WO2006123671A1

WO2006123671A1 - Digital broadcasting receiver, program selecting method, program changing program and recording medium

Info

Publication number: WO2006123671A1
Application number: PCT/JP2006/309785
Authority: WO
Inventors: Tetsuo Ueno
Original assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
Priority date: 2005-05-18
Filing date: 2006-05-17
Publication date: 2006-11-23
Also published as: JPWO2006123671A1

Abstract

A digital broadcasting program specified by a viewer is quickly selected. A tuner section A (102) acquires a stream included in a first channel as a first stream from a digital broadcasting signal. A tuner section B (115) acquires a stream included in a second channel adjacent to the first channel as a second stream from the digital broadcasting signal. A stream selecting section (119), a decoder section A (104) and a decoder section B (120) decode adjacent two streams from the first stream and the second stream. A program selecting section (121) selects either of the two streams as a current program.

Description

Specification

Digital broadcast receiver, program selection method, program change program, and recording medium

Technical field

TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The present invention relates to a program channel selection technique in a digital broadcast receiving apparatus equipped with a plurality of tuners. More specifically, the present invention relates to a digital broadcast receiving apparatus, a program selection method, a program change program, and a recording medium that quickly output a program selected by a viewer. Background art

[0002] In recent years, in the broadcasting industry, with the start of digital broadcasting, multi-channel broadcasting has progressed. Multiple programs can be broadcast on one channel. In such a situation, multi-program broadcasting is being realized.

[0003] In digital broadcasting, a program that includes a video signal and an audio signal is broadcast! In addition, SI (Service Information) information, which is additional information, is also transmitted. The digital broadcast receiver generates an electronic program guide (EPG, Electronic Program Guide) based on the SI information.

[0004] The viewer can easily select a desired program from a number of channels by viewing the electronic program guide generated by the digital broadcast receiver. Selecting a program using an electronic program guide is very convenient for viewers. On the other hand, viewers may switch from one program to another in a short time. For such viewers, it is more convenient to use the channel up key and channel down key to select a program sequentially and sequentially, rather than selecting the program directly using the electronic program guide. The

[0005] There is a decisive difference between digital broadcasting and analog broadcasting. The difference is that the digital broadcast receiver demodulates the program from the digital broadcast wave. The digital broadcast receiving apparatus generates a transport stream (Transport Stream) from the received digital broadcast wave. Furthermore, the compressed video signal and audio signal included in the transport stream are decoded. At this time, the digital broadcast receiving apparatus processes the signal. It takes about 1 second to complete.

[0006] Due to this processing time, even if the viewer presses the channel up key or the channel down key, the selected program is not immediately played. At this time, viewers feel stressed that the program is not easily played.

[0007] Patent Document 1 is a document disclosing a technique for solving such a problem. Patent Literature

In the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 10 of 1, the second tuner is provided in addition to the normal first tuner. When the viewer selects a program by pressing the channel up key or channel down key, the still image acquired through the second tuner is output together with the channel display.

[0008] The digital broadcast receiver 10 of Patent Document 1 will be described below with reference to FIG. FIG. 20 is a functional block diagram showing a configuration example of a digital broadcast receiving apparatus according to the prior art.

A digital broadcast receiver 10 shown in FIG. 20 receives a digital broadcast wave through an antenna 1010. Next, tuner A section 1020 corresponding to the first tuner generates a transport stream from the digital broadcast wave. The decoder unit 1040 separates the transport stream into a plurality of streams that also have video signal or audio signal power. Here, the stream is data in which audio data or video data is combined into one unit. The decoder section 1040 also separates the sections by transport stream force. Here, the section is data in which data other than audio data and video data are combined into one unit. Section contains SI information. The system control unit 1050 also generates an electronic program guide for SI information.

[0010] The decoder unit 1040 decodes the stream separated by the demultiplexing A unit 1030, and generates a first stream and a second stream. The decoder unit 1040 outputs the video signal to the video processing unit 1090 and outputs the audio signal to the audio processing unit 1070. The audio processing unit 1070 outputs the audio signal to the audio output unit 1080. The video processing unit 1090 outputs the video signal to the video composition unit 1100. At this time, the OSD display (On Screen Display) is input from the OSD display unit 1110 to the video composition unit 1100. Therefore, the video processing unit 1090 combines the input second stream and the OSD display, and outputs them to the video output unit 1120. Video The power unit 1120 outputs the second stream combined with the OSD display to another device connected to the digital broadcast receiving device 10.

On the other hand, the digital broadcast wave received through antenna 1010 is also input to tuner B section 1150 corresponding to the second tuner. Tuner B section 1150 generates a transport stream by demodulating the digital broadcast wave. The demultiplexing B section 1160 separates the section including SI information from the transport stream. Sarako, separate video streams. The demultiplexing unit B 1160 outputs the section to the system control unit 1050 and outputs the video stream to the still image extraction unit 1170.

The still image extraction unit 1170 extracts a still screen from the input video stream and outputs it to the system control unit 1050. The system control unit 1050 stores the input still image in the storage unit 1060 in association with the channel information. In addition, set the frequency of the next channel for tuner B section 1150. By repeating this operation sequentially, a program information list is generated.

The operation of digital broadcast receiving apparatus 10 when the viewer operates remote controller 1130 and presses the channel up key will be described below. First, the viewer operates the remote controller 1130 and presses the channel up key. The remote control 1130 transmits an IR signal indicating that the channel up key has been operated to the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 10. In the digital broadcast receiver 10, the IR receiver 1140 receives this IR signal. System control unit 1050 determines that the viewer has pressed the channel up key of remote controller 1130 based on the IR signal received by IR receiving unit 1140. As a result, the system control unit 1050 accesses the storage unit 1060 to read the still image of the next program from the program information list.

[0014] The system control unit 1050 outputs the read still image to the decoder unit 1040. The decoder unit 1040 decodes the still image and outputs it to the video processing unit 1090. The video processing unit 1090 outputs the decoded still image to the video synthesis unit 1100. The video composition unit 1100 synthesizes the still image with the OSD display input from the OSD display unit 1110 and outputs it to the video output unit 1120.

[0015] The system control unit 1050 sets the channel number corresponding to the still image to the OSD display unit 11 Output to 10. As a result, the OSD display unit 1110 displays the OSD display corresponding to the channel of the still image.

[0016] When the viewer presses the channel down key, the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 10 reads a still image of a previous program other than the next program. Except for this, the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 10 operates in the same manner as when the viewer presses the channel up key.

[0017] With the above operation, when the viewer selects another program, the digital broadcast receiving device 10 stores the still image of the program selected by the viewer stored in the prearranged storage unit 1060. Output. As a result, the digital broadcast receiver 10 can display the contents of the program together with the program number much faster than when the received digital broadcast wave is demodulated, demultiplexed, and further decoded. . Therefore, the viewer does not feel stress when selecting a program.

Patent Document 1: Japanese Published Patent Publication “Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-320153 (Released on 31st October 2002)”

Disclosure of the invention

[0018] As described above, in Patent Document 1, the viewer can select a program at a high speed by pressing the channel up key and the channel down key. However, after the viewer decides the program, the digital broadcast receiver 10 needs to set a new channel in the first tuner. Therefore, in order for the viewer to actually watch the selected program, the signal processing time of about 1 second is still necessary. This signal processing time is still a source of stress, especially for viewers who watch while switching from one program to another.

[0019] The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a digital broadcast receiving apparatus, a program selection method, and a program change for quickly selecting a program instructed by a viewer in digital broadcasting. It is to provide a program and a recording medium.

In order to solve the above problems, a digital broadcast receiving apparatus according to the present invention is a digital broadcast receiving apparatus that receives a digital broadcast signal and decodes a program from the digital broadcast signal. The first reception processing means for acquiring the stream included in the first channel from the broadcast signal as the first stream, and the above digital broadcast signal. The second reception processing means for acquiring the stream included in the second channel adjacent to the first channel as the second stream, and the two streams adjacent to each other from the first stream and the second stream. It is characterized by comprising a stream selection means for decoding and a program selection means for selecting one of the two streams as the current program.

[0021] According to the above configuration, the present apparatus acquires a plurality of streams included in two adjacent channels. Here, the present apparatus decodes two adjacent streams from the plurality of streams. In addition, select one of these two decoded streams as the current program.

As described above, the present apparatus simultaneously decodes two adjacent streams. Therefore, when one stream is selected as the current program, the next stream is always decoded as the next or previous stream. Thus, when it is necessary to switch the current program to the next program or the previous program according to the instruction from the viewer, the present apparatus converts the previously decoded stream into the next program or the previous program. You can choose as Therefore, this apparatus has an effect of improving the possibility of quickly selecting the instructed program without requiring processing time for decoding.

[0023] Note that the number of streams included in the first channel may be one or plural. Further, the first reception processing means may acquire all or a part of the stream included in the first channel. Accordingly, the first stream may include one or more streams included in the first channel. Here, each stream included in the first channel corresponds to one program. The same applies to the second channel.

[0024] Also, the two adjacent streams decoded by the stream selection means may both be streams included in the first stream, or may be streams included in the second stream. Alternatively, it may be a stream included in the first stream and a stream included in the second stream. In either case, the stream selection means decodes two adjacent streams at the same time, so when one stream is selected as the current program, it is selected as the program at that time. Not adjacent It is possible to realize the above-described operation that the stream to be decoded is also decoded.

[0025] In order to solve the above-described problem, the program selection method according to the present invention is a program for selecting a program to be decoded from a digital broadcast signal in a digital broadcast receiver that receives the digital broadcast signal. A method of selecting a stream included in the first channel from the digital broadcast signal as a first stream, and a second channel adjacent to the first channel from the digital broadcast signal. A stream obtained as a second stream, a step of decoding two streams adjacent to each other from the first stream and the second stream, and the! Including a step of selecting as a program.

[0026] According to this method, the same operational effects as those of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus described above can be obtained.

[0027] Further, in the digital broadcast receiving apparatus according to the present invention, the first reception processing means acquires all the streams included in the first channel as a first stream, The second reception processing means preferably acquires all streams included in the second channel as a second stream.

[0028] According to the above configuration, all the streams included in the first channel and the streams included in the second channel adjacent to the first channel are acquired. For this reason, the stream selection means can always decode two streams adjacent to each other for the first channel and the second channel. Therefore, with the above configuration, the possibility of quickly selecting the instructed program without requiring processing time for decoding is further improved.

[0029] Further, when the digital broadcast receiving apparatus according to the present invention switches the current program to a new program, the digital broadcast receiving apparatus selects the currently selected V of the two streams to the program selection means. It is preferable to further provide program selection control means for instructing the stream to be selected as a new program.

[0030] According to the above configuration, the present apparatus selects, as a new program, a stream that is not currently selected from the two streams to be decoded. So, for example, when the viewer is instructed to select the next program or the previous program of the current program, The device can select a previously decoded stream as the next program or the previous program. As a result, the present apparatus has an effect that the instructed program can be quickly selected without requiring processing time for decoding.

[0031] Further, the digital broadcast receiving apparatus according to the present invention provides the new program to the one of the first reception processing means and the second reception processing means that acquires the stream of the channel including the current program. It is preferable to further comprise channel selection control means for instructing to acquire a stream of the next channel of the containing channel.

[0032] According to the above configuration, after selecting the current program as another program, the present apparatus acquires the stream of the channel next to the channel including the new program. As a result, this apparatus decodes in advance a stream of a program that is likely to be further selected by the viewer. Therefore, this apparatus has an effect that a new program can be quickly selected even if the viewer continuously switches between adjacent programs.

[0033] Another digital broadcast receiving apparatus according to the present invention is a digital broadcast receiving apparatus that receives a digital broadcast signal and decodes a program from the digital broadcast signal in order to solve the above problems. A first reception processing means for obtaining a stream included in the first channel from the digital broadcast signal as a first stream, and all streams included in the second channel adjacent to the first channel from the digital broadcast signal. And second reception processing means for acquiring a stream included in a third channel adjacent to the second channel as a third stream from the digital broadcast signal. And three adjacent streams from the first stream, the second stream, and the third stream are recovered. And stream selection means for I spoon, among the three streams, and a program selecting means for selecting the center of the stream as the current program, as characterized Rukoto, Ru.

[0034] According to the above configuration, the present apparatus acquires a plurality of streams included in three adjacent channels. Here, the present apparatus decodes three adjacent streams from the plurality of streams. In addition, among these three decoded streams, the central stream is selected as the current program.

[0035] Thus, the present apparatus decodes three adjacent streams simultaneously. This Even if it is necessary to switch the current program to the next program or the previous program according to the instruction from the viewer, the device selects the stream that has been decoded in advance as the next program or the previous program. it can. Therefore, even if the viewer instructs the next program or the previous program of the current program, the present apparatus does not require processing time for decoding. There is an effect that can be selected quickly.

[0036] The number of streams included in the first channel may be one or plural. Further, the first reception processing means may acquire all or a part of the stream included in the first channel. Accordingly, the first stream may include one or more streams included in the first channel. The same applies to the second channel and the third channel.

[0037] Another program selection method according to the present invention selects a program to be decoded from a digital broadcast signal in a digital broadcast receiver that receives the digital broadcast signal in order to solve the above-described problem. A program selection method for acquiring a stream included in the first channel from the digital broadcast signal as a first stream; and a second channel adjacent to the first channel from the digital broadcast signal. Acquiring a stream included as a second stream; acquiring a stream included in a third channel adjacent to the second channel from the digital broadcast signal as a third stream; and the first stream. Decode three adjacent streams from the second stream and the third stream And a step of selecting a central stream among the three streams as the current program.

[0038] According to this method, the same operational effects as those of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus described above can be obtained.

[0039] Further, in the digital broadcast receiving apparatus according to the present invention, the first reception processing means acquires all the streams included in the first channel as a first stream, The second reception processing means acquires all streams included in the second channel as a second stream, and the third reception processing means includes all streams included in the third channel. It is preferable that [0040] According to the above configuration, all the stream forces included in the first channel, the second channel, and the third channel are acquired. For this reason, the stream selection means can always decode the three streams adjacent to each other for the first channel, the second channel, and the third channel. Therefore, the above configuration further improves the possibility of quickly selecting the instructed program without requiring processing time for decoding.

[0041] Also, when the digital broadcast receiving apparatus according to the present invention switches the current program to a new program, the digital broadcast receiving apparatus supports the current program among the three streams. It is preferable to further comprise program selection control means for instructing to select a stream next to the stream to be selected as a new program.

[0042] According to the above configuration, when the viewer instructs the current program to be switched to a new program, the apparatus selects one of the two programs adjacent to the current program as a new one. Select as a program. As described above, this device decrypts these two programs in advance. As a result, the present apparatus has an effect that the instructed program can be quickly selected without requiring a processing time for decoding.

[0043] Also, the digital broadcast receiving apparatus according to the present invention acquires a stream of a channel including the current program among the first reception processing means, the second reception processing means, and the third reception processing means. It is preferable to further include channel selection control means for instructing the user to obtain a stream of the channel next to the channel including the new program.

[0044] According to the above configuration, after selecting the current program as another program, the present apparatus acquires a stream of the channel next to the channel including the new program. As a result, this apparatus decodes in advance a stream of a program that is likely to be further selected by the viewer. Therefore, this apparatus has an effect that a new program can be quickly selected even if the viewer continuously switches between adjacent programs.

