Abstract:
A signal reproduction apparatus includes a first operation handler configured to enable respective signals input to a plurality of input terminals to be cyclically selectable in a predetermined sequence, a second operation handler configured to enable respective signals input to the plurality of input terminals to be cyclically selectable in a sequence opposite the predetermined sequence associated with the first operation handler, and a signal processing means configured to perform a reproduction process on a signal selected by using at least one of the first and second operation handlers.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2004-260059, filed Sep. 7, 2004, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention relates to a signal reproduction apparatus and a signal reproduction method for reproducing a video signal and an audio signal etc. from an input signal.  
         [0004]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0005]     As is well known, in recent years, digitization of television broadcasts has been advanced and promoted. For example, in Japan, not only satellite digital broadcasting, such as broadcasting satellite (BS) digital broadcasting and 110° communication satellite (CS) digital broadcasting, terrestrial digital broadcasting has started their services.  
         [0006]     Large-scale digital (television) broadcast receivers for receiving digital television broadcasts operates with a connected mass-storage digital recording device such as a hard disk drive (HDD), thereby to enable processing, such as digital recording of received broadcast programs and reproduction of recorded broadcast programs.  
         [0007]     In addition, such a digital television broadcast receiver of the above-described type has a plurality of external input terminals which input an analog input signal including a video signal and an audio signal from an external source. Thereby, the video and audio signals etc. are reproduced from the analog input signal supplied to an external input terminal selected by a user, and corresponding video and audio can be listened and viewed.  
         [0008]     More specifically, in the receiver, an input switch key of a remote controller is operated by the user to select a desired external input terminal, thereby to enable input switching. In this case, importance is focused on the provision of input switch operation means capable of quickly selecting a desired terminal from among the plurality of external input terminals even with input switch keys not increased in number.  
         [0009]     Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 2002-118794 discloses a receiver which allows channel-button up/down operations of a remote controller, thereby enabling successive selection of channels of an external tuner and an internal tuner.  
         [0010]     In addition, Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 2003-153098 discloses a television receiver which contains information necessary for channel switching of external devices, whereby broadcasts of the external devices can be viewed and listened through regular channel switching operation.  
         [0011]     Further, Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 2002-252887 discloses a technique for enabling customization setting of a remote control transmitter through simple operation.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0012]     According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a signal reproduction apparatus comprising: a plurality of input terminals; a first operation handler configured to enable respective signals input to the plurality of input terminals to be cyclically selectable in a predetermined sequence; a second operation handler configured to enable respective signals input to the plurality of input terminals to be cyclically selectable in a sequence opposite the predetermined sequence associated with the first operation handler; and a signal processing means configured to perform a reproduction process on a signal selected by using at least one of the first and second operation handlers.  
         [0013]     According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a signal reproduction method which selects a predetermined signal from respective signals input to a plurality of input terminals and which performs a reproduction process on the selected signal, the method comprising: a first step of determining which of a first operation handler and a second operation handler has been operated; a second step of, when it is determined that the first operation handler has been operated, performing cyclic selection of the respective signals input to the plurality of input terminals in a predetermined sequence; a third step of, when it is determined that the second operation handler has been operated, performing cyclic selection of the respective signals input to the plurality of input terminals in a sequence opposite the predetermined sequence associated with the first operation handler; and a fourth step of performing the reproduction process on a signal selected in the second or third step. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING  
       [0014]      FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram descriptive of an embodiment of the present invention, showing examples of a digital television broadcast receiver and a network system configured with the broadcast receiver in the center;  
         [0015]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram descriptive of a major signal processing system of the digital television broadcast receiver according to the embodiment;  
         [0016]      FIG. 3  is an exterior view descriptive of a remote controller of the digital television broadcast receiver according to the embodiment;  
         [0017]      FIG. 4  is a view descriptive of an example of an input switch display area being displayed in an input switch event of the digital television broadcast receiver according to the embodiment;  
         [0018]      FIG. 5  is a flow chart descriptive of an input switch operation of the digital television broadcast receiver according to the embodiment; and  
         [0019]      FIG. 6  is a view descriptive of another example of the input switch display area being displayed in the input switch event of the digital television broadcast receiver according to the embodiment. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0020]     An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail hereafter with reference to the drawings.  FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram showing examples of the exterior of a digital television broadcast receiver  11 , which will be described in the embodiment, and of a network system configured with the digital television broadcast receiver  11  deployed in the center.  
