JP4715701B2 - Digital broadcast recording device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an apparatus for recording video signals of a plurality of virtual channels simultaneously broadcast when a plurality of virtual channels are included in a TS (transport stream) of an arbitrary channel of digital broadcasting.

  Conventionally, digital broadcasting has been put into practical use, and a digital signal is transmitted in the form of a TS (transport stream) from one broadcasting station on an RF signal. This RF signal channel is called a physical channel. In this TS, broadcast programs of a plurality of virtual channels may be multiplexed and transmitted. Conventionally, when these virtual channels are broadcast simultaneously, video signals of these virtual channels are recorded. Needed multiple tuners and encoder chips.

Patent Document 1 discloses a configuration in which a broadcaster transfers a fragmentary TS file to a large-capacity storage means to facilitate recording analysis of a digital broadcast to obtain a continuous TS file for storage. According to this configuration, there is a description that access is easy because the TS file is recorded with a file header added and is recorded in a segmented TS.
JP 2003-061022 A

However, conventionally, in a recording apparatus for mounting a single tuners, it has been impossible to record a plurality of video signals being broadcast simultaneously in a plurality of virtual channels are multiplexed into one physical channel.

The present invention, when a plurality of virtual channels in one physical channel of the digital broadcasting are multiplexed, a simple structure, to recordings a plurality of programs being broadcast simultaneously in each virtual channel Provided is a digital broadcast recording apparatus capable of performing

  The present invention has the following configuration.

(1) The present invention
A tuner unit that receives a digital broadcast signal of a physical channel obtained by multiplexing a virtual channel that broadcasts a program ;
A recording unit that extracts data of a program of a selected virtual channel from a transport stream obtained from a digital broadcast signal of a physical channel received by the tuner unit , and records the data of the program in a predetermined file format ;
In a digital broadcast recording apparatus comprising:
A buffer unit for temporarily recording a transport stream obtained from a digital broadcast signal of a physical channel received by the tuner unit ;
The physical channels with the tuner is receiving, if is possible to record a plurality of virtual channel program is instructed,
A transport stream obtained from the digital broadcast signal of the physical channel which the tuner unit receives a first step for recording in the buffer unit,
A second step of repeating the process of reading the transport stream recorded in the buffer unit and recording the data of the corresponding program in the recording unit for each program of the virtual channel for which recording is instructed;
A control unit for performing
It has.

In this configuration, in the first step, the transport stream obtained from the digital broadcast signal of one physical channel obtained by multiplexing the virtual channel broadcasting the program is temporarily recorded in the buffer unit . In the second step, the program data included in the transport stream recorded in the buffer unit is recorded in the recording unit for each program of the virtual channel for which recording is instructed . Therefore, when a plurality of virtual channels on a single physical channel are multiplexed, even without the multiple tuners, you can record a plurality of virtual channel program. That is , it is possible to record a program of virtual channels equal to or more than the number of tuners installed in the apparatus.

(2) The present invention
The controller is
When it is instructed to record a program broadcast on some virtual channels among a plurality of virtual channel programs for the physical channel received by the tuner unit,
The second step is performed only for programs of some virtual channels for which recording is instructed.

( 3 ) The present invention
Wherein the control unit, the second step of after the end, cutting dividing said transport streams that are recorded in the buffer means.

  In this configuration, since the transport stream is deleted from the buffer means, it is possible to solve the problem that the unnecessary transport stream is accumulated after the video signal is recorded or the buffer capacity is insufficient.

According to the present invention, when a plurality of virtual channels in one physical channel of the digital broadcasting are multiplexed, a simple structure, it is possible to record a plurality of virtual channel program to be broadcast simultaneously .

The configuration of the digital broadcast recording apparatus (illustrated by 1 in the figure) of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The digital broadcast recording apparatus 1 is a recording apparatus that receives a digital broadcast and records the received program.
First, as a premise for explaining the configuration of the digital broadcast recording apparatus 1, a physical channel and a virtual channel will be explained . Each broadcasting station transmits one TS (transport stream) on one RF signal having a predetermined frequency. This RF signal channel is called a physical channel. In addition, a plurality of broadcast programs (hereinafter simply referred to as “programs”) are often multiplexed and transmitted in this TS , and channels corresponding to the respective programs are called virtual channels, and the user selects a program with a remote controller or the like. It is a channel to do.

