JP2003319304A - Reservation method for broadcast program, broadcast program video recording apparatus, and program for reserving broadcast program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize a configuration of a broadcast program video recording apparatus for preventing a program with low preference a user desires to store from overwriting a program with high preference in the case of recording the program with high preference to a recording medium having a prescribed storage capacity through video recording reservation. <P>SOLUTION: The configuration of the broadcast program video recording apparatus is realized such that the apparatus includes preferred program information acquisition means 56, 76 for searching electronic program guide information for a first prescribed period each by a preferred program keyword to obtain a preferred program, an identification display means 73 displays the presence of preferred program information when a broadcast start time of the preferred program reaches a second prescribed period, and a reservation setting means 76 sets reservation of video recording when a user makes settings of video recording reservation when the user makes an operation related to the video recording reservation of the preferred program. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a broadcast program reservation method, a broadcast program recording apparatus, which reserves and records a program to be broadcast on a recording medium such as a hard disk recorder which is randomly accessible and has a predetermined recording capacity. And a program for reserving broadcast programs.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a VTR and a hard disk recorder have a program reservation recording function for setting a recording start time and recording a broadcast program. These program recording devices are used as time shift machines in which a user's favorite programs are reserved and recorded, and the recorded programs can be viewed when the user's viewing time can be secured.

A video signal recording / reproducing apparatus using a randomly accessible information signal recording medium such as a hard disk as a recording medium can record a plurality of video signals simultaneously because the access time for recording and reproducing is short.
Further, it has a function of being able to record and reproduce the video signal at the same time.

Further, a video signal recording / reproducing apparatus having the simultaneous recording / reproducing function reproduces a video signal, which has started recording in the past, so as to catch up with a video signal being currently recorded, and a chasing reproduction and a program being broadcast. It has convenient functions such as cache recording / playback that allows you to watch while continuously shifting the time from the present to the past.

Further, the conventional cache recording / reproducing function has been used as an auxiliary function relating to program viewing, such as recording and watching a program while watching, and replaying and watching the missed program portion. The recording / playback function is a broadcast for making a recording reservation of the designated program by a simple operation, for example, by designating the program to be received by using the electronic program guide information acquired in advance. It can be used as a program recording device.

Further, in the case of a broadcast program recording apparatus using a recording medium such as a hard disk that can be randomly accessed, a plurality of programs can be recorded in a predetermined recording area.
Then, the plurality of recorded programs can be viewed by designating any desired reproduction order. Therefore, unlike the case where the recorded program is viewed by the VTR, the recording medium is exchanged for each program, or a plurality of programs recorded individually without performing fast-forwarding, rewinding, and cueing operations are performed continuously. Can be played back.

A hard disk recorder having such a convenient function is suitable for recording many programs if the recording time can be lengthened and allowing the user to watch a desired program when desired. It is being introduced to the market as a program recording device capable of long-time recording, in which the recording capacity of the hard disk has been increasing year by year such that it can be used as a video library.

However, even when a hard disk recorder with a large recording capacity is commercialized, the user can record a program for a longer time to construct a library of programs that the hard disk recorder prefers, which is convenient. The play function creates a desire to play. Although such a hard disk recorder capable of recording for a long time is technically possible such as realizing a recording device by mounting a plurality of hard disks, the price ratio of the recording medium increases. For this reason, it is desired to realize an economical hard disk recorder in which only programs having a high degree of user preference are recorded in the recording area of the hard disk, which is a recording medium.

For recording such a program having a high degree of preference, a method of searching for a favorite program on the basis of a program table and a program description article and recording and recording the program is often performed. Visually finding a favorite program is complicated, and it is desirable that the complicated work can be performed automatically.

As a method for automatically obtaining favorite program information from an electronic program guide, an electronic program guide (EPG) is obtained via a communication channel such as the Internet or from a broadcast signal which is multiplexed and obtained. Searching for the desired program by searching the keywords that have been registered in advance for the commentary information of the program and performer information, etc., and setting the searched program for automatic recording reservation makes complicated setting operation for recording reservation. It can be omitted.

[0011]

However, in the case of automatic recording reservation in which a program retrieved by using a keyword or the like is recorded, the program obtained by retrieval and the degree of preference of the user do not necessarily match. Not necessarily. In addition, due to the automatic recording reservation, a program desired by the user to be stored in the library may be erased by overwriting a program with a low degree of preference, which may cause an undesired operation. .

That is, since the capacity of a randomly accessible recording medium having a convenient reproducing function is generally limited, after the program is recorded in all the program recording areas of the limited recording medium. Will erase any recorded program and record a new program there. However, since it is not possible to uniquely determine which program should be deleted, for example, a method of simply deleting the oldest recorded programs in order and recording a new program obtained by the search can be considered. In that method, a program that the user desires to save may be deleted, and a program that has been searched but has a low degree of user preference may be recorded there.

Therefore, according to the present invention, a favorite program retrieved from electronic program guide information based on a preset keyword is presented to the user as a recording candidate program, and the user who is presented with the recording candidate program responds to the program. Only when the recording reservation is set by setting the recording reservation, the recording reservation of the recording candidate program is made. Then, when a new recording candidate program is obtained by searching, the existence of the recording candidate program is lit by an identification display lamp, an identification display mark is displayed on the display unit receiving the image, or the recording candidate program is displayed. Based on this, an email was generated and transmitted to the user.

Furthermore, when a new recording candidate program is retrieved and obtained, the recordable area information in the randomly accessible recording medium in which the program library is recorded is obtained, and the recordable information rate is obtained, and the recording is performed. The recording rate is displayed together with the candidate programs, and the recording reservation is set by performing an operation so that the recording candidate programs can be recorded with the image quality desired by the user.

In this way, the recording candidate programs automatically searched by the keyword are notified to the user. For example, in a hard disk recorder equipped with a "program notification function", the user may forget to record the program he / she prefers. It is possible to prevent the operation that the user does not like, such as the favorite program recorded in the program library being erased by the automatic overwrite recording. In addition, the recorded contents of a randomly accessible recording medium having a predetermined recording capacity can be limited to programs with a high degree of preference. In this way, a program recording reservation method can be realized in which a suitable program library can be constructed according to the user's wishes and those programs can be viewed freely.

