United States Patent (19)
`Usui et al.
`
`USOO58O8694A
`Patent Number:
`11
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`5,808,694
`Sep. 15, 1998
`
`54 ELECTRONIC PROGRAM GUIDE SYSTEM
`AND ELECTRONIC PROGRAM GUIDE
`DISPLAYING METHOD
`
`75 Inventors: Hirofumi Usui, Tokyo; Naomasa
`Takahashi, Chiba; Peter Shintani,
`Tokyo, all of Japan
`73 Assignee: Sony Corporation, Tokyo, Japan
`
`21 Appl. No. 609,716
`22 Filed:
`Mar. 1, 1996
`30
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`Mar. 31, 1995
`JP
`Japan .................................... T-076592
`(51) Int. Cl." ....................................................... H04N 5/50
`52 U.S. C. ...
`... 348/569; 348/906
`58 Field of Search ..................................... 348/563, 564,
`348/569,906; H04N 5/50, 5/445
`
`56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`4,691,351 9/1987 Hayashi et al..
`4,751,578 6/1988 Reiter et al..
`5,353,121 10/1994 Young ..................................... 34.8/563
`5,479.266 12/1995 Young ...
`... 348/906
`5,479.268 12/1995 Young ..................................... 34.8/906
`
`5,550,576 8/1996 Klosterman ............................. 34.8/906
`5,596,373
`1/1997 White ...................................... 34.8/906
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`6504,165 5/1994 Japan.
`8111823 4/1996 Japan.
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`“Most Recent MPEG Textbook”, pp. 231-253, by ASCII
`Corporation, Aug. 1, 1994.
`Nikkei Electronics magazine, No. 603, pp. 101-110 pub
`lished by Nikkei PB Corporation, Mar. 14, 1994.
`Primary Examiner. Sherrine Hsia
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm Jay H. Maioli
`57
`ABSTRACT
`It is an object of the present invention to provide an
`electronic program guide System and an electronic program
`guide displaying method that allow a desired program to be
`Selected in a short time and at a high degree of reliability.
`EPG data of programs received by an IRD 4 through a
`Satellite and EPG data of programs transmitted as a ground
`wave and received by a TV receiver 5 are converted into
`EPG data with an integrated format by an EPG receiver 6.
`The integrated EPG data is then output and displayed to the
`TV receiver 5.
`
`21 Claims, 21 Drawing Sheets
`
`
`
`EPG RECEIVER
`
`
`
`EPG RECEIVER
`
`1
`
`Comcast, Ex. 1212
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`US. Patent
`
`Sep. 15, 1998
`Sep. 15, 1998
`
`Sheet 1 of 21
`Sheet 1 0f 21
`
`5,808,694
`5,808,694
`
`
`
`
`
`2
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 15, 1998
`
`Sheet 2 of 21
`
`5,808,694
`
`F G 2
`
`2O I/O
`
`2O4
`
`VIDEO - SIGNAL
`TRANSMITTING/
`RECEVNG UNIT
`
`
`
`AV-EQUPMENT
`CONTROL-SGNAL
`TRANSMTTING/
`RECEIVING UNIT
`
`2O6
`
`EEPROM TRANSLATOR
`
`2O5
`
`2O7
`
`6B
`
`IR
`RECEIVING
`UNT
`
`3
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Sep. 15, 1998
`
`Sheet 3 0f 21
`
`5,808,694
`
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`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 15, 1998
`
`Sheet 4 of 21
`
`5,808,694
`
`
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`
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`US. Patent
`
`Sep. 15, 1998
`Sep. 15,1998
`
`Sheet S of 21
`Sheet 5 0f 21
`
`5,808,694
`5,808,694
`
`F G 4
`FIG.4
`
`
`
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 15, 1998
`
`Sheet 6 of 21
`
`5,808,694
`
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`U.S. Patent
`US. Patent
`
`Sep. 15, 1998
`Sheet 7 of 21
`Sep. 15,1998
`Sheet 7 0f 21
`F G 6
`FIGS
`
`5,808,694
`5,808,694
`
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 15, 1998
`
`Sheet 8 of 21
`
`5,808,694
`
`F G. 7
`
`DATA STORAGE (
`START
`
`)
`
