Patent Publication Number: US-2011052152-A1

Title: Recorder and recording method

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2009-200989, filed Aug. 31, 2009, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field 
     One embodiment of the invention relates to a recorder and a recording method. 
     2. Description of the Related Art Japanese Patent Application Publication (KOKAI) No. 2009-44442 discloses a conventional recorder that displays a list of recorded programs to allow the user to select a program from the list. When a program is selected, the conventional recorder displays an operation menu for selecting a function related to the selected program (hereinafter, “related function”), and perform the related function selected from the operation menu. The conventional recorder has such related functions as, for example, reproducing function for reproducing the selected program, timer recording function for scheduling the recording of a to-be-broadcasted program related to the selected program (e.g., a program of a television drama series), and the like. 
     If a recorder has the function of simultaneously recording programs of a plurality of channels using a plurality of tuners, the recorder may simultaneously record programs broadcasted during a specific time period such as prime time regardless of whether the user wishes to view the programs. In such a case, if the programs are displayed in a list, the list may contain a program on which the user has no intention to perform a related function. With the conventional recorder that displays only the operation menu when a program is selected from a list of programs, a related function may be erroneously performed with respect to a program not intended by the user. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A general architecture that implements the various features of the invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. The drawings and the associated descriptions are provided to illustrate embodiments of the invention and not to limit the scope of the invention. 
         FIG. 1  is an exemplary block diagram of a television (TV) according to an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an exemplary functional block diagram of a controller in the embodiment; 
         FIG. 3  is an exemplary schematic diagram of a past program guide in the embodiment; 
         FIG. 4  is an exemplary schematic diagram of a selection window in the embodiment; and 
         FIG. 5  is an exemplary flowchart of the process of performing a related function with respect to a past program in the embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Various embodiments according to the invention will be described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings. In general, according to one embodiment of the invention, a recorder comprises a recording module, a first display module, a selector, a second display module, and a processor. The recording module is configured to simultaneously record programs of a plurality of channels with a plurality of tuners. The first display module is configured to display past program information indicating the programs simultaneously recorded by the recording module as past programs. The selector is configured to select a past program, with respect to which a function related to the past program is to be performed, from the past programs indicated by the past program information. The second display module is configured to display a selection screen containing an image for selecting the function to be performed with respect to the past program selected by the selector and information on the past program. The processor is configured to perform the function selected through the image on the selection screen with respect to the past program selected by the selector. 
     According to another embodiment of the invention, there is provided a recording method applied to a recorder. The recording method comprises: a recording module simultaneously recording programs of a plurality of channels with a plurality of tuners; a first display module displaying past program information indicating the programs simultaneously recorded by the recording module as past programs; a selector selecting a past program, with respect to which a function related to the past program is to be performed, from the past programs indicated by the past program information; a second display module displaying a selection screen containing an image for selecting the function to be performed with respect to the past program selected by the selector and information on the past program; and a processor performing the function selected through the image on the selection screen with respect to the past program selected by the selector. 
     In the following, the recorder and the recording method of the embodiments will be described as being applied to a television (TV). However, this is by way of example only and the recorder and the recording method may also be used in other applications. 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a TV  100  according to an embodiment of the invention. The TV  100  features tuners for receiving digital broadcasts. The TV  100  comprises an antenna  101 , tuners  102   −1  to  102   −n , a signal processor  103 , a video processor  104 , a display processor  105 , a display module  106 , an audio processor  107 , a speaker  108 , a communication line  109 , a controller  110 , a random access memory (RAM)  111 , a read only memory (ROM)  112 , a built-in hard disk drive (HDD)  113 , a universal serial bus (USB) connector  114 , a keyboard  116 , and an optical receiver  117 . 
     The antenna  101  receives digital broadcasting such as ES broadcasting, CS broadcasting, and digital terrestrial broadcasting, and outputs it to the tuners  102   −1  to  102   −n . The tuners  102   −1  to  102   −n , selectively receive a broadcast signal of a channel specified by the user to view. The tuners  102   −1  to  102   −n , demodulate the broadcast signal and output it to the signal processor  103 . 
     The signal processor  103  extracts separately a video signal, an audio signal, and other signals from the broadcast signal received from the tuners  102   −1  to  102   −n , and further extracts a desired signal from them. The signal processor  103  outputs the extracted video signal to the video processor  104  as well as outputting the extracted audio signal to the audio processor  107 . 
     The video processor  104  adjusts the angle of view, color, and the like of an image represented by the video signal received from the signal processor  103  or the controller  110 , and outputs the adjusted video signal to the display processor  105 . 
     Upon receipt of the video signal from the video processor  104 , the display processor  105  converts the video signal to a format displayable on the display module  106 , and thereby displays the video signal on the display module  106 . Besides, the display processor  105  generates an image signal for an electronic program guide (EPG), on screen display (OSD), or the like, and outputs it to the display module  106  together with the video signal. The display processor  105  of the embodiment generates an image signal for displaying an EPG in which programs of channels that can be picked up by the tuners  102   −1  to  102   −n , are arranged in time series. 