[0016]

The present invention comprises the following means 1) to 8) in order to solve the above problems. That is,

1) The electronic program guide information in which the program name and the program description of the broadcast program are described is acquired, and the keyword information of the favorite program preset by the user and the attribute of the favorite program are related. The favorite program information is retrieved from the acquired electronic program guide information by using at least one of the genre information, and the recording reservation or viewing reservation of the favorite program is set based on the obtained favorite program information. In the method of reserving a broadcast program, the first step (56, 76) of obtaining the favorite program information by searching the acquired electronic program guide information every first predetermined period.
And an identification display for identifying the existence of the favorite program information when the difference between the broadcast start time and the current time of the broadcast program related to the obtained favorite program information reaches the second predetermined period. Based on the second step (73) and the identified and displayed favorite program information, when an operation relating to recording reservation of a favorite program broadcast according to the favorite program information is performed, recording reservation of the favorite program or A method for reserving a broadcast program, comprising a third step (76) of setting a viewing reservation. 2) In the identification display in the second step, the identification display is performed for the preference program information relating to the preference program different from the broadcast program for which the recording reservation is already set. How to reserve a broadcast program. 3) In the identification display in the second step, the identification display mark is turned on or an identification display mark is displayed on a display for displaying the received broadcast program. Reservation method for broadcast programs described in paragraph. 4) In the second step, it is displayed that the recording area for recording the broadcast program reserved for recording is insufficient and the recording reservation cannot be set, or the recording rate information for which the recording reservation can be set is displayed. The method for reserving a broadcast program according to item 1) or 2) above. 5) In the second step, the electronic mail described including the obtained favorite program information is transmitted to a preset mail address via a network, 1). Or, the method of reserving the broadcast program described in 2). 6) In the third step, when a reply mail to the e-mail described including the favorite program information is received, based on the description information described in the returned e-mail, the favorite program is described. The method for reserving a broadcast program according to the above item 5), characterized in that recording reservation or viewing reservation is set. 7) The electronic program guide information in which the program name and the program description relating to the broadcast program are described is acquired, and the keyword information relating to the favorite program preset by the user and the genre information relating to the attribute of the favorite program are set. A broadcast program that is obtained by searching for the favorite program information from the acquired electronic program guide information using at least one of the information, and sets the recording reservation or viewing reservation of the favorite program based on the obtained favorite program information. In the recording device, a favorite program information acquisition unit (56, 76) for obtaining the favorite program information by searching the acquired electronic program guide information every first predetermined period, and the acquired favorite program information. Identification display means (73) for identifying and displaying the existence of the favorite program information at the time when the difference between the broadcast start time of the broadcast program and the current time reaches the second predetermined period, and the identification. Based on the displayed favorite program information,
When an operation relating to recording reservation of a favorite program broadcast according to the favorite program information is performed, a reservation setting unit (76) for setting recording reservation or viewing reservation of the favorite program is provided. Characteristic broadcast program recorder. 8) The electronic program guide information in which the program name and the program description relating to the broadcast program are described is acquired, and the keyword information relating to the favorite program preset by the user and the genre information relating to the attribute of the favorite program are set. Obtained by searching for the favorite program information from the acquired electronic program guide information using at least one of the information, and executing the computer to perform recording reservation or viewing reservation of the favorite program based on the obtained favorite program information. In a program for recording reservation of a broadcast program to be set by setting a first step (S13) of searching the acquired electronic program guide information for each first predetermined period, and obtaining the favorite program information. To identify the existence of the favorite program information at the time when the difference between the broadcast start time and the current time of the broadcast program related to the selected favorite program information reaches the second predetermined period. And a second step (S17) of performing the identification display of the preference program, and based on the preference program information identified and displayed, when the operation for recording reservation of the preference program broadcast according to the preference program information is performed, Third step of setting recording reservation or viewing reservation of program (S1
9) and a program for reserving a broadcast program, which is executed by a computer.

[0018]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of a method for reserving a broadcast program, a broadcast program recording apparatus, and a program for reserving a broadcast program according to the present invention will be described below with reference to preferred embodiments.
FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a broadcast program recording apparatus equipped with a broadcast program reservation method according to the embodiment, and the configuration and operation thereof will be described.

In FIG. 1, the broadcast program recording device 40 is shown.
Is a recording unit 50 for recording a program reserved for recording, a medium unit 60 for performing random access recording and reproduction, and a reproducing unit 70 for reproducing the recorded program. A monitor TV 90 is connected to the reproducing unit 70. The remote controller 95 is generally configured to be connected by infrared rays.

The recording unit 50 of the broadcast program recording apparatus 40 having the above-described configuration includes a TV tuner 51, an A / D converter 52, an MPEG-2 encoder 53, a stream analyzer 54, a buffer memory 55, and an EPG (Electron).
ic Program Guide) decoder 56, medium unit 60 is composed of a hard disk recording / reproducing device 61, a hard disk 63, and a write / read controller 65, and a reproducing unit 70 is a buffer memory 71, an MPEG.
-2 decoder 72, OSD (On Screen Display) 7
3, D / A converter 74, microcomputer 76, temporary storage memory 78, and remote control interface 79.

Next, the operation of the broadcast program recording device 40 configured as described above will be outlined. First, an electronic program guide is obtained from a program information center (not shown) connected to a network, or an electronic program guide signal is obtained from an auxiliary signal multiplexed with a broadcast signal, and the obtained electronic program guide information is used by a method described later. The program information that the user likes is retrieved and obtained, and the obtained program information is presented to the user by the method described below, the operation is performed, and the recording reservation is set.

The setting information of the recording reservation thus set is stored in the temporary storage memory 7 connected to the microcomputer 76.
8 is stored. When the recording start time of the program approaches, the channel information to be received from the microcomputer 76 is T
The signal is supplied to the V tuner 51, and the TV tuner 51 selects and receives the signal of the reception channel based on the supplied reception channel information from the broadcast radio waves coming from the antenna. The video signal received and obtained is supplied to the A / D converter 52, converted into a digital signal, and supplied to the MPEG-2 encoder 53.

In the MPEG-2 encoder 53, the supplied signal is an ISO / IEC (International Organi)
zation for Standardization / International Electro
MPEG-2 (mo
ving picture experts group- 2) G according to the standard
Compression encoding is performed in units of OP (Group of Picture). Information related to the GOP-unit encoding is supplied to a management table generator (not shown), and the MPEG-
It is compression-encoded by the 2 encoder 53 as a signal of a bit rate (encoding rate) for obtaining a predetermined image quality. The compression-encoded signal is stream analyzer 54.
, The format of the compression-coded signal is analyzed, and the coded information signal obtained by the analysis and the supplied compression-coded signal are supplied to the buffer memory 55.

In the buffer memory 55, record (record
signal for ing) is temporarily stored, and the signal is output in the order of recording. The signal supplied from the buffer memory 55 is supplied to the hard disk recording / reproducing device 61, and the signal supplied to the hard disk recording / reproducing device 61 is recorded in the hard disk 63 together with the management table information supplied from a management table generator (not shown). .

In the hard disk 63, the supplied encoded signal is divided into sector sizes and recorded in a predetermined recording area of the hard disk 63. Then, the divided and recorded signal is supplied from the management table generator to the write / read controller 65 via the microcomputer 76 so that the write position is controlled and recorded in a predetermined recording area of the hard disk 63. It is designed to be done.

