Abstract:
Disclosed is a channel setting processing including the steps of: generating a channel map data including physical channel information about a physical channel available to receive a broadcast signal, the physical channel information being at least a main channel number of a virtual channel, a sub channel number of the virtual channel, a broadcast station name, and a predetermined program information indicating program contents; judging whether or not there exist plural physical channels on standby for reception and capable of sharing the same program there between, based on at least two kinds of information among the physical channel information, recorded on a channel to channel basis on the channel map data; and, based on the judgment that there exit plural physical channels sharing the same program, disenabling other physical channels except one physical channel thereamong to be selected despite the instruction of physical channel selection through external manipulation.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is related to the Japanese Patent Application No. 2007-153783, filed Jun. 11, 2007, the entire disclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a channel setting apparatus and a television for setting a channel capable of receiving a broadcast signal. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     When receiving a broadcast signal to watch and listen a program, televisions in some area can receive the program of the same contents with a different frequency range. 
     Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication (JP-A) No. H10-224705 discloses the guide channel setting method having the steps of: judging whether or not there exist broadcast stations that can perform the same broadcast as the broadcast station corresponding to each selected channel (the relationship between the general station and the relay station), by referring to the relationship between the selected channel and the broadcast station, and a table that predetermines the relationship between the general station and the relay station; and if the relationship between the general station and the relay station exists, setting a guide channel to the broadcast station with a higher receive level between the two broadcast stations. 
     JP-A-2006-333126 discloses a television as an example of the channel registration processing, wherein the television is configured to judge whether or not a received broadcast signal is a television radio wave with a properly receivable signal intensity based on the comparison between an RF-AGC voltage, which is generated when the television receives a radio wave in the carrier frequency range corresponding to the selected channel, and the threshold value. 
     As mentioned above, the television that can receive the same program with different frequency ranges causes the same program to be appeared on the television screen through plural channels in channel selection operation, making a user feel cumbersome. Especially for selecting a channel with use of the up/down key operation, a user has troublesome unnecessary numbers of key operation. 
     According to the JP-A-H10-224705, any one channel is preset from among plural different channels on standby for receiving a broadcast signal where the television can receive a television broadcast from each broadcast station in relationship between the general station and the relay station for relaying radio waves. However, in the digital television broadcast in the recent years, only one content (program) is not always delivered from the same broadcast station in the same hours. For this reason, the television cannot judge whether or not television programs, which are received through plural physical channels corresponding to different frequency ranges, are the same program simply by checking the relationship (or the commonality) between each physical channel and the corresponding broadcast station. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is made to solve the problem mentioned above, and the present invention provides a channel setting apparatus and a television that can accurately judge whether or not physical channels that are unnecessary for the user to select exist, resolves cumbersomeness, and gives the user comfort when the user operates the channel selection. 
     To accomplish the afore-mentioned object, one aspect of the present invention resides in a channel setting apparatus enabling any one physical channel from among different physical channels on standby for receiving a broadcast signal, to be selected for use based on a predetermined criterion. 
     The channel setting apparatus includes a channel map data generating unit, a same program judging unit, and a physical channel selecting unit. 
     The channel setting apparatus is configured to generate a channel map data including physical channel information about a physical channel available to receive a broadcast signal, the physical channel information being at least a main channel number of a virtual channel, a sub channel number of the virtual channel, a broadcast station name, and a predetermined program information indicating program contents. 
     The same program judging unit is configured to judge whether or not there exist plural physical channels on standby for reception and capable of sharing the same program therebetween, based on at least two kinds of information among the physical channel information, recorded on a channel to channel basis on the channel map data. 
     The physical channel selecting unit is configured to, based on the judgment that there exit plural physical channels sharing the same program, disenable other physical channels except one physical channel thereamong to be selected despite the instruction of physical channel selection through external manipulation. 
     According to the aspect of the present invention, the judgment on whether or not there exist plural physical channels on standby for reception and capable of sharing the same program therebetween is made based on at least two kinds of information among the physical channel information, recorded on a channel to channel basis on the channel map data, and thus the judgment result is extremely accurate. This configuration has the advantageous effect where physical channels that a user need not to select are disabled while the physical channel that a user need to select is available. (In this case, physical channel means plural physical channels on standby for receiving different broadcast signals from each other.) 
