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Claims  |
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What is claimed is:
1. A broadcast signal receiver having an internal clock, said receiver
comprising:
channel selection means for selecting channels in succession;
information detection means for determining the presence or absence of
additional information included in a broadcast signal for channels
selected;
memory for storing a selected channel regarded as a reception channel for
said additional information when said information detecting means
determines the presence of said additional information in said broadcast
signal for said selected channel; and
means for receiving said additional information and, without a user
initiating a request to set said internal clock, for automatically setting
said internal clock in accordance with said additional information.
2. The broadcast signal receiver in accordance with claim 1 wherein said
channel selection means selects channels in succession from among
reception channels previously stored in said memory after said memory has
stored reception channels containing said additional information.
3. The broadcast signal receiver in accordance with claim 1 wherein said
memory has channel inputting means for inputting a reception channel
containing said additional information and the channel selection means
selects, on a priority basis, the reception channel inputted by said
channel inputting means over the reception channel in which the presence
of said additional information was determined by said information
detection means.
4. The broadcast signal receiver, in accordance with claim 1 further
comprising signal detection means for determining the presence or absence
of said broadcast signal in said selected channel, wherein said
information detection means is prevented from searching for the presence
of said additional information and said channel selection means is
directed to select the next channel immediately when said signal detection
means does not detect any said broadcast signal in the selected channel.
5. The broadcast signal receiver of claim 1, further including an external
tuner and video processor, wherein said channel selection means, said
information detection means and said memory are provided in said video
processor.
6. The broadcast signal receiver in accordance with claim 5 wherein said
channel selection means selects channels in succession from among
reception channels previously stored in said memory after said memory has
stored reception channels containing said additional information.
7. The broadcast signal receiver in accordance with claim 5 wherein said
memory has channel inputting means for inputting said reception channels
containing said additional information and the channel selection means
selects, on a priority basis, the reception channel inputted by said
channel inputting means over the reception channel in which the presence
of said additional information is detected by said information detection
means.
8. The broadcast signal receiver in accordance with claim 5, wherein said
video processor further comprises signal detection means for determining
the presence or absence of said broadcast signal in said selected channel,
said information detection means being prevented from detecting the
presence of said additional information in said broadcast signal and said
channel selection means is directed to select the next channel immediately
when said signal detection means does not detect any said broadcast signal
in the selected channel.
9. A method of detecting a reception channel containing additional
information through a broadcast signal receiver having an internal clock,
said method comprising the steps of:
selecting channels in succession;
determining the presence or absence of additional information included in a
broadcast signal for the selected channel;
storing in a memory said selected channel regarded as a reception channel
containing said additional information upon detecting said additional
information in said broadcast signal for said selected channel; and
automatically setting said internal clock in accordance with said
additional information without a user initiating a request to set said
internal clock.
10. The method of claim 9 whereby said broadcast signal receiver has an
external tuner and a video processor, and
said video processor directs said external tuner to select channels in
succession;
said video processor determines the presence or absence of additional
information included in said broadcast signal for the selected channel;
and
said selected channel regarded as a reception channel containing said
additional information is stored in the memory of said video processor.
11. A broadcast signal receiver, comprising:
first channel selection means for selecting channels in succession at the
time of auto pre-set;
first information detection means for determining, in the first period of
time, the presence or absence of additional information included in said
broadcast signal for the channel selected by said first channel selection
means;
second channel selection means for selecting channels in succession
independently of said first channel selection means;
second information detection means for determining, during the second
period of time which is longer than said first period of time, the
presence or absence of additional information included in said broadcast
signal selected by said second channel selection means;
memory for storing the selected channel regarded as a reception channel for
said additional information when said first or second information
detecting means detects the presence of said additional information in
said broadcast signal for the selected channel; and
means for receiving said additional information and, without a user
initiating a request to set said internal clock, for automatically setting
an internal clock in accordance with said additional information.