[0045] Another digital broadcast receiving apparatus according to the present invention is a digital broadcast receiving apparatus that receives a digital broadcast signal and decodes a program from the digital broadcast signal in order to solve the above problems. Stream included in the first channel from the above digital broadcast signal As a first stream, and a second reception processing means for acquiring, as a second stream, a stream included in an arbitrary second channel other than the first channel from the digital broadcast signal. A third reception processing means for acquiring, as a third stream, a stream included in a third channel other than the first and second channels from the digital broadcast signal, the first stream, the second stream, and Stream selection means for decoding any three streams from the third stream, program selection means for selecting one of the three streams as the current program, and the current stream When switching a program to a new program, the above-mentioned current number of the above three streams is sent to the program selection means. The one 1 V ヽ either the stream other than streams corresponding to, Bei a program selection control means for instructing to select a new program Ete, as characterized Rukoto! /

[0046] According to the configuration described above, the present apparatus acquires a plurality of streams included in any three different channels. Here, the present apparatus decodes any three streams from the plurality of streams. In addition, one of these three decoded streams is selected as the current program.

[0047] Thus, the present apparatus decodes any three streams simultaneously. Then, select one of these streams as the current program. Furthermore, when switching the current program to a new program, one of the three decoded streams other than the stream corresponding to the current program is selected as the new program. Thus, even when it is necessary to switch the current program to any other program at random according to an instruction from the viewer, the present device will not be able to change the stream previously decoded. Can be selected as a program. Therefore, this device has the effect that the viewer can quickly select the indicated program without requiring processing time for decoding even when the viewer selects another program that is not adjacent to the current program. Play.

[0048] Note that the number of streams included in the first channel may be one or plural. Further, the first reception processing means may acquire all or a part of the stream included in the first channel. Therefore, the first stream is one or more streams included in the first channel. Can include The same applies to the second channel and the third channel.

[0049] According to another program selection method of the present invention, in order to solve the above-described problem, a digital broadcast receiving apparatus that receives a digital broadcast signal selects a program to be decoded from the digital broadcast signal. A program selection method for obtaining a stream included in the first channel from the digital broadcast signal as a first stream, and an optional second channel other than the first channel from the digital broadcast signal. A stream included in the second stream, and a stream included in any third channel other than the first and second channels is acquired as a third stream from the digital broadcast signal. Step, and any three streams from the first stream, the second stream, and the third stream And a step of selecting one of the three streams as a current program, and when switching the current program to a new program, And selecting any one of the streams other than the stream corresponding to the current program as a new program.

[0050] According to this method, the same operational effects as those of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus described above can be obtained.

[0051] Further, the digital broadcast receiving apparatus according to the present invention obtains a stream of a channel including the current program among the first reception processing means, the second reception processing means, and the third reception processing means. It is preferable to further include channel selection control means for instructing the user to obtain a stream of the channel next to the channel including the new program.

[0052] According to the above configuration, the present apparatus acquires a stream of a channel next to a channel including a new program after selecting the current program as another program. As a result, this apparatus decodes in advance a stream of a program that is likely to be further selected by the viewer. Therefore, this apparatus has an effect that a new program can be quickly selected even if the viewer continuously switches between adjacent programs.

[0053] The digital broadcast receiving apparatus may be realized by a computer. In this case, the digital broadcast receiving apparatus is operated by operating a computer as each of the above means. A program change program that implements the program on a computer and a computer-readable recording medium that records the program change program also fall within the scope of the present invention.

[0054] As described above, the digital broadcast receiving apparatus according to the present invention includes: a stream selection unit that decodes two adjacent streams from the first stream and the second stream; Since there is a program selection means for selecting one of them as the current program, there is an effect that it is possible to improve the possibility of quickly selecting the program instructed by the viewer.

Brief Description of Drawings

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing a configuration example of a digital broadcast receiving apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a channel information table used by the digital broadcast receiving apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a program information table used by the digital broadcast receiving apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a channel switching list used by the digital broadcast receiving device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a program switching list used by the digital broadcast receiving apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing when the current broadcast program is switched to the next program or the previous program, according to the first embodiment and the second embodiment of the present invention. .

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a process flow when the digital broadcast receiving apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention selects a program next to the current program.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a processing flow when the digital broadcast receiving apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention checks a program switching list.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a processing flow when the digital broadcast receiving apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention switches the current channel to the next channel.

[FIG. 10] The digital broadcast receiving apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a process at the time of selecting this program.

圆 11] A flowchart showing a flow of processing when the digital broadcast receiving device according to the first embodiment of the present invention checks a program switching list.

12] A flowchart showing the flow of processing when the digital broadcast receiving apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention switches the current channel to the next channel.

[13] FIG. 13 is a functional block diagram showing a configuration example of a digital broadcast receiving device according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

圆 14 (a)] is a diagram showing a configuration example of a channel switching list used by the digital broadcast receiving device according to the second embodiment and the third embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows an example.

圆 14 (b)] is a diagram showing a configuration example of a channel switching list used by the digital broadcast receiving device according to the second embodiment and the third embodiment of the present invention, and has a value corresponding to a ZAP key operation. It is a figure which shows an example.

15 (a)] is a diagram showing a configuration example of a program switching list used by the digital broadcast receiving device according to the second embodiment and the third embodiment of the present invention, and shows a configuration example and value of the program switching list. It is a figure which shows the example of.

圆 15 (b)] is a diagram showing a configuration example of a program switching list used by the digital broadcast receiving device according to the second embodiment and the third embodiment of the present invention, and an example of values corresponding to the ZAP key operation FIG.

圆 16] A flowchart showing a processing flow when the digital broadcast receiving apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention selects a program next to the current program.

圆 17] A flowchart showing a flow of processing when the digital broadcast receiving device according to the second embodiment of the present invention selects a program before the current program.

圆 18] A flow chart showing the flow of processing when the digital broadcast receiving apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention switches the current program to the next program, the previous program, or an arbitrary program.

19] A flowchart showing a flow of processing for selecting an arbitrary program by the digital broadcast receiving apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 20 is a functional block diagram showing a configuration example of a digital broadcast receiving apparatus according to the prior art.

1 Digital broadcast receiver

2 Digital broadcast receiver

101 antenna

102 Tuner A (First reception processing means)

103 Demultiplexing part A

104 Decoder A section

105 System controller (program selection control means, channel selection control means)

106 Memory

107 Audio processor

108 Audio output section

109 Video processor

110 Video composition part

111 OSD display

112 Video output section

113 remote control

114 IR receiver

115 Tuner B (second reception processing means)

116 Demultiplexing part B

118 Channel Manager

119 Stream selector (stream selection means)

120 Decoder B section

121 Program selection section (program selection means)

122 Tuner C (third reception processing means)

123 Demultiplexing part C

124 Decoder C section BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[Embodiment 1]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

[0058] First, the configuration of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 1 in the present embodiment will be described below with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing a configuration example of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in this figure, the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 1 includes an antenna 101, a tuner A section (first reception processing means) 102, a demultiplexing A section 103, a decoder A section 104, a system control section (program selection control means, 105, storage unit 106, audio processing unit 107, video processing unit 109, audio output unit 108, OSD display unit 111, video output unit 112, video synthesis unit 110, IR reception unit 114, tuner B unit (Second reception processing means) 115, demultiplexing B section 116, channel management section 118, stream selection section (stream selection means) 119, decoder B section 120, and program selection section (program selection means) 121. Yes.

The digital broadcast receiving device 1 shown in FIG. 1 includes two systems for processing signals from the antenna 101 to the program selection unit 121 via the stream selection unit 119. The two reception processing systems other than the stream selection unit 119 and the program selection unit 121 operate basically in the same manner except that the set channels are different.

As shown in FIG. 1, the digital broadcast receiving device 1 receives a digital broadcast signal through an antenna 101. This digital broadcast signal is input to tuner A section 102 and tuner B section 115. The tuner A unit 102 demodulates a broadcast wave of a desired channel from a digital broadcast wave based on an instruction from the system control unit 105. At this time, tuner A section 102 generates a transport stream (TS, Transport Stream) from the broadcast wave of each channel. The tuner A unit 102 outputs the generated transport stream to the demultiplexing A unit 103. This transport stream includes a plurality of streams and sections. Therefore, the demultiplexing A unit 103 separates a plurality of streams and sections from the input transport stream.

As described above, in the digital broadcast receiving device 1, the received digital broadcast signal is also input to the tuner B unit 115. Tuner B 115 is instructed by system controller 105. The broadcast wave of a desired channel is demodulated from the digital broadcast wave. At this time, tuner B section 115 generates a transport stream from the broadcast wave of each channel. The tuner B unit 115 outputs the generated transport stream to the demultiplexing B unit 116. This transport stream includes multiple streams and sections. Therefore, the demultiplexing unit B 116 separates a plurality of streams and sections from the input transport stream.

The demultiplexing A unit 103 outputs the section from which the transport stream force is also separated to the system control unit 105. The demultiplexing unit B 116 also outputs the section from which the transport stream force is separated to the system control unit 105. Both of these sections contain SKService Information) information. Therefore, the system control unit 105 generates an electronic program guide (EPG) from the SI information included in the input section.

The demultiplexing A unit 103 outputs a plurality of streams to the stream selecting unit 119. The demultiplexing B unit 116 also outputs a plurality of streams to the stream selecting unit 119. The stream selection unit 119 selects two streams corresponding to two logically adjacent continuous programs from the plurality of input streams. The stream selection unit 119 outputs one of the two streams to the decoder A unit 104 and outputs the other to the decoder B unit 120. At this time, the stream selection unit 119 is based on an instruction from the system control unit 105. Also, an audio stream and a video stream to be output to the decoder A unit 104 are output to the decoder A unit 104. Also, the audio stream and video stream to be output to the decoder B unit 120 are output to the decoder B unit 120.

The decoder A unit 104 generates a video signal and an audio signal by decoding the input audio stream and video stream, and outputs them to the program selection unit 121. The decoder B unit 120 generates a video signal and an audio signal by decoding the input video stream and video stream, and outputs them to the program selection unit 121. The program selection unit 121 selects one of the two sets of video signals and audio signals input from the decoder A unit 104 and the decoder B unit 120. At this time, the program selection unit 121 determines which group is to be selected based on the instruction from the system control unit 105. Number The pair selection unit 121 outputs the video signal to the video processing unit 109 and outputs the audio signal to the audio processing unit 107.

The audio processing unit 107 outputs the input audio signal as it is to the audio output unit 108.

The audio output unit 108 outputs the input first stream to another device connected to the digital broadcast receiving device 1. The video processing unit 109 outputs the input video signal to the video synthesis unit 110. At this time, the OSD (0 n Screen Display) display is input from the OSD display unit 111 to the video composition unit 110. Therefore, the video processing unit 109 synthesizes the input second stream and OSD display, and outputs them to the video output unit 112. The video output unit 112 outputs the second stream combined with the OSD display to another device connected to the digital broadcast receiving device 1.

[0066] The digital broadcast receiver 1 of the present invention includes a remote controller 113 as a user interface. The viewer operates the remote controller 113 to instruct the digital broadcast receiver 1 which program is to be output. The remote controller 113 generates an IR signal representing the key pressed by the viewer based on the operation by the viewer, and outputs the IR signal to the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 1.

[0067] In the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 1, the IR receiver 114 receives the IR signal output from the remote controller 113. The IR receiver 114 changes the received IR signal to a digital signal. The changed digital signal is output to the system control unit 105.

The system control unit 105 follows instructions from the viewer through the remote controller 113. That is, the system control unit 105 controls each member described above according to the digital signal input from the IR receiving unit 114. Specifically, system control unit 105 instructs tuner A unit 102 and tuner B unit 115 which channel of the broadcast wave is demodulated. Further, it instructs the stream selection unit 119 which stream to select. Further, the program selection unit 121 is instructed which program to select.

The system control unit 105 processes the sections input from the demultiplexing A unit 103 and the demultiplexing B unit 116. As described above, the system control unit 105 generates an electronic program guide by processing sections. Further, the system control unit 105 acquires program information of each program from the section. The system control unit 105 stores the acquired electronic program guide and the like in the storage unit 106. The storage unit 106 stores a channel information table that preliminarily defines the frequency of a channel on which broadcast is flowing. Further, a program information table, a channel switching list, and a program switching list used by the channel management unit 118 are also stored.

[0071] Channel management section 118 uses a channel information table, a program information table, a channel switching list, and a program switching list. Thus, channel management section 118 determines the frequencies to be set in tuner A section 102 and tuner B section 115. Further, the stream selection unit 119 determines a stream to be selected. Further, the program selection unit 121 determines a program to be selected. By using each item determined by the channel management unit 118, the system control unit 105 instructs the tuner A unit 102, the tuner B unit 115, the stream selection unit 119, and the program selection unit 121.

[0072] The operation of threading and switching in the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 1 will be described below with reference to FIGS.

[0073] First, the configuration of a channel information table used by the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 1 will be described below with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a channel information table used by the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Figure 2, the channel information table also has two component forces. One is a channel number 201 and the other is a channel frequency parameter 202 (also referred to as “channel frequency setting parameter”). The channel number 201 is a number representing each channel included in the digital broadcast wave. The value of this channel number 201 is a value for convenience of use by the system control unit 105 and the channel management unit 118. That is, any number corresponding to the channel frequency may be used. For example, in the channel information table shown in FIG. 2, the channel number 201 is a serial number starting from “0” and incrementing by one. Such serial numbers should be defined in advance in the channel information table!

Channel frequency parameter 202 represents a frequency for tuner A unit 102 and tuner B unit 115 to demodulate a channel of a certain channel number 201. Channel management section 118 sets the frequency of channel number 201 in tuner A section 102 and tuner B section 115 as the frequency of the channel to be demodulated. Channel information table The channel frequency parameter 202 in FIG. 5 may be a value for receiving a digital broadcast wave that is actually flowing. Alternatively, it may be a value for receiving a channel through which a digital broadcast wave will flow. For example, in the channel information table shown in FIG. 2, the channel frequency parameter 202 is “f_n” for the channel whose channel number 201 is “n”.

In digital broadcast receiving apparatus 1, the channel information table is preliminarily stored in storage unit 106. The value stored in the channel information table may be a value input by the viewer through an input unit (not shown). In addition, the digital broadcast receiving device 1 may write a value in the channel information table based on the value autonomously taken in! /.

Next, the configuration of the program information table used by the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 1 will be described below with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a program information table used by the digital broadcast receiving device 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in this figure, the program information table consists of five components. The first element is channel number 201. The second element is the UP boundary flag 211. The third element is the DOWN boundary flag 2 12. The fourth element is program number 213. The fifth element is program information 214.

The channel number 201 in the program switching list is the same as the channel number 201 in the channel information table. Thus, the program information table and the channel information table share the same channel number 201. That is, the program information table and the channel switching list are associated with each other by a common channel number 201.

In digital broadcasting, a plurality of programs can be broadcast on one channel. Therefore, the channel number 201 in the program information table and the program number do not necessarily correspond one-to-one. Therefore, the program information table includes the program number 213 representing the number of the program included in each channel as an element in addition to the channel number 201! /. As with the channel number 201, the program number 213 is a number that is convenient for the system control unit 105 and the channel management unit 118 to use.

