Abstract:
A method for reserving and playing digital television (DTV) programs, a set top box, and a DTV playing system are provided in the embodiments of the present invention. The method provides for the generation of a prompt (such as a visual prompt) indicating the reservation of multiple DTV programs to be played concurrently at, or prior to, arrival of the time of playing the reserved DTV programs, and playing one DTV program that is selected from the multiple reserved DTV programs when the time of playing the reserved DTV program has arrived.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/CN2009/070593, filed on Feb. 28, 2009, which claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 200810026761.9, filed on Mar. 11, 2008, both of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates to the communications field, and in particular, to a method for reserving and playing digital television programs, a set top box, and a playing system thereof. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    The increasingly popular digital television (DTV) has attracted more and more subscribers to use the set top box (STB). Compared with the analog television, DTV can provide more services through the STB, for example, subscribers are capable of reserving programs through the DTV program guide. 
         [0004]      FIG. 1  shows a flowchart of a method for reserving and playing DTV programs in the prior art. Specifically, the method for reserving and playing DTV programs includes the following steps: 
         [0005]    Step S 101 : A request for reserving a DTV program is received from a subscriber at a time point. 
         [0006]    Step S 102 : A conflict prompt is displayed when the subscriber reserves other DTV programs to be played at the same time as the DTV program reserved previously, prompting the subscriber to determine whether the program reserved previously is to be replaced. 
         [0007]    Step S 103 : A prompt indicating the reserved DTV program will be displayed before the time of playing the reserved DTV program arrives. This prompt enables subscribers to determine whether the reserved DTV program is to be played. 
         [0008]    Step S 104 : The DTV program determined by the user is played when the time of playing the reserved DTV program arrives. 
         [0009]      FIG. 2  shows an interface for reserving programs in the prior art. The channel list is displayed on the left, and the electronic program guide for the channels of the selected programs from the channel list is displayed on the right. As shown in  FIG. 2 , for example, CCTV-10 is selected, and its program guide is listed on the right. Subscribers can switch between the channel list and the electronic program guide, and reserve the desired programs by pressing the functional keys on a controlling device to react to the prompts displayed on the electronic program guide. 
         [0010]    The prior art as described above enables a subscriber to reserve only one program at a time. If a subscriber has multiple desired programs which are to be played at the same time, a conflict prompt is displayed each time when the subscriber reserves another program except the program selected for the first time. Eventually, only one program can be reserved. If the subscriber is unsatisfied with the currently reserved program, the subscriber has to find the previous channel of the reserved program and make a new reservation. 
         [0011]    The prior art has the following problems: 
         [0012]    In the case of numerous channels, program reservation is complicated and imperfect and operation is inconvenient. For example, family members may reserve programs at different times and they may have different choices. Therefore, the members are faced with troubles if their desired programs are to be played at the same time. Whether to replace the previous reserved programs remains a pending problem. Thus, the prior art cannot enable multiple subscribers to reserve multiple concurrent programs through one DTV STB. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0013]    The technical problem to be solved by the embodiments of the present invention is to provide a method for reserving and playing DTV programs, an STB, and a DTV playing system to enable subscribers to reserve multiple programs to be played at the same time and select one program for playing before the playing time. 
         [0014]    To solve the technical problem, a method for reserving and playing DTV programs is provided in the embodiments of the present invention. The method includes: 
         [0015]    displaying a prompt indicating multiple DTV programs to be played at the same time to the subscriber before or when the time of playing the reserved DTV programs arrives; and 
         [0016]    playing the DTV program that is selected by the subscriber from the multiple DTV programs when the time of playing the reserved DTV programs arrives. 
         [0017]    Further, an STB is provided in the embodiments of the present invention. The STB includes a program reserving unit, where the program reserving unit includes: 
         [0018]    a receiving module, adapted to receive a request for reserving one or more DTV programs; 
         [0019]    a prompt displaying module, adapted to display a prompt indicating multiple DTV programs to be played at the same time before or when the time of playing the reserved DTV programs received by the receiving module has arrived; and 
         [0020]    a playing module, adapted to play the DTV program that is selected from the multiple DTV programs according to the prompt displayed by the prompt displaying module when the time of playing the reserved DTV programs has arrived. 
         [0021]    A DTV playing system is further provided in the embodiments of the present invention. The DTV playing system includes: 
