CN101860701A - Method for finding required programs by utilizing set-top box - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention discloses a method for finding required programs by utilizing a set-top box, which comprises the following steps: obtaining program types and content profile information of each program of each channel of a digital TV; classifying the obtained information according to the type of the programs, and building a real-time program database; displaying names and icons of a program category which has more than 0 program on a main menu; when a user selects a certain program category, displaying the channel, the name and the beginning and ending time of each specific program of the program category; and when the user selects a certain specific program, calling a program playing function corresponding to the channel to play according to the channel and the name of the program. The invention builds the real-time program database through a background, and periodically detects and updates the current program watched by the user at real time; and through the program category, not only can the user quickly know what types of programs are currently available, but also does the classified program management facilitate the program search.

Description

A kind of method of utilizing set-top box to seek required programs

[technical field]

The present invention relates to digital television techniques, relate in particular to a kind of method of utilizing set-top box to seek required programs.

[background technology]

Along with the development of digital transmission technology, TV programme quantity is more and more now, and set-top box functionality is also more and more stronger.A new generation's high definition set-top box has substantially all possessed PVR (Personalvideo recorder) and network function.Because the enhancing of the external information capability of set-top box may store the PVR that user oneself records in circumscribed USB; On network interface, have Online Video or film.

But the method that existing set-top box offers user's programme information is managed by channel and is organized, under each channel, utilize EPG (electric program menu) to show the reproduction time of each program again, that is to say with the channel to be first link of management, is second link of management with the program.

The defective of this method at first is that most of channel is comprehensive, and it does not carry the classification information of program under this channel.But what the user paid close attention to is that what classification concrete program is, rather than channel, and for example the user need look for an action movie program, he just one by one channel go switching, find the program that whether has the type then, this obviously needs the too many time.The second, channel is constant substantially, and program is becoming at any time.In some concrete moment, broadcasted the program of which classification in the current TV network, only reliable user platform one by one goes to switch and oneself seeks.The 3rd, it does not consider program source by all kinds of means, not have consideration to be stored in program in USB storage, hard disk or the network.

So though it is more and more to present program at television terminal now, it is also more and more also to have caused the user will select the needed time of own program of interest simultaneously.

[summary of the invention]

The technical problem to be solved in the present invention provides a kind of set-top box of utilizing makes the user can find the method for own needed program quickly.

In order to solve the problems of the technologies described above, the technical solution used in the present invention is that a kind of method of utilizing set-top box to seek required programs may further comprise the steps:

101) start program Collection and analysis program, obtain the programme variety and the brief introduction information of each program under each channel of Digital Television;

102) information of obtaining is classified by kind to program, make up the real time programme database;

103) with the program number greater than the title of 0 program classification and icon display on main menu;

104) when the user selects certain program classification, the classify channel at each concrete program place of display program, name, beginning and ending time;

105) when the user selects certain concrete program, play according to the playing programs function of this program place channel, the corresponding channel of program name call.

The above-described method of utilizing set-top box to seek required programs in step 101, comprises kind and the brief introduction information of obtaining programs stored from circumscribed USB equipment, obtains to connect the kind and the brief introduction information of program from network interface.

The above-described method of utilizing set-top box to seek required programs, step 101 is to 103 in accordance with regulations time cycle property ground operations, when finding to have the program number program classification under to become zero or when zero became non-zero, the renewal program database was sent the interface refreshing instruction from non-zero.

The above-described method of utilizing set-top box to seek required programs, in step 104, when the user selects to show certain program brief introduction, the brief introduction of this program of screen display.

The above-described method of utilizing set-top box to seek required programs comprises judging whether the program that increases or reduce is the program classification of current demonstration, if then send the interface refreshing instruction

The present invention builds the real time programme database by the backstage, and detect periodically in real time and upgrade the current program that can watch of user, method by program classification, not only can make the user know that quickly the program of current which kind is obtainable, and the program of classificationization make program search convenient.

[description of drawings]

The present invention is further detailed explanation below in conjunction with the drawings and specific embodiments.

Fig. 1 is that the present invention utilizes set-top box to seek the flow chart of required programs method embodiment.

Fig. 2 is that the present invention utilizes set-top box to seek one of main menu of required programs method.

Fig. 3 be the present invention utilize set-top box seek the required programs method main menu two.

Fig. 4 is that the present invention utilizes set-top box to seek one of second-level menu of required programs method.

Fig. 5 be the present invention utilize set-top box seek the required programs method second-level menu two.

[embodiment]

Describing movie and video programs information has two aspects, and the one, programme variety has been described the general characteristics of this programme content; The 2nd, the roughly summary of programme content has been described in the programme content brief introduction.Because what the user paid close attention to is the of programme content own, understands this two information, the user just can judge whether interested this program is.

As shown in Figure 1, when the user starts shooting, start backstage real time programme Collection and analysis program, this background program interval (10-30 second) in required time periodically moves.

This program at first obtains the kind and the brief introduction of programs stored from circumscribed USB equipment, start electronic program information guide (EPG) information collector then, obtain the programme variety and the brief introduction of each program under each channel, obtain to connect the kind and the brief introduction of program again from network interface; Each information of program (comprising program place channel, program names, programme variety, programme content introduction, program beginning and ending time) that obtains by these 3 channels makes up a real time programme database.