[0079] Program information 214 included in the program information table is information that the system control unit 105 acquires based on the SI information that also acquires the section force. The system control unit 105 stores each piece of program information 214 to be acquired in the program information table. Alternatively, the system control unit 10 5 may store program information in an area different from the area where the program information table is stored in the storage unit 106. When included in the program information table, the program information 214 may be a pointer to program information stored in the system control unit 105.

[0080] The digital broadcast receiving apparatus 1 efficiently changes the channel by using the program information table. For this purpose, the program information table includes an UP boundary flag 211 and a DOWN boundary flag 212. The UP boundary flag 211 corresponds to the largest program number 213 in one channel. The DOWN boundary flag 212 corresponds to the smallest program number 213 in one channel.

The system control unit 105 sets the UP boundary flag 211 of the largest program number 213 in one channel to “1”. Also, the DOWN boundary flag 212 of the smallest program number 213 in one channel is set to “1”. Therefore, when only one channel is included, the system control unit 105 sets “1” in both the UP boundary flag 211 and the DO WN boundary flag 212.

[0082] The magnitude of the value of program number 213 in the program information table may be opposite to the example shown in FIG. That is, the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 1 may set the program number 213 having a higher number in the channel having a lower number. In either case, it is only necessary to set two flags with the same common rules for all channels.

A specific example of the warp and information table will be described below with reference to FIG. As shown in this figure, there are three programs on the channel whose channel number 201 is n-1. At this time, the values of the three program numbers 213 corresponding to the three programs are m-4, m-3, and m-2, respectively. In the channel with the channel number 201 of n−1, the program number 213 with the largest program number 213 is set to “1” in the UP boundary flag 211 in the program of m−2. Channel

Thus, in the m-4th program in which the program number 213 is the smallest, “1” is set in the DOWN boundary flag 212. On the other hand, if the channel number 201 is n−1, the program number 213 is neither the maximum nor minimum! /, And the m−3 program, both the UP boundary flag 211 and the DOWN boundary flag 212 are “ “0” is set instead of “1”. [0084] As described above, the channel information table and the program information table are only referred to by the channel management unit 118 for any deviation. Here, as described above, channel management section 118 determines the frequencies to be set in tuner A section 102 and tuner B section 115. Further, the stream selection unit 119 determines a stream to be selected. Further, the program selection unit 121 determines a program to be selected. The channel information table and the program information table are not used for these three tasks directly executed by the channel management unit 118.

Channel management unit 118 updates the channel switching list and the program switching list with reference to the two tables of the channel information table and the program information table. Thus, the channel management unit 118 uses the channel switching list and the program switching list to determine the frequencies to be set in the tuner A unit 102 and the tuner B unit 115, and to select the stream to be set in the stream selection unit 119. The program to be set in the program selection unit 121 is determined.

Next, details of the channel switching list will be described below with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a channel switching list used by the digital broadcast receiving device 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The channel switching list shown in this figure is used when channel management section 118 determines the frequencies to be set in tuner A section 102 and tuner B section 115.

[0087] As shown in FIG. 4, the channel switching list also has three component powers. The first element is channel number 201, the second element is assigned tuner number 221, and the third element is channel state 222. The channel number 201 included in the channel switching list takes the same value as the channel number 201 included in the channel information table. That is, the channel switching list and the channel information table share the same channel number 201. In the channel switching list, channel number 201 is associated with assigned tuner number 221 and channel state 222. The assigned tuner number 22 1 indicates whether the channel is set to tuner A section 102 or tuner B section 115. The channel state 222 indicates in which channel the current program output by the video output unit 112, the audio output unit 108, and the video output unit 112 is being broadcast. Represents.

An example of specific values stored in the channel switching list will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in this figure, the assigned tuner number 221 is “1” for the channel whose channel number 201 is “n”. This means that the nth channel power tuner 1 referred to from the channel information table is set. In this channel, the channel state 222 is “0”. This means that the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 1 outputs a certain program included in the n channel.

In addition, in the channel having channel number 201 of “n + 1”, assigned tuner number 221 is the power S “0”. This means that it is set to the (n + 1) th channel tuner 0 referenced from the channel information table. In this channel, the channel state 222 is “1”. This means that the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 1 is not currently outputting the program included in the n + 1 channel.

[0090] In the channel switching list, the value of the assigned tuner number 221 is determined based on which tuner is indicated. In this embodiment, “0” indicates the tuner A section 102, and “1” indicates the tuner B section 115. Based on this rule, the system control unit 105 sets the frequency of n + 1 channel in the tuner A unit 102. Further, n channel frequency is set in tuner B section 115. Such channel assignment rules are not limited to this.

Next, the program switching list will be described below with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a program switching list used by the digital broadcast receiving device 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in this figure, the program switching list has four components. The first element is program number 213. The second element is the UP boundary flag 211. The third element is the DOWN boundary flag 212. The fourth element is stream state 231.

Among these, the program number 213, the UP boundary flag 211, and the DOWN boundary flag 212 can be acquired from the program information table. Therefore, these values are the same as the values stored in the program information table. A stream state 231 serving as a fourth element indicates whether the corresponding program is currently output from the audio output unit 108 and the video output unit 112. In the example shown in FIG. 5, the stream state 231 of the program whose program number 213 is “m” is “0”. This means that the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 1 is currently outputting a program whose program number 213 is “m”. Also, in the program one larger than the m-th program, the program number 213 is “m + 1”. In this m + 1 program, the stream state 231 is “1”. In other words, when the stream state 231 is “1”, this means that the program is one program larger than the current program.

[0094] Further, in the program one smaller than the m-th program, the program number 213 is m-1. This m

+ In the first program, the stream status 231 is “3”. That is, when the stream state 231 is “3”, this indicates that the program is one program smaller than the current program. The stream state 231 of the program that does not fall into any of these three is “2”. That is, that the stream state 231 is “2” indicates that this program power is neither the current program nor the next program of the current program nor the previous program of the current program! /.

The system control unit 105 controls the stream selection unit 119 based on the stream state 231 of the program switching list. Specifically, the system control unit 105 instructs the stream selection unit 119 to output a set of two streams in which two specific stream states 231 are set to the decoder A unit 104 and the decoder B unit 120. To do. At this time, the system control unit 105 selects a stream with a combination of “0” and “1” in the stream state 231 of the program switching list or a stream with a combination of “0” and “3”. Direct to 119.

The system control unit 105 determines a combination of stream states 231 to be instructed to the stream selection unit 119 based on a key operation by the viewer. For example, when the viewer presses the channel up key, the channel management unit 118 determines a set of “0” and “1”. Conversely, when the viewer presses the channel down key, the channel management unit 118 determines a set of “0” and “3”.

In the program switching list in the initial state, the stream state 231 of the channel whose channel state 222 is “0” may be “0”. Alternatively, any one of the stream states 231 of a plurality of channels whose channel state 222 is “0” may be “0”.

The system control unit 105 controls the program selection unit 121 based on the program switching list. At this time, the program switching list is streamed based on the control from the system control unit 105. The program whose 1 is “0” is output to the audio output unit 108 and the video output unit 112.

The program switching list has a depth corresponding to the total number of programs acquired by tuner A unit 102 and programs acquired by tuner B unit 115. Here, “depth” means the number of programs included in the program switching list. In the example shown in Fig. 5, the program switching list is “3”, which is the sum of two programs (m—1 and m) included in the n channel and one program (m + 1) included in the n + 1 channel. Has a depth of. In this way, a situation can occur where both of the two channel forces included in the channel switching list contain multiple programs. Therefore, the depth of the program switching list changes dynamically.

[0100] On the other hand, the channel switching list has a depth corresponding to the number of tuners provided in the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 1. Here, “depth” means the number of channels included in the channel switching list. Therefore, the depth of the channel switching list is always constant without changing dynamically. As described above, the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 1 has two tuners, the tuner A unit 102 and the tuner B unit 115. As a result, the depth is “2” in the channel switching list shown in FIG.

[0101] Channel management section 118 executes the tasks described above based on the channel switching list and the program switching list. Therefore, the following describes how the channel management unit 118 operates when the viewer operates the remote controller 113 and presses the channel up key with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. Explained.

[0102] First, referring to FIG. 6, the following describes how the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 1 operates when the viewer operates the remote controller 113 and presses the channel up key or the channel down key. Explained. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a processing flow when the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 1 according to the first and second embodiments of the present invention switches the current program to the next program or the previous program. is there.

[0103] As shown in this figure, the viewer operates the remote controller 113 to press the channel up key or the channel down key (step S61). As a result, the remote control 113 generates an IR signal according to the key operated by the viewer and transmits it to the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 1. In the digital broadcast receiver 1, the IR receiver 114 receives the IR signal, and this IR signal power is also generated and output to the channel manager 118. . The channel management unit 118 determines whether or not the input digital signal is a signal indicating that the channel up key has been pressed (step S62). If the determination result is “true”, the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 1 selects the next program after the current program (step S63).

On the other hand, when the determination result in step S62 is “false”, the channel management unit 118 determines whether or not the input digital signal is that the channel down key has been pressed (step S64). ). If the determination result power is “true”, the channel management unit 118 selects a program before the current program (step S65). If the channel management unit 118 determines that the signal is not a signal indicating the input digital signal power channel up key or channel down key, the process ends.

[0105] Next, the operation of digital broadcast receiving apparatus 1 when the viewer presses the channel up key of remote controller 113 will be described below with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a processing flow when the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention selects a program next to the current program. As shown in this figure, the viewer presses the channel up key (step S71). At this time, the channel management unit 118 checks the status of the channel switching list and the program switching list (step S72).

First, the process of checking the warp and switching list will be described below with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing when the digital broadcast receiving device 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention checks the program switching list.

As shown in this figure, when the program switching list check process is started, channel management section 118 first determines whether or not there is a program whose stream state 231 is “1” in the program switching list. Is determined (step S81). If “judgment result power ^ true”, the channel management unit 118 ends the processing and starts the next step (step S 73) shown in FIG. On the other hand, when the determination result power is “false”, the channel management unit 118 searches the channel switching list for a channel whose channel state 222 is “3”. The channel management unit 118 determines whether to instruct the tuner A unit 102 or the tuner B unit 115 based on the assigned tuner number 221 of this channel. For example, when the assigned tuner number 2 21 is “0”, the channel management unit 118 instructs the tuner A unit 102. on the other hand When the assigned tuner number 221 is “1”, the channel management unit 118 instructs the tuner B unit 115.

At this time, the channel management unit 118 searches the channel information table for a channel whose channel state 222 is “0”. As a result, the channel management unit 118 determines the next channel. For example, when the channel number 201 of the channel whose channel state 222 is “0” is “n”, the channel management unit 118 determines the n + 1 channel that is next to n.

Next, channel management section 118 reads the value of channel frequency parameter 202 of the next channel from the channel information table. For example, the channel management unit 118 reads “f—n + 1” which is the channel frequency parameter 202 of the “n + 1” channel. Thereby, channel management section 118 sets f−n + 1, which is this frequency, to tuner A section 102 or tuner B section 115 (step S82). Further, the channel management unit 118 sets the channel state 222 of the new channel in the channel switching list to “1” (step S83).

[0110] Channel management section 118 sets new channel frequency parameter 202 in tuner A section 102 or tuner B section 115. At this time, the section is output from the reception processing system starting with the tuner A unit 102 and passing through the demultiplexing A unit 103. The section is also output from the reception processing system starting with tuner B section 115 and passing through demultiplexing B section 116. Therefore, the system control unit 105 acquires a section from any one of the reception processing systems that process the channel whose channel state 222 is newly set to “1” in the channel switching list. The system control unit 105 acquires program information including SI information from the acquired section. The channel management unit 118 writes the acquired program information in the program information 214 in the program information table. Thereby, the channel management unit 118 updates the program information table.

[0111] Channel management section 118 updates the program switching list by referring to the program information table to be updated (step S84). Further, the channel management unit 118 checks the program number 213 of the newly acquired program. As a result, the channel management unit 118 identifies the smallest number among the program numbers 213 of the newly acquired program. Channel tube The management unit 118 sets the stream state 231 of the channel having the smallest program number 213 in the program switching list to “1” (step S85).

[0112] As described above, even when the viewer power channel down key is selected and the channel up key is pressed after selecting the program, the digital broadcast receiving device 1 uses the program switching list and the channel. The value of the switching list can be kept normal. Therefore, it is possible to prevent an erroneous frequency from being set in tuner A section 102 and tuner B section 115.

[0113] After the flow shown in FIG. 8 is completed, channel management section 118 proceeds with the process of step S73 shown in FIG. That is, channel management section 118 shifts each stream state 231 included in the program switching list in the stream state UP direction as shown in FIG. 5 (step S73). Specifically, the channel management unit 118 changes the stream state 231 to “0” if the stream state 231 is “1”. If stream status 231 is “0”, change to “3”. If stream status 231 is “3”, change to “2”.

Next, the system control unit 105 specifies a program in which the stream status 231 is newly set to “0” by searching the program switching list. The system control unit 105 instructs the program selection unit 121 to output the specified program. As a result, the program selection unit 121 selects and outputs a program whose stream state 231 is newly stored in “0”.

Next, the channel management unit 118 searches the program information table to determine whether the UP boundary flag 211 of the program in which the stream state 231 is newly set to “0” is “0”. It is determined whether or not (step S74). Here, when the determination result power is “true”, the channel management unit 118 further searches the program information table to determine whether the DOWN boundary flag 212 of this program is “0”. (Step S75).

[0116] When the determination result power is "true", the channel management unit 118 includes the program whose stream status 231 is newly set to "0" in the channel currently being output by the digital broadcast receiving device 1. It is determined that On the other hand, when the judgment result power S is “false”, the channel management unit 118 detects that the program whose stream status 231 is newly set to “0” is included in the channel currently output by the digital broadcast receiving device 1. Judge that it is not. As a result, the channel management unit 118 changes the channel state 222 of the channel switching list to the channel shown in FIG. Shift to UP state (step S77). Specifically, the channel management unit 118 sets “0” if the channel state 222 is “1”. If the channel state 222 is “0”, it is set to “2”.

Next, the channel management unit 118 searches the program switching list to identify the program number 213 of the program next to the program whose stream state 231 is newly set to “0”. Thus, the channel management unit 118 searches the program information table based on the identified program number 213, and sets the stream status 231 of the next program to “1” (step S78). On the other hand, when the determination result power in S74 is “false”, that is, when it is determined that the UP boundary flag 211 is “1”, the channel management unit 118 assigns the program number to the channel including the current program. It is determined that 213 does not include a large program. Therefore, the digital broadcast receiver 1 must prepare the next program after the current program. For this purpose, the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 1 needs to receive a channel including a program next to the current program.

[0118] Note that, when the channel management unit 118 determines that the UP boundary flag 211 of the program whose stream state 231 is newly "0" is "1" (No in step S74), Execute channel change processing. This channel change process will be described below with reference to FIG. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing when the digital broadcast receiving device 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention switches the current channel to the next channel.