         [0021]     The digital television broadcast receiver  11  is configured mainly of a thin cabinet  12  and a support  13  which supports the cabinet  12  in elevation. The cabinet  12  includes, but not limited to, a flat-panel video display  14  formed of a liquid crystal display panel or the like, a loudspeaker  15 , an operation section  16 , and a photo-receiver section  18  which receives operation information sent from a remote controller  17 .  
         [0022]     The digital television broadcast receiver  11  allows a first memory card  19 , such as a secure digital (SD) memory card, a multimedia card (MMC), or a memory stick, to be attachable and detachable. Recording and/or reproduction of information, such as broadcast programs and photographs, are performed using the first card  19 .  
         [0023]     The digital television broadcast receiver  11  further allows a second memory card (IC card)  20  in which contract or agreement information and the like are recorded, to be attachable and detachable. Recording and/or reproduction of information, such as broadcast programs and photographs, are performed using the first card  19 .  
         [0024]     The digital television broadcast receiver  11  further includes a first local area network (LAN) terminal  21 , a second LAN terminal  22 , a universal serial bus (USB) terminal  23 , and an i.Link terminal  24 .  
         [0025]     Among these terminals, the first LAN terminal  21  is used as a LAN-supported HDD dedicated port. Over a LAN-supported HDD  25  being used as a connected network attached storage (NAS), information recording and/or reproduction is performed through Ethernet (registered trademark).  
         [0026]     Thus, since the first LAN terminal  21 , serving as the LAN-supported HDD dedicated port, is provided, information recording of broadcast programs in accordance with “hi-vision” image quality can be stably performed into the HDD  25  without being influenced by, for example, an other network environment and/or network use condition.  
         [0027]     The second LAN terminal  22  is used as a general-purpose LAN-supported port using Ethernet (registered trademark). For example, the second LAN terminal  22  is used for communication of information with devices connected through a hub  26 . The devices are, for example, a LAN-supported HDD  27 , a personal computer (PC)  28 , and an HDD-included digital versatile disk (DVD) recorder  29 .  
         [0028]     Digital information being communicated with the DVD recorder  29  through the second LAN terminal  22  is limited only to information related to control systems. Therefore, a dedicated analog communication line  30  should be provided to the DVD recorder  29  for communication of analog video and audio information with the digital television broadcast receiver  11 .  
         [0029]     In addition, the second LAN terminal  22  is used for connection to a network  32 , such as the Internet, through a broadband router  31  connected to the hub  26 , thereby to allow information communication with devices, such as a PC  33  and a mobile phone  34 .  
         [0030]     The USB terminal  23  is used as a general-purpose USB-supported port. For example, the USB terminal  23  is used for connection to USB devices, such as a mobile phone  36 , a digital camera  37 , a card reader/writer  38  corresponding to the memory cards, an HDD  39 , and a keyboard  40  which are connected to through a hub  35 , thereby to allow information communication with the USB devices.  
         [0031]     The i.Link terminal  24  is used for serial connection to devices, such as an AV-HDD  41  and a digital-video home system (D-VHS)  42 , thereby to allow information communication with the devices.  
         [0032]      FIG. 2  shows a major signal processing system of the digital television broadcast receiver  11 . A satellite digital television broadcast signal received through an antenna  43  responsible for receiving BS/CS digital broadcasts is supplied through an input terminal  44  to a tuner  45  corresponding to satellite digital broadcasts, thereby to select a broadcast signal on a desired channel.  
         [0033]     A broadcast signal selected by the tuner  45  is supplied to a phase shift keying (PSK) demodulator  46  and is demodulated thereby to a digital video signal and a digital audio signal. The digital video and audio signals are then output to a signal processing section  47 .  
         [0034]     A terrestrial digital television broadcast signal received through an antenna  48  responsible for receiving terrestrial wave broadcasts is supplied through an input terminal  49  to a tuner  50  corresponding to terrestrial digital broadcasts, thereby to select a broadcast signal on a desired channel.  
         [0035]     The broadcast signal selected by the tuner  50  is supplied to an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) demodulator  51  and is demodulated to digital video and audio signals. Thereafter, the digital video and audio signals are output to the signal processing section  47 .  