In this way, the video signal received with the reception channel selected and the accompanying audio signal (not shown) are compressed and encoded video signal and audio signal, and these video signal and audio signal are obtained. Since the signal is divided into sector sizes and recorded in a predetermined recording area of the hard disk 63, even if a plurality of types of programs are reserved and recorded, reproduction of the recorded programs is managed. Only desired programs are easily accessed and reproduced based on the information.

Next, the reproduction of the compression coded signal recorded on the hard disk 63 of the recording unit 60 in this way will be described. First, when the viewer operates the play button of the remote controller 95, the operation content is transmitted to the remote controller interface 79 as a modulated infrared ray, and the signal related to the operation content transmitted to the remote controller interface 79 is transmitted to the microcomputer 76. Is supplied to.

From the microcomputer 76, a control signal generated according to the operation content is supplied to the writing / reading controller 65, and based on the control signal supplied to the writing / reading controller 65, a predetermined signal is stored in the hard disk 63. The recording area portion is access-controlled and reproduced, a recording signal of a desired program is read, and the read signal is supplied to the hard disk recording / reproducing device 61.

In the hard disk recording / reproducing device 61,
Amplification of the signal read from the hard disk 63 and correction of the frequency response characteristic and the like are performed, and the signal with the corrected characteristic and the like is supplied to the buffer memory 71, and in the buffer memory 71, the supplied compression encoding is performed. The stored video signal is temporarily stored, and the temporarily stored signal is MPEG.
Is read out in response to a request from the -2 decoder 72 and supplied to the MPEG-2 decoder 72.

In the MPEG-2 decoder 72, the supplied compression-encoded video signal is decoded according to the MPEG-2 standard, and the digital video signal obtained by the decoding is passed through the OSD 73. D / A converter 7
4, the digital video signal is converted into an analog video signal and supplied to the monitor TV 90 for display.

In the OSD 73, a display signal to be displayed, which is to be multiplexed with a video signal displayed on the monitor TV 90, is generated as needed, and the generated display signal is directly displayed on the monitor TV 90 or MPEG. -2 decoder 72 generates a digital video signal to be displayed as a composite signal which is multiplexed with the video signal obtained by decoding, and the generated digital video signal is D /
The analog video signal is supplied to the A converter 74 and supplied to the monitor TV 90.

As described above, in a broadcast program recording apparatus which is divided into sector sizes and can record and reproduce in a predetermined recording area of the hard disk at high speed, the broadcast program recording apparatus is located at a distant position in the recording area. The recorded programs can be continuously reproduced, and the recorded programs can be recorded while the recorded programs in the past are reproduced toward the present, and the chase reproduction can be performed. It has functions suitable for program viewing, such as cache recording / playback for continuous time shift from the present time to the past.

In the broadcast program recording apparatus having such a suitable recording and reproducing function, the program can be easily performed without exchanging the tape recording medium, as compared with the VTR recording used as the conventional time shift function. A usage method such as recording and reproducing is used. However, since the recording capacity of a randomly accessible recording medium is limited to a predetermined size, it is easy and efficient to use a recording medium with a limited capacity, that is, it is easy to provide only highly popular programs. It realizes a preferable function such that recording reservation is made for recording.

Next, a method for searching the above-mentioned favorite programs for suitably performing such recording reservation recording of the favorite programs will be described. The electronic program guide to be searched is obtained from a program information center (not shown) connected to the network or from an auxiliary signal transmitted by being multiplexed with the broadcast signal.
From the obtained electronic program guide information, a search is performed using a preference search keyword related to the favorite program information set by the user.

That is, the generation of the preference search keyword is
For example, the electronic program guide signal acquired by the EPG decoder 56 is generated as a display signal by the OSD 73 and displayed on the monitor TV 90, and the remote controller 95 operates the program name of the favorite in the displayed electronic program guide. There is a method of determining the selected program name as a keyword.

As still another method, the name of a performer whose preference is selected from the displayed list of performers is operated from the keyword list data supplied from the electronic program guide provider by operating the arrow keys and the enter key of the remote controller key. Selected.
Then, the character string described in relation to the selected preference keyword such as the performer name is detected by the microcomputer 76,
The detected character string information is stored in the temporary storage memory 78 as a favorite program keyword.

The setting of the favorite program keyword thus made is generated by using the keyboard of the terminal device connected to the network by the user in addition to the method of selecting via the character string supplied from the other. There is also a method in which the keyword information is transmitted to the microcomputer 76 to be performed. Further, on the broadcast program recording device side, a common program keyword is automatically detected from the program guide of a program for which recording is repeatedly executed, and the detected keyword is stored in the temporary storage memory 78 as a preference keyword. It is also possible to use a method such as

The favorite program keywords thus set are supplied to the microcomputer 76, and for example, the information of the electronic program guide is acquired every day when the electronic program guide is updated, and the retrieval by the favorite keyword is performed. Favorite programs are extracted. Then, the extracted search favorite program is stored in the temporary storage memory 78 via the microcomputer 76.

In this way, as for the search favorite program stored in the temporary storage memory 78, the recording of the reserved program is started when the broadcast start time of the program arrives. On the other hand, in addition to the programs that have been automatically reserved, the programs recorded in this way are selected by the user using the arrow keys on the remote control, and the user can select the program name shown in the electronic program guide and use the Enter key to make a recording reservation. The recording operation is executed even when selecting.

Similarly, many programs can be easily recorded by a simple operation in the broadcast program recording apparatus illustrated here, such as recording of programs for which recording reservations are made every week, such as recording of programs for which recording reservations are made on a regular basis. To create a program library,
The user can view the desired program while randomly accessing the desired program in the desired order.

In this way, in the broadcast program recording apparatus using the hard disk as a recording medium, the program library is created by automatically or manually extracting the favorite program from the broadcast program from the electronic program guide.
The program desired by the user is reproduced at the time desired by the user. In the conventional TV viewing, the behavior of the user tends to be determined according to the broadcast time, but by using this broadcast program recording device, the program viewing time is incorporated into the living behavior of the user. , The viewer's life pattern is not restricted by the broadcast time, and can be changed into an action pattern centered on the user's own life.

Next, the operation of the broadcast program recording apparatus having such a suitable function will be further described. That is, the broadcast program recording device is a program recording device having an Internet connection function, and the broadcasts that can be received and recorded are, for example, terrestrial analog broadcast and BS analog broadcast. And
The broadcast program recording device has an electronic program guide (EP
G) data is acquired, and the acquired EPG (Electronic
It is possible to automatically and manually reserve and record a favorite program desired by the user based on the Program Guide data.

The normal EPG data used in this way has program data relating to broadcasting for 8 days (up to the same day of next week) including the day of data acquisition,
EPG connected to the Internet so that the program data is added every day for one day of the next week
The EPG data is downloaded and obtained from the provider.

The EPG data thus obtained includes the title of the program, information indicating the broadcaster, broadcast start and end time information, detailed information regarding the cast name and commentary regarding the program, and the movie to which the program belongs. , Genre information relating to categories such as sports, music, and drama, and audio mode information indicating whether the audio mode is stereo, monaural, or bilingual broadcasting.

