JPH08149384A - Image display controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To recognize quickly and surely programs of other broadcast channels much more in the device receiving lots of broadcast channels. CONSTITUTION: While a prescribed broadcast channel is received, when a browsing button icon is clicked, an image having been received and displayed so far is displayed as a master image and images of other channels are displayed under the master image as slave images. The slave images are displayed in a smaller size toward left/right ends. Thus, much more slave images are displayed together with the master image.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image display control device suitable for use in receiving video signals of a large number of broadcast channels.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a television receiver, a desired program can be viewed by selecting and designating a predetermined broadcast channel. When there are a plurality of broadcast channels, a channel search function may be provided in order to know what kind of program is being broadcast on each broadcast channel.

In Japan, since 12 channels are assigned in the VHF band, when a command for this channel search function is issued in this type of television receiver, the first
Of the channels to the twelfth channel, the channels next to the currently received channel are automatically received and displayed one after another, for example, every 3 seconds. This search operation is canceled when the channel before the search is received again. Thereby, it is possible to know the outline of the program of each channel being broadcast at that time.

[0004]

However, if the different broadcast channels are sequentially received in this way, it becomes impossible to watch the program that was being watched before the search during the search. . Moreover, since only one broadcast channel image is displayed at a time, it takes time to confirm all broadcast channel images.

Therefore, for example, as shown in FIG. 41, it is conceivable to display the currently viewed screen as a parent screen and display other channels as child screens. However, in this example, the number of child screens that can be displayed simultaneously with the parent screen is only three.

Therefore, it is conceivable to increase the number of child screens to 5, for example, as shown in FIG. However, the number of broadcast channels that can be simultaneously watched is only six.

Now, in the United States, MPEG (Mov
ing Picture Experts Grou
p) and other high-efficiency coding techniques are applied to the cable television (CATV: Cable Television).
n) and digital satellite broadcasting (DSS: Digital S)
atellite System (Hughes Co
The number of channels is increasing, for example, from 150 to 175.

When the number of channels increases in this way, it is difficult to quickly grasp the contents of the program of each broadcasting channel even if the display is made as shown in FIG.

The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and makes it possible to confirm the program contents of other channels quickly and surely while viewing the main screen.

[0010]

The image display control device of the present invention receives signals of a plurality of broadcast channels, outputs them to a monitor device (for example, monitor device 4 in FIG. 1), and displays them by receiving means (for example, in FIG. 3 tuners 21A, 21B),
It is operated when a signal of a predetermined broadcast channel is received and the image is displayed on the monitor device as a main screen, and a mode (for example, browsing mode) for displaying images of a plurality of other broadcast channels as a sub screen is instructed. Mode command means (for example, BROWSING in FIG. 12)
When the button icon) and the mode command means are operated, the image of the broadcast channel already received at that time is displayed on the monitor device as a parent screen, and the images of a plurality of other broadcast channels are displayed as child screens. Control means (eg, picture-in-picture processor 45 in FIG. 3) for displaying the screen so that the size of the screen becomes smaller,
Changing operation means (for example, the operation element 52 operated in the horizontal direction in FIG. 4) operated when sequentially changing the child screen to images of different broadcast channels, and operated when selecting a predetermined one of the child screens. Selection operation means (for example, the operator 52 operated in the vertical direction in FIG. 4).

Further, a change operation means (for example, an operation element 52 operated in the horizontal direction in FIG. 4) that is operated when sequentially changing the child screen to images of different broadcast channels can be further provided.

On the control means, the child screen is displayed horizontally below the monitor device in the largest size in the central part, and is displayed smaller toward the left and right ends (for example, in the display screen of FIG. 18). Can be).

Alternatively, the control means may include a sub-screen,
Vertically to the right side or the left side of the monitor device, it is possible to display the largest in the central part and to display smaller in the upper and lower ends (for example, like the display screen of FIG. 40).

The changing operation means and the selecting operation means are formed on a remote commander (for example, the remote commander 5 in FIG. 4) for remotely controlling the receiving means, and the changing operation means is in a direction corresponding to the display direction of the sub-screen (for example, horizontal Direction).

The change operation means and the selection operation means are constructed so that they can be operated continuously with one finger (for example, FIG. 4).
It can be configured like the operator 52).

The change operation means is a slide button which is linearly slidable (for example, slide button 20 in FIG. 36).
1), a rotatable roller (for example, roller 21 in FIG. 37)
1) or an arrow button switch (for example, the left button switch 221 and the right button switch 222 in FIG. 38) on which a mark indicating movement in a predetermined direction is displayed.

[0017]

In the image display control device having the above structure, the sub-screens are displayed in such a manner that the sizes thereof are gradually reduced in addition to the main screen. Therefore, it becomes possible to confirm more child screens at the same time while viewing the parent screen.

[0018]

1 shows an example of the configuration of an AV (Audio Video) system to which the image display control device of the present invention is applied. In the case of this embodiment, the AV system 1 has an IRD (Integrated Rec) for demodulating a signal received by the parabolic antenna 3 via a broadcast satellite (not shown).
In addition to the Ever / Decoder) 2, V of the VHS system
CR (Video Cassette Record)
r) 6, 8 mm type VCR 7, multi-disc player (MDP: Muti-Disc Player) 8,
It is composed of a mini disc (MD: Mini Disc) device 9 and a monitor device 4.

VCR6, VCR7, MDP8 and MD
The device 9 is connected to the monitor device 4 via the AV line 11.
Connected with. In addition, the IRD2 has an AV in the VCR6.
Connected by line 11. Furthermore, these respective devices are sequentially connected in series by a control line 12.

For the IRD2, the remote commander 5
It is possible to input an instruction by an infrared (IR: Infrared) signal. That is,
When a predetermined button switch 50 of the remote commander 5 is operated, an infrared signal corresponding to the button is emitted from the IR transmitter 51 and is incident on the IR receiver 39 of the IRD 2.

The IRD 2 is provided with a front panel 40 having various operation button switches so that the same command as the command issued by operating the remote commander 5 can be directly input. Has been done.

FIG. 2 shows an electrical connection state of the AV system 1 of FIG. The parabolic antenna 3 is an LNB
(Low Noise Block downconv
erter) 3a, converts a signal from a broadcasting satellite into a signal of a predetermined frequency and supplies the signal to the IRD 2. IR
D2 supplies its output to the VCR 6 via the AV line 11 composed of three lines. The output of the VCR 6 is supplied to the monitor device 4 by the AV line 11 composed of three lines. Also, VCR7, M
The DP 8 and the MD device 9 are 6
These are connected by one, three, or four AV lines 11, respectively.

Further, IRD2, VCR6, VCR7,
The MDP 8, the MD device 9, and the monitor device 4 include AV device control signal transmission / reception units 2A, 6A, 7A, 8A, 9A, 4
Each has A. These are wired SI
RCS (Wired Sony Infrared R)
A control line 12 composed of an emote control system) is sequentially connected to the series.

FIG. 3 shows an example of the internal structure of the IRD 2. The RF signal output from the LNB 3a of the parabolic antenna 3 is supplied to the tuner 21A of the front end 20A and demodulated. The output of the tuner 21A is QP
It is supplied to the SK demodulation circuit 22A and is QPSK demodulated.
The output of the QPSK demodulation circuit 22A is the error correction circuit 23.
The error is detected, corrected, and corrected if necessary.