`SELECT RECEIV NG
`EQUIPMENT
`
`REQUEST THE RECEIVING
`EQUIPMENT TO RECEIVE
`A SIGNAL
`
`WAS A STORAGE
`CONDITION SPEC FED p
`
`STORE DATA N
`ACCORDANCE WITH THE
`STORAGE CONDON
`
`STORE DATA N
`ACCORDANCE WITH THE
`DEFAULT STORAGE
`CONDITION
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`9
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 15, 1998
`
`Sheet 9 of 21
`
`5,808,694
`
`F G 8
`
`
`
`DATA STORAGE (2)
`START
`
`SELECT RECE WING
`EQUPMENT
`
`REGUEST THE RECEIVING
`EQUPMENT TO RECEIVE
`A SIGNAL
`
`CONVERT ALL RECEIVED
`GUDE DATA INTO DATA
`WITH A PREDETERMINED
`FORMAT
`
`STORE THE CONVERTED
`DATA
`
`S3
`
`S32
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`S33
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`
`10
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 15, 1998
`
`Sheet 10 of 21
`
`5,808,694
`
`F G 9
`
`START
`
`DSPLAY AN ELECTRONIC
`PROGRAM GUIDE
`
`S5
`
`WAS A DRECTION
`OPERATON PERFORMED ON
`THE SELECT BUTTON ?
`
`
`
`
`
`MOVE THE CURSOR
`
`S52
`
`S54
`
`WAS A SELECT OPERATON
`PERFORMED ON THE
`SELECT BUTTON ?
`YES
`GENERATE A CODE
`REPRESENTING A PROGRAM
`AT THE CURSOR POST ON
`
`S55
`
`CONVERT THE CODE
`
`S56
`
`TRANSMT THE CODE TO
`THE CONTROL LINE
`
`S57
`
`S58
`
`DOES ARESPONSE FROM \ No
`THE CORRESPONDING AV
`EQUPMENT EX ST 2
`
`S59
`
`PROCESS THE ERROR
`
`
`
`
`
`END
`
`11
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`Sep. 15, 1998
`F G. O
`
`Sheet 11 of 21
`
`5,808,694
`
`
`
`
`
`S7
`
`S72
`
`S73
`
`DISPLAY OF ELECTRONC
`PROGRAM GUIDE (
`) START
`
`READ OUT RECORDED DATA
`
`CONVERT THE READ-OUT
`DATA INTO DAA WITH
`AN INTEGRATED FORMAT
`
`
`
`DSPLAY THE CONVERTED
`DATA
`
`
`
`RETURN
`
`
`
`
`
`F G.
`
`
`
`
`
`S8
`
`S82
`
`S83
`
`DISPLAY OF ELECTRONIC
`PROGRAM GUIDE (2) START
`
`SPECIFY AN EPG TO BE
`DISPLAYED
`
`READ OUT THE SPECIFED
`DATA
`
`
`
`DISPLAY THE DATA
`
`
`
`RETURN
`
`12
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 15, 1998
`
`Sheet 12 of 21
`
`5,808,694
`
`ETF
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 15, 1998
`
`Sheet 13 of 21
`
`5,808,694
`
`F G 5
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`RECEIVING UNIT
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`RECEVNG
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`
`14
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 15, 1998
`
`Sheet 14 of 21
`
`5,808,694
`
`F G 7
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`

`U.S. Patent
`US. Patent
`
`Sep. 15, 1998
`Sep. 15, 1998
`
`Sheet 15 0f 21
`Sheet 15 0f 21
`
`5,808,694
`5,808,694
`
`
`
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`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 15, 1998
`
`Sheet 16 of 21
`
`5,808,694
`
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 15, 1998
`
`Sheet 17 of 21
`
`5,808,694
`
`F G 2
`
`
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`
`247
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`18
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 15, 1998
`
`Sheet 18 of 21
`
`5,808,694
`
`F G. 22
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`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 15, 1998
`
`Sheet 19 of 21
`
`5,808,694
`
`
`
`EPG RECEIVER
`
`20
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 15, 1998
`
`Sheet 20 of 21
`
`5,808,694
`
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`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 15, 1998
`
`Sheet 21 of 21
`
`5,808,694
`
`
`
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`

`1
`ELECTRONIC PROGRAM GUIDE SYSTEM
`AND ELECTRONIC PROGRAM GUIDE
`DISPLAYING METHOD
`
`5,808,694
`
`2
`gram guide displaying method which allow a desired pro
`gram to be watched reliably and immediately.