     Upon receipt of the audio signal received from the signal processor  103  or the controller  110 , the audio processor  107  converts the audio signal to a format reproducible by the speaker  108 , and outputs it to the speaker  108 . 
     The controller  110  controls the tuners  102   −1  to  102   −n , the signal processor  103 , the video processor  104 , the display processor  105 , and the audio processor  107 . For a specific example, the controller  110  may be a microcomputer. 
     The communication line  109  connects the tuners  102   −1  to  102   −n , the signal processor  103 , the video processor  104 , the display processor  105 , and the audio processor  107  to the controller  110  so that the controller  110  can exchange data with them. For a specific example, the communication line  109  may be an inter-integrated circuit (IIC) bus. 
     The RAM  111  and the POM  112  store various types of data and exchange the data with the controller  110 . 
     The keyboard  116  is used by the user to provide various inputs or instructions to the TV  100 . The optical receiver  117  receives a signal from a remote controller  118  in response to instruction from the user. The remote controller  118  comprises a numeric keypad for inputting digits 0 to 9, letters, and characters, a channel up key and a channel down key for selecting a channel, an arrow key for specifying up, down, left, or right, and a switch key for switching the type of broadcast displayed on the display module  106 . The USB connecter  114  is used to connect a USB external storage device such as a USB-HDD  115  to the TV  100 . 
       FIG. 2  is a functional block diagram of the controller  110 . The controller  110  comprises a recorder  201 , a first display module  202 , a selector  203 , a second display module  204 , and a processor  205 . 
     In response to a request to simultaneously record programs of a plurality of channels from the remote controller  118 , the recorder  201  stores video and audio signals (hereinafter, “program data”) extracted by the signal processor  103  from broadcast signals of the channels received by the tuners  102   −1  to  102   −n  in the built-in HDD  113 , thereby simultaneously recording the programs of the channels received by the tuners  102   −1  to  102   −n . It is herein assumed that, upon receipt of a request for simultaneous recording from the remote controller  118 , a time period is set for the simultaneous recording, and the recorder  201  simultaneously records programs of a plurality of channels during the time period. 
     Further, in response to the request for simultaneous recording from the remote controller  118 , the recorder  201  obtains an image signal of an EPG listing the programs simultaneously recorded during the time period. The recorder  201  stores the image signal of the EPG in the built-in HDD  113  as past program guide data. The term “past program” as used herein refers to a program broadcasted in the past. 
     Upon receipt of a request to display a past program guide from the remote controller  118 , the first display module  202  reads the past program guide data stored in the built-in HDD  113 , and outputs it to the display module  106  through the display processor  105 . Thus, the first display module  202  displays the past program guide as past program information indicating the past programs simultaneously recorded in the past on the display module  106 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates an example of the past program guide. It is assumed herein that, as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the first display module  202  displays a past program guide  300  listing only programs broadcasted during a time period in which simultaneous recording is performed without programs broadcasted during other time periods on the display module  106 . That is, the first display module  202  displays the past program guide  300  that indicates only programs broadcasted during time periods in which simultaneous recording is performed closer together on the display module  106 . While the past program guide is described above as not indicating programs broadcasted during a time period in which simultaneous recording is not performed, this is by way of example and not of limitation. For example, since programs broadcasted during a time period in which simultaneous recording is not performed are not available for reproduction, corresponding part of the past program guide may be displayed grayed out or the like to indicate that the programs cannot be reproduced. 
     In addition, while the past program guide  300 , in which past programs are arranged in time series for each channel, is illustrated as an example of the past program information of the embodiment, the past program information is not so limited as long as it is capable of indicating the past programs. For example, if there is a detector that detects a specific past program (for example, a program broadcasted during a time period specified through the remote controller  118 ), the first display module  202  may display a list of past programs obtained as the detection result of the detector as the past program information. 
     The selector  203  selects, from past programs indicated by the past program guide displayed on the display module  106 , a past program with respect to which a related function is to be performed. The term “related function” as used herein refers to a function related to the past program such as, for example, reproducing function for reproducing the past program, dubbing function for dubbing the past program to another storage device (for example, the USB-HDD  115 ), delete function for deleting the past program, timer recording function for scheduling the recording of a to-be-broadcasted program related to the past program (e.g., a program of a television drama series), or the like. 
     When the user places a cursor  301  on one of the past programs indicated by the past program guide  300  displayed on the display module  106  using the arrow key and presses the enter key on the remote controller  118 , the selector  203  of the embodiment selects the past program so that a related function is to be performed with respect to the past program. 
