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Description  |
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to instruments such as video cassette
recorders (VCRs) and the like for performing a reserved video recording of
a broadcast program. More specifically, the present invention relates to a
character input reserved video recording method wherein a program
corresponding to a direct input of a title for that program can be video
recorded. In short, entry of the program title allows reserved video
recording of the corresponding program. An apparatus suitable for
implementing the inventive method is also disclosed.
Korean Patent Application No. 92-16150 is incorporated herein by reference
for all purposes.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Generally, apparatuses, e.g., VCRs and the like, for reserved video
recording of a broadcast program are known. In the known apparatus, a user
inputs information about a broadcast program desired to be video recorded.
Then, the programmed starting time of the reserved video recording is
compared current time, e.g., a clock, in the VCR. As a result of the
comparison, if the starting time corresponds with the current time, the
VCR is activated to record the reserved video program.
It will be noted that the apparatus also determines whether a finishing
time of the reserved video recording has arrived during the video
recording of the reserved program. If the finishing time has arrived, the
apparatus finishes the video recording to thereafter turns off the power
or puts the apparatus into a standby operating mode. If a separate tuner
is included in the VCR, the video recording can be made of the desired
program when the corresponding starting time arrives irrespective of the
operating condition of other video equipment, e.g., a television.
However, in order to perform a typical reserved video recording, a great
deal of information has to be input with respect to the program. Thus,
with the assistance of data sources, e.g., newspapers or television
information magazines, listing information on broadcast programs, the
station channel, starting time of the program (year, month, date, time,
minute), finishing time, repeat mode (NORMAL, DAILY, WEEKLY), speed mode
(SP, LP, SLP) of the VCR and the like can be preset. It will be
appreciated that the information input process about the program can be so
complicated that the user experiences a great deal of inconvenience
because the channel, date, starting time, finishing time and the like have
to be input as numbers.
In order to remove these inconveniences, e.g., as a way to simplify the
reserved video recording, a method for programming has been developed
utilizing a code. More specifically, in Japanese Laid-Open Patent
Application No. Hei 1-168173 (1989), entitled, "Reservation Video
Recording Method" a method has been described for reserved video recording
of a program by entering a code, comparing the code to a code broadcast at
the start of the program and confirming coincidence between the entered
code and the broadcast code. However, because the thus-mentioned method
calls for coding of various programs of each broadcast station, there
arises a problem in that numbers the user has to input gets increased and
the reserved video recording gets impossible when the data carrying the
broadcast programs is fouled up.
Furthermore, in the thus-described method, there is no counter-measure for
coping with the situation where the broadcast plan is suddenly changed,
making the sequential video recording of such serial programs as the soap
operas, mini-series, etc., can not be performed using a DAILY or WEEKLY
video recording mode.
Likewise, the title of the video program can not be confirmed during
confirmation of the reserved program. Thus, there arises another problem
in that the user can not definitely know whether the entered data
corresponds to the program that the user intends to record.
By way of example, in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. Hei 3-88159
(1991), entitled "Program Reserving System" a technique has been proposed
where, when a title of a sought-after program is located in a reservation
mode by way of a database search, a reservation set-up data including the
reservation mode of the corresponding program, channel, starting time,
finishing time and recording start date is generated and the generated
data is transmitted to a recording means to thereby perform a reserved
establishment of the program. In accordance with Japanese Laid-Open Patent
Application No. Hei 3-88159, the recorded program information is provided
on a recording medium such as a as a CD-ROM and the like. However, in the
method thus described, a separate apparatus for searching the CD-ROM is
needed, thus making the method both expensive and inconvenient as well.
The present invention was motivated bey a desire to overcome the
above-mentioned problems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a
character input reserved video recording for performing a reserved video
recording in response to direct input of a program title.
Another object of the present invention to provide a character input
reserved video recording apparatus for performing video recording in
response to direct input of a program title wherein the programming is
simplified. According to one aspect of the invention, the program can be
reservedly video recorded regardless of program changes as well.