Similarly to the front end 20A, the front end 20B including the tuner 21B, the QPSK demodulation circuit 22B, and the error correction circuit 23B also performs the same processing independently of the front end 20A. Has become.

I consisting of CPU, ROM and RAM
CAM (Conditi) composed of C card
The key required for deciphering the cipher is stored in the onal access module 33 together with the deciphering program. Since the signal transmitted via the broadcast satellite is encrypted, a key and a decryption process are required to decrypt this encryption. Therefore, this key is read from the CAM 33 via the card reader interface 32 and supplied to the demultiplexer 24. The demultiplexer 24 uses this key to decrypt the encrypted signal.

The CAM 33 also stores billing information and the like in addition to the key and decryption program required for decryption.

The demultiplexer 24 includes an error correction circuit 23 (23) of the front end 20 (20A, 20B).
A, 23B) output signal is received, the decoded video signal is supplied to the decoding section 44, and the decoded audio signal is supplied to the MPEG audio decoder 26.

Similarly to the front end 20, the decoding unit 44 is also capable of independently operating the decoding units 44A and 44B.
And an MPEG video decoder 2 respectively
5A and DRAM 25aA, or MPEG video decoder 25B and DRAM 25aB.

MPEG video decoders 25A and 25B
Inputs the input digital video signal to the DRAM 25a
A and 25aB are appropriately stored and the decoding process of the video signal compressed by the MPEG system is executed. The decoded video signal is a picture-in-picture (P
in P) processor 45 and is supplied to the NTSC encoder 27, and is converted into an NTSC luminance signal (Y), a chroma signal (C), and a composite signal (V). The brightness signal and the chroma signal are supplied to the buffer amplifier 28.
It is output as an S video signal via Y and 28C, respectively. In addition, the composite signal is the buffer amplifier 2
It is output via 8V.

The MPEG audio decoder 26 appropriately stores the digital audio signal supplied from the demultiplexer 24 in the DRAM 26a and executes the decoding process of the audio signal compressed by the MPEG system. The decoded audio signal is D / A converted in the D / A converter 30, the left channel audio signal is output through the buffer amplifier 31L, and the right channel audio signal is output in the buffer amplifier 31R.
Is output via.

The RF modulator 41 converts the composite signal output by the NTSC encoder 27 and the audio signal output by the D / A converter 30 into an RF signal and outputs the RF signal. Further, the RF modulator 41 passes through an NTSC type RF signal input from another AV device such as a cable box for CATV (not shown) to obtain a VCR.
It is directly output to other AV equipment such as 6.

In the case of this embodiment, these video and audio signals are transmitted via the AV line 11 to the VCR.
6 will be supplied.

CPU (Central Process)
or Unit) 29 executes various processes according to programs stored in the ROM 37. For example, the tuners 21A and 21B and the QPSK demodulation circuits 22A and 22
B, the error correction circuits 23A and 23B, the picture-in-picture processor 45, and the like. In addition, it controls the AV device control signal transmitting / receiving unit 2A and controls the control line 12
A predetermined control signal is output to another AV device via the, and a control signal from another AV device is received.

For this CPU 29, an operation button switch (not shown) on the front panel 40 is operated,
It is possible to directly input a predetermined command. When the remote commander 5 is operated, an infrared signal is output from the IR transmitter 51, the infrared signal is received by the IR receiver 39, and the light reception result is supplied to the CPU 29. Therefore, by operating the remote commander 5, C
A predetermined command can be input to the PU 29.

Further, the CPU 29 uses the demultiplexer 2
Signals other than video and audio signals output by 4
For example, it is added to the original image data and transmitted.
Program information (for example, program channel, broadcast time, title, category, etc.) of each broadcast channel from the current time to several tens of hours later is fetched, and the EPG (E
SRAM (Static Rando) is created by creating electrical program guide data.
m Access Memory 36 for storage.

EEPROM (Electrically)
Erasable Programmable Rea
In the d Only Memory) 38, data or the like that is desired to be retained even after the power is turned off is appropriately stored. Also,
The CPU 29 compares the time information output by the calendar timer 35 with the time stamp separated and output from the received signal by the demultiplexer 24, and the decoding process can be performed at the correct timing according to the comparison result.
It controls the MPEG video decoders 25A and 25B and the MPEG audio decoder 26.

Further, the CPU 29 causes the predetermined OSD (O
When it is desired to generate n-Screen Display data, the MPEG video decoders 25A and 25B are controlled. In response to this control, the MPEG video decoders 25A and 25B generate predetermined OSD data and perform DR.
The data is written to the AMs 25aA and 25aB, further read and output. As a result, predetermined characters, figures, etc. can be appropriately output to the monitor device 4 and displayed.

Under the control of the CPU 29, the modem 34 exchanges data with other devices via a telephone line.

FIG. 4 shows a more detailed configuration example of the button switch 50 of the remote commander 5. As shown in the figure, the remote commander 5 is provided with an IR transmitter 51 at its upper portion and an operator 52 below it. The operator 52 can be operated in any one direction out of a total of eight directions in the vertical, horizontal, and diagonal directions. Also,
The operating element 52 can be pressed in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface to function as an enter button switch. That is, this operator 52
Select the direction with one finger, and without releasing your finger,
It is designed so that one finger can be used for further enter input.

A menu button switch 53 is arranged on the lower right side of the operating element 52. The menu button switch 53 is operated when the menu screen is displayed on the monitor device 4.

Although not described below, other various operation button switches are provided as the button switch 50.

5 to 9 show an example of the structure for detecting the operation of the operator 52. The small stick controller shown in FIG. 5 is arranged inside the remote commander 5 and below the operator 52. That is, the stick 61 is integrally combined with the operating element 52 formed of a flexible resin or the like. Therefore, when the operation element 52 is operated, the stick 61 moves in the direction of arrow 8 in FIG.
It is adapted to move in any one of the two directions or to move in the vertical direction as indicated by arrow b.

A pin 105 is vertically planted below the stick 61, and an end portion of the pin 105 is inserted into a hole 104 formed in a guide plate 103 of the outer body 101 and guided. It is done like this. This outer body 1
At 01, a side plate 102 that is integrally coupled to a guide plate 103 that directs in the Y-axis direction and that directs in the X-axis direction is formed. A shaft 62 extending in the X-axis direction is planted in the side plate 102.

On the other hand, the stick 61 is inserted into the hole 114A formed in the bottom plate 114 of the inner body 111 so that the inner body 111 is arranged inside the outer body 101. As shown in FIG. 9, this hole 114A is a hole that is long in the Y-axis direction. Then, side plates 112 are formed on the bottom plate 114 of the inner body 111 so as to face each other in the X-axis direction, and side plates 112 so as to face each other in the Y-axis direction.
A coupling plate 113 having a height lower than that of the coupling plate 113 is formed. A shaft 63 extending in the Y-axis direction is planted in the connecting plate 113. Guide plate 10 of outer body 101
The hole 104 formed in No. 3 is formed in an arc centered on the shaft 63.

A small stick controller as shown in FIGS. 6 to 9 is arranged inside the box 116 as shown in FIG. 5, and the shafts 62 and 63 have holes 118 and 119 formed in the box 116, respectively. It is designed to extend from the outside. The hole 119 is the shaft 6
The diameter of the hole 118 is substantially equal to or slightly larger than the diameter of No. 3, whereas the hole 118 is a hole long in the Z-axis direction. The variable resistor 64 is provided outside the box 116 so as to be coupled to one end of the shaft 62.
Is disposed, and a push button type switch 66 is disposed below the other end. A variable resistor 65 is arranged outside the box 116 in the Y-axis direction and is connected to the shaft 63.