`According to a first aspect of the present invention, there
`is provided an electronic program guide System having a
`Storage means for Storing a first electronic program guide of
`a first System and a Second electronic program guide of a
`Second System different from the first System and an inte
`grating means for integrating the first and Second electronic
`program guides.
`According to a Second aspect of the present invention,
`there is provided an electronic program guide displaying
`method having the Steps of Storing a first electronic program
`guide of a first System and a Second electronic program
`guide of a Second System different from the first System,
`integrating the first and Second electronic program guides
`and displaying an integrated electronic program guide.
`According to a third aspect of the present invention, there
`is provided an electronic program guide System for trans
`mitting electronic program guides different from area to
`area, and Selecting an electronic program guide of a prede
`termined area on the receiving Side, wherein information on
`mail-matter delivery areas is used for identifying an area to
`which a mail matter is to be delivered.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a typical configuration of an
`AV System adopting an electronic program guide System
`provided by the present invention;
`FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a typical configuration
`of an EPG receiver 6 shown in FIG. 1;
`FIG.3 formed by FIGS. 3A and 3B, and FIGS. 3A and 3B
`are block diagrams showing a typical configuration of an
`IRD 4 shown in FIG. 1;
`FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a typical configuration
`of a remote commander for controlling the IRD 4 shown in
`FIG. 3;
`FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a typical configuration
`of a TV receiver 5 shown in FIG. 1;
`FIG. 6 is a diagram used for explaining button Switches of
`an EPG-receiver remote commander 241 shown in FIG. 1;
`FIG.7 shows a flowchart used for explaining an operation
`to store data in the EPG receiver 6 shown in FIG. 2;
`FIG. 8 shows a flowchart used for explaining another
`operation to store data in the EPG receiver 6 shown in FIG.
`2,
`FIG. 9 shows a flowchart used for explaining an operation
`to select a program in the EPG receiver 6 shown in FIG. 2;
`FIG. 10 shows a flowchart of typical processing to display
`an electronic program guide carried out at a step S51 of FIG.
`9;
`FIG. 11 shows a flowchart of other typical processing to
`display an electronic program guide carried out at the Step
`S51 of FIG. 9;
`FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a typical display resulting
`from the step S51 of FIG. 9;
`FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a typical display of EPG
`data of the IRD 4 shown in FIG. 1;
`FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a typical display of EPG
`data of the TV receiver 5 shown in FIG. 1;
`FIG. 15 is a diagram showing another typical display
`resulting from the step S51 of FIG. 9;
`FIG. 16 is a block diagram showing another typical
`configuration of the EPG receiver 6 shown in FIG. 1;
`
`15
`
`25
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`In general, the present invention relates to an electronic
`program guide System and an electronic program guide
`displaying method. In particular, the present invention
`relates to an electronic program guide System and an elec
`tronic program guide displaying method that allow a tele
`graphic program guide to be obtained in a plurality of
`Systems.
`The so-called EPG (Electronic Program Guide) system is
`already known wherein a program guide for Selecting a
`television broadcast program is transmitted by Superposi
`tioning the program guide on a Video signal and displayed on
`a display unit on the receiver Side.