12. The broadcast signal receiver in accordance with claim 11, further
comprising:
signal detection means for determining the presence or absence of said
broadcast signal in the channel selected by said first or second channel
selection means; and
said first or second information detection means, prevented from searching
for the presence of said additional information in said broadcast signal
and said first or second channel selection means directed to select the
next channel immediately when said signal detection means does not detect
any said broadcast signal in the selected channel.
13. A method of detecting a reception channel containing additional
information through a broadcast signal receiver, comprising the steps of:
selecting channels in succession at the time of auto pre-set;
determining, in the first period of time, the presence or absence of
additional information which is included in said broadcast signal for the
first channel selected in the time of said auto pre-set;
storing in a memory said first selected channel regarded as a reception
channel for said additional information when detecting, in said first
period of time, the presence of said additional information in said
broadcast signal for said first selected channel;
selecting channels in succession independently of said auto pre-set;
determining, in a second period of time which is longer than said first
period of time, the presence or absence of additional information included
in said broadcast signal for the second channel selected independently of
said auto pre-set;
storing in a memory said second selected channel regarded as a reception
channel for said additional information when detecting, in said second
period of time, the presence of said additional information in said
broadcast signal for said second selected channel; and
automatically setting an internal clock in accordance with said additional
information without a user initiating a request to set said internal
clock.
14. A broadcast signal receiving apparatus comprising:
an internal clock;
means for receiving broadcast signals representing a plurality of channels
of information signals in which at least one of said channels may include
time information;
means receiving a channel of information signals for determining whether
the received channel includes said time information and, if said received
channel is determined not to include said time information, for selecting
another channel in succession and determining whether the selected other
channel includes said time information; and
means for obtaining said time information from the channel determined to
contain said time information and for automatically setting said internal
clock in accordance with the obtained time information without a user
initiating a request to set said internal clock.
15. A broadcast signal receiver, comprising:
channel selection means for selecting channels in succession;
information detection means for determining the presence or absence of
additional information included in a broadcast signal for channels
selected;
memory for storing a selected channel regarded as a reception channel for
said additional information when said information detecting means
determines the presence of said additional information in said broadcast
signal for said selected channel; and
means for automatically storing a relationship between a VCR Plus guide
channel and the selected channel without a user initiating a request to
store said relationship, said automatically storing means including
information extracting means for extracting station identification
information included in said broadcast signal for the selected channel,
guide channel providing means for providing the VCR Plus guide channel
corresponding to a station identified by said station identification
information, and a further memory for storing the relationship between
said selected channel and said VCR Plus guide channel.
16. The broadcast signal receiver in accordance with claim 15, further
comprising:
decoder means for decoding said VCR Plus code into said VCR Plus Guide
channel;
channel converting means for converting said VCR Plus guide channel into
the reception channel, referring to said relationship between said
selected channel and said VCR Plus guide channel; and
said channel selection means is operative to select said reception channel
converted by said channel converting means.
17. A broadcast signal receiver, comprising:
an external tuner;
a video processor having channel selection means operative for directing
said external tuner to select channels in succession and means for
automatically storing a relationship between a VCR Plus guide channel and
the selected channel without a user initiating a request to store said
relationship, said automatically storing means including information
extracting means for extracting station identification information
included in a broadcast signal for the selected channel, guide channel
providing means for providing the VCR Plus guide channel corresponding to
a station identified by said station identification information, and a
memory for storing the relationship between said selected channel and said
guide channel;
information detection means for determining the presence or absence of
additional information included in the broadcast signal for channels
selected; and
memory for storing a selected channel regarded as a reception channel for
said additional information when said information detecting means
determines the presence of said additional information in said broadcast
signal for said selected channel.
18. The broadcast signal receiver in accordance with claim 17, wherein said
video processor further comprising:
decoder means for decoding said VCR Plus code into said VCR Plus guide
channel;
channel converting means for converting said VCR Plus guide channel into
the reception channel, referring to said relationship between said
selected channel and said VCR Plus guide channel; and
said channel selection means for selecting said reception channel converted
by said channel converting means.