When the stick 61 is rotated about the X axis, the outer body 101 connected to the guide plate 103 via the pin 105 is rotated about the shaft 62 (X axis). At this time, on the bottom plate 114 of the inner body 111, Y
Since the hole 114A that is long in the axial direction is formed, the inner body 1
11 is still stationary.

On the other hand, when the stick 61 is rotated around the Y axis, the hole 1 formed in the bottom plate 114
Since 14A is formed to have a diameter substantially the same as that of the stick 61 in the X-axis direction, the inner body 111 rotates about the shaft 63 (Y axis) as the stick 61 rotates. At this time, the pin 105 is guided by the hole 104 formed on an arc centered on the shaft 63. Further, at this time, the side plate 112 of the inner body 111 has a sufficient distance from the side plate 102 of the outer body 101, and therefore does not contact the side plate 102. Therefore, the outer body 101 remains stationary.

When the stick 61 is operated in the direction between the X axis and the Y axis, the inner body 111 rotates about the Y axis and the outer body 101 rotates about the X axis.

Since the origin return spring 106 is coupled to the lower end of the stick 61, when the rotation operation to the stick 61 is stopped, the stick 61 is origin (vertical position) according to the biasing force of the origin return spring 106. Return to.

When the stick 61 is rotated about the X axis, the shaft 62 is rotated about the X axis.
The resistance value of the variable resistor 64 changes. Therefore, from the resistance value of the variable resistor 64, the rotation amount and the rotation direction of the stick 61 about the X axis can be detected.

When the stick 61 rotates about the Y-axis, the shaft 63 rotates about the Y-axis, so that the resistance value of the variable resistor 65 changes. Therefore, from the resistance value of the variable resistor 65, the rotation amount and the rotation direction of the stick 61 about the Y axis can be detected.

In this way, in FIG. 5, the operation in any one of the eight directions indicated by the arrow a (operation in the horizontal direction) is detected.

When the stick 61 is pressed vertically downward along the arrow b in FIG. 5, the inner body 111 has no change because the stick 61 is inserted into the hole 114A of the bottom plate 114. Since the pin 105 implanted in the stick 61 is inserted into the guide plate 103 through the hole 104, the outer body 101 is pressed downward together with the stick 61. The downward movement of the outer body 101 at this time is guided by this hole 118 because the hole 118 of the box 116 through which the shaft 62 is inserted is long in the vertical direction. When the shaft 62 descends to a predetermined position, a part of the shaft 62 presses the switch 66. As a result, the switch 66 is turned on or off, and the downward pressing operation of the stick 61 is detected.

When the downward pressing operation on the stick 61 is stopped, the stick 61 returns to the upper origin position according to the urging force of a return spring (not shown) incorporated in the switch 66.

FIG. 10 shows an example of the internal circuit configuration of the remote commander 5. The microcomputer 71 includes a ROM 73 for storing a program and an R
A CPU 72 that executes various kinds of processing according to a program stored in the OM 73, and an R that appropriately stores data necessary for the CPU 72 to execute various kinds of processing.
AM74. A button switch matrix 82 is connected to the microcomputer 71 so that it can detect which button switch of the button switches 50 shown in FIG. 4 has been operated.

The A / D converter 77 A / D converts the resistance value of the variable resistor 64 (corresponding to the rotation of the stick 61 about the X axis) and outputs it to the microcomputer 71. There is. Further, the A / D converter 78 is the variable resistor 6
The resistance value of 5 (corresponding to the rotation of the stick 61 about the Y axis) is A / D converted and output to the microcomputer 71. Further, a signal for turning on or off the switch 66 (corresponding to operation of the stick 61 in the vertical direction) is supplied to the microcomputer 71.

Further, the microcomputer 71 uses the LED driver 7
The LED 76 of the IR transmitter 51 is driven via 5 to generate an infrared signal.

Next, the operation of the embodiment of the IRD 2 shown in FIG. 3 will be described. Now, it is assumed that the IRD 2 receives a predetermined broadcast channel, outputs it to the monitor device 4, and displays it.

At this time, the signal received by the tuner 21A for the main screen is QPSK demodulated by the QPSK demodulation circuit 22A.
It is demodulated, subjected to error correction processing by the error correction circuit 23A, and then supplied to the demultiplexer 24. The demultiplexer 24 separates the video signal and the audio signal from the input signal, supplies the video signal to the MPEG video decoder 25A of the parent screen decoding unit 44A, and outputs the audio signal to the MPEG audio decoder 2
Supply to 6.

The MPEG video decoder 25A is an MPE
Decodes a video signal compressed by G method,
NTSC via picture-in-picture processor 45
It is supplied to the encoder 27. NTSC encoder 27
Converts the input signal into an NTSC video signal, and through the buffer amplifiers 28Y, 28C and 28V,
It is output to the monitor device 4 and displayed.

On the other hand, the MPEG audio decoder 26
Decodes the input audio signal compressed by the MPEG system and outputs the decoded audio signal to the D / A converter 30. The audio signal D / A converted by the D / A converter 30 is output to the monitor device 4 via the buffer amplifiers 31L and 31R and is emitted.

In this state, when the user wants to know what kind of program is being broadcast on a broadcast channel other than the one currently being viewed, the menu of the remote commander 5 shown in FIG. The button switch 53 is operated. When any of the button switches 50 including the menu button switch 53 of the remote commander 5 is operated, the processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. 11 is started.

First, in step S1, it is determined whether or not the menu button switch 53 is operated. This determination is performed as follows.

That is, when one of the button switches 50 of the remote commander 5 is operated, this is detected by the button switch matrix 82, and the detection signal is C
It is input to the PU 72. The CPU 72 controls the LED driver 75 in response to this input and causes the LED 76 to output an infrared signal corresponding to the operation.

This infrared signal is received by the IR receiver 39 of the IRD 2 and the reception result is input to the CPU 29. From this input, the CPU 29 can determine whether the menu button switch 53 is operated.

When it is determined in step S1 that a button switch other than the menu button switch 53 has been operated (when it is not the menu button switch 53 that has been operated), the process proceeds to step S2 and is operated. The process corresponding to the button switch is executed.

On the other hand, when it is determined in step S1 that the menu button switch 53 is operated, the process proceeds to step S3, and the menu screen display process is executed. That is, the CPU 29
Controls the EG video decoder 25A and displays O on the menu screen.
SD data is generated and output as a video signal. This video signal is output to the monitor device 4 via the picture-in-picture processor 45 and the NTSC encoder 27 and displayed. As a result, for example, in FIG.
A menu screen as shown in 2 is displayed.

As shown in FIG. 12, on this menu screen, an operation palette having nine button icons indicated by numbers 1 to 9 is displayed. That is, in this embodiment, the button icons numbered 1 to 8 are respectively the news guide (NEWS GUIDE), general guide (GENERAL GUIDE), sports list (SPORTS LIST), movie guide (MOVIE GUIDE), and exit. (EXI
T), browsing (BROWSING), attraction (ATRACTION), and favorite guide (FAVORITE GUIDE). The button icon MORE having the number 9 is operated when the second page of this menu is displayed.