     The physical channel selecting unit may preferably be configured such that, based on the judgment that there exit plural physical channels sharing the same program, disenables other physical channels except one physical channel thereamong to be selected despite the instruction of physical channel selection with channel up or down key operation through external manipulation. This configuration permits a user to performs the channel selection by means of channel up/down operation, can skip physical channels that are not necessary to select for the user, reducing the time required for the channel selection operation and enabling to give the user comfort. 
     As more concrete configuration including all the components described above, provided is a television that performs the channel setting processing to enable any one channel from among different channels on standby for receiving a broadcast signal, to be selected for use based on a predetermined criterion and that is configured to include a tuner unit, a decode unit, and a microcomputer. 
     The tuner unit sequentially receives television broad signals in respective frequency ranges corresponding to respective physical channels specified after selection through a proper operating procedure. 
     The decode unit decodes the television broadcast signals received by the tuner unit and extracts predetermined channel information and program information included in the television broadcast signals. 
     The microcomputer, based on the extracted predetermined physical channel information and the program information, generates channel map data including physical channel information about a physical channel available to receive a television broadcast signal, the physical channel information being at least a main channel number of a virtual channel, a sub channel number of the virtual channel, a broadcast station name, and genre information indicating the genre of the program contents, saves the channel map data in a predetermined memory medium; by referring to the saved channel map data, judges whether or not there exist plural physical channels sharing the same main channel number, the same sub channel number, the same broadcast station name, and the same genre information between the plural physical channels themselves; based on the judgment where there exist plural physical channels having the same program contents, selects the lowest-numbered physical channel from among the plural physical channels and disables the other physical channels except the selected physical channel to be selected despite the instruction of physical channel selection with channel up or down key operation through external manipulation. 
     In a concrete product rather than such a television, the above-mentioned channel setting apparatus exerts the similar actions and effects. Also, in the description mentioned above, the technical idea of the present invention was explained using a category of goods such as a channel setting apparatus and a television. In addition to this idea, it is obvious that the present invention can be understood to include the invention of the method consisting of each unit that is included in a channel setting apparatus or a television and the processing steps corresponding to the configuration, and the invention of the program by which the microcomputer executes the processing function corresponding to each unit and the configuration that is included in the channel setting apparatus or the television. 
     These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of preferred non-limiting exemplary embodiments, taken together with the drawings and the claims that follow. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       It is to be understood that the drawings are to be used for the purposes of exemplary illustration only and not as a definition of the limits of the invention. Throughout the disclosure, the word “exemplary” is used exclusively to mean “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any embodiment described as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments. 
       Referring to the drawings in which like reference character(s) present corresponding parts throughout: 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram showing a general configuration of the television related to the embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a flowchart showing an example of channel setting processing. 
         FIG. 3  is a diagram showing an example of channel map data. 
         FIG. 4  is a flowchart showing another example of channel setting processing. 
         FIG. 5  is a diagram showing another example of channel map data. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be explained in detail following the items described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
     (1) General Configuration of the Television   (2) Channel Setting Processing   (3) Conclusion
 
(1) General Configuration of the Television
   

       FIG. 1  shows a general configuration of the television (TV)  110  related to the present embodiment of the invention using a block diagram. The TV  110  plays a role of channel setting apparatus as a part of the function thereof 
     In the TV  110 , the tuner unit  20  receives a television broadcast signal (a digital broadcast signal or an analog broadcast signal) in a predetermined frequency range corresponding to the channel that a microcomputer  20  specifies through an antenna  10 . The tuner unit  20  frequency-converts the received broadcast signal into an intermediate frequency signal (IF). The signal, which is frequency-converted from the digital broadcast signal, is output to a demodulator unit  40 , and the signal, which is frequency-converted from the analog broadcast signal, is output to an analog decode unit  30 . 
     The analog decode unit  30  decodes the inputted signal into a video signal (and an audio signal), and outputs the decoded video signal to a scaler  70 . The demodulator unit  40  A/D converts the inputted signal and extracts a transport stream (TS) from the converted digital signal. The demodulator unit  40  also performs the processing of canceling the scramble of the TS. The TS, with the scramble being cancelled, is in a state multiplexed with plural transport packets, in each of which the video signal, audio signal, and various kinds of data are stored. A demultiplex unit  50  extracts the video signal (and the audio signal) corresponding to the channel specified by the microcomputer  80  from the TS. 