As shown in this figure, channel management section 118 determines whether or not DOWN boundary flag 212 of the program whose stream state 231 is newly “0” is “0” (step S91). ) o When determining that the DOWN boundary flag 212 is “0”, the channel management unit 118 determines that the program power is included in the currently output channel. On the other hand, when it is determined that the DOWN boundary flag 212 is “1”, the channel management unit 118 determines that it is not included in the currently output channel. Therefore, channel management section 118 shifts channel state 222 in the channel switching list in the channel state UP direction shown in FIG. 4 (step S92). Specifically, if the stream state 231 is “1”, the channel management unit 118 changes it to “0”. Also stream If state 231 is “0”, change to “1”.

[0120] Next, the channel management unit 118 searches for the program number 213 in the program information table, so that, in the program switching list, the channel status 222 is newly set to "2" in the channel switching list. It is determined whether or not there is a program included in (step S93). When determining that the corresponding program exists in the program switching list, the channel management unit 118 deletes the program from the program switching list (step S94). Specifically, the channel management unit 118 defines the program to be deleted. Deleted values (program number 213, UP boundary flag 211, DOWN boundary flag 212, and stream state 231) are deleted from the program switching list. On the other hand, when determining that there is no program included in the channel whose channel status 222 is newly “2”, the channel management unit 118 does not delete the program from the program switching list. That is, the process in step S94 is skipped and the next process is executed.

[0121] Channel management section 118 sets channel number 201 whose channel state 222 is "2" in the channel switching list to the next channel of the channel whose channel state 222 is "0" (step S95). Further, the channel state 222 of the set channel is set to “1” (step S95).

[0122] This example will be described in detail below with reference to FIG. In the following example, the channel management unit 118 sets the stream state 231 of the m + 1 program to “0” in step S73. At this time, as shown in FIG. 5, the UP boundary flag 211 of the m + 1 program is “1”. Therefore, in order to make a “false” determination in step S 74, channel management unit 118 proceeds with the channel processing next.

At this time, the DOWN boundary flag 212 of the m + 1 program is also “1”. Therefore, in step S91 of FIG. 9, channel management unit 118 determines that “No”. Thereby, the channel management unit 118 shifts the channel state 222 in the UP direction in step S92. That is, the channel management unit 118 sets the channel state 222 of the n channel to “2” and sets the channel state 222 of the n + 1 channel to “0”. Further, in step S93 and step S94, channel management unit 118 deletes the information of m program and m-1 program included in n channel from the program switching list. Next, channel management section 118 executes the process of step S 94. At this time, channel management section 118 searches for the next channel of n + 1 channel with channel state 222 set to “0” with reference to the channel information table shown in FIG. That is, channel management section 118 identifies the channel whose channel number 201 is n + 2. As a result, the value of channel number 201 which is currently “n” in the channel switching list is set to “n + 2”. In the channel switching list, the channel state 222 of n + 2 channel is set to “1”.

[0125] When the channel switching list is updated, the channel management unit 118 receives the channel number 201 set for the tuner for which n channels have been set (that is, the tuner for which the assigned tuner number 221 is "1"). Notify the system control unit 105 that “n + 2” has been reached. As a result, the system control unit 105 refers to the channel information table so that the tuner B unit 115 whose assigned tuner number 221 is “1” and the channel frequency of the channel whose channel number 201 is “n + 2”. Parameter 202, that is, “f−n + 2” is set (step S96).

Tuner B section 115 changes the channel to be processed based on the set channel frequency parameter 202. That is, the channel management unit 118 extracts a transport stream of n + 2 channels from the digital broadcast wave and outputs it to the demultiplexing B unit 116. The demultiplexing unit B 116 obtains a section from the transport stream of n + 2 channels. The channel management unit 118 acquires program information such as SI information from the n + 2 channel section.

[0127] The system control unit 105 updates the program information table by using the acquired program information. The channel management unit 118 updates the program switching list by referring to the updated program information table (step S97). Further, for the program newly added to the program switching list, the stream status 231 of the program number with the smallest program number 213 is set to “1” (step S98).

Specifically, channel management section 118 acquires program information 214 of three programs included in the channel whose channel number 201 is n + 2 from the program information table shown in FIG. At this time, the channel management unit 118 indicates that the program number 213 is m + 2, m + 3, m + 4. The parameters of the UP boundary flag 211, the DOWN boundary flag 212, and the program number 213 are acquired from the three programs. Furthermore, the channel management unit 118 adds the acquired parameters to the program switching list. Further, the channel management unit 118 sets the stream state 231 of the program whose program number 213 is m + 2 to “1”. Furthermore, the stream state 231 of the program whose program number 213 is m + 3 is set to “2”. Further, the stream state 231 of the program whose program number 213 is m + 4 is set to “2”.

The system control unit 105 identifies the program whose stream status 231 is “0” and the program whose stream status 231 is “1” from the program switching list updated as described above. As a result, the system control unit 105 instructs the stream selection unit 119 to output these two continuous program streams. Further, the system control unit 105 instructs the program selection unit 121 to select a program whose stream state 231 is newly “0”.

[0130] Next, the operation of digital broadcast receiving apparatus 1 when the viewer presses the channel down key of remote controller 113 will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a processing flow when the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention selects a program before the current program. As shown in this figure, the viewer presses the channel down key (step S101). At this time, the system control unit 105 checks the status of the channel switching list and the program switching list (step S102).

[0131] First, the yarn thread and switching list check process will be described below with reference to FIG.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing when the digital broadcast receiving device 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention checks the program switching list.

As shown in this figure, when the program switching list check process is started, the system control unit 105 first determines whether or not there is a program whose stream state 231 is “3” in the program switching list. (Step S111). If the determination result is “true”, the system control unit 105 ends the process and starts the next step (step S103) shown in FIG. On the other hand, if the determination result power is “false”, the system control unit 105 searches the channel switching list for a channel whose channel state 222 is “3”. Based on the assigned tuner number 221 of this channel, the system control unit 105 selects the tuner A unit 102 or the tuner B Determine which of the sections 115 should be instructed. For example, if the assigned tuner number 221 is “0”, the system control unit 105 instructs the tuner A unit 102. On the other hand, when assigned tuner number 221 is “1”, system control unit 105 instructs tuner B unit 115.

At this time, the system control unit 105 searches the channel information table for a channel whose channel state 222 is “0”. As a result, the system control unit 105 determines the previous channel. For example, when the channel number 201 of the channel whose channel state 222 is “0” is “n”, the system control unit 105 determines the n−1 channel before n.

Next, system control section 105 reads the value of channel frequency parameter 202 of the next channel from the channel information table. For example, the system control unit 105 reads “f−n−1” which is the channel frequency parameter 202 of the “n 1” channel. As a result, the system control unit 105 sets the frequency f−n−1 to the tuner A unit 102 or the tuner B unit 115 (step S112). Furthermore, the system control unit 105 sets the channel state 222 of the new channel in the channel switching list to “3” (step S 113).

System control unit 105 sets a new channel frequency parameter 202 in tuner A unit 102 or tuner B unit 115. At this time, the section is output from the reception processing system starting with the tuner A unit 102 and passing through the demultiplexing A unit 103. A section is also output from the reception processing system starting with tuner B section 115 and passing through demultiplexing B section 116. Therefore, the system control unit 105 acquires a section from any of the reception processing systems that process the channel in which the channel state 222 is newly set to “1” in the channel switching list. The system control unit 105 acquires program information including SI information from the acquired section. The system control unit 105 writes the acquired program information in the program information 214 in the program information table. As a result, the system control unit 105 updates the program information table.

The channel management unit 118 updates the program switching list by referring to the updated program information table (step S 114). In addition, the channel manager 118 Check the program number 213 of the program acquired in. As a result, the channel management unit 118 identifies the largest number among the program numbers 213 of the newly acquired program. The channel management unit 118 sets the stream state 231 of the channel having the largest program number 213 in the program switching list to “3” (step S 115).

As described above, even when the channel down key is pressed after selecting a program by pressing the viewer power channel up key, the digital broadcast receiving device 1 is connected to the program switching list and the channel. The value of the switching list can be kept normal. Therefore, it is possible to prevent an erroneous frequency from being set in tuner A section 102 and tuner B section 115.

[0138] After the flow shown in Fig. 11 is completed, channel management section 118 proceeds with the process of step S103 shown in Fig. 10. That is, the channel management unit 118 shifts each stream state 231 included in the program switching list in the stream state DOWN direction as shown in FIG. 5 (step S103). Specifically, the channel management unit 118 changes the stream state 231 to “0” if the stream state 231 is “3”. If the stream state 231 is “0”, it is changed to “1”. If stream state 231 is “1”, change to “2”.

Next, the system control unit 105 specifies a program in which the stream state 231 is newly set to “0” by searching the program switching list. The system control unit 105 instructs the program selection unit 121 to output the specified program. As a result, the program selection unit 121 selects and outputs a program whose stream state 231 is newly stored in “0”.

Next, the channel management unit 118 searches the program information table, so that the DOWN boundary flag 212 of the program in which the stream state 231 is newly set to “0” is “0”. It is determined whether or not there is a force (step S104). Here, when the determination result power is true, the channel management unit 118 further determines whether or not the UP boundary flag 211 of this program is “0” by searching the program information table. (Step S105).

[0141] When the determination result power is true, the channel management unit 118 newly includes the program whose stream state 231 is set to "0" in the channel currently being output by the digital broadcast receiving device 1. It is determined that On the other hand, when the judgment result power S is “false”, the channel management unit 118, the program whose stream state 231 is newly set to “0” is the digital broadcast receiving device 1 Is not included in the currently output channel. As a result, the channel management unit 118 shifts the channel state 222 in the channel switching list in the channel state DOWN direction shown in FIG. 4 (step S107). Specifically, the channel management unit 118 sets “0” if the channel state 222 is “3”. If the channel state 22 2 is “0”, it is set to “2”.

Next, channel management section 118 specifies program number 213 of the program before the program whose stream state 231 is newly set to “0” by searching the program switching list. Thereby, the channel management unit 118 searches the program information table based on the specified program number 213, and sets the stream state 231 of the previous program to “3” (step S108). On the other hand, when the determination result in S104 is “false”, that is, when it is determined that the DOWN boundary flag 212 is “1”, the channel management unit 118 sets the program number to the channel that includes the current program. It is determined that 213 is small and a program is included. Therefore, the digital broadcast receiver 1 must prepare a program before the current program. For this purpose, the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 1 needs to receive a channel including a program before the current program.

[0143] The channel management unit 118 newly adds the D of the program whose stream status 231 is "0".

When it is determined that the OWN boundary flag 212 is “1” (No in step S104), channel change processing is executed. This channel change process will be described below with reference to FIG. FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing when the digital broadcast receiving device 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention switches the current channel to the next channel.

[0144] As shown in this figure, the channel management unit 118 determines whether or not the UP boundary flag 211 of the program whose stream state 231 is newly "0" is "0" (step S121). ). When it is determined that the UP boundary flag 211 is “0”, the channel management unit 118 determines that the program is included in the currently output channel. On the other hand, when determining that the UP boundary flag 211 is “1”, the channel management unit 118 determines that the program power is not included in the currently output channel. Therefore, the channel manager 11 8 changes the channel status 222 in the channel switching list to the channel status shown in FIG. Shift in the UP direction (step S122). Specifically, if the stream state 231 is “3”, the channel management unit 118 changes it to “0”. If the stream state 231 is “0”, it is changed to “2”.

[0145] Next, the channel management unit 118 searches for the program number 213 in the program information table, so that, in the program switching list, the channel status 222 is newly set to "2" in the channel switching list. It is determined whether there is a program included in (step S123). When determining that the corresponding program exists in the program switching list, the channel management unit 118 deletes this program from the program switching list (step S124). Specifically, the channel management unit 118 sets the program to be deleted. The defined values (program number 213, UP boundary flag 211, DOWN boundary flag 212, and stream state 231) are deleted from the program switching list. On the other hand, when determining that there is no program included in the channel whose channel status 222 is newly “2”, the channel management unit 118 does not delete the program from the program switching list. That is, the process in step S124 is skipped and the next process is executed.

[0146] Channel management section 118 sets channel number 201 whose channel state 222 in the channel switching list is "2" to the next channel of the channel whose channel state 222 is "0" (step S125). . Further, the channel state 222 of the set channel is set to “3” (step S 125).

[0147] This example will be described in detail below with reference to FIG. In the following example, the channel management unit 118 sets the stream state 231 of the m-1 program to “0” in step S103. At this time, as shown in FIG. 5, the DOWN boundary flag 212 of the m-1 program is “1”. Therefore, in order to make a “false” determination in step S104, channel management section 118 proceeds with the channel processing.

[0148] At this time, the UP boundary flag 211 of the m-1 program is also "1". Therefore, in step S121 of FIG. 12, the channel management unit 118 determines that “No”. Thereby, channel management section 118 shifts channel state 222 in the UP direction in step S122. That is, the channel management unit 118 sets the channel state 222 of the n channel to “2”, and sets the channel state 222 of the n−1 channel to “0”. In addition, In step S123 and step S124, the yannel management unit 118 deletes the information on the m program and m-1 program included in the n channel from the program switching list.

Next, channel management section 118 executes the processing in step S 125. At this time, the channel management unit 118 searches the channel information table shown in FIG. 2 for the channel before the n-th channel whose channel state 222 is set to “0”. In other words, the channel management unit 118 identifies the channel whose channel number 201 is n−1. As a result, the value of channel number 201 that is currently “n + 1” in the channel switching list is set to “n−1”. Further, in the channel switching list, the channel state 222 of the n−1 channel is set to “3”.

[0150] When the channel switching list is updated, the channel management unit 118 indicates that the channel number 201 set for the tuner for which n + 1 channel is set (that is, the tuner for which the assigned tuner number 221 is “0”) is “ Notify the system control unit 105 that “n-2” has been reached. As a result, the system control unit 105 refers to the channel information table, so that the tuner A unit 102 whose assigned tuner number 221 is “0” and the channel of the channel whose channel number 201 is “n−2”. The frequency parameter 202, that is, “f−n−2” is set (step S126).

Tuner A section 102 changes the channel to be processed based on the set channel frequency parameter 202. That is, tuner A section 102 extracts a transport stream of n + 2 channels from the digital broadcast wave and outputs it to demultiplexing A section 103. The demultiplexing unit A 103 acquires a section from the transport stream of n + 2 channels. The system control unit 105 acquires program information such as SI information from the n + 2 channel section.

[0152] The system control unit 105 updates the program information table by using the acquired program information. The channel management unit 118 updates the program switching list by referring to the updated program information table (step S127). Further, for the program newly added to the program switching list, the stream status 231 of the program number with the largest program number 213 is set to “3” (step S128).

[0153] Specifically, the channel management unit 118 reads the channel information from the program information table shown in FIG. The program information 214 of the three programs included in the channel whose channel number 201 is n−1 is acquired. At this time, the channel management unit 118 acquires the parameters of the UP boundary flag 211, the DOWN boundary flag 212, and the program number 213 from the three programs whose program numbers 213 are m-2, m-3, and m-4. . Furthermore, the channel management unit 118 adds the acquired parameters to the program switching list. Further, the channel management unit 118 sets the stream state 231 of the program whose program number 213 is m−2 to “3”. Furthermore, the stream state 231 of the program whose program number 213 is m−3 is set to “2”. Furthermore, the stream state 231 of the program whose program number 213 is m−4 is set to “2”.