Next, in step S4, it is determined whether or not the operator 52 of the remote commander 5 has been operated in the horizontal direction (the direction indicated by the arrow a in FIG. 5). As described above, when the operator 52 is operated in the horizontal direction, the resistance values of the variable resistors 64 and 65 change. CPU72 is A / D
Read this resistance value from the output of the converters 77 and 78,
The operation direction is determined. Then, the LED driver 75
The infrared signal corresponding to the operating direction
Output from 76.

This signal is input to the CPU 29 in the IRD 2 via the IR receiving section 39.

When it is determined from the input signal that the operating element 52 has been operated in the horizontal direction, the CPU 29 proceeds to step S5 and moves the cursor in the direction corresponding to the operating direction.

In the display example of FIG. 12, the cursor is displayed by highlighting a predetermined button icon. In the example of FIG. 12, the browsing button icon with the number 6 is highlighted.
The CPU 29 responds to the input operation direction by the MPE
The G video decoder 25A is controlled to move this cursor in accordance with the operation direction.

When it is determined in step S4 that the operator 52 is not operated in the horizontal direction, it is not necessary to move the cursor, and therefore the process of step S5 is skipped.

Next, in step S6, it is determined whether or not the browsing button icon with the number 6 shown in FIG. 12 is turned on. If it is determined that the browsing button icon is not turned on, step S7
Then, it is determined whether or not a button icon corresponding to another function is selected. When it is determined that the button icon corresponding to the other function is not selected, the process returns to step S3 and the subsequent processes are repeatedly executed. That is, in this case, the menu screen is continuously displayed as it is.

When it is determined in step S7 that the button icon corresponding to the other function is selected, the process proceeds to step S8, and the process corresponding to the function of the selected button icon is executed.

In steps S6, S7, etc., the operation of selecting a predetermined button icon is performed by operating the operator 5 while the cursor is moved over the button icon.
2 is pressed (enter operation) in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG.

That is, at this time, the switch 66 of the remote commander 5 is turned on, and the CPU 72 of the remote commander 5 is turned on.
Controls the LED 76 via the LED driver 75,
An infrared signal corresponding to the turning on of the switch 66 is output. When the CPU 29 of the IRD 2 receives the input of this signal via the IR receiving unit 39, it determines that the button icon where the cursor is located at that time is selected.

When it is determined in step S6 that the browsing button icon is turned on, the process proceeds to step S9, and browsing processing is executed. Details of this browsing processing will be described with reference to FIGS.
Is shown in.

In step S21 of FIG. 13, the CPU
29 controls the picture-in-picture processor 45,
When the browsing button icon is turned on, updating of the data of the main screen stored in the built-in memory is prohibited, and the main screen becomes a still image.

However, if sufficient time can be secured to receive the child screen, the parent screen does not necessarily have to be a still image. In this case, step S21
Is omitted. Further, instead of a still image, as will be described later, it is also possible to use a pseudo moving image as in the small screen.

Next, in step S22, the variable i is set to the number of the reception channel of the parent screen currently received by the tuner 21A for the parent screen. Step S
In 23, the numbers of the current reception channels set in the variable i are set in the variables I, L, and R, respectively.

As shown in FIG. 17, in this embodiment, on the CRT 4A of the monitor device 4, a total of 11 sub-screens are basically displayed below the main screen horizontally below the screen.

Of the 11 sub-screens, the sub-screen arranged in the center is the sub-screen of the I-th channel and is displayed as the largest screen. On the other hand, the sub-screens of the I + 1th to I + 5th channels, which are sequentially displayed on the right side of the subscreen, become smaller toward the right end. Similarly, the five sub-screens of channels I-1 to I-5 displayed on the left side of the sub-screen of the center channel I are made smaller toward the left end. There is.

After step S23, the process proceeds to step S24 to execute the process of receiving the I-th channel. That is,
The CPU 29 controls the tuner 21B for receiving the sub-screen to receive the I-th channel in place of the tuner 21A which has received the broadcast channel of the main screen until then. The signal of the I-th channel received by the tuner 21B is demodulated by the QPSK demodulation circuit 22B, subjected to error correction by the error correction circuit 23B, and supplied to the demultiplexer 24.

Then, the video signal output from the demultiplexer 24 is supplied to the MPEG video decoder 25B of the decoding unit 44B, and after being decoded, is supplied to the picture-in-picture processor 45 and the data of the sub-picture of the I-th channel. Is stored as The screen of the I-th channel is a child screen at the center, as shown in FIG.

Next, in step S25, as shown in FIG. 17, the variable L representing the channel numbers of the five sub-screens displayed on the left side of the center sub-channel sub-screen is the leftmost end. It is determined whether or not it is equal to the channel number I-5. In this case, since L = i and not I-5, the process proceeds to step S26, and the variable L is decremented by 1. That is, in this case, L = i-1. Then, in step S28, the L-th channel (in this case, the (i-1) th channel) is received. The received signal of the L-th channel is supplied to the picture-in-picture processor 45 and is stored in the built-in memory as the data of the child screen, like the received signal of the I-channel.

Next, in step S29, as shown in FIG. 17, the variable R representing the channel numbers of the five sub-screens displayed on the right side of the center sub-screen of the I-th channel is the channel at the right end. It is determined whether or not it is equal to the number I + 5. In this case, R = i, not I + 5,
From step S29 to step S30, the variable R is set to 1
Increment only. That is, in the present case, R = i +
Set to 1. Then, in step S32, the R-th channel (in this case, the (i + 1) th channel) is received. The data corresponding to the received signal of the R-th channel is also supplied to the picture-in-picture processor 45 and stored in the built-in memory as the data of the child screen.

Next, in step S33, the variable R is I +.
It is determined whether it is equal to 5. That is, it is determined whether the variable R is equal to the channel number at the right end of the screen.
In this case, since they are not equal, the process returns to step S25,
Repeat the subsequent processing.

In step S25, it is again determined whether the variable L is equal to I-5. In the present case, L =
Since it is I-1, the process proceeds to step S26, the variable L is further decremented by 1, and L = I-2. Then, the process proceeds to step S28 to receive the L-th channel (I-2nd channel). This signal is also supplied to the picture-in-picture processor 45, and is stored in the built-in memory as child screen data.

Next, in step S29, the variable R is I +.
It is determined whether it is equal to 5. In this case, R = I +
Since it is 1, the process proceeds to step S30, R is incremented by 1, and R = I + 2. And step S3
In 2, the R channel (I + 2 channel) is received, supplied to the picture-in-picture processor 45, and stored in the built-in memory as child screen data.

The process proceeds to step S33 again, and the variable R is I +.
It is determined whether it is equal to 5. In this case, R = I +
Since it is 2, the process returns to step S25 again, and the same processing is repeatedly executed.

As described above, steps S25 to S25
By repeating the processing of 33, in addition to the child screen of the center channel I in FIG. 17, five child screens of channels I-1 to I-5 displayed on the left side thereof and the right side thereof are displayed. The picture-in-picture processor 45 stores the five child screens of the (I + 1) th channel to the (I + 5) th channel which are displayed in FIG.

As described above, a total of 11 child screens are stored in the picture-in-picture processor 45 and read out and displayed on the monitor device 4. As a result, the monitor device 4 displays, for example, as shown in FIG. An image like this is displayed. As shown in the figure, the picture-in-picture processor 45 generates a child screen such that its size (left and right width) becomes smaller (narrower) toward the left and right ends (in the center of the child screen). Display only some ranges).

