JP2551514B2 - A tape remaining amount confirmation device for a video tape recorder using a remote control - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a tape remaining amount confirmation apparatus capable of confirming the remaining amount of a video tape when a television program reservation is registered in a video tape recorder by using a telephone outside the office.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when registering a TV program reservation using a telephone in a video tape recorder, there is no means for checking the remaining amount of the video tape, and it is presumed that the remaining amount of the video tape is sufficient. I originally registered a reservation for a TV show.

[0003]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a means for confirming the remaining amount of the above video tape by voice synthesis.

[0004]

The present invention is directed to a telephone line.
Then, when the TV program reservation is entered,
The recording time of the reserved program already reserved for
Calculated by means of calculating the total recording time of the reserved programs
The total scheduled recording time calculated and the video tape recording
Video input at the time of reservation input requested by the coder
The remaining recording time of the group is compared by a comparison means. That
As a result, it is judged that the total of the above reserved recording time is larger.
In case of the above, the reservation number newly entered by the above reservation input
Whether the program has already been reserved after the recording time of the group
Determine by other means. When recording a newly entered reserved program
If it is determined that there is a reserved program after the interval,
The recording start time of the reserved program input to
The recording time of the reserved program already reserved during and the above
Obtain the total recording time of newly entered reserved programs
Therefore, the total time is within the remaining recording time of the above video tape.
Whether or not the recording is possible is determined by the recording possibility determining means. Above total time
When it is judged that it is within the remaining recording time of the video tape
The program reservation input from the message sending means is recorded.
Although it is possible, it is not possible to record reserved programs after that.
Sending a message to a telephone line and sending the message
Within a predetermined time after the message is sent from
When a reservation command is input via the
If you make a reservation and the reservation command is not entered, the program you reserved this time
I tried to cancel my reservation. Also, send the above message
The output means is for the reserved program newly input by the determination means.
When it is judged that there is no reserved program after the recording time
The above-mentioned total time is the above-mentioned video tape by the recordable image judging means
If it is judged that the remaining recordable time of
Send out to the telephone line that you can not record the program you promised
To In this case, either cancel the reservation this time or
You can now choose whether to make a reservation. Also, the telephone line
When the confirmation command for the reserved program is input via the
Sequentially read information on reserved programs stored in the precoder
However, the voice combination that converts the information to voice and sends it to the telephone line
Equipped with a means.

[0005]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the invention of the present application, in which only the main parts relating to the invention of the present application are shown. 1 is a telephone for going out, 2 is a telephone line, VTR
(VCR) is a video tape recorder, which is composed of the following parts.

That is, 3 is a line monitoring circuit for detecting a ringing signal and for detecting a voltage change of the telephone line when a caller hooks the telephone 1 on the line 1 and 4 is a line transformer for connecting the telephone line and the VTR. Reference numeral 5 denotes a voice synthesizing unit, which uses a voice synthesizing method to respond to an incoming call, an operation method for reserving a TV program in the VTR using the telephone 1, and the reserved information by voice synthesizing. Send out. 6
Is an ICM that records a message (ICM) from a caller
It is a recording unit, and the caller's message is stored in the memory RAM-1.
Recorded in.

Reference numeral 7 is a tone decoder for decoding a DTMF tone which is a remote control signal sent from a specific caller, 8 is a one-chip CPU (microprocessor), I-1 to I-8 are input ports, O-1 to O-6 are output ports, and INT bar is an interrupt terminal. Also B
US is an input / output terminal for signal lines such as a data bus, an address bus, a write and a read, and sends and receives data to and from other CPUs (CPU 14, CPU 18) via 20 bus lines. ROM where the program is written,
It has a built-in RAM (see FIGS. 6 and 7) for storing reservation information of television programs.