In the Digital Television system, the name of a program is described, the information that basic classification is carried by SDT (Service Description Table) SDT Service Description Table is described, more detailed classified information (is a film, news etc., play the beginning and ending time, the programme content brief introduction is to carry in the information of EIT table (Event Information Table Event Information Table).Collect these information, must remove to collect the SDT table by each frequency, the information of EIT table is got up these information organizations according to its related information.

Program from network obtains can obtain its electronic program guide information (EPG) after set-top box and website foundation connection, also can obtain the name of program from this information, kind (comprising secondary classification information), brief introduction, information such as reproduction time

For the program that from USB storage, obtains, can require to provide the name that has program in supplier's format description USB storage in accordance with regulations of program, kind (comprising secondary classification information), in information to such as the brief introduction file, this file of real time programme Collection and analysis process analysis just can obtain the programme information in the USB storage.

Program classification is provided with 9 variable ProgType[9] represent each the classification in the program number, separated film is provided with 7 variable MovieType[7] write down the program number of each film subclass, obtain the current time in system, the traversal program database counts current in each classify programs number of playing and each separated film program number according to the program beginning and ending time.

As shown in Figure 2, after the real time programme database has made up, enter main menu, be not the program number title of 0 program classification and icon display on main menu, be divided into film, news, recreation, physical culture, juvenile's program, music, culture, economy, nine big classes such as education, Fig. 2 is sometimes main menus of all 9 class programs.Square is represented icon, and literal is presented at above the icon.Here shown each program basic kind that the current time can watch.

Program number 0, then main menu does not show this big class as a certain big class, the main menu when Fig. 3 is current illiterate class program.The icon of various types of programs and text point can calculate by a few class program of physical presence ruleization.Because current cultural class program is 0, in main menu, there is not the icon of explicit culture class program.

As shown in Figure 4, when the user entered the second-level menu of certain program classification (non-film class), second-level menu was listed the place channel of such each concrete program, name, beginning and ending time.When the user is bright when selecting certain program (as the east space-time among the figure), the content introduction that shows east space-time program in the menu, in selecting, the user during certain concrete program, plays according to the playing programs function of program place channel, the corresponding channel of program name call.

Movie program can be divided into romance movie, action movie, horror film, science fiction film, comedy, feature film, subclasses such as war film because content is more again for separated film.As shown in Figure 5, when entering separated film, be not that the title of 0 separated film and icon display are on second-level menu equally the program number, here shown each film kind that the current time can watch, select certain film sublayer time-like when the user is bright, list the place channel of each concrete film under this subclass in the second-level menu, name, beginning and ending time.The user is bright when selecting the concrete film of certain film subclass, shows the content introduction of this film in the menu, and during certain concrete film, according to film place channel, movie name is called the playing programs function of corresponding channel and play in the user selects.

The operation of backstage program Collection and analysis property program loop is when finding to have the program number program classification under to become zero or when zero becomes non-zero from non-zero, the renewal program database.If a current menu (as the first order, Level-2 menu) in display program classification kind is when finding to have the program number program classification under to become zero or when becoming non-zero, send the interface refreshing instruction from zero from non-zero.If current, judge whether the program that increases or reduce is the program classification of current demonstration, if then send the interface refreshing instruction at the menu (as the second level, Level-3 menu) that shows concrete program.

The present invention builds the real time programme database by the backstage, and detect periodically in real time and upgrade the current program that can watch of user, method by program classification, not only can make the user know that very efficiently the program of current which kind is obtainable, and the program of classificationization make program search convenient.

Claims (5)

1. a method of utilizing set-top box to seek required programs is characterized in that, may further comprise the steps:

101) start program Collection and analysis program, obtain the programme variety and the brief introduction information of each program under each channel of Digital Television;

102) information of obtaining is classified by kind to program, make up the real time programme database;

103) with the program number greater than the title of 0 program classification and icon display on main menu;

104) when the user selects certain program classification, the classify channel at each concrete program place of display program, name, beginning and ending time;

105) when the user selects certain concrete program, play according to the playing programs function of this program place channel, the corresponding channel of program name call.

2. the method for utilizing set-top box to seek required programs according to claim 1, it is characterized in that, in step 101, comprise kind and the brief introduction information of from circumscribed USB equipment, obtaining programs stored, obtain to connect the kind and the brief introduction information of program from network interface.

3. the method for utilizing set-top box to seek required programs according to claim 2, it is characterized in that, step 101 is to 103 in accordance with regulations time cycle property ground operations, when finding to have the program number program classification under to become zero or from zero when becoming non-zero from non-zero, upgrade program database, send the interface refreshing instruction.

4. the method for utilizing set-top box to seek required programs according to claim 1 is characterized in that, in step 104, and when the user selects to show certain program brief introduction, the brief introduction of this program of screen display.

5. the method for utilizing set-top box to seek required programs according to claim 3 is characterized in that, comprises judging whether the program that increases or reduce is the program classification of current demonstration, if then send the interface refreshing instruction.

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