Receiving apparatus, receiving method, storage medium, and program

• US 20050091680A1
• Filed: 09/08/2004
• Published: 04/28/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Kondo, Tetsujiro
• Granted Patent: US 7,814,509 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/12
• CPC Class Codes: E05G 5/003 Entrance control E05G5/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2143 located in a single building, e.g. hotel, hospital or museum arrangements specially adapted for plural spots in a confined site in broadcast systems H04H20/63; adaptations for transmission by electric cable for domestic distribution in television systems H04N7/106
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25891 being end-user preferences retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2668 Creating a channel for a dedicated end-user group, e.g. insertion of targeted commercials based on end-user profiles information retrieval from the Internet by querying with filtering and personalisation G06F16/9535; arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast H04H20/10; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; adaptation of message content in packet-switching networks H04L51/063
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44218 Detecting physical presence or behaviour of the user, e.g. using sensors to detect if the user is leaving the room or changes his face expression during a TV program methods or arrangements for recognising human body or animal bodies or body parts G06V40/10; methods or arrangements for acquiring or recognising human faces, facial parts, facial sketches, facial expressions G06V40/16; methods or arrangements for recognising movements or behaviour G06V40/20; arrangements for identifying users in broadcast systems H04H60/45
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/814 comprising emergency warnings arrangements specially adapted for emergency or urgency in broadcast systems H04H20/59; arrangements for providing alarms, notifications, alerts to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1895
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8146 involving graphical data, e.g. 3D object, 2D graphics
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only

Abstract

A receiving apparatus receives a broadcast program in a manner convenient for users depending on the content of the broadcast program. A tuner selects a broadcast program that matches the preference of users of respective rooms in a building in which the receiving apparatus is installed on the basis of preference information stored in a memory. Sensors disposed in the respective rooms detect whether the users are present in the respective rooms. A controller controls selectors so as to select displays and speakers located in rooms in which users are present so that the users in the respective rooms can view and/or listen to the program. The receiving apparatus may be applied to a television set or the like.

Claims

1. A receiving apparatus for receiving a broadcast program signal, comprising:

a storage unit operable to store user preference information indicating a preference of a plurality of users in terms of genres of broadcast programs;

a channel selection unit operable to select a particular channel from among a plurality of channels based on the user preference information stored in the storage unit;

a detection unit operable to detect whether a user who likes the genre of a program of the selected channel is present in a room of the detected user; and

a display selection unit operable select, from among a plurality of program display units disposed respectively in a plurality of rooms, a program display unit disposed in the room of the detected user, and to display the program of the selected channel on the selected program display unit.

2. A receiving apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an other-user-image display unit operable to display an image of at least one other user such that when the detection unit detects a user'"'"'s presence in rooms for a plurality of users who like the genre of the program of the selected channel, an image of the at least one other user viewing the program in the room of the at least one other user is displayed in a room other than the room of the at least one other user.

3. A receiving apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising an other-user-image taking unit operable to take the image of the at least one other user viewing the program.

4. A receiving apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the other-user-image display unit includes an image modification unit operable to modify the image of the at least one other user viewing the program.

5. A receiving apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising an other-user-image display control unit operable to control whether to display, in the room other than the room of the at least one other user, the image of the at least one other user viewing the program.

6. A receiving apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a video signal conversion unit operable to convert a video signal of the program of the selected channel into a high-quality video signal.

7. A receiving apparatus according to claim 6, wherein

the user preference information includes program genres;

and

the video signal conversion unit includes;

a classification unit operable to classify the video signal of the program of the selected channel;

a coefficient storage unit operable to store prediction coefficients obtained by means of learning for each class assigned to each genre; and

a calculation unit operable to generate the high-quality video signal by means of calculation based on prediction coefficients corresponding to a genre of a class output by the classification unit and also based on the video signal of the program of the selected channel.