19. A broadcast signal receiver, comprising:
channel selection means for selecting channels in succession;
information detection means for determining the presence or absence of
additional information included in a broadcast signal for channels
selected, said broadcast signals representing a number of programs
classified in respective types;
memory for storing a selected channel regarded as a reception channel for
said additional information when said information detecting means
determines the presence of said additional information in said broadcast
signal for said selected channel; and
a tape recorder including time measuring means for measuring, at the time
of starting recording, remaining recording time available corresponding to
an amount of remaining tape of a cassette, which is to be used for
recording; program time extracting means for extracting a program
continuation time for a desired program from said broadcast signal; time
comparing means for comparing said remaining recording time available with
said program continuation time; means for determining whether a
possibility exists that said desired program may be extended in time due
to the respective type of said desired program; and mode control means for
controlling a recording speed mode according to the comparison of said
time comparing means and the results of the determination as to whether
said desired program may be extended.
20. The tape recorder in accordance with claim 19, wherein said mode
control means directs the recording in a standard speed mode when said
remaining recording time available is greater than said program
continuation time, and in a 1/3 speed mode when said remaining recording
time available is less than said program continuation time.
21. The tape recorder in accordance with claim 20, wherein said time
comparing means subtracts a program extension time from said remaining
recording time available before comparing.
22. A broadcast signal receiving apparatus comprising:
means for receiving broadcast signals representing a plurality of programs
and including additional information, in which said programs are
classified in respective types;
means for recording a desired program onto a recording medium at one of a
plurality of recording speeds; and
means for determining whether a possibility exists that said desired
program may be extended in time due to the respective type of said desired
program and for automatically determining the recording speed in
accordance with the results of such determination and said additional
information.
23. A broadcast signal receiving apparatus according to claim 22, wherein
said additional information includes information representative of the
length of said desired program and the time which may have elapsed from
the start of said desired program.
24. A broadcast signal receiving apparatus according to claim 23, wherein
said determining means includes means for determining a program remaining
time indicative of the time remaining for said desired program from the
length and elapsed time information, means for determining a recording
time of said recording medium which is currently available when recording
at a first recording speed, and means for comparing the program remaining
time and the currently available recording time so as to obtain a
comparison result and for selecting one of said first recording speed and
a second recording speed which is slower than said first recording speed
based on said comparison result.
25. A broadcast signal receiving apparatus according to claim 24, wherein
the selecting means selects said first recording speed when said
comparison result indicates that said currently available recording time
is at least equal to said program remaining time.
26. A broadcast signal receiving apparatus according to claim 25, wherein
the selecting means selects one of (i) said second recording speed and
(ii) said first recording speed for a portion of the recording of said
desired program and said second recording speed for the remainder of the
recording of said desired program, when said comparison result indicates
that said currently available recording time is less than said program
remaining time.
27. A broadcast signal receiving apparatus according to claim 26, wherein
said means for determining whether a possibility exists and for
automatically determining the recording speed determines whether said
program remaining time of said desired program may be extended due to the
respective type of said desired program and compensates one of said
program remaining time and said currently available recording time
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Claims |
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Description |
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to a broadcast signal receiver and
a tape recorder, and in particular, to a VCR (video cassette recorder) and
a TV (television set) that use additional information included in a
broadcast signal, to a method of detecting such additional information
channels, and to a tape recorder for recording onto a magnetic tape the
broadcast signal (the video, audio, and other signals) for a specific
program.
2. Description of the Related Art
Before using a timer operation, the user had to set the internal clock for
the VCR manually, confirming the time with the display on a TV monitor or
on a commander (a remote control transmitter). Thus, the timer operation
(for example, timer recording) is not convenient for a person who finds it
difficult to set the internal clock. Even if the internal clock has been
set initially, it may require adjustment in the event the power supply
cord is pulled out of the socket, a long time has passed, or there has
been a change between daylight saving and ordinary time. It is often
troublesome for a user to set the internal clock again manually.
