Abstract:
An apparatus and method to store a recording pattern of a user. Recording information and recording pattern including the record repetition count are stored to record the user&#39;s favorite programs and a message is displayed to notify the user of the recording start time of the favorite programs.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 2004-45301 filed on Jun. 18, 2004 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention generally concerns a video recording and reproducing apparatus and a method to control a video and reproducing apparatus. More concretely, the present invention concerns a video recording apparatus capable of storing a recording pattern of a user and a method to control a video recording apparatus capable of storing a recording pattern of a user.  
         [0004]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0005]     In conventional video recording and/or reproducing apparatuses, the video recording and reproducing apparatus records a broadcast signal onto a recording medium and/or reproduces the recorded broadcast signal. Such a video recording and reproducing apparatus has more expanded operations with the development of digitization and compression of the broadcast signal. Furthermore, video recording and reproducing apparatuses to support various video sources such as satellite broadcasts, cable broadcasts, and network broadcasts through the Internet, and to enter upon a phase of recording data, such as a compact disc-read only memory (CD-ROM) title or a digital versatile disc (DVD) title, on an optical medium, or, a phase of reproducing the recorded data from the recording medium are being developed with advances of the digitization and the data compression technologies.  
         [0006]     The optical recording medium, for example, the DVD storing video and audio data, generally may store hundreds of megabytes to tens of gigabytes. Hence, the optical recording medium conventionally adopts a hard disc drive (HDD) of a large storage capacity so as to facilely record or read massive data. A representative of the video recording and reproducing apparatus is a DVD/HDD video recording and reproducing apparatus. The DVD/HDD video recording and reproducing apparatus is constructed by combining a DVD-ROM which reproduces data recorded on a disc and an HDD which records and reproduces data within a single casing. The DVD-ROM and the HDD independently operate and respectively have an interface to transfer and receive data with each other. The DVD-ROM generally reproduces data recorded on the optical recording medium such as DVD, audio CD, video CD, and MP3 (MPEG-1 Audio Layer-3) CD.  
         [0007]     The DVD/HDD recording and reproducing apparatus may receive the broadcast signal from the outside, and record the received data on the HDD or transmit the received data to the outside, and may record on the HDD the data reproduced from the DVD-ROM. When recording on the HDD the reproduced data of the DVD-ROM or the external signal, the user may store a plurality of programs on the HDD having a large storage capacity.  
         [0008]     Hereinbelow, the DVD/HDD video recording and reproducing apparatus is described in greater detail with reference to  FIG. 1 .  
         [0009]      FIG. 1  illustrates a schematic block diagram of a DVD/HDD combo system combining a DVD player and a HDD. As shown, a DVD reproducing device FIG. includes a switch  10 , a MPEG encoding part  20 , a HDD  30 , a flash ROM  40 , a controller  50 , a random access memory (RAM)  60 , a signal receiver  70 , a digital signal processor  80 , a display  85 , and a DVD player  90 .  
         [0010]     The switch  10  receives diverse video and audio data sources and particular channels from the outside, and/or, outputs the video data source output from the digital signal processor  80  to the external display  85 . The switch  10  receives a broadcast signal and an external signal, such as a component signal and a composite signal applied from a video tape recorder (not shown), and selectively feeds the received signals to the operation block of  FIG. 1 . For example, if the external signal received from an external device such as the video tape is the component or composite signal, the switch  10  transfers the received signal to the MPEG encoding part  20 . The switch  10  is constructed to operate in a picture-in-picture (PIP) block  11  according to the PIP mode operation of the controller  50 .  
         [0011]     The MPEG encoding part  20  includes a video decoder  21 , an audio analog-to-digital converter (ADC)  22 , and a MPEG encoder  23 . The MPEG encoding part  20  converts analog data of the video data source received from the switch  10  to digital data, and compresses the converted data using MPEG standards (for example, MPEG-2). In general, the compression of the MPEG video data reduces data size for storing on the storage medium such as the HDD  30 .  
         [0012]     The HDD  30  is constructed to store or read the MPEG video data and audio data on or from data storage space as a file format.  
         [0013]     The flash ROM  40  contains operating system (OS) and applications to manage the DVD reproducing device. The flash ROM  40  also contains applications to display onto the display  85  through a Graphic User Interface (GUI) a menu of the video and audio data stored on the HDD  30  as the file format and additional information related to the stored data, such as timer-recording, icon, title, record time, and file size. Additionally, the flash ROM  40  contains applications to edit and display the video and audio data stored on the HDD  30  through the displayed menu. Especially, the GUI of the menu screen is provided, as shown in  FIG. 2 , to display the timer-recording screen and to assist in timer-recording a particular broadcast program. It is assumed that the flash ROM  40  described in this description designates a rewritable memory as compared with a general ROM.  