At this time, the MPEG video decoder 2
5B displays the cursor C on the child screen at the center.

In this way, when the image of the rightmost child screen is received in step S32, it is determined in step S33 that R = I + 5.
It progresses from 33 to steps S34 to S36, and it is determined whether the operator 52 of the remote commander 5 has been operated to the left, to the right, or to enter. If none of these operations have been performed, the process returns from step S36 to step S24, and the process of receiving the I-th channel at the center of the small screen is executed again.

At this time, in step S25, it is determined whether or not the variable L is equal to I-5. In the present case,
Since the variable L is equal to I-5, the process proceeds to step S27,
The variable L is set to I-1. That is, it is set to the channel to the left of the I-th channel in the center sub-screen. Then, the process proceeds to step S28 to receive the Lth channel (I-1th channel).

Next, in step S29, the variable R is I +.
It is determined whether it is equal to 5. In this case, R is I +
Since it is equal to 5, the process proceeds to step S31 and the variable R is I +.
1, that is, the channel number on the right of the center I-th channel is set. Then, in step S32, the Rth channel (I + 1th channel) is received.

Further, in step S33, the variable R is I
It is determined whether or not it is equal to +5. In this case, since it is not equal yet, the process returns to step S25, and the subsequent processes are repeatedly executed.

In this way, steps S24 to S3
By repeatedly executing the process of 5, the 11 child screens are sequentially updated to the latest image and displayed as a pseudo moving image.

If it is determined in step S34 that the manipulator 52 has been operated to the left, the process proceeds to step S39, and the time T of the timer is calculated from the following equation. T = A / LL + B

Here, A and B are constants, and LL
Represents the amount of rotation of the operating element 52 to the left. Therefore, the time T has a smaller value as the operation element 52 is rotated more to the left, and has a larger value as the rotation amount is smaller.

In step S41 after step S39, the CPU 29 resets the timer and immediately starts it. Then, in step S42, the variable I,
I + 1 is set to each of L and R. That is, a channel one channel larger than the channel displayed on the parent screen (center child screen) (the channel displayed on the right side of the center child screen) is set. Then, the process proceeds to step S43, and the I-th channel set in step S42 is received. As a result, the child screen of the center channel I displays the child screen of the (i + 1) th channel that has been displayed on the right side thereof.

Next, in step S44, the variable L is I-
It is determined whether it is equal to 5, that is, the channel number of the left end portion. In this case, L = i + 1
Therefore, the process proceeds to step S45, and L is decremented by 1. That is, L = i. And step S4
7, the L-th channel (i-th channel) is received. As a result, the i-th channel image is displayed on the child screen on the left side of the center.

Next, in step S48, the variable R is I +.
It is determined whether or not it is equal to 5, that is, whether or not the channel number of the rightmost child screen is set. In the present case,
Since R = i + 1, the process proceeds to step S49,
R is incremented by 1 and R = i + 2. Then, the process proceeds to step S51 to receive the Rth channel (i + 2nd channel). As a result, the image of the (i + 2) th channel is displayed on the child screen on the right of the center.

Next, in step S52, it is determined whether or not the variable R is set to the number of the child screen at the right end. In this case, since R = I + 1, step S
The process returns to 44 and the subsequent processes are repeatedly executed.

In the processing of the first cycle, L
= I-5 and R = I + 5, the process proceeds from step S44 to step S46, and L = I-1. Also, the process proceeds from step S48 to step S50,
R = I + 1. As a result, the child screens on the left and right of the child screen in the center are sequentially generated again.

As described above, as the central child screen,
The i + 1-th channel is displayed, the sub-screens of the i-th to the i-th-4 channels are displayed on the left side, and the i-th channel is displayed on the right side.
Sub-screens of channels +2 to i + 6 are displayed.

Therefore, for example, in the state shown in FIG. 18, when the operator 52 is operated to the left,
The display screen of the monitor device 4 changes as shown in FIG. That is, each of the small screens is moved to the left by one small screen.

In step S52, the variable R is I + 5.
If it is determined that the time count t of the timer started in step S41 is equal to the time T preset in step S39, the process proceeds to step S53. It is determined whether the value is larger than that. When t is smaller than T, the process returns to step S43, and the subsequent processes are repeatedly executed. That is, by this, the child screen at the center and the five child screens on the left and right are sequentially updated until the time T elapses and displayed as a pseudo moving image.

When it is determined in step S53 that the time measured by the timer t is equal to or longer than the time T set in step S39, the process proceeds to step S54, and the operator 52 is left-operated. It is determined whether it has been done. When the left operation is still performed, the process proceeds to step S55, the variable I is incremented by 1 (in this case, after I = i + 2), the process returns to step S43, and the subsequent processes are repeatedly executed. .

As a result, in step S43,
The i + 2nd channel is displayed on the center child screen. Then, hereinafter, on the left side thereof, the (i + 1) th channel to the (i) th channel.
An image of channel 3 is displayed, and on the right side thereof, images of channels i + 3 to i + 7 are displayed.

As described above, the time T set in step S39 decreases as the amount of rotation of the operator 52 increases. Therefore, the larger the amount by which the operation element 52 is rotated to the left, the image on the inset screen is sequentially moved to the left at a higher speed. Further, the smaller the amount of rotation of the manipulator 52, the slower its speed.

If it is determined in step S54 that the operator 52 has not been operated to the left,
The process returns to step S34, and the subsequent processes are repeatedly executed. That is, in this case, the leftward movement of the child screen is stopped.

On the other hand, in step S35, the operator 5
When it is determined that 2 is operated in the right direction, the process proceeds to step S40, and the time T is calculated according to the following equation. T = A / LR + D

Here, LR represents the amount of rightward rotation of the operator 52. Therefore, as in the case of step S39, this time T becomes smaller as the amount of rotation of the operation element 52 to the right becomes larger, and becomes larger as the amount of rotation becomes smaller.

Then, the process proceeds to step S56, at which the timer is reset to start immediately and at the same time as step S56.
At 57, variables i, L, and R are set to i-1. That is, the channel numbers of the child screen displayed on the left side of the child screen displayed in the center are set in these variables I, L, and R.

Then, the process proceeds to step S58, and step S5
Channel I set in 7 (in this case, i-1
Channel). As a result, the image of the (i-1) th channel is displayed as the center child screen.

Next, the processes of steps S59 to S67 are executed. The processing of steps S59 to S67 is the same as the processing of steps S44 to S52 described above. That is, as a result of these processes, five child screens are displayed on the left side of the center child screen and five child screens are displayed on the right side.

Then, after a total of 11 sub-screens are displayed, the process proceeds from step S67 to step S68, and it is determined whether the time t counted by the timer is equal to or longer than the time T set in step S40. judge. Time t
If is smaller than the time T, the process returns to step S58 and the subsequent processes are repeatedly executed. That is, by repeating the processes of steps S58 to S68, the 11 child screens are sequentially updated and displayed as a pseudo moving image.

In step S68, time t is time T
If it is determined that the above is the case, step S
Proceeding to 69, it is determined whether the operator 52 is still operated to the right. If it is determined that the operation is performed in the right direction, the variable I is decremented by 1 in step S70 (in this case, I = i-2), and then the process returns to step S58. Repeat the process. That is, as a result, the channel displayed on the center sub-screen is changed to the sub-screen that was displayed to the left of it. Then, the images of the channels adjacent to the left and right are sequentially displayed.