In order to save the user from such difficulties, it is disclosed herein
that such an internal clock may be set according to information included
in a video signal, in other words, time data extracted from VBI data which
are multiplexed with the vertical interval time code of the video signal.
Some VCRs can be programmed for a later recording using a VCR Plus code.
The VCR decodes the VCR Plus code it receives in order to obtain start and
stop times for recording, and the VCR Plus guide channel. The VCR then
stores the reception channel (the TV channel) corresponding to the VCR
Plus guide channel into a pre-set memory. The VCR memory stores in advance
relationship between the VCR Plus guide channel and the reception channel
in order to convert the guide channel into the reception channel.
Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 8, it is often troublesome for the user to
operate a remote control commander 60 (transmitter) or a VCR 50 in order
to input the reception channel corresponding to the VCR Plus guide
channel.
In general, when recording a program with the VCR using a broadcast signal,
the user has to confirm before starting the recording that the amount of
tape remaining in the cassette tape to be used for the recording is
sufficient for the program to be recorded. However, problems may occur in
the recording of the whole program because the user did not confirm the
amount of cassette tape remaining or because the recording was performed
in the SP mode (standard speed mode) instead of the EP mode (1/3 speed
mode).
References which relate to the present invention are U.S. Pat. Nos.
4,329,684, 4,390,901, 4,499,179, and 4,635,121.
OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide an improved
broadcast signal receiver and a method for detecting a channel
representing a broadcast signal which signal includes additional
information, (such channel referred to below as the "additional
information channel"), in order to extract, for example, time data for
setting the internal clock.
It is accordingly another object of the present invention to provide an
improved broadcast signal receiver which automatically stores in the
memory the relationship between the VCR Plus guide channel and the
reception channel automatically.
It is accordingly a further object of the present invention, to provide an
improved tape recorder which is able to adjust recording speed in order to
automatically and appropriately match such speed to the length of the
program that is to be recorded to the amount of recording tape remaining.
A broadcast signal receiver, according to the first invention, comprises a
channel selection means for selecting channels in succession, an
information detection means for determining the presence or absence of
additional information included in the broadcast signal for each of the
selected channels, and a memory for storing the selected channel as a
reception channel containing the additional information when the
information detecting means detects the presence of the additional
information.
A method of detecting reception channels containing additional information
through a broadcast signal receiver, according to the second invention,
comprises the steps of selecting channels in succession, determining the
presence or absence of additional information included in the broadcast
signal for each of the selected channels, and storing in the memory the
selected channel regarded as a reception channel containing the additional
information when detecting the additional information in the broadcast
signal for the selected channel.
A broadcast signal receiver, according to the third invention comprises a
first channel selection means for selecting channels in succession at the
time of auto pre-set, a first information detection means for determining,
during the first period of time, the presence or absence of additional
information included in the broadcast signal for each of the selected
channels by the first channel selection means, a second channel selection
means for selecting channels in succession independently of the first
channel selection means, a second information detection means for
determining, during the second period of time which is longer than the
first period of time, the presence or absence of additional information
included in the broadcast signal for each of the selected channels by the
second channel selection means, and a memory for storing the selected
channel as a reception channel for the additional information when the
first or second information detecting means determines the presence of the
additional information in the broadcast signal for the selected channel.
A method of detecting a reception channel, according to the fourth
invention, containing additional information through a broadcast signal
receiver, comprises the steps of selecting channels in succession at the
time of auto pre-set, determining, during the first period of time, the
presence or absence of additional information included in the broadcast
signal for the first channel selected at the time of the auto pre-set,
storing the first selected channel as a reception channel for the
additional information in a memory when detecting, during the first period
of time, the presence of the additional information in the broadcast
signal for the first selected channel, selecting channels in succession
independently of the auto pre-set, determining, during a second period of
time which is longer than the first period of time, the presence or
absence of a additional information included in the broadcast signal for
the second channel selected independently of the auto pre-set, and storing
in a memory the second selected channel regarded as a reception channel
for the additional information when detecting, during the second period of
time, the presence of the additional information in the broadcast signal
for the second selected channel.