These and other objects, features and advantages in accordance with the
present invention are provided by a character input reserved video
recording method, including steps for:
providing a title of a program during a reserved video recording;
encoding the program title input at the providing step to thereby permit
detection of data corresponding to the program title out of received
broadcast program schedule data and comparing the encoded data with the
program schedule data;
when both data are identical, detecting and storing the broadcast program
schedule data to thereby store the same; and
recording the corresponding broadcast program in accordance with the
broadcast program schedule data detected and stored during the previous
step.
These and other objects, features and advantages in accordance with the
present invention are provided by a character input reserved video
recording apparatus, including:
a data input device for providing a title of a program during a reserved
video recording establishment;
a schedule data processor for separating a broadcast program schedule data
from a broadcast signal received through a tuner to thereby store the same
temporarily per data;
a controller for encoding the title input through the data input device to
thereby compare the same with a code of the title stored in the schedule
data processor and to store the corresponding broadcast program schedule
data if they are identical; and
a video recording controller for comparing the broadcast program schedule
data stored in the controller with the broadcast program schedule data
processed at the schedule data processor to thereby output a video
recording control signal if it is determined that the corresponding
broadcast program has been received.
These and other objects, features and advantages of the invention are
disclosed in or apparent from the following description of preferred
embodiments.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention can be
had by reference to the following detailed description taken in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a high level block diagram of a character input reserved video
recording apparatus in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the
present invention;
FIG. 2A through 2C collectively illustrate a general method for entering
character data in the circuitry illustrated in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is an illustration useful in describing the format of a broadcast
program schedule data in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a more detailed illustration of the format of broadcast schedule
data shown in FIG. 3;
FIG. 5A is an illustration of a data packet as shown in FIG. 4;
FIG. 5B depicts the format of a sub-data packet illustrated in FIG. 4;
FIGS. 6 and 7 are flow charts of a character input reserved video recording
method in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 8 is a flow chart for illustrating a process wherein a reserved video
recording data is performed in accordance with the present invention; and
FIG. 9 is a detailed block diagram of a data detector and a latch circuit
illustrated in FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a character input reserved video recording
apparatus in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present
invention, where the character input reserved video recording apparatus
includes a data input device 10 for entering the title of a selected
program during reserved video recording designation, a schedule data
processor for separating a broadcast program schedule data from a
broadcast signal received through a tuner 20 and for temporarily storing
the program schedule data, a controller for encoding the title input
through the data input device 10, for comparing the title with a code of
the title stored in the schedule data processor and for storing the
corresponding broadcast program schedule data if they are identical and a
video recording controller for comparing the broadcast program schedule
data stored in the controller with the broadcast program schedule data
processed by the schedule data processor to thereby output a video
recording control signal when it is determined that the corresponding
broadcast program has been received.
Preferably, the schedule data processor includes a data separator 30 for
separating the broadcast program schedule data from the broadcast signal
received through the tuner 20, a data detector 40 for recognizing the
broadcast program schedule data separated from the data separator 30 per
reserved video recording information data and a latch unit 50 for
temporarily storing the broadcast program schedule data in accordance with
the information recognized by the data detector 40.
The controller can advantageously include a microcomputer 60 for encoding
the program title input through the data input device 10 to thereby output
the same, a comparator 70 for comparing the program title encoded at the
microcomputer 60 with the title data of the program temporarily stored in
the latch unit 50 of the schedule data processor and a reserved program
memory 80 for providing the broadcast program schedule data of
corresponding latch unit 50 through the microcomputer 60 to thereby store
the same if the title data of the program are identical as a result of the
comparison at the comparator 70.
The video recording controller preferably includes a comparator 90 for
generating a video recording control signal used in starting the video
recording after a comparison is made between the data in latch unit 50 of
the schedule data processor and the broadcast program schedule data output
from the microcomputer 60 of the controller if and when both data are
identical. In an exemplary case, the broadcast program schedule data input
through the latch unit 50 of the schedule data processor is decoded by a
decoder 100 to thereby be output to the comparator 0.