Reference numeral 10 denotes a keyboard used for reserving a television program, which is a numeral input button 0 to 9 shown in the figure,
Cancel button 10-1 for canceling the reservation information of the reserved TV program, the reservation information 14 LC
A review button 10-2 for confirming on the D display section, a week button 10-3 for registering reservation information so that recording is performed every week on the same day, and a once button 10-4 for registering only one recording. , Has a daily button 10-5 for registering recording to be performed every day from Monday to Friday. 11 is a reservation button, which is the reservation keyboard 1 above.
Press to book a TV show using 0.

A reservation execution button 12 (generally referred to as a "time recording" button) 12 which is pressed when recording a reserved television program is a button which is pressed when the VTR is set to "absence" mode. Y-1 which is the load of the output port O-1 is a relay for closing the telephone line and has a contact point y1-1. The above-mentioned parts are controlled by the CPU 8 as is apparent from the figure.

Reference numeral 14 is an LCD display section using an LCD (liquid crystal), and 15 is a CPU for displaying data from the CPU 8 and the CPU 18, that is, reservation information of a television program, data such as a conventional operation mode as a VTR. Process.

Reference numeral 16 is an operating keyboard for operating (reproducing, rewinding, etc.) the VTR, 17 is a mechanical portion of the VTR, 18 is a CPU for controlling the operating keyboard 16 and the mechanical portion 17, and 19 is a This is a known tape remaining amount display button.

Next, the operation of reserving a television program by remote control will be described with reference to the flow charts of FIGS. When the answering button 13 shown in FIG. 1 is pressed, the apparatus enters the answering machine mode, which sends a response message in response to an incoming call from a third party and can record the third party's message. TV programs can be reserved by remote control from.

When the answering button 13 is pressed, a subroutine called "AUTO" shown in FIG. 2 is called. Although not shown in the flow chart, when the user forgets to press the absence button 13 and goes out, the call signal is 10
It may be possible to set the answering machine mode when applied several times.

In step 110, the ringing signal is detected by the program through the line monitoring circuit 3 and the input port I-3, and if it is identified as the ringing signal, this step 110 becomes affirmative, and the output port O-1 of the output port O-1. The relay Y-1 which is a load is turned on to close the telephone line via the contact point y1-1 and the line transformer 4 (step 111).
Therefore, the ringing signal stops and the calling party and the VTR are in a call state.

Then, the response message (OGM) in the voice synthesizer 5 is selected by the command from the output port O-3, and the response message (OGM) is output by the start signal from the output port O-4. Yes (Step 1
12). The end of sending of the response message (OGM) is tested by checking the output of the BUSY terminal via the input port I-2 (step 113).

When the sending of the response message is completed, step 113 becomes affirmative, a beep tone is sent by voice synthesis (step 114), and then the output port O
-2, the incoming message (I
The recording mode is switched to CM) (step 115). The incoming message of the caller is recorded in the memory RAM-1 of the ICM recording unit 6 via the telephone line 2 and the line transformer 4. When this recording ends, step 116 becomes affirmative, the recording mode is released (step 117), the telephone line is closed (step 118), and step 11
Restores the standby state of 0.

Next, a description will be given of the operation in the case where the owner uses the telephone 1 at a remote place to register the reservation of a television program by remote control during the operation in the above-mentioned absence mode.

During the operation in the above-mentioned absence mode, the owner operates the push button of the telephone 1 to operate the DTM.
Send the PIN for reservation with F tone. When the top of this tone is detected by the tone decoder 7, a subroutine called "REMOTE" in FIGS. 2 and 3 is called.

First, in step 120, a test is performed as to whether the above-mentioned personal identification number (3 to 4 digits) matches the personal identification number registered in advance on the reservation keyboard 10. If they do not match, the state is restored to the standby state via the connector A. If they match, the step 120 becomes affirmative, and in the next step 121, it is tested whether or not the apparatus is in the mode for displaying the remaining tape amount. A means for displaying the remaining amount of tape is known, but in the present embodiment, the remaining tape amount display button 19 is
If it is pressed in advance while at home, the tape remaining capacity display mode is activated.
ing. That is because stores that the tape remaining amount display mode by setting a bit in a predetermined location in the memory RAM-2 in CPU18 to "1" as the flag. However, the tape remaining amount display mode is set.
If not , press the password to send the command from CPU8 to CPU18 via bus line 20.
Then, the bit is set to "1". by this
The apparatus is set to the tape remaining amount display mode (steps 121 and 122).