8. A receiving apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the storage unit stores, as the user preference information, favorite genres of the plurality of users and priorities assigned to respective ones of the favorite genres;

and

when a plurality of programs whose genre matches the user preference are detected at the same time, the channel selection unit selects a channel of a program of a genre assigned a highest priority from among the genres of the detected plurality of programs.

9. A receiving apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a driving unit operable to drive a wall such that when the detection unit detects that a plurality of users who like the program of the selected channel are present in their rooms, if the room of one of the plurality of users is located adjacent to the room of another one of the plurality of users, the driving unit drives a wall which is between the adjacent rooms.

10. A receiving apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising a driving control unit operable to turn the driving unit on and off.

11. A receiving apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a recording unit operable to record a video signal and/or an audio signal on a storage medium, wherein

when the detection unit detects that no users who like the program of the selected channel are present in their rooms, the recording unit records the video signal and/or the audio signal of the program of the selected channel on the storage medium.

12. A receiving apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising a reproducing unit operable to reproduce the video signal and/or the audio signal recorded on the storage medium, wherein

when the detection unit detects that the user is present in the room of the detected user, the display selection unit selects the program display unit disposed in the room of the detected user and displays the video signal and/or the audio signal of the program of the selected channel that is reproduced by the reproducing unit.

13. A receiving apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising a video signal conversion unit operable to convert the video signal of the program of the selected channel into a high-quality video signal, wherein

the recording unit records the high-quality video signal output by the video signal conversion unit on the storage medium.

14. A receiving apparatus according to claim 13, wherein

the user preference information includes program genres;

and

the video signal conversion unit includes;

a classification unit operable to classify the video signal of the program of the selected channel;

a coefficient storage unit operable to store prediction coefficients obtained by means of learning for each class assigned to each genre; and

a calculation unit operable to generate the high-quality video signal by means of calculation based on prediction coefficients corresponding to a genre of a class output by the classification unit and also based on the video signal of the program of the selected channel.

15. A receiving apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a first recording unit and a second recording unit operable to record a video signal and/or an audio signal on a storage medium, wherein

when the program of the selected channel is of a genre that matches the preference of a plurality of users, if the detection unit detects that at least one of the plurality of users is not present in a room of the at least one user, then

the first recording unit records a video signal and/or an audio signal of the program of the selected channel on a first storage medium;

and

the second recording unit records an image of the detected user who is viewing the program on a second storage medium.

16. A receiving apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising a video signal conversion unit operable to convert a video signal into a high-quality video signal, wherein

when the detection unit detects that the user is present in the room of the detected user, the video signal conversion unit converts a video signal of the image of the detected user who is viewing the program into the high-quality video signal;

and

the second recording unit records the high-quality video signal output by the video signal conversion unit on the second storage medium.

17. A receiving apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising a first reproducing unit and a second reproducing unit operable to reproduce a video signal and/or an audio signal recorded on a storage medium, wherein

if the detection unit detects that the at least one user has returned to the room of the at least one user, then

the first reproducing unit reproduces the video signal and/or the audio signal of the program of the selected channel from the first storage medium;

the second reproducing unit reproduces a video signal of the image of the detected user who is viewing the program from the second storage medium;

the display selection unit makes a selection such that the program of the selected channel reproduced by the first reproducing unit is displayed on a program display unit disposed in the room of the at least one user; and

the other-user-image display unit displays the image of the detected user who is viewing the program, reproduced by the second reproducing unit, such that the image is displayed in a room other than the room of the detected user.

18. A receiving apparatus according to claim 17, further comprising

a video signal conversion unit operable to convert a video signal into a high-quality video signal, wherein

the video signal conversion unit converts the video signal of the program of the selected channel reproduced by the first reproducing unit into a high-quality video signal.

19. A receiving apparatus according to claim 17, further comprising a video signal conversion unit operable to convert a video signal into a high-quality video signal, wherein

the video signal conversion unit converts the video signal of the image of the detected user who is viewing the program, reproduced by the second reproducing unit, into a high quality video signal.