It will be noted that the image signal received through the tuner 20 is
output to a display via a display control unit 110. Additionally, the
broadcast program schedule data output from the microcomputer 60 of the
controller is input to the display control unit 110 in order to permit an
on-Screen-Display (OSD) function.
The operational sequence for the apparatus constructed as described with
respect to FIG. 1 will now be described.
The user first provides a program title via data input device 10. According
to one aspect of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the
user can either input a whole program title or part of the title in order
to initiate the reserved video recording. However, it will be appreciated
that it will be easier and more convenient to input only part of the
title. When only part of the title is to be input via device 10, it is
necessary to indicate, e.g., in block letters, a unique word or character
sequence which is needed to perform the reserved program input for the
desired broadcast program. In an exemplary case, a data source, e.g., a
newspaper, a magazine or the like, will include both the broadcast
schedules and the character sequence.
Preferably, when the user inputs the program title, the OSD function
provided by the television or the VCR itself can be utilized. While the
OSD function is being performed, the vowels and consonants of the Korean
Hangul alphabet or, in another exemplary case, the English alphabet are
displayed in a predetermined order on the television screen through the
display control unit 110 and are selected by a cursor. In other words, at
least one of the basic characters is indicated on the screen, e.g., vowels
and consonants of the Korean Hangul alphabet, so that the desired basic
character component unit can be selected to thereby construct the
character in a combinational style. As discussed in greater detail below
with respect to FIG. 2C, the word shown is composed of five characters
which are combined to form two syllables. Furthermore, the character input
on the screen should indicate at least more than one perfect character or
word, so that the desired character or word can be selected.
It should be noted that, when a separate character plate covering the basic
character component unit is provided on the remote controller, the title
can be input directly. In other words, when the character plate is proved
and used on the remote controller, keys corresponding to vowels and
consonants of Korean Hangul alphabet are allocated to the remote
controller, so that the data can be input easily.
The title of the reserved program input through the data input device 10
advantageously is encoded through a predetermined transform processing
routine implemented by microcomputer 60.
As an example of a method by which the input character data is encoded, the
data can be encoded in a form illustrated in the table of FIG. 2A. It will
be appreciated that other tables can be implemented without departing from
the present invention. For example, the data can be displayed in a binary
format instead of hexadecimal. In addition, the English alphabet can be
substituted for the Hangul alphabet. By using the table of FIG. 2A, the
Korean TV serial program having the title shown in FIG. 2B can be input to
the circuitry shown in FIG. 1.
According to the present invention, television broadcast program listings
appearing in newspapers or guide books will advantageously include two
different letter styles in order to distinguish certain particular parts
of the program title from the other ordinary parts of the program titles.
In an exemplary case, part of the program title would be indicated by
heavy block letters while the rest of the title would be shown in a
contrasting letter style. In another exemplary case regarding English
language titles, the particular parts necessary for program reservation
are indicated in capital letters or in cursive to facilitate encoding as
much as possible.
If the user inputs sequentially the data in the order shown in FIG. 2C,
with the help of the OSD function and/or the remote controller, the
microcomputer 60 transforms, e.g., encodes, the entered data to data
having the form `OA 16 19 08 18` based on information presented in FIG.
2A. It will be appreciated that the whole title advantageously can be
encoded as `OA 16 19 08 18 07 10 OA 10 02 IC 04 19`. The code thus
transformed is stored temporarily in a memory unit of the microcomputer
60.
Meanwhile, the broadcast signals received through tuner 20 are input to
data separator 30 and the display control unit 110 separates only the
broadcast program schedule data input during the vertical retrace line
blanking interval from the broadcast signals to thereafter output the
same.
The broadcast program schedule data, as illustrated in FIG. 3, comprises a
character header and broadcast schedule data. The data for this kind of
reserved program is transmitted from the broadcast station during a
vertical retrace line blanking interval, i.e., the vertical blanking
interval, where there is no image signal.