Of the detailed information, the individual information relating to the performer's personal name can be downloaded separately in the form of a list, and the detailed information is described by using the individual information obtained by the download. Is also done. Next, the keywords relating to the individual information will be described.

As an example of the individual information, "Morning XX", which is a group of artists, may be abbreviated as "Moo XX" or the like in a TV section of a newspaper or the like, but is shown in a list format. "Morning ○"
When "○" is described, the EPG description is "Moo
○ is not used.

When a person name is used as a search condition for a favorite program to be described later, "Moo" may be input when a character string is input by a free keyword, but in that case, it is simple. Cannot be obtained by searching for "Morning XX" by simple character string comparison.

Therefore, when searching using the keyword described in the individual information downloaded from the EPG provider, the search keyword is "Morning ○"
Since "○" is used, it is possible to prevent malfunction such as omission of re-search by using different character strings such as abbreviations for the same performer as a search keyword.

Similarly, with respect to genre information, EP
Since it is designed to be obtained by downloading from the G provider in a list format, the user can use the obtained genre information as a search condition for a favorite program and input a character string for the genre information as well. not,
The hit rate by the search is higher when the desired one is selected from the downloaded genre information and used.

In the search for the favorite program using the search keyword thus obtained by downloading, the favorite program is recorded without failing to make a complicated recording reservation for all the programs that the user likes. Another purpose is to prevent forgetting recording reservations. Then, the favorite programs obtained by the search are recorded with the recording reservation set, and in order to record all the programs reserved for recording in a recording medium such as a hard disk having a predetermined recording capacity, It is necessary to secure recording areas for all programs for which recording reservations have been set.

When the capacity of the recording medium is insufficient, the user is notified of information related to the insufficient capacity.
Then, the user erases a program that has already been viewed or a program having a low degree of preference to secure a recording area.
Further, it is possible to more properly organize the recorded programs if the work for securing such a recording area is performed at a time as close as possible to the time when the recording is actually performed. Furthermore, when there is an electronic program guide for 30 days and the favorite program is notified 29 days ahead, it is difficult to determine the area required for recording during that time, which is not preferable. Also, even if the program table has 8 days, the favorite programs obtained by searching up to 7 days each day will be displayed on the following day rather than being notified up to 7 days ahead at a time. It is preferable to inform the retrieved search result, for example, because the details of the broadcast content in a program related to a recent topic can be determined and the recording reservation can be set based on the determined content.

On the other hand, it is not appropriate that the processing work relating to the organization of the recorded contents of the recording medium is uniquely determined to be performed immediately before the start of recording. It is desirable to be able to set an appropriate date, for example, 1 to 7 days, in accordance with the preference of the user for the processing of such recorded contents. Therefore, the time interval setting until the notification of the favorite program is set by the user. Is preferably carried out by

In this way, the user is informed of the information regarding the favorite program obtained by the search before the predetermined date up to the scheduled program recording date set by the user. Then, if the program search is executed again before the search for the favorite program is notified, the favorite program including the newly added program content is searched, so that the omission of the search can be reduced. The favorite program thus searched is notified to the user, and the recording reservation is made, or the recording is left without making the recording reservation. Then, when making a recording reservation, the recorded programs are organized as necessary.

The number of days before the date of notification of the favorite program is preferably broadcasted depends on the user. When the date is set to, for example, one day, the broadcast programs of today and tomorrow are the programs to be searched for in preference. Therefore, when the electronic program guide can be acquired as a program guide for broadcasting up to n days (where n is a positive integer) ahead, the predetermined date is set to the number of 1 to (n-1). .

The program notification function relating to the search result of the favorite program provided by the taste search of the program in this way is, for example, "If there is such a program, it may be a program that I would like to see, so please tell me." This is a search operation of a favorite program performed by requesting the device.

As a keyword for the program search, for example, if an actress □□ Norika fan wants to record all the programs in which she appears, the performer name keyword is □
□ You can search the program information as Norika, and if you want to record the drama in which □□ Norika appears, the performer name is □□ Norika, the genre is drama, and those two search conditions are ANDed Just specify to search.

In this way, a plurality of conditions can be designated by AND or OR, and those search conditions can be used as a plurality of search condition sets.
Next, a setting method for the favorite program search will be described. Figure 2
An example of a search condition setting screen is shown in FIG.

(A) shown in the figure is a search condition setting screen for searching programs by performer name and genre name.
It is possible to input a keyword with a free character string for searching a program for which a high search accuracy cannot be obtained by such a search.

For example, if the user prefers a program called “ΔΔ special”, “ΔΔ special” is used as a keyword, and detailed information is searched for, so that the keyword is used as a program title and the target favorite program. Can be easily searched. In the search using such a free character string, a desired favorite program cannot be searched unless the input character string is an appropriate keyword.

In this way, it is preferable that the search conditions have a plurality of search conditions as a set, and the settings of the search screens on pages 1 to 6 can be registered in the upper part of the search screen shown in (a). It is shown that. And, for example, "□□
It is possible to search for favorite programs by simultaneously using different search conditions such as "Norika" AND "drama", "morning XX", and "△△ special" AND "▽▽ universe" depending on the keyword.

Further, the search condition can be set by "AND" or "OR" depending on performers, genres and keywords. The search condition can be searched by "AND" or "OR" with respect to the conditions of the same category such as the first performer, the second performer, and the keyword. Then, in that case, as shown in (b) of the figure, the performer name is changed by selecting the performer name from the pull-down menu of the genre, and the two performers are used as search conditions. You can search for favorite programs.

In this way, re-search conditions can be registered by selecting a keyword for the search item shown on the left side from the pull-down menu on the right side and selecting "AND" or "OR". A favorite program is automatically searched according to the registered search conditions.

The period to be searched is the number of days described above, and if the search conditions do not change, the search is performed once a day each time the date is updated. A number is attached to each of the search conditions, and the number is referred to in a program notification list described later.

When the favorite programs are searched in this way,
The program will be added to the list and will have a new notification flag. The state with the new notification flag is
"New notice" on the front panel of the broadcast program recorder
By blinking the LED, it is possible to notify the user that a favorite program is newly searched and obtained even if the power source of the broadcast program recording device is off (standby state).

FIG. 3 shows a display example of the "new notice" LED showing a state in which a favorite program is newly searched. The notification of the presence of the new search favorite program to the user in this way may be displayed by being multiplexed with the video signal output from the broadcast program recording device.

FIG. 4 shows a display example of the new notification icon displayed in a multiplexed manner on the video signal. That is, the microcomputer 7
When the electronic program guide stored in the temporary storage memory 78 is searched by 6 and the information relating to the favorite program is obtained, the OSD
73, the signal of the new notification icon is MPEG-2.
The video signal decoded by the decoder 72 is multiplexed and displayed.