         [0036]     A terrestrial analog television broadcast signal received through the antenna  48  responsible for receiving terrestrial wave broadcasts is supplied through the input terminal  49  to a tuner  52  corresponding to terrestrial analog broadcasts, thereby to select a broadcast signal on a desired channel. The broadcast signal selected by the tuner  52  is supplied to an analog demodulator  53  and is demodulated to an analog video signal and an analog audio signal. Thereafter, the analog video and audio signals are output to the signal processing section  47 .  
         [0037]     The signal processing section  47  selectively applies predetermined digital signal processing on the digital video and audio signals respectively supplied from the PSK demodulator  46  and the OFDM demodulator  51 , and then supplies the signals to a graphics processing section  54  and an audio processing section  55 .  
         [0038]     A plurality of (four in the drawing) external input terminals  56   a,    56   b,    56   c,  and  56   d  are connected to the signal processing section  47 . Of these input terminals, the external input terminals  56   a  to  56   c  individually enable analog video and audio signals to be input externally of the digital television broadcast receiver  11 .  
         [0039]     The external input terminal  56   d  is a high definition multimedia interface (HDMI) terminal, and enables digital video and audio signals to be input externally of the digital television broadcast receiver  11 .  
         [0040]     The signal processing section  47  selectively digitizes the analog video and audio signals respectively supplied from the analog demodulator  53  and the external input terminals  56   a  to  56   c,  applies predetermined digital signal processing on the digitized video and audio signals, and then outputs the signals to the graphics processing section  54  and the audio processing section  55 .  
         [0041]     In addition, the signal processing section  47  applies predetermined digital signal processing on the digital video and audio signals supplied from the external input terminal  56   d,  and then outputs the signals to the graphics processing section  54  and the audio processing section  55 .  
         [0042]     The graphics processing section  54  has a function of producing an output by superimposing an on-screen display (OSD) signal generated by an OSD signal generator section  57  on the digital video signal supplied from the signal processing section  47 . The graphics processing section  54  is capable of selectively outputting an output video signal of the signal processing section  47  and an output OSD signal of the OSD signal generator section  57 . In addition, the graphics processing section  54  is capable of producing the outputs from the two sections in combination such that each of the signals configures the half of a screen.  
         [0043]     The digital video signal having been output from the graphics processing section  54  is then supplied to an image output section  58 . The image output section  58  transforms the input digital video signal into an analog video signal having a format displayable on the video display  14 , then outputs the signal to the video display  14 , and then causes the signal to be derived to the outside through an output terminal  59 .  
         [0044]     The audio processing section  55  transforms the input digital audio signal into an analog audio signal having a format reproducible by the loudspeaker  15 , then outputs the signal to the loudspeaker  15 , and then causes the signal to be derived to the outside through an output terminal  60 .  
         [0045]     The digital television broadcast receiver  11  is totally controlled by a control section  61  for the overall operation including the various receiving operations described above. The control section  61  contains a built-in central processing unit (CPU) and others. The control section  61  receives operation information from the operation section  16 , or alternatively receives through the light receiver section  18  operation information sent from the remote controller  17 , thereby to control individual sections such that content of the operation is reflected.  
         [0046]     In the above case, the control section  61 , mainly, uses a read only memory (ROM)  62  having stored therein control programs executed by the CPU, a random access memory (RAM)  63  for providing the CPU with work areas, and a nonvolatile memory  64  in which, for example, various setting information and control information are stored.  
         [0047]     The control section  61  is connected through a card interface (I/F)  65  to a card holder  66  into which the first memory card  19  is attachable. Thereby, the control section  61  is capable of performing information communication through the card I/F  65  with the first memory card  19  attached to the card holder  66 .  
         [0048]     The control section  61  is connected through a card I/F  67  to a card holder  68  into which the second memory card  20  is attachable. Thereby, the control section  61  is capable of performing information communication through the card I/F  67  with the second memory card  20  attached to the card holder  68 .  
         [0049]     The control section  61  is further connected through a card I/F  69  to the first LAN terminal  21 . Thereby, the control section  61  becomes able to perform information communication through the card I/F  69  with the LAN-supported HDD  25  connected to the first LAN terminal  21 . The control section  61  has a dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) server function, thereby to perform the control by allocating Internet protocol (IP) addresses to the LAN-supported HDD  25  connected to the first LAN terminal  21 .  
         [0050]     The control section  61  is further connected through a communication I/F  70  to the second LAN terminal  22 . Thereby, the control section  61  becomes able to perform information communication through the communication I/F  70  with the respective devices connected to the second LAN terminal  22  (see  FIG. 1 ).  
         [0051]     The control section  61  is further connected through a USB I/F  71  to the USB terminal  23 . Thereby, the control section  61  becomes able to perform information communication through the USB I/F  71  with the respective devices connected to the USB terminal  23  (see  FIG. 1 ).  
         [0052]     The control section  61  is further connected through an i.Link  72  to the i.Link terminal  24 . Thereby, the control section  61  becomes able to perform information communication through the i.Link  72  with the respective devices connected to the i.Link terminal  24  (see  FIG. 1 ).  
         [0053]      FIG. 3  shows the exterior of the remote controller  17 . The remote controller  17 , mainly, includes keys such as a power on/off key  17   a,  an input switch key  17   b,  a direct selection key  17   c  for a satellite broadcast channel, a direct selection key  17   d  for a terrestrial wave channel, a quick key  17   e,  a cursor key  17   f,  a determination key  17   g,  a program table key  17   h,  a page switch key  17   i,  a face net (navigation) key  17   j,  a return key  17   k,  an end key  17   l,  color keys  17   m  for blue, red, green, and yellow colors, a channel-change up/down key  17   n,  a volume tune key  17   o,  a menu key  17   p,  and a screen display key  17   q.    
         [0054]     The input switch key  17   b  of the remote controller  17  is used to selectively switch among respective signals which are input and broadcast signals received through the four external input terminals  56   a  to  56   d.    
         [0055]     That is, the input switch key  17   b  is supported such that two ends thereof are selectively depressible as seesaw movement with a central portion thereof in the center. In the input switch key  17   b,  the one depressible end corresponds to input switching in a “+” side, that is, forward direction, and the other depressible end corresponds to input switching in a “−” side, that is, backward direction.  
         [0056]     More specifically, every time a “+” side of the input switch key  17   b  is operated, the input is cyclically switched in the order (forward direction) as: external input terminal  56   a →external input terminal  56   b →external input terminal  56   c →external input terminal  56   d →Broadcast→external input terminal  56   a.    
         [0057]     On the other hand, every time a “−” side of the input switch key  17   b  is operated, the input is cyclically switched in a broadcast order (direction opposite the forward direction) as: Broadcast→external input terminal  56   d →external input terminal  56   c →external input terminal  56   b →external input terminal  56   a →Broadcast.  
         [0058]     As shown in  FIG. 4 , an input switching condition is indicated by an input switch display area  73  that is displayed in the OSD form on the screen of the video display  14 . The input switch display area  73  is displayed on the screen only for a preset predetermined time on the condition that, for example, the input switch key  17   b,  screen display key  17   q  or the like has been operated.  
         [0059]     The input switch display area  73  shown in  FIG. 4  list-displays the items of “Video  1 ” corresponding to the external input terminal  56   a,  “Video  2 ” corresponding to the external input terminal  56   b,  “Video  3 ” corresponding to the external input terminal  56   c,  “HDMI” corresponding to the external input terminal  56   d,  and “Broadcast” corresponding to broadcasting.  
         [0060]     In the input switch display area  73 , an item corresponding to a selected input is displayed in a color different from colors for other items. In  FIG. 4 , “Video  3 ”, i.e., the state where the external input terminal  56   c  is selected, is shown as a hatched portion by way of example.  
         [0061]     Accordingly, in the input switch display area  73 , every time the “+” side of the input switch key  17   b  is operated, the selected item is cyclically switched in the order (forward direction) in the order as: Video  1 →Video  2 →Video  3 →HDMI→Broadcast→Video  1 .  
         [0062]     Alternatively, in the input switch display area  73 , every time the “−” side of the input switch key  17   b  is operated, the selected item is cyclically switched in the order (direction opposite the forward direction) in the order as: Broadcast→HDMI→Video  3 →Video  2 →Video  1 →Broadcast.  
         [0063]     Thus, the input switch key  17   b  is selectively operable to the “+” or “−” side, and the input is cyclically switchable between the forward and backward (opposite) directions and the reverse direction. Accordingly, a plurality of external inputs can be quickly selected through the simple operation even with keys not increased in number.  