The system control unit 105 identifies the program whose stream status 231 is “0” and the program whose stream status 231 is “3” from the program switching list updated as described above. As a result, the system control unit 105 instructs the stream selection unit 119 to output the streams of these two consecutive programs. Further, the system control unit 105 instructs the program selection unit 121 to select a program whose stream state 231 is newly “0”.

[0155] In the conventional digital broadcast receiver, the signal processing time required for selecting a program is longer than the time required for the analog broadcast receiver to select a program. This is because the time required to demodulate the digital broadcast wave to generate a transport stream (time required in tuner A section 102 or tuner B section 115) and the time to demultiplex and decode the transport stream (demultiplex A This is because the time required for the section 103 or the demultiplexing B section 116, the stream selection section 119, and the decoder A section 104 or the decoder B section 120) is about 1 second in total. This time is sufficiently longer than the signal processing time in an analog broadcast receiver.

However, in the digital broadcast receiving device 1 of the present invention, a stream for which the stream state 231 is newly set to “0” is the stream state when the viewer selects a program by pressing the channel up key. This is a candidate for the current program when 231 is “1”. Alternatively, when the viewer selects a program by pressing the channel down key, it is a candidate for the next program when the stream state 231 is “3”. These are decoded in advance in the decoder A unit 104 or the decoder B unit 120.

[0157] Therefore, the viewer presses the channel up key or the channel down key. Thus, when selecting a program, the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 1 can output a stream that has been decoded in advance with a probability of 50%. As a result, the possibility of the signal processing time peculiar to digital broadcast occurring in the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 1 of the prior art occurring in the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 1 of the present invention is reduced. Therefore, the digital broadcast receiver 1 can select a program that does not cause the viewer to feel stress at almost the same speed as an analog broadcast receiver.

[Embodiment 2]

A second embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. First, the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 of the present embodiment will be described below with reference to FIG. FIG. 13 is a functional block diagram showing a configuration example of the digital broadcast receiving device 1 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The configuration of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 shown in this figure is basically the same as that of the digital broadcast receiving device 1 shown in FIG. For this reason, the same functional blocks as those shown in Fig. 1 are given the same reference numerals.

As shown in FIG. 13, in addition to digital broadcast receiving apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1, digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 further includes tuner C section 122, demultiplexing C section 123, and decoder C section 12 4. It has. The digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 shown in FIG. 13 has three reception processing systems that process signals from the antenna 101 to the program selection unit 121 via the stream selection unit 119. The The three reception processing systems other than the stream selection unit 119 and the program selection unit 121 operate basically in the same manner except that the set channels are different.

As shown in FIG. 13, digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 receives a digital broadcast signal through antenna 101. The digital broadcast signal is input to tuner A section 102, tuner B section 115, and tuner C section 122. The tuner A unit 102 demodulates a broadcast wave of a desired channel based on an instruction from the system control unit 105. At this time, tuner A section 102 generates a transport stream (TS, Transport Stream) from the broadcast wave of each channel. The tuner A unit 102 outputs the generated transport stream to the multiplex separation A unit 103. This transport stream includes multiple streams and sections. Therefore, the demultiplexing unit A 103 performs the input transport stream. Separation of multiple streams and sections.

[0161] As described above, the digital broadcast signal received by the digital broadcast receiving device 2 is also input to the tuner B unit 115. The tuner B unit 115 demodulates a broadcast wave of a desired channel based on an instruction from the system control unit 105. At this time, tuner B section 115 generates a transport stream from the broadcast wave of each channel. The tuner B unit 115 outputs the generated transport stream to the demultiplexing B unit 116. This transport stream contains multiple streams and sections. Therefore, the multiple separation B section 116 also separates a plurality of streams and sections with the input transport stream force.

[0162] As described above, the digital broadcast signal received by the digital broadcast receiver 2 is also input to the tuner C unit 122. A tuner C unit 122 demodulates a broadcast wave of a desired channel based on an instruction from the system control unit 105. At this time, tuner C section 122 generates a transport stream from the broadcast wave of each channel. The tuner C unit 122 outputs the generated transport stream to the demultiplexing C unit 123. This transport stream includes multiple streams and sections. Therefore, the demultiplexing unit C 123 also separates a plurality of streams and sections using the input transport stream force.

Demultiplexing A unit 103 outputs the generated section to system control unit 105. Similarly to the demultiplexing A unit 103, the demultiplexing B unit 116 outputs the generated section to the system control unit 105. The demultiplexing C unit 123 outputs the generated section to the system control unit 105 in the same way as the demultiplexing A unit 103. These sections contain SI information. Therefore, the system control unit 105 also extracts SI information from the input section force. Furthermore, the system control unit 105 also generates an electronic program guide for the extracted SI information power.

Demultiplexing A section 103 outputs a plurality of streams to stream selecting section 119. The demultiplexing B unit 116 outputs a plurality of streams to the stream selecting unit 119 in the same manner as the demultiplexing A unit 103. The demultiplexing B unit 116 outputs a plurality of streams to the stream selecting unit 119 as in the demultiplexing A unit 103.

[0165] The stream selection unit 119 has three logically adjacent numbers out of the input streams. Select the three streams corresponding to the tuple. The stream selection unit 119 outputs one of the three streams to the decoder A unit 104, outputs the other to the decoder B unit 120, and outputs the other to the decoder C unit 124. At this time, the stream selection unit 119 determines which stream is to be output to which decoder unit based on the instruction given from the system control unit 105. Also, the audio stream and video stream to be output to the decoder A unit 104 are output to the decoder A unit 104. Also, the audio stream and video stream to be output to the decoder B unit 120 are output to the decoder B unit 120. The audio stream and video stream to be output to the decoder C unit 124 are output to the decoder C unit 124.

The decoder A unit 104 generates a video signal and an audio signal by decoding the input audio stream and video stream, and outputs the video signal and the audio signal to the program selection unit 121. The decoder B unit 120 also generates a video signal and an audio signal by decoding the input video stream and video stream, and outputs them to the program selection unit 121. The decoder C unit 124 also generates a video signal and an audio signal by decoding the input video stream and video stream, and outputs them to the program selection unit 121. The program selection unit 121 selects one set from any combination of the three video signals and audio signals input from the decoder A unit 104, the decoder B unit 120, and the decoder C unit 124. At this time, the program selection unit 121 determines the force selected from the system control unit 105 and which group is selected. The stream selection unit 119 outputs the selected first stream to the video processing unit 109, and outputs the second stream to the audio processing unit 107. The audio processing unit 107 performs predetermined processing on the input first stream and outputs the processed first stream to the audio output unit 108. The audio output unit 108 outputs the input first stream to another device connected to the digital broadcast receiving device 2.

The video processing unit 109 outputs the video signal to the video synthesis unit 110. At this time, the OSD display is input from the OSD display unit 111 to the video composition unit 110. The video processing unit 109 then synthesizes the input second stream and OSD display, and outputs them to the video output unit 112. The video output unit 112 is connected to the digital broadcast receiving device 2 and outputs the second stream combined with the OSD display to another device.

[0168] The digital broadcast receiving device 2 of the present invention uses the remote control 113 as a user interface. I have. The viewer operates the remote controller 113 to instruct the digital broadcast receiver 2 which program is to be output. The remote controller 113 generates an IR signal representing the key pressed by the viewer based on the operation by the viewer, and outputs the IR signal to the digital broadcast receiver 2.

[0169] In the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2, the IR receiver 114 receives the IR signal output from the remote controller 113. The IR receiver 114 changes the received IR signal to a digital signal. The changed digital signal is output to the system control unit 105.

[0170] The system control unit 105 follows instructions from the viewer through the remote controller 113. That is, the system control unit 105 controls each member described above according to the digital signal input from the IR receiving unit 114. Specifically, system control unit 105 instructs tuner A unit 102, tuner B unit 115, and tuner C unit 122 as to which channel the broadcast wave is to be recovered. Further, it instructs the stream selection unit 119 which stream to select. The system control unit 105 instructs the program selection unit 121 as to which program to select.

[0171] The system control unit 105 processes the sections input from the demultiplexing A unit 103, the demultiplexing B unit 116, and the demultiplexing C unit 123. As described above, the system control unit 105 generates an electronic program guide by processing sections. Further, the system control unit 105 acquires program information of each program from the section. The system control unit 105 stores the acquired electronic program guide and the like in the storage unit 106.

[0172] The storage unit 106 stores a channel information table that preliminarily defines the frequency of a channel on which broadcast is flowing. Further, a program information table, a channel switching list, and a program switching list used by the channel management unit 118 are stored.

[0173] Channel management section 118 uses a channel information table, a program information table, a channel switching list, and a program switching list. Thus, channel management section 118 determines the frequencies to be set in tuner A section 102, tuner B section 115, and tuner B section 115. Further, the stream selection unit 119 determines a stream to be selected. Further, the program selection unit 121 determines a program to be selected. By using each item determined by the channel management unit 118, the system control unit 105 instructs the tuner A unit 102, the tuner B unit 115, the tuner C unit 122, the stream selection unit 119, and the program selection unit 121. [0174] Details of these operations will be described below with reference to Figs.

In the present embodiment, all of the channel information table, program information table, channel switching list, and program switching list used by the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 are used by the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 1 in the first embodiment. It is basically the same as what you do. However, in this embodiment, the number of reception processing paths is increased by one from the first embodiment to three. For this reason, the digital broadcast receiving device 2 uses three parameters (assignment tuner number 221, channel state 222, stream state 231) included in the channel switching list and the program switching list in a manner different from that of the first embodiment. Set. Therefore, the structure of the channel switching list and the program switching list in this embodiment will be described below with reference to FIGS. 14 (a), 14 (b), 15 (a), and 15 (b). explain.

[0176] First, the structure of the channel switching list will be described with reference to Fig. 14 (a) and Fig. 14 (b). FIG. 14 (a) and FIG. 14 (b) are diagrams showing a configuration example of a channel switching list used by the digital broadcast receiving device 1 according to the second embodiment and the third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 14A is a diagram showing a configuration example and values of the channel switching list, and FIG. 14B is a diagram showing examples of values corresponding to the ZAP key operation. As shown in this figure, the components included in the channel switching list are the same as the components in the channel switching list shown in FIG. However, the value of each component is different. As shown in FIG. 14 (a) and FIG. 14 (b), the initial values of the channel switching list are the values of the channels before and after the channel whose channel state 222 is “0”. That is, the channel switching list used by the digital broadcast receiver 2 includes values corresponding to the three channels.

Thus, in the initial state, the stream state 231 of the program switching list always includes “0”, “1”, and “3”. Here, “0” is a value indicating the program being viewed. “1” is a value indicating the next program after the program being viewed. “3” is a value indicating the program immediately before the program being viewed.

[0178] In the channel switching list, "0", "1", and "2" written as values in the assigned tuner number 221 are values indicating tuner types. In this embodiment, “0” indicates the tuner A portion 102, “1” indicates the tuner B portion 115, and “2” indicates the tuner C portion 122. . Based on this correspondence, n channels are set in tuner A section 102. In channel B section 115, n + 1 channel is set. In addition, n-1 channel is set in tuner C section 122. Below, based on this correspondence, operation | movement of the digital broadcast receiver 2 is demonstrated. Note that such a correspondence relationship only needs to be defined in the storage unit 106 in the digital broadcast receiving device 2.

FIG. 15 (a) shows an example of other values included in the program switching list. In the example shown in this figure, the digital broadcast receiver 2 outputs a program whose program number 213 is m. At this time, in the program switching list, the stream state 231 of the program whose program number 213 is m is “0”. The stream state 231 of the neighboring program (m + 1 program) having the program number 213 that is one larger is “1”. The stream state 23 1 of the program adjacent to program number 213, which is one smaller (program number m-l), is “3”. The stream status 231 of the program that does not apply to any of these three is “2”.

[0180] In the program switching list in the initial state, the stream state 231 of the channel whose channel state 222 is "0" may be "0". Alternatively, any one of the stream states 231 of a plurality of channels whose channel state 222 is “0” may be “0”.

[0181] The system control unit 105 sets a stream set corresponding to the stream status 231 in the program switching list corresponding to "0", "1", and "3" to the decoder A unit 104, the decoder B unit 120, and the decoder. The stream selection unit 119 is controlled to output to the C unit 124. Further, the system control unit 105 controls the program selection unit 121 so that a program whose stream state 231 in the program switching list is “0” is output to the audio output unit 108 and the video output unit 112.

[0182] The program switching list has a depth corresponding to the number of programs acquired at the same time as tuner A unit 102, tuner B unit 115, and tuner C unit 122. “Depth” here means the number of values included in the program switching list. In the example shown in Fig. 15 (a), the program switching list includes two programs (m-l and m) included in n channel, one program (m + 1) included in n + 1 channel, and n-1 It has a depth of “6”, which is the total of three programs (m-2, m-3, m-4) included in the channel. Here, a situation may occur in which each of the three channels included in the channel switching list includes multiple programs. Therefore, the depth of the program switching list changes dynamically. On the other hand, the depth of the channel switching list is the same as the number of tuners provided in the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2. “Depth” here means the number of channels included in the channel switching list. Therefore, the depth of the channel switching list is always constant without changing dynamically. As described above, the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 has three tuners: a tuner A unit 102, a tuner B unit 115, and a tuner C unit 122. Thus, in the channel switching list shown in FIG. 14 (a), the depth is “3”.

[0184] Channel management section 118 executes a task based on the channel switching list and the program switching list. Therefore, how the channel management unit 118 operates when the viewer operates the remote controller 113 and presses the channel up key will be described below with reference to FIGS. 16 and 17. FIG.

[0185] First, referring to FIG. 6, the following describes how the digital broadcast receiving device 2 operates when the viewer operates the remote controller 113 and presses the channel up key or the channel down key. Explained. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a processing flow when the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 1 according to the first and second embodiments of the present invention switches the current program to the next program or the previous program. is there.

[0186] As shown in this figure, the viewer presses the channel up key or the channel down key by operating the remote controller 113 (step S61). As a result, the remote controller 113 generates an IR signal in accordance with the key operated by the viewer and transmits it to the digital broadcast receiver 2. In the digital broadcast receiver 2, the IR receiver 114 receives the IR signal, and the analog broadcast receiver also outputs the digital signal to the program switching list. The program switching list determines whether or not the input digital signal is a signal indicating that the channel up key is pressed (step S62). If the determination result is “true”, the digital broadcast receiving device 2 selects the next program after the current program (step S 63).

On the other hand, when the determination result in step S62 is “false”, the program switching list determines whether or not the input digital signal is a signal indicating a channel down key (step S64). ). When the determination result is “true”, the program switching list selects the previous program (step S65). The program switching list indicates that the input digital signal is If it is determined that the signal is not one or a channel down key, the process is terminated.

Next, the operation of digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 when the viewer presses the channel up key of remote controller 113 will be described below with reference to FIG. FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing when the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 according to the second embodiment of the present invention selects the next program after the current program. As shown in this figure, the viewer presses the channel up key (step S161). As a result, the channel management unit 118 changes each stream state 231 included in the program switching list in the stream state UP direction as shown in FIG. 15A (step S162). Specifically, the system control unit 105 changes the stream state 231 to “0” if the stream state 231 is “1”. If stream status 231 is “0”, change to “3”. If the stream state 231 is “3”, it is changed to “2”.