The mechanical unit 17 is a video tape (not shown)
Is moved a small amount, and the remaining amount of the video tape is calculated from the rotation of the reel stand (not shown).

Since the remaining amount of the video tape changes during recording at this time, it is tested in step 123 whether recording is in progress. If recording is in progress, "recording" is transmitted by voice synthesis (step 124). ).

Since the remaining amount of the video tape is displayed, the memory R
Since it is temporarily stored in the AM-3, this data is read (step 125), this data is voice-synthesized, and, for example, "4 hours worth of recording is possible" is transmitted (step 126).

In step 127, the "reservation" subroutine shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 is called. First, the flag FLAG is cleared and the address pointer is initialized (steps 150 and 151). And step 15
At 2, 153 and 154, it is tested whether or not there is a vacant memory (see FIG. 4) that can be reserved, and the result is notified by voice synthesis (steps 155 and 156). After that, the counters and registers built in the CPU 8 used for the processing are cleared (steps 157 and 158), and a timer of, for example, 5 seconds is started (step 159).

Here, the caller (owner) sends information such as a channel, a recording start time and a recording time in a predetermined order by operating a button of the telephone 1 to reserve a television program.

For example, in order to record 10 channels for 2 hours from 20:00 on January 4, "10010420002"
Input the channel, recording start time, and the numerical value of the recording time itself, such as 0 ”, or specify the channel using the numeric keypad of the telephone 1 and then press the # button once with the one-touch timer method. Although there is a method of increasing the number in increments of 30 minutes, here, a case will be described in which a recording reservation method called a G code, which requires a maximum of 8 digit number sequence, is used.

Now, during the operation of this timer, one DTM
When the F tone is input, the timer is initialized again to 5 seconds (described later). If the DTMF tone does not come within this 5 seconds, step 160 becomes affirmative and the subroutine is exited (step 161).

Now, if a DTMF tone comes in within 5 seconds, a test is made in step 162 through step 160 whether this DTMF tone is a number 0-9. Since the recording reservation number (for example, "1742" is transmitted to make the above-mentioned recording reservation) is made up of a numerical sequence of several digits, step 162 becomes affirmative,
By the loop of steps 160, 162, 163, 164, 159, this recording reservation number is sequentially stored in the register indicated by the counter (steps 163, 164).

After inputting the recording reservation number, “#” is 1
If the input is made twice (see FIG. 8), step 166 becomes affirmative via steps 162 and 165, and the process proceeds to step 173 of FIG. 5 via connector K to test whether FLAG is “1”. Is FLAG "0" here?
It becomes et al negative, step 174,175,176,17
7, the reservation number, the once code, and the recording reservation program converted into channel and time information are stored in a predetermined position of the empty RAM area. Then, returning to step 151, a free RAM area for storing the next reservation information is searched for.

When the caller inputs the next recording reservation number and then continuously inputs "#" twice as shown in FIG. 8, daily recording is performed, and when "#" is continuously input three times, weekly recording is performed. However, the details are omitted.

As described above, the main purpose of calling this apparatus from the outside is to register the recording reservation, but it also has the following functions.

Therefore, when "#" is continuously input four times ("#" is once after the second time), the review mode is set and RA
The reservation information stored in M can be read in order and the contents can be confirmed by voice synthesis. That is, the step 169 becomes affirmative by four consecutive inputs of "#", the address pointer is initialized through the connector M in step 182, and then the FLAG is set to "1" (step 18).
3).