In this way, when the broadcast program recording apparatus receives a program signal, records, or reproduces a recorded program, the "new notice" icon is superimposed and displayed on the displayed video signal for use. Will be notified. The characters displayed superimposed are displayed in different colors depending on whether they are in the state of new notification or not, for example, when they are new from the day before.
Alternatively, there is also a method of displaying with different shapes and separately displaying the state with new notification to the user so that the new degree can be easily recognized.

On the basis of the "new notice" display notified in this way, the user operates the notice menu key of the remote controller 95, for example, to display the notice program list. FIG. 5 shows a display example of the notification program list.

In the figure, the programs already reserved for recording are arranged in order of the broadcast date and time, and the programs reserved for recording are marked with a mark "○" in a circle. In addition, the newly searched programs are marked with ▽ and ○.
Marks are combined! It is marked. After such a mark, the program title name, broadcast channel,
And page numbers related to the search conditions shown in FIG. 2 described above.

When the program name shown in this way is selected by, for example, the arrow key of the remote controller 95, detailed information and explanation about the program are displayed at the bottom of the screen. When recording or viewing is desired by the information presented to the user, the recording or viewing button is selected, and the recording reservation or viewing reservation of the program is set by operating the decision button of the remote controller 95. It

When these settings are made at a later date, or when a program reserved for recording is to be set again at a later date, the user presses the hold button. Also,
When the result obtained by the automatic search is a program having a low degree of preference, the delete button is operated to delete the searched program.
Then, when the search keyword is corrected so as to prevent such a program with a low degree of preference from being searched, the correction button is pressed to display the search condition screen shown in FIG. The search condition described at the page number related to the search number is corrected.

Here, as one operation method relating to a program having a low degree of preference, there is a method of deleting with the delete button as described above. As another method, there is also a method of automatically erasing a program not marked with a circled "Y" when ending the display of the list of favorite program guides. In the case of the automatic deletion, for example, when there is only one user, the display screen can be closed so that there is no new notification, so that the user can delete the low-preference search program. Since the setting operation is omitted, it is less troublesome.

On the other hand, when there are a plurality of users, for example, when the broadcast program recording device is shared by members of the family, the plurality of users individually display the notification program list. It will be. Then, depending on the parents and children who are the users, different search conditions may be registered and used. Further, for example, the favorite program when the child displays the notification program list may be the favorite program obtained by the search with the search condition set by the parent.

When there are a plurality of users as described above, it is not preferable that the new notification display is deleted by displaying the notification program list. The new notification display is made non-display after the parent has returned home and the notification program list has been checked.

Regarding the non-display of such a new notification screen to be displayed, recording reservation of the programs in the notification program list,
When holding the operation as it is without making a viewing reservation or deleting it, the state with new notification is retained. However, a search program whose broadcast end time has passed is automatically deleted from the notification program list. Then, the deletion may result in a state of no new notification. Whether to leave the program reserved for recording in the notification program list is a specification related to the device design.

In the program list that is first displayed by the operation in the new notification state, the program name newly obtained by the search is displayed in a conspicuous manner to the user.
That is, the favorite programs are searched once a day, for example, when the date changes. Then, among the programs newly retrieved at that time, the program having the shortest period up to the broadcast date and time is focused so as to be conspicuous and displayed in the program list.

When the program obtained by the search is a program having a high degree of preference, it is preferable to reserve the recording with a small number of operations. If the recordable capacity of the recording medium is insufficient at the time of recording reservation, the recording capacity is increased by, for example, deleting the recorded program, and then the recording reservation is made. Then, when there is a considerable time before the broadcast date and time, the program recorded during that time may be viewed and then deleted, and the recording area of the medium may be secured to reserve the recording.

Such a recording reservation method is made by the intention of the user. Then, when a favorite program that matches the specified search condition is obtained by searching, a program other than notifying the user of the existence of the favorite program is deleted, for example, a program for which a predetermined period has elapsed after recording. Make sure that the new program is recorded on the existing program on the device side, such as overwriting the newly searched program, that is, the so-called "good care", which is against the user's will. ing.

When the user makes an operation to make a reservation setting such as recording, the setting contents are displayed with the recording reservation icon attached to the corresponding program in the electronic program guide. The electronic program guide is displayed together with, for example, a manually set weekly recording reservation program.

When the program reserved for recording is broadcast, the program is recorded on the recording medium. A recording medium having a high access speed, such as a hard disk, has an access capability capable of recording a plurality of programs even if a plurality of programs are reserved at the same time.
However, in the case of a normal broadcast program recorder, MPEG-
Since the recording unit for generating the bit stream signal, such as the 2 encoder 53, usually has only one system, two programs cannot be compressed and encoded at the same time and recorded.

Therefore, when a mark for recording different programs at the same time is added to the electronic program guide, the user is presented with a selection of which program should be prioritized for recording. The choice is to cancel the recording reservation of the program with a low degree of preference, start recording the next program after the program that started recording first, or stop recording the program that started recording first. This is a selection operation relating to whether to record from the beginning of the next program.

As described above, the keyword related to the user's favorite program set in advance is used to automatically search for the favorite program, and the user is notified of the list of notification programs related to the favorite program obtained by the automatic search. The recording reservation is set when the user operates the recording reservation.
The set recording reservation program is displayed with a mark relating to recording on the electronic program guide, and when the recording of the program broadcast at the same time is reserved, which program is preferentially recorded? It is presented to the user and the recording method of those programs can be selected.

Therefore, the information program list obtained by the search is the favorite program information already obtained by the search, or the information program list is sent before the predetermined broadcast date set by the user. The user is notified of a list of favorite programs obtained by searching on the day that is performed. Then, the recording area is secured by, for example, deleting a program with a low degree of preference recorded on the recording medium by the user, and the favorite program selected from the notification program list is recorded.

In the broadcast program recording apparatus shown in this example, viewing reservations can be set in addition to recording reservations. In addition to the function of displaying the program on the monitor TV, the viewing reservation is supplied to, for example, another broadcast program recording device that detects a video signal output from the broadcast program recording device and starts recording, and the recording is performed by the device. It is also envisioned that a recording function such as that performed will be used.

The recording reservation made by the user directly operating the broadcast program recording device has been described above. When the recording reservation made in this way is controlled and performed from a remote place, it is suitable for a user with a wide range of action. Next, a method of performing the reservation operation described above using the electronic mail function will be described.

The e-mail function notifies the user of the list of news programs obtained by the search, and the recording reservation is set by replying the reply mail to the mail. is there.

Further, it is possible to delete a program having a low degree of preference from the programs in the notification program list. Alternatively, the program returns a mail saying that the program has not been searched for a preferable favorite program and that the program has a low preference level, that is, a “miss”.