Here, the system control unit 105 specifies a program newly stored in “0” by the stream state 231 by searching the program switching list. Thereby, the system control unit 105 instructs the program selection unit 121 to output the specified program. As a result, the program selection unit 121 selects and outputs a program in which the stream state 231 is newly set to “0”.

Next, the system control unit 105 searches the program information table to determine whether or not the DOWN boundary flag 212 of the program whose stream state 231 is newly set to “0” is “0”. (Step S163). Here, if the determination result is “true”, the system control unit 105 sets the stream state 231 of the next program whose stream state 231 is “0” in the program switching list to “1”. (Step S170). As a result, the system control unit 105 ends the process.

[0191] On the other hand, if the determination result power is "false", that is, if the UP boundary flag 211 is determined to be "1", the system control unit 105 sets the channel state 222 in the channel switching list to the channel state UP. Shift in the direction (step S164). Specifically, the system control unit 105 changes the channel state 222 to “0” if the channel state 222 is “1”. Channel state 222 force S If “0”, change to “3”. If channel state 222 is “3”, change to “2”.

[0192] Channel search unit 118 searches program number 213 in the program information table stored in storage unit 106, so that channel status 222 is newly "2" in the channel switching list in the program switching list. Is there a program included in channel number 201 It is determined whether or not (step S165). When determining that the corresponding program exists in the program switching list, the channel management unit 118 deletes this program from the program switching list (step S166). Specifically, the channel management unit 118 deletes the values defined in the program (program number 213, UP boundary flag 211, DOWN boundary flag 212, and stream state 231) from the program switching list. If the video processing unit 109 determines that the program does not exist, the channel management unit 118 does not delete the program from the program switching list. That is, the process in step S166 is skipped and the next process is executed.

[0193] Channel management section 118 sets channel number 201 whose channel state 222 in the channel switching list is "2" to the next channel after the channel state 222 is set to "0" (step S167). ). Further, the channel state 222 of the set channel is set to “1” (step S167).

[0194] This example will be described in detail below with reference to Fig. 15 (a). In the following example, channel management section 118 sets m + 1 program stream state 231 to “0” in step S162. At this time, as shown in FIG. 15 (a), the DOWN boundary flag 212 of the m + 1 program is “1”. Therefore, the channel management unit 118 next executes the process of step S164 in order to make a “false” determination in step S163.

[0195] Channel management section 118 shifts channel state 222 in the UP direction in step S164. That is, the channel management unit 118 sets the channel state 222 of the n−1 channel to “2”, sets the channel state 222 of the n channel to “3”, and sets the channel state 222 of the n + 1 channel to “0”. To "". Further, in step S168 and step S169, the channel management unit 118 deletes the program information 214 of the m-2 program, the m-3 program, and the m-4 program included in the n-1 channel from the program switching list.

Next, channel management section 118 executes the process of step S 164. At this time, the channel management unit 118 searches the channel information table shown in FIG. 2 for a channel next to the n + 1 channel with the channel state 222 set to “0”. That is, the channel management unit 118 identifies a channel whose channel number 201 is “n + 2”. As a result, the value of the channel number 201 that is currently “n” in the channel switching list is set to “n + 2”. In the channel switching list, n + 2 channels Set channel status 222 of the channel to “1”.

[0197] When the channel switching list is updated, the channel management unit 118 receives the channel number 201 set for the tuner in which the n-1 channel is set (that is, the tuner for which the assigned tuner number 221 is "2"). Notify the system control unit 105 that “n + 2” has been reached. As a result, the system control unit 105 refers to the channel information table to the tuner C unit 122 whose assigned tuner number 221 is “2” and the channel frequency parameter 202 whose channel number 201 is “n + 2”. Is set to “f—n + 2” (step S168).

[0198] The tuner C unit 122 changes the channel to be processed based on the set channel frequency parameter 202. That is, the tuner C unit 122 extracts the transport stream of n + 2 channels from the digital broadcast wave, and outputs it to the demultiplexing B unit 116. Multiplex separation B section 116 acquires a section from the transport stream of n + 2 channels. The system control unit 105 acquires program information such as SI information from the n + 2 channel section.

[0199] The system control unit 105 updates the program information table by using the acquired program information. The channel management unit 118 updates the program switching list by referring to the updated program information table (step S169). The channel management unit 118 sets the stream state 231 of the smallest program number of the program number 213 to “1” for the program newly added to the program switching list (step S 170).

[0200] Specifically, channel management section 118 acquires program information 214 of three programs included in the channel with channel number 201 of n + 2 from the program information table shown in FIG. At this time, the channel management unit 118 acquires the parameters of the UP boundary flag 211, the DOWN boundary flag 212, and the program number 213 from three programs whose program numbers 213 are m + 2, m + 3, and m + 4. Furthermore, the channel management unit 118 adds the acquired parameters to the program switching list. Further, the channel management unit 118 sets the stream state 231 of the program whose program number 213 is m + 2 to “1”. Furthermore, the stream state 231 of the program whose program number 213 is m + 3 is set to “2”. Further, the stream state 231 of the program whose program number 213 is m + 4 is set to “2”. [0201] From the program switching list updated as described above, the channel management unit 118, the program whose stream state 231 is "0", the program whose stream state 231 is "1", and the stream state 231 is " 3 ”is identified. Thereby, the channel management unit 118 instructs the stream selection unit 119 to output the streams of these three logically adjacent programs. Further, the channel management unit 118 instructs the program selection unit 121 to select a program whose stream state 231 is newly changed to “0”.

Next, the operation of digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 when the viewer presses the channel down key of remote controller 113 will be described below with reference to FIG. FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing a process flow when the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 according to the second embodiment of the present invention selects a program before the current program.

[0203] As shown in this figure, the viewer presses the channel up key (step S171).

As a result, the channel management unit 118 changes each stream state 231 included in the program switching list in the stream state DOWN direction as shown in FIG. 15A (step S172). Specifically, the channel management unit 118 changes the stream state 231 to “0” if the stream state 231 is “3”. If the stream state 231 is “0”, it is changed to “1”. If stream status 231 is “1”, change to “2”.

[0204] Here, the channel management unit 118 searches the program switching list to identify the program whose stream state 231 is newly stored in "0". Thereby, the channel management unit 118 instructs the program selection unit 121 to output the specified program. As a result, the program selection unit 121 selects and outputs the program whose stream state 231 is newly stored in “0”.

Next, the channel management unit 118 searches the program information table, so that the DOWN boundary flag 212 of the program in which the stream state 231 is newly set to “0” is “0”. It is determined whether or not the force is applied (step S 173). Here, when the judgment result power is true, the channel management unit 118 sets the stream status 231 of the next program whose stream status 231 is “0” to “3” in the program switching list! To do. (Step S180). Thereby, the channel management unit 118 ends the processing.

On the other hand, if the determination result in S173 is “false”, that is, the UP boundary flag 211 is “ When determining that “1”, the channel management unit 118 shifts the channel state 222 of the channel switching list in the channel state UP direction (step S174). Specifically, the channel management unit 118 changes the channel state 222 to “0” if the channel state 222 is “3”. If channel state 222 is “0”, change to “1”. If channel status 222 is “1”, change to “2”.

[0207] The channel management unit 118 searches for the program number 213 in the program information table stored in the storage unit 106, so that the channel status 222 is newly "2" in the channel switching list in the program switching list. It is determined whether there is a program included in the channel number 201 that has become (step S175). When determining that the corresponding program exists in the program switching list, the channel management unit 118 deletes this program from the program switching list (step S176). Specifically, the channel management unit 118 deletes the values defined in the program (program number 213, UP boundary flag 211, DOWN boundary flag 212, and stream state 231) from the program switching list. On the other hand, when determining that there is no program, the channel management unit 118 does not delete the program from the program switching list. That is, the process in step S176 is skipped and the next process is executed.

[0208] Channel management section 118 sets channel number 201, whose channel state 222 in the channel switching list is "2", to the next channel after the channel state 222 is set to "0" (step S177). ). Further, the channel state 222 of the set channel is set to “1” (step S177).

[0209] The channel management unit 118 notifies the system control unit 105 that the channel switching list has been updated. Thus, based on the updated channel switching list, the system control unit 105 sets the channel frequency parameter 202 of the channel whose channel state 222 is “3” to the tuner having the assigned tuner number 221 corresponding to the channel number 201. Set to (Step S178). The system control unit 105 updates the program information table by using the acquired program information. The channel management unit 118 updates the program switching list by referring to the updated program information table (step S169). The channel management unit 118 sets the stream state 231 of the largest program number of the program number 213 to “3” for the program newly added to the program switching list (step S180 ) o

[0210] In the example shown in Fig. 15 (a), the program number 213 in which the stream state 231 is newly set to "0" is the m-1 program. In this program, the UP boundary flag 211 is “1”. Therefore, the digital broadcast receiving device 2 does not switch channels. That is, the frequency set for each tuner section is not changed.

[0211] From the program switching list updated as described above, the system control unit 105 reads the program whose stream state 231 is "0", the program whose stream state 231 is "1", and the stream state 23 1 The program whose is “3” is identified. As a result, the system control unit 105 instructs the stream selection unit 119 to output the streams of these three logically adjacent programs. Further, the system control unit 105 instructs the program selection unit 121 to select a program whose stream state 231 is newly changed to “0”.

[0212] The digital broadcast receiving device 2 of the present embodiment has three reception processing systems. Therefore, unlike the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 1 of the first embodiment, the two programs preceding and following the current program are always decoded simultaneously. Thus, even if the viewer presses the channel up key or the channel down key to switch from the current program to the next program or the previous program, the digital broadcast receiving device 2 requires signal processing time. Without switching, you can immediately select the program that was switched to. As a result, the digital broadcast receiver 2 can select a program at almost the same speed as an analog broadcast receiver that does not cause viewers to feel stress.

[0213] Furthermore, unlike the digital broadcast transmitting / receiving device 2 of the first embodiment, the digital broadcast receiving device 2 of the present embodiment does not need to check the yarn number switching list and the channel switching list. Thereby, even when the viewer presses the channel up key and the channel down key alternately, the digital broadcast receiving device 2 can smoothly select the yarn number and the yarn.

[0214] In the present embodiment, the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 having three reception processing systems from the antenna 101 to the program selection unit 121 has been described. However, the present invention may have four reception processing systems. At this time, the digital broadcast receiver 2 receives the channel switching list shown in FIGS. 14 (a) and 14 (b) and the program switching list shown in FIGS. 15 (a) and 15 (b). The processing shown in FIG. 16 and FIG. 17 may be executed depending on the use. Note that the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 may use a channel switching list having an assigned tuner number 221 equal to the number of reception processing systems. At this time, the channel state 222 included in the channel switching list used by the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 and the stream state 231 included in the program switching list may be any of four types of values. Each of these four values is a value that represents the program that the viewer is currently viewing, a value that represents the next program of the current program, a value that represents the next program of the current program, or any other value. Any value that represents a program may be used.

[0215] Furthermore, the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 may have four or more reception processing systems.

At this time, the channel state 222 included in the channel switching list used by the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 and the stream state 231 included in the program switching list are not limited to the above four types of values. It may be a value that represents the state of an arbitrary position based on the current program, such as two next programs before the current program or two programs before the current program. Even in this case, the same effects as in the present embodiment can be obtained.

[Embodiment 3]

A third embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG. 18 and FIG.

[0217] When watching the TV, the viewer does not particularly define the program to be viewed as described above, and appropriately presses the channel up key or channel down key of the remote control 113 to appropriately display the program. Often switched. However, other than that, the program may be switched randomly rather than selecting the next program or the previous program.

[0218] The digital broadcast receiving device 2 of the present embodiment operates in accordance with such viewer behavior. In the present embodiment, a key that the viewer presses on the remote controller 113 for switching the program at random is called a “ZAP key”.

[0219] The configuration of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 in the present embodiment is the same as that shown in FIG. Therefore, the detailed description about a structure is abbreviate | omitted.

[0220] The operation of the channel management unit 118 in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 18 and FIG. The following describes an example in which the channel management unit 118 determines channels to be set for the tuner A unit 102, tuner B unit 115, and tuner C unit 122. To do. Further, an example in which the channel management unit 118 determines a stream to be set in the stream selection unit 119 will be described. Furthermore, an example in which the channel management unit 118 determines a program to be set in the program selection unit 121 will be described.

As described above, the digital broadcast receiving device 2 in the second embodiment uses the channel information table, the program information table, the channel switching list, and the program switching list. The digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 of the present embodiment also uses the same table and list. That is, the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 uses the channel switching list shown in FIGS. 14 (a) and 14 (b). Also, the program switching list shown in Fig. 15 (a) and Fig. 15 (b) is used.

[0222] As shown in Fig. 14 (a), the channel switching list in the initial state is the channel state 222 force "0" of the center channel. In addition, two channels before and after the central channel are arranged. That is, the channel switching list includes values for three channels. Thus, the program switching list in the initial state always includes the values “0”, “1”, and “2” as the stream state 231. Here, “0” indicates the current program that the viewer is viewing. “1” indicates a program next to the current program. “3” indicates the next program after the current program.

Similar to the second embodiment, channel management section 118 writes a value of “0”, “1”, or “2” into assigned tuner number 221. Each of these values is determined according to which tuner it represents. In this embodiment, “0” indicates the tuner A section 102, “1” indicates the tuner B section 115, and “2” indicates the tuner C section 122. By reading this correspondence from the storage unit 106, the channel management unit 118 sets n channels in the tuner A unit 102. Also, i channel is set in tuner B section 115. Set j channel to tuner C section 122.

[0224] FIG. 15 (b) shows a program switching list used by the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2. The digital broadcast receiver 2 outputs a program whose program number 213 is “m”. The value of the stream selection unit 119 of the program whose program number 213 is m is “0”. In this figure, the program number 213 is “p” in the adjacent program in the direction of shifting the stream state. The program number 213 of the p-th group has the value “l”. Also opposite to the direction of shifting the stream state In the adjacent program in the direction, program number 213 is “m-1”. The program number 213 of this m—1 program has a value of “3”. The channel management unit 118 sets the decoder B unit 120 in the program stream state 231 that does not apply to any of these three!

In the program switching list in the initial state, the stream state 231 of the program number 213 corresponding to the channel whose channel state 222 is “0” in the channel switching list may be “0”. Alternatively, one stream state 231 force “0” of a plurality of program numbers 213 corresponding to this channel may be used.

[0226] The system control unit 105 determines a stream set whose stream status 231 in the program switching list corresponds to "0", "1", and "3" as a decoder A unit 104, a decoder B unit 120, and a decoder C unit. The stream selector 119 is controlled so as to output to the Further, the system control unit 105 controls the program selection unit 121 such that a program whose stream state 231 in the program switching list is “0” is output to the audio output unit 108 and the video output unit 112.

[0227] The program switching list has a depth corresponding to the number of programs acquired at the same time as tuner A unit 102, tuner B unit 115, and tuner C unit 122. Here, “depth” means the number of values included in the program switching list. In the example shown in Fig. 15 (b), the program switching list consists of two programs (m-l and m) included in channel n, two programs (p and p + 1) included in channel i, and j It has a depth of “6”, which is the sum of the two programs (q and q + 1) included in the channel. Here, a situation may occur in which all three channel forces included in the channel switching list include multiple programs. Therefore, the depth of the program switching list changes dynamically.