     The video signal (and the audio signal) extracted from the TS is in a state being encoded by following the MPEG standard, so a decode unit  60  decodes the video signal (and the audio signal) by following the MPEG standard. The decode unit  60  outputs the decoded video signal to the scaler  70 . The scaler  70 , which can perform the scaling processing (resolution conversion processing) according to the number of pixels of a display  120 , and various kinds of image processing such as color correction processing and edge enhancement processing as necessary for the inputted video signal, generates a one-frame image data representing image data of one screen, and outputs the image data to the display  120  at a predetermined timing. The display  120  displays the image by driving the display based on the frame image data. 
     The microcomputer  80  includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and controls each unit of the TV  110  based on a program saved in the ROM. The microcomputer  80  is connected, in addition to the CPU, the ROM, the RAM described above, to a memory medium  90  and an external signal receiver  100 . The memory medium  90  is used as a memory to save, for example, the channel map data to be described later. The external signal receiver  100  receives an infrared light signal as an instruction signal transmitted from an external remote controller (not shown), A/D converts the signal, and outputs the converted signal to the microcomputer  80 . The microcomputer  80  can control each unit of the TV  110  according to the instruction signal from the remote controller. As is abbreviated and not shown in the figure, the TV  110  also includes various general components as a TV, such as an audio signal circuit to output a sound based on the decoded audio signal, a speaker, and a power supply circuit to supply a power for driving each unit of the TV  110 . 
     (2) Channel Setting Processing 
       FIG. 2  is a flowchart showing an example of the channel setting processing that the TV  110  executes. The channel setting processing is a processing that is for updating the channel map data and that can be automatically executed at a predetermined time or manually executed by an instruction from a user and other methods. 
     In step S 200 , the microcomputer  80  clears the contents of the channel map data saved in the memory medium  90  at that time. That is to say, the microcomputer clears the information in a predetermined region of the memory medium  90  secured for recording the channel map data. 
     In step S 205 , the microcomputer  80  specifies one physical channel (physical ch) among the various physical channels, each of which is associated with each frequency band of the television broadcast signal. For example, the microcomputer  80  makes selection in ascending order among plural frequency bands. 
     In step S 210 , the microcomputer  80  specifies the tuner unit  20  for the specified physical channel, makes the tuner unit  20  execute to receive the broadcast signal in the frequency band corresponding to the specified physical channel, and judges whether or not the broadcast signal can be received (for example, whether or not the level of the received signal exceeds a predetermined level). 
     When the tuner has succeeded in acquiring (receiving) the broadcast signal, in step S 215 , the microcomputer  80  registers the channel number of the specified physical channel in the predetermined region of the memory medium  90  secured for recording the channel map data. In addition, in step S 215 , the microcomputer registers also various kinds of information on the physical channel in the predetermined region, In the present embodiment, the microcomputer registers at least the main channel number of a so called virtual channel, the sub channel number of the virtual channel, the broadcast station name, and the predetermined contents information showing the program contents. In the digital broadcast, because plural programs can be broadcasted by multiplexing the programs in one physical channel, a number is assigned to the virtual channel to distinguish the programs in the physical channel, segmentalizing the physical channel. The number of the virtual channel consists of the combination of the main channel number and the sub channel number. 
     Consequently, in step S 215 , the microcomputer  80  extracts the channel information, for example, a VCT (Virtual Channel Table) based on the PSIP (Program System Information Protocol) standard from the TS in the process of the decoding processing by giving instructions to the decode unit  60 . Normally, such channel information (VCT) includes the number of the virtual channel, that is to say, the main channel number and sub channel number; so the microcomputer acquires the main channel number and the sub channel number referring to the VCT, relates these numbers to the registered physical channel, and records these numbers in the memory medium  90 . 
     In step S 215 , in addition to the processing mentioned above, the microcomputer  80  extracts the program information from the TS in the process of the decoding processing by giving instructions to the decode unit  60 . As the program information, the data related, for example, to the electronic program guide (EPG) based on the PSIP standard are conceivable. The microcomputer  80  acquires a broadcast station name corresponding to the acquired virtual channel, the predetermined contents information showing the program contents (in the present embodiment, the genre information showing the program contents) by referring to the extracted program information, relates this acquired information to the registered physical channel, and records the information in the memory medium  90 . However, the concrete method of acquiring the main channel number of the virtual channel, the sub channel number of the virtual channel, the broadcast station name, and the predetermined contents information showing the program contents is not limited to the method described above. 