`Examples of the EPG system are a VBI (Vertical Blanking
`Interval) System disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-open No.
`Hei 6-504165 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,353,121, a relevant patent,
`and a digital satellite system used in the DSS (Digital
`Satellite System), a trademark of Hughes Communication
`Corporation, which was explained by the applicant of the
`present invention in Japanese Patent Application No. Hei
`6-325940. Japanese Patent Application No. Hei 6-325940
`was filed in Japan on Dec. 27, 1994, but is not published yet.
`In the case of the VBI system, VBI data composing an
`EPG (Electronic Program Guide) is inserted for transmission
`into a position which does not affect the native picture on the
`horizontal Scanning lines in the ground-wave television
`broadcasting in the ordinary VHF (Very High Frequency)
`band. On the receiver Side, this VBI data is accumulated and
`display data is then generated from the accumulated VBI
`data to be displayed on a monitor.
`In the case of the digital Satellite System, on the other
`hand, EPG data is digitized along with the native picture
`data and then converted into packets for transmission. On
`the receiver side, the EPG data is stored in memory. Nec
`essary display data is then generated from the EPG data
`40
`Stored in the memory to be displayed on a monitor.
`In either System, the user can Select a program that the
`user desires to watch by looking at an electronic program
`guide displayed on the monitor.
`Thus, a System for receiving ground-wave television
`broadcasts allows an EPG of the VBI method to be received
`and displayed on the monitor. A System for receiving Satel
`lite broadcasts, on the other hand, allows an EPG transmitted
`through a Satellite to be received and displayed on the
`monitor.
`As described above, EPGs are received by systems which
`work as functional units independent of each other. To be
`more Specific, in order to know whether or not a program
`that the user desires to watch is broadcasted, whether it is a
`program broadcasted by using a ground wave or a Satellite,
`for example, the user searches the EPG of the VBI method
`for information Such as a date and time. If the desired
`program is not listed in the EPG, that is, not broadcasted, it
`is necessary to again Search the EPG of the Satellite broad
`casting in a similar way. As a result, the user encounters a
`problem that it is difficult to watch a desired program
`reliably and immediately.
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide
`an electronic program guide System and an electronic pro
`
`35
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`23
`
`

`

`3
`FIG. 17 is a block diagram showing still another typical
`configuration of the EPG receiver 6 shown in FIG. 1;
`FIG. 18 is a diagram showing Still another typical display
`resulting from the step S51 of FIG. 9;
`FIG. 19 is a diagram showing another typical configura
`tion of an AV System adopting an electronic program guide
`System provided by the present invention;
`FIG. 20 is a block diagram Showing a typical configura
`tion of an EPG receiver 6 shown in FIG. 19;
`FIG. 21 is a block diagram Showing a typical configura
`tion of an EPG-receiver remote commander 241 shown in
`FIG. 19;
`FIG. 22 is a diagram used for explaining control of the
`display for a System comprising a plurality of EPG receiv
`erS,
`FIG. 23 is a diagram used for explaining the integration
`of EPG data of a plurality of EPG receivers;
`FIG. 24 is a diagram used for explaining an operation to
`display data in a System comprising a plurality of EPG
`receivers, and
`FIG. 25 is a diagram used for explaining an example of
`integrating EPG data through a relay base Station.
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
`FIG. 1 shows a typical configuration of an AV system 1
`adopting an electronic program guide System provided by
`the present invention. In this AV system 1, VCRs (Video
`Cassette Recorders) 2 and 3, an IRD (Integrated Receiver/
`Decoder) 4, a television (TV) receiver 5 and an EPG
`receiver 6 are connected to each other by an AV line 11 and
`a control line 12.