The broadcast schedule data, as illustrated in FIG. 4, comprises broadcast
schedule recognition data, character header, data packet and a subdata
packet of update-purpose program data.
The data packet, as illustrated in FIG. 5A, is composed of a data packet
recognition data, a whole title data of the broadcast program and a
reserved program data comprising a reserved program recognition data,
starting time data, finishing time data, channel data wherefrom the
program is broadcast and broadcast date data. The subdata packet is a data
necessary for a serial video recording, and as illustrated in FIG. 5B,
comprises a subdata packet recognition data, starting time data of the
next broadcast necessary for updating the reserved program, finishing time
data and broadcast date data.
These kinds of broadcast program schedule data are the information
predesignated between the broadcast station and the receiver, and are
continuously transmitted from the station.
It will be appreciated that one screen has 60 vertical retrace line
blanking intervals. Out of these 60 intervals, a number of predetermined
intervals (3 intervals for the present invention) transmit a broadcast
program schedule data against an on-the-air program. Thus, the whole
broadcast program schedule data are transmitted during the balance of the
intervals (60-3=57 vertical retrace line blanking intervals for the
present invention).
It should be noted that the broadcast schedule recognition data is a
recognition code for identifying respective schedules. Preferably, the
character header which is a program title used during input of the
reserved program is a code composed of unique characters to distinguish
the desired program title from the other program titles. The code can
advantageously be a code corresponding to the characters indicated in
block letters in program guiding columns of the newspaper, guide book or
the like, which code is supplied by the broadcast stations and which code
doesn't overlap other program titles.
If these data are respectively separated by the data separator 30, so that
the data detector 40 can detect the broadcast schedule recognition data,
title recognition data, reserved program recognition data and subpacket
recognition data, the detector 40 transmits a control signal to latch unit
50 to indicate the presence or absence of the enumerated recognition data.
The latch unit 50 latches the data separated from the data separator 30 to
respective latches within the latch unit 50.
Though FIG. 1 is constructed and consequently explains the data separator
30 and the data detector 40 as separate circuits, it is also possible to
process the data using a single circuit where the data separator 30 and
data detector 40 are combined in one unit for determining whether the
input data has been separated and the corresponding data has been input or
not. In other words, the construction of the data detector and the latch
unit used for the present invention can be made as illustrated in FIG. 9,
wherein the data separated from the data separator 30 are sequentially
input into respective detectors (41 to 44) within the data detector 40,
and in accordance with an existence and/or non-existence of detected data,
outputs from the data separator 30 are latched to respective latches (51
to 54) within the latch unit 50.
Character data, which corresponds to the character header found in the
latched data, is input via the data input device 10, so that the input
character data advantageously can be compared by the comparator 70 with
the encoded data generated by microcomputer 60. Here, the data from the
controller of the microcomputer 60 is the data about the broadcast program
the user intends to record. As a result of the comparison, if both the
encoded and the latched data are coincident, the data latched by latch
unit 50 in accordance with the output of the comparator 70 are
sequentially transmitted to reserved program memory 80. Preferably, the
data transmitted to reserved program memory 80 from latch unit 50
transmits more than the just character header.
The microcomputer 60 outputs to another comparator 90 the reserved video
recorded data stored in the reserved program memory 80 when it is
determined that the broadcast starting time stored in the reserved program
memory is nearing the current time. The aforesaid data is compared with
the data decoded at a decoder 100 at the comparator 90. When both data are
coincident, the comparator 90 outputs the video recording control signal
to thereby start the video recording.
Advantageously, when the character header detected from a broadcast signal
source disagrees, or meets a data regarding a video recording finish, the
video recording operation is stopped. However, if the data is not detected
due to a bad broadcast receiving state, a recording time is calculated and
the video recording is performed according to the calculated time. In
other words, the video recording is performed by subtracting the starting
time from the finishing time.