  Next, the configuration of the digital broadcast recording apparatus 1 will be described. The tuner unit 2 that receives radio waves from the antenna 101 and obtains a TS (transport stream), the buffer 20 that temporarily records the TS obtained by the tuner unit 2, and the control unit 7 from the TS read from the buffer 20 A video signal and an audio signal of a specified predetermined virtual channel are taken out, a predetermined signal processing is performed and the signal processing unit 3 outputs the signal to the signal output unit 5, and the video signal and the audio signal are recorded according to the control of the control unit 7. The signal output unit 5 that selects a signal output from the recording unit 4 and the signal output unit 5, synthesizes an OSD (on-screen display) with the video signal, performs D / A conversion, and outputs a video signal and an audio signal. And a control unit 7 that controls these units, and an operation unit 8 that inputs a control signal to the control unit 7. Further, a display 102 for displaying the video signal of the D / A converter 6 is provided outside the digital broadcast recording apparatus 1.

  The tuner unit 2 includes a tuner, a demodulation circuit, an error correction circuit, a separation circuit, a demultiplexer, and a buffer memory. The tuner extracts the broadcast signal of the channel designated by the control unit 7 and outputs it to the demodulation circuit. The demodulation circuit demodulates the input broadcast signal and outputs it to the error correction circuit. The error correction circuit corrects error information of the input TS (transport stream). The separation circuit separates and outputs the MPEG format TS from the signal output from the error correction circuit.

In the following, extracting the TS as described above is simply referred to as “the tuner unit 2 receives the TS”. In addition, extracting a TS as described above corresponds to “receiving a digital broadcast transport stream” of the present invention.
Further, the tuner unit 2 in this embodiment receives one TS.

  The signal processing unit 3 converts the video signal and audio signal of a predetermined virtual channel designated by the control unit 7 from the TS read from the buffer 20 into a predetermined format, and the decoded video signal and audio signal into a predetermined format. An encoder 31 for encoding and a decoder 33 for decoding the video signal and the audio signal read from the recording unit 4 are provided.

  The buffer 20 is used when the multi-channel recording function 71 of the control unit 7 is operated. The buffer 20 includes a recording medium and a recording / reading unit that records / reads any of these. As this recording medium, for example, an optical disk such as a DVD, a hard disk, and a memory can be used. Further, the buffer 20 may not be randomly accessible and may be a digital tape as long as it can be rewound. At least a capacity for temporarily storing TS for the designated broadcast time is required.

  Since the digital broadcast recording apparatus 1 erases this TS after recording the video signal, when using a memory as the buffer 20, this memory does not necessarily have to be non-volatile. However, in consideration of safety during operation, a nonvolatile memory is desirable. The buffer 20 needs a capacity for recording TS of one physical channel for a specified time.

The TV decoder 30 includes a demultiplexer, a decoder for decompressing TS recorded in the MPEG format, and a buffer memory. The TV decoder 30 reads TS from the recording medium in the buffer 20 when the multi-channel recording function 71 operates. During other operations, TS is directly input from the tuner unit 2.
In this TS, programs of a plurality of virtual channels are multiplexed and transmitted, and the demultiplexer extracts a packet of one channel among these virtual channels, and stores the data stored in the extracted packet. Store in buffer memory. This buffer memory only needs to be temporarily stored, and may be shared with or separate from the buffer 20. The decoder in the TV decoder 30 separates video data and audio data from the data read from the buffer memory, expands both data, and outputs them.

  The TV decoder 30 outputs a video signal and an audio signal to the encoder 31 and the selectors 51 and 52 during recording, and outputs a video signal to the selector 51 and an audio signal to the selector 52 when not recording.

  The encoder 31 encodes, for example, in the MPEG format. The decoder 33 decodes the signal recorded in the recording unit 4 and outputs it to the selector 51 and the selector 52.