`The AV line 11 has three lines: a composite video signal
`line, an audio L Signal line and an audio R Signal line. If a
`translator 205 of FIG.2 to be described later is not provided,
`the control line 12 can be designed into the same configu
`ration as the wired SIRCS (or wired Sony Infrared Remote
`Control System). Accordingly, these pieces of AV equipment
`each has a Video-signal transmitting/receiving unit for trans
`mitting and receiving video and audio signals transmitted
`through the AV line 11 and an AV-equipment control-Signal
`transmitting/receiving unit for transmitting and receiving
`control data transmitted through the control line 12.
`In addition, the EPG receiver 6 has an IR receiving unit
`6B for receiving an infrared (IR) signal generated by an
`EPG-receiver remote commander 241. Likewise, the IRD 4
`and the TV receiver 5 have IR receiving units 4B and 5B
`respectively each for receiving an infrared signal generated
`by a remote commander 7 shown in FIG. 4.
`A typical internal configuration of the EPG receiver 6 is
`shown in FIG. 2. AS shown in the figure, an input/output
`(I/O) unit 201 comprises a video-signal transmitting/
`receiving unit 202 and an AV-equipment control-Signal
`transmitting/receiving unit 203. The Video-Signal
`transmitting/receiving unit 202 executeS operations to trans
`mit and receive Video and audio signals through the AV line
`11. The AV-equipment control-Signal transmitting/receiving
`unit 203, on the other hand, carries out processing to
`transmit and receive control data through the control line 12.
`Embedding an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Program
`mable Read-Only Memory) unit 206 as rewritable memory,
`the translator 205 converts commands to be transmitted to
`pieces of equipment composing the AV System 1, which
`pieces of equipment are made by different manufacturers,
`into commands interpretable by the pieces of equipment.
`
`1O
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`15
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`5,808,694
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`4
`Commands interpretable by the pieces of equipment made
`by different manufacturers are stored in the EEPROM unit
`206 which can be replaced relatively with ease if necessary.
`Aback-up RAM (Random-Access Memory) unit 207 is used
`for storing EPG data received from AV equipment connected
`to the AV system 1 as a database. It should be noted that the
`RAM unit 207 can be replaced by an EEPROM unit. A
`controller 204 appropriately controls these circuits.
`A typical internal configuration of the IRD 4 for receiving
`satellite broadcasts is shown in FIG. 3. As shown in the
`figure, an RF signal which is actually a bit stream output by
`an LNB (Low Noise Block) downconverter 61a of a
`parabola antenna 61 is Supplied to a tuner 21 of a front-end
`unit 20 for later demodulation. A signal output by the tuner
`21 is supplied to a QPSK demodulating circuit 22 to undergo
`QPSK demodulation. A signal output by the QPSK demodu
`lating circuit 22 is Supplied to an error correcting circuit 23
`for detecting as well as correcting errors and, if necessary,
`compensating the Signal for the errors.
`Keys necessary for decrypting encrypted codes are Stored
`along with a decrypting program in a CAM (Conditional
`Access Module) 33 which is implemented as an IC card
`comprising, among other components, a CPU, a ROM
`(Read-Only Memory) unit and a RAM unit. In the case of an
`encrypted Signal transmitted through a Satellite, it is neces
`Sary to decrypt the encrypted Signal using keys necessary for
`the decrypting. Keys are therefore read out from the CAM
`33 through a card reader interface 33 and supplied to a
`demultiplexer (transport IC) 24. The demultiplexer 24
`decrypts the encrypted Signal by using these keys.
`It should be noted that, in addition to the keys necessary
`for decrypting encrypted codes and the decrypting program,
`accounting information is also stored in the CAM 33.
`Receiving a Signal output by the error correcting circuit
`23 of the front-end unit 20, the demultiplexer 24 Supplies the
`signal to a data buffer SRAM (Static Random-Access
`Memory) memory unit 35 to be stored therein temporarily.
`The Signal is then appropriately read out and decrypted
`video and audio signals are supplied to an MPEG (Moving
`Picture Experts Group) video decoder 25 and an MPEG
`audio decoder 26 respectively.
`The MPEG video decoder 25 Supplies the input digital
`video signal to a DRAM unit 25a to be stored temporarily
`therein. The MPEG video decoder 25 decodes the video
`Signal which has been compressed in accordance with the
`MPEG method. The decoded video signal is then supplied to
`an NTSC encoder 27 for converting the signal into a
`luminance signal (Y), a chroma Signal (C) and a composite
`signal (V) of the NTSC system. The luminance and chroma
`Signals (Y) and (C) are each output as an S video signal
`through buffer amplifiers 28Y and 28C respectively. The
`composite Signal is, on the other hand, output to the Video
`signal line of the AV line 11 through a buffer amplifier 28V.
`It should be noted that an MPEG2 decoding LSI (STi
`3500) made by SGS-Thompson Microelectronics can be
`used as the MPEG video decoder 25. An overview of this
`product is introduced by Martin Bolton in documents such
`as the Nikkei Electronics magazine of Mar. 14, 1994, No.
`603, Pages 101 to 110 which magazine is published by
`Nikkei PB Corporation.
`As for MPEG2-Transportstream, explanation can be
`found on pages 231 to 253 of “Most Recent MPEG Text
`book published on Aug. 1, 1994 by ASCII Corporation.
`The MPEG audio decoder 26 supplies the digital audio
`signal supplied by the demultiplexer 24 to a DRAM unit 26a
`to be stored temporarily therein. The MPEG audio decoder
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`26 decodes the audio signal which has been compressed in
`accordance with the MPEG method. The decoded audio
`Signal is converted into an analog signal by a D/A converter
`30. An audio signal of the left channel is output to the audio
`L signal line of the AV line 11 through a buffer amplifier 31L.
`whereas an audio signal of the right channel is output to the
`audio R signal line of the AV line 11 through a buffer
`amplifier 31R.
`An RF modulator 41 converts the composite signal (V)
`output by the NTSC encoder 27 and an audio signal output
`by the D/A converter 30 into an output RF signal. In
`addition, when a TV mode is set, the RF modulator 41 passes
`on an RF signal of the NTSC system supplied by AV
`equipment Such as a cable box to other AV equipment Such
`as a VCR, outputting the RF signal as it is.
`In the case of this embodiment, these video and audio
`signals are supplied to the VCRs 2 and 3, the TV receiver 5
`and the EPG receiver 6 through the AV line 11.
`The CPU 29 executes various kinds of processing in
`accordance with a program stored in the ROM unit 37 and
`uses a data buffer SRAM memory 36. An example of the
`processing is control of the components Such as the tuner 21,
`the QPSK demodulating circuit 22 and the error correcting
`circuit 23. The CPU 29 also controls an AV-equipment
`control-signal transmitting/receiving unit 39 to be described
`later. In addition, the CPU 29 also outputs predetermined
`control signals to other AV equipment such as the VCRs 2
`and 3, the TV receiver 5 and the EPG receiver 6 in the case
`of this embodiment through the control line 12 as well as
`receives control Signals from other AV equipment.
`Predetermined commands can be directly entered to the
`CPU 29 by operating operation button Switches on a front
`panel 40. When the remote commander 7 shown in FIG. 4
`is operated, an infrared signal is radiated by an IR generating
`unit 51 of the remote commander 7. The infrared signal is
`received by the IR receiving unit 4B and a result of the light
`reception is supplied to the CPU 29. In this way, a prede
`termined command can also be entered to the CPU 29 as
`well by operating the remote commander 7.
`In addition, the demultiplexer 24 also takes in other
`information Such as EPG data besides the MPEG video and
`audio data supplied by the front-end unit 20. The informa
`tion is supplied to an EPG area 35A of the data buffer
`memory unit 35 to be stored therein. The EPG information
`includes information on programs of broadcasting channels
`which programs Start from the present point of time and end
`at a point of time Several tens of hours later after the present
`point. Pieces of Such information are a program channel, a
`transponder number, a broadcasting time, a title, a category,
`film Stars performing in a program and others. Since the
`EPG information is transmitted frequently, it is possible to
`always keep the most recent EPG in the EPG area 35A.