         [0014]     The controller  50  stores on the HDD  30  the MPEG data output from the MPEG encoding part  20 , or, transfers the data to the digital signal processor  80  so as to read the video and audio data stored on the HDD  30 . When reproducing the DVD, the controller  50  reads information on the DVD title from information of a disc information file area and stores the read information in a route directory area of the HDD  30 . The controller  50  reads and displays the related GUI screen from the flash ROM  40  so as to display an icon and a title corresponding to the video data stored as the file format on the HDD  30  by executing the applications contained in the flash ROM  40 . If the user wants to set the timer-recording with respect to a particular broadcast program, the controller  50  displays the timer-recording menu stored on the flash ROM  40 , records the particular broadcast program on the HDD  30  when the timer-recording start time arrives, and performs the PIP function depending on the PIP mode input from the signal receiver  70 .  
         [0015]     When the controller  50  edits the file stored on the HDD  30 , the RAM  60  loads the file to be edited. Specifically, the file stored on the HDD  30  is not directly editable, instead, the file is editable in the RAM  60  and the edited file is re-stored on the HDD  30 .  
         [0016]     The signal receiver  70  receives and transfers to the controller  50  a control signal (not shown), which is generated from a remote controller (not shown) or a manipulation key (not shown) provided on the conventional recording and reproducing apparatus. The remote controller or the manipulation key controls the video recording and reproducing apparatus, for example, to select a desired channel, to change volume, to adjust image quality, and to select the PIP mode.  
         [0017]     The digital signal processor  80  receives the MPEG video data stored on the HDD  30  via the controller  50 , and decodes and converts the received video data to a video format such as National Television Standards Committee (NTSC) or Phase Alteration Line (PAL). The converted signal is to be displayed on a display such as a television.  
         [0018]     The DVD player  90  reads the video and audio data from the DVD and transfers the read data to the controller  50 . The video and audio data transferred to the controller  50  is stored on the HDD  30  or is fed to the digital signal processor  80  of the display.  
         [0019]     With the conventional video recording and reproducing apparatus constructed as above, the user may perform the timer-recording. Referring to  FIG. 2 , the controller  50  displays the data stored in the flash ROM  40  and the additional information input by the user for the timer-recording such as a record time and a channel to be recorded on the screen using the menu in the GUI form. The information relating to the timer-recording generally includes a broadcast channel to be recorded, a record date, a record start time, and a record stop time. Such timer-recording information is stored in the flash ROM  40 . When the record start time arrives, the switch  10  receives the set broadcast channel, the MPEG encoding part  20  performs the signal processing, and the processed data is recorded on the HDD  30 . While the timer-recording information is directly input on the screen, data such as a program guide may be employed to automatically receive and store the timer-recording information.  
         [0020]     However, the timer-recording function of the above conventional video recording and reproducing apparatus, which receives the timer-recording information from the user or automatically receives and stores the timer-recording information, cannot execute the timer-recording operation unless the timer-recording information is provided. Further, a one touch recorder (OTR) operation, which records a current channel being viewed by the user, cannot be executed when the user views any other program on a different channel and the record start time passes by.  
         [0021]     Accordingly, providing a new operation to automatically inquire of the user whether to record a program which is periodically recorded with a certain pattern at a record start time even when the program is not pre-set by the user for the timer-recording is necessary.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0022]     To overcome the above and/or other drawbacks and disadvantages of the conventional arrangements, an exemplary aspect of the present invention is to provide a video recording and reproducing apparatus capable of storing a recording pattern of a user for a recording without having to separately set a timer-recording and a method thereof.  
         [0023]     An exemplary aspect of the present invention provides a video recording and reproducing apparatus receiving a broadcast signal from an outside and recording the received broadcast signal on a recording medium or outputting and displaying a playback signal of the apparatus onto a display. The video recording and reproducing apparatus comprises a memory storing a recording pattern table which organizes a record information comprising a record date and a record start time for a program and a recording pattern containing an accumulated number of a record repetition, and the memory storing a guide message for guiding the recording pattern, and a controller comparing a current time with the record start time of the recording pattern table stored in the memory and displaying the guide message onto the display if the current time and the record start time corresponds to each other.  