The recording unit 4 includes a recording medium (including not only a detachable one but also an attached one) and a recording / reading unit that performs recording / reading on the recording medium, and records the encoded video signal and audio signal . The recording medium is a CD, DVD, hard disk, video tape or the like, and any recording medium can be used as long as it can record a video signal and an audio signal . The recording / reading unit of the recording unit 4 is, for example, an optical pickup if the recording medium is a DVD. The decoder 33 decodes the video signal read by the recording unit 4.

  Hereinafter, recording a video signal and an audio signal is referred to as “recording”.

The signal output unit 5 includes selectors 51 and 52, an OSD synthesis unit 55, and D / A converters 56 and 57. The selector 51 selects video signals from the TV decoder 30 and the decoder 33.
The selector 52 selects the audio signal from the TV decoder 30 and the decoder 33. When the recording unit 4 is recording, the selectors 51 and 52 select the input of the decoder 33 when playing back the already recorded file, and select the input of the TV decoder 30 when none of them is selected. To do.

The signal output unit 5 switches the video signal and audio signal generated by the TV decoder 30, the video signal recorded by the recording unit 3 and the output of the audio signal, and selects and outputs the selectors 51 and 52; OSD (on-screen display) synthesis unit 55 that outputs a video signal synthesized with the display of various states and settings and the video signal selected by selector 51, and D that converts the video signal output of OSD synthesis unit 55 into an analog signal / A converter 56 and a D / A converter 57 for D / A converting the audio signal selected by selector 52.

The OSD synthesis unit 55 displays various settings of the digital broadcast recording apparatus 1 and outputs a video signal of a character graphic for allowing the user to select these settings. The OSD synthesis unit 55 includes an OSD image memory, and generates and outputs a video signal of characters or graphics stored in the OSD image memory based on a control signal given from the control unit 7 . When a video signal is output from the selector 51, the video signal is synthesized.

  The D / A converter 56 converts the video signal output from the OSD synthesis unit 55 into an analog video signal, and outputs the analog video signal to an external display 102 (such as a television receiver). The D / A converter 57 converts the audio signal output from the selector 52 into an analog audio signal and outputs the analog audio signal to the speaker 103.

  The control unit 7 is composed of a CPU, and includes a ROM (not shown) for storing subprograms in the control unit 7 and a RAM (not shown) for temporarily storing calculation results of the control unit 7. Control each part in 1. For example, the recording and reading timing to the buffer RAM in the tuner 21, the switching of the selectors 51 and 52, the recording timing to the recording unit 4 and the like are controlled. In addition, the control unit 7 stores each program for executing the multi-channel recording function 71 in the ROM. The multi-channel recording function 71 is a function for recording a plurality of virtual channels multiplexed and transmitted on one physical channel. The multi-channel recording function 71 receives an instruction input directly from the operation unit 8, receives an instruction input from a recording reservation function and a timer (not shown), and starts processing of this function at a predetermined time.

The operation unit 8 includes an operator attached to the digital broadcast recording apparatus 1 and a remote control light receiving unit that receives an infrared signal from the remote control and the remote control. The operation unit 8 receives a control input for operating the control unit 7. When the operator of the digital broadcast recording apparatus 1 or the remote controller is pressed, a predetermined control input is input. For example, recording is started by pressing a recording start button on the remote controller. When the recording reservation button is pressed, a predetermined OSD is displayed, and selection of a recording channel number is accepted. In this selection, a plurality of channels can be selected. In the case of a plurality of selections , the processing of the multi- channel recording function 71 is started.

  The display 102 is outside the digital broadcast recording apparatus 1 and is configured by a liquid crystal panel, for example. The display 102 converts the video signal and the audio signal output from the signal output unit 5 to display the video and to emit the sound. Note that a device that emits sound may be configured separately from the display 102.

  Next, the operation when the execution of the multi-channel recording function 71 is instructed will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 shows this operation divided into two STEPs 1 and 2. The block diagram shown in FIG. 2 is the same as FIG. 1, but the configuration of FIG. 1 is simplified for the input / output of the signal output unit 5 of FIG. 1 (the same applies to FIGS. 4 and 6). ).

  In (STEP 1), as shown in the signal flow 91, the TS output from the antenna 101 via the tuner is recorded on the recording medium in the buffer 20.

In (STEP 2), as shown in the signal flow 92, the TS once recorded in the buffer 20 is output to the TV decoder 30. The multiplexer in the TV decoder 30 separates and decodes a packet for one virtual channel from the TS, and outputs a video signal and an audio signal . This video signal, audio signal, as shown in the signal flow 94, is recorded in the recording unit 4 via the encoder 31. Then repeat this for the other channels.

  On the other hand, when recording one normal virtual channel, the control unit 7 directly inputs the TS output from the tuner unit 2 to the TV decoder 30, and the TV decoder 30 receives the video signal of one channel, The audio signal is separated and decoded.

  Next, a recording process for sequentially recording programs of all designated channels (here, CH1 to CH3) among virtual channels multiplexed on one physical channel will be described with reference to FIG. This process is the detail of STEP2 of FIG. 2, and is divided into STEP2A to C.

In STEP 2A, the TV decoder 30 separates the CH1 packet from the TS recorded in the buffer 20 and outputs a video signal and an audio signal. The video signal and audio signal of CH1 are recorded in the recording unit 4 via the encoder 31.
In the next STEP 2B, the TV decoder 30 separates the CH2 packet from the TS recorded in the buffer 20 and outputs a video signal and an audio signal. The video signal and audio signal of CH2 are recorded in the recording unit 4 via the encoder 31.
In the next STEP2C, the TV decoder 30 separates the CH3 packet from the TS recorded in the buffer 20 and outputs a video signal and an audio signal. The video signal and audio signal of CH3 are recorded in the recording unit 4 via the encoder 31.
Thereafter, the TS is deleted from the buffer 20.

  By sequentially recording in this way, the digital broadcast recording apparatus 1 includes all the programs of a plurality of virtual channels multiplexed on one physical channel, even though only one tuner unit 2 and TV decoder 30 are provided. You can record. That is, it is possible to record all of a plurality of virtual channels that are broadcast simultaneously.

  In the description of FIG. 3, the recording is performed in the order of the channel numbers. However, the recording order need not be in the order of the channel numbers, and it is only necessary to record all the designated channels. Further, the number of channels is not limited to 3, but may be 2 or more.

  Next, the apparatus of the second embodiment according to the application of the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 4 is a block diagram (illustrated by 1A) of this apparatus. FIG. 5 is a processing flowchart of the multi-channel recording function 71A. In this embodiment, not only the tuner unit 2 but also a tuner unit 2A having the same function as the tuner unit 2 is provided. Thereby, TS (TS1, TS2) of two physical channels can be simultaneously recorded in the buffer 20. Among other configurations, except for the multi-channel recording function 71A, the configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment, and the description of the digital broadcast recording apparatus 1 of the first embodiment is applied mutatis mutandis.

  The processing of the multi-channel recording function 71A will be described using the flowchart of FIG. The multi-channel recording function 71A is a function for recording all the virtual channel programs multiplexed on the TSs of a plurality of physical channels broadcast simultaneously by the multi-channel recording function 71A.

In ST21, TSs of a plurality of broadcasting stations are simultaneously received by the respective tuner units 2 and 2A, and TS1 and TS2 are recorded in the buffer 20. The buffer 20 needs to have a capacity capable of recording TS1 and TS2.
In ST22 to ST24, programs for virtual channels CH1, CH2, and CH3 are recorded for TS1 in the same manner as shown in FIG. Next, similarly for TS2, programs of virtual channels CH1, CH2, and CH3 are recorded.
In ST25, TSj (j = 1 to 2) is deleted.

In ST22 to ST24 of FIG. 5, CH1 to CH3 are recorded. However, the channel is not limited to this, and designation of a channel to be recorded is accepted by the operation unit 8, and a program of the designated channel is sequentially recorded. That's fine.
Further, if the tuner unit 2A is added, it is possible to record all the virtual channel programs multiplexed for each of the more physical channels. The processing of the multi-channel recording function 71A in this case is applied by replacing 2 with the integer N in FIG.

  Next, the apparatus of the third embodiment according to the application of the first and second embodiments will be described with reference to FIG. In this embodiment, in addition to the configuration of the second embodiment, a TV decoder 30A and an encoder 31A having the same configuration as the TV decoder 30 and encoder 31 are further provided (these are collectively referred to as a signal processing unit 3A). Thereby, video signals and audio signals included in a plurality of TSs can be decoded and encoded in parallel, and the recording time can be shortened. The processing of the multi-channel recording function 71B of this embodiment is that the processing of ST22 to ST24 in FIG. 5 is not repeated sequentially for TSj (j = 1 to 2), but in parallel, the apparatus of the second embodiment. And different.