In the recording reservation service that has been practically used for recording reservation by e-mail, when a user selects a program to be reserved for recording from the website of the service provider, the selected program is selected. The recording reservation mail is transmitted from the service provider to the recording device of the user to be reserved for recording. On the recording device side, the mail is received by a personal computer that complies with the user's "standard for recording reservation by mail" or the like, and is recorded in a recording medium built in the personal computer. Alternatively, a modulated infrared ray for remote control communication is transmitted from the personal computer to the recording device, and recording reservation is set.

The recording reservation by the electronic mail shown in this embodiment is different from the recording reservation made by using the electronic program guide provided on the above website. That is, the recording reservation can be set by returning the reply mail to the electronic mail transmitted from the broadcast program recording apparatus, and the recording reservation can be set without browsing the website.

According to the recording reservation method shown in the next embodiment, the user can return home for many days on a business trip by sending the notification program list mail relating to the recording reservation setting to the user's mobile phone, for example. Even when it is not possible, you can set the recording reservation from a remote location. Then, the recording reservation function is operated as a recording reservation function which is an extension of the program notification function described above.

As a matter of course, it is possible to make a recording reservation by using the service provided by the above website by using the personal computer compatible with the net remote controller. On the other hand, in the recording reservation method described with the following embodiment, the recording reservation can be set more easily based on the information of the searched favorite programs.

The program reservation method by the electronic mail will be further described. First, as a matter to be taken into consideration when making a recording reservation by using an electronic mail, there is a countermeasure against a mischievous mail taken by a third party. That is, it is necessary to prevent the settings such as the recording reservation from being made by the electronic mail sent from other than the authorized user.

There is a method of checking the password to prevent the recording reservation setting made by an invalid e-mail. The method is to write the unique character string in the notification mail transmitted by the broadcast program recording device, and if the reply mail does not have the character string, the mail is not correct.

Then, there is a method of transmitting the peculiar character string as digest data obtained by subjecting detailed information of the program to hash function processing, for example. In addition, when the character string corresponding to the password is not written at the time of replying, the broadcast program recording device is set to ignore the reply mail, so that a third party other than the person himself / herself can use the mobile phone of the person. Even if the content of the received mail is viewed by, for example, the reply of the mischievous mail can be prevented unless the password is known.

Next, there is a difference between a case where a recording reservation is made using the above-mentioned website and a case where a recording reservation is made by a reply mail which is performed with respect to a transmission mail transmitted by the broadcast program recording apparatus described here. I will describe.

First, in a method in which a predetermined program is selected from the electronic program guide presented on the Web site and an electronic mail for recording reservation relating to the selected program is transmitted to the broadcast program recording device, If the contents of the electronic program guide on the website and the electronic program guide of the broadcast program recording device do not match, the normal recording reservation operation may not be performed.

For example, in late-night broadcasting, a plurality of program names may be displayed together. Regarding the collectively displayed program names, it is described that the program names selected on the Web site and the program names in the electronic program guide held by the broadcast program recording device side are different program names despite being the same broadcast. In this case, the broadcast program recording device cannot specify the program and schedule the recording by the above-mentioned method. However, in the case of the recording reservation for the reply mail to the mail transmitted from the broadcast program recording device, the program names do not conflict, so that the recording setting of the favorite program is normally performed.

Further, the recording reservation service of the broadcast program by the Web site is a service which is generally intended for general compatible devices, and has only the reservation setting function of common contents which is usually required. As the recording service function, for example, the settings such as the recording mode related to the bit rate of recorded digital data may differ depending on the manufacturer of the recording device and the manufacturing model. It is difficult for a service provided by a website where many users use a certain recording reservation setting function.

However, in the case of the recording reservation setting executed by the reply mail returned to the mail transmitted from the broadcast program recording apparatus described above, the recording according to the recording apparatus having such individual recording setting specifications is different. It is possible to easily deal with reservation settings.

To do this, the broadcast program recording apparatus may send a mail describing a plurality of options relating to the recording modes that can be set, and the user may select a desired option depending on the presented options. The selection of the options is, for example, selection of a proper usage method such that the recording is reserved by the high image quality mode with a large bit rate when the program is a movie, and by the low image quality mode with a small bit rate when the program is a news program. .

Further, the broadcast program recording apparatus transmits a mail having contents selected in advance as a selection of a recording mode defined by a default value, and the user side selects the contents of the selected option as appropriate. If the reply is changed to, the replyed option is used to make the recording reservation.

Furthermore, since the broadcast program recording apparatus also has the remaining capacity information relating to the recordable data amount, and the recording mode relating to the program to be reserved for recording and the information relating to the data amount required for recording, let's record it. For example, the user can be notified of information such as that the highest image quality mode and the high image quality mode cannot be selected, or that the recorded program cannot be recorded because the free space is insufficient if the recorded program is not deleted.

Next, the description of the electronic mail transmitted from the broadcast program recording device side to the user side and including the above-mentioned information regarding the recording capacity will be described. FIG. 6 shows an example of description related to a notification mail transmitted from the broadcast program recording device side.

In the mail, information on a favorite program obtained by searching the electronic program guide, whether or not to reserve the recording of the program, and a method of selecting the recording mode when the recording is reserved are described. There is. That is, if this mail is ignored, the recording reservation is not made, but if the recording mode is selected and the reply mail is transmitted, the recording reservation is set according to the recording mode.

The recording modes are SP mode (high image quality), LP mode (standard), EP mode (long time),
And SEP mode (super long time). Then, when the user sets a recording reservation, one of the recording modes is selected depending on whether the image quality is prioritized or the recording area is prioritized, and the selected recording mode is returned by the reply mail. .

FIG. 7 shows a description example of a reply mail returned from the user. In this description example, a reply mail is described by citing the received mail. A quotation mark ">" is added to the head of the line of the received mail. Then, “2” is described and transmitted by the sender between the lines following “> this line”. Then, the reply mail described in this way can be easily created. That is, it is not necessary to describe the control command for controlling the recording device, and the recording reservation is set on the broadcast program recording device side by selecting the presented option and creating the reply mail.

The reply mail described in this way is returned to the broadcast program recording device side. On the broadcast program recording device side that has received the reply mail, the character code described in the mail transmitted in the past is compared with the character code of the reply mail. For example, when the description related to the searched program is returned as the same description, the reply mail is determined to be a valid mail. Then, on the broadcast program recording device side, the recording reservation is set in the returned recording mode.

In this description example, the LP mode is selected,
This relates to the operation of recording reservation in that mode. However, when the free space of the recording medium of the broadcast program recording device is small and the recording is possible only in the EP mode or the SEP mode, the mail described in the recording mode capable of recording in the free space is transmitted to the user.

FIG. 8 is a description example of a notification mail transmitted from the broadcast program recording device side when the recording capacity cannot be sufficiently secured. In the figure, SP and L in the recording mode
Since the recording capacity of P is insufficient, the recording reservation cannot be set.
It is described that the No. SEP mode can be selected.

As described above, an electronic mail is transmitted from the broadcast program recording device side to the user side, and a reply mail in which the transmitted mail is quoted is transmitted from the user side to the broadcast program recording device side, thereby broadcasting. The recording reservation method of the favorite program performed on the program recording device side has been described.