         [0024]     The controller selects a program of which the accumulated number of the record repetition of the recording pattern table stored in the memory is more than a certain number, and compares the record start time of the recording pattern table stored in the memory with the current time. The controller displays the guide message onto the display if the current date and the record date correspond to each other. The controller compares a record information on a recording with the record information stored in the recording pattern table when a timer-recording or a recording starts, and increases the accumulated time of the record repetition by one if similar information is stored.  
         [0025]     The memory is constructed to store a guide message for facilely selecting the recording, and the controller controls the video recording and reproducing apparatus to record a set channel when the recording is selected.  
         [0026]     The recording pattern table comprises a recording pattern number field, a record date field, a record start field, a record broadcast channel field, and a record repetition count field so as to organize all necessary information for the recording.  
         [0027]     If the video recording and reproducing apparatus is provided with a picture-in-picture (PIP) device, the controller outputs the guide message onto the PIP screen and, simultaneously, receives a channel recorded in the record broadcast channel field of the recording pattern table and displays the received channel onto the PIP screen.  
         [0028]     Consistent with another exemplary aspect of the present invention, there is provided a video recording method of a video recording and reproducing apparatus receiving a broadcast signal from an outside and recording the received broadcast signal on a recording medium or outputting and displaying a playback signal of the apparatus onto a display. The video recording method comprises starting a recording or setting a timer-recording, storing in a recording pattern table a record information relating to the recording and an accumulated number of a record repetition, comparing a record start time stored in the recording pattern table with a current time, and displaying a guide message for notifying of correspondence of the recording pattern when the record start time and the current time correspond to each other.  
         [0029]     To obtain more accurate recording pattern, the comparing selects a program of which the accumulated number of the record repetition count of the recording pattern table is more than a certain number, and compares the record start time of the recording pattern table stored in the memory with the current time.  
         [0030]     The guide message comprises a selection window for selection of the recording, and the video recording and reproducing apparatus is controlled to record a set channel when the recording is selected. The recording pattern table comprises a recording pattern number field, a record date field, a record start field, a record broadcast channel field, and a record repetition count field. A record information on a recording is compared with the record information stored in the recording pattern table when a timer-recording or a recording starts, and the accumulated time of the record repetition is increased by one if similar information is stored.  
         [0031]     A video recording method of a video recording and reproducing apparatus receiving a broadcast signal from an outside and recording the received broadcast signal on a recording medium or outputting a playback signal of the apparatus through a picture-in-picture (PIP) screen on a display, comprises starting a recording or setting a timer-recording, storing in a recording pattern table a record information relating to the recording and an accumulated number of a record repetition, comparing a record start time stored in the recording pattern table with a current time, and displaying a guide message onto the PIP screen a guide message for notifying correspondence of the recording pattern when the record start time and the current time correspond to each other.  
         [0032]     The video recording method further comprises comparing a record information on a recording with the record information stored in the recording pattern table when a timer-recording or a recording starts, and increasing the accumulated time of the record repetition by one if similar information is stored.  
         [0033]     The recording pattern table is configured to comprise a recording pattern number field, a record date field, a record start field, a record broadcast channel field, and a record repetition count field. The guide message is displayed onto the PIP screen and, simultaneously, a channel in the record broadcast channel field of the recording pattern table is received and displayed onto the PIP screen.  
         [0034]     Accordingly, since the recording pattern of the user is stored, the user is informed of the recording of his or her favorite programs without having to set separately the timer-recording in advance.  
         [0035]     Additional and/or other aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0036]     These and/or other aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing figures of which:  
         [0037]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating a conventional digital television;  
         [0038]      FIG. 2  is a view illustrating a timer-recording screen of the conventional digital television;  
         [0039]      FIG. 3  is a flowchart illustrating exemplary recording operations in accordance with a recording pattern according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0040]      FIG. 4  is a view illustrating a recording pattern table; and  
         [0041]      FIG. 5  is a view illustrating an example of a recording guide message. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0042]     Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the like elements throughout. The embodiments are described below to explain the present invention by referring to the figures.  
         [0043]      FIG. 3  illustrates a flowchart of recording operations in accordance with a recording pattern according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention,  FIG. 4  illustrates a recording pattern table, and  FIG. 5  illustrates an example of a recording guide message.  