On the other hand, the depth of the channel switching list is the same as the number of tuners provided in the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2. “Depth” here means the number of values included in the channel switching list. Therefore, the depth of the channel switching list is always constant without changing dynamically. In the examples shown in Fig. 14 (a) and Fig. 14 (b), the depth is "3".

[0229] Channel management section 118 executes a task based on the channel switching list and the program switching list. Thus, how the channel management unit 118 operates when the viewer operates the remote controller 113 and presses the ZAP key will be described below with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. First, FIG. 18 shows how the digital broadcast receiver 2 operates when the viewer operates the remote controller 113 to press the channel up key, channel down key, or ZAP key. This will be described below with reference. FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing when the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 according to the third embodiment of the present invention switches the current program to the next program, the previous program, or an arbitrary program.

[0231] As shown in this figure, the viewer presses the channel up key, channel down key, or ZAP key by operating remote controller 113 (step S181). As a result, the remote controller 113 generates an IR signal in accordance with the key pressed by the viewer and transmits it to the digital transmission / reception device 2. In the digital broadcast receiver 2, the IR receiver 114 receives the IR signal, generates the analog broadcast receiver power digital signal, and outputs it to the system controller 105. The system control unit 105 determines whether or not the input digital signal is a force indicating that the channel up key is pressed (step S182). If the determination result is “true”, the digital broadcast receiving device 2 selects the next program of the current program (step S183).

On the other hand, if the determination result in step S182 is “false”, system control unit 105 determines whether or not the input digital signal is a signal indicating a channel down key (step S 184). ). If the determination result power is “true”, the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 selects a program preceding the current program (step S 185).

On the other hand, if the determination result in step S182 is “false”, system control unit 105 determines whether or not the input digital signal is a signal indicating a ZAP key (step S186). . If the determination result is “true”, the digital broadcast receiving device 2 selects the previous program (step S 187).

Next, the operation of the channel management unit 118 when the viewer presses the ZAP key of the analog broadcast receiver will be described below with reference to FIG. FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing in which the digital broadcast receiving device 2 according to the third embodiment of the present invention selects an arbitrary program.

[0235] As shown in this figure, the viewer power ¾ AP key is pressed (step S191). As a result, the channel management unit 118 converts each stream state 231 included in the program switching list into the state shown in FIG. As shown in a), the stream state is changed in the UP direction (step S192). Specifically, the channel management unit 118 changes the stream state 231 to “0” if the stream state 231 is “1”. If stream state 231 is “0”, change to “3”. If stream status 231 is “3”, change to “2”.

Here, the system control unit 105 specifies a program newly stored in “0” by the stream state 231 by searching the program switching list. Thereby, the system control unit 105 instructs the program selection unit 121 to output the specified program. As a result, the program selection unit 121 selects and outputs a program whose stream state 231 is newly set to “0”.

Next, the channel management unit 118 searches the program information table, so that the DOWN boundary flag 212 of the program whose stream state 231 is newly set to “0” is “0”. It is determined whether or not there is power (step S193). Here, when the determination result power is true, the channel management unit 118 sets the stream state 231 of the next program whose stream state 231 is “0” in the program switching list to “1” (step S200 ). As a result, the channel management unit 118 ends the processing.

On the other hand, when the determination result in step S 193 is “false”, that is, when it is determined that the DOWN boundary flag 212 is “1”, the channel management unit 118 sets the channel state 222 in the channel switching list. The channel state is shifted upward (step 194). Specifically, the channel management unit 118 changes the channel state 222 to “0” if the channel state 222 is “1”. If channel state 222 is “0”, change to “3”. Channel state 222 force If it is “3”, change it to “2”.

[0239] The channel management unit 118 searches for the program number 213 in the program information table stored in the storage unit 106, so that the channel status 222 is newly "2" in the channel switching list in the program switching list. It is determined whether or not there is a program included in the channel that has become (step S195). When determining that the corresponding program exists in the program switching list, the channel management unit 118 deletes this program from the program switching list (step S196). Specifically, the channel management unit 118 converts the values defined in the program (program number 213, UP boundary flag 211, DOWN boundary flag 212, and stream state 231) into the program Delete from the replacement list. When the video processing unit 109 determines that the program does not exist, the channel management unit 118 does not delete the program from the program switching list. That is, the process in step S196 is skipped and the next process is executed.

[0240] Channel management section 118 sets channel number 201 whose channel status 222 in the channel switching list is "2" to the next channel of the channel whose channel status 222 is "0" (step S197). . Further, the channel state 222 of the set channel is set to “1” (step S197).

[0241] This example will be described in detail below with reference to Fig. 15 (b). In the following example, channel management section 118 sets p program stream state 231 to “0” in step S192. At this time, as shown in FIG. 15 (b), the DOWN boundary flag 212 of the p program is “1”. Therefore, the channel management unit 118 next executes the process of step S 194 in order to make a “false” determination in step S 193.

[0242] In step S194, channel management section 118 shifts channel state 222 of the channel switching list in the stream state UP direction. At this time, the channel management unit 118 sets the channel state 222 of the j channel to “2”. Also set the channel status 222 of the n channel to “3”. Also set channel status 222 of i channel to “0”.

[0243] Further, in step S196, channel management section 118 deletes program information 214 of q program and q + 1 program included in channel j from the program switching list. Further, the channel management unit 118 searches for the program number 213 of the program arbitrarily selected from the program information table by the system control unit 105 by referring to the channel information table shown in FIG. That is, the channel management unit 118 identifies the channel whose channel number 201 is k. As a result, in the channel switching list, the value of channel number 201 which is currently “” is set to “k”. Further, in the channel switching list, the channel state 222 of the k channel is set to “1”.

As described above, the channel management unit 118 updates the channel switching list. As a result, the channel management unit 118 selects the channel for which the j channel is set, that is, the channel for which the assigned tuner number 221 is set to the tuner corresponding to “2”. Notify the system controller 105 that “k” has been changed. In response to this notification, the system control unit 105 refers to the channel information table, and the tuner number 221 is a tuner corresponding to “2”, and the channel number 201 is “k”. The channel frequency parameter 202, that is, f_k is set (step S198).

Tuner C section 122 changes the channel to be processed based on channel frequency parameter 202 that has been set. That is, tuner C section 122 extracts a k-channel transport stream from the digital broadcast wave, and outputs it to demultiplexing B section 116. The demultiplexing B unit 116 acquires a section from the k-channel transport stream. The system control unit 105 acquires program information such as SI information from the k channel section.

[0246] The system control unit 105 updates the program information table by using the acquired program information. The channel management unit 118 updates the program switching list by referring to the updated program information table (step S199). The tuner C unit 122 sets the stream state 231 of the smallest program number of the program number 213 to “1” for the program newly added to the program switching list (step S 200).

[0247] Specifically, tuner C unit 122 acquires program information 214 of one program included in the channel having channel number 201 as k from the program information table shown in FIG. At this time, tuner C section 122 acquires the parameters of UP boundary flag 211, DOWN boundary flag 212, and program number 213 in the program whose program number 213 is “r”. Further, tuner C unit 122 adds the acquired parameters to the program switching list. Further, the tuner C unit 122 sets the stream state 231 of the program whose program number 213 is p + 1 to “1”. Further, the stream status 231 of other programs is set to “2”.

[0248] From the program switching list updated as described above, the system control unit 105 reads the program whose stream status 231 is "0", the program whose stream status 231 is "1", and the stream status 23 1 The program with power “3” is identified. As a result, the system control unit 105 instructs the stream selection unit 119 to output the streams of these three programs. Further, the system control unit 105 instructs the program selection unit 121 to select a program whose stream state 231 is newly changed to “0”. [0249] The digital broadcast receiving device 2 of the present embodiment has three reception processing systems as in the second embodiment. For this reason, the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 always decodes the program that was viewed immediately before and the program candidate that was selected next. As a result, even if the viewer switches channels, the processing delay time peculiar to digital broadcasting does not occur. Therefore, the digital broadcast receiver 2 can switch the program to be output at almost the same speed as an analog broadcast receiver that does not cause the viewer to feel stress. In the present embodiment, since the remote controller 113 includes a ZAP key, the viewer can switch the program to be viewed at random by simply pressing the ZAP key.

In the present embodiment, the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 having three reception processing systems from the antenna 101 to the program selection unit 121 has been described. However, the present invention may have four reception processing systems. At this time, the digital broadcast receiver 2 uses the channel switching list shown in FIGS. 14 (a) and 14 (b) and the program switching list shown in FIGS. 15 (a) and 15 (b). By doing so, the processing shown in FIGS. 16 and 17 may be executed. The digital broadcast receiver 2 uses a channel switching list having parameters such as the number of reception processing systems. At this time, the channel state 222 included in the channel switching list used by the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 and the stream state 231 included in the yarn number and switching list may be any of four types of values. These four values are the value that represents the program that the viewer is currently viewing, the value that represents the next program of the current program, the value that represents the next program of the current program, or any other program. Any value can be used.

[0251] As described above, the digital broadcast receiving device 2 of the present embodiment selects the next program at random when switching channels. Except for this, the digital broadcast receiving device 2 of the present embodiment operates in the same manner as the digital broadcast receiving device 2 in the second embodiment when the viewer presses the channel up key. Therefore, the channel at-random switching process in the present embodiment can be executed without any problem even in an apparatus having two reception processing systems, such as the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 1 in the first embodiment. .

[0252] As described above, the digital broadcast receiving device 1 according to the present invention is a digital broadcast receiving device 1 that receives a digital broadcast signal and decodes a program from the digital broadcast signal. From the digital broadcast signal, all streams included in the first channel are used as the first stream of the tuner A unit 102, and from the digital broadcast signal, all streams included in the second channel adjacent to the first channel. Tuner B unit 115 for acquiring the second stream, stream selection unit 119 for selecting two adjacent streams from the first stream and the second stream, and one of the two streams. It has a program selection unit 121 that selects as a current program, and is characterized by! /

[0253] According to the above configuration, the present apparatus acquires a plurality of streams included in two adjacent channels. Here, the present apparatus decodes two adjacent streams from the plurality of streams. In addition, one of these two decoded streams is selected as the current program.

[0254] In this way, the present apparatus simultaneously decodes two adjacent streams. Therefore, when one stream is selected as the current program, the next stream is always decoded as the next or previous stream. Thus, when it is necessary to switch the current program to the next program or the previous program according to the instruction from the viewer, the present apparatus converts the previously decoded stream into the next program or the previous program. You can choose as Therefore, the apparatus is more likely to select the designated program quickly without requiring processing time for decoding.

As described above, the program selection method according to the present invention is a program selection method for selecting a program to be decoded from the digital broadcast signal in the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 1 that receives the digital broadcast signal. And acquiring all the streams included in the first channel from the digital broadcast signal as the first stream, and all the streams included in the second channel adjacent to the first channel from the digital broadcast signal. Acquiring a stream as a second stream, selecting two adjacent streams from the first stream and the second stream, and selecting one of the two streams as the current program Including steps.

[0256] According to this method, the same operational effects as those of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 1 described above can be obtained.

[0257] Also, when the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 1 according to the present invention switches the current program to a new program, the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 1 instructs the program selection unit 121 to select a stream that is not currently selected from the two streams. It is preferable to further include a system control unit 105 which is a control means for instructing to select a program as a new program.

[0258] According to the above configuration, the present apparatus selects, as a new program, a stream that is not currently selected from the two streams to be decoded. For this reason, for example, when the viewer is instructed to select the next program or the previous program of the current program, the device will select the previously decoded stream as the next program or the previous program. Can be selected as a program. As a result, the present apparatus can quickly select the instructed program without requiring processing time for decoding.

[0259] Also, the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 1 according to the present invention, in the tuner A unit 102 and the tuner B unit 115, obtains the channel stream including the current program and acquires the channel including the new program. It is preferable to further include a system control unit 105 which is a control means for instructing to acquire the stream of the next channel.

[0260] According to the above configuration, after selecting the current program as another program, the present apparatus acquires the stream of the channel next to the channel including the new program. As a result, this apparatus decodes in advance a stream of a program that is likely to be further selected by the viewer. Therefore, this apparatus can quickly select a new program even if the viewer continues to switch between adjacent programs.

[0261] In order to solve the above problems, another digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 according to the present invention is a digital transmission / reception apparatus 2 that receives a digital broadcast signal and decodes a program from the digital broadcast signal. Tuner A section 102 for acquiring all streams included in the first channel from the digital broadcast signal as the first stream, and all included in the second channel adjacent to the first channel from the digital broadcast signal. Tuner B unit 115 for acquiring the second stream as a second stream, and tuner C unit for acquiring all the streams included in the third channel adjacent to the second channel as the third stream from the digital broadcast signal. 122 and three logically adjacent streams are recovered from the first stream, the second stream, and the third stream. A stream selection unit 119 for selecting a signal and a program selection unit 121 for selecting a central stream among the three streams as a current program! /! / [0262] According to the above configuration, the present apparatus acquires a plurality of streams included in three adjacent channels. Here, the present apparatus decodes three adjacent streams from the plurality of streams. In addition, among these three decoded streams, the central stream is selected as the current program.

[0263] Thus, the present apparatus simultaneously decodes three adjacent streams. As a result, even if it is necessary to switch the current program to the next program or the previous program according to the instruction from the viewer, the present apparatus can convert the previously decoded stream into the next program or the previous program. It can be selected as a program. Therefore, even if the viewer instructs the next program or the previous program of the current program, the present apparatus does not require processing time for decoding. You can select quickly.

[0264] In order to solve the above-described problem, another program selection method according to the present invention provides a program to be decoded from the digital broadcast signal in the digital broadcast receiver 2 that receives the digital broadcast signal. A method for selecting a program, comprising: obtaining all streams included in the first channel from the digital broadcast signal as a first stream; and a second adjacent to the first channel from the digital broadcast signal. Acquiring all the streams included in the channel as the second stream, acquiring all the streams included in the third channel adjacent to the second channel as the third stream from the digital broadcast signal, and , Three streams adjacent to each other from the first stream, the second stream, and the third stream And decrypting, the central stream of the three streams, and that it contains a step of selecting as the current program as a feature.

[0265] According to this method, the same operational effects as those of the above-described digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 can be obtained.

[0266] In addition, when the digital broadcast receiving device 2 according to the present invention switches the current program to a new program, the digital broadcast receiving device 2 notifies the program selection unit 121 of the stream corresponding to the current program among the three streams. System control unit that instructs to select the next stream as a new program

It is preferred to have 105 more.

[0267] According to the above configuration, when the viewer instructs the current program to be switched to a new program, the present apparatus selects one of the two programs adjacent to the current program as a new one. Number Select as a pair. As described above, this device decrypts these two programs in advance. As a result, the apparatus can quickly select the instructed program without requiring processing time for decoding.

[0268] Also, the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 according to the present invention is a new method for acquiring a channel stream including the current program among the tuner A unit 102, the tuner B unit 115, and the tuner C unit 122. It is preferable to further include a system control unit 105 for instructing to acquire a stream of a channel next to a channel including a program.