Next, a computer program for executing recording reservation of a favorite program on the broadcast program recording device side by a computer will be described. FIG. 9 shows a flowchart relating to a computer program for setting recording reservation of a program, and its operation will be described.

First, the EPG decoder 56 receives a signal related to an electronic program guide from an EPG provider connected to the Internet or the like in step (S) 11 or a signal transmitted accompanying a broadcast program. To be done. Then, the received signal is decoded to obtain the electronic program guide data.

Next, the acquired electronic program guide data is the OS
The electronic program guide signal for display is converted by D73, and the converted signal is supplied to the monitor TV 90. An electronic program guide is displayed there, and keyword information for searching a favorite program from the electronic program guide is also displayed.

At S12, the remote controller 9 is operated by the user.
The arrow key 5 and the enter key are operated to set the keyword relating to the favorite program. In S13, the favorite program described in the electronic program guide is searched using the set keyword. Since the electronic program guide has only program data for about one week, the favorite program is searched, for example, by searching the electronic program guide updated once a day.

In this way, the favorite program information relating to the favorite program obtained by searching with the search keyword set by the user is stored in the temporary storage memory 78 in S14. In the next S15, the difference between the stored broadcast time of the favorite program and the current time is detected, and S11 to S14 are repeated until the interval of the difference is within 3 days, for example.

When the difference interval is detected as within 3 days, the program searched in S16 is, for example, a program for which a recording reservation is set every week, and it is necessary to newly set the recording reservation by the user. If not, the operation is returned to step 11.

When the recording reservation of the program obtained by the search is not made, the program obtained by the search is displayed in S17. That is, the notification lamp is turned on at a predetermined position of the broadcast program recording apparatus shown in FIG. Further, the notification icon shown in FIG. 4 described above is displayed. The user who has been notified of the presence of the favorite program searched by these displays operates the remote control key or the like to display the notification program list shown in FIG. 5 on the monitor TV 90.

In the next step S18, the user operates the remote controller or the like based on the displayed screen to select the recording reservation, viewing reservation, operation hold or delete button of the retrieved program. . Therefore, when the operation hold or the deletion is selected, the operation from S11 is repeatedly executed. Then, especially when the deletion is selected, S
It is checked whether or not the search keyword set in 12 is appropriate, and the keyword or the setting content for searching the preferred favorite program is corrected if necessary.

When the recording reservation or the viewing reservation is selected in S18, the recording reservation or the viewing reservation is set in S19. In the next S20, the operations from S11 are repeatedly executed until the operation of ending the search operation of the favorite program by the keyword is detected.

The operation of the computer program for executing the microcomputer 76 incorporated in the broadcast program recording apparatus has been described above together with the control operation of the related circuit blocks. The computer program executed in this manner is stored in the server of the program provider, and the user accesses the server, for example, via the Internet to allow the computer of the broadcast program recording apparatus to store the computer program. The program is downloaded and used.

The computer program is a CD
It is also recorded on a recording medium such as, and the recording medium is reproduced by the user and downloaded to the computer of the broadcast program recording apparatus.

As described above, the favorite programs are searched by using the keyword information relating to the favorite programs transmitted accompanying the electronic program guide or by using the keywords individually input by the user. It It does not require the complicated work of visually locating a favorite program from a printed program guide or the like and making a recording reservation as in the related art.

Such a recording method can also be used for recording reservation by a normal VTR. A hard disk recorder using a hard disk having excellent random accessibility as a recording medium, and a VDR (Video Disc Recorde).
r) and the like, and the more preferable operation described above is performed.

This is because the hard disk recorder can record for a long time without exchanging the recording medium and has a function of easily searching and reproducing the recorded program. In the broadcast program recording device having such a function, a user can record a plurality of favorite programs without exchanging recording media. Then, the viewer has a feature that he or she can reproduce a plurality of recorded programs in a desired order in which he / she wants to watch.

That is, the conventional user has been acting in such a manner that his / her life pattern matches the time of the broadcast program. On the other hand, when the recording reservation function of the broadcast program recording apparatus described above is used, the user can incorporate the time to watch the recorded program into his / her life pattern. Therefore, the user can act in a pattern centered on himself.

[0126] Also, terrestrial digital broadcasting will be started from 2003, and the electronic program guide will be transmitted in the broadcasting. Although terrestrial digital broadcasting is a broadcasting that replaces the current terrestrial analog broadcasting, many receiving devices and recording devices for receiving terrestrial digital broadcasting will be introduced to the market in the future. Many of these devices are equipped with a recording reservation function using the above electronic program guide, and it is expected that the above-mentioned preferable program recording reservation function will be used.

The recording reservation in the broadcast program recording device has been described above in detail. And, the recording medium used for the medium part of the device is mainly the hard disk,
The recording medium has a predetermined recording capacity, and a similar device can be configured using a recording medium other than the hard disk as long as the medium can be accessed at high speed. Other recording media such as a magneto-optical disk, a RAM type or a RW type DVD, and a semiconductor memory type recording medium can be used for the device.

[0128]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the existence of the favorite program information obtained by searching the electronic program guide information by using the favorite program keyword preset by the user is compared with the broadcast start time. Then, the information is displayed to the user before a predetermined time. The user displays the favorite program information and makes a recording reservation for the desired favorite program. Therefore, there is an effect that it is possible to provide a method of reserving a broadcast program in which only the programs suitable for the user's taste can be recorded as the recorded contents of the recording medium for recording the reserved program.

Further, according to the invention of claim 2, the identification display is performed for the favorite program information different from the favorite program for which the recording reservation is already set. In addition to the effect, a reservation method for broadcast programs that can set recording reservations for desired favorite program information and can record only suitable programs that match the recorded contents of the recording medium to the user's taste is provided. There is an effect that can be done.

According to the third aspect of the invention, the identification display is performed by turning on the identification display lamp or displaying the identification display mark on the display unit receiving the image. In addition to the effect described in Item 1 or 2, the effect of providing a reservation method of a broadcast program that can easily set a recording reservation and can record only a suitable program that matches the recorded content of the recording medium with the taste of the user is provided. is there.

According to the invention of claim 4, since the identification display is displayed together with the recordable information rate, in addition to the effect of claim 1 or 2, the setting of the recording reservation is recorded. There is an effect that it is possible to provide a method of reserving a broadcast program that can perform both the rate and can record a suitable program that matches the recorded content of the recording medium with the taste of the user.

According to the invention of claim 5, since the identification display is adapted to transmit the retrieved program information to the user by electronic mail, in addition to the effect of claim 1 or 2, the recording reservation is made. There is an effect that it is possible to provide a method of reserving a broadcast program in which the setting can be performed at a remote location and only the suitable program that matches the recorded content of the recording medium to the user's taste can be recorded.