         [0022]    a terminal device, adapted to: play DTV programs; and 
         [0023]    a DTV STB, adapted to: control the terminal device to play the DTV programs, where the DTV STB includes a program reserving unit, and the program reserving unit includes: 
         [0024]    a receiving module, adapted to receive a request for reserving at least one DTV programs; 
         [0025]    a prompt displaying module, adapted to display the prompt indicating multiple DTV programs to be played at the same time prior to, or at the time of arrival for playing the reserved DTV programs; and 
         [0026]    a playing module, adapted to play a DTV program that is selected from the multiple DTV programs according to the prompt displayed by the prompt displaying module when the time of playing the reserved DTV programs has arrived. 
         [0027]    The present invention enables subscribers to reserve multiple programs to be played at the same time, and then select one program for playing before the playing time of the reserved programs. Therefore, subscribers need to select a program to be played before the playing time, without repeated selection, thus optimizing and perfecting the reservation process. Moreover, the present invention enables multiple subscribers to reserve their desired programs to be played at the same time, and before the playing time of reserved programs, the current subscribers can select their desired programs for playing. Therefore, multiple subscribers can reserve programs. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0028]    To further detail the embodiments of the present invention or the technical solution in the prior art, accompanying drawings for the embodiments of the present invention or the technical solution of the prior art are described below. It is apparent that these drawings are only for some embodiments of the present invention, and those skilled in the art can obtain other drawings based on these drawings without creative work. 
           [0029]      FIG. 1  shows a flowchart of a method for reserving and playing DTV programs in the prior art; 
           [0030]      FIG. 2  shows an interface for reserving programs in the prior art; 
           [0031]      FIG. 3  shows a flowchart of a method for reserving and playing DTV programs in an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0032]      FIG. 4  shows a structure of a DTV playing system in an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0033]      FIG. 5  shows a structure of an STB applicable to the DTV playing system shown in  FIG. 4  in the embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0034]      FIG. 6  shows a structure of a playing module in an STB of a DTV playing system in an embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0035]      FIG. 7  shows a structure of a receiving module for reserving DTV programs in an STB of a DTV playing system in an embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
       [0036]    The preferred embodiments of the present invention are elaborated with reference to the accompanying drawings below. In the accompanying drawings, the same or similar components from different figures are marked by the same drawing reference signs. Reference to “module” encompasses elements that can be figured as hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software, as is understood by personnel of ordinary skill in the telecommunications field. 
         [0037]      FIG. 3  shows a flowchart of a method for reserving and playing DTV programs in one embodiment of the present invention. Specifically, a method for reserving and playing DTV programs provided in an embodiment of the present invention comprises the following steps: 
         [0038]    Step S 201 : A prompt indicating multiple DTV programs to be played at the same time is displayed to a subscriber before or when the time of playing the reserved DTV programs arrives. In actual implementation, the DTV programs can be displayed to subscribers in a form, for example, a program list. 
         [0039]    Step S 202 : A DTV program selected by the subscriber from the multiple reserved DTV programs is played when the time of playing the reserved DTV programs arrives. 
         [0040]    It is noted that in the actual situation, subscribers may reserve one or more DTV programs to be played at the same time. Therefore, before the prompt is displayed to the subscribers, indicating multiple DTV programs to be played at the same time, the method provided in this embodiment further comprises: 
         [0041]    checking the number of reserved DTV programs to be played at the same time; if the result shows that only one DTV program is reserved, playing this DTV program by default when the time of playing the reserved DTV program arrives; if the result shows that more than one DTV programs are reserved for playing at the same time, displaying a prompt indicating the multiple DTV programs to the subscriber before or when the time of playing the reserved DTV program arrives. 
         [0042]    In addition, when subscribers reserve DTV programs, and if the number of reserved DTV programs to be played at the same time exceeds the preset reservation limit, a conflict prompt or a program list is displayed to inform the subscribers of the reserved DTV programs to be played at the same time. Therefore, subscribers are enabled to determine whether to replace a reserved program in the list, thus keeping the number of reserved DTV programs to be played at the same time within the limit. 