Therefore, also in this case, the operator 52
The larger the rotation amount for operating the right direction, the faster the sub-screen is moved and displayed in the right direction.

If it is determined in step S69 that the operator 52 has not been operated to the right,
The process returns to step S34, and the subsequent processing is executed.
Therefore, for example, in the state shown in FIG.
When is operated to the right, the display on the monitor device 4 is changed to that shown in FIG.
The state shown in FIG. 20 changes to the state shown in FIG. It can be seen that the 11 sub-screens are moved to the right by one sub-screen.

If it is determined in step S36 that the operating element 52 has been operated, the process proceeds to step S37, in which the channel data of the child screen on which the cursor is positioned is acquired and the image of that channel is used as the parent screen. Is displayed.

That is, the CPU 29 acquires the channel data of the child screen on which the cursor is located at that time, and causes the tuner 21A to receive it. Then, the tuner 21B is controlled and the reception process of the small screen is ended.

Next, in step S38, the browsing process is terminated.

As described above, for example, when the operator 52 is operated in the state shown in FIG. 20, the image on the monitor device 4 changes from the state shown in FIG. 20 to the state shown in FIG. In this embodiment, the image of the child screen of the house designated by the cursor C is displayed as the parent screen.

In the process shown in the flowcharts of FIGS. 13 to 16, the process of receiving a predetermined channel is performed in more detail as shown in the flowchart of FIG. First, in step S91, it is determined whether or not the channel to be received needs to switch the transponder of the satellite. That is, the transponder transmits a program of a plurality of channels at a predetermined frequency for each packet. The number of channels transmitted by one transponder by the radio wave of the corresponding frequency is set to 4 to 6 depending on the complexity of the image.

For example, when the tuner 21B is currently receiving the signals from the first channel to the fifth channel as the sub-screen channels, it is switched to the state of receiving the signals from the second channel to the sixth channel. When the need arises, if the signal of the sixth channel is transmitted by the same carrier as the signals of the first to fifth channels (transmitted by the same transponder), the reception frequency is switched. No need (no need to switch transponders). Therefore, in this case, step S92
Then, the tuner (in this case, the tuner 21B) which has received the sub-screen until then receives the signal of the sixth channel.

On the other hand, in step S91,
If it is determined that the frequency of the reception carrier wave needs to be switched, the process proceeds to step S93, and the tuner (tuner 21A in this case) that has been waiting until then receives that channel (channel 6 in this case). Let

That is, when the tuner 21B is receiving the first to fifth channels, the CP
As will be described later, the U 29 causes the other tuner 21A to receive the radio wave of the channel to be received next, and put it in the standby state in step S94. For example, when the moving direction of the sub-screen is the left direction, the sixth to tenth channels are next to the first to fifth channels.
Channel reception is required. Therefore, the tuner 21
Channel A is made to receive the broadcast of channel 6 to channel 10 and is put in a standby state.

On the other hand, when the moving direction of the sub-screen is the right direction, the channels with smaller numbers are received, so that it is necessary to receive the programs from channel 146 to channel 150. There is. Therefore, in this case, the CPU 29 causes the tuner 2 to
1A receives the signals from the 146th channel to the 150th channel and puts them in a standby state.

Therefore, in step S93, the standby state of the tuner, which has been in the standby state until then, is released, and the reception operation is substantially started. Specifically, the picture-in-picture processor 45, which has been configured to accept the input from the MPEG video decoder 25B until then, is switched to accept the output from the MPEG video decoder 25A. That is, the output of the tuner 21A that has been in the standby state until then is supplied from the MPEG video decoder 25A to the picture-in-picture processor 45.

Then, the process proceeds to step S94, in which the tuner (that is, the tuner 21B in this case) which has received the radio wave of the child screen until then receives the radio wave of the next transponder and puts it in the standby state. That is, when the moving direction of the small screen is the left direction, the signals of the 11th to 15th channels are received and the standby state is set. When the moving direction of the child screen is the right direction, the signals of the 141st to 145th channels are received and the standby state is set.

In this way, the tuner which has not received the signal of the displayed sub-screen at that time is made to receive the next channel and is in the standby state,
It becomes possible to switch the image on the inset screen more quickly.

Of course, for example, the tuner 21A is always used only for the parent screen, and the signal of the child screen is always used for the tuner 21B.
It is also possible to receive at. However, if you do so, when switching the reception frequency,
It takes about 600 ms. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 22, the other tuner is put in a standby state and alternately switched, so that it is possible to prevent or minimize the loss of the screen at the time of switching.

If the necessary number of tuners for the child screen is secured, the tuner 21A can always be used only for the parent screen, and the parent screen and the child screen can always be displayed as a moving image. In this case, as described above, step S21 of FIG. 13 can be omitted.

In the above embodiment, the child screens are displayed so that they become smaller toward the left end or the right end. However, as shown in FIG. 23, for example, all the child screens may be displayed in the same size. It is possible. However, when doing so, the number of child screens that can be displayed at one time decreases. Therefore, it is preferable to display as shown in FIGS.

In the above embodiment, the cursor C is not moved but the sub-screen is moved. However, the cursor C may be moved. 24 to 27 show a processing example in this case.

Step S121 in FIGS. 24 and 25.
The processing in steps S138 to S138 is basically the same as the processing in steps S21 to S38 shown in FIGS. 13 and 14. However, in step S25 of FIG. 13, the channel number of the left end portion of the small screen is represented as I-5, but in step S125, this channel number is represented as L _E. This is this Figure 2
In the processes shown in FIGS. 4 to 27, since the number of child screens displayed on the left side of the largest displayed child screen is not necessarily 5, the leftmost end channel number is represented as L _E. It is the one.

Similarly, in step S29 of FIG.
In step S33 of 4, the channel number at the right end of the child screen is represented by I + 5, but in step S129 of FIG. 24 and step S133 of FIG. 25, it is represented by R _E. Also in this embodiment, since the number of child screens displayed on the right side of the largest child screen is not necessarily five, the channel number at the rightmost end is represented by R _E. is there.

However, there is no difference in the essential processing only by the difference in the number. Therefore, this step S121
28 through the processing of steps S21 to S38 shown in FIGS. 13 and 14.
As shown in FIG. 5, the sub-screen of the I-th channel is displayed in the largest size in the center, the sub-screens of five channels I-1 to I-5 are displayed on the left side of the sub-screen, and the I + 1-th sub-screen is displayed on the right side thereof.
The child screens of the five channels from the (I + 5) th channel are displayed. Then, when the operator 52 is not operated, these child screens are sequentially updated and displayed as a pseudo moving image. And when the enter operation is performed,
The child screen on which the cursor C is located is displayed as the parent screen.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S134 of FIG. 25 that the operator 52 has been operated to the left, the process proceeds to step S139, and the CPU 29 determines whether or not the cursor C is positioned on the leftmost child screen. To determine. If the cursor C is not located at the left end, the process proceeds to step S140 and the process of moving the cursor C to the left is executed. At this time, the cursor C is moved to the left and at the same time the child screen displayed in the cursor C is also moved.

Next, in step S141, the variable K is set to
At that time, the channel number L _{E of the} child screen displayed on the leftmost side is set. Next, in step S143,
Process of receiving the K channel specified (L _E channels) in step S141 is executed.

This variable K represents the channel number of the leftmost child screen when the cursor C is moved to the left as shown in FIG. Therefore, by the processing of step S143, the leftmost Kth image shown in FIG.
The channel screen will be displayed.

Next, in step S144, it is determined whether the variable K is equal to the channel number R _E of the rightmost child screen. In the current case, since a K = L _E, the flow proceeds to step S145, after incrementing the variable K by 1, the process returns to step S143, executes a process of receiving the first K channel. As a result, the second K + 1th channel image from the left side in FIG. 29 is displayed as a small screen.

Next, in step S144, the variable K is set to R.
It is determined whether or not it is equal to _E, and if it is not equal, the process proceeds to step S145, K is incremented by 1, and then the process returns to step S143 to execute the process of receiving the Kth channel.

By repeatedly executing the above processing, the child screen of the leftmost Kth channel to the rightmost K + 10 (= _RE ) channel in FIG. 29 is displayed.

When the child screen up to the right end is displayed, it is determined that K = R _E in step S144.
Next, proceeding to step S146, it is determined whether or not the operator 52 has been operated to the left. When the left operation is not performed, the process proceeds to step S147, and it is determined whether the right operation is performed. When it is determined that the right operation has not been performed, the process proceeds to step S148, and it is determined whether the enter operation has been performed. If it is determined that the enter operation has not been performed, the process returns to step S141, the variable K is set to L _E , and the K-th channel receiving process is executed in step S143.

As described above, steps S141 to S1
By repeating the processing of 48, step S14
28, the cursor C is moved to the left from the state shown in FIG. 28 and displayed as shown in FIG. 29. In that state, the image of the child screen is updated until the operator 52 is newly operated, and the pseudo image is displayed. Display as a movie.

At step S146, the operator 5
If it is determined that 2 is operated to the left, the process returns to step S139 to determine whether the cursor C is located at the left end. If not, the process proceeds to step S140 to move the cursor C. Execute the process of moving to the left.

That is, in the state shown in FIG. 28, when the operator 52 is operated to the left, the screen changes from the state shown in FIG. 28 to the state shown in FIG. 29 (that is, with the cursor C, Although the child screen is moved to the left), in the state shown in FIG.
When is further operated to the left, the cursor C moves together with the child screen as shown in FIG.

Then, as in the case described above, the processing of steps S141 to S148 is repeatedly executed, and
The child screen shown in 0 is updated and displayed as a pseudo moving image.

In the state shown in FIG. 30, that is, in the state where the cursor C is located at the left end, when the operator 52 is further operated to the left, the process proceeds from step S139 to step S142, at which time it is displayed at the left end. Channel number L of the sub screen that is open (the sub screen within the cursor)
_The value obtained by adding 1 to _E , that is, the channel number of the child screen displayed to the right of the cursor C is set in the variable K.

Then, the flow proceeds to step S143, and a process of receiving the Kth channel is executed. As a result, FIG.
As shown in, the channel of the child screen displayed in the cursor C is changed from i to i + 1. And step S
By repeating the processing of 144, S145, and S143, the child screens from the (K + 1) th channel to the (K + 12) th channel (the rightmost channel) in FIG. 31 are displayed.

If it is determined in steps S146 to S148 that the operator 52 is not operated, the process returns to step S141, and the 13 child screens of the Kth to K + 12th channels shown in FIG. 31 are displayed. It is updated and displayed as a pseudo movie.

Thus, as shown in FIG. 30, when the cursor C is further moved to the left while the cursor C is located on the leftmost child screen, the cursor C does not move, and As indicated by reference numeral 31, the small screen is moved leftward by one screen at a time.

If it is determined in step S147 that the operator 52 has been operated to the right, the process proceeds to step S149.
The processing after step S149 will be described later.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S135 that the operator 52 has been operated to the right, the process proceeds to step S149, and it is determined whether or not the cursor C is located on the rightmost child screen. If it is not located on the rightmost child screen, the process proceeds to step S150 and the process of moving the cursor to the right is executed.

For example, when the right operation is performed in the state shown in FIG. 28, the cursor C is moved to the right along with the child screen as shown in FIG.

Next, in step S151, the variable K
Is set to the channel number R _E of the rightmost child screen.
That is, as shown in FIG. 32, when the cursor C is moved to the right, the variable K corresponds to the channel number of the rightmost end child screen, and hereinafter, to the left child screen, Thus, the variables K-1 to K-10 are sequentially assigned. That is, the allocation of the variable K is in the opposite direction to the case in FIG.

Then, in step S153, the process of receiving the Kth channel is executed, and as a result, the rightmost child screen in FIG. 32 is received. Next, step S1
In 54, it is determined whether or not the variable K is equal to the channel number L _{E of} the leftmost end child screen, and if it is determined that it is not equal, the process proceeds to Step S155.
Decrement the variable K by 1. And step S1
At 53, the process of receiving the Kth channel decremented by 1 is executed. As a result, in FIG. 32, the child screen of the second K-1th channel from the right is received.

Thereafter, the processes of steps S153 to S155 are repeatedly executed, so that the child screens of the K-1 to K-10th channels in FIG. 32 are received and displayed.

[0164] When the best reception of the left sub-screen (L _E channel) is completed, step S15 from step S154
In step S156 to S158, it is determined whether the operating element 52 has been operated to the right, left, or enter. When it is determined that none of these operations has been performed, the process returns to step S151, and the subsequent processing is repeatedly executed. That is,
The 11 child screens from the Kth channel to the K-10th channel in FIG. 32 are sequentially updated and displayed as a pseudo moving image.

If it is determined in step S156 that the operator 52 has been operated right, step S156
Returning to 149, if the cursor is not located at the right end, the process proceeds to step S150, and the process of moving the cursor to the right is executed.

For example, when the operator 52 is operated to the right in the state shown in FIG. 32, the cursor C changes from the state shown in FIG. 32 to the state shown in FIG. That is, in this case, the cursor C is located on the child screen at the right end.

After that, by repeating the processing of steps S151 to S158, the 11 child screens in FIG. 33 are updated and displayed as a pseudo moving image.

Then, in the state shown in FIG. 33, that is, in the state where the cursor C is located on the child screen at the right end, when the operator 52 is further operated to the right, the process proceeds from step S149 to step S152, and the variable K Is set to a value obtained by decrementing the rightmost channel number R _E by 1. That is, in FIG. 33, the channel number of the child screen adjacent to the left of the child screen displayed in the cursor C is set in the variable K. After that, the process proceeds to step S153, and since the channel corresponding to the variable K is received, the image of the child screen in the cursor C is changed to the image of i-1 channel as shown in FIG. That is, in FIG. 33, the image displayed to the left of the cursor C until then is displayed in the cursor C.

Then, steps S154, S155 and S1.
By repeatedly executing the processing of 53, the child screens of the K-1th to K-11th channels in FIG. 34 are received and displayed. That is, the child screen is moved rightward by one child screen from the state shown in FIG.

Even if it is determined in step S147 that the operator 52 has been operated right, step S147
Proceeding to 149, the same processing as that described above is executed.

If it is determined in step S157 that the operator 52 has been operated to the left, the process returns to step S139, and the subsequent processing is executed in the same manner as in the case described above.

Furthermore, step S148 or step S
If it is determined in 158 that the operator 52 has been operated for enter, the process proceeds to step S137, and a process of displaying as a parent screen is executed.

That is, for example, in the state shown in FIG.
When the operator 52 is operated by the enter operation, as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5, the image of the (i-1) th channel is displayed as the parent screen, and the display of the child screen is stopped.

