step S24. If the record button has been manipulated, the process moves to step S29. If the user has made no manipulation for a predetermined time, the process moves to step S25, where the controller30closes or erases the selected channel window76, the view button78, and the record button79. Then, the process is finished. The predetermined time is about 30 seconds, for example.

At step S24, the controller30displays a TV phone call end confirmation window80on the screen7. At step S29, the recording setting module37starts recording of the specified program. At step S30, the controller30closes or erases the controller30closes or erases the selected channel window76, the view button78, and the record button79. Then, the process is finished.

At step S26, the controller30judges whether or not the user has confirmed finishing of the TV phone call. If it is judged that the user has confirmed finishing of the TV phone call, the process moves to step S27. If it is judged that the user has not confirmed finishing of the TV phone call, the process moves to step S25, where the controller30closes or erases the selected channel window76, the view button78, the record button79, and the TV phone call end confirmation window80. Then, the process is finished.

At step S27, the controller30finishes the TV phone call and establishes an on-hook state. At step S28, the controller30displays the specified program to start viewing. Then, the process is finished.

As described above, after the video telephone apparatus18has been off-hooked and TV phone video transmitted to the video telephone apparatus18has been displayed on the screen7, a mini-program table is displayed so as to be superimposed on the TV phone video at a first predetermined time that comes after the off-hooking. This prevents the user from being devoted to a TV phone conversation without caring about passage of time, and can thereby lower the probability of occurrence of an event that the user misses a program he or she wants to view.

The invention is not limited to the above embodiment itself. For example, constituent elements may be modified without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Further, plural constituent elements disclosed in the embodiment may be combined, and several ones of the constituent elements of the embodiment may be omitted.