A broadcast signal receiver, according to the fifth invention, has an
external tuner and video processor which comprises a channel selection
means for selecting channels in succession, an information detection means
for determining the presence or absence of additional information included
in the broadcast signal for each of the selected channels, and a memory
for storing the selected channel as a reception channel containing the
additional information when the information detecting means determines the
presence or absence of the additional information in the broadcast signal
for the selected channel.
A method of detecting a reception channel, according to the sixth
invention, containing additional information through a broadcast signal
receiver having an external tuner and a video processor, comprises the
steps of the video processor directing an external tuner to select
channels in succession, the video processor determining the presence or
absence of additional information included in the broadcast signal for the
selected channel, and storing in the memory the selected channel as a
reception channel containing the additional information when detecting the
additional information in the broadcast signal for the selected channel.
A broadcast signal receiver, according to the seventh invention, comprises
a channel selection means for selecting channels in succession, an
information extracting means for extracting station identification
information included in the broadcast signal for each of the selected
channels, a guide channel providing means for providing a VCR Plus guide
channel corresponding to the station identified by the station
identification information, and a memory for storing relationship between
the selected channel and the VCR Plus guide channel.
A broadcast signal receiver, according to the eighth invention, has an
external tuner and a video processor which comprises a channel selection
means for directing the external tuner to select channels in succession,
an information extracting means for extracting station identification
information included in the broadcast signal for each of the selected
channels, a guide channel providing means for providing a VCR Plus guide
channel corresponding to the station identified by the station
identification information, and a memory for storing relationship between
the selected channel and the guide channel.
A tape recorder, according to the ninth invention, comprises a time
measuring means for measuring the remaining recording time available
corresponding to the amount of remaining tape of a cassette, which is to
be used for recording, at the time of starting the recording, a program
time extracting means for extracting a program continuation time from a
broadcast signal which carries program time information, a time comparing
means for comparing the remaining recording time available with the
program continuation time, and a mode control means for controlling a
recording speed mode appropriately according to the comparison of the time
comparing means.
In accordance with one aspect of the first and second invention, a
broadcast signal receiver selects channels in succession, and stores in
its memory certain selected channels as additional information channels
when detecting the broadcast signal that includes such additional
information. Thus, the receiver can select the additional information
channel from among the other channels.
In accordance with another aspect of the third and fourth invention, a
broadcast signal receiver selects channels in succession at the time of an
auto pre-set, and stores in its memory certain selected channel as
additional information channels when detecting a broadcast signal that
includes such additional information. Thus, the receiver can select the
additional information channel from among the other channels selected at
the time of the auto pre-set. Further, the receiver also saves time in the
auto pre-set in selecting many channels because the time required for
detecting the additional information at the auto pre-set is relatively
short.
In accordance with still another aspect of the fifth and sixth invention, a
broadcast signal receiver directs an external tuner to select channels in
succession, and stores in the memory the selected channel as an additional
information channel when the broadcast signal includes additional
information. Therefore, the receiver can select the additional information
channel from among the other channels in the same way the receiver does
using the internal tuner.
In accordance with yet another aspect of the seventh and eighth invention,
a broadcast signal receiver extracts station ID information from a
broadcast signal for a selected channel, obtains a VCR Plus guide channel
for the station identified by the station ID information, and stores a
relationship between the guide channel and the reception channel, thus
setting the relationship automatically. The receiver saves the user the
trouble of a manual operation.