In the next step 184, the reservation information indicated by the address pointer is sent out by voice synthesis. For example, "reservation number 1 recording start, 4 o'clock January 4, recording time 2 hours once recording". After that, returning to step 159, if "#" is input once within 5 seconds, step 166 becomes affirmative via steps 162 and 165, and an address pointer for reading the next reservation information is obtained via affirmative step 173. Is incremented (step 178), and unless the address pointer exceeds the set value, the next reservation information is voice-synthesized and transmitted via step 179 (step 184). By repeating such an operation, all reservation information stored in the RAM can be confirmed.

If there is unnecessary reservation information, the reservation information confirmed by voice synthesis can be deleted by inputting "*". That is, when the caller sends a "*", this tone is tested at step 165, clearing the counter and registers (steps 170, 171) and then clearing the RAM in the range indicated by the address pointer (step 172). . Therefore, the reservation information confirmed by the above-described voice synthesis can be deleted here.

By the way, as described above, a TV program reservation is made 1
After the reservation of the case, if the user waits for 5 seconds as it is, step 160 becomes affirmative, and in step 161, this subroutine is exited and the process proceeds to step 128 of FIG. In this step, the total (T) of the required recording time is calculated based on the reservation information for one case reserved this time and the reservation information already registered up to the previous time.

For example, today's reserved recording time (for convenience of explanation, different from the above example) is 10.00-1.
1.00, 12.00 to 13.00, 18.0 to 19.0
Rewind the video tape for 2 hours to the starting point with 0, 3
Suppose you go out with the timer setting in double recording mode. Then, it is assumed that there is a television program that the user wants to record while watching a newspaper on the go, and the user calls this apparatus at about 2:00 pm and reserves a television program of 20.00 to 22.00. At this time, the videotape is recorded for 1 hour from 10.01 to 11.00 and 1 hour from 12:00 to 13:00, and a total of 2 hours. Therefore, in step 126, the remaining amount of the tape is 4 hours. 1 more
Since the recording for one hour from 8.00 to 19.00 and the recording for two hours reserved by remote control are performed, the total (T) of the recording time required from now on will be three hours.
Note that the total recording time includes the recording time because there may be reservation information even after the time slot reserved by remote control.

At the next step 130, the recording time (T) from now on, which is obtained at step 128, is subtracted from the current remaining time of the video tape obtained at step 125, and the answer T1 (1 hour in this example) is subtracted. ). If this T1 is greater than zero, recording is possible including the portion reserved by remote control, and step 131 is affirmative, and "recordable" is sent by voice synthesis (step 132). Further, the fact that T1 is greater than zero means that a new reservation can be made for this (T1) time, and in the next step 133, "(T
1) New reservation is possible for the time "is sent, and the process returns to step 127 so that the next reservation can be made.

On the other hand, if the above step 131 is negative, that is, if all the programs reserved as today's portion cannot be recorded on the video tape, a test is made as to whether or not only the reserved portion can be recorded by the remote operation of the command. Perform after 134. For example, let's assume that the user goes out in the morning after playing the video tape for one hour. And as mentioned above 14.00
If remote control is performed at all times, the tape that can record for a total of 6 hours is 1 hour above and 10.00-11.00,
The total of 3 hours from 12.00 to 13.00 has been used,
Furthermore, the above-mentioned 1 hour portion of 18:00 to 19.00 will be used. Therefore, since the remaining amount of the video tape after 19:00 is 2 hours, the above 14.0 can be remotely controlled.
It is possible to record 20.00 to 22.00 reserved at midnight, but after this, for example, 23.00 to 23.30 today.
If there is a registered reservation of, this reservation cannot be recorded on the same video tape described above.

Therefore, if there is a reservation of 23.00 to 23.30, step 134 becomes affirmative and the next step 13
In (5), from (remaining time of tape (3 hours in the above example)) to (recording time reserved this time (2 hours)) (previous recording time (1 hour from 18.0 to 19.00) Minute)) is added and the value is subtracted, and this value is set to T2. This T2 is zero or greater than zero and for example 15 minutes
If the small Ri 18.00 to 19.00 and 20.00 to 2
Reservations can be made for reservations made in the 2:00 time zone, and step 1
In the next step 137, in the affirmative case from step 36, the voice synthesis message "I can record the program I reserved now. I cannot record the program after this" is transmitted.