     In step S 220 , the microcomputer  80  specifies respective physical channels one by one to judge whether or not every physical channel has performed the processing of steps S 210  and S 215 , and if there is an unspecified physical channel, the microcomputer returns to step S 205 , and repeats steps S 210  and S 215  for the newly specified physical channel. On the other hand, there is no unspecified physical channel, the microcomputer proceeds to the processing of step S 225  or later. 
     With the processing up to step S 220 , the channel map data, that is to say, the data, in which various kinds of information (the main channel number of the virtual channel, the sub channel number of the virtual channel, the broadcast station name, and the contents information) to enable the TV  110  to receive the broadcast signal for each physical channel, have been generated in the memory medium  90 . In this sense, it is possible to say that the microcomputer  80  or the TV  110  realizes the channel map data generating means as a part of the function thereof. 
       FIG. 3  shows an example of the channel map data T. Also, in addition to the various kinds of information described above, the channel map data T has the channel selection enable/disable information (“ADD” or “DEL” (delete)) that defines whether or not the channel can become the target of selection by the user. The processing of step S 225  or later determines whether the microcomputer sets the channel selection enable/disable information to “ADD” that means that the channel selection is possible, or to “DEL” that means that the channel selection is impossible; however, at the time of step S 220 , the channel selection enable/disable information is set to “ADD” by default for all the physical channels. 
     In step S 225 , the microcomputer  80  selects one physical channel from the channel map data that are generated by the processing of steps up to step S 220 , and loads the information corresponding to the selected physical channel from the channel map data. As a matter of convenience, let the information to be loaded in step S 225  be DataB. In step S 225 , at the time after starting the flowchart, the microcomputer selects the lowest-numbered physical channel among the physical channels that are not selected at that time as a loading target of Data B and that the channel selection enable/disable information is not set to “DEL.” Therefore, after starting the flowchart, when the microcomputer proceeds to step S 225  for the first time, the microcomputer selects the physical channel “ 3 ” according to the channel map data T shown in  FIG. 3 , and loads the information corresponding to this channel. 
     In step S 230 , the microcomputer  80  selects another physical channel different from the physical channel corresponding to which the information is loaded in step S 225  from the channel map data, and loads the information corresponding to the selected physical channel from the channel map data. As a matter of convenience, let the information to be loaded in step S 230  be Data C. In step S 230 , at the time after the latest step S 225 , the microcomputer selects the lowest-numbered physical channel among the physical channels whose numbers are greater than the number of the physical channel selected in the latest step S 225  and not selected at that time as a loading target of Data C, and that the channel selection enable/disable information is not set to “DEL.” Therefore, after starting the flowchart, when the microcomputer proceeds to step S 230  for the first time, the microcomputer selects the physical channel “ 4 ” according to the channel map data T shown in  FIG. 3 , and loads the information corresponding to this channel. 
     In step S 235 , the microcomputer  80  compares the broadcast station name of Data B loaded in the latest step S 225  with the broadcast station name of Data C loaded in the latest step S 230 , and judges whether or not these broadcast station names are the same. If the broadcast station names are the same, the microcomputer proceeds to step S 240 , and if the broadcast station names are not the same, the microcomputer proceeds to step S 250 . In step S 240 , the microcomputer  80  compares the contents information (the genre information) of Data B loaded in the latest step S 225  with the contents information (the genre information) of Data C loaded in the latest step S 230 , and judges whether or not the two kinds of contents information are the same. If the two kinds of contents information are the same, the microcomputer proceeds to step S 245 , and if the two kinds of contents information are not the same, the microcomputer proceeds to step S 250 . 
     In step S 245 , the microcomputer  80  changes the setting of the channel selection enable/disable information for the physical channel related to Data C loaded in the latest step S 230  to “DEL.” That is to say, as a result of referring the channel map data as described above, because the microcomputer has judged that another physical channel with the same program exists for the physical channel selected in the latest step S 230 , it is found that the channel selection is not necessary, so the microcomputer sets the channel selection to a disable state. On the other hand, If the microcomputer has judged “No” in either of steps S  235  and  240 , the program of the physical channel selected in the latest step  225  and the program of the physical channel selected in the latest step  230  are not necessarily the same, so the microcomputer does not change the setting of the channel selection enable/disable information for the physical channel selected in the latest step S 230  (keeps “ADD”). 