When the video recording is finished, the microcomputer 60 separates
respective data from the subdata packet which provides updated program
data to thereby update the starting time, finishing time and broadcast
date to a starting time, finishing time and broadcast date for the
reserved program which has just completed being recorded.
After the video recording finished reserved program data has been updated,
a character header value of video recording finished reserved program and
the character header included in the broadcast signal source are compared.
When the character headers correspond, the data of the subdata packet is
up-dated to a position where the data of subdata packet for the video
recording finished reserved program used to be. Accordingly, even when
recording the same program over a number of days, the reserved data is
automatically updated.
It will be noted that, while the present invention preferably includes
comparators 70 and 90 as separate elements, the dual comparators
advantageously can be implemented in software performed by microcomputer
60 and, thus, one comparator is sufficient to perform both comparison
functions.
The reserved video recording method using character input in accordance
with the present invention will now be described in detail while referring
to FIGS. 6 through 8.
As illustrated in FIG. 6, after initialization is preformed at step 100 the
user starts key input of character data using a remote controller or a key
attached to body during step 110. Preferably, the data input to
microcomputer 60 via data input device 10 is distinguished from data for
providing conventional functions by determining whether or not a reserved
mode of operation is set during step 120. If the input data is the data
for performing the conventional functions, e.g., reproduction of the video
recorded information and video recording of the program and the like, a
display control unit 110 or a servo control unit (not shown) is driven to
thereby drive a monitor or a deck unit, so that a function corresponding
to the input data can be performed during step 130.
If the input data is the data for establishing the reserved video recording
mode, the display control unit 110 having the OSD function is driven to
make the reserved process easier to implement by utilizing the OSD
function so that necessary information advantageously can be displayed on
the screen as it is input during step 140. The user waits until there is
an indication on the screen that information about the reserved video
recording should be input and until there is a key input for a
predetermined period of time during step 150.
If there is a key input, control is passed to step 170 whereby the data
input at the step 150 can be displayed on the screen and the user can
verify the input characters.
When a preset screen hold time, e.g., a predetermined time after the
reserved mode is entered during step 120 and an indication is displayed on
the screen during step 140, elapses without further key input, it is
decided that there will be no more data input during step 160, and the OSD
screen is eliminated to thereafter return to the original state during
steps 190 and 200.
If there is a data input within the screen hold time, as determined during
step 150, control passes to step 170, wherein the data input during step
150 is displayed. Afterwards, it is questioned whether or not the
indicated reserved video recording data should be stored during step 180.
Of course, in the present invention, the data input by the user and the
data transmitted from the broadcast signal source are compared, and if
both data are coincident, the reserved video recording data can be stored
right away without questioning. When the input data is to be stored, the
data can be stored in a memory within the microcomputer 60, or the
reserved data can be stored in a separate memory during step 220. After
storage has been completed, the program returns to the original state.
However, when the input data indicates that the reserved mode is to be
cancelled, cancellation of reserved mode is accomplished by data input and
the corresponding data is displayed on the screen during step 190. After
an elapse of predetermined period of time, the OSD information displayed
on the screen is erased off during step 200 and the system is returned to
the original state.
Now, steps 210 and 220 regarding the reserved establishment processes thus
described will be explained in greater detail with reference to FIG. 7.
When the user operates a key, the microcomputer 60 determines whether or
not the key operation is related to the reserved video recording during
step 410. If the key input has nothing to do with reserved video
recording, the function associated with the key is performed during step
405. When the input key is related to reserved video recording, flow
returns to the reserved mode of operation and the input key is displayed
on the screen, as a character of the program title to be reservedly video
recorded, by means of the OSD function during step 410. The corresponding
data is thereafter stored during step 420.