         [0044]     The controller  50  is operable to store a recording pattern of a user or an operator at every recording time, as well as operable to perform general operations. At every recording time, the controller  50  creates a recording pattern table  100 , as shown in  FIG. 4 , and organizes and stores information in the flash ROM  40 . The recording pattern table  100  includes a recording pattern number field  110 , a record date field  120 , a record start time field  130 , a record broadcast channel field  140 , and a record repetition count field  150 . The information organized in recording pattern table  100  is stored in the flash ROM  40 . A recording pattern number of the recording pattern number field  110  is determined depending on a value of the record repetition count field  150 . As an example, the recording pattern number is enumerated in an ascending order in accordance with a descending order of the record repetition count field  150 . According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the recording pattern table  100  arranges 12 recording patterns. However, the arrangement of the recording pattern table  100  is not limited to this embodiment and is adjustable as needed. While predetermined numbers of the recoding pattern are all enumerated, if a new recording pattern is to be registered, the recording pattern having the lowest ascending order is deleted and the new recording pattern is registered instead. When the recording pattern table  100  is stored in the flash ROM  40  and the date in the record date field  120  of the recorded pattern table  100  arrives, the controller  50  checks a current time. When a record start time of the related recording pattern is nearly at hand, the controller  50  controls a picture-in-picture (PIP) block  11 . The causes the PIP block  11  to receive a related channel onto a PIP screen of a display  85 . Simultaneously, the controller  50  displays a recording guide message onto the PIP screen to notify of the record start time of a favorite program that is frequently recorded by the user. Accordingly, the user may decide to record after perceiving the recoding guide message on the PIP screen even when the user forgets to set the timer-recording with respect to the favored program.  
         [0045]     The recording pattern table  100  is described in more detail below with reference to  FIG. 4 . The recording pattern table  100  includes the recording pattern number field  110 , the record date field  120 , the record start time field  130 , the record broadcast channel field  140 , and the record repetition count field  150 . The record repetition count field  150  presents an accumulated number of the repetitive recording times. When the user presses a key, such as, a one touch recorder (OTR) key or a record (REC) key, to set the general recording or the timer-recording, the controller  50  looks up a corresponding recording pattern and increases the value of the record repetition count field  150 . The recording pattern table  100  organizes and stores the recording pattern in the descending order based on the record repetition count.  
         [0046]     As an example, if one assumes that the user recorded a first program on channel 12 at 10:30 pm on a total of four different Wednesdays, a second program on channel 24 at 9:00 pm on eleven different Thursdays, and a third program on channel 12 at 9:00 pm on twelve different Fridays., the third program is stored first as number  1  in the recording pattern number field  110 , the second program is stored as number  2 , and the first program is stored as number  3  in the ascending order based on the record repetition count, as shown in  FIG. 4 . It should be appreciated that this field configuration is not limited to this embodiment and that additional fields may be registered. As an example of this, information may include a record stop time and other information relating to the recording process.  
         [0047]     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , a recording method by storing the recording pattern of the user according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is described below.  
         [0048]     When the user starts the recording or sets the timer-recording at operation  210 , the controller  40  stores the record date, the record start time, and the record broadcast channel with respected to the recording at operation  220 . The controller  40  determines whether there is a corresponding recording pattern by reading the recording pattern table  100  in the flash ROM  50  at operation  230 . If so, the controller  40  increases the value of the recording in the record repetition count field  150  by one at operation  240 . If not, the controller  40  records a new recording pattern to the recording pattern number column  100  and stores the related information at operation  250 . Specifically, if the predetermined number of the recording pattern number is enumerated and a new recording pattern is to be registered, the lowest recording pattern in the ascending order is deleted and, instead, the new recording pattern is registered. If the user does not start the recording or set the timer-recording at operation  210 , or, after the operations  240  and  250 , the controller  40  monitors the recording patterns stored in the recording pattern table  100  at operation  260 , and determines whether the record start time on that day is at hand at operation  270 . If so, the controller  40  determines whether the timer-recording is set for the corresponding recording pattern at operation  280 . If so, the recording is performed at operation  290 . If not, the controller  40  operates the PIP block  11  and displays on the PIP screen of the display  85  the recording guide message ( FIG. 5 ) output from the flash ROM  50 , notifying of the record start time of a favorite program frequently recorded by the user in the past at operation  281 . In an embodiment of the invention, the recording guide message includes a cursor so that the user moves the cursor to select or cancel the recording. If the user selects the recording at operation  282 , the controller  40  performs the recording with respect to the corresponding recording pattern at operation  290 . If the user does not select the recording, the controller  40  terminates the recording operation.  
         [0049]     In the light of foregoing described above, when the record start time of the recording pattern stored in the recording pattern table  100  is at hand, the recording guide message is displayed. However, the recording guide message may be displayed only when the record repetition count is more than a certain number of times.  
         [0050]     According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the timer-recording needs not to be set separately by the user since the recording pattern of the user is stored.  
         [0051]     Although a few embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents.