Channel selection device for use in digital/analog broadcasting receiver and digital/analog broadcasting receiver equipped with the same
First Claim
1. A channel selection device used in a digital/analog broadcasting receiver comprising, a receiver for receiving an encoded digital/analog broadcasting signal originated from a broadcasting station, a digital/analog decoder for decoding the digital/analog broadcasting signal received from the receiver and then outputting the signal to a display device for displaying an image, a memory for storing channel information contained in the broadcasting signal decoded by the digital decoder, a control unit for controlling the sections of the receiver, and an input device for inputting a user'"'"'s instruction for channel selection to the control unit, wherein the device receives a digital broadcast and an analog broadcast which are originated through different channels, the digital broadcast has, in one main channel, one or a plurality of sub-channels for originating contents therethrough, the sub-channels are assigned virtual channels headed by the same channel number as the main channel in the analog broadcast and the control unit controls the device such that the receiver receives the broadcasting signal of a selected channel upon reception of the channel selection instruction from the input device, and the digital decoder decodes the received broadcasting signal, in order to obtain the channel information contained in the decoded broadcasting signal and then store the channel information in the memory;
- characterized in that, the input device includes an UP/DOWN key for instructing the control unit to select a sub-channel adjacent in upward/downward direction in the same main channel, the control unit references the channel information stored in the memory to thereby select an upward/downward adjacent sub-channel in the main channel through which a broadcast is being received currently, each time the UP/DOWN key is operated;
selects a sub-channel having the largest sub-channel number, when receiving the instruction by the UP key and not finding an upward adjacent channel in the main channel with reference to the channel information, selects a sub-channel having the smallest sub-channel number, when receiving the instruction by the DOWN key and not finding a downward adjacent channel in the main channel with reference to the channel information.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A broadcasting receiver for receiving a digital broadcast of the invention has a sub-channel changing-dedicated operation key so that upon reception of an instruction sent from this operation key, such a sub-channel that is adjacent in a predetermined direction in the same main channel may be selected in switch-over. If the desired channel cannot be found in the predetermined direction when an upward channel-movement instruction is received, such a sub-channel is selected that has the largest or smallest channel number. Thus, it is possible to accommodate a digital broadcast that has a hierarchical construction consisting of the main channel and the sub-channels and also that has a frequently fluctuating channel configuration, thus avoiding a delay in time required for channel changing.
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Citations
4 Claims
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1. A channel selection device used in a digital/analog broadcasting receiver comprising, a receiver for receiving an encoded digital/analog broadcasting signal originated from a broadcasting station, a digital/analog decoder for decoding the digital/analog broadcasting signal received from the receiver and then outputting the signal to a display device for displaying an image, a memory for storing channel information contained in the broadcasting signal decoded by the digital decoder, a control unit for controlling the sections of the receiver, and an input device for inputting a user'"'"'s instruction for channel selection to the control unit, wherein the device receives a digital broadcast and an analog broadcast which are originated through different channels, the digital broadcast has, in one main channel, one or a plurality of sub-channels for originating contents therethrough, the sub-channels are assigned virtual channels headed by the same channel number as the main channel in the analog broadcast and the control unit controls the device such that the receiver receives the broadcasting signal of a selected channel upon reception of the channel selection instruction from the input device, and the digital decoder decodes the received broadcasting signal, in order to obtain the channel information contained in the decoded broadcasting signal and then store the channel information in the memory;
- characterized in that,
the input device includes an UP/DOWN key for instructing the control unit to select a sub-channel adjacent in upward/downward direction in the same main channel, the control unit references the channel information stored in the memory to thereby select an upward/downward adjacent sub-channel in the main channel through which a broadcast is being received currently, each time the UP/DOWN key is operated;
selects a sub-channel having the largest sub-channel number, when receiving the instruction by the UP key and not finding an upward adjacent channel in the main channel with reference to the channel information, selects a sub-channel having the smallest sub-channel number, when receiving the instruction by the DOWN key and not finding a downward adjacent channel in the main channel with reference to the channel information.
- characterized in that,
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2. A channel selection device used in a digital/analog broadcasting receiver comprising, a receiver for receiving an encoded digital/analog broadcasting signal originated from a broadcasting station, a digital/analog decoder for decoding the digital/analog broadcasting signal received from the receiver and then outputting the signal to a display device for displaying an image, a memory for storing channel information contained in the broadcasting signal decoded by the digital decoder, a control unit for controlling the sections of the receiver, and an input device for inputting a user'"'"'s instruction for channel selection to the control unit, wherein the device receives a digital broadcast and an analog broadcast which are originated through different channels, the digital broadcast has, in one main channel, one or a plurality of sub-channels for originating contents therethrough, the sub-channels are assigned virtual channels headed by the same channel number as the main channel in the analog broadcast, and the control unit controls the device such that the receiver receives the broadcasting signal of a selected channel upon reception of the channel selection instruction from the input device and the digital decoder decodes the received broadcasting signal, in order to obtain the channel information contained in the decoded broadcasting signal and then store the channel information in the memory;
- characterized in that,
the input device includes an operation key for instructing the control unit to select a sub-channel adjacent in upward/downward direction in the same main channel, the control unit references the channel information stored in the memory to thereby select an upward/downward adjacent sub-channel in the main channel through which a broadcast is being received currently, each time the operation key is operated, and the control unit searches the main channel in reception currently in circulation or reciprocation for the sub-channel to be selected when there is not the upward/downward adjacent sub-channel in the channel information. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4)
- characterized in that,
Specification