If the number of signal processing units 3A is increased in accordance with the number of tuner units 2, more physical channels can be processed in parallel.
In addition, the selectors 51 and 52 in the signal output unit 5 can select three signals for each audio signal, and while the multi-channel recording function 71A is recording, any video of the TV decoders 30 and 30A is recorded. The signal and the audio signal are input to the selector in the signal output unit 5.

1 is a block diagram of a digital broadcast recording apparatus according to a first embodiment. The figure showing the flow of a signal when the multichannel video recording function is performed with the digital broadcast recording device of 1st Embodiment. Flowchart of recording processing in digital broadcast recording apparatus of first embodiment The block diagram of the digital broadcast recording device of 2nd Embodiment Flowchart of recording process in digital broadcast recording apparatus of second embodiment The block diagram of the digital broadcast recording device of 3rd Embodiment

Explanation of symbols

1-Digital broadcast recording device, 1A-Digital broadcast recording device,
1A-digital broadcast recording device, 2-tuner section, 2A-tuner section,
20-buffer, 3-signal processing unit,
30-TV decoder, 30A-TV decoder,
31-encoder, 31A-encoder, 33-decoder, 33A-decoder,
4-recording section,
5-signal output unit, 51-selector, 52-selector, 55-OSD synthesis unit,
56-D / A converter, 57-D / A converter,
7-control unit, 71-multi-channel recording function, 8-operation unit,
91-94-signal flow, TS-transport stream,
101-antenna, 102-display

Claims (4)

A tuner unit that receives a digital broadcast signal of a physical channel obtained by multiplexing a virtual channel that broadcasts a program ;
A recording unit that extracts data of a program of a selected virtual channel from a transport stream obtained from a digital broadcast signal of a physical channel received by the tuner unit , and records the data of the program in a predetermined file format ;
In a digital broadcast recording apparatus comprising:
A buffer unit for temporarily recording a transport stream obtained from a digital broadcast signal of a physical channel received by the tuner unit ;
The physical channels with the tuner is receiving, among a plurality of virtual channels of a program, if is possible to record a program broadcast by a portion of the virtual channel is instructed,
A transport stream obtained from the digital broadcast signal of the physical channel which the tuner unit receives a first step for recording in the buffer unit,
Second step of repeating the process of reading the transport stream recorded in the buffer unit and recording the data of the corresponding program in the recording unit for each of the virtual channel programs for which recording is instructed When,
After completion of the second step, a third step of deleting said transport stream recorded in said buffer means,
A control unit for performing
A digital broadcast recording apparatus comprising: A tuner unit that receives a digital broadcast signal of a physical channel obtained by multiplexing a virtual channel that broadcasts a program ;
A recording unit that extracts data of a program of a selected virtual channel from a transport stream obtained from a digital broadcast signal of a physical channel received by the tuner unit , and records the data of the program in a predetermined file format ;
In a digital broadcast recording apparatus comprising:
A buffer unit for temporarily recording a transport stream obtained from a digital broadcast signal of a physical channel received by the tuner unit ;
The physical channels with the tuner is receiving, if is possible to record a plurality of virtual channel program is instructed,
A transport stream obtained from the digital broadcast signal of the physical channel which the tuner unit receives a first step for recording in the buffer unit,
A second step of repeating the process of reading the transport stream recorded in the buffer unit and recording the data of the corresponding program in the recording unit for each program of the virtual channel for which recording is instructed;
A control unit for performing
A digital broadcast recording apparatus comprising: The controller is
When it is instructed to record a program broadcast on some virtual channels among a plurality of virtual channel programs for the physical channel received by the tuner unit,
The digital broadcast recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the second step is performed only for a program of a part of virtual channels for which recording is instructed . Wherein the control unit, the second step of after the end, a third step of deleting said transport stream recorded in said buffer means, the digital broadcast recording apparatus according to claim 2 or 3 .

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