After the key data has been stored, a test is performed to determine
whether the broadcast schedule has been input during step 430. If the
broadcast schedule has not been input, the test is repeated to check the
input. However, if the broadcast schedule has been input during step 430,
the control program advances to step 440, wherein a check is performed as
to whether the key data the user has input and the broadcast schedule
recognition data to be compared are detected. If the broadcast schedule
recognition data is detected, the recognition data is stored with the
character header in order to compare the data header with the key data the
user input during step 450. The data stored in the character header is
compared with the key data the user has input during step 460. As a result
of comparison at step 460, if the data are different, the corresponding
buffer is erased off during step 455, and the program returns to step 440
to redetect the broadcast schedule data, thus repeating steps 440 to 460.
During the comparison, when the data are identical, each recognized data,
i.e., the whole program title shown in FIG. 2B, starting and finishing
time of the program, channel, date, character header code, update-purpose
starting time, finishing time, date, update-purpose character header code
and the like, is stored in the memory during step 470 to thereby finish
the reserved video recording establishment process during step 480.
An execution process of the reserved video recording data thus stored in
the memory will now be described while referring to FIG. 8.
When the broadcast starting time nears the present time, the tuner 20 is
synchronized with a signal transmitted from the broadcast signal source
during step 510 to thereby determine whether the character header is
detected by the detector during step 520. When the character header is not
detected, the program repeats the detecting step 520 until the character
header is detected before advancing to the next step.
When the character header has been detected during step 520, a comparison
is made during step 530 between the character header stored in the memory
and the detected character header. When the header data does not agree,
the program returns to step 530 to thereby repeat the aforesaid processes.
When the data does correspond, video recording is started during step 540.
A continuous check is made during the video recording to determine whether
the character header has been detected during step 550. When the character
header is detected, the program then checks for the presence of a label
corresponding to an end indication during step 570.
If the character header is the end indication, the recording is stopped
during step 580. When the character header is not the end indication, the
program returns back to the start of step 550 to thereby continue
recording while determining whether the character header has been
detected. If the character header has not been detected at the character
header detection step 550, e.g., received state of the broadcast signal is
of poor quality, the recording length is calculated using starting time
and finishing time of the reserved video recording data already stored in
the memory during step 560 and the recording length is compared during
step 565 with the actual recording length. When the actual video recording
length is shorter than the calculated recording length, video recording is
continued. The program returns to step 550 for determining the existence
and/or non-existence of the character header during step 550. If the video
recording length is longer than the recording length, the recording is
stopped during step 580.
When the recording is stopped, if data exists in the subdata packet of the
data stored in the memory, which implies that there exists further
installments of the video recorded program, the reserved data is updated
during steps 590 and 600. In other words, the microcomputer 60 updates the
reserved data to the starting time, finishing time and character header
code included in the subdata packet. It will be appreciated that this
permits the video recording finished reserved program to be updated so
that further comparisons of the character header value for the video
recording finished reserved program with the character header carried on
the broadcast signal source. Thus, when both character headers are
coincident, the data of subdata packet is updated to a position where the
data of subdata packet for the video recording finished reserved program
used to be during step 610. Then, the reserved video recording execution
process is finished during step 620.
As mentioned in the aforesaid technique, the present invention provides an
effective apparatus for performing a reserved program by an input of part
of the title instead of the whole program title, and because the present
invention has available data for indicating the title of the broadcast
program from the data stored in the reserved program memory 80, it is easy
to confirm the reserved video recording data on the screen by utilizing
the OSD function.
Furthermore, regardless of changes of the broadcast plan, the present
invention provides an effective apparatus of performing a reserved video
recording of the program.
Although the invention has been described in detail with reference to its
presently preferred embodiment, it will be understood by one of ordinary
skill in the art that various modifications can be made without departing
from the spirit and the scope of the invention. For example, the order of
the broadcast program schedule data can be changed without departing from
the spirit and scope of the present invention. It will be appreciated that
one of the ordinary skill in the art can change the data order and still
achieve the objects of the present invention.
Other modifications and variations to the invention will be apparent to
those skilled in the art from the foregoing disclosure and teachings.
Thus, while only certain embodiments of the invention have been
specifically described herein, it will be apparent that numerous
modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and
scope of the invention.
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