FIG. 36 shows another configuration example of the remote commander 5. In this embodiment, a slide button 201 and an enter button switch 202 are provided instead of the operation element 52 shown in FIG. That is, in this embodiment, instead of moving (rotating) the operation element 52 leftward or rightward, the slide button 201 is used.
36 is operated to slide leftward or rightward in FIG. Then, instead of performing the operation of the operator 52, the enter button switch 202
The enter operation is performed by operating.

FIG. 37 shows still another configuration example of the remote commander 5. In this embodiment, FIG.
In place of the slide button 201 in FIG.
Is provided. By rotating the roller 211 left or right, the same command as when the slide button 201 is slid left or right can be input.

FIG. 38 shows still another configuration example of the remote commander 5. In this embodiment, FIG.
A left button switch 221 and a right button switch 222 are provided in place of the slide button 201 in FIG. That is, an arrow (triangle) marma that indicates that the cursor is moved to the left or right is displayed on these button switches, and the cursor C is moved to the left or right by operating these button switches. It is designed to be able to input a command to move to the right.

In the case of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 36 and 37, since the operation to the left or right is performed by the slide button 201 or the roller 211, not only the instruction to the left or the right but also the slide is performed. The amount or rotation amount can be entered. Therefore, the internal structure of the remote commander 5 in FIGS. 36 and 37 is the same as that shown in FIG.

On the other hand, in the embodiment of FIG. 38, since the left and right commands are issued by the left panel switch 221 and the right button switch 222, the amount of operation in the left or right direction is directly input. It is not possible. Therefore, in this case, it is determined that the operation time of the left panel switch 221 and the right button switch 222 is determined, and that the longer the operation time is, the more the command to move in the left or right direction is input. can do.

In the case of the embodiment shown in FIG. 38, since analog input is not performed, the variable resistors 64 and 65, the switch 66, and the A / D converters 77 and 78 in FIG.
Becomes unnecessary. That is, the internal structure of this embodiment is as shown in FIG. The operation of the left button switch 221, the right button switch 222, and the enter button switch 202 is detected by the button switch matrix 82 as a kind of operation of the button switch 50.

In the above embodiment, the child screen is displayed in the horizontal direction, but it is also possible to display it in the vertical direction as shown in FIG. 40, for example.

In FIG. 40, the child screen is displayed on the CRT.
Although it is displayed along the right side of 4A, it is also possible to display along the left side.

The case where the present invention is applied to the IRD 2 has been described above as an example, but the present invention can be applied to other devices capable of receiving video signals of a plurality of channels.

[0183]

As described above, according to the image display control apparatus of the present invention, not only the child screen is displayed together with the parent screen, but also the child screens are sequentially displayed in different sizes. In addition, it becomes possible to know the contents of programs on more other broadcasting channels.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a configuration example of an AV system to which an image display control device of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an electrical connection state of the AV system of FIG.

3 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of an IRD 2 in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the configuration of the upper surface of the remote commander 5 of FIG.

5 is a perspective view showing a configuration example of a small stick controller that detects an operation of an operator 52 in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing an internal configuration example of the embodiment of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a front view showing the configuration of the embodiment shown in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a right side view showing the configuration of the embodiment of FIG.

9 is a plan view showing the configuration of the embodiment shown in FIG.

10 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration example of a remote commander 5 in FIG.

11 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the embodiment of FIG.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a display example of a menu screen.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating a process of a first example of a browsing process.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart following FIG.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart following FIG.

16 is a flowchart following on from FIG.

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating a layout of child screens.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a display example of a child screen.

FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating movement of a child screen.

FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating movement of a child screen.

FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating a display when a child screen is selected.

FIG. 22 is a flowchart illustrating a process when receiving a channel.

FIG. 23 is a diagram showing another display example of a child screen.

FIG. 24 is a flowchart illustrating a process of a second example of the browsing process.

FIG. 25 is a flowchart following FIG. 24.

FIG. 26 is a flowchart following FIG. 25.

FIG. 27 is a flowchart following FIG. 26.

FIG. 28 is a diagram illustrating the arrangement of child screens in the processing illustrated in the flowcharts of FIGS. 24 to 27.

FIG. 29 is a diagram showing movement of a cursor.

FIG. 30 is a diagram illustrating movement of a cursor.

FIG. 31 is a diagram illustrating movement of a cursor.

FIG. 32 is a diagram illustrating movement of a cursor.

FIG. 33 is a diagram illustrating movement of a cursor.

FIG. 34 is a diagram illustrating movement of a cursor.

FIG. 35 is a diagram illustrating a display when a child screen is selected in the state shown in FIG. 34.

FIG. 36 is a diagram showing another configuration example of the remote commander 5.

FIG. 37 is a diagram showing another configuration example of the remote commander 5.

FIG. 38 is a diagram illustrating another configuration example of the remote commander 5.

39 is a diagram showing an internal configuration example of the remote commander 5 of FIG. 38. FIG.

FIG. 40 is a diagram showing another display example of a child screen.

FIG. 41 is a diagram showing a conventional display example.

FIG. 42 is a diagram showing a conventional display example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 AV System 2 IRD 3 Parabolic Antenna 4 Monitor Device 4A CRT 5 Remote Commander 21A, 21B Tuner 22A, 22B QPSK Demodulation Circuit 23A, 23B Error Correction Circuit 24 Demultiplexer 25A, 25B MPEG Video Decoder 26 MPEG Audio Decoder 27 NTSC Encoder 29 CPU 36 SRAM 39 IR receiver 50 Button switch 52 Operator 53 Menu button switch

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Tomoko Suto 6-735 Kita-Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo Sony Corporation

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. Receive signals from a plurality of broadcast channels,
Receiving means for outputting and displaying on a monitor device and receiving a signal of a predetermined broadcast channel, displaying the image as a main screen on the monitor device, and displaying images of a plurality of other broadcast channels as a child screen A mode command unit operated when commanding a mode to be performed, and when the mode command unit is operated, an image of a broadcast channel already received at that time is displayed on the monitor device as a main screen, and a plurality of other modes are displayed. Control means for displaying the image of the broadcast channel as a sub-screen so that the size of the sub-screen is gradually reduced, and change operation means operated when sequentially changing the sub-screen to an image of a different broadcast channel. An image display control comprising: a selection operation unit operated when selecting a predetermined one of the child screens. apparatus. 2. The image display control device according to claim 1, further comprising a change operation unit that is operated when sequentially changing the child screen to images of different broadcast channels. 3. The control means displays the sub-screen horizontally below the monitor device, at the center of the screen, at the largest size, and at the left and right ends of the screen, smaller. Item 3. The image display control device according to item 1 or 2. 4. The control means displays the sub-screen perpendicularly to the right side or the left side of the monitor device in the largest size in the central part, and in the upper and lower end parts, the smaller size. The image display control device according to claim 1 or 2. 5. The changing operation means and the selecting operation means are formed on a remote commander for remotely controlling the receiving means, and the changing operation means is operated in a direction corresponding to a display direction of the child screen. The image display control device according to claim 2, wherein 6. The change operation means and the selection operation means are 1
The image display control device according to claim 5, wherein the image display control device is configured to be continuously operable with two fingers. 7. The change operation means is either a linearly slidable slide button, a rotatable roller, or an arrow button switch on which a mark indicating movement in a predetermined direction is displayed. Claim 5 characterized by the above-mentioned.
The image display control device described in 1.