Then, “Please press the # button to register the reservation” is transmitted by voice synthesis (step 138). Here, the caller is asked which program "20.00-
It determines whether 22.00 "or" 23.00-23.30 " is required, and starts a 4-second timer (step 140), and if the caller presses the # button within 4 seconds, step 141 Is affirmative, and the above “20.00-2
The program "2.00" can be recorded, but "23.00-
The program of 23.30 "cannot be recorded because the tape is full.
It Then, in the next step 142, "new reservation is registered" is sent out by voice synthesis, the process returns to step 127 via the connector C, and if the caller hangs up, this device will be restored soon.

On the other hand, in step 141, when the caller does not press the # button for 4 seconds (step 143), the reservation information of this time indicated by the address pointer is the same as when the * button is pressed. It is deleted by the operation (step 144), and "new reservation has been canceled" is transmitted by voice synthesis (step 145).

[0041] On the other hand, if it becomes negative in step 136 described above, in the next step 139, "the program you have just reservation can not be recorded. You can register." From the sending and the "reservation in step 138 Press the # button to register ”. If the person at home can exchange the videotape, the caller will now press the # button and the reservation will be registered via steps 141 and 142 described above.
After this, the process returns to step 127 as described above, and the device will soon be restored.

When there is a person at home as described above,
Since it is expected that the video tape will be replaced when the end of the video tape is reached, the detection output at the end of the video tape from the mechanical unit 17 is read by the CPU 18 and the CPU 8 via the bus line 20 when the end is reached, and light is emitted. The diode LED is blinked (or the buzzer may be sounded) to notify the person at home. If you are at home, replace the videotape and make a reservation execution button 12 (usually TIME
It is configured so that it is only necessary to press a button called R).

Next, the above-mentioned operations will be summarized and described below. 1) Call this device using a telephone on the go. 2) Since this device has a built-in TAD, it first operates as a TAD.

3) During operation as a TAD, a personal identification number (3 to
Send 4 digits). If it matches with the registered one, this device calculates the remaining tape amount and sends out the remaining tape amount by voice synthesis, for example, "You can record for 4 hours". 4) Next, the memory R in which the reservation information is stored (registered)
A test is made to see if there is a space in AM, and if there is a space, a "reservable" is sent by voice synthesis.

5) Here, the caller sends information such as a channel, a recording start time, and a recording time in order to reserve a TV program for today. The G code is used here as this information. 6) When this device receives one piece of reservation information after receiving one piece of reservation information, it records once once, when # is two, it is daily recording, and when # is three, weekly recording is weekly recording. Set.

7) When the reservation for one case is completed as described above, the recording time of the reservation information before and after the recording start time of this reservation is checked including the reservation for this one case, and is executed from today. The total of the recording times to be recorded is calculated and compared with the remaining amount of the tape in 3) above. If (remaining amount of tape)> (total recording time), all reservations can be made, so "Recordable" is sent out by voice synthesis, and from the above calculation result, "new reservation for ○ hours is possible" Is sent "and a new reservation is accepted. If a new reservation is not needed, the caller can hang up.

8) On the other hand, if the expression in 7) above is not satisfied, that is, if all the reservation information of the TV program cannot be recorded on one tape, it may be before or after the time reserved by telephone. Check if there are already reserved ones, and depending on the result, you can use voice synthesis to “Record the program you just reserved. You cannot record the program after this. Press the # button to register the reservation. Please, ”or“ The program you have just reserved cannot be recorded. You can register.
Please press the # button to register the reservation. "

The following "... cannot record ..." is used when there is a possibility that someone at home may replace the tape.