According to the sixth aspect of the invention, the reservation setting such as recording is performed when an electronic mail including the favorite program information is received via a predetermined network. Therefore, in addition to the effect of claim 5, there is provided a method for reserving a broadcast program in which the recording reservation can be set in a remote place and only the suitable programs can be recorded according to the user's taste. There is an effect that can be done.

According to the invention of claim 7, the existence of the favorite program information obtained by searching the electronic program guide information by using the favorite program keyword set in advance by the user is determined with respect to the broadcast start time. Then, the information is displayed to the user before a predetermined time. The user displays the favorite program information and makes a recording reservation for the desired favorite program. Therefore, the recorded content of the recording medium for recording the reserved program can effectively provide the structure of the broadcast program recording apparatus capable of recording only the suitable program according to the taste of the user.

According to the invention of claim 8, the existence of the favorite program information obtained by searching the electronic program guide information by using the favorite program keyword set in advance by the user is compared with the broadcast start time. Then, the information is displayed to the user before a predetermined time. The user displays the favorite program information and makes a recording reservation for the desired favorite program. Therefore, it is possible to provide a broadcast program reservation program for executing the computer to record only the programs suitable for the user's taste as the recorded contents of the recording medium for recording the reserved programs.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic block configuration of a broadcast program recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a keyword setting screen for searching for favorite programs according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a display example of a “new notice” lamp indicating the existence of a search favorite program according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a display example of a notification icon indicating the presence of a search favorite program according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a display example of a notification program list according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a description example of a notice mail transmitted from the broadcast program recording apparatus side according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 shows a description example of a reply mail returned from the user side according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a description example of a notification mail transmitted from the broadcast program recording apparatus side according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram exemplifying a flow of a computer program for performing recording reservation setting of a program according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

40 Broadcast program recorder 50 recording section 51 TV tuner 52 A / D converter 53 MPEG-2 encoder 54 Stream Analyzer 55 Buffer memory 56 EPG Decoder 60 Media Department 61 Hard disk recording / reproducing device 63 hard disk 65 write / read controller 70 Playback section 71 buffer memory 72 MPEG-2 decoder 73 OSD 74 D / A converter 76 Microcomputer 78 Temporary storage memory 79 Remote control interface 90 monitor TV 95 remote control

Front page continuation (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) H04N 5/44 H04N 5/44 D 5D110 5/445 Z 5/445 5/781 510K 5/765 5/91 L 5 / 781 7/08 A 7/025 G11B 27/02 K 7/03 7/035 (72) Inventor Shinichi Hoshino 3-12 Moriya-cho, Kanagawa-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa Japan Victor Company of Japan (72) Inventor Goto Nobuyuki 3-12 Moriya-cho, Kanagawa-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa F-term (reference) within Victor Company of Japan, Ltd. 5C025 CA09 CB08 DA05 5C052 AA01 AB04 DD04 5C053 FA23 LA06 LA07 LA11 LA14 5C063 AB05 DA03 EB32 EB33 5D044 AB04 AB03 BC12 DE47 DE49 DE54 GK08 GK12 HL11 5D110 AA13 AA27 AA29 BB25 BB27 CA05 CA06 CA42 DA02 DA11 EA07

Claims (8)

[Claims] Claims: 1. Acquiring electronic program guide information in which a program name and a program description relating to a broadcast program are described, and relating to keyword information relating to a favorite program preset by a user and attributes of the favorite program. The favorite program information is retrieved from the acquired electronic program guide information by using at least one of the genre information, and the recording reservation or viewing reservation of the favorite program is set based on the obtained favorite program information. In the method of reserving a broadcast program, a first step of obtaining the favorite program information by searching the acquired electronic program guide information every first predetermined period; and a broadcast program related to the obtained favorite program information. A second step of performing an identification display for identifying the presence of the favorite program information at the time when the difference between the broadcast start time and the current time reaches a second predetermined period, Based on the displayed favorite program information, when an operation for recording reservation of the favorite program broadcast according to the favorite program information is performed, a third step of setting recording reservation or viewing reservation of the favorite program, A method for reserving a broadcast program, characterized by having the following. 2. The identification display in the second step is
2. The method for reserving a broadcast program according to claim 1, wherein identification display is performed on the favorite program information relating to the favorite program different from the broadcast program for which the recording reservation has already been set. 3. The identification display in the second step is
3. The method for reserving a broadcast program according to claim 1, wherein the identification display lamp is turned on or an identification display mark is displayed on a display for displaying the received broadcast program. 4. In the second step, it is displayed that the recording area for recording the broadcast program reserved for recording is insufficient and recording reservation cannot be set, or recording rate at which recording reservation can be set. 3. A method for reserving a broadcast program according to claim 1, wherein information is displayed. 5. In the second step, the electronic mail described including the obtained favorite program information is transmitted to a preset mail address via a network. The method for reserving a broadcast program according to claim 1 or 2. 6. In the third step, when a reply mail to the e-mail described including the favorite program information is received, the reply information is described based on the description information described in the returned e-mail. 6. The method for reserving a broadcast program according to claim 5, wherein recording reservation or viewing reservation of the favorite program is set. 7. An electronic program guide information in which a program name and a program description relating to a broadcast program are described is acquired, and keyword information relating to a favorite program preset by a user and attributes of the favorite program are related. The favorite program information is retrieved from the acquired electronic program guide information by using at least one of the genre information, and the recording reservation or viewing reservation of the favorite program is set based on the obtained favorite program information. In the broadcast program recording device, a favorite program information acquisition unit for searching the acquired electronic program guide information for each first predetermined period to obtain the favorite program information, and a broadcast program related to the acquired favorite program information. Identification display means for identifying and displaying the presence of the favorite program information at the time when the difference between the broadcast start time and the current time reaches the second predetermined period, and the identified and displayed taste. And a reservation setting means for setting recording reservation or viewing reservation of the favorite program when an operation relating to recording reservation of the favorite program broadcast according to the favorite program information is performed based on the program information. A broadcast program recording device characterized by: 8. An electronic program guide information in which a program name and a program description relating to a broadcast program are described is acquired, and keyword information relating to a favorite program preset by a user and an attribute of the favorite program are related. Using at least one of the genre information, the preference program information is retrieved from the acquired electronic program guide information, and based on the obtained preference program information, recording reservation or viewing reservation of the favorite program is performed by a computer. In a program for recording reservation of a broadcast program for executing and setting the above, a first step of searching the acquired electronic program guide information for each first predetermined period to obtain the favorite program information; To identify the existence of the favorite program information at the time when the difference between the broadcast start time and the current time of the broadcast program related to the selected favorite program information reaches the second predetermined period. A second step of performing an identification display; and, based on the identified and displayed favorite program information, when an operation relating to the recording reservation of the favorite program broadcast according to the favorite program information is performed, the recording reservation of the favorite program is performed. Alternatively, a program for reserving a broadcast program, characterized by causing a computer to execute a third step of setting a viewing reservation.