         [0043]    The preceding embodiment of the present invention enables subscribers to reserve multiple programs to be played at the same time, and then select one program for playing before or when the time of playing the reserved DTV programs arrives. In this manner subscribers can select the program to be played at a specific time point. Therefore, this invention helps avoid the trouble of repeated selection by subscribers, thus simplifying the reservation process. Moreover, this invention enables multiple subscribers to reserve their desired programs to be played at the same time, and before or when the playing time of reserved programs arrives, the current subscribers can select their desired programs for playing. Therefore, multiple subscribers can reserve programs. 
         [0044]      FIG. 4  shows a structure of a DTV playing system in the embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0045]    The DTV playing system  1  provided in the present invention includes: 
         [0046]    a terminal device  12 , adapted to play DTV programs, and 
         [0047]    a DTV STB  11 , adapted to control the terminal device  12  to play the DTV programs. In addition,  FIG. 5  shows a structure of a DTV STB applicable to the DTV playing system in the embodiment of the present invention, where the DTV STB includes a program reserving unit  100 . The program reserving unit  100  includes: 
         [0048]    a receiving module  110  (with the structure shown in  FIG. 7 ), adapted to receive the request for reserving DTV programs from a subscriber; 
         [0049]    a prompt displaying module  120 , adapted to display the prompt indicating multiple DTV programs to be played at the same time to the subscriber before or when the time of playing the reserved DTV programs arrives; and 
         [0050]    a playing module  130  (see  FIG. 6 ), adapted to play one DTV program selected by the subscriber from the multiple DTV programs when the time of playing the reserved DTV programs arrives. 
         [0051]      FIG. 6  shows a structure of a playing module in an STB of a DTV playing system in an embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0052]    In this embodiment, the playing module  130  in the STB  11  is a functional module of the program reserving unit  100 , and includes: 
         [0053]    an obtaining submodule  131 , adapted to obtain information about a DTV program selected from multiple reserved DTV programs by subscribers; and 
         [0054]    a playing submodule  132 , adapted to play the corresponding DTV program according to the information obtained by the obtaining submodule  131  about the DTV program selected from the multiple reserved DTV programs by subscribers. 
         [0055]    In addition, in actual implementation, subscribers may reserve only one DTV program. Therefore, no prompt needs to be displayed to subscribers. Thus, the playing module  130  provided in the present embodiment further includes: 
         [0056]    a checking submodule  133 , adapted to check the number of reserved DTV programs to be played at the same time; if the result shows that only one DTV program is reserved, instruct the playing submodule  132  to directly play this reserved DTV program by default when the time of playing the reserved DTV program arrives. In instances where the result shows that more than one DTV program has been reserved, instruct the prompt displaying module  120  to display a prompt indicating the reserved DTV programs to be played at the same time to the subscribers when or before the time of playing the reserved DTV programs. 
         [0057]      FIG. 7  shows a structure of a receiving module for reserving DTV programs in an STB of a DTV playing system in an embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0058]    In this embodiment, the receiving module  110  in the STB is a functional module of the program reserving unit  100 , and includes: 
         [0059]    a reservation request receiving submodule  111 , adapted to receive requests for reserving DTV programs from subscribers; 
         [0060]    a conflict checking submodule  112 , adapted to check whether the number of reserved DTV programs to be played at the same time received by the reservation request receiving submodule  111  exceeds the reservation limit; 
         [0061]    a conflict prompt displaying submodule  113 , adapted to display the conflict prompt to subscribers if the conflict checking submodule  112  has detected that the number of reserved DTV programs to be played at the same time exceeds the reservation limit; and 
         [0062]    a reservation result determining submodule  114 , adapted to determine the reserved DTV programs to be played at the same time according to subscriber&#39;s operation after the conflict checking submodule  112  has detected that the number of reserved DTV programs to be played at the same time does not exceed the reservation limit. 
         [0063]    According to the preceding embodiments of the present invention, the receiving module  110  can receive requests for reserving multiple programs to be played at the same time from the subscribers. When or before the playing time arrives, the prompt displaying module  120  displays a prompt to enable the subscribers to select one program for playing. Therefore, the subscribers need not make repeated program selections, thereby simplifying the reservation process. Moreover, this invention enables multiple subscribers to reserve their desired programs to be played at the same time, and before or when the playing time of reserved programs arrives, the current subscribers can select their desired programs for playing. Therefore, multiple subscribers can reserve programs. 
         [0064]    The reservation process is elaborated hereinafter. 
         [0065]    For example, subscribers can reserve programs through the TV guide interface. Assume that a subscriber has reserved the following programs at 18:00, May 19, 2007: 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 CCTV-1 
                 19:00 May 20, 2007 
                 News Broadcast 
               
               
                 CCTV-5 
                 19:30 May 20, 2007 
                 5 th  Track 
               
               
                 Shenzhen TV Sports 
                 19:30 May 20, 2007 
                 Live Broadcast 
               
               
                 and Health Channel 
               
               
                 Phoenix Chinese 
                 19:00 May 20, 2007 
                 International News 
               
               
                 Channel 
               
               
                 HBO 
                 20:00 May 20, 2007 
                 Spiderman III 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0066]    The receiving module  110  receives all the requests for reserving these DTV programs, and the conflict prompt displaying submodule  113  does not display the conflict prompt. Under certain circumstance, the conflict prompt displaying submodule  113  displays the conflict prompt to the subscribers if the number of reserved DTV programs to be played at the same time exceeds the reservation limit. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the number of reserved DTV programs to be played at the same time is within the reservation limit. 
         [0067]    When it is 18:00, May 20, 2007, the subscriber can view the following programs through the reservation management interface. 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 CCTV-1 
                 19:00 May 20, 2007 
                 News Broadcast 
               
               
                 Phoenix Chinese 
                 19:00 May 20, 2007 
                 International News 
               
               
                 Channel 
               
               
                 CCTV-5 
                 19:30 May 20, 2007 
                 5 th  Track 
               
               
                 Shenzhen TV Sports 
                 19:30 May 20, 2007 
                 Live Broadcast 
               
               
                 and Health Channel 
               
               
                 HBO 
                 20:00 May 20, 2007 
                 Spiderman III 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0068]    In other words, after all the DTV programs are reserved, the subscriber can view these programs on the reservation management interface before the playing time. The reserved programs can be displayed in the manner as shown in the preceding table. 
         [0069]    When the playing time of the reserved programs meets, namely, 19:00, May 20, 2007, the system detects that the News Broadcast and the Internal News are to be played soon on CCTV-1 and Phoenix Chinese Channel respectively. Therefore, the prompt displaying module  120  displays the following prompt: 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
             
           
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 
                   
                             
                     
                         
                         
                     
                   
                 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Note: 
               
               
                 Press Up/Down or Left/Right, and then press “OK”. Press “Exit” to exit. 
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0070]    It is noted that the prompt can be displayed before or when the playing time of the program arrives. The time for displaying the prompt before the playing time can be preset, for example, several minutes or seconds before the playing time. This enables subscribers to determine which program is to be played and press the keys. 
         [0071]    In addition, the first program is highlighted on the interface by default, and the operation guide is displayed at the bottom of the interface. By pressing the keys, for example, up/down or left/right keys, on the controlling device such as a remote controller, keyboard, or panel compatible with the DTV STB  11  to move the colored cursor, the subscribers can choose a DTV program to be played, and finally determine the DTV program to be played by pressing the Yes/Sure/OK key on the controlling device such as a remote controller, keyboard, or panel. 
         [0072]    In conclusion, the method for reserving and playing DTV programs, the STB, and the playing system provided in the embodiments of the present invention enable subscribers to reserve multiple programs to be played at the same time and choose one program for playing before the playing time of the reserved programs. Therefore, subscribers select a program to be played before the playing time, without repeated selection, thus optimizing and perfecting the reservation process. Moreover, this invention enables multiple subscribers to reserve their desired programs to be played at the same time, and before the playing time of reserved programs, the current subscribers can select their desired programs for playing. Therefore, multiple subscribers can reserve programs. 
         [0073]    It is understandable for those skilled in the art that all or part of flowcharts in the preceding embodiments can be performed through hardware instructed by programs. The programs may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. When the program is being performed, the flowcharts of the method provided in the preceding embodiments are also being implemented. The storage medium can be: disks, optical disks, read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), and so on. 
         [0074]    Disclosed above are merely exemplary embodiments of the present invention, but not intended to limit the protection scope of the present invention. Various variations or replacements made by persons skilled in the art without departing from the technical scope of the present invention fall within the protection scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.