     The second display module  204  displays a selection window  400  (see  FIG. 4 ) on the display module  106  through the display processor  105 . The selection window  400  displays OSD buttons  401  for selecting a related function to be performed on the past program selected by the selector  203  with the OSD function and program information  402  as information on the selected past program. The program information  402  includes the program name, the broadcast station, the broadcast date and time, a brief description of the past program, and the like. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates an example of the selection window  400 . It is assumed herein that, as illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the second display module  204  displays the selection window  400  to be overlaid on the past program guide  300  displayed on the display module  106 . In the selection window  400 , one of the OSD buttons  401  indicating “Save” is used to select the dubbing function, while the OSD button  401  indicating “Timer-Record” is used to select the timer recording function. Among the OSD buttons  401  displayed on the selection window  400 , the second display module  204  displays the one corresponding to a related function that is not available for the selected past program in the current system status as grayed out. For example, if a past program other than the past program selected by the selector  203  is being dubbed, the selected past program cannot be dubbed. Accordingly, the second display module  204  displays, among the OSD buttons  401  displayed on the selection window  400 , the one used to select the dubbing function as grayed out. 
     When one of the OSD buttons  401  is selected with the arrow key and the enter key on the remote controller  118 , the processor  205  performs a related function corresponding to the selected one of the OSD buttons  401  with respect to the past program selected by the selector  203 . 
     For example, when one of the OSD buttons  401  indicating “View” is selected, the processor  205  performs the reproducing function. More specifically, the processor  205  detects the head of the past program selected by the selector  203 , i.e., the start time of the recording of the past program, from past program data stored in the built-in HDD  113 . The processor  205  reads the program data from the detected time, and outputs it to the video processor  104  and the audio processor  107  to thereby reproduce the past program. Incidentally, if the past program selected by the selector  203  is already being reproduced, the processor  205  reproduces the past program from the middle thereof. 
     Meanwhile, when one of the OSD buttons  401  indicating “Save” is selected, the processor  205  performs the dubbing function. More specifically, the processor  205  displays a setting window for setting where the past program is to be dubbed or a dubbing destination (for example, the USB-HDD  115 ) on the display module  106  through the display processor  105 . If there is only one dubbing destination, the processor  205  displays a warning indicating that no option is available in the setting window. After the dubbing destination is set in the setting window, the processor  205  displays an image on the display module  106  through the display processor  105  to ask the user to confirm that the past program is to be dubbed. Examples of such an image include a “Yes” button to instruct to perform the dubbing and a “No” button to cancel the dubbing. If the “Yes” button is pressed, the processor  205  performs the dubbing. On the other hand, if the “No” button is pressed, the processor  205  cancels the dubbing. The processor  205  of the embodiment stores the program data in the USB-HDD  115  through the USB connector  114  to dub the past program. 
     When one of the OSD buttons  401  indicating “Timer-Record” is selected, the processor  205  performs the timer recording function. More specifically, for example, the processor  205  schedules the recording of a program with the same program name as the past program selected by the selector  203  among programs to be broadcasted or programs on the EPG generated by the display processor  105 . The program to be timer-recorded may be another episode than the past program in a drama series. 
     With reference to  FIG. 5 , a description will be given of the process of performing a related function with respect to a past program.  FIG. 5  is a flowchart of the process of performing a related function with respect to a past program. 
     The first display module  202  waits for a request to display the past program guide  300  from the remote controller  118  (S 501 ). Upon receipt of a request to display the past program guide  300  from the remote controller  118  (Yes at S 501 ), the first display module  202  displays the past program guide  300  on the display module  106  (S 502 ). 
     When the past program guide  300  is displayed on the display module  106 , the selector  203  waits for that a past program is selected from the past program guide  300  by using the arrow key and the enter key on the remote controller  118  to perform a related function thereon (S 503 ). 
     When the cursor  301  is placed on a past program by the arrow key and the enter key is pressed on the remote controller  118  (Yes at S 503 ), the selector  203  selects the past program pointed by the cursor  301  as the one with respect to which a related function is to be performed. The second display module  204  displays the selection window  400  to be overlaid on the past program guide  300  displayed on the display module  106  (S 504 ). The selection window  400  displays the OSD buttons  401  for selecting a related function to be performed on the selected past program and the program information  402  as information on the selected past program. 
     After that, when one of the OSD buttons  401  is pressed (Yes at S 505 ), the processor  205  performs a related function corresponding to the OSD button  401  with respect to the past program selected by the selector  203  (S 506 ). 
     As described above, according to the present invention, the TV  100  is capable of simultaneously recording programs of a plurality of channels received by the tuners  102   −1  to  102   −n . The past program guide  300  is displayed to indicate the simultaneously recorded programs as past programs so that the user can select one of the past programs therefrom with respect to which a related function is to be performed. The selection window  400  displays the OSD buttons  401  for selecting a related function to be performed with respect to the selected past program and the program information  402  as information on the selected past program. When one of the OSD buttons  401  is pressed in the selection window  400 , a related function corresponding to the OSD button  401  is performed with respect to the selected past program. The user can check the program information  402  before pressing the OSD button  401  in the selection window  400 . Thus, the related function can be performed accurately with respect to each of the simultaneously recorded programs. 
     The various modules of the systems described herein can be implemented as software applications, hardware and/or software modules, or components on one or more computers, such as servers. While the various modules are illustrated separately, they may share some or all of the same underlying logic or code. 
     While certain embodiments of the inventions have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the inventions. Indeed, the novel methods and systems described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the methods and systems described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the inventions. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope and spirit of the inventions.