     In step S 250 , the microcomputer judges whether or not the microcomputer finishes selecting all the physical channels that can be selected as a loading target of Data C after the latest step S 225 ; and if there is an unselected physical channel, the microcomputer returns to step S 230 , selects the physical channel as a new loading target of Data C, loads the information corresponding to the selected physical channel as Data C, and repeats the processing of steps S 235  and later. On the other hand, if the microcomputer finishes selecting all the physical channels after the latest step S 225 , the microcomputer proceeds to step S 255 . 
     In step S 255 , the microcomputer judges whether or not the microcomputer finishes selecting all the physical channels that can be selected as a loading target of Data B after starting the flowchart; and if there is an unselected physical channel, the microcomputer returns to step S 225 , selects the physical channel as a new loading target of DataB, loads the information corresponding to the selected physical channel as DataB, and repeats the processing of steps S 230  and later. On the other hand, if the microcomputer finishes selecting all the physical channels that can be selected as a loading target of Data B after starting the flowchart, the microcomputer finishes the flowchart. With this, updating the channel map data is completed. In this sense, it is possible to say that the microcomputer  80  or the TV  110  realizes the same program judging means and the physical channel selecting means as parts of the function thereof. 
     As mentioned above, when plural physical channels that receive the same program exist among the physical channels registered in the channel map data, the microcomputer changes the setting of the channel selection enable/disable information to “DEL” for the physical channels that receive the same program except the lowest-numbered physical channel among the physical channels.  FIG. 3  shows an example that the microcomputer has judged that the physical channel “ 3 ” and the physical channel “ 8 ” receive the same program, and that the physical channel “ 5 ” and the physical channel “ 7 ” receive the same program, according to the processing of  FIG. 2 ; in this case, for the physical channel “ 7 ” and the physical channel “ 8 ,” the setting of the channel selection enable/disable information is changed to “DEL.” 
     Hereinafter, the working after the channel setting processing will be described. When watching and listening the TV  110 , a user can give the microcomputer  80  an instruction to switch the channel up or down by manipulating the channel up/down key of the remote controller or the like. Upon accepting the instruction of channel up/down, the microcomputer refers to the channel map data saved in the memory medium  90  at that time, and makes the tuner unit  20  execute the switching of channel up/down for only the physical channel in which the channel selection enable/disable information is set to “ADD” as a target. Therefore, citing the example of  FIG. 3 , the physical channels “ 7 ” and “ 8 ” are excluded from the switching targets (skipped) when switching the channel by means of the channel up/down operation. 
       FIG. 4  is a flowchart showing another example of channel setting processing to be executed by the TV  110 . The processing of steps of S 300  to S 330 , S 360 , S 365  in  FIG. 4  are the same as the processing of steps of S 200  to S 230 , S 250 , S 255  in  FIG. 2 , so the explanations of these steps are abbreviated. 
     In the embodiment related to  FIG. 2  described above, the microcomputer judged whether or not the program is the same based on whether or not the broadcast station and the contents information are the same, but in the embodiment related to  FIG. 4 , judging elements for the sameness of the programs is added furthermore. That is to say, in step S 335 , the microcomputer  80  compares the main channel number of Data B loaded in the latest step S 325  with the main channel number of Data C loaded in the latest step S 330  to judge whether or not these main channel numbers are the same; if the main channel numbers are the same, the microcomputer proceeds to step S 340 , and if the main channel numbers are not the same main channel number, the microcomputer proceeds to step S 360 . 
     In step S 340 , the microcomputer  80  compares the sub channel number of Data B loaded in the latest step S 325  with the sub channel number of Data C loaded in the latest step S 330  to judge whether or not these sub channel numbers are the same; if the sub channel numbers are the same, the microcomputer proceeds to step S 345 , and if the sub channel numbers are not the same, the microcomputer proceeds to step S 360 . In step S 345 , the microcomputer  80  compares the broadcast name of Data B loaded in the latest step S 325  with the broadcast name of Data C loaded in the latest step S 330  to judge whether or not these broadcast names are the same; if the broadcast names are the same, the microcomputer proceeds to step S 350 , and if the broadcast names are not the same, the microcomputer proceeds to step S 360 . In step S 350 , the microcomputer  80  compares the contents information (genre information) of Data B loaded in the latest step S 325  with the contents information (genre information) of Data C loaded in the latest step S 330  to judge whether or not the two kinds of contents information are the same; if the two kinds of contents information are the same, the microcomputer proceeds to step S 355 , and if the two kinds of contents information are not the same, the microcomputer proceeds to step S 360 . 