`The EEPROM unit 38 is used for appropriately storing
`data which needs to be kept even after the power Supply is
`turned off. Examples of Such data are a history of reception
`for the last four weeks of the tuner 21 and a receiving
`channel prior to the turning-off of the power Supply or the
`last channel. When the power Supply is turned on again, a
`program of the last channel is received once more. If the last
`channel is not recorded, a program of a channel recorded in
`the ROM unit 37 as a default is received. When a sleep mode
`is set, the CPU 29 puts as many circuits as required to a
`minimum operative State even with the power Supply turned
`off and updates the present time by using time information
`included in a received signal, allowing control and other
`commands to be executed So as to request the circuits to
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`carry out predetermined operations at predetermined times.
`The circuits include the front-end unit 20, the demultiplexer
`24 and the data buffer memory unit 35. For example, timer
`automatic recording is performed by interlocking the VCRS
`2 and 3.
`In addition, in order to generate predetermined OSD
`(On-Screen Display) data, the CPU 29 controls the MPEG
`video decoder 25. Controlled by the CPU 29, the MPEG
`video decoder 25 generates the predetermined OSD data and
`then writes the data into an OSD area in the DRAM unit 25a.
`The data is further read out from the DRAM unit 25a and
`output. By doing So, an electronic program guide including
`data Such as predetermined characters and drawings, a menu
`and other information can be output and displayed to the TV
`receiver 5 appropriately.
`The CPU 29 can also communicate with other apparatuses
`through the telephone line by controlling a modem 34.
`FIG. 4 shows a typical configuration of button Switches on
`the remote commander 7 for remotely controlling the IRD 4.
`Not only can a select button Switch 131 be operated in a total
`of 8 horizontal directions, but it can also be pressed down
`ward in a direction perpendicular to the upper Surface of the
`remote commander 7. The 8 horizontal directions are the
`upward, downward, left and right directions in addition to
`the 4 Slanting directions between the upward, downward,
`left and right directions. The operations in the 8 directions
`are known as directional operations whereas the downward
`pressing is referred to as a Select operation. A menu button
`Switch 134 is operated to display a menu screen to the TV
`receiver 5. An exit button Switch 135 is operated typically
`when it is desired to return to the ordinary original Screen.
`A channel up-down button Switch 133 is operated to
`increment or decrement the number of the received broad
`casting channel. A Volume button Switch 132 is operated to
`increase or decrease the Volume.
`Each of numeric button (ten-key) switches 138 marked
`with the numbers 0 to 9 is operated to enter a number
`displayed as a mark on the Switch. An enter button Switch
`137 is operated right after a numeric button Switch 138 has
`been pressed to indicate that the operation to enter the
`number has been completed. When the channel is switched
`from a number to another, a banner comprising the number
`of the new channel, a call sign (or a name), a logo and a mail
`icon is displayed for 3 Seconds. In addition to Such a banner,
`there is another type of banner to give a total of two banner
`types. The other banner further includes information Such as
`the name of a program, a broadcasting Start time and the
`present time besides the Simple configuration of the first
`banner. A display button 136 is operated to Switch the
`displayed banner from one type to another.
`A television/video changeover button Switch 139 is oper
`ated to Switch the input to the TV receiver 5 from an
`embedded tuner 222 shown in FIG. 5 to an input terminal
`which is typically connected to the VCR 2 or 3 or vice versa.
`A television/DSS changeover button Switch 140 is operated
`to select either a television mode for receiving a VHF
`ground wave or a DSS mode for receiving a Satellite
`broadcast. When the channel number is changed by operat
`ing the numeric button Switches 138, the channel number
`prior to the change is recorded in memory. A jump button
`Switch 141 is operated to return to the channel number prior
`to the change.