         [0064]     In this regard, according to prior arts, the input cannot be cyclically switched in more than one direction, so that users are inconvenienced by poor operability in selection of a desired input. However, according to the present embodiment, since the input can be cyclically switched in two directions, a desired input can be efficiently selected.  
         [0065]     Every time the input switch key  17   b  is operated to one of the “+” and “−” sides for input switching, reproduction processes are executed on video and audio corresponding to an input selected through the switch operation. That is, switching occurs between video and audio in synchronism with the operation of the input switch key  17   b.    
         [0066]     A preliminary-input scheme may be employed for the operation of the input switch key  17   b.  For example, a case is assumed where the external input terminal  56   a  is selected, video and audio signals reproduced from a signal input through the external input terminal  56   a  are viewed and listened, and one of the “+” and “−” sides of the input switch key  17 b is intermittently operated at a time interval less than a preset predetermined time. In this case, a video image corresponding to the input signal from the external input terminal  56   a  remains displayed on the screen, but sequential switching takes place among only the items of the input switch display area  73  being displayed to be superimposed on the video image.  
         [0067]     When the operation of the input switch key  17   b  is paused for a predetermined time in the state where a desired input is selected by a user, reproduction processes are executed on video and audio signals of the selected input, thereby being submitted for viewing and listening. Thus, with the preliminary-input scheme being employed, the user does not have to view video images in the course of input switching.  
         [0068]      FIG. 5  is a flow chart collectively showing the series of operations described above in the event that the input switch key  17   b  is selectively operated to the “+” and “−” sides. Upon start of processing (step S 5 a), the control section  61  in step S 5 b determines which of the “+” and “−” sides of the input switch key  17   b  is operated.  
         [0069]     If it is determined that the “+” side of the input switch key  17   b  is operated (“+” side), the control section  61  switches the item selection display on the input switch display area  73  in step S 5 c. Thereafter, in step S 5 d, the control section  61  determines whether or not a preset predetermined time has elapsed. If it is determined that the time has not elapsed (“NO”), control returns to processing in step S 5 b.  
         [0070]     If it is determined that the “−” side of the input switch key  17   b  is operated in step S 5 b (“−” side), the control section  61  switches the item selection display on the input switch display area  73  in step S 5 e. Thereafter, in step S 5 f, the control section  61  determines whether or not the preset predetermined time has elapsed. If it is determined that the time has not elapsed (“NO”), control returns to processing in step S 5 b.  
         [0071]     If it is determined that the preset predetermined time has elapsed in step S 5 d or S 5 f (“YES”), the control section  61  in step S 5 g executes the reproduction processes on video and audio signals of an input corresponding to a currently selected item in the input switch display area  73  and causes the signals to be submitted for viewing and listening, and thereafter terminates processing (step S 5 h).  
         [0072]     According to the embodiment described above, the input switch display area  73  is superimposed and displayed over the video display screen corresponding to the selected input. However, it may be arranged such that, as shown in  FIG. 6 , in the event of displaying the input switch display area  73 , the video corresponding to any of, for example, signals and broadcast signals from the external input terminals  56   a  to  56   d  is set to a non-display state (blacked-out state, for example), and the audio is set to a muting state.  
         [0073]     In addition, although the input switching is performed through the operation of the remote controller  17 , it is not limited thereto. For example, the switching may be executed in the following manner. In the state where the input switch display area  73  is displayed in the OSD format on the video display  14 , a desired one of the input items is selected through the operation of the cursor key  17   f  of the remote controller  17 , and the input switching is executed through operation of the determination key  17   g.    
         [0074]     In addition, the input switching is executed such that, when the “broadcast” is selected, a finally selected channel, i.e., last channel, in all broadcasts is selected, irrespective of the satellite digital broadcasting or terrestrial wave. Further, in a no-signal state where no signals are received at the external inputs, the power supply is automatically set to a standby state.  
         [0075]     The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, but may be embodied with components modified and altered in various ways in a practicing stage without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Further, the plurality of components disclosed in the embodiment may be appropriately combined, thereby to enable configuring various other forms of the invention. Further, for example, some of all the components disclosed and shown in the embodiment may be omitted. Furthermore, components according to different embodiments may be appropriately combined (without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention).