JP2008166869A - Broadcasting signal receiver - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a broadcasting signal receiver cooperating with an external apparatus in tuning a selected channel. <P>SOLUTION: A television receiver 1 comprises: a light receiving part 1h for receiving tuning instruction signals from a remote controller 4; and a control part 24 for confirming whether or not an instructed channel can be tuned to a recorder 101 when the instructed channel cannot be tuned, instructing to tune the specified channel to the recorder 101 when the recorder 101 can tune the specified channel, and performing control so as to input broadcasting signals tuned and received by the recorder 101. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a broadcast signal receiving apparatus such as a television receiver.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in order to be able to receive a broadcast that cannot be received by a tuner of a television receiver, there is an apparatus that connects an external device to the television receiver so that the broadcast can be received.
For example, a channel selection device has been proposed that allows a MUSE decoder to be connected to a television receiver so as to receive a MUSE broadcast (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

The channel selection apparatus according to the proposal is provided with a memory circuit that stores in advance whether a signal from the built-in tuner or a signal from the MUSE decoder is selected according to a channel selected by the user. According to the channel selection device, when receiving a MUSE broadcast, the user can view the MUSE broadcast only by selecting a channel without performing an input switching operation to the MUSE decoder.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 15-91430

  However, for example, even if the channel selected by the user can be selected by the tuner of the television receiver, when the tuner is set and used for recording of another channel, the tuner is The broadcast of the selected channel cannot be used for reception.

  That is, in the channel selection device described above, the television receiver and the external device to be used are fixed in advance for each channel. Therefore, when channel selection is impossible with the television receiver, the external device is switched to the external device. It was not linked to select the channel with the device.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a broadcast signal receiving apparatus that enables linkage with an external device in a channel selection operation for a selected channel.

  According to one aspect of the present invention, a broadcast signal receiving apparatus connectable to an external device capable of receiving a broadcast signal, a channel selection instruction receiving unit that receives a channel selection instruction signal, and an instruction by the channel selection instruction signal When the designated channel cannot be selected, the external device is checked whether the designated channel can be selected, and when the external device can select the designated channel, A broadcast signal reception comprising: a control unit configured to instruct the external device to select the designated channel and to control the external device to select and receive the broadcast signal received. An apparatus can be provided.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to realize a broadcast signal receiving apparatus that enables linkage with an external device in a channel selection operation for a selected channel.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
(First embodiment)
(Constitution)
First, the configuration of the television receiver according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a configuration of a television receiver according to the present embodiment.

  In FIG. 1, a television receiver 1 as a broadcast signal receiving apparatus includes an antenna terminal 1a for connecting an antenna 2 for receiving BS broadcast and CS broadcast, and an antenna 3 for receiving terrestrial digital broadcast and analog broadcast. An antenna terminal 1b for connection, an external input terminal 1c for inputting an analog signal from the outside, a LAN terminal 1d for connection to a LAN (local area network), a USB terminal 1e for USB connection, An i-LINK terminal 1f for i-LINK connection, an HDMI terminal 1g for HDMI connection, a light receiving unit 1h for receiving a command signal from a remote controller (hereinafter abbreviated as a remote controller) 4, and a B-CAS card And a card holder 1i for mounting 5.

  For example, the user can select a channel of a program to be viewed by operating the remote controller 4. A command signal corresponding to the channel selected by the user, that is, a channel selection instruction signal is output from the remote controller 4 in the form of a signal such as an infrared signal, and is input to the control unit 24 via the light receiving unit 1h. The television receiver 1 selects a channel corresponding to the selected program according to the command signal.

  The television receiver 1 is connected to the BS / CS tuner 11 connected to the antenna terminal 1a, the terrestrial digital tuner 12 and the analog tuner 13 connected to the antenna terminal 1b, and the BS / CS tuner 11, respectively. PSK demodulator 14, OFDM demodulator 15 connected to terrestrial digital tuner 12, analog demodulator 16 connected to analog tuner 13, PSK demodulator 14, OFDM demodulator 15, and analog demodulator 16 A signal processing unit 17 to which signals are input is included.

  The television receiver 1 further includes an audio processing unit 18 to which the audio data signal from the signal processing unit 17 is input, a speaker 19 to which the audio signal from the audio processing unit 18 is input, and an OSD (on-screen display). Display) signal generation unit 20, graphic processing unit 21 to which image data signals from signal processing unit 17 and OSD signal generation unit 20 are input, and video processing unit 22 to which image data signals from graphic processing unit 21 are input And a video display unit 23 such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) connected to the video processing unit 22. The program of the channel selected and received is displayed on the video display unit 23 and can be viewed by the user.

The television receiver 1 further includes a control unit 24 including a CPU, an operation unit 25 that is a user operation panel, and a card interface (hereinafter abbreviated as I / F) 26 connected to the card holder 1i. Communication I / F 27 connected to LAN terminal 1d, USB I / F 28 connected to USB terminal 1e, i-LINK I / F 29 connected to i-LINK terminal 1f, and HDMI terminal 1g HDMI I / F30 included.
The control unit 24 is connected to the operation unit 25, the card I / F 26, the communication I / F 27, the USB I / F 28, the i-LINK I / F 29, and the HDMI I / F 30. Further, the control unit 24 includes a CPU 24a, a ROM 24b for storing a processing software program, which will be described later, a processing work RAM 24c, and a nonvolatile memory 24d such as a flash memory. The control unit 24 includes a BS / CS tuner 11, a terrestrial digital tuner 12, an analog tuner 13, a PSK demodulator 14, an OFDM demodulator 15, an analog demodulator 16, a signal processing unit 17, an analog demodulator 20, and a video processing unit. 22 is connected.

  In addition, an external signal such as an RGB signal can be input to the signal processing unit 17 via the external input terminal 1c.

  Overall, when the user operates the remote controller 4 to select a channel that the user desires to view, a tuner corresponding to the selected channel is selected from the BS / CS tuner 11, the terrestrial digital tuner 12, and the analog tuner 13. Accordingly, the corresponding demodulator is selected from the PSK demodulator 14, the OFDM demodulator 15, and the analog demodulator 16. The demodulated signal is processed by the signal processing unit 17 to output an audio data signal and an image data signal. The audio processing unit 18 outputs an audio signal to the speaker 19, and the audio is output from the speaker 19. The graphic processing unit 21 inputs the image data signal and the display data signal from the OSD signal generation unit 20, and outputs the synthesized signal to the video processing unit 22. The video processing unit 22 outputs a video signal to the video display unit 23, and the video display unit 23 displays the video of the content of the channel selected by the user.

  Each tuner, each demodulator, signal processing unit 17, audio processing unit 18, OSD signal generation unit 20, and video processing unit 22 are operated with selection, activation, and the like controlled by various control signals from the control unit 24. The control unit 24 reads the information of the B-CAS card 5 attached to the card holder 1i via the card I / F 26. In addition, the control unit 24 transmits / receives information to / from an external device and outputs control signals via corresponding cables connected to the LAN terminal 1d, the USB terminal 1e, the i-LINK terminal 1f, and the HDMI terminal 1g. Is possible. Here, a recorder 101 with a tuner can be connected to the HDMI terminal 1g. The recorder 101 is, for example, a recorder with a built-in hard disk with a tuner.

  Here, the recorder 101 as an external device includes a BS / CS tuner 111, a terrestrial digital tuner 112, and an analog tuner 113, and a hard disk (not shown) that contains program image data received by each tuner. Or a recording device that stores data in a recording device such as the HDMI terminal 1g. Therefore, the television receiver 1 capable of receiving broadcast signals and the recorder 101 are connected to each other to constitute a broadcast signal receiving system.

  The control unit 24 performs processing and control for operating various circuits such as the tuner and the demodulator described above in accordance with a user operation on the remote controller 4 or the operation unit 25. The control unit 24 reads information from the B-CAS card 5 and uses it for copyright protection of digital broadcast programs and viewing of pay broadcasts. In addition, the control unit 24 connects between the television receiver 1 and an external device such as a server device, a USB memory, or a digital camera connected via the LAN terminal 1d, the USB terminal 1e, and the i-LINK terminal 1f. Send and receive image information.

  In particular, the control unit 24 can input a broadcast signal from the recorder 101, transmit / receive various information to / from the recorder 101, and transmit a control signal to the recorder 101 via the HDMI terminal 1g. Therefore, since the television receiver 1 can transmit and receive video signals, audio signals, data signals, and control signals to and from the recorder 101 via the HDMI terminal 1g, the television receiver 1 Various setting information and the like in the recorder 101 can be read out, the record 101 can be activated, and the image data of the channel received by each tuner can be received.

  As will be described later, the recorder 101 is set so as to be able to transmit and receive information to and from the television receiver 1 via the HDMI terminal 1g even when the power is turned off and in the standby state. In particular, the recorder 101 is configured to be able to transmit to the television receiver 1 information on the state of the power supply and information on channels that the recorder 101 can select.

  As described above, the operation of the television receiver 1 has various control programs stored in the ROM 24, and corresponding programs are read from the ROM 24 and executed in response to operation signals from the remote controller 4.

  The nonvolatile memory 24d stores parameters and the like used for various processes performed by the control unit 24.

(Operation)
The operation of the television receiver 1 according to the above configuration will be described.
In the present embodiment, since the television receiver 1 that is a broadcast signal receiving apparatus has three tuners, it is possible to select three channels. For example, it is assumed that the user views an analog broadcast channel and a terrestrial digital broadcast channel on the two screens in the two-screen display mode. Assume that the analog broadcast is recorded in a built-in storage device or another external device. In this state, it is assumed that the user wants to select another analog broadcast channel and display the program of the other channel on one of the two screens for viewing. In order to make the explanation easier to understand, the following description will be made using an example in which the channel of the analog broadcast currently being viewed and recorded is 8 channels, and another analog broadcast channel selected by the user is 4 channels.

  In such a case, conventionally, the user operates the remote controller 4 and selects the four channels to view another four channels separately from the eight channels currently being viewed and recorded. Even so, in the television receiver 1, the analog tuner 13 has already selected 8 channels and is already used for recording, so it cannot select 4 channels.

  According to the television receiver 1 according to the present embodiment, in such a case, the recorder 101 checks whether or not it is possible to select four channels. 4 channels are selected by a tuner (analog tuner 113 in this example), and broadcast signals are received. The television receiver 1 can switch the display of the video display unit 23 to the external input, so that one of the two screens can be displayed from 8 channels to 4 channels. At this time, the television receiver 1 continues to record eight channels.

  Hereinafter, the operation of the television apparatus 1 will be described. The CPU 24a of the control unit 24 executes the software program stored in the ROM 24b, so that the processing described below is performed.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a flow of processing performed by the control unit 24. The process of FIG. 2 is executed when a channel is selected by the user on the remote controller 4 or the like and the control unit 24 receives a command signal (channel selection instruction signal) related to the selection.
First, the control unit 24 including the CPU 24a determines whether or not the channel designated by the received command signal can be selected by any one of the plurality of tuners (11, 12, 13) of the television receiver 1. (Step S1).

As described above, for example, when the analog tuner 13 has already selected 8 channels for recording, if the 4 channels are selected, the 8 channels cannot be recorded. I cannot tune in.
Therefore, in such a case, the control unit 24 determines that the instructed channel cannot be selected, so that NO is determined in step S1, and the control unit 24 can select the channel instructed by the user to the recorder 101. It is confirmed whether or not (step S2). Specifically, the control unit 24 inquires of the recorder 101 about the power supply state and the operation state.

  Since the television receiver 1 and the recorder 101 are connected via HDMI, if the recorder 101 is in a so-called standby state, information is transmitted between the television receiver 1 and the recorder 101 even when the power is off. Can be sent and received. Therefore, the television receiver 1 can confirm the power state (whether the power is on or off) and the channel that can be selected for the recorder 101.

  In step S2, information on the power supply state and channels that can be selected is transmitted from the recorder 101, so that the control unit 24 can acquire these pieces of information.

  Based on the acquired information, the control unit 24 determines whether or not the recorder 101 can select a channel selected and instructed by the user (step S3). If the acquired channel selectable channel information includes the channel specified by the user, YES is determined in step S3, and the control unit 24 determines the power source of the recorder 101 based on the acquired power source state information. It is determined whether or not is in an on state (step S4).

  When the power source of the recorder 101 is on, YES is determined in step S4, and the signal processing unit 24 switches the screen display of the video display unit 23 to external input and instructs the recorder 101 by the user. A control signal instructing to select the selected channel is output (step S5).

When the power source of the recorder 101 is in the off state, NO is determined in step S4, and the signal processing unit 24 outputs a control signal for turning on the power source to the recorder 101 (step S6), and then the step S5. Execute the process.
And the control part 24 performs the process which displays the program, ie, content of the channel instruct | indicated by the user's channel selection operation (step S7).

  In step S1, if the channel designated by the user can be selected by any of the plurality of tuners (11, 12, 13) of the television receiver 1, the process proceeds to step S7.

  Further, if it is determined in step S3 that the recorder 101 cannot select the channel selected by the user, the process displays an error message (for example, a message such as “cannot be selected”) (step S8). ,finish.

  As described above, according to the television receiver 1 according to the present embodiment, when the channel selected by the user cannot be selected by itself, whether or not the channel can be selected by the recorder 101 which is an external device. If the recorder 101 can select a channel, the selected channel is selected by the recorder 101. As a result, the television receiver 1 can display the program of the channel selected and received by the recorder 101 so that the user can view it.

  Even when the power of the recorder 101 is off, when the recorder 101 performs a channel selection operation, the television receiver 1 outputs an instruction signal for turning on the power of the recorder 101 and turns on the recorder 101. Therefore, since the user does not need to turn on the power of the recorder 101 in advance, the operability is good for the user and the power consumption of the recorder 101 is reduced.

  When the tuning operation in the recorder 101 once turned on is no longer necessary, the control unit 24 outputs an instruction signal to turn off the power to the recorder 101 so that the power of the recorder is turned off. May be. When the channel selection operation in the recorder 101 once turned on is no longer necessary, for example, when the channel designated by the user with the remote controller 4 can be selected with the television receiver 1, the user can select another channel with the remote controller 4. The channel is changed to a new channel, and the changed channel can be selected by the television receiver 1. Therefore, since the recorder 101 once turned on is automatically turned off in this way, the operability is good for the user and the power consumption of the recorder 101 is reduced.

  In the above example, since the tuner that selects the channel designated by the user is used to record other channels, the television receiver 1 selects the channel designated by the user. It explained with the example which judges that it is not possible. However, when the television receiver 1 cannot select the designated channel, for example, the BS / CS tuner is not installed in the television receiver 1, and the channel selected by the tuner not installed is selected. In some cases, it is instructed by the user. Even in such a case, similar to the above-described example, the television receiver 1 can listen to the program of the channel received by the external device 101.

  Furthermore, as a case where it is determined that the channel designated by the user cannot be selected, there is a case where the channel designated by the user's channel designation signal is a channel for which no reception contract is made in the television receiver 1. is there. That is, since the television receiver 1 is a receiver that does not have such a reception contract, it may be determined that the channel instructed by the user cannot be selected. For the recorder 101, there may be a reception contract for the channel designated by the user.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a flow of processing performed by the control unit 24 when a channel that is not subject to the reception contract is designated. The processing of FIG. 3 is also executed when a user selects a channel in the remote controller 4 or the like and the control unit 24 receives a command signal related to the selection. In FIG. 3, the same processes as those in FIG.
First, the control unit 24 determines whether or not the television receiver 1 can view the channel indicated by the received command signal (step S11). At this time, if the channel instructed by the user is a channel for which no reception contract has been made in the television receiver 1, it is determined that viewing is not possible, and the process is NO in step S11, and the process proceeds to step S2. If the channel designated by the user is a channel for which the television receiver 1 has a reception contract, it is determined that viewing is possible, the process is YES in step S11, and the process proceeds to step S7. .
The process of moving to step S2 is the same as in the case of FIG.

As described above, when the reception contract is made for the channel designated by the user, the recorder 101 becomes YES in step S3. Therefore, the user selects the channel by the recorder 101 and views it. Can do.
Therefore, according to the television receiver 1 according to the present embodiment, even when the television receiver 1 cannot select or receive a designated channel, the recorder 101 which is an external device does not receive the channel. Can be selected, or the user can view the program of the channel in the television receiver 1.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.
In the second embodiment, a plurality of recorders each capable of receiving a broadcast signal are connected to the television receiver 1. The television receiver 1 according to the present embodiment allows a recorder capable of selecting a channel designated by the user to select a channel among the plurality of recorders, and views a program of the channel designated by the user. It is what makes it possible.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a configuration of a reception system according to the second embodiment. 3, the same components as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted. 4 differs from FIG. 1 in that the television receiver 1 has a plurality of (in this case, three) HDMI terminals 1gA, 1gB, 1gC, and HDMI I / Fs 30A, 30B, 30C corresponding to these. It is a point.

  Recorders 101A, 101B, and 101C capable of receiving broadcast signals are connected to the plurality of HDMI terminals 1gA, 1gB, and 1gC, respectively.

  Then, the user designates, from the three recorders 101A, 101B, and 101C, the recorder to be determined as to whether or not the channel designated by the user can be selected as described in FIG. 2 or FIG. be able to.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a setting screen for setting a target recorder for determining whether or not channel selection is possible on the screen of the video display unit 23. The screen 201 in FIG. 5 is displayed on the screen of the video display unit 23 when the user performs a predetermined operation using the remote controller 4 or the like. The predetermined operation is, for example, an operation for calling a predetermined screen (for example, “linked channel selection device” screen) from the menu screen.

  Screen 201 includes a pop-up window 202 for designating or setting a recorder to be determined as to whether channel selection is possible. The pop-up window 202 is provided with a setting instruction display unit 203 “Select a device to be linked and selected” and a target device selection unit 203 for selecting target devices corresponding to the three recorders. . The user can select a recorder that is linked to channel selection for the television receiver 1 by moving a cursor or the like in the screen 202 and selecting the “OK” button.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a screen showing a state in which one recorder has been selected as a result of selection by the user. When the user selects a recorder, a selection state display unit 204 indicating the selected state is displayed. The selection status display unit 204 includes characters (characters “linked tuning” in FIG. 5) that are displayed corresponding to the location indicating the selected recorder and indicate that the recorder has been selected. In FIG. 6, the external device A (recorder 101 </ b> A in FIG. 4) is selected, and the characters “linked tuning” are displayed near the display unit indicating the external device A. Therefore, the selection state display unit 204 allows the user to confirm the selected recorder.

  Also, the user can change the recorder linked to the channel selection using this screen 202. When changed, the selection status display unit 204 is displayed corresponding to the location indicating the selected recorder that has been changed and selected.

  As described above, when a channel that cannot be selected by the television receiver 1 is instructed by the user, the channel instructed by the user is selected in the recorder selected and set from the plurality of connected recorders. If it is possible to select the channel, the user can view the broadcast signal received by the recorder with the television receiver 1.

  Note that as a modification of the second embodiment, it is confirmed whether or not a plurality of recorders 101A, 101B, and 101C can be selected in a predetermined order, and the channel designated by the user is selected in the selectable recorder. May be selected.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a flow of processing performed by the control unit 24 when confirming whether or not channel selection is possible for a plurality of recorders. The same processes as those in FIG. 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 7, when it is determined in step S3 that the channel designated by the user cannot be selected for a recorder which is an external device (that is, NO in step S3), the control unit 24 In order to confirm whether or not channel selection is possible, it is determined whether there is an external device that confirms the channel selection possibility (step S21). Here, it is assumed that the confirmation processing in step S2 is performed in a predetermined order for the three recorders 101A, 101B, and 101C.

  For example, if it is determined that channel selection is not possible as a result of checking the first recorder among the three recorders, the channel selection possibility has not been confirmed yet for the remaining two recorders. In step S21, whether there is another recorder to check is set to YES, and the process returns to step S2. Returning to step S2, the processes of steps S2 and S3 are performed for the second selected recorder.

  As a result of confirming the possibility of channel selection for the second recorder, if it is determined that the channel cannot be selected, the remaining one has not yet been confirmed for the possibility of channel selection. If YES in step S21, the process returns to step S2. Returning to step S2, the processes of steps S2 and S3 are performed for the third selected recorder.

  If it is determined that the channel designated by the user can be selected for any of the first to third recorders described above (that is, if YES in step S3), the control unit 24 performs the step as described above. The process from S4 to S7 is executed. Therefore, the television receiver 1 determines whether or not the designated channel can be selected from a plurality of recorders, automatically detects the selectable recorder, and is instructed. Select a channel.

  If it is determined that the channel designated by the user for all the recorders cannot be selected, NO is determined in step S21, the process proceeds to step S8, and the control unit 24 performs a process of displaying an error message. Do.

  As described above, when a plurality of recorders as external devices are connected and the channel designated by the user in the television receiver 1 is not selectable, the recorder set and selected in advance is selected. For each recorder, or in a predetermined order, check whether the channel designated by the user can be selected. If the channel can be selected, the selected recorder is caused to perform the channel selection operation. . Then, the television receiver 1 can be selected by the recorder and receive the broadcast signal, input the broadcast signal from the recorder, and display the program of the channel on the video display unit 23. Can watch programs on channels that cannot be selected by the television receiver 1.

  Even in the television receiver according to the second embodiment, even when the power of a recorder that can be selected is turned off, the television receiver 1 uses the power of the recorder when the recorder performs a channel selection operation. Since the recorder is turned on by outputting an instruction signal to turn on the recorder, the user does not need to turn on the recorder in advance, so that the operability is good for the user and the power consumption of the recorder is reduced. It is.

  Further, as with the television receiver according to the first embodiment, when the channel selection operation in the recorder once turned on is no longer necessary, the control unit 24 instructs the recorder to turn off the power. A signal may be output.

  As described above, according to the television receivers according to the above-described two embodiments, the channel selection operation can be performed on the selected channel in conjunction with the recorder that is an external device. A user can audition a desired program by only selecting a channel on the television receiver without being aware of whether the possible device is a television receiver or a recorder.

  In the above two embodiments, the channel information that can be selected is transmitted / received between the television receiver 1 and the recorder 101, but by transmitting / receiving the information of the channel that cannot be received, You may make it confirm the channel which can be received.

  Furthermore, in the above-described example, the television receiver acquires various types of information from the recorder when the power of the external device is in the standby state, but there is no standby state in which information can be transmitted and received while the power is off. In the case of an external device, the broadcast signal receiving apparatus can perform the process in step S2 of the above-described two embodiments if the power is turned on and information can be sent and received. In that case, the processing of steps S4 and S6 becomes unnecessary.

  In the above-described two embodiments, a television receiver has been described as an example of a broadcast signal receiving apparatus that receives a channel selection instruction signal from a user. However, the broadcast signal receiving apparatus can receive a broadcast signal. If it is an apparatus, a recorder, a set top box, etc. are also included.

  Furthermore, in the above-described two embodiments, various information, control signals, and the like are transmitted and received between the external devices connected to the HDMI terminal. Devices connected to other terminals such as I / F 28 and i-LINK I / F 29 may be used.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the television receiver concerning embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the example of the flow of the process which the control part concerning embodiment of this invention performs. It is a flowchart which shows the example of the flow of the process which a control part performs when the channel which is not a receiving contract object concerning the embodiment of this invention is designated. It is a figure for demonstrating the structure of the receiving system which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of the setting screen for setting the recorder of the object which judges whether the channel selection is possible based on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the screen which shows the state as which one recorder based on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention was selected. It is a flowchart which shows the example of the flow of the process which the control part performs when confirming whether it can channel-select to a some recorder based on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 Television receiver, 1a-1i terminal, 2, 3 antenna, 24 control unit, 101, 101A, 101B, 101C recorder

Claims (10)

A broadcast signal receiving apparatus connectable to an external device capable of receiving a broadcast signal,
A channel selection instruction receiving unit for receiving a channel selection instruction signal;
When the channel indicated by the channel selection instruction signal cannot be selected, the external device is checked whether or not the indicated channel can be selected, and the external device selects the indicated channel. When the channel selection is possible, the control unit controls the external device to select the selected channel, and controls the external device to select and receive the received broadcast signal. When,
A broadcast signal receiving apparatus comprising:   The broadcast signal receiving apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the confirmation is performed by obtaining channel information that allows the channel selection of the external device from the external device.   The case where the designated channel cannot be selected is a case where the designated channel cannot be selected because a channel other than the designated channel is selected. 2. The broadcast signal receiving apparatus according to 2. When the designated channel cannot be selected, it is a case where the designated channel is a channel not subscribed to,
The broadcast signal receiving apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the external device is subscribed to the designated channel. When the designated channel cannot be selected, the broadcast signal receiving apparatus can receive only analog broadcasts, and the designated channel is a digital broadcast channel,
The broadcast signal receiving apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the external device is capable of receiving the digital broadcast.   The control unit inquires of the external device about the power state of the external device. If the power state of the external device is off, the control unit turns on the power of the external device before instructing the channel selection. The broadcast signal receiving apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an on instruction signal is output.   The said control part outputs the off instruction | indication signal which turns off the power supply of the said external apparatus, when the said instruct | indicated channel received after outputting the on instruction | indication signal can be selected. The broadcast signal receiving apparatus described in 1.   The control unit performs display output for displaying an error when the instructed channel cannot be selected and the external device cannot select the instructed channel. The broadcast signal receiving apparatus according to claim 1. Each is a broadcast signal receiving device connectable with a plurality of external devices capable of receiving broadcast signals,
A channel selection instruction receiving unit for receiving a channel selection instruction signal;
When the channel instructed by the channel selection instruction signal cannot be selected, confirmation as to whether or not the instructed channel can be selected is made with respect to the preset external device among the plurality of external devices. When the preset external device can tune the designated channel, the tuning instruction is made to tune the designated channel to the preset external device. A controller that controls the preset external device to select and receive the received broadcast signal; and
A broadcast signal receiving apparatus comprising: Each is a broadcast signal receiving device connectable with a plurality of external devices capable of receiving broadcast signals,
A channel selection instruction receiving unit for receiving a channel selection instruction signal;
When the channel instructed by the channel selection instruction signal cannot be selected, whether or not the instructed channel can be selected is confirmed with respect to the plurality of external devices. In addition, when there is an external device that can select the designated channel, an external device that can select the channel by instructing the external device capable of tuning to select the designated channel. A control unit that controls the device to input a broadcast signal received by selecting a channel;
A broadcast signal receiving apparatus comprising:

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