[0049]

EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION Using an external telephone, a video tape
When making a TV program recording reservation on the coder,
Depending on the recording reservation of the Levi program, the recording time of the video tape
If you exceed the recordable time,
TV program reservation is made at a time after the TV program time.
When this is done, from this reserved TV program
If you do not record the TV program at a later time,
Judge whether it is possible to record the TV program, and if so,
Send a message to keep this reservation or make a reservation.
You can now choose whether to erase. As a result, the need for recording
Record the TV program you reserved this time according to your sex
Or record a reserved TV program after this reserved program
Can be selected. Also, the TV booked this time
If the program can only be recorded halfway,
In this case, send a sage to let you know that you cannot record.
Also keep or cancel the reservation of the TV program booked this time
You can choose. In addition, the information that you have already booked
It can also be confirmed by voice.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation when the VTR is set to the “absent” mode and an operation when registering a TV program reservation by remote control.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation when the VTR is set to an “absent” mode and an operation when a reservation of a television program is registered by remote control.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a subroutine used in FIG. 2 described above.

5 is a flowchart showing a subroutine used in FIG. 2 described above.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of reservation information of television programs stored in a RAM.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a once code, daily code, and week code.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing, in comparison, how to press a key (button) used for registering a reservation for a television program using a reservation keyboard at home and a telephone on the go.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Telephone 2 Telephone line 3 Line monitoring circuit 4 Line transformer 5 Voice synthesis section 6 ICM recording section 7 Tone decoder 8 CPU 10 Keyboard 11 Reserve button 12 Reserve execution button 13 Answer button 14 LCD display section 15 CPU 16 Operation keyboard 17 Mechanism section 18 CPU 19 Tape remaining amount display button

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A video tape recorder via a telephone line.
You can check the remaining amount of videotape that allows you to schedule recording of TV programs.
If a TV program reservation is input via a telephone line, the reservation device
Recording time of reserved programs already reserved after input
And calculate the total recording time of the reserved programs input this time
Means, total of scheduled recording time calculated above and video tape recording
Video input at the time of reservation input required by the
If the total of the reserved recording time by the comparing means for comparing the remaining recordable time of the
When judged, it is newly input by the reservation input above
The program has already been reserved after the recording time of the reserved program
Whether or not the recording time of the reserved program newly input by the above-mentioned determining means is determined.
If it is determined that there is a reserved program for the
Between the recording start time of the reserved program
Recording time of the reserved program reserved for and the above new input
The means for determining the total recording time of the reserved programs that have been recorded, and the total time within the remaining recordable time of the video tape.
The recording possibility determining means for determining whether or not the total time of the video tape is determined by the recording possibility determining means .
The program entered when it is judged that the remaining recording time is within
You can record a reservation, but you can record a reserved program after that.
A message to send a message to the effect that it cannot be sent to the telephone line
A message was sent from the sending means and the message sending means.
After that, the reservation command is input via the telephone line within the predetermined time
Then, the program reserved this time is reserved and the reservation command is not entered.
If this is the case, a means to cancel the reservation of the program reserved this time is provided.
Video tape recorder with remote control characterized by
Tape remaining amount check device. 2. The message sending means is the discrimination means.
Reservation number after the recording time of the reserved program newly input in the column
When it is judged that there is no pair and the above-mentioned recording possibility judgment means
The above total time indicates the remaining recording time of the above video tape.
You can record the program you reserved this time when it is judged that it will exceed
The remote controller according to claim 1, wherein a message indicating that there is no information is transmitted to the telephone line.
A tape remaining amount confirmation device for a video tape recorder. 3. A reservation program confirmation command is issued via a telephone line.
Once entered, stored in videotape recorder
The information of the reserved programs is sequentially read out by the voice synthesizing means.
The method according to claim 1, wherein the information is converted into voice and transmitted to a telephone line.
Is a video tape recorder using the remote controller according to claim 2.
Tape remaining amount confirmation device.