20. A receiving apparatus according to claim 17, wherein if the detection unit detects that the at least one user has returned to the room of the at least one user, then, after an elapse of a predetermined period of time since the detection of the return of the at least one user,

the first reproducing unit reproduces the video signal and/or the audio signal of the program of the selected channel from the first storage medium;

the second reproducing unit reproduces a video signal of the image of the detected user who is viewing the program from the second storage medium;

the display selection unit makes a selection such that the program of the selected channel reproduced by the first reproducing unit is displayed on a program display unit disposed in the room of the at least one user; and

the other-user-image display unit displays the image of the detected user who is viewing the program, reproduced by the second reproducing unit, such that the image is displayed in a room other than the room of the detected user.

21. A receiving apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the storage unit further stores identification information identifying each user;

and

the detection unit identifies the plurality of users on the basis of the identification information and detects in which room of a plurality of rooms a user is present who likes a program of the selected channel.

22. A method of receiving a broadcast program signal, comprising:

selecting a particular channel from among a plurality of channels based on stored user preference information indicating a preference of a plurality of users in terms of program genres;

detecting whether a user who likes the genre of a program of the selected channel is present in a space of the detected user; and

selecting, from among a plurality of program display units disposed respectively in a plurality of spaces, a program display unit disposed in the space of the detected user, and displaying the program of the selected channel on the selected program display unit.

23. A storage medium recorded with a computer-readable program for processing a broadcast program signal, the program comprising:

selecting a particular channel from among a plurality of channels based on stored user preference information indicating a preference of a plurality of users in terms of program genres;

detecting whether a user who likes the genre of a program of the selected channel is present in a space of the detected user; and

selecting, from among a plurality of program display units disposed respectively in a plurality of spaces, a program display unit disposed in the space of the detected user, and displaying the program of the selected channel on the selected program display unit.

24. A system for receiving a broadcast program signal, comprising:

a processor operable to execute instructions; and

instructions, the instructions including;

select a particular channel from among a plurality of channels based on stored user preference information indicating a preference of a plurality of users in terms of program genres;

detect whether a user who likes the genre of a program of the selected channel is present in a space of the detected user; and

select, from among a plurality of program display units disposed respectively in a plurality of spaces, a program display unit disposed in the space of the detected user, and display the program of the selected channel on the selected program display unit.

25. A receiving apparatus for receiving a broadcast program signal, comprising:

storage means for storing user preference information indicating a preference of a plurality of users in terms of genres of broadcast programs;

channel selection means for selecting a particular channel from among a plurality of channels based on the user preference information stored in the storage means;

detection means for detecting whether a user who likes the genre of a program of the selected channel is present in a room of the detected user; and

display selection means for selecting, from among a plurality of program display means disposed respectively in a plurality of rooms, program display means disposed in the room of the detected user, and for displaying the program of the selected channel on the selected program display means.

26. A receiving apparatus for receiving a broadcast program signal, comprising:

storage means for storing user preference information indicating a preference of a plurality of users in terms of genres of broadcast programs;

channel selection means for selecting a particular channel from among a plurality of channels based on the user preference information stored in the storage means;

detection means for detecting in which room of a plurality of rooms a user is present who likes a program of the selected channel; and

display selection means for selecting, from among a plurality of program display means disposed respectively in the plurality of rooms, program display means disposed in the room of the detected user, and for displaying the program of the selected channel on the selected program display means.

27. A method of receiving a broadcast program signal, comprising:

selecting a particular channel from among a plurality of channels based on stored user preference information indicating a preference of a plurality of users in terms of program genres;

detecting in which space of a plurality of spaces a user is present who likes a program of the selected channel; and

selecting, from among a plurality of program display units disposed respectively in the plurality of spaces, a program display unit disposed in the space of the detected user, and displaying the program of the selected channel on the selected program display unit.

28. A storage medium recorded with a computer-readable program for processing a broadcast program signal, the program comprising:

selecting a particular channel from among a plurality of channels based on stored user preference information indicating a preference of a plurality of users in terms of program genres;

detecting in which space of a plurality of spaces a user is present who likes a program of the selected channel; and

selecting, from among a plurality of program display units disposed respectively in the plurality of spaces, a program display unit disposed in the space of the detected user, and displaying the program of the selected channel on the selected program display unit.