     In step S 355 , the microcomputer  80  changes the setting of the channel selection enable/disable information for the physical channel related to Data C loaded in the latest step S 330  to “DEL.” That is to say, as a result of referring to the channel map data, because the microcomputer judges that another physical channel with the same program exists for the physical channel selected in the latest step S 330 , the microcomputer sets the physical channel to a state unable to select the channel. On the other hand, if the microcomputer judges “No” in anyone of steps S 335  to S 350 , the microcomputer judges that the program of the physical channel selected in the latest step S 325  is not the same as the program of the physical channel selected in the latest step S 330 , the microcomputer does not change the setting of the channel selection enable/disable information for the physical channel selected in the latest step s 330  (keeps “ADD”). 
       FIG. 5  shows the final channel map data T′ obtained by applying the embodiment of  FIG. 4 . In  FIG. 5 , the microcomputer judges that the physical channel “ 3 ” and the physical channel “ 8 ” receive the same program, and in this case, the microcomputer changes the setting of the channel selection enable/disable information for the physical channel “ 8 ” to “DEL”. Therefore, if such channel map data T′ is generated, in the event of accepting the instruction of the channel up/down, the microcomputer refers to the channel map data T′, and excludes the physical channel “ 8 ” from the target of channel switching by means of the operation of channel up/down (makes the tuner  20  execute the switching of channel up/down excluding the physical channel “ 8 ”). 
     In addition, the judgment whether or not there is a physical channel that receives the same program among the physical channels recorded in the channel map data is not limited to the examples shown in  FIGS. 2 and 4 ; alternatively the micro computer can perform the judgment by judging two or more kinds of information among various kinds of information (the main channel number of the virtual channel, the sub channel number of the virtual channel, the broadcast name, the contents information) recorded in the channel map data whether or not the various kinds of information are the same. 
     (3) Conclusion 
     As mentioned above, according to the present embodiment, the microcomputer: generates the channel map data recorded the information such as a main channel number of the virtual channel, a sub channel number of the virtual channel, a broadcast name, and contents information for each physical channel through which a television broadcast signal is acquired by automatically scanning each frequency band based on the channel information and the program information extracted from the decoded results of television broadcast signals, judges whether or not plural physical channels to receive the same program are registered in the generated channel map data by means of whether or not at least two kinds of information in the above mentioned information are the same between the physical channels; if plural physical channels to receive the same program are registered, sets the channel selection enable/disable information to “DEL” for the physical channels other than one of the physical channels related to the same program (for example the lowest-numbered physical channel); and for the instruction of channel up/down through external manipulation, switches the channel at the state with the physical channels, which are set to “DEL” as mentioned above, excluded from the selection target. 
     The above-mentioned configuration permits of automatic exclusion of unnecessary physical channels from the targets of the channel selection to decrease the number of channels to be selected with the channel up/down key. This makes it possible to simplify a user&#39;s troublesome channel up/down key operation with the remote controller or the like, which is caused by the situation where the same program is shared among other physical channels, leading to a user&#39;s comfortable operating condition. In addition, according to the present embodiment, judgment is made such that whether or not plural physical channels to share the same program are registered by means of whether or not at least two kinds of information among the various kinds of information are the same between the physical channels, making it possible to accurately judge the sameness of the programs. This configuration can avoid the disadvantage that, despite the programs are actually different, misjudges the programs as the same program based on the insufficient information thereby to cause the channels that should be selected to be unable to be selected. 
     While the invention has been particularly shown and described with respect to preferred embodiments thereof, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and other changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the sprit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. 
     Although the invention has been described in considerable detail in language specific to structural features and or method acts, it is to be understood that the invention defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described. Rather, the specific features and acts are disclosed as preferred forms of implementing the claimed invention. Therefore, while exemplary illustrative embodiments of the invention have been described, numerous variations and alternative embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art. 
     It should further be noted that throughout the entire disclosure, the labels such as left, right, front, back, top, bottom, forward, reverse, clockwise, counter clockwise, up, down, or other similar terms such as upper, lower, aft, fore, vertical, horizontal, proximal, distal, etc. have been used for convenience purposes only and are not intended to imply any particular fixed direction or orientation. Instead, they are used to reflect relative locations and/or directions/orientations between various portions of an object. 
     In addition, reference to “first,” “second,” “third,” and etc. members throughout the disclosure (and in particular, claims) is not used to show a serial or numerical limitation but instead is used to distinguish or identify the various members of the group.