`A language button 142 is operated to Select a predeter
`mined language when a program is broadcasted in two
`languages or more. A guide button Switch 143 is operated to
`directly display an electronic program guide to the TV
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`receiver 5 without Specification through a menu. A favorite
`button 144 is operated to select a favorite channel that has
`been previously entered.
`A cable button Switch 145, a television Switch 146 and a
`DSS button Switch 147 are used for Switching from one
`function to another. To be more specific, they are used for
`Switching the equipment category for which the code is
`conveyed by an infrared signal radiated by the remote
`commander 7. The cable button Switch 145 is operated in
`order to request a cable box, not shown in the figure, to
`receive a signal transmitted through a cable and display the
`signal to the TV receiver 5. The code of an equipment
`category assigned to the cable box is thereby output as the
`infrared signal.
`Similarly, the television button Switch 146 is operated in
`order to display a Signal received by a tuner embedded in the
`TV receiver 5 whereas the DSS button Switch 147 is
`operated to request the IRD 4 to receive a signal through a
`satellite and display the signal to the TV receiver 5. A LED
`148,149 or 150 lights up when the cable button switch 145,
`the television button Switch 146 or the DSS button Switch
`147 is turned on respectively. The lighted LED 148,149 or
`150 indicates a category of equipment, a code of which
`category is transmitted by the remote commander 7.
`A cable power-supply button Switch 151, a television
`power-supply button Switch 152 or a DSS power-supply
`button Switch 153 is operated to turn on or off the cable box,
`the TV receiver 5 or the IRD 4 respectively.
`A muting button Switch 154 is operated to set or reset the
`muting state of the TV receiver 5. A sleep button Switch 155
`is operated to Set or reset the Sleep mode, in which the power
`Supply is turned off automatically, when a predetermined
`point of time has been reached or a predetermined period of
`time has lapsed.
`A typical internal configuration of the TV receiver 5 is
`shown in FIG. 5. A tuner 222 demodulates a signal received
`by a VHF antenna 221 and outputs and displays the demodu
`lated signal to a CRT229 through a synthesizing circuit 228.
`In addition, a VBI data slicer 223 extracts VEI data from a
`Signal output by the tuner 222 and outputs an extracted result
`to a decoder 224. The decoder 224 decodes the VBI data
`output by the VBI data slicer 223, generating EPG data
`which is then stored in a backed-up RAM unit or an
`EEPROM unit 225.
`Based on the EPG data stored in the RAM unit 225, a
`controller 226 controls a generating circuit 227 for gener
`ating OSD data (or display data) which is then output and
`displayed to the CRT 229 through the synthesizing circuit
`228.
`A video-signal transmitting/receiving unit 230 executes
`processing to transmit and receive Video and audio signals
`through the AV line 11. Likewise, an AV-equipment control
`Signal transmitting/receiving unit 231 executeS processing to
`transmit and receive control signals through the control line
`12. The IR receiving unit 5B receives an infrared signal from
`the remote commander 7, outputting a reception detecting
`Signal to the controller 226.
`FIG. 6 shows a typical configuration of an EPG-receiver
`remote commander 241 which is used for remotely control
`ling the EPG receiver 6. An EPG button Switch 243 on the
`remote commander 241 is operated in order to display an
`integrated electronic program guide to the TV receiver 5. An
`equipment button Switch 244 is operated in order to Specify
`an electronic program guide to be integrated. In the case of
`this embodiment, for example, even though both the IRD 4
`and the TV receiver 5 have a function for receiving an EPG,
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`when it is desired to display an electronic program guide of
`any arbitrary one of these pieces of equipment Such as the
`TV receiver 5, the equipment button Switch 244 is operated.
`Subsequently, at this AV System 1, a numeric character
`representing a number assigned to the TV receiver 5 is
`entered by operating a key of the numeric button Switches
`245.
`When it is desired to specify a channel, a program or a
`program category, a channel button Switch 246, a program
`button Switch 247 or a category button Switch 248 is
`operated respectively before operating the numeric button
`Switches 245. A select button Switch 249 is operated in order
`to carry out directional and