29. A system for receiving a broadcast program signal, comprising:

a processor operable to execute instructions; and

instructions, the instructions including;

select a particular channel from among a plurality of channels based on stored user preference information indicating a preference of a plurality of users in terms of program genres;

detect in which space of a plurality of spaces a user is present who likes a program of the selected channel; and

select, from among a plurality of program display units disposed respectively in the plurality of spaces, a program display unit disposed in the space of the detected user, and display the program of the selected channel on the selected program display unit.

30. A receiving apparatus for receiving a broadcast program signal, comprising:

a storage unit operable to store user preference information indicating a preference of a plurality of users in terms of genres of broadcast programs;

a channel selection unit operable to select a particular channel from among a plurality of channels based on the user preference information stored in the storage unit;

a detection unit operable to detect in which room of a plurality of rooms a user is present who likes a program of the selected channel; and

a display selection unit operable to select, from among a plurality of program display units disposed respectively in the plurality of rooms, a program display unit disposed in the room of the detected user, and to display the program of the selected channel on the selected program display unit.

32. A receiving apparatus according to claim 30, further comprising facility control means for controlling a facility of a building in which the receiving apparatus is installed depending on the judgment made by the matching judgment means.

31. A receiving apparatus for receiving a broadcast program signal, comprising:

channel selection means for selecting a particular channel from among a plurality of channels;

detection means for detecting whether a user is present in a room of the user;

keyword storage means for storing at least one particular keyword;

matching judgment means for determining whether a voice signal of the selected channel includes a word identical to one of the keywords stored in the keyword storage means; and

display selection means for selecting, from among a plurality of program display means disposed respectively in a plurality of rooms, program display means disposed in the room of the detected user, and for displaying a program that matches the preference of the detected user in terms of program genres on the selected program display means.

33. A method of receiving a broadcast program signal, comprising:

selecting a particular channel from among a plurality of channels;

detecting whether a user is present in a space of the user;

determining whether a voice signal of the selected channel includes a word identical to at least one stored keyword; and

selecting, from among a plurality of program display units disposed respectively in a plurality of spaces, a program display unit disposed in the space of the detected user, and displaying a program that matches the preference of the detected user in terms of program genres on the selected program display unit.

34. A storage medium recorded with a computer-readable program for processing a broadcast program signal, the program comprising:

selecting a particular channel from among a plurality of channels;

detecting whether a user is present in a space of the user;

determining whether a voice signal of the selected channel includes a word identical to at least one stored keyword; and

selecting, from among a plurality of program display units disposed respectively in a plurality of spaces, a program display unit disposed in the space of the detected user, and displaying a program that matches the preference of the detected user in terms of program genres on the selected program display unit.

35. A system for receiving a broadcast program signal, comprising:

a processor operable to execute instructions; and

instructions, the instructions including;

select a particular channel from among a plurality of channels;

detect whether a user is present in a space of the user;

determine whether a voice signal of a selected channel includes a word identical to at least one stored keyword; and

select, from among a plurality of program display units disposed respectively in a plurality of spaces, a program display unit disposed in the space of the detected user, and display a program that matches the preference of the detected user in terms of program genres on the selected program display unit.

36. A receiving apparatus for receiving a broadcast program signal, comprising:

a channel selection unit operable to select a particular channel from among a plurality of channels;

a detection unit operable to detect whether a user is present in a room of the user;

a keyword storage unit operable to store at least one particular keyword;

a matching judgment unit operable to determine whether a voice signal of the selected channel includes a word identical to one of the keywords stored in the keyword storage unit; and

a display selection unit operable to select, from among a plurality of program display units disposed respectively in a plurality of rooms, a program display unit disposed in the room of the detected user, and to display a program that matches the preference of the detected user in terms of program genres on the selected program display unit.