In accordance with a further aspect of the ninth invention, a tape recorder
compares the required recording time for the program to be recorded with
the remaining amount of tape on the cassette tape to be used for
recording, and sets the appropriate recording mode based on the
comparison. When the amount of recording tape is insufficient for the
program continuation remaining time, the recorder starts in the standard
mode, and automatically changes to the 1/3 speed mode as necessary to
allow the recording of the whole program.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the first embodiment according to
the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining VBI data multiplexed with the broadcast
signal;
FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating an example of the successive steps for
setting an internal clock;
FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating an example of the successive steps for
setting an internal clock;
FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating an example of the successive steps for
setting an internal clock;
FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating the second embodiment according to
the present invention;
FIG. 7 is a flow chart illustrating an example of successive steps for
setting the relationship between the VCR Plus guide channel and the
reception channel;
FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the setting of the relationship between
the VCR Plus guide channel and the reception channel;
FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating the third embodiment according to
the present invention; and
FIG. 10 is a flow chart illustrating an example of the successive steps for
recording;
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The first embodiment, in which the present invention applies to a closed
caption system, is described below with reference to the drawings.
In FIG. 1, a cable box functions to select and descramble CATV signals. The
CATV signals, transmitted by cable (not shown), are supplied to the tuner
12 via the input terminal 11. The tuner 12 selects a channel from the CATV
signals with a tuner control micro computer, and provides a video signal
of the selected channel. The tuner 12 also has a descrambler which
descrambles the scrambled video signal.
Reference numeral 14 denotes the remote control signal receiver which
receives a remote control signal (an infrared ray, "IR", signal) from an
IR emitter which is described below, and provides an information signal to
the micro computer 13. The information signal contains information about
the channel selection and on-off control.
The video signal from the tuner 12 is supplied to a RF modulator 15, which
converts the video signal into a broadcast signal for the selected channel
which is then supplied to a tuner 20 in the VCR (video cassette recorder)
2. The tuner 20 selects a channel through the tuner/clock micro computer
22.
A NTSC-type video signal from the tuner 20 is supplied to a data decoder
21. Captioned data (subtitle data) are inserted into a predetermined line
of a vertical interval time code of the NTSC-type video signal. As shown
in FIG. 2A, the captioned data consist of 7 cycles (503 KHz) of a clock
run-in signal, two bits S1 and S2 at a low logic level ("0"), followed by
a start bit S3 at a high logic level ("1"), and 16 bits of NRZ data (a
data code). The clock run-in signal is a synchronizing signal with the
data code in phase, and decodes the data code. The sixteen bits of the NRZ
data are composed of a pair of groups which each consist of 7 bits b1 to
b7 of an ASCII character and a bit of a parity code. In FIG. 2A, HD
denotes a horizontal synchronizing signal, and SC denotes a color burst
signal.
When captioned data are multiplexed with the predetermined line of the
vertical interval time code of the video signal from the tuner 20, a data
decoder 21 extracts the NRZ data, decodes its hexadecimal code into a BCD
code, and supplies the decoded captioned data to the micro computer 22. In
this case, the captioned data are stored in the RAM (random access
memory), which is not shown, of the micro computer 22 on a predetermined
frame basis, so that captions are displayed on the screen with pauses
between sentences on a predetermined frame basis.
The captioned data, read out from the RAM of the micro computer 22, are
supplied to the display control circuit 23, and are converted into
character data (dot data). The control signal, which indicates a display
position on the screen, is also supplied to the display control circuit
23. The display control circuit 23 generates a superimposed signal in
accordance with the timing of the indicated display position and the
character data, and the superimposed signal is overlapped onto the video
signal supplied from the tuner 20 via a record/playback signal processing
circuit 24.
The RF modulator 25 converts the video signal, provided from the display
control circuit 23, into the broadcast signal for a selected channel,
which is thereafter supplied to the TV monitor 3. Accordingly, captions
can be superimposed on the screen of the TV monitor 3, when the captioned
data is multiplexed with the video signal provided from the tuner 20.
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