[0269] According to the above configuration, the present apparatus acquires the stream of the channel next to the channel including the new program after selecting the current program as another program. As a result, this apparatus decodes in advance a stream of a program that is likely to be further selected by the viewer. Therefore, this apparatus can quickly select a new program even if the viewer continues to switch between adjacent programs.

Another digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 according to the present invention is a digital transmission / reception apparatus 2 that receives a digital broadcast signal and decodes a program from the digital broadcast signal in order to solve the above-described problem. Tuner A section 102 for acquiring all streams included in the first channel from the digital broadcast signal as the first stream, and included in any second channel other than the first channel from the digital broadcast signal. Tuner B unit 115 that obtains all streams to be transmitted as the second stream, and all streams included in the third channel other than the first and second channels from the digital broadcast signal to the third stream. Tuner C section 122 acquired as any one of the three streams from the first stream, the second stream, and the third stream. A stream selection unit 119 for decoding a stream, a program selection unit 121 for selecting one of the three streams as the current program, and the current program as a new program. When switching, the system control unit 105 instructs the stream selection means to select one of the three streams other than the stream corresponding to the current program as a new program. It is characterized by having and! /

[0271] According to the above configuration, the present apparatus acquires a plurality of streams included in any three different channels. Here, the apparatus is configured to use these multiple streams. To decrypt any three streams. In addition, one of these three decoded streams is selected as the current program.

[0272] Thus, the present apparatus decodes any three streams simultaneously. Then, select one of these streams as the current program. Furthermore, when switching the current program to a new program, one of the three decoded streams other than the stream corresponding to the current program is selected as the new program. Thus, even when it is necessary to switch the current program to any other program at random according to an instruction from the viewer, the present device will not be able to change the stream previously decoded. Can be selected as a program. Therefore, this device has the effect that the viewer can quickly select the indicated program without requiring processing time for decoding even when the viewer selects another program that is not adjacent to the current program. Play.

[0273] It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the claims. In other words, embodiments obtained by combining technical means appropriately modified within the scope of the claims are also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

[0274] Note that each member described above is also a functional block. Therefore, these members are realized by a calculation means such as a CPU executing a program change program stored in a storage unit (not shown) and controlling peripheral circuits such as an input / output circuit (not shown).

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a recording medium in which program codes (execution format program, intermediate code program, source program) of a program change program that is software that realizes the above-described functions are recorded so as to be readable by a computer. Can be achieved by reading and executing the program code recorded on the recording medium of the computer (or CPU, MPU, DSP) provided in the digital broadcast receiving device. .

In this case, the read program code itself realizes the above-described function. Therefore, a recording medium on which the program code is recorded constitutes the present invention. [0277] On the other hand, each of the above-described members may be realized as hardware that performs the same processing as the above-described software. In this case, the object of the present invention is achieved by a digital broadcast receiving apparatus as hardware.

[0278] Here, the calculation means for reading and executing the program code may have a single configuration. Alternatively, a configuration may be adopted in which a plurality of calculation means power program codes connected via a bus or various communication paths in the digital broadcast receiving apparatus are executed in cooperation.

[0279] The program code that can be directly executed by the computing means may be distributed to the digital broadcast receiving apparatus through a computer-readable recording medium storing the program code! In addition, the program code is stored as data that can be generated by a process such as decompression, which will be described later, and the data is stored and distributed to a digital broadcast receiver through a computer-readable recording medium. Also good. Alternatively, these program codes or data may be distributed or transmitted to the digital broadcast receiving apparatus through a communication network that transmits data via a wired or wireless communication path. Regardless of which means is used for distribution or transmission, the program code is executed by arithmetic means provided in the digital broadcast receiving apparatus.

[0280] At this time, the program code or data can be transmitted through various communication networks not limited to a specific one. Specific examples of such communication networks include the Internet, intranet, extranet, LAN, ISDN, VAN, CATV communication network, virtual private network, telephone line network, mobile communication network, There are satellite communication networks. Also, the transmission medium (communication path) constituting the communication network is not particularly limited. Specifically, wired lines such as IEEE1394 standard lines, USB lines, power lines, cable TV lines, telephone lines, and ADSL lines can be used as transmission media. In addition, wireless using infrared rays used in IrDA and remote controls, wireless defined in Bluetooth standard or IE EE802.11 wireless standard, HDR, mobile phone network, satellite line, terrestrial digital network, etc. The used radio can also be used as a transmission medium.

[0281] It is preferable that the recording medium for distributing the program code to the digital broadcast receiving apparatus is removable before distributing the program code. However, after the program code is distributed, it can be removed from the digital broadcast receiver. It may be integrated with the digital broadcast receiving apparatus so that it cannot be removed.

[0282] The recording medium may be rewritable (writeable) or impossible as long as the program code is recorded. It may be volatile or non-volatile. Furthermore, the recording method of the program code on the recording medium and the shape of the recording medium may be arbitrary.

[0283] Examples of recording media that satisfy these conditions include magnetic tapes and cassette tapes, magnetic disks such as floppy (registered trademark) disks and hard disks, CD ROMs, magneto-optical disks (MO), and mini disks ( There are discs such as MD) and digital video disc (DV D). This also applies to card-type memories such as IC cards and optical cards, or semiconductor memories such as mask ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, and flash ROM. Furthermore, a memory formed in a calculation means such as a CPU also corresponds.

[0284] Note that a program for reading out the program code from the recording medium and storing it in the main memory is preliminarily stored in the digital broadcast receiving apparatus so as to be executable by a computer. In addition, when distributing program codes to digital broadcast receivers via a communication network, programs that download communication network capability program codes are stored in a digital broadcast receiver so that they can be executed by a computer. Yes.

[0285] Further, the program code may be a code that instructs all means of each processing described above to the arithmetic means. Note that a computer may already have a basic program (for example, an operating system or library) that can be executed by calling some or all of the processing by the program code in a predetermined procedure. . In this case, the program code that replaces part or all of the procedure in the program code with a code or pointer that instructs the calculation means to call the basic program can be used as the program code of the program change program. Oh ,.

[0286] Further, the program change program may be stored in the recording medium as in the state where the program code is arranged in the real memory. Specifically, the program change program is stored in the recording medium in a format that allows the computing means to access the recording medium and execute the program code. That's fine. Alternatively, the program change program can be recorded in a storage medium before the program code is placed in the real memory and after being installed in a local recording medium (for example, a node disk) that is always accessible by the computing means. May be stored. Alternatively, the program change program may be stored in the recording medium according to the storage format prior to installation on a powerful local recording medium such as a communication network or a transportable recording medium.

[0287] The program change program is not limited to the object code after being compiled. For example, the program change program may be stored in a recording medium as source code. Or in the middle of interpreting or compiling! As an intermediate code generated in this way, it may be stored in a recording medium. In any of the cases described above, the program code (intermediate code) stored in the recording medium can be converted into a format executable by the computing means.

[0288] That is, the program code (intermediate code) is a predetermined format conversion program that decompresses the compressed program code, restores the encoded program code, interprets and compiles the source code, Any method can be used as long as it can be converted into a format that can be executed by the computing means by linking or allocating to real memory, or by executing a combination of these processes. As a result, the same effect can be obtained regardless of the storage format when the program change program is stored in the recording medium.

[0289] The digital broadcast receiving apparatus of the present invention receives a digital broadcast wave corresponding to two consecutive channel numbers, and outputs a plurality of streams included in the broadcast wave, and the plurality of streams Stream selecting means for selecting two adjacent program number streams, two decoders for decoding the two streams selected by the stream selecting means, and the two output powers of the decoder. And a number selection unit for selecting a program.

[0290] According to the above configuration, in preparation for a case where a program is selected by operating the channel up key or the channel down key, the program that will be selected next can be decoded. The program can be switched without stress.

[0291] Also, the digital broadcast receiving apparatus of the present invention can select a program that is not selected by the program selection unit. It has a control system to select when the program is switched.

[0292] According to the above configuration, when a program selection is performed by operating the channel up key or the channel down key, the program is selected by force, and the selected program is selected. Channel switching is possible at the same speed as the device.

[0293] Furthermore, the receiving system of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus of the present invention is configured such that the program selection unit switches the channel number to the channel number corresponding to the program selected before the switching after the program switching. You may receive the broadcast wave of the adjacent channel number that was selected before.

[0294] According to the above control, when a program is selected by operating the channel up key or the channel down key, it is possible to always continue decoding the program that will be selected next. Channel switching without stress is possible.

[0295] Further, the second digital broadcast receiving apparatus according to the present invention receives a digital broadcast wave corresponding to three consecutive channel numbers, and outputs a plurality of streams included in the broadcast wave. Stream selecting means for selecting three adjacent program number streams from the plurality of streams, three decoders for decoding the three streams selected by the stream selecting means, and three outputs of the decoder And a number selection unit for selecting one program to watch.

[0296] According to the above configuration, even if a program is selected by operating either the channel up key or the channel down key, the program to be selected next is decoded. Program switching is possible without stress.

[0297] Further, the second digital broadcast receiving apparatus of the present invention may comprise a control system that selects a program when the program is switched!

[0298] According to the above configuration, even if a program is selected by operating either the channel up key or the channel down key, the program is selected and the program is selected, so that the program is selected. Channels can be switched at the same speed as analog broadcast receivers.

[0299] Further, the reception system of the second digital broadcast receiving apparatus of the present invention corresponds to the program selected by the program selection unit before the switching after the program switching. A broadcast wave of an adjacent channel number not selected before the switching may be received as the channel number.

[0300] According to the above control, even when a program is selected by operating either the channel up key or the channel down key, it is possible to always continue to decode the next selected program. Channel switching without stress is possible.

[0301] Further, according to the present invention, even when channel selection is performed using the channel up key and the down key, it is possible to output a program immediately after channel selection, just like analog broadcasting, despite digital broadcasting. There is. Therefore, it is possible to provide a digital broadcast receiving apparatus that does not feel stress even for a user who views a program while switching the program in a short time even if there is a desired program.

[0302] In addition, the present invention provides an optimal program selection algorithm, particularly for viewing logically adjacent programs in order.

Industrial applicability

The present invention can be used as a digital broadcast receiving device and an electronic device including the digital broadcast receiving device. The digital broadcast receiver includes a TV tuner. An electronic device equipped with a digital broadcast receiver includes a television. Also included are video recorders and hard disk recorders that have built-in TV tuners. In addition, video capture cards are included. In addition, general-purpose electronic devices with built-in one-segment tuners such as mobile phones are also included.

Claims

The scope of the claims

[1] A digital broadcast receiver for receiving a digital broadcast signal and decoding a program from the digital broadcast signal,

First reception processing means for acquiring, as a first stream, a stream included in the first channel from the digital broadcast signal;

Second reception processing means for obtaining, from the digital broadcast signal, a stream included in a second channel adjacent to the first channel as a second stream;

Stream selection means for decoding two adjacent streams from the first stream and the second stream;

A digital broadcast receiving apparatus comprising: program selection means for selecting one of the two streams as a current program!

[2] The first reception processing means acquires all streams included in the first channel as a first stream,

2. The digital broadcast receiving apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second reception processing means acquires all streams included in the second channel as second streams.

[3] When switching the above current program to a new program,

3. The program selection control unit according to claim 1, further comprising: a program selection control unit that instructs the program selection unit to select a stream that is not currently selected from the two streams as a new program. Digital broadcast receiver.

[4] Of the first reception processing means and the second reception processing means, the channel next to the channel including the new program is acquired in the direction of acquiring the channel stream including the current program. 4. The digital broadcast receiving apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising channel selection control means for instructing to do so.

[5] A digital broadcast receiver for receiving a digital broadcast signal and decoding a program from the digital broadcast signal,

Included in the second channel adjacent to the first channel from the digital broadcast signal Second reception processing means for acquiring a stream included in a third channel adjacent to the second channel from the digital broadcast signal, and third reception processing means for acquiring a stream included in the third channel as the third stream. When,

Stream selection means for decoding three adjacent streams from the first stream, the second stream, and the third stream;

A digital broadcast receiving apparatus comprising program selection means for selecting a central stream as the current program among the above three streams.

[6] The first reception processing means acquires all the streams included in the first channel as a first stream.

The second reception processing means acquires all streams included in the second channel as second streams,

6. The digital broadcast receiving apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the third reception processing means acquires all streams included in the third channel as a third stream.

[7] When switching the above current program to a new program,

The program selection control means for instructing the program selection means to select, as a new program, a stream adjacent to the stream corresponding to the current program among the three streams. 5. The digital broadcast receiver according to 5 or 6.

[8] Of the first reception processing means, the second reception processing means, and the third reception processing means, the one that acquires the stream of the channel that includes the current program is the next to the channel that includes the new program. 8. The digital broadcast receiving apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising channel selection control means for instructing acquisition of a channel stream.

[9] A digital broadcast receiver for receiving a digital broadcast signal and decoding a program from the digital broadcast signal,

Second reception processing means for acquiring, as a second stream, a stream included in an arbitrary second channel other than the first channel from the digital broadcast signal;

A third channel other than the first and second channels from the digital broadcast signal. A third reception processing means for acquiring the stream included in the stream as a third stream, and a stream selection means for decoding any three streams from the first stream, the second stream, and the third stream. When,

Program selection means for selecting one of the three streams as the current program,

When the current program is switched to a new program, one of the three streams other than the stream corresponding to the current program is selected as a new program for the program selection means. A digital broadcast receiving apparatus comprising a program selection control means for instructing selection.

[10] Of the first reception processing means, the second reception processing means, and the third reception processing means, the one that acquires the stream of the channel that includes the current program is the next to the channel that includes the new program. 10. The digital broadcast receiving apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising channel selection control means for instructing acquisition of a channel stream.

[11] A program selection method for selecting a program to be decoded from a digital broadcast signal in a digital broadcast receiver that receives the digital broadcast signal,

Obtaining a stream included in the first channel from the digital broadcast signal as a first stream;

Obtaining a stream included in a second channel adjacent to the first channel from the digital broadcast signal as a second stream;

Decoding two adjacent streams from the first stream and the second stream;

A method for selecting a program, comprising: selecting one of the two streams as a current program.

[12] In a digital broadcast receiving apparatus that receives a digital broadcast signal, a program selection method for selecting a program to be decoded from the digital broadcast signal,

Included in the second channel adjacent to the first channel from the digital broadcast signal Obtaining a stream to be generated as a second stream;

Acquiring a stream included in a third channel adjacent to the second channel from the digital broadcast signal as a third stream;

Decoding three adjacent streams from the first stream, the second stream, and the third stream;

A program selection method comprising: a step of selecting a central stream among the above three streams as a current program! /.

[13] A program selection method for selecting a program to be decoded from a digital broadcast signal in a digital broadcast receiver that receives the digital broadcast signal,

Obtaining from the digital broadcast signal a stream included in any second channel other than the first channel as a second stream;

Obtaining a stream included in a third channel other than the first and second channels from the digital broadcast signal as a third stream;

Decoding any three streams from the first stream, the second stream, and the third stream;

Selecting one of the above three streams as the current program,

Selecting one of the three streams other than the stream corresponding to the current program as the new program when the current program is switched to the new program. Program selection method.

[14] A program change program for operating the digital broadcast receiving device according to any one of [1] to [10], and causing the computer to function as each of the above means.

[15] A computer-readable recording medium on which the program